> > From: Godfrey DiGiorgi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 2006/05/01 Mon PM 11:52:22 GMT > To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net > Subject: Re: waist-level viewfinder > > > On May 1, 2006, at 9:33 AM, mike wilson wrote: > > > There's no point in framing at waist level if you then have to bend > > double to focus. It's a paradox with this type of finder that I > > never resolved. The original post gave me the impression that part > > of the desire was to be less obtrusive. Not sure it can work > > like that. > > Ah, grasshopper, you have not been given the Waist Level Teaching... > > There are at least two ways to work focusing with a waist level finder: > > 1) You set focus by scale and DoF. This works fine for many types of > subjects that do not require critical focus. > > 2) You pick the camera up to mid-chest level, tip your head forward > to see the focusing screen with magnifier in place, focus critically. > Then fold back the magnifier and drop the camera back down to the > height where you want to make the exposure for framing.
I use both techniques on my LX and Rollei. > > Both of those techniques work beautifully with my Rolleiflexes, > Hasselblads, Nikon F2 and F3 with waist level finders, etc. Very > unobtrusive to the subject because the exposure is made at a > different time from when you set the focus and your eye is not > putting pressure on them through the viewfinder directly. I'm still not sure that that system will make the photographer less obtrusive. Depends on circumstance, I suppose. > > A new option that I find with the Sony R1 is to use the flexible spot > AF right at waist level: The finder is large and clear enough to > place the focus point right on what I want to capture with the > joystick and touch the focus button (or shutter button if the > camera's set on AF). Bingo, the focus is set perfectly every time. I tried this with a friend's compact. It seems to work reasonably well, even for a Moley like myself. Possibly this is the best technique for unobtrusiveness, although it brings in problems of its own. ----------------------------------------- Email sent from www.ntlworld.com Virus-checked using McAfee(R) Software Visit www.ntlworld.com/security for more information
