Rangefinder for "Best Guess" Classic Cameras

If you are having problem trying to focus your scale focus camera, I made this Instant Rangefinder for you.

 

Print this out at 300 DPI, laminate it and punch a hole in it. Put it on a key chain or attach to your light meter.

 

Fast and accurate. Enjoy !<div></div>

Here is the antique version. The scale when printed should be 2 1/2 inches from the left edge to the infinity mark.<div></div>

Now you no longer need the "Super" model rangefinder camera. Enjoy !!

Note: The distance read is from the card. If you have your camera on a tripod hold the card at the camera and view from 2 1/2 feet back. If you are going to shoot with a handheld camera, add about 2 1/2 feet to the distance read. This will give you the distance from the card to the subject plus from the card to your camera, back where your eyes are.

i shall print it out at work where there is a laminator and shall give it a try! thanks in advance..

Cool! Very handy. THanks Cliff.

Thanks Cliff!

Once you try it out, report back here and tell us how it worked for you. I made this for the international standard interocular distance of 2.5 inches.

 

If it does not work for you have someone measure the distance between your pupils while looking at a distant object, then scale the card so that the measurement between the left edge and the infinity mark is the same as the width of your eyes and try it again.

I just tried it, but never found out if it worked because my model slugged me for winking at her.

 

Sorry, couldn't resist that. Thanks for the clever card, Cliff, I'll try it soon.

Can't wait to try it. I will quit complaining about my Rollei 35's lack of rangefinder. Thansk.

You could also try this.

 

http://www.tomchuk.com/rf_hfd/index.php

Hey Steve, I wish I had seen that before, it would have saved me from doing all the trig calculations on all the distances. Anyway here it is all done, just put your mouse on the picture and right click and print it. cut it out with a shear and you're ready to look across the room and try it.

Something I use when shooting group panos, to get a pretty good feel for distance and size, is that I've measured the length of my stride.

 

My stride is 2.5', which is really convenient and easy to work with.

 

So I can walk around a site, counting my steps from place to place, and be pretty confident of what will go where before I actually take out any precise tools to mark where people / subjects will go.