previsualising device for shooting architecture

<p>Hi!</p>

<p>I own a Linhof Technikardan 69 with 47mm, 65mm, 150mm and 270mm lens. I shoot 6x9 frmat rollfilm with it.<br /> This year I'm going to spend 8 weeks in San Francisco with it. I'll go on walks with camera gear in a backpack and carrying tripod in hand; I'll take max two lenses a walk.<br /> My question is: can I construct or buy a device with which I can previsualize the image, before setting up tripod and camera? I'll be shooting lots of architecture and I'll be looking for the perfect spot to shoot all the time.<br /> Maybe I can construct sort of a foldable sports finder out of cardboard with a plexiglass window in front, with the rectangles of angles of view put on it, and a small hole to look through in the back, which might be small enough to put in my pocket.<br /> I could also take a 35mm camera with me, with a lens which covers the same, but that would add to the load and I don't like that. <br /> I know, lots of practice will develop my view and should solve the problem, but I have very limited experience with it so far.<br /> I'm going to do long time exposures of about 7 minutes. I want to find the prefect spot for the shot.<br /> I think I need the device most for the 47 and 65mm.</p>

<p>Any suggestions?<br /> Thank you,</p>

<p>Dirk Dom.</p><div></div>

<p>Hi Dirk,<br>

if you simultaneously want to take test pictures, I recommend the usage of a compact digicam, but with the possibility to exactly control the focal length. A Nikon 1 with 6.7-13 lens could be a choice (it would cover 47 and 65 mm on 6x9). Much more simple and lighter are two (or up to 4) cardboards with cutouts which correspond to your camera's angles of view if you keep your arm outsteched.<br>

Matthias</p>

<p>http://architekturfotoblog.de/2014/03/14/matthias-roesch-architekturfotografie/</p>

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<p>Linhof and others made view finders that give a reasonable approximation of the view through different lenses. My version covers from 90 - 360 mm for 4x5 with a 6x7 cm frame centered in the middle. I realize that you are looking for 6x9 which is a different aspect ratio, so that brings me to versions for older 35 mm rangefinder cameras. For my 35 mm Contax IIIA, I have a Zeiss #440 finder that has frames for 21, 35, 50,85 and 135 mm lenses, which won't perfectly correspond to each of your focal lengths but would give you an idea of what to expect before you set up the camera. The 21 should be fairly close to your 47 on 6x9 cm, which would least tell you if the 47 is appropriate or is too wide, and the finder isn't that big or heavy to carry. There a lot of other brands out there, and new finders for 35 mm from Voigtlander, available new through Camera Quest and others. A little math and comparison with your 35 mm camera should tell you what focal length 35 mm finder would work.</p>

<p>Dirk -</p>

<p>You could use a piece of paper on which the angles of view are laid out. Place your eye at the vertex and sight out on your scene. See below an example I threw together for 47 & 69mm on 6X9, both horizontal and vertical angles of view. (Info gotten from online angle of view calculators using 6X9 format.)</p>

<p>Advantages - DIY cheap, one piece of paper (both sides) provides for 4 lenses, fold it and store it in your pocket.</p>

<p>Disadvantages - one has to make it, may be cumbersome to use, not 100% dead accurate and it looks silly :o)</p>

<p>Jim (Snow day and too much time on my hands)</p><div></div>

<p>oops</p>

 

<p>Take a matt board and cut a 6x9 area out of the middle. Attach a string to the card. </p>

<p>Set up you camera with first lens. Hold card in front of nose, move toward and away from face until view through opening equals view through lens. Mark on string the distance from your nose. <br>

Repeat for all lenses. </p>

<p>You now know how far to hold the card away from your eyes to match each lens. </p>

<p>. </p>

<p>Good idea Allen, but in theory the marks on the string should be at 47, 65, 150 and 270mm. In other words the same as the lens focal lengths. There should be no need to find out by trial and error. Although the edge of the frame will look decidedly blurry at those closest distances. Maybe double the size of the frame and the string?</p>

<p>Kodak used to sell a "monochrome viewing filter". This was a dark brown sheet of gelatine filter material that was supposed to remove the colour from a view and give a reasonable impression of what the scene would look like in black & white. Didn't work too well IME, but was perhaps better than nothing as a previewing aid.</p>

<p>I have one of those old Linhof finders that Andrew mentioned. Gets me in the ballpark for 4x5 and 6x12. There are also the viewers you see movie people using on sets, I believe B&H sells them but dont know much about them.</p>

<p>Somewhere in my basement I have one of these, with the cutouts and a piece of string or tape.<br /><br />Ever seen the cliche scenes in a bad movie where they show a movie director running around holding his hands out with his thumbs together to form a rough viewfinder and looking at various scenes? Even though they usually make a corny joke of it, it actually works. Takes some practice to get used to what distance from your face your hands need to be to match a particular focal length. But it's free. And you always have it with you.<br /><br />Honestly, you can just do this mentally, with no need for fingers let alone cardboard. Just draw the crops lines in your head.</p>

<p>Zone VI made little (approx. 3 inch diameter) plastic mounted frames with light orange tinted glass for previewing the apparent contrast range of b&w scenes (something you can also get some idea of by squinting when looking at a scene). They were available in different aspect ratios (4:5, 6:7 or 6:9) like the one pictured below that I sometimes use for 35 mm or 6x9 cm. format b&w film photography. Held between 1 and 3 or 4 inches from the eye they give some idea of wide angle and normal to short telephoto frames. Question is whether one can build a separator or a head mounted device (resembling that used by craftsmen or dentists for magnifying a scene) to hold the little frame at those distances. Probably not easy to obtain very high accuracy with such a method.</p>

<p>Cosina-Voigtlander, Leica and others make small plastic accessory shoe-mountable viewfinders for lenses having diagonal angles of 90, 78, 45 degrees and other 1:1.5 aspect ratios. They are light and easily attachable to an around the neck string, but unless available in well-used condition they are often priced above 100 dollars.</p>

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<p>Another vote for the cardboard cutout. I wouldnt bother with the string. You will get used to what focal lengths to use quick enough. However sometimes it helps to be able to visualize black and white. for this, a phone camera or a point n shoot digital work great. -You can also use them to geotag your photos, or you have a backup in case the film doesnt turn out... just dont end up spending too much time with the digital.</p>

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