Rangefinder camera

A rangefinder camera is a camera whose optical viewfinder is equipped with a focusing aid, which is coupled to the distance setting of the lens. This rangefinder is usually performed as cut out image rangefinder or superimposed image rangefinder.

Cameras that support the use of interchangeable lenses, usually also offer an adaptation of the viewfinder image to the focal lengths of the lenses.

This is done in most cases by fading of bright-line frames in the viewfinder. In keeping with the respective focal length show the frame at limiting the intake.

History

The first rangefinder camera according to the above definition was built by Zeiss Ikon from 1936 Contax II The most famous ( and built to date) film camera of this type is the Leica M. Many other constructions are mainly from the wide spread of the SLR in the 1970s market disappeared. In the mass market rangefinder cameras have been completely replaced by compact cameras with autofocus.

Based on this Leica standard, there has been in recent years a number of new rangefinder cameras, the Konica and Cosina ( Hexar, Voigtlander Bessa, Epson R- D1, Zeiss Ikon, Rollei 35RF ) were made or will be. In medium format, there is the rangefinder cameras Mamiya 6 and 7 or 7II with interchangeable lenses. Earlier manufacturer of rangefinder cameras were among others Nikon (S-Series, with two models, S3 and SP, have been re-established in a limited special edition a few years ago ), Canon ( Canonet ), Olympus (XA - series with fixed lens), Zenza - Bronica ( with the RF645 ) and Minolta (in cooperation with Leica CL and CLE). Contax, the inventor of this type of camera, in 1994, even once a new entry in the market is trying more than 30 years after the end of production of rangefinder cameras, with the G-System, which, however, in 2005 with the withdrawal of the parent company ended again.

Benefits

The concept of measuring viewfinder offers some advantages over the widely used SLRs.

Thus, the level of reflex falls away, so on the one hand, the viewfinder image permanently visible, even during long exposure times. Secondly, caused by an oscillating mirror vibrations which at long exposure times result in camera shake. In addition, the shutter sound of a rangefinder camera is notably quieter than the an SLR.

A bright viewfinder allows for such lighting conditions exact focusing, in which the focusing screen of a SLR not a clear picture of more shows and most autofocus systems are no longer in a position for a long time to focus.

A further advantage lies in the small dimensions. Thus, the rangefinder cameras are not only easier to transport, but also have a significantly less intrusive effect on the people being photographed. Many convinced users of rangefinder cameras precisely to stress the fact that by the rangefinder camera, the intimacy between photographer and people pictured less suffering than by relatively loud SLR cameras with large telephoto lenses. Taking pictures with the rangefinder camera can thus vonstattengehen clearly discrete.

The opposite of an SLR significantly lower flange ( because there is no space for a wegklappenden mirror is required), with the same focal length more compact lens designs. Also, it is much easier to build very high quality imaging wide-angle lenses as it can be dispensed with retro-focus designs.

All of these benefits lead to the concept of the rangefinder camera is still in professional reportage photographer extremely popular.

Disadvantages

Due to the separation of the taking lens and viewfinder results in a slightly different angle. This effect is also known as parallax. The parallax causes for objects located closer than about three feet in front of the camera, the cut can not be determined exactly. The final photo no longer complies with the viewfinder image. Modern rangefinder cameras from these same parallax by, for example, the bright-line frames in the viewfinder hike.

Furthermore, the use of lenses with different focal lengths is difficult. Either play by illuminated frame within the viewfinder the different focal lengths shown, or with the help of a finder is the angle of the chosen focal length is understandable. An exception was the Contax G, which had a so-called real image viewfinder that automatically adapted itself to the selected focal length. When using Aufstecksuchern other hand, it must first be focused through the viewfinder and then set about the viewfinder, the image section. Fast photographing moving objects is extremely difficult here.

In addition, there is type of construction that a deployment of focal lengths longer than 135mm ( small picture) problematic, since the corresponding finder frame would be very small and accurate image composition and focus extremely difficult; The only alternative is to choose such a strong viewfinder magnification, that on the other side, the use of wide angle lenses would practically impossible. Leica had for many years because of the so-called Visoflex on offer, other manufacturers (such as Contax, Voigtlander and Zeiss Ikon ) does not give any lens with a longer focal length as 90mm.

Digital rangefinder cameras

The first digital rangefinder camera was the Epson R -D1 from 2004, published by the various versions until 2009 with minor revisions. Leica introduced in 2006 its first M-series digital camera before, the M8. The Leica M8 ( and M8.2 ) was replaced by the M9 with small image sensor in September 2009.