 Michael S. Cain |
Optical Viewfinder Accuracy I'm from the old school- I don't think you can frame your shot by looking at an lcd screen away from your eyes. However, the optical viewfinder on all the digital cameras I've owner is not even close to accurate- the actual image turns out much larger than I framed it with my eye. Is there any way to comensate for this,without spending beaucoup bucks for an slr?
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W. |
Hi Michael, a separate optical viewfinder 'sees' the scene from a different point of view than the lens does. That is called the 'Parallax Error'. It varies per the distance to subject. Your viewfinder camera possibly even has markings in that viewfinder to show what part of the image approximately represents what the lens 'sees' at closest range. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallax#Parallax_error_in_photography Have fun!
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John P. Sandstedt |
W.S. - "Avoiding this anomaly was exactly one of the major reasons (d)SLRs were developed." ??????????????? Michael - There's a much more important problem using the LCD as a viewfinder - nmaely, as we get older, we just can't hold a camera as steady as we one did. And, like it or not, IS lenses [or cameras] may not solve that problem - although they may help. You'll simpl;y need to compensate for the differences between what the view finder sees and what image is recorded. On the positive side, you'll have room to crop. On the negative, close-ups will be a problem. As W.S. said, Have Fun.
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W. |
FYI, John, "Avoiding [Parallax Error] was exactly one of the major reasons (d)SLRs were developed."
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John P. Sandstedt |
W.S. Consider me from Missouri. Since we've had SLRs for years wit the major distiction being interchangeable lenses, why would we want DSLRs for exactly the same reason?
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W. |
OK, forget the (d) – for digital – for a minute: "Avoiding [Parallax Error] was exactly one of the major reasons SLRs were developed." "Since we've had SLRs for years wit the major distiction being interchangeable lenses," Just ONE lens, John! Which can only work properly with the OTHER major distinction: the "R", for Reflex. I.o.w. the flip-flop mirror. "why would we want DSLRs for exactly the same reason?" Because they're DIGITAL with exactly the same SLR advantages!
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John P. Sandstedt |
But, you're forgetting the view finder which predates the SLR by decades. Then there were the folding Kodaks and, of course the Brownies. But these were in use long before the first SLRs Read up a little. The first SLR was the Exacta [not sure of the model number] inroduced about 1935. AsI was taught, these were made for things like wide angle and telephoto capabilities, not parallax. Kodak introduced the first DSLR in 1991 [~$19,000.] If you check the specs [see Wikipaedia] you won't see a mention of parallax.
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W. |
"AsI was taught, these were made for things like wide angle and telephoto capabilities, not parallax." You were taught only part of the story, it appears. "Kodak introduced the first DSLR in 1991 [~$19,000.] If you check the specs [see Wikipaedia] you won't see a mention of parallax." Of course not. Why would it? Parallax Error prevention is a given with SLRs since their conception in the sixties. Goes without saying. Literally, as you found out. Parallax Error prevention didn't start with the introduction of DIGITAL SLRs, in the nineties. Cameras being digital or not has nothing to do with "Parallax Error". Parallax Error prevention started in the sixties, and is assumed to be a known quantity when DIGITAL SLRs are discussed.
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Michael S. Cain |
Thanks to all of you who responded to my problem. I do think this problem is specifically related to digital cameras, because my first serious camera was a rangefinder, any error in image size was not noticable. In fact, I know a pro photographer who uses a rangefinder exclusively, and he hasn't had this problem. So, it seems my options are either save up for an slr, or go back to film-wait a minute- I've got an idea- a film camera with a digital back!
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W. |
"wait a minute- I've got an idea- a film camera with a digital back!" A con man had precisely that same idea about 10 years ago. He crafted a website with CGI – faked photos – of a Nikon type camera with a digital back and claimed that was the working prototype in his 'launching press release'. This was duly picked up and published by many tech, photo and computer websites, magazines and webzines. The guy must have cleaned up with that investment fraud. He's probably sitting on his Caribean island, surrounded by babes, watching the sunset... So, Mike, THIS con has been milked good already. You'll have to think of something else, I'm afraid.
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doug Nelson |
One reason we don't get an accurate viewfinder on a compact digital is because you can't have both a zoom and correct parallax correction lines in the rangefinder-type finder. On classic rangefinder cameras like Leicas and my Bronica RF645, you get accurate framelines. I have had to reject the wonderfully compact Canon G9/G10 and new Panasonic LX3 because the viewfinders, if they even have one, are wildly inaccurate. I can't stand the act or even the look of holding the camera out at arm's length. I'm going with an SLR, as compact as I can get it.
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Marianne Fortin |
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30K that I used to use has an electronic viewfinder that shows the same image as the main LCD screen. So you can either use the viewfinder or the LCD screen to compose your shot. This type of fixed lens camera is positioned between compact digital and DSLR cameras. So there is an alternative to a DSLR if that's what you want.
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W. |
That would be a Panasonic Lumix G1 then, Doug. http://www.dpreview.com/previews/PanasonicG1/
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