Range Finder

Do you know what range finder cameras are? Range finders have a range finding mechanism in it. There are digital and film versions of it. It has its pros and cons when it is used in different situation.

• This kind of camera is fitted with a rangefinder . An example is the Leica M8.2 digital range finder as shown in the figure above.
• A range finder is a range-finding focusing mechanism allowing you, the photographer to measure the subject distance and take photographs that are in sharp focus.
• The rangefinders mostly show two images of the same subject, one can be moved when the calibrated wheel is turned. Once the calibrated image overlap and combines with the other, you can see the exact distance on the calibrated wheel.
• Nowadays the rangefinder window has been integrated with the viewfinder.
• Did you know that the modern rangefinder cameras combines the focusing mechanism and coupled it with rangefinders, so that the lens is focused correctly when the range finder images combine?

Do you want to know the pros and cons of rangefinders? Here are some of it.

Cons

1. You can’t really see what is exactly being seen through the lens using the viewfinder. This means that what is recorded on the film or sensor is not 100% the same as the image seen. This is called parallax error and is not noticeable at large subject distance but increases when the distance decreases.
2. The rangefinder does not really have its own zoom lens which has a constantly variable field of view.

Pros

1. The range finder has a few advantages over SLRs application. As there is no moving mirror as in SLRs, when the subject is being photographed there is no momentary blackout.
2. Did you know that rangefinders are much quieter? The Leica is the best at this. Its cloth focal plane shutter is almost silent. This is the reason why photographers preferred to use a Leica when shooting in theaters, film sound stages and courtrooms.
3. It is light weight, low bulk and small in size. It is also good for back country hiking, street shooting, vacation travel or in any situation where a heavy, bulky SLR would be a burden. (I too sometimes feel that my DSLR is too heavy to walk around with after all the accessories are being attached to it.)
4. The rangefinder viewfinders usually have a bigger field of view than the lens in use, therefore photographers will be able to see what is going on outside the framelines and therefore can better predict actions which are ideal for street shooting.
5. Since it does not have a mirror, the rear element of lenses is able to be projected deep into the camera body, allowing very high quality wide angle lenses to be easily designed.
6. The viewfinders have magnifications larger than 0.8 which allows you, the photographer to open both eyes and see the floating viewfinder frame superimposed on the real world.

From left the Hasselblad Xpan, Konica Hexar RF (middle), Bessa L1 (right)

After seeing all the facts, I'm sure it has somehow poisoned you to buy a range finder to use right? Hope this article could give you some main basics and theory about range finders.