Experience with optical viewfinders

Hi, I'm sure this subject has gotten attention here already. I'd like to add some thoughts on using ovf's with the Samsungs.

After owning and getting good use of my Sam collection for a year, I've struggled sometimes with the NX300 and 1000 lacking viewfinders (for reasons well known) and finally it occurred to me that I had two ovf's left over from my earlier rangefinder cameras. I tried them out and am very pleased. They have added a new dimension to the cameras' use and effectiveness, e.g. for grab shots or active subjects (like performers on stage) and great for portraits and just as well for landscapes/cityscapes.

The two ovf's - an old 1930's turret design made by Carl Zeiss Jena, offering 5 focal lengths: 2.8 cm., 5cm, 8.5, 13.5 and 18cm. The other is a compact Voigtlander Turnit with 3: (35mm, 50mm and 100). Both have parallax correction. The are slipped onto the hot shoe (with a little tape to insulate the electronics from bare metal - just in case).

Obviously one has to set the zoom lenses to corresponding focal lengths compensating for the crop factor, for which the 18-55 and 50-200 are ideal. I.e. set 18mm on the lens with the 28mm vf setting - and 90mm with the 135mm - and so on. A little complicated making calculations at first but one becomes used to it. The experience is similar to using prime lenses and a viewfinder for each.

Focus is achieved by simply selecting the center focus point on the Samsung, so one can half press the shutter while viewing and holding the subject centrally through the ovf and shifting for composition. With practice you hardly need to check the monitor for focus.

(Easier and faster than the old rangefinder cameras focus mechanism!).

I feel I have now gained an extra feature with the Samsungs which increases my confidence in taking only the one body and a few lenses out with me on short excursions whereas in the past I would also need to take with the NX30 and/or a Nikon to cover every situation.

There are small plastic, cheap fixed OVF's on ebay, for 28mm and 35mm, although without parallax control, a pair of which I ordered.

Anyone else found the benefits of OVF's or considering them? I'd like to hear from you as well as any queries.

larneytony wrote:

Hi, I'm sure this subject has gotten attention here already. I'd like to add some thoughts on using ovf's with the Samsungs.

Anyone else found the benefits of OVF's or considering them? I'd like to hear from you as well as any queries.

Haha

Been using them for years! Both 'optical' and simple open-frame designs. A simple solution for when an infra-red filter is fitted and there's too much reflection for the rear screen to be of much use!

Don't rely too heavily on the parallax correction. The adjustable viewfinders were designed with specific cameras in mind, where the accessory shoe is a specific distance above the film gate. Change this distance by much and the calibration goes right out the window

kypfer wrote:

larneytony wrote:

Hi, I'm sure this subject has gotten attention here already. I'd like to add some thoughts on using ovf's with the Samsungs.

Anyone else found the benefits of OVF's or considering them? I'd like to hear from you as well as any queries.

Don't rely too heavily on the parallax correction. The adjustable viewfinders were designed with specific cameras in mind, where the accessory shoe is a specific distance above the film gate. Change this distance by much and the calibration goes right out the window

Not surprising that Samsung users have already found out what I'm discovering! Playing catchup here, I'm new to MILC's. (I lucked out by picking Samsung from the rest).

Yup, true, there will be slight parallax difference. But as the calibration is constant for the ovf I just need one test shot to zero in, and can shoot continuously from there and hardly need check the screen.

Same holds for getting in much closer, although the minimum mark is one meter on that turret VF, It's easy to go off scale and accurately frame down to about 20cm after a test shot. Not macro, for which use the screen is perfect (when few reflections).

All a matter of getting adept and faster with practice, like the experience with old rf cameras, so now I find a fresh approach to subjects in a variety of situations, using the Samsung 'rf' bodies, which has tended me to prefer them to the nx10/30 and DSLRs for now.

Call it "retro-nostalgia"! (with all the advantages and mod cons of Samsung).

Cheers.