What do u call it?how do we use it?

[anroop mri]

Hello everyone,can anybody please tell me wht is the pipe like thing which is used by directors on a set ?is it used to to see the frame ,but why that tube if they can directly see from cam viewfinder?what does it do?does it give u the accuracy ,or how do u use it?

[Brian Drysdale]

It's a director's viewfinder. They give an approximate angle of view for a lens and framing for various aspect ratios.

 

If you need something more accurate there are viewers that allow you to mount a lens from the camera and uses a ground glass with a camera type viewfinder.

 

The advantage it that it doesn't tie up the camera while angles are being checked. A 35mm camera is pretty heavy, so it's awkward and time consuming to carry this around looking the many possibilities within a scene.

Edited December 5, 2010 by Brian Drysdale

[Edgar Dubrovskiy]

Here are some varieties: http://www.google.co.uk/products?client=safari&rls=en&oe=UTF-8&redir_esc=&q=directors+viewfinder&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=aXn7TPXtOIaEhQe4-K3YCg&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCwQrQQwAA

[Raj Kumar Macwan]

I have never used a viewfinder but use the good old style of two thumbs touch making 35mm frame to look at he camera positions/angles.

 

Is this tool worth the investment ? I pretty much on shot films mode and in HD format which is easier to move around if needed accurate frame/angle positions.