Andreas Haglund Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 I’m looking at buying a directors viewfinder, not the cheapest and probably not the most expensive one available. I don’t know too much about cameras, so bear with me. On the side of many of the ones I’ve looked at I’ve seen setting for selecting negative format; 16/35/S16. I’m looking for one that will give the correct image for modern digital cameras, what do I look for then? And will I need to know the censor size of the camera I’m using to get the settings right? Very great full for advice, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Young Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 You might be better off with a viewfinder app for your smartphone. Artemis is pretty popular for iOS users! Personally, I really liked this one: https://www.artistsviewfinder.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pekka Riikonen Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 How about Sigma FP. It has a dedicated mode for that. https://www.fdtimes.com/2019/10/20/sigma-fp-as-directors-viewfinder/https://blog.sigmaphoto.com/2020/the-sigma-fp-as-a-directors-viewfinder/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB Earl Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 Viewfinder apps are really very very useful and you should have one either way. however, I really like using my Birns and Sawyer viewfinder, for the same reason I operate with my eye on a viewfinder. The Alan Gordon one is very nice, but I find it’s image is a little smaller. Keep in mind the optical viewfinders will not have a setting for micro 4/3 or any other newer sensor sizes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Haglund Posted September 3, 2020 Author Share Posted September 3, 2020 Thanks for the replies, I also like the idea of an optical viewfinder. I should probably learn more about sensors. The Alan Gordon mini says this: “The finder is now set for Super 35 and this setting is also true for the following digital camera sensors: ARRI Alexa, Sony F35 PL, Sony F65, Red Epic-X, Red Scarlet, Red One, Canon 7D and the Phantom HD Gold.” Is this also the case for the Birns and Sawyer viewfinder? What is micro 4/3 and what cameras uses it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingtian Wang Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 Micro 4/3 is a camera sensor size, it's smaller than super 35 you mentioned. It's used mostly by mirrorless cameras that have a focus on video. I believe the reason that this is the case is because the smaller sensor is easier to cool. Thus they can fit more processing hardware in the body and thus deliver a better codec. It appears that they are mostly used by panasonic, olympus and maybe fujifilm (correct me if I'm wrong). But to make matters more confusing, micro 4/3 also refers to a lense mount. For the micro 4/3 sensor, thus you'll hear both micro 4/3 camera and lense. The advantages to micro 4/3 lens is the fact that it allows other tradition lens mount lens to be adapted to it, and that it allows for some really innovative designs (i.e anamorphic lens for micro 4/3 can cost a fraction the price as for a more traditional mount). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Haglund Posted September 3, 2020 Author Share Posted September 3, 2020 Thanks that’s very clear. I’m taking an early weekend without screens and will think about different options. Just realized neither Alan Gordon or Birns and Sawyer seems to have a setting for 1.66:1 aspect ratio, which would be a priority for me, so I might continue to look around next week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB Earl Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 (edited) I have the model iiiB, which has 1.66 aspect. They are fairly available on the used market if you need an older model for that aspect ratio I don’t have my Alan Gordon with me at the moment, but I’m pretty sure that also has 1.66 Edited September 3, 2020 by JB Earl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Young Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 9 hours ago, Andreas Haglund said: ARRI Alexa, Sony F35 PL, Sony F65, Red Epic-X, Red Scarlet, Red One, Canon 7D and the Phantom HD Gold.” These are pretty old cameras and Alan Gordon only considering the S35 versions of the Alexa, but the LF/65 won't work with the optical. Plus not every digital sensor is the exact size while a phone app can actually take that into account. I highly recommend going the route of an app. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Haglund Posted September 8, 2020 Author Share Posted September 8, 2020 On 9/3/2020 at 4:52 PM, JB Earl said: I don’t have my Alan Gordon with me at the moment, but I’m pretty sure that also has 1.66 I’ve never tried any model. If there is a setting for 1.33 and one for 1.85, can I then also view what’s in between? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB Earl Posted September 8, 2020 Share Posted September 8, 2020 Yes that should work fine, you may need to adjust The indicated focal length, depending on your sensor size. If you need specifically 1.66, are you windowing a digital sensor, or shooting film? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Haglund Posted September 8, 2020 Author Share Posted September 8, 2020 Ok cool. I’m windowing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB Earl Posted September 8, 2020 Share Posted September 8, 2020 You may find a viewfinder app will be easier overall. It is useful for other reasons as well, like storyboarding. The optical viewfinder you can calibrate by eye to your windowd sensor and focal lengths as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Haglund Posted September 9, 2020 Author Share Posted September 9, 2020 Thanks for your advice. I’ll probably get an app for set and an Alan Gordon to play around with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panagiotis agapitou Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 Is there an app for 35mm film viewfinder ? ARRI's one has only the digital models .. i'm looking for standard 35 academy 1.37 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Young Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 If I remember, this app does: https://www.artistsviewfinder.com/ (It's the one I really liked) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon O'Brien Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 Does anyone know if you can get an optical director's viewfinder that has 2.20:1 aspect ratio? There was a model by Cavision that has 2.20 but it doesn't seem to be available anywhere at the moment. Alternative is of course an app but I'd also like to play around with an optical viewfinder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Brereton Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 20 hours ago, Jon O'Brien said: Does anyone know if you can get an optical director's viewfinder that has 2.20:1 aspect ratio? There was a model by Cavision that has 2.20 but it doesn't seem to be available anywhere at the moment. Alternative is of course an app but I'd also like to play around with an optical viewfinder. I have one of those little ‘zoomfinders’. It has a range of different aspect ratios, but I wouldn’t describe them as being particularly accurate. For a start, they use an adjustable hard mask to change the AR, which is, of course, very out of focus when you look through it. They are an approximation at best. I think you’d see very little difference between 2.20:1 and 2.40:1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Brereton Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 21 hours ago, panagiotis agapitou said: Is there an app for 35mm film viewfinder ? ARRI's one has only the digital models .. i'm looking for standard 35 academy 1.37 Cadrage does 1.37:1. Artemis has 1.33:1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon O'Brien Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 3 hours ago, Stuart Brereton said: I have one of those little ‘zoomfinders’. It has a range of different aspect ratios, but I wouldn’t describe them as being particularly accurate. For a start, they use an adjustable hard mask to change the AR, which is, of course, very out of focus when you look through it. They are an approximation at best. I think you’d see very little difference between 2.20:1 and 2.40:1 I didn't know that Stuart. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panagiotis agapitou Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 On 9/22/2020 at 12:16 AM, Stuart Brereton said: Cadrage does 1.37:1. Artemis has 1.33:1 Thanks !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now