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Post by lesdmess on Feb 21, 2015 12:33:40 GMT -5
Interchangeable viewfinder cameras is another interest.   My most complete viewfinders are on the Pentax LX.  |
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Post by philbirch on Feb 21, 2015 18:08:36 GMT -5
OMG!
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Post by lesdmess on Feb 22, 2015 11:42:14 GMT -5
Thanks! My next most comprehensive viewfinder setup is on the Minolta XK. See Rokkorfiles XK viewfinders I found the waistlevel and high magnification via local CL ad for a box of accessories like filters and such. In the tiny pic in the ad I thought I could make out a viewfinder so I arranged to buy the box of stuff. When I got the box, I saw not one but two XK viewfinders with their original boxes still wrapped! |
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Post by lesdmess on Feb 22, 2015 21:04:36 GMT -5
I don't currently have as extensive a collection of viewfinders for my Nikons F, F2 and F3.  |
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Post by belgiumreporter on Feb 23, 2015 5:30:45 GMT -5
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Post by lesdmess on Feb 23, 2015 8:52:22 GMT -5
Are these interchangable viewfinders anything special? as i've got some old cameras laying around here and they all seem to have this feature.  That must have been the question that some asked themselves given the additional complexity, weight, size and cost associated with this feature. In the early development of SLRs, they provided a way for the manufacturer to provide eye level prism alternative to the waist level. Then came in-camera metering prisms and this made it easy to add TTL - first with CDS cels then with silicon cels. In this case just buying prisms was cheaper than buying a whole camera body. From all I have seen, I believe the Pentax LX offered not only the widest variety of prisms - all metered, but also provided the widest range of eye relief as well as built-in diopter adjustments. Additionally, the Pentax LX small size puts it in the category of other fixed prism cameras.  All the cameras with changeable prisms also had changeable focusing screens. So this added another level of flexibility by allowing a variety of screens. From what I have seen, the Canon New F-1 (1981 model) offered the widest selection. For instance changing screens give the option of spot metering. Canon also introduced a split image rangefinder screen that never blacks out even when using slow lenses or bellows. No doubt not everyone needed the flexibility of changeable viewfinders and focusing screens and this generally saves cost, weight, size and complexity. BTW, nice collection there. I see you have at least two other bodies I am looking to acquire - the Canonflex and Canon F-1. |
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Post by lesdmess on Feb 23, 2015 12:45:33 GMT -5
Overhead shot of the bodies without viewfinders installed.  The Topcon/Beseler B has no metered viewfinder. The Nikon F has metered viewfinders which also held the batteries. Metering only with appropriate prisms. The Nikon F2 incorporated batteries in the body but metering is still in the appropriate viewfinders only. The XK incorporated batteries in the body but metering is in the appropriate viewfinders only. Note that without a prism, there is no indication of the shutter speed, ASA/ISO and compensation setting - all on the viewfinder. The New F-1 incorporated batteries and metering in the body but without the prism, you cannot see the meter settings. The F3 incorporated batteries and metering in the body and is fully functional without a prism on if you can view the tiny LCD. The LX is fully functional without a viewfinder and the LED meters are easiest to see. |
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Post by belgiumreporter on Feb 23, 2015 12:58:25 GMT -5
Well, the canon F1 isn't that hard to find, the canonflex is another story, but even then i have seen a few passing for less than i've paid mine ( it seems to me the canonflex range is devaluating exept for the flex 2000 and the black versions)The Minolta XM is the real tough one, but i see we both have one so that's one less problem ;-) I myselve still need a Pentax LX but i haven't found one for the right price and i am a bit afraid of buying one online because it's a camera where a few expensive things can go wrong wich you won't notice untill you start using the camera. Another problem is finding the alternative prisms or viewfinders as often, if you find one, they'll set you back more than you paid for the camera. Anyway, interchangable viewfinders have fascinated me from the moment i got my exacta way back in the sixties, and now they are one of the main themes of my collection.
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Post by lesdmess on Feb 23, 2015 13:14:13 GMT -5
Well, the canon F1 isn't that hard to find, the canonflex is another story, but even then i have seen a few passing for less than i've paid mine ( it seems to me the canonflex range is devaluating exept for the flex 2000 and the black versions)The Minolta XM is the real tough one, but i see we both have one so that's one less problem ;-) I myselve still need a Pentax LX but i haven't found one for the right price and i am a bit afraid of buying one online because it's a camera where a few expensive things can go wrong wich you won't notice untill you start using the camera. Another problem is finding the alternative prisms or viewfinders as often, if you find one, they'll set you back more than you paid for the camera. Anyway, interchangable viewfinders have fascinated me from the moment i got my exacta way back in the sixties, and now they are one of the main themes of my collection. As you said, it's not that I haven't found one, it's just not in the condition and price I would like! You are right about the viewfinders/accessories, they can get pricier than the bodies themselves. I have been just exercising patience as it has taken quite awhile to accumulate these reasonably. The two Pentax LX's I have are fully functional and factory accurate. The only camera I have encountered (of any brand and model or year) that can aperture priority auto expose a scene for as long as it takes (or batteries die) and monitor the scene while adjusting exposure accordingly. I have conducted hours long exposures on either and they are accurate and repeatable. |
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Post by philbirch on Feb 23, 2015 19:30:00 GMT -5
I have one that you don't appear to have
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Post by belgiumreporter on Feb 24, 2015 5:32:33 GMT -5
I have one that you don't appear to have Well...then show it !  When seeing lesdmess collection i also noticed i've "forgotten" the topcon cameras. i do have one or two but not the interchnangable viewfinder ones. Problem with topcon is that they seem to have been mainly sold in the US. (maybe because US military chose them over nikon as their non lethal shooting gear). This makes it virtually inpossible to find a super D or Dm for a reasonable price here in Europe all the ones i've seen on Ebay for prices i would be willing to pay were in the US, buying in the US adds a non acceptable fee to the price of the camera consisting of postage, inport duty's and money transfers. So unless one day i'll find one it will stay an empty spot in my camera display... Crazy thing about this was that my uncle who owned a camera store in the 70'ties did sell topcon, i remember him having two black super Dm's with winder on display in his store, but back then nobody wanted them, not even at a hefty discount. |
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Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
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Post by Stephen on Feb 24, 2015 7:30:50 GMT -5
I have one that you don't appear to have ...... There is Miranda..... and Practica in the form of the RTL Exakta...and the Russian Start. |
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Post by lesdmess on Feb 24, 2015 9:29:01 GMT -5
Already shown here are models from Canon, Exakta, Minolta, Miranda, Nikon, Pentax and Topcon. There are many more brands and models not represented here that I am aware of such as - Edixa, Praktica and Praktina. There are likely many others that I am not aware of so please share what you have. The main reasons for changeable prism cameras is flexibility to change viewing perspectives. Usually eye and waist level. However, both perspectives are not limited to interchangeable VF cameras. There are usually 90° adapters available for fixed prism SLRs - like the Olympus OM Varimagni Finder shown below, but not many has a built-in 2.5X magnifier. Not only does this accessory fit Olympus OM cameras, but I have found it to fit practically most of my SLRs. Then there is the Ricoh TLS401 which is the only camera I have encountered with a dual perspective design built-in - eye and waist level. Each perspective is selectable by a change over knob on the side of the prism and a sliding cover on top of the prism.  So there are alternatives if you just need eye and waist level. |
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Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
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Post by Stephen on Feb 24, 2015 12:30:36 GMT -5
I have one that you don't appear to have Crazy thing about this was that my uncle who owned a camera store in the 70'ties did sell topcon, i remember him having two black super Dm's with winder on display in his store, but back then nobody wanted them, not even at a hefty discount. Very much the same wih our other shop who stocked the Topcon range, the issue was the UK importer, who did not stock lenses, "only to order" and was always slow on service. The top model sat there for two years......and was the model owned by the manager who always pushed them on quality. Stephen. |
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Post by philbirch on Feb 24, 2015 19:55:25 GMT -5
Crazy thing about this was that my uncle who owned a camera store in the 70'ties did sell topcon, i remember him having two black super Dm's with winder on display in his store, but back then nobody wanted them, not even at a hefty discount. Very much the same wih our other shop who stocked the Topcon range, the issue was the UK importer, who did not stock lenses, "only to order" and was always slow on service. The top model sat there for two years......and was the model owned by the manager who always pushed them on quality. Stephen. Stephen, We didn't even sell Topcons in my second shop because of the importer's slowness. Its a shame. My only interchangeable viewfinder camera at present. The first West german SLR with a focal plane shutter for many years.  |
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