What are rangefinders? Rangefinder cameras. rangefinder lens

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:46

Life flies so fast that you don't always have time to capture its brightest and most significant moments. High-quality images are exactly the means and solution that allows you to save a moment on paper and in digital format forever.

However, the approach to photographic equipment and cameras is not the same for users. There are many options for choosing devices for shooting: from simple "soap cameras" to professional and expensive "DSLRs".

Between these whales of the photography market are rangefinder cameras.

Rangefinders - what is it?

Even the uninitiated know what a "soap box" is and what a professional camera is. But what are rangefinders? Let's try to answer this question.

A rangefinder camera is one of the subtypes of photographic equipment that uses a rangefinder to fix the sharpness. The latter is a device that is used to measure the distance from the shooter to the desired target. Everything is extremely simple and clear.

Rangefinder cameras have evolved over time:

• Rangefinder non-paired - with itsusing the distance is determined in one window, and looks at the frame in another.
• Rangefinder + viewfinder.
• Rangefinder connected to the lens.
• Rangefinder complete with parallax compensator.

History of Creation

Having de alt with what rangefinders are, let's move on to the essence of the creation and history of this photographic equipment.

Rangefinder cameras appeared in the distant revolutionary 1917. The first such camera at one time was the product of the Kodak company. By the way, at the moment this company, as the founder of rangefinders, continues to produce them.

In 1925, a new player appeared on the market for such photographic equipment - the Leika company. The rangefinder for such devices was provided as an accessory.

In 1932, the Leica and Kodak companies released new cameras that were much more compact and more efficient than their predecessors. The rangefinder is already beginning to be combined with the video scaler.

Since the 1930s rangefinders are becoming market leaders in cameras. It wasn't until the 1960s that SLR cameras began to push them out of the market.

Currently, the Sony camera is the most progressive and high-quality rangefinder unit that will suit a wide range of users.

When it became clear what a rangefinder is and what prospects it has on the market, firms began to expand the range of such goods. Rangefinders were produced in different variations: small, medium and large format. To small format rangefinder cameras since the 1950s beganinclude devices of the Nikon brand, which have occupied their niche in the market of photographic equipment abroad.

Dignity

It's time to talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the described devices. What are rangefinders? This is a complex technique that has its positive and negative sides. Having figured out what rangefinders are, you can move on to their positive aspects.

• Unlike simple "soap boxes", rangefinders have a less noisy shutter. This allows the photographer not to draw such attention to himself.
• The rangefinder camera is much better than its competitors in taking photos in motion due to the short interval of pressing the shutter button.
• Viewfinder does not overlap when shooting.
• The camera is very compact unlike bulky cameras. In the rangefinder, you can use a folding lens. This makes it even more compact.
• Modern range finders have a viewfinder. It shows the frame in full, while the sight of the "reflex cameras" displays only 90-93% of the necessary information. Some rangefinders have a wider field of view than DSLRs. This makes it easier to frame the picture.

Flaws

Unfortunately or fortunately, rangefinder cameras have no less disadvantages than advantages. Some moments are classified as negative because photographic equipment is advancing by leaps and bounds. Much has already been changed technically.

• If the distance from you to the subject of photography is about five meters, then focusing in this case will not work well. This is one of the main shortcomings of the rangefinder camera.
• It's not easy to work with a polarization filter. He is very specific.
• Macro photography is difficult.
• There is parallax framing inaccuracy.
• With the rangefinder, you can take pictures without removing the lens. This is a typical error that is deliberately not corrected by manufacturers. In SLR cameras, you cannot take pictures with the lid closed.
• The rangefinder lens is inferior in performance to its direct competitors in the market.
• Difficult to work with filters.

Jupiter-9 is a quality rangefinder lens

It would be wrong if rangefinder cameras were used without additional accessories. There are devices that make shooting more productive, high-quality and efficient.

The Jupiter-9 rangefinder is a long focal length lens now used for both SLR and rangefinder cameras.

It was originally called ZK-85. This means that Zonnar Krasnogorsky had a focal length of 85 millimeters. To be more precise, this value was 84.46 millimeters.

The rangefinder lens was produced in Krasnogorsk. Later it was collected in Lytkarino. It was designed for rangefinder or SLR cameras that had an adapter ring ("Jupiter-9A").

In fact, there are several modifications of the Jupiter-9 device:

• Rangefinder with M39 mount.
• "SLR" with M39 mount.
• Nine "Jupiter" with "Contact" mount.
• "SLR" with M42 mount.

The difference between rangefinder and DSLR/mirrorless technology

The principle of the rangefinder device is different from other cameras. For example, to obtain maximum sharpness when aiming in a rangefinder camera, you need to rotate the lens ring. In the "reflex camera" this is not required.

• The rangefinders have better photo quality.
• They are much lighter in weight.
• Their lenses are more compact.
• The rangefinder lens is always of high quality.
• Excellent focus in the dark.

BUT!

• You never know what you will end up with. When shooting, the viewfinder is further away from the lens. It is difficult to count on a clear result.
• Rangefinder lenses are not designed to fit special effects lenses.
• Continuous camera maintenance and adjustment required.
• Weak focus.
• No macro photography.

Digital rangefinder camera "Leika M9". Short Description

Modern rangefinder cameras are still on the market today. This is not the case when things are sent to the dustbin of history or forgotten altogether.

Firm "Leika" ontoday produces the best rangefinder cameras. Consider the Lake M9 model. This is the best rangefinder camera of our time. We list only the main advantages of this device:

• M9 is a compact size camera. Despite this, it is very practical and comfortable.
• The camera is smaller than any DSLR lens.
• Excellent build quality.
• Simple and clear menu. The settings are adapted to the average amateur photographer and everyone can handle them.
• "Leica M9" is compatible even with those lenses that were released in the 1950s.
• Resolution - more than 18 megapixels.
• No need to use high ISO values.

That's it, I'm buying

Often amateur photographers prefer rangefinder modern digital cameras. They have a right to it. We will only try to briefly explain why it is worth buying these cameras, and why not, starting with an unambiguous option - “buy!”.

• Style and charm. From these cameras breathes the spirit of history. You will stand out from the rest of the photographers.
• Easy. The device is light and handy. This will allow you to take it with you wherever you go.
• Image quality. It has been consistently high throughout the century.
• Easy control. Camera settings are very simple and will not cause any difficulties.
• Photo on the go. In high speed mode, the rangefinder camera can please with its quality.
• In the modern rangefinder market, the Sony camera is an excellent choice forphotographer. This company specializes in this technique.

Buy? No way

There are things to consider when buying a rangefinder. And they are with a minus sign:

• No macro photography. An amateur will ask: “What is this anyway?”. However, we know that without this option it is difficult to imagine a modern full-fledged camera.
• Discrepancy between price and quality. It has long been proven that modern SLR cameras are better than modern rangefinder digital cameras. However, the price of a rangefinder can be at or even higher than that of a DSLR. For example, for the Lake M9 you will have to pay $ 6,500. Given the growth of the dollar, this is a lot of money.
• "Junk of history". It has been proven that there are cameras that take much better photos than rangefinders. They lost their market leadership in the middle of the twentieth century. From a technical and professional point of view, rangefinders fade into the background, remaining only an expensive toy in the hands of history buffs.