What is a 'Rangefinder' camera?

AndyWest

AndyWest

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What is it for exactly and what does the 'rangefinder' bit mean?
 
A rangefinder camera is a camera fitted with a rangefinder: a range-finding focusing mechanism allowing the photographer to measure the subject distance and take photographs that are in sharp focus. Most varieties of rangefinder show two images of the same subject, one of which moves when a calibrated wheel is turned; when the two images coincide and fuse into one, the distance can be read off the wheel. Older, non-coupled rangefinder cameras display the focusing distance and require the photographer to transfer the value to the lens focus ring; cameras without built-in rangefinders could have an external rangefinder fitted into the accessory shoe. Earlier cameras of this type had separate viewfinder and rangefinder windows; later the rangefinder was incorporated into the viewfinder. More modern designs have rangefinders coupled to the focusing mechanism, so that the lens is focused correctly when the rangefinder images fuse.
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Link

;)

Try the focussing bit and you'll see the cropping lines and how you focus with a rangefinder.
 
fabs said:
You're quite right. I'll just ask Marcel to switch off the TP servers and we'll all just use google from now on.
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:lol:

The op asked on here guys, sometimes I cant be harrised to google either.I find the knowledge and experience on here far more worthy and direct. Give the guy a break.
 
AndyWest said:
What is it for exactly and what does the 'rangefinder' bit mean?
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In addition to th eanswers already given, they are great fun too. I was permanently loaned a 1960's Kodak one by one of my mechanics and its a very clever piece of kit and a lovely way to get back into film whilst trying something that isn't an SLR format. :thumbs:
 
fabs said:
You're quite right. I'll just ask Marcel to switch off the TP servers and we'll all just use google from now on.
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I asked here as i know i'll get a quick good answer rather than trawl through pages of stuff. Some people like to help others as i do as much as i can.

Why didn't you write your reply in google.

:cuckoo:
 
AndyWest said:
I asked here as i know i'll get a quick good answer rather than trawl through pages of stuff. Some people like to help others as i do as much as i can.
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Yep I agree 100% Andy
Plus you can't argue back with google when you don't believe / like
the (generic)
answer :lol:
fabs said:
Not sure who that's aimed at Andy.
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100% sure he meant you Marc :p


banhim banhim banhim :D
 
py6km said:
Andy - don't you actually have a rangefinder lens for your GF1 (Voigtlander Ultron) !?
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No, i sold it...needed the dosh.

I asked the orig question as someone referred the GF1 to a Rangefinder camera and i didn't know if this was a technical thing or a style thing. This would be difficult to find on the net hence asking here plus others come in with good examples of cameras they have used which is always interesting.
 
AndyWest said:
No, i sold it...needed the dosh.

I asked the orig question as someone referred the GF1 to a Rangefinder camera and i didn't know if this was a technical thing or a style thing. This would be difficult to find on the net hence asking here plus others come in with good examples of cameras they have used which is always interesting.
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I don't know too much about it but I think it's more just to do with the size isn't it?
 
grum said:
I don't know too much about it but I think it's more just to do with the size isn't it?
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Actually no. They do (did I suppose now) tend to be fairly compact though. But cyclones answer is pretty much spot on.

Great for street use, very fast to focus considering it was manual. My first ever real camera was a Yashica rangefinder.
 
POAH said:
downside is you don't see what the lens is seeing and manual focus. what old cameras used to be like.
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The error is so small that it's not even an issue (as well as the fact that rangefinder lenses are all primes, with the possible exception of about 1-2 lenses across all manufacturers). Some cameras have brightlines which vary their position based on focal length anyway, so they correct for the already negligible error.
 
Actually it wasn't that bad. You do get paralax error close up (where the viewfinder doesn't see what the lens sees). But at normal distances, say 3 or 4 feet it was fine.
 
cyclone said:
No problem. It's the first paragraph of the Wikipedia page which is the first link that appears if you google "rangefinder" :lol:
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And why would i want to do that seeing as i have you lot? :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
 
POAH said:
panasonic? cause they aint rangefinders you see an image on a screen taken through the lens
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Nope. Contax

2470220577_8b5b9169a8.jpg


Stunning range of Zeiss lenses too.
 
POAH said:
panasonic? cause they aint rangefinders you see an image on a screen taken through the lens
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No, Contax G1 and Contax G2. Came out long before the panasonic ( which i believe is a Digicam; and as far as i know, Leica is the only one who makes Digi RF)
 
Didn't Epson do a digital rangefinder? The R-D1.
It never really seemed to catch on though.
 
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