A quick guide to camera focusing systems : Rangefinders

One of my main passions in photography is collecting cameras, and in I have cameras of all shapes and sizes. This got me thinking about the different ways that they one finds the focus with each camera and so this is the aim in these posts.

In this post I will go into the Rangefinder camera.

Now, “What’s a rangefinder camera?”  I hear you ask. Well read on and I will try my best to explain.

Rangefinder cameras were common from the 1930s to the 1970s, but the more advanced models lost ground to single-lens reflex, SLR, cameras. Rangefinder cameras have been made in all sizes and all film formats over the years, from 35mm through medium format, 120 film, to large-format press cameras. Until the mid-1950s most were generally fitted to more expensive models of cameras. In the 1960s many fixed-lens 35mm rangefinder cameras for the amateur market were produced by several manufacturers, mainly Japanese, including Canon, Mamiya, Minolta, Ricoh, and Yashica.

A selection of some of my Rangefinders.

Click image to view clearer

A Rangefinder is called so because of the mechanism used in the camera to find the distance needed for accurate focusing. A rangefinder camera is recognizable by having a viewfinder window built into the front of the top cover and a second smaller front facing window off to one side. 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.

A rangefinder is similar to an SLR camera in that there is an aid in the viewfinder that one uses to find the focusing point. The SLR has its viewfinder in the centre of the camera; this is due to the fact that the image is viewed through the lens via a mirror to the viewfinder. The Rangefinder, however, has a offset viewfinder from the lens. One does not view the image through the lens. No, because the viewfinder is offset from the lens, this means that one does not see exactly what the lens sees. This is known as parallax error. It is not really noticeable over larger distances, but one will notice it in close up shooting. This can be one of the down sides to using a Rangefinder.  

For extreme close-up photography, the rangefinder camera is awkward to use, as the viewfinder no longer points at the subject. If one uses filters that absorb much light or change the colour of the image, it can be difficult to view, and focus on an SLR, but the image through a rangefinder viewfinder is unaffected. On the other hand some filters, such as graduated filters and polarizers are best used with SLRs as the effects they create need to be viewed through the viewfinder as to see the desired effect.

In these photographs of the view in the view finder, you can see how the pipe on the wall of the house is doubled and in the other photograph the pipe is single, meaning it is now focused on that point.

This video provides a look through the viewfinder of my Minolta F camera. You can see how the image in the centre square is out of line. You are looking to make the image line up in the centre and this means that that section of the image is now in focus. If you were to put your finger over the RF window at the front of the camera (this is the window that is close to the lens) the second image will disappear from the viewfinder.

The fact that the viewfinder is set to the side is particularly good for those who choose to take street photographs. The reason for this is that whilst one has their eye looking in the viewfinder, the other eye can be open to give you a better sense of what is about to enter your frame. This, I feel, is the main reason why a lot of Street photographers choose Rangefinders such as LeicaM8’s. 

The other great thing about Rangefinders is the way the shutter works, with most a using cloth plan shutter. This means there is no moving mirror and so less shutter lag and also by the fact that the view is not through the lens, there is no black out whilst the shutter is open from a mirror being flipped up.

Rangefinder cameras are what essentially ushered in a new era of photography during the middle third of the last century, the rangefinder camera allowed the photographer make quick exposures without sacrificing precision focusing.

Rangefinders do have their limitations, such as that you don’t get mega zooms and mostly using prime lenses.(but one does have their own legs that make a great zoom function),but their use for Street photography and their more compact size, are two very good reasons to go out and try a Rangefinder camera.

Written by Paul Hemming

@Big World Picture Dot Com

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