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Re: [OM] Ralph Gibson-seeing

Subject: Re: [OM] Ralph Gibson-seeing
From: Winsor Crosby <wincros@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2001 12:11:57 -0700
Another point Mr. Gibson made got me thinking about something that I have thought about from time to time. My first real camera was also a rangefinder and when someone decided he should take it from me, I was ready for the versatility of an SLR. One thing I noticed was that frequently the rangefinder pics were stronger compositions than the pics I took with the SLR. I eventually chalked it up to the idea that there was so much in the way of image size variability, frames and rangefinder field in the viewfinder that something that looked good through all that "stuff" had to be pretty strong. As a result I have considered using the focusing screen with the grid to see whether the introduction of some dissonance in the view would have the same effect. I have not tried it yet.

Another advantage is that you can switch lens fields in the viewfinder so that you can preview what a different lens on the camera would produce. I have frequently wished I had some way to do that with my Olympus without changing lenses, looking, deciding that is not what I want, and changing back or trying a different lens. Of course I could buy one of the accessory multi-lens viewers made by Leica, but that is a lot of money.

Gibson thinks that the advantage of the rangefinder is the clear field. Unlike an SLR which needs to be pointed, then focused to just look for a possible photograph, a rangefinder viewfinder can be just pointed and looked through for picture possibilities. He thinks that lack of an extra step gives you a chance to look at lots more compositional possibilities. That may explain why the early Leicaflexes had a clear field with a microprism spot in the middle. It gave an exceptionally bright view like actually looking through a window. Since Leica users were used to consulting a depth of field table anyway when it was critical loss of it with this screen was not a big issue. It might also be fun to play with a similar screen to see whether "seeing" is affected.


--
Winsor Crosby
Long Beach, California
mailto:wincros@xxxxxxxxxxx

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