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Rangefinder camera
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== Pros and cons == === Viewfinder parallax === [[File:Rangefinder window.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.36|Example of the unfocused and focused image in rangefinder window]] The viewfinder of a rangefinder camera is offset from the picture-taking lens so that the image viewed is not exactly what will be recorded on the film; this [[parallax]] error is negligible at large subject distances but becomes significant as the distance decreases. For extreme close-up photography, the rangefinder camera is awkward to use, as the viewfinder no longer points at the subject. More advanced rangefinder cameras project into the viewfinder a brightline frame that moves as the lens is focused, correcting parallax error down to the minimum distance at which the rangefinder functions. The angle of view of a given lens also changes with distance, and the brightline frames in the finders of a few cameras automatically adjust for this as well. In contrast, the viewfinder pathway of an SLR transmits an image directly "through the lens". This eliminates [[parallax]] errors at any subject distance, thus allowing for [[macro photography]]. It also removes the need to have separate viewfinders for different lens focal lengths. In particular, this allows for extreme telephoto lenses which would otherwise be very hard to focus and compose with a rangefinder. Furthermore, the through-the-lens view allows the viewfinder to directly display the [[depth of field]] for a given aperture, which is not possible with a rangefinder design. To compensate for this, rangefinder users often use [[Depth of field#Zone focusing|zone focusing]], which is especially applicable to the rapid-fire approach to street photography. === Large lenses block viewfinder === Larger lenses may block a portion of the view seen through the viewfinder, potentially a significant proportion. A side effect of this is that lens designers are forced to use smaller designs. Lens hoods used for rangefinder cameras may have a different shape to those with other cameras, with openings cut out of them to increase the visible area. === Difficulty integrating zoom lenses === The rangefinder design is not readily adapted for use with [[zoom lenses]], which have a continuously variable field of view. The only true zoom lens for rangefinder cameras is the Contax G2 Carl Zeiss 35–70 mm Vario-Sonnar T* Lens with built-in zoom viewfinder.<ref name="Contax G2 Vario Sonnar T">{{cite web | url = https://www.casualphotophile.com/2018/01/19/contax-g2-camera-review-the-anti-rangefinder-thats-in-a-class-of-its-own/ | publisher = Casual Photophile | title = Contax G2 Camera Review – The Anti-Rangefinder That's in a Class of Its Own |author=James Tocchio|date=January 19, 2018|website=www.casualphotophile.com|access-date=October 11, 2018}}</ref> A very few lenses, such as the Konica M-Hexanon Dual or Leica Tri-Elmar, let the user select among two or three focal lengths; the viewfinder must be designed to work with all focal lengths of any lens used. The rangefinder may become misaligned, leading to incorrect focusing. === Historically unobtrusive === Rangefinder cameras are often quieter, particularly with [[leaf shutter]]s, and smaller than competing SLR models. These qualities once made rangefinders more attractive for theater photography, some portrait photography, candid and [[street photography]], and any application where an SLR is too large or obtrusive. However, today mirrorless digital cameras are capable of excellent low light performance, are much smaller and completely silent. === Absence of mirror === The absence of a mirror allows the rear element of lenses to project deep into the camera body, making high-quality wide-angle lenses easier to design. The [[Cosina|Voigtländer]] 12 mm lens is the widest-angle [[rectilinear lens]] in general production, with a 121-degree angle of view; only recently have equivalent SLR lenses become available, though optically inferior. The absence of a mirror also means that rangefinder lenses have the potential to be significantly smaller than equivalent lenses for SLRs as they need not accommodate mirror swing. This ability to have high quality lenses and camera bodies in a compact form made [[Leica camera]]s and other rangefinders particularly appealing to photojournalists. Since there is no moving mirror, as used in SLRs, there is no momentary blackout of the subject being photographed. === Field of view === Rangefinder viewfinders usually have a field of view slightly greater than the lens in use. This allows the photographer to be able to see what is going on outside of the frame, and therefore better anticipate the action, at the expense of a smaller image. In addition, with viewfinders with magnifications larger than 0.8x (e.g. some Leica cameras, the [[Epson]] [[Epson R-D1|RD-1/s]], [[Canon 7]], Nikon S, and in particular the [[Cosina Voigtländer|Voigtländer]] [[35mm Bessa|Bessa]] R3A and R3M with their 1:1 magnification), photographers can keep both eyes open and effectively see a floating viewfinder frame superimposed on their real world view. This kind of two-eyed viewing is also possible with an SLR, using a lens focal length that results in a net viewfinder magnification close to 1.0 (usually a focal length slightly longer than a [[normal lens]]); use of a much different focal length would result in a viewfinder with a different magnification than the open eye, making fusion of the images impossible. There is also the difference of the eye-level since the eye looking in the viewfinder actually sees the frame from slightly below the other eye. This means that the final image perceived by the viewer will not be totally even, but rather leaning on one side. This issue can be avoided by shooting in vertical (i.e. portrait) orientation, shooting style and framing allowing. === Use of filters === If filters that absorb much light or change the colour of the image are used, it is difficult to compose, 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 directly.
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