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Rick
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 12:44 pm: | 
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I have a Nikkormat FTN with which I've shot all sorts of subjects since I bought it in 1972. Recently I discovered that during very precise tabletop photography that the eyepiece does not accurately disclose the area photographed. Specifically, in a horizontal mode, shooting at 9' with a 135 mm lens, about 1 3/4 inches is recorded above what the eyepiece records, and about 1/2 inch below. I pressed my eye carefully to the lens. I repeated this several times to make sure.
Is this problem built into these relatively ancient workhorse cameras? Or can this be repaired? |
charlie
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 02:04 pm: |
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Because of all the possible tolerances in SLR viewing (mirror placement, mirror pivot slop, prism placement, prism manuf. tolerances, etc., etc.) I think they purposely make the image smaller than the actual field of view. I have read 85% to 90% of the final image is the industry standard. Someone else may have 1/2 inch above and 1 3/4 below. As long as you know you can plan for it. |
rick
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 03:36 pm: |
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The number of SLRs with 100% viewfinder coverage is almost zero. The Nikon F and F2 come to mind, there are probably a couple of others. Nikkormats are not among them.
A case could be made that it is not even desirable to have a 100% viewfinder, as there is almost no such thing as a 100% print or slide except in cases where the outer unexposed film area is left in the final image. For most people, it's better to get 100% of your intended image than to utilize 100% of your film area. Of course, those who feel otherwise are entitled to their views as well.
 = |
M Currie
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 04:25 pm: |
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I have read that the Nikkormat FTn has 92 percent coverage, which is pretty common. I think the idea is, as rick says, that it's better to get a little too much in than to miss a little, especially since slide mounts often encroach on the image area. I still prefer the F's unflinching 100 percent coverage. Let the photographer do the thinking.
Here's a link for Nikkormat specs. Part of a deep, wide and juicy site for all sorts of Nikon lore, well worth bookmarking:
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/fseries/ftn/index.htm |
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