Director's Viewfinder

D10S

D10S

Well-known member
Is anyone using a Director's Viewfinder? If so which one? Now that I am shooting and changing lens I can see how one would be useful to figure out which lens to pull out both on location and during scouts. Also which camera setting would you use for an F3?
 
I use an iphone App called Artemis Director's Viewfinder. You tell it the model of camera and the type and focal length of the lens and it simulates the FOV. It's pricey, like $39.95, but that's about 1/10 or less the cost of a "real" one.
 
Alan Gordon Mark Vb

This is pretty much the industry standard for director viewfinders that do not mount the actual lens you want to use.

Directors Viewfinder - Manufactured by Alan Gordon Enterprises, Inc. - Hollywood, CA 90038

These run about $700 new, but you can find them used for a lot less.

I have one and intend to use it with the F3. Set the aspect ratio to 16x9 and your film size is 35mm.

I don't know if you have ever used one, but keep in mind that the image does not fill the entire viewfinder. Instead you will see a rather small frame cropped to whatever aspect ratio you have set it to floating against a black background. It's not the most high-tech solution out there, but one might call it "An elegant tool for a more civilized time."

The problem with the iPhone apps is that you are limited on the wide end to the focal length of the iPhone, which I think is equivalent to a 35mm in still photography (135 format, full frame, 36x24). So, if you want to see what a 18mm on S35 looks like you are SOL.

MarkVbAngled.jpg
 
Last edited:
Yes, on wide focal lengths Artemis will show you the center of the frame with arrows pointing outwards to indicate that the frame actually extends out further. Not a perfect solution by any means, but for $30 it's not a bad option.
 
Acacia for Android has a basic director's viewfinder built in, as well as some other tools (lens info, media management) And it is free! (or donation). However, you are still limited at the wide end. My HTC has a FOV roughly equivalent to a 20mm lens on s35.
 
Have not used a directors viewfinder in many years. For location scouting now I mainly use Artemis on an iPhone or an HDSLR with the same size sensor of my A cam, and a couple of zooms.
 
I used the AG viewfinder for years. The longer the focal length the smaller the image. It was so so. I also used a cheap analog ( full aperture) SLR with a 18 to 200 zoom and masked the viewfinder to fit the format and film size. Worked much better.
 
There used to be a few companies around that sold focus screens for Nikon etc that had various markings for 1:85 etc.

Some people use an entry level DSLR with APS-C sensor and appropriate lens. It's pretty close to S35.
 
I use an old Nikon SLR (film camera) and either drag around my lenses, or stick a zoom on it. Works for me and especially great for scouting a location, etc.. .
 
But a Nikon film SLR is full frame and the F3 is Super35. Two entirely different formats, unless you are shooting Vista Vision...

Do you have a focusing screen with S35 markings?
 
Even with the crop factor I still get a pretty good idea... If you want something more accurate use a DSLR with APS-C sensor or buy a proper viewfinder.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top