Wanderlust Distance Guide
Having finally gotten an accurate external rangefinder, I have a new problem in focusing a Wanderlust precisely: the distance guide on the camera itself. The marked distances are significantly spaced out and are, of course, not uniform (with differences around the circumference becoming larger per meter as focus gets closer). When the focusing distance is between two marked points on the camera, I'm at a loss for what to do. What do others do?
Thanks in advance.
Re: Wanderlust Distance Guide
Add your own marks in between.
Re: Wanderlust Distance Guide
I wrapped half a strip of masking tape around the end of the cone, and marked the distances on that with a marker, because I could not see (without a loupe) the marks on the camera. I assume you could mount your ground glass and get a tape measure and add additional marks.
Re: Wanderlust Distance Guide
White gaff tape and pen, 3 points. 3', 5' and 30'. Then I guess distance and exposure.
Sometimes I add flash bulbs, just for fun.
Re: Wanderlust Distance Guide
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Tim Meisburger
I wrapped half a strip of masking tape around the end of the cone, and marked the distances on that with a marker, because I could not see (without a loupe) the marks on the camera. I assume you could mount your ground glass and get a tape measure and add additional marks.
Mounting ground glass and marking the distance with a marker is exactly what I was feared as the only solution. (And I agree that it is annoying how hard it is to read the numbers, but that's a less significant problem.) For large format film, with so limited a depth of field (absent blindingly bright light), guessing seems to be a poor solution. Too bad Wanderlust didn't spend (and charge) a bit more for a distance gauge that is both visible and more detailed. Thanks.
Re: Wanderlust Distance Guide
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Randy Moe
White gaff tape and pen, 3 points. 3', 5' and 30'. Then I guess distance and exposure.
Sometimes I add flash bulbs, just for fun.
Guessing is tough, though, with such a limited depth of field, no? I wonder whether there is an algorithm the mark the intermediate distances.
Re: Wanderlust Distance Guide
Consider the old hack of modifying a film holder with a cut-out that just fits a 45° angle finder or a cheap straight loupe. I use a Hasselblad clone angle finder. Fastening it to the holder is simple. Use Gaffer's if necessary. That way you can focus quickly on the center of the image, swap out the holder, insert the real thing and shoot. (If one is good, he can also aerial-focus without a ground glass in place. It is easiest to construct, too.)
Or use a sharp edge and mark the helix itself with several distances. That will not cause light leaks. No worry.
If there is enough interest I can make another one in a few minutes and post pictures.
Re: Wanderlust Distance Guide
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jac@stafford.net
Consider the old hack of modifying a film holder with a cut-out that just fits a 45° angle finder or a cheap straight loupe. I use a Hasselblad clone angle finder. Fastening it to the holder is simple. Use Gaffer's if necessary. That way you can focus quickly on the center of the image, swap out the holder, insert the real thing and shoot. (If one is good, he can also aerial-focus without a ground glass in place. It is easiest to construct, too.)
Or use a sharp edge and mark the helix itself with several distances. That will not cause light leaks. No worry.
If there is enough interest I can make another one in a few minutes and post pictures.
Thanks, but not sure I quite follow. Have already tried focusing on the glass using a straight loupe, but the glass that comes with the camera is not designed for this (and barely allows confirmation of infinity focus, once, under ideal conditions). Does the angle finder you recommend include ground glass (as opposed to resting on ground glass)? If so, the modification you suggest would be an ideal solution and I'd be most interested for any more details you can offer as to how.
Re: Wanderlust Distance Guide
Just work the textured surface of the plastic over with some 600 grit wet or dry and you will be able to use the whole screen for focusing and formatting.
Re: Wanderlust Distance Guide
A couple of things come to mind.
Color the distance markers with silver sharpie. It's a little sloppy but it does make the numbers readable. I found the marks to have a pretty usable range.
You haven't indicated the rangefinder you're using. The only reasonably priced, shoe mounted, range finders that I found (that measure metric instead of imperial) were the Blik ex-USSR units. I have one and it works fine. Cost me just around $25 (USD) including shipping from Ukraine.
One other thing, unless you're close to your subject the focus isn't that critical. Stop down a bit if you're concerned about sharpness and that should take car of your in-between issue.