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Thread: Vari-Format Viewing Frame

  1. #1
    Virtually Grey Steve Gledhill's Avatar
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    Vari-Format Viewing Frame

    I’ve seen occasional references to view cards or viewing frames. Here’s my vari-format viewer which I couldn’t survive without. Made from nothing more than 1 inch or 25mm strip pine, wood glue for the 4 corners and duct tape for the hinges. My prototype, which I lost in Yellowstone 3 years ago, was made from foam core. I moved up market with this one!

    Next post will have a couple of construction shots.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 5x4.jpg   5x3.jpg   5x2.jpg   4x4.jpg  

  2. #2
    Virtually Grey Steve Gledhill's Avatar
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    Re: Vari-Format Viewing Frame

    And the construction shots ...
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails All Hinges.jpg   Hinge.jpg  

  3. #3

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    Re: Vari-Format Viewing Frame

    That's cool.

    I don't use a viewing frame, not sure why I don't, and not sure why I'd need one

    Yours looks great though!

  4. #4
    C. D. Keth's Avatar
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    Re: Vari-Format Viewing Frame

    No string attached to show your focal lengths?
    Chris

    Quote Originally Posted by Pawlowski6132 View Post
    Grow a pair and go shoot.

  5. #5

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    Re: Vari-Format Viewing Frame

    I made a similar thing for 4x5 out of mat board with a string according to Alan Ross's directions. I use it most of the time and it works very well for determining focal length without second guessing. The nice thing about matboard is that it is flexible and conforms to my pack well.

  6. #6
    Virtually Grey Steve Gledhill's Avatar
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    Re: Vari-Format Viewing Frame

    Quote Originally Posted by Christopher D. Keth View Post
    No string attached to show your focal lengths?
    For frame to nose I use:

    full hand span for 210mm lens
    4 knuckles for 135mm lens
    2 knuckles for 90mm lens

    So, no string. That would be over-engineered!

  7. #7
    C. D. Keth's Avatar
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    Re: Vari-Format Viewing Frame

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Gledhill View Post
    For frame to nose I use:

    full hand span for 210mm lens
    4 knuckles for 135mm lens
    2 knuckles for 90mm lens

    So, no string. That would be over-engineered!
    Touché, Sir. Very nicely thought out.
    Chris

    Quote Originally Posted by Pawlowski6132 View Post
    Grow a pair and go shoot.

  8. #8

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    Re: Vari-Format Viewing Frame

    Rube Goldberg had a football helmet with an upside down "shoe-sizer" attatched to the TDC. Instead of "knuckles" he went by shoe size to determine focal length. : ))
    Last edited by Clueless Winddancing; 16-Oct-2008 at 19:51. Reason: spelling

  9. #9

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    Re: Vari-Format Viewing Frame

    I generally just "eyeball" the scene/focal length.
    But I'd like to point out the optical viewfinder used on Speed/Crown Graphics, often sold for $10-25 on ebay. There are various drop-in masks from its unmasked 135mm to 15" Tele-Raptar FOV, as well as masks for 6x6 and 6x7 roll film.
    Wilhelm (Sarasota)

  10. #10
    jesskramer jesskramer's Avatar
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    Re: Vari-Format Viewing Frame

    Steve,

    What are the dimensions of the opening before you flip any cropping pieces in place ?

    Any additional construction tips would be appreciated.

    Thanks,

    Jesse

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