Press cameras often have the rangefinder on the right side. Smaller cameras (e.g. Leicas) have the viewfinder on the left side. Can anyone explain why this is so?
Just curious.
...Mike
Press cameras often have the rangefinder on the right side. Smaller cameras (e.g. Leicas) have the viewfinder on the left side. Can anyone explain why this is so?
Just curious.
...Mike
I'd assume it's because the majority of users are right-handed/right-eyed. Same as 35mm and digi cams.
With the rangefinder in the right side of a press camera, the photographer could keep both eyes open and use the rangefinder with his/her left eye while watching fast moving action unfold with his/her right eye.
Also, the flashgun was mounted on the left side of the camera.
Some cameras had the rangefinder on the top and weren't worth a darn for fast moving press photography.
So keeping the right eye "bare" (press camera) was found to be better for action, while left eye "bare" (Leica) style is better for slower, more contemplative composing?Originally Posted by Gem Singer
...Mike
Mike,
Press cameras used "potato masher' flashguns with large handles that also served as camera grips.
They were usually mounted on the left side of the camera.
Most photographers held the flash gun handle with their left hand and focused with their right hand. Therefore, the rangefinder was mounted on the right side so that they could focus and follow the action at the same time without having the camera in their face blocking the view.
Had nothing to do with contemplative vs faster action or the predominance of the right eye over the left eye..
It's been 61 years since I did press photography with a Speed Graphic, but that's how I remember learning to do it.
Yep, that's right - but if most folks in the world were left-eyed, that would probably be reversed don't you think?
The Master Technika has it on the right The Wista RF has it on the top.
Yep,
But most folks weren't lefties. So standard Speed Graphics were made with the rangefinders mounted on the right side and the flash gun mounted on the left side of the camera.
I believe that they could be modified with the rangefinder on the left and the flash gun mounted on the right for left handed photographers.
Interesting... but my Graphic press cameras both have the flash on the right side.
The Anniversary Graphic flash mounts to a bracket that surrounds the rangefinder... which is mounted on the right.
The Super Graphic can actually mount on both sides by moving the hand strap, but unless the handstrap is on the left one cannot use the electric shutter release.
Last edited by BrianShaw; 9-May-2010 at 16:46. Reason: "Right" means right side from the photographer's position at the rear of the camrea
... but that said...
having the flash on the left so one can grip and click makes sense since right handed focussing is much easier than left handed focussing!
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