Amazed at the Viewfinder size on a film SLR

I thought my 1DmkIII had a nice big viewfinder until I used an old Olympus OM1 (I think) today. Flipping heck, what a difference. Now why are viewfinders so dull and small compared to the older SLR's - And, why are the bodies so much bigger?



Mike

LOL... Film. The original FF sensor.

I prepared a table on this exact topic area, some time ago...

https://photography-on-the.net …hp?p=3564305&po​stcount=53

Part of the problem is the sensor size scales down the viewfinder size. But part of the problem is cramming more and more information into the viewfinder area, so that the image area must be reduced to fit all the extra information! The OM-4 viewfinder is noticably smaller than the OM-1 viewfinder for exactly that reason. We can also blame cost control as having a role as well, as maintaining viewfinder size has gotten more costly...which is why candy bars are more expensive AND smaller!

I have to say the OM 1 (n) has such a good viewfinder that manual focusing is a breeze. Not that easy with today's SLR's. I hope that Canon brings out a compact DSL like that one day. Hmm, now I'm thinking of buying one, then again, I was on a Leica M8 trip a week ago

Wilt wrote in post #5473310
I prepared a table on this exact topic area, some time ago...

https://photography-on-the.net …hp?p=3564305&po​stcount=53

Part of the problem is the sensor size scales down the viewfinder size. But part of the problem is cramming more and more information into the viewfinder area, so that the image area must be reduced to fit all the extra information! The OM-4 viewfinder is noticably smaller than the OM-1 viewfinder for exactly that reason. We can also blame cost control as having a role as well, as maintaining viewfinder size has gotten more costly...which is why candy bars are more expensive AND smaller!

Very interesting. I didn't realise the viewfinder on the 1DsIII was that much larger than on the 1DIII.

echo wrote in post #5473355
I have to say the OM 1 (n) has such a good viewfinder that manual focusing is a breeze. Not that easy with today's SLR's. I hope that Canon brings out a compact DSL like that one day. Hmm, now I'm thinking of buying one, then again, I was on a Leica M8 trip a week ago

The OM also uses a screen which is meant for human eyes to judge focus (a coarser surface), whereas the modern dSLR could care less about manual focus determination (a smoother, brighter surface)!

Did you try it with a f/1.4 lens?

I tried with both the 28mm (very nice) and 50. I think it was an f/1.8 but not certain.

I was out shooting some cool clouds yesterday, had the Elan and 10D with me, switching between the two was a world of difference, I had to squint much less on the elan.

On my old Petri SLR which is manual everything, I rarely get focus correct unless the subject is very very bright. It has some goofy circles with crosshatching in them on the focusing screen, I usually just guess to see if its in focus. When wearing my glasses its a pain, and when not wearing my glasses im not sure if my eyes are in focus or the lens is.

randerson07 wrote in post #5479350
...It has some goofy circles with crosshatching in them on the focusing screen, I usually just guess to see if its in focus.

Microprisms! Between them and the split-screen (or "split-image") in the middle, you can focus on just about anything. The only problem is with darker lenses, you might see the split-screen turn black on one side or another first, followed by the microprisms blacking out.

Microprism: Minute glass or plastic structure of multiple prisms set in a viewfinder screen to act as a focusing aid. Breaks up an out-of-focus subject into a shimmer but images a focused subject clearly. Will not work satisfactorily at lens apertures smaller than f5.6.

Split-screen: Form of rangefinder image, bisected so that the two halves of the image are aligned only when the correct object distance is set on the instrument or. in the case of a coupled rangefinder, when the lens is correctly focused. SLR cameras may have a prismatic split-image system in their viewing screen. Works on the same principle as a microprism, and is restricted to apertures of f5.6 or greater.

Its not a split screen at least I dont think it is, here is a link to the manual about the focusing screen
http://www.butkus.org …tri_ftee/petri_​ftee-2.htm

If you read what it says there it says when in focus the mesh fades away, well when using a smaller aperture say 5.6 and up, the grid is almost black and no matter how long I sit and try to get good focus the mesh never goes away.

Its a fun camera tho I just have to use it outdoors.

Ahh, okay - you don't have a split-screen; looks more like the microprism variety there...

It's not supposed to go away. You kind of move the "mesh" back and forth a little over some contrasty area and focus until there's no shifting of the target. But yeah, when it goes dark it's just about useless.

It has an automatic aperture mode where it stays wide open until the shot is taken, just like our Dslrs do but because I was not able to use the old school mercury battery the meter is meant to run off, when using the auto mode the exposure is off, im pretty sure it over exposes, I havent shot enough through it to know for sure.