Compositional aid - viewfinder/frame cutout

[ejnewman]

Been struggling with this one... I am after a simple viewfinder to help me find compositions, essentially a hole cut out of paper, although ideally it would be plastic due to rain etc.

Does anybody know of such a product? I know cinematographers use similar devices, perhaps more advanced than what I am talking about.

If not then its a trip to my local hardware store

Thanks for any advice.
Elliot

[aduke]

I have a small (3.5" square) device that works reasonably well. You can see it at http://www.colorwheelco.com/viewcatcher/ and buy it at Amazon or nearly anywhere according to Google.

Alan

[Joe Behar]

Elliot,

Get yourself a piece of your chosen material and cut out a rectangle that matches the aspect ratio of your camera. Lets say its 2:3.

Cut out a rectangle 4x6 inches and leave a border of at least 1 inch all around.

Set up your camera with a zoom lens and take a picture at any given focal length. Now put your cutout in front of your eye and move it forward or back till you see the same framing as your photo. Make a note of the distance the cutout is in front of your eye (write it right on the border of the cutout)

Repeat with as many focal lengths as you want.

When you go out to shoot, you can look through your cutout at any of these distances and get an idea of the framing without looking through your viewfinder.

Hope this helps.

[Ken Bennett]

I used to use an empty 35mm slide mount.

[raysem]

I use the Viewcatcher.

I like it because I can change the "frame" opening/size for different formats.

Look at: http://www.viewcatcher.com/

[JohnTodd]

'Viewfinder basic' is an iPhone app which simulates different focal lengths and aspect ratios using the camera in the phone. Mr. Reichmann reviewed it here on LL.

[tim wolcott]

Come on does no one follow the history of photography.  They have been using framing cards forever.  Ansel and nearly everyone used them.  I have used them since the day Ansel showed me his.  The best I have found is get a 11x14 thick card and cut the ratio of the dimensions you want to shoot for.  I carry four different sizes and I have never ever taught a class without using them.  So far I have not had a student not ever continue to use them.  Shoot to the dimensions of the mattings used in the framing.  It will save you alot of money.  Not every shot can be composed to fit, but when they can it will save you time and money.  Tim

[daws]

I've used the Birns & Sawyer "Fast Finder" framing card for years. Designed primarily for 35mm motion picture film and videography, it's a 5" x 7 1/2" card of rugged plastic with a see-thru window imprinted with various aspect ratios. You wear it on a lanyard, hold it up with one hand to frame your shot, and with the other hand pull a tape that's attached to the card back to your eye -- the tape gives you the focal length for that framing. The tape wraps around the end of the card and secures with a dot of velcro.

Birns & Sawyer apparently doesn't make them anymore, but I see them from time to time on ebay for around US$25.