Right Angle Viewer for Street Photography

Spug

Spug

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Stan
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My father's old pre-war Kodak 620 folding camera had a tiny little prismatic viewer, so he could look down and frame the shot whilst holding the camera at waist level.

It occurs to me that nowadays I can buy a perspex bubble spirit level that fits onto my hot shoe in order to level my camera, but I have never seen a gizmo that fits on to a hot shoe and acts as a viewer to allow candid waist-level street photography. True, some digital cameras do have fold out screens, but not all have them, and of course no film cameras do.

I don't suppose I'll ever find one, but has anybody seen anything that is remotely similar to what I am suggesting?

The criteria for are that it should be cheap, fit onto a hot shoe, and be easily viewed without having to use an eyepiece. Alas I am now too old to start manufacturing camera accessories myself! Anybody listening in Hong Kong?

Spug

PS Also, what ever happened to the mirror attachments that used to allow telephoto lenses to shoot round corners?
 
Sony v55??

1528226_2.jpg

Youtube demo = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIpD2s2tUV0
 
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Yes, but don't they generally work by putting your eye up close to them? Hardly unobtrusive perhaps? LiveView might do a similar job on some dSLRs, but not at right angles, and not if the camera is on a strap round my neck.

Standard right angle viewers just don't appear to be designed for candid street work. I am thinking of something so I can just glance down, roughly line up the photo, shoot, and then move on. I don't need the critical focus that a standard right angle finder would give. One of those would be relatively expensive too.

I am thinking of pre-focusing, setting the exposure, winding on my film, and then just using the gizmo to give a little help to point the camera in the right direction before I press the button. All that is required is a cheap plastic prism.

As for the camera I'm using, it could be anything from a Canon AE1 to a Canon G11 or a Nikon D300s
 
Again, the Sony v55 is hardly unobtrusive for candid photography. I bet it would cost more than a tenner too.
 
Theres also the Zigview micro monitors, but again its not unobtrusive.

A right angle finder will need your eye pressed against it, so again you cant use it at waist level.

Probably the best bet is a DSLR that has a fold out and rotating screen built in, I believe one of the nikon models does (D5100), you could then use that as a waist level finder and it wouldn't be so obtrusive
 
My thoughts as well! You're better off being obvious and open than obvious and sneaky.
 
The sony type monitor does it just work with live view or viewfinder view ? how does it work?
 
Live view I believe on the sony Michael, the zigview uses the viewfinder though
 
Shoot some medium format with a waist level finder. There are still lenses with mirrors built in to shoot at 90º, look ridiculous though and I think it would be very obvious what you're doing.

Just pick the camera up and shoot like normal, far less obtrusive than sneaking around staring at your navel. People can still see your camera if it's at waist height, and they'll notice you trying too hard not to be noticed. ;)
 
OK. Thanks for all the advice everyone. Some interesting ideas here. Much appreciated.
 
quite like the idea of the sony monitor - but am thinking of the lilliput version (half the price) - anyone have any experience of this ? how is the screen for focus as it uses live view should be great i think - what say others ?
 
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