Rangefinder Cameras

Rangefinder Cameras

A rangefinder camera is exactly what it says: a camera with an attached rangefinder, a device that measures the distance from an observer to an object. The simplest and most commonly used type of rangefinder involves simple optics and trigonometry. One of the earliest techniques for range finding is the Stadia method, which compares an object seen through a telescope or a camera to the observed size of an object with a known size at a known distance. The mechanics of this are very complicated, but the range finding device makes it easy to determine the distance of the object. Nowadays, however, most rangefinders use active methods – bouncing a laser beam or a pulse of radar or sonar waves from the rangefinder to the target object and tracking how long it takes for the beam or pulse to return from it. Most cameras today still use optical rangefinders for their simplicity. Rangefinders are generally only in use on high-quality professional grade 35mm cameras, such as those used by professional photographers, as most amateurs have no pressing need for something so sophisticated.

Digital Rangefinder Cameras

The first digital camera with a rangefinder was the Epson RD-1, invented in 2004. It was designed to be friendly to people unfamiliar to digital film, and looks and function similar to professional, high-quality film cameras. To aid in this transition, it was the first digital camera to be built with a mechanical shutter, like that of a regular camera. In addition to the upgraded RD-1s model, the only other kind digital rangefinder camera is the Leica M8, which has a similar function and design aesthetic. Both of them are priced similarly, and designed for a professional that wishes to make the change from film to digital.

How To Use A Rangefinder Camera

It’s actually not terribly difficult to use the rangefinder on camera. A novice can become skilled in a week’s time, or less. There are two basic types of rangefinders: Coupled and uncoupled. A coupled rangefinder is the more simple kind. All the user has to do is look through it. He’ll see the image of the rangefinder superimposed on the image the camera sees. It’s then just a simple matter of focusing the main lens of the camera until the two images are identical. An uncoupled rangefinder works the same way, except that you can only measure the distance of the object and then transfer the result to the camera’s focusing ring.