Right Angle Viewfinder

[geoffsta]

Would like to know if anyone uses a "Right Angle Viewfinder"

What are the advantages / disadvantages of using this equipment. And are they worth having?

I know that if I want to take an image were it's hard to use the normal eye piece, I'll use live view. But that also has its disadvantages as well.

[nardes]

The main times I used one was when I fitted my camera to a telescope and it helped in framing the object. However, now that I use “Remote Live View” on a PC, I find that focusing at x10 on the PC screen is much easier and more accurate.

The only other place I have used one is when taking photos very close to the ground as my camera does not have an articulated rear screen.

I have an OEM Canon unit and optically and mechanically it is light years ahead of the cheaper eBay models I tried (from friends) before I purchased one.

Cheers

Dennis

[arthurking83]

I used to use one on my D70s for a long time. I used it so much I had to replace it .. but then I got my D300 not too long after that too. I used it briefly on the D300(early on), and one time, I was low down on some rocks using the angle finder, and I also tried Lv mode as an option. Actually the first time I used Lv mode for a landscape shot .. whereas I used Lv mode heavily even early on for macro shots.

Found that Lv mode in 99% of situations was much better than using an angle finder .. for example if the dynamic range of the scene was recordable by the review screen.
If not, the angled finder was then used, in conjunction with my usual grads, and or other filters.

I'm sure I still have the angle finder, but haven't used it since about late '08 - early '09 ... haven't even carried it in the bag for a good many years.
They used to be a great idea, but technology soon passed it by.

Major disadvantage of using 99.99999% of them, is either the lack of high quality(cheapie ebay versions) or the insane prices charged(ie. Nikon! :rolleyes) .. another disadvantage is in trying to achieve accurate focusing, as the unit itself is also focused.

So now, even if I have the camera place on the ground for a shot that is as low as it can be, I still prefer to use Lv mode. Massive battery wasting effort, but generally a lot easier to use.

[geoffsta]

I was thinking on those lines as well Arthur. I use Lv a lot. Specially for landscapes. I use it in conjunction with the horizon indicator to ensure the camera is level.
But what about people who take a lot of shots of say Pets, or low Macros?

[arthurking83]

I've never relied on AF for macro, and most DLSRs have pretty useless viewfinders for 100% accurate manual focusing via the viewfinder.
Live view has been 99.99999% more accurate for me for macro shots in terms of finding focus.

The angle finder is a handy accessory to have, but I still think live view(even low down perspectives) is better with Lv, even of the LCD is fixed. (I think the D5000 series of cameras have the articulating rear screen?? .. so that's probably a handy feature to look for.

Of course the main issue with Lv mode is in bright light, be that under the sun, or just in the wrong location(eg, under bright artificial lighting). In this situation .. it's line ball .. the angle finder is handy to have.

What would be an interesting accessory to invent is an LCD loupe(hoodman type) with an angled accessory!.... best of both worlds I reckon.

[strictfunctor]

Was having a play at shooting the sun the other day with the appropriate filter film. First try without the angle finder left me with many accidental dazzlings and felt a bit risky. Angle finder made it all feel safer and comfortable.