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App for previewing various focal lengths and aspect ratios?

epforever

Active member
What app do you recommend for previewing / previsualizing potential stitched compositions? (Previewing a variety of focal lengths and aspect ratios.) I've seen "Viewfinder" mentioned, but I'm not seeing that one specifically. I see Mark II Artist's Viewfinder for $39.99.

thanks
e
 

SrMphoto

Well-known member
What app do you recommend for previewing / previsualizing potential stitched compositions? (Previewing a variety of focal lengths and aspect ratios.) I've seen "Viewfinder" mentioned, but I'm not seeing that one specifically. I see Mark II Artist's Viewfinder for $39.99.

thanks
e
Yes, that's the one. Highly recommended.
 

jotloob

Subscriber Member
I use that App since many years . In my opinion , there is no better App available .
ALPA calls it e Finder II . This App was free for ALPA users may years ago .
 

Precision

Member
the one I have installed is "Film Photography Viewfinder" which lets you set both film (sensor) size and focal length, and preset your focal lengths for what's in your lens quiver. - creator is on IG as @jonassubvert and the product does what it says on the label - I installed it for use with The Contraption as an alternative to the optical finders. Despite the name...it works for digital too :) . Since it does what I wanted it to, I haven't tried anything else to see if there are possible improvements.
 

vjbelle

Well-known member
One of the clever things that Artists viewfinder does is allow your phone to take a picture with the lens you have selected and the resulting image will have the imbedded lens used. Handy for remembering what lens was used to take the image along with the same FOV of the actual lens used on the tech camera. I have it set up for all of my cameras and lenses and would not be without it.

Remarkable value!

Victor B.
 

jng

Well-known member
Another endorsement of Artists Viewfinder, for all or the reasons enumerated by others.
 

Boinger

Active member
Well that is great for apple people. But if you are on android I use magic universal viewfinder. Its not the best but it does the job. It allows you to set sensor size and stuff. I havent explored more in a long while. Might be others out there.

I just tried a new app for android called film photography viewfinder. Much nicer interface and has light meter / bellows compensation and a logbook as well. So pretty useful.

It also allows you to enter all lens details as well so you can enter image circles etc which calculates the movement allowed. Also it allows you to put in custom formats so I can precisely enter in the phase one sensor dimensions. I like it so far.

My only complaint is it should be allowed to use the wide angle camera to get proper framing. Most android apps default to the main camera.
 
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doccdiamond

Active member
One of the clever things that Artists viewfinder does is allow your phone to take a picture with the lens you have selected and the resulting image will have the imbedded lens used. Handy for remembering what lens was used to take the image along with the same FOV of the actual lens used on the tech camera. I have it set up for all of my cameras and lenses and would not be without it.

Remarkable value!

Victor B.
just downloaded it - great tool. Next shooting with less lens changes...;)
 

foster_jb

Member
I looked at the Artist Viewfinder, but initially dismissed it because it appeared to require an extra, external lens assembly to simulate wide angle lenses:

" Paired with a 0.5x-class super-wide converter lens*, the Mark II becomes an indispensable tool for landscape and architecture photographers. "

Could anyone please tell me the widest lens their Iphone & Ipad can simulate without this converter lens attached? That would really be helpful.

Would really prefer to operate without any attachments.

Thank you,
 

OlliL

Active member
Hi John,
from the Tech Specs page, I'd understand that this only relates to pre 11 iPhones.

Tech Specs

0.5x-class
Built-in ultra wide camera - on iPhone 11 and later series and 2020 and later iPad Pro models *
...
* External accessory lenses are not supported on these devices.
The iPhone 16 i.e. has an equivalent of a 13mm in FF terms on it's ultrawide setting.
 

stevieg

New member
As OlliL has said, it now depends on the phone you use. Mine is a 16Pro and I've attached a screenshot for a full frame 35mm digital camera. It "just" covers a 14mm lens.VF_00013.jpg
 

foster_jb

Member
Thank you both for the quick replies!

My issue is that I use Samsung, and not Apple, for my phone. I do have an ipad mini, but it appears to need this converter lens to go wide. And I will want to use this for interiors, so wide will be required.

Perhaps I will just pick up a used iphone for this...
 

Precision

Member
Well, I’m using it in an iPhone 16 pro, but never bothered to figure out which lens it was using. Ithe widest lens I would use it on is a 38mm SA on 6x9 format as that is the widest that lens should cover…but I have Not tried it for critical composition on the camera at all - I’d go to either the ground glass or live view for critical stuff anyway, because I would be there to check focus and DoF anyway.

I do know that when set for a 47mm. (The widest the optical finder for the Handy will go) it’s pretty close to dead on for the FOV as shown by the handy optical finder for both 4x5 or 6x12 …,basically, it’s “good enough” for my simple needs.
 

OlliL

Active member
Well 47mm on a 4x5 should roughly be around 13,2mm full frame, which would then match the phone's ultrawide.
Makes sense to me, as it gives the most flexibility on the wide end.
 

spassig

Member
Hi
What is the point of such an app?
I use (used) for medium format and large format a flexible rubber mat with recess corresponding to the sensor size.

Jochen
 
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