I'm shooting a short film on 16mm BW film and am looking for one of those tools you use to find what focal distance you want to shoot a scene with. It's like a 'focal-finder' or something. Does any body know what they're called? Are they still in production or has digital made them obsolete? Do they help you see what a scene will see in black and white also?
What's this called
- Thread starter SDBenassi
- Start date
My sarcastic answer is:
It's called a tape measure. That's what is used to find the focal distance.
But I figure you're asking about the Director's ViewFinder so I'll curb my usual sarcasm....
It's called a tape measure. That's what is used to find the focal distance.
But I figure you're asking about the Director's ViewFinder so I'll curb my usual sarcasm....
And sometimes, like a tape measure, sarcasm is the best tool in the box to get the job done ... 
Personally, with my producer's hat on, I'd never work with a DOP who didn't own a tape measure or with a director who DID own a Director's View Finder
... but I'd also never hire any director with a beard, so I'm by no means a good bench mark, no matter how famous or brilliant! LOL
Personally, with my producer's hat on, I'd never work with a DOP who didn't own a tape measure or with a director who DID own a Director's View Finder
... but I'd also never hire any director with a beard, so I'm by no means a good bench mark, no matter how famous or brilliant! LOL
Last edited:
That's hilarious!
On my third movie, the first one with a budget, the AC handed me a finder. I had never
seen one and, not wanting to show my ignorance, said, "I don't want that. Isn't that
the DP's job?"
The DP walked over and hugged me.
I was about 4 week later, over a pint, that she finally told me she hates directors who use
those things.
I was on a commercial where the director wore two of them around his neck. They clanged together when he walked.
I use an index card with a 16x9 rectangular hole cut in it...at arms length, it's telephoto, elbow bent is wide angle
Oh yeah...and I have a beard...but it's trimmed, what does that imply? As for the porn...don't ask, don't tell
it is sarcasm if you deliver it snarkily though
Snarkily...great word.
Wow, I see my comment took quite a turn, like a bunny rabbit dropped in a shark tank! I must've hit quite a nerve. My reasoning for wanting a Directors Viewfinder is that the viewfinder on the camera is limited from 20mm to 100mm, but I plan on using lenses wider than 20mm, hence the neeed for an extra viewfinder. Plus it lets me scope a shot without having to carry the whole camera with me every time I change an angle. How would one use tape measure instead? And why would one cut a hole in a board and use that? Sure, you can crop between a close up and a wider long shot, but its not going to tell you the size of the lens you need.. Am I dropping another rabbit in the tank?.. All newbies must suffer!
The tape measure lets you figure out where to set the focus on the lens. As for how you go about choosing a lens, as has been said it really *IS* the cinematographers job to do that, but if you're going to be acting as cinematographer, then there is no reason you couldn't use a viewfinder if it worked out easier for you that hauling the camera around.
No bunny rabbits and no sharks - and no raw nerves. What you are reading
here is a group of people who respect each other having some fun.
here is a group of people who respect each other having some fun.
It's an okay tool and there's no reason a director shouldn't use it for tech reasons. It just makes a green director look even greener when he's whipping a finder up and down with no real idea where he wants to put the camera.
Trouble is, an experienced gaffer or AC usually could just tell the director what lens and focal length he needs for the shot they have in mind... without a finder, so when the director (captain of the whole ship) is bouncing around with one, it makes them look a bit incompetent amongst the crew.
Trouble is, an experienced gaffer or AC usually could just tell the director what lens and focal length he needs for the shot they have in mind... without a finder, so when the director (captain of the whole ship) is bouncing around with one, it makes them look a bit incompetent amongst the crew.
'Cause it cost me 5 cents to make. I take it on location scouts with me to figure out neat looking frames. And it's just an index card, so it's very portable and disposable. And, it works. It won't tell me the specific focal length to use, but I can eyeball it, it's worked pretty well so far
Besides, I'd rather spend my money making more shorts (still learning) than having equipment that makes my job easier. Part of the fun is the challenge.