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UER Forum > Archived UE Encyclopedia > Rangefinder (Viewed 64 times)
EvilSpork 


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Rangefinder
< on 1/24/2004 4:55 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
The optical rangefinder is a set of mirrors and a mechanical linkage that allow you to judge the distance between it and an object. It is often found as a focusing system on cameras.

The optical rangefinder works by adjusting the angle at which an image from two seperate sources is reflected and combined. A horizontal, diagonal, or vertical split is observed in the image, representing the error in distance. Once the two halves of the subject are aligned, the distance can be read off the mechanism, or the camera can be assumed to be properly focused.

Here's an image demonstrating how it works, with the aid of Mr. Stick-Figure Of Science:


The image above shows the typical mechanism in a rangefinder camera. A main viewfinder window and a seperate rangefinder window are located on top of the camera, separated by a few inches. A semi-reflective or fully reflective fixed mirror is located in the viewfinder tunnel, which sends the image reflected off of the movable mirror at the second window back to your eye. The split image area is usually located in the circle at the center of a SLR camera's viewfinder, or in a tinted rectangle at the middle of a rangefinder camera's viewfinder.

Since rangefinder cameras have a seperate viewfinder and lens, they are subject to parallax error.

Cameras using this focusing system with a seperate viewfinder include the Canonet 28 and P series.

Optical rangefinders are also found in the split-image transit, which is a highly precise surveyor's instrument for measuring distance and slope across land areas.

Mmmm... the sweet smell of damp concrete. <3
UER Forum > Archived UE Encyclopedia > Rangefinder (Viewed 64 times)



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