To Wimberley or not to Wimberley

[JR1]

In the southern US where I'm from we use the term "bride" well after the wedding. In my case, my bride and I have been married for 32 years.

Nice to hear, enduring

[rpcrowe]

IMO "Bride" is a more endearing term than "The Wife" which is also often used...

BTW: I also like the Manfrotto on a monopod since I use one of the uprights as a handle.

As far as cost goes, I purchased mine new many years ago for less than $100 which included the mounting clamp and lens/camera mount. The clamp is long enough to be able to adjust just about any lens/camera combination so that it is well balanced.

BTW: I have mentioned this before but, will take this opportunity to mention it again. It is often difficult to spot your target against a very plain background (such as sky or water) when using a very long lens. This Topcon Sportsfinder will let you locate the subject before you view it through the viewfinder. If will also facilitate following a moving subject.



I am somewhat surprised that some enterprising Chinese company has not developed a unit along these lines that has frames for various focal length lenses; somewhat like the Hasselblad finder shown here...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hasselblad-s...item2349b0cbbe

Perhaps adding an insert like this to delineate the different focal lengths...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mamiya-SPORT...item337caae127

[NorthernFocus]

... I have mentioned this before but, will take this opportunity to mention it again. It is often difficult to spot your target against a very plain background (such as sky or water) when using a very long lens. This Topcon Sportsfinder will let you locate the subject before you view it through the viewfinder. If will also facilitate following a moving subject.

Richard, that gadget looks like it would be great for static subjects. I'd think that if the target is moving one would lose it from view while transitioning the eye from the gadget on top of the camera to the viewfinder.

A very simple and effective technique that is taught to bird hunters when shooting is to keep both eyes open. It works for photography too. With the head slightly cocked and one eye in the viewfinder the other eye can look across the top of the camera. When the camera is properly pointed and you see the target in the viewfinder you simply close the off eye and keep tracking. If the target is lost, just open the other eye again. No gadgets and no movement back and forth to/from the viewfinder.

[JR1]

Once upon a time when Nikons were proper cameras and had interchangeable heads you could have an "Action finder" you held in front of you to follow the subject

Action Finder

[rpcrowe]

Once upon a time when Nikons were proper cameras and had interchangeable heads you could have an "Action finder" you held in front of you to follow the subject

Action Finder

I believe that Nikon had such an attachment.

Dan mentioned...

"Richard, that gadget looks like it would be great for static subjects. I'd think that if the target is moving one would lose it from view while transitioning the eye from the gadget on top of the camera to the viewfinder."

I have never ad the problem in the split second transition between sportsfinder and through the lens viewing, expecially when on a tripod or monopod.

I have not used it for birds since I am not a bird photographer. I have used it for spotting surfers...

[Manfred M]

This Topcon Sportsfinder will let you locate the subject before you view it through the viewfinder. If will also facilitate following a moving subject.

Interesting Richard. I had a chance to have a close look at an old SpeedGraphic camera earlier on this week and it was one of three "viewfinders" the camera had. The frame was mounted on the lens board, so it moved in and out as the focus was changed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_..._format,_1.jpg

One can see the flip-up finder laying flat against the top of the body and the wire frame in the down position on the lens board. The standard viewfinder is visible as well, and the camera's owner told me that one could also use a ground glass back (right behind the film holder with the dark slide). Amazing a camera from the beginning to middle of the last century with three different viewfinders as standard.

I guess there's nothing

[loosecanon]

I have recently aquired the Manfrotto version, after positive comments on here as well as elsewhere. Came set with mount for camera on top of swinging arm. It has tension adjustment for the horizontal; and vertical movment, as well as its sliding plate mount. Cost £140 new beats all alternatives, and it is a solid bit of kit. I use it on a tripod. I have two tripods fitted with Manfrotto's heavy duty hexangonal quick mounts which enables me to fit quickly different heads depending on what I am using the kit for.
All I can say from use so far is that it does the job, even to the nice little touch of the base having a rubber cover to avoid damage by hitting a hard object tilting too far.

[JR1]

I have recently aquired the Manfrotto version, after positive comments on here as well as elsewhere. Came set with mount f Cost £140 new beats all alternatives,.

Careful............

Have you tried ALL of the alternatives

As I said I have tried and used or own. Manfrottos, Lensmaster, Benro, Wimberley and some cheap Indian/Chinese ones so I speak from real life testing and ownership over a three year period.

I own and use, Wimberley MK2, Lensmasters, both types and Benro CF

The Manfrotto is ok, as I have said BUT, in comparison with the lensmaster at £120 it is combersome, and can not compare with the Wimberley or Benro.