Viewfinder
DSLR Viewfinder, Durable 3.0X Magnification LCD Screen Video Camera Viewfinder Magnifier Folding Design Anti-Reflective 3X Magnification Lens Suitable for DSLR Mirrorless Cameras with 3.2in Screen 4.6 out of 5 stars 5. Definition of viewfinder: a device on a camera for showing the area of the subject to be included in the picture Examples of viewfinder in a Sentence Recent Examples on the Web Controlled by a. Viewfinder, camera component that shows the photographer the area of the subject that will be included in a photograph. In modern cameras it usually is part of a direct visual- or range-finder focusing system and may also be used to display exposure settings or meter information. Read More on This Topic technology of photography: Viewfinders.
A viewfinder is a simple tool that we often take for granted. At some point, people took images by holding a box towards something and exposing the frame. Most of the viewfinders before the option we have today are almost barbaric. Electronic viewfinder Take the guesswork out of composing shots. A 201-dot resolution electronic viewfinder gives you a clear, real-time preview with 100% frame coverage – ideal for framing, focusing, and reviewing shots.
- Deliver and maintain services, like tracking outages and protecting against spam, fraud, and abuse
- Measure audience engagement and site statistics to understand how our services are used
- Improve the quality of our services and develop new ones
- Deliver and measure the effectiveness of ads
- Show personalized content, depending on your settings
- Show personalized or generic ads, depending on your settings, on Google and across the web
Click “Customize” to review options, including controls to reject the use of cookies for personalization and information about browser-level controls to reject some or all cookies for other uses. You can also visit g.co/privacytools anytime.
Search for images or info
When I started to draw, I was always curious how to make a viewfinder and I am happy to say it turns out to be a very simple process that I can share with you.
A viewfinder is used to remove lots of fussy details so you can focus on one particular area that you want to copy. I can't say I use mine a lot but I did use it initially to learn its function and to understand more about it. It does come in handy sometimes, it really depends on what subject I choose to draw.
To begin making your own viewfinder, you need a piece of cardboard - I used one side of an empty cereal box but anything like that will do.
- Cut a piece of cardboard to A4 letter size (rectangle), 8½' x 11'.
- Rule lines diagonally across it, going from one corner all the way to the one opposite.
- In the center (where the lines crossed), draw a rectangle measuring one inch by one and a quarter inches (1' x 1¼').
- The one inch side should correspond with the shorter side of your cardboard, making the rectangle in the middle to be in proportion with the whole cardboard rectangle.
- Cut out the inner rectangle using a sharp blade to easily and cleanly penetrate the cardboard.
- You now have a drawing tool known as a viewfinder.
The 8½' x 11' measurement is a good 'one size fits all' because drawing paper is generally rectangular. If you choose to draw within a square frame, the viewfinder/hole should be square.
The width of cardboard surrounding the hole blocks out a lot of distractions and that helps you focus more on the subject matter.
Amazon Affiliate Link
Of course, you can always buy a readymade viewfinder if you don't want to make one yourself.
How To Use A Viewfinder
Hold your viewfinder out in front of you, with your arm outstretched.
For an example subject, sight a chair within the center frame. If it helps, close or cover up one eye when you look through the hole.
Make sure the chair is touching at least 2 sides of the viewfinder rectangle.
Viewfinder
This forms a border around the chair and enables you to see the negative space between the chair and the borders.
It might take some time but wait until you can see the negative space as a shape.
By keeping your arm outstretched and noting where the object is touching the border, you should see the same view each time you look through it.
Have you ever seen artists using their fingers to form a square? Their arms are outstretched and they look like they are framing the view before them. They are actually using their fingers as a border and they are visualizing what they want to draw.
Viewfinder Toy
Looking at a whole landscape can be daunting so the artist selects one area to concentrate on and a viewfinder does this same job for you.
The small glass square on a camera is also known as a viewfinder. It would be great if you could use your camera to do this exercise but it's a bit difficult because you won't have a hand to draw with! A light piece of cardboard is easily held in one hand while you draw with the other.
Old Viewfinders
Now you know how to make a viewfinder, you can experiment with numerous subjects to familiarize yourself with negative spaces.