Rangefinder vs. SLR

Range Finder Pro:

 

Quiet operation

Bright viewfinder image

Easy to focus with slow lens in low light

Easy to focus with dark filter on the lens

Camera with leaf shutter has many flash sync shutter speeds

Minimal vibrations during exposure

Subject visible in viewfinder at moment of exposure

 

 

Range Finder Con:

 

Parallax problem

Not good for macrophotography

Not good for extreme wide-angle shots

Not good for extreme telephoto shots

Depth of field not visible in viewfinder

Filter effect not visible in viewfinder

Lens and/or lens hood may block part of image seen in viewfinder

Hard to change film in the middle of a roll

Easy to make the mistake of shooting with the lens cap on

 

 

SLR (Single Lens Reflex) Pro:

 

Excellent value for the money spent

Many models available

Many accessories available

Excellent for macrophotography

No parallax problem

Fast to operate

Good for extreme wide-angle shots

Good for extreme telephoto shots

Depth of field visible in viewfinder

Filter effect visible in viewfinder

Difficult to make the mistake of shooting with the lens cap on

 

 

SLR (Single Lens Reflex) Con:

 

Noisy operation

Moving mirror causes vibrations during exposure

Camera with focal plane shutter has limited number of flash sync speeds

Hard to change film in the middle of a roll

Subject in viewfinder disappears during exposure

Image viewed through waist level viewfinder is reversed left to right

Difficult to focus with dark filter on the lens

 

 

Conclusion:

 

A Rangefinder is better than an SLR except when the reverse is true.

 

 

 

Done