Most DSLRs with a 'cropfactor' seem to have smaller viewfinders than full frame models but I've got a Canon EOS50E film camera plus Olympus OM1 which are both 35mm full-frame cameras but the OM1's viewfinder image is noticeably bigger (and brighter).

Incidentally, if you've got something like the OM1 which has a range of interchangeable focus screens you can fit a 'clear' type and see just how bright your lenses really are - it comes as quite a shock to see how much light the normal screens soak up in order to give you a focussed image across the frame (you have to use the microprism in the middle of the clear screen to accurately determine correct focus).

I used to like the microprism/split screen focussing methods. As my eyes get worse - I'm very short sighted - these methods would be much better.

If it wasn't for autofocus, I'd be lost.

Ok Cheers
Its a Fuji S5500 and an Olympus Tcon 17 conertor..Does this help?

The actual lens on the S5500 is 5.7 - 57mm.

With the crop factor taken into account the 35mm Focal Length Equivalent is 37 - 370mm.

Now if you add the Olympus Tcon 17 TC to it (x1.7 ) it converts this to 62.9 - 629mm

Cheers Rob
I thought it was only around the 500mm mark..Im surprised.
Thanks

It's actually a crop factor and not a multiply ;)

Thank you all for this information! I was totally confused because printed on my lens is a red "1:4" and I had no idea what that meant since the lens is fixed focal length.

No, I use my binoculars for viewing. WHen I look through my D-50's viewfinder, it looks very tiny and I am lucky when I can see the bird at all. Unless I am very close to the subject, I can't even tell if the bird is in focus or not - I just guess and take a range of photos moving the focus a tiny bit each time. Autofocus never works because there is always brush and branches in the way.

I do miss the view finder on a full frame camera, as you say the view on the smaller formats is tiny. Many a time I have missed something in the background I did not want in the photo. For example a for sale sign appearing above somebodys head. You get it on the PC monitor and it is plain as day. Dam and blast and a few other bad words are expleated.

You might try looking up the specs for your lens and camera to find that information. For example the following link will give that info for Canon lenses.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/C...ion-Value.aspx