The Story of Director's Viewfinders

Wooden Viewfinder

In the beginning, capturing the vision that directors have in their heads and communicating that efficiently to the cameraman, the fledgling movie director used his hands and a good deal of imagination to frame
the shots. As time progressed and technology developed, he would "borrow" the
viewfinder located on the side of the early motion picture camera. Later, a version
of the famed Mitchell camera viewfinder was used.

Orson Wells, Director and Gregg Toland, Cinematographer, line up a camera angle using a
Mitchell viewfinder on the set of "Citizen Kane" in 1940.
click to enlarge



An early Alan Gordon Enterprise Mini-Viewfinder
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Eventually, directors and cinematographers with a sufficient amount of clout at the studios asked studio machine shops to make an optical device or viewfinder that would come close to simulating set-ups as seen by the camera lens. Armed with these early viewfinders, they used cut-out mattes to represent the focal lengths of various lenses. The studio machine shops even developed a zooming device for use with the early viewfinders. Several versions of directors viewfinders were developed during this time. Just after World War II in1946, Tewe, a German optical company, developed a small viewfinder which could be hung around the neck. It was soon being used and worn by directors and D.P.'s throughout the motion picture industry around the world.
Early Tewe Viewfinder circa 1950	Tewe Model 3-B circa 1970
With the introduction in the 1960's of wide angle prime lenses and the 25-250mm Angenieux zoom, the Model 3B could not be used to accurately simulate the new10:1 zoom ratio. In 1975, Alan Gordon Enterprises in Hollywood, California started the development of what would become the 10:1 Mark IV Directors Viewfinder. The Mark IV was introduced at the S.M.P.T.E. conference and trade show in 1979. This was the beginning of the modern day Director's Viewfinder. Subsequent updated models have been the Mark V, introduced in 1991 and the current Mark Vb model in 2005.
Alan Gordon Enterprise Mark IV Directors Viewfinder circa 1979 click to enlarge
In addition to its 10:1 zoom range, the Mark IV featured windows through which the director could easily see the lens focal length he was considering. These windows represented 16, 35 & 35 anemographic formats, and gave the cinematographer instant information about lens focal length and scene framing. Mark IV evolved into Mark V Director's Viewfinder in 1987. With the Mark V, Alan Gordon Enterprises introduced an enhanced 12:1 zoom range, a wider angle capability, and two additional windows covering Super 16, 1/2" & 2/3" video formats.

Academy of Television Arts & Science Prime Time Emmy Engineering Award	Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Technical Achievement Award

Directors & Cinematographers Use Director's Viewfinder
To Confirm the Visual Sense

Introducing the New
MARK Vb DIRECTOR'S VIEWFINDER

click to enlarge

Adjustable Aspect Ratio Ring

ACCESSORIES

Belt holster case click to enlarge		Wide Angle Lens Attachment click to enlarge
Protect your investment! Belt Holster Case comes complete with belt loop and a velcro fastener flap. Black, heavy-duty, hand-made material with padding.		Designed especially for the Mark Vb Director's Viewfinder, the Wide Angle Lens attachment allows coverage as wide as10mm for 35mm film. It produces a similar effect on other film sizes and video formats. Comes with heavy duty nylon pouch.

Prices

To order the Mark Vb Director's Viewfinder, contact your nearest Mark Vb Dealer or send e-mail to: [email protected]. You can also telephone (800) 825-MOVI, or fax (323) 871-2193.
The mailing address is 5625 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, California 90038 USA.

Alan Gordon Enterprises, Inc., 5625 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA 90038 Ph: (323) 466-3561 / Fax: (323) 871-2193 View this product for retail purchase at: www.alangordon.com/products.home.htm For dealer sales please email us at: [email protected]

NOTE!

"I really could use a viewfinder but I don't have the cash right now .."

Contact us anyway! we often have used finders
for sale at reduced prices.

SERVICE & REPAIR

Our factory trained technicians are happy to estimate costs for any service or repair to your viewfinder or other production equipment. Most Mark IV, V and Vb Director's Viewfinders can be checked, cleaned and most repairs made in one hour or less. Hourly rates are $85.00 per hour plus parts. Send your viewfinder to our Hollywood Service Department, Alan Gordon Enterprises, Inc., 5625 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, California 90038 U.S.A. All shipments should be properly packaged, be covered with sufficient insurance, and shipped prepaid. All return shipments will be sent F.O.B. Hollywood, CA

Please email us with any questions you may have: Service at [email protected]
Telephone: (800) 825-MOVI
Fax: (323) 871-2193.
Mailing address:
Directors Viewfinder, 5625 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, California 90038, USA.

directorsviewfinders.com is a division of
Alan Gordon Enterprises, Inc.

For all your professional motion picture
or video production needs visit us at

www.alangordon.com

 

 

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Dealers Worldwide