PANAFLEX Viewfinder Special Facilities
The Viewfinder Tube is that part of the viewfinder system which is attached to the camera.
The PANAGLOW Illuminated Reticle
PANAGLOW is PANAVISION’s patented and unique illuminated reticle system which, when switched ON, causes the ground glass markings to glow red so that the camera operator can clearly see the outline of the acceptable picture area, even in very low light conditions. It is an essential accessory when filming with low–key lighting.
The secret of the PANAGLOW system is its special ground glass focusing screen which uses discrete mirrors instead of etched lines to delineate the picture area. These mirrored lines reflect light to the operator from a small red lamp set in the viewfinder system. It is turned ON by a switch on the left side of the camera.
The intensity of the PANAGLOW light may be adjusted by a screw set behind a cover–screw on the front of the camera to the right of the engraved ‘PANAFLEX’ nameplate. To alter the brightness, remove the protective cover–screw and use a small screwdriver to gently turn the adjusting screw. Take care not to set the brightness too high as this may cause the ground glass to ‘blush–out’ with an overall red flare.
Later model PLATINUM PANAFLEXES have a knob to adjust the PANAGLOW brightness level.
All PANAFLEX cameras are fitted with two CONTRAST–VIEWING FILTERS which can be introduced into the viewfinder system to assist the Director of Photography in selecting the overall contrast and lighting balance of a scene. The filters normally supplied are ND 0.6 and 0.9. Alternative filters may be fitted on request. The Viewing–Filters are activated by a lever on the viewfinder tube. Press down for ND 0.6, up for ND 0.9.
De–Anamorphoser and Light Cutoff
A lever on the side of the viewfinder tube may be set horizontal for spherical viewing, vertical for anamorphic viewing, or directly down for light cutoff.
1. Front of PANAFLEX viewfinder system showing: a. the de–anamorphoser, normal and light cutoff, b. the viewing filter, and c. the PANAGLOW controls, 2. The way the PANAGLOW system works: a. Camera taking lens, b. mirror shutter, c. film, d. ground glass with mirrored markings which reflect light from the red LED lamp (e), f. partial mirror passes light from the LED to mirrored markings on the ground glass and at the same time reflects the ground glass image to the viewfinder eyepiece (g), 3. a. Normal PANAGLOW brightness control and (b.) later model PLATINUM PANAFLEX type, 4. Effect of a viewfinder contrast filter, 5. Effect of the viewfinder de–anamorphoser: a. anamorphic image, b. unsqueezed image (note the 70mm frame lines).