Forma Is a Wearable Viewfinder Built for Finding Photo Compositions

Canadian photographer and inventor Peter Modzelewski has launched Forma on Kickstarter via his independent photo gear studio, Oramod. It is a pocket-sized optical viewfinder designed for a wide range of film and digital cameras.

Forma utilizes interchangeable, laser-cut cards tailored to specific formats and focal lengths, ranging from 35mm film cameras to large-format and specialized panoramic systems.

Photographers can simply hold Forma up to their eye to accurately preview a composition without setting up their camera—a process that can be quite an ordeal with certain medium- and large-format systems. It can also be used when scouting locations to help photographers determine where to position their gear in advance.

Forma can also be used on cameras without viewfinders, spanning specialized analog cameras to modern digital compacts like the Ricoh GR series.

As Modzelewski explains, Forma is constructed from a 3D-printed, carbon-fiber-infused composite material, offering a rugged yet lightweight design weighing just 30 grams (just over an ounce). It is built on the binocular fusion principle used in Voigtländer’s Kontur viewfinder from 1951. However, unlike the Kontur, Forma is highly configurable thanks to its interchangeable framing cards.

Forma features built-in illumination for low-light conditions, gels that color-tint the framelines for visibility in various environments, and a quick-release mounting system that allows photographers to switch between wearing it around the neck and attaching it to a camera in seconds.

“Worn around the neck, Forma helps photographers train their eye to recognize what their lenses will see, explore compositions before setting up a camera, and compare focal lengths by easily swapping cards,” Modzelewski says.

“Mounted on-camera, Forma provides a framing reference while allowing photographers to anticipate moments unfolding beyond the boundaries of a conventional viewfinder.”

Modzelewski sent pre-production units to photographers worldwide for real-world testing, including Japanese photographer Kazutoshi Yoshimura and British landscape photographer Lee Pengelly.

“I was amazed at how clearly I could see the field of view corresponding to the focal length of my lens,” Yoshimura says.

“It will be an essential part of my kit from now on,” adds Pengelly.

Utah-based large-format photographer James Holland touted Forma’s accuracy, noting that he didn’t have to move his tripod “an inch” when framing with it.

Forma is available to back on Kickstarter now, starting at $55 CAD (approximately $39 USD) for early birds. The campaign reached its funding goal quickly on launch day and has nearly 60 backers at the time of writing. Forma is expected to begin shipping to backers next month.

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Image creditsOramod / Peter Modzelewski