Director's Finder

[Take_1]

I'm considering picking up a Director's Finder from Cavision and am thinking about their VFM-11X model http://www.cavision.com/Finder/Finder1.htm

Can anyone give me some advice? Its mostly for video work rather than film, but most of the stuff I do is in 16:9 at least.

Any help would be great.

[krestofre]

I may be totally off base with this, and perhaps we can both learn something here, but aren't Finders primarily to help determine what lens to use on a camera? And since most video cameras sport fixed lenses, isn't using a Finder kind of moot?

Still, you can't beat the coolness factor.

Chris

[Shaw]

Well, you can choose any focal length between roughly 32mm and 300mm (35mm equivalent) with the DVX so it would indeed be useful.

[krestofre]

Good point.

Chris

[Take_1]

My thinking was that it would be useful for pre-configuring camera placement prior to shooting dates... am I nuts?

[Scottdvx100]

Is it going to save enough time to be worth it? If you're doing a special setup or constructing something that requires you to know exactly where to place the camera or the lens then it's useful.

If you're just looking for basic framing you could consider using your DVX, or another, cheaper camera or still cam to just get some idea.

Many times when they're used for feature films is when setting up the shot since it's time consuming to set up the dolly, tracks and a big camera. If you're dealing with small video camera you're probably not gaining much.

[Take_1]

Thanks guys.

All really good points.

I think that based on your input I will end up putting it into my "on the list" but not urgently.

I can think of a 4x4 Cavision matte box that may need a good home to come to... if I need to spend some cash so badly...

[marctronixx]

just curious, but how much do these things cost? id love to get one for the coolness factor myself..

[Take_1]

The ones from Cavision start at $250.00 and go up from there (made in China). I'm sure though that the really good ones in other brands can go for over a grand.

[emotepix]

hey guys

the original intent of a director's finder was to allow the director to preview a scene and pretty much let the dp, cam op and cam crew see what the director was looking at, i.e. how he planned to shoot the scene.

this was because in those days the camera weighed over 100lbs (some rigs still do) and required three people to move it and set it up. the dps and a/cs got a bit pissy when the director went "here. no.. here. no... ", not to mention the ad's and line producers, since moving a camera around without film running through it is basically a waste of time.

also, in those days, there was no video tap or finder monitoring other than the viewfinder of the camera. Only the operator of the camera actually got to see what the camera saw while the take was going down. the finder was there to ensure that the operator and the director and dp saw eye to eye, as it were.

these days it's pretty much a status symbol since cameras are generally smaller and lighter, and finder taps and remote monitors are commonplace, especially on taped productions.

And besides, no directors are allowed to get up on tall ladders and lean way down over tall buildlings with their $600 viewfinders and go "camera here..." without being lynched by their insurance companies. and their crews, of course.

nah, kidding aside, unless you're into controlling perspective and don't know how your lens behaves (which could simply mean that you've not shot enough before), or you're working quickly with actors.... nah, the dvx is small and light enough to use that instead, and besides, other people can then see exactly what you're seeing.

Unless you're shooting for optical effects and need to match perspectives or find equivalent focal lengths to match a CGI program, or unless you have one of those old Mitchell viewfinders that more than one person can peer into at the same time, I'd say that those wonderful pieces of engineering are so much useless status symbol.

Having said all that, you KNOW I have one, just in case :-)

But I prefer the even older fingers-form-a-rectangle-and-say "camera here, I fancy" method...

Cheers
Chris