Is this $ 200 money well spent ??

Is this $ 200 money well spent ??

  • Total voters
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LuckyStudio 13

LuckyStudio 13

The Tapeless One
http://www.cavision.com/viewfinders/VFM11X.htm

Some people are naturally talented that they can see and make a scene perfect with their naked eyes. I wish I am one of you guys. I find that I usually needed to switch quite a bit before settling down with a frame.

So, heres the little dilemma that you guys need to help me figure out.

Pros :engel017:

- With your complete 24" Rails, FF, Marshall, 35mm adapter, Mattebox it gets kinda heavy to move around the camera just to frame shots.

- There will be less lens swapping [just to get the correct foal length for the shot]. This saves you from the chance of dust, sand ...etc getting into your 35mm adapter.

- You dont have to dismantle and lug around your 'heavily equipped' camera for location scouting and you can just snap pictures with the focal length that you 'envision' for the scene.



Cons :evil:

- You look like a nerdy rookie

- You can just do it hardcore with the two 'L' fingers

- ITS $200 !!! You can buy that new grey market Nikon 50mm f1.4 from B&H with just $60 more.
 
Consider that the industry-standard AGE MarkV director's finder is about $600 and the 11x Micro won't look like a terrible investment for anyone on a budget.

Once you get used to using a director's finder, you might find it very difficult to go back to not using one. Also consider that the DP often breaks away from the current camera position to block the next set up - leaving the operator and assistant(s) to rough-in the scene at hand.

When he returns, he can simply state the distance, lens and focal length. All that's needed for the camera department to match his blocking is an "X" on the floor from where he used the finder.

Course, I sell 'em, so I'm a little biased.

;)

e
 
You nerdy rookie!

Just kidding... Of course you can use the 'L' fingers for framing but I agree with overlandfilms; a finder makes the job a lot easier and the one you found is not that terribly expensive. Have you tried remembering all the various finger positions for different aspect ratios, formats and focal lengths?

I say 'Yay' go for it!
 
Yo,

I've heard using these director viewfinder's great and effective. You don't have to move the camera around to get your shot and you can tell the DP exactly where to put the camera and what lenses etc.

My friend shot a film on 35mm and he said the director's viewfinder was a necessity especially with that gigantic, heavy Panavision camera.

Now, on a video shot, I don't know how valuable it will be because you can just move the camera easily. But the versatility of being able to check several shots from different angles is very handy.

Laters,
Ando
 
Personally, i see the merits of using one, but I wouldn't cough up 200 bucks for it. Not at this stage. However, a fully tricked out DV camera does probably approach the heft of a film camera....I think i read somewhere that it's actually longer than a varicam or panavision camera...
 
MalcolmOng said:
Personally, i see the merits of using one, but I wouldn't cough up 200 bucks for it. Not at this stage. However, a fully tricked out DV camera does probably approach the heft of a film camera....I think i read somewhere that it's actually longer than a varicam or panavision camera...
Click to expand...

Usually not. Almost any 2/3" shoulder mount will extend to a length as far or farther as a fully extended HVX or even XL1. I know when I shoot varicam with our cine lens its easily longer and heavier than any typical DV and accessories setup. Our G2 panavision is even heavier depending on what accessories are attached. Just to illustrate we have to add a 15lb plate to our steadicam if we shoot HVX rather than varicam because of the huge weight difference.

Those setups are no picnic when it comes time to adjusting height and position quickly between takes. Even a typical DV camera takes time to move and jimmy around. See if you can rent a viewfinder or borrow one and use it on a set. You'll find it quite useful and worth the money.

Think of it like this. As a DP, inbetween setups you can move to the next shot on your boards and frame it. The viewfinder literally matches whatever lens your using. Thus you just drop down an X or signal with your hand the position and height of the camera and you know what frame to expect once its actually setup. Its also a great tool if you have difficulty "seeing the big picture". I've found that letting inexperienced or "vision" lacking directors use a finder that they can better find the frame they want.

$200 seems cheap to me. Do they even make them with that many features for cheaper?
 
Hi:

Just make sure you are shooting a film and look like you know what you are doing or the crew and bystanders will make sun of you for being a pretentious director snob ;-)

I sometimes shoot BTS on a lot of BIG shows (Prison Break, Ugly Betty, 24, etc.) and features and I can say in all of the years I have been doing that, I have not seen a director use a director's finder one single time.

Dan
 
I use a old birns and sawyer viewfinder and it is a great tool if your not familiar with distances and what lens to use. It is especially helpful in preplanning your shots when using a 35mm adaptor. I can just look and adjust my finder and get a reading as to what lens to use so I don't waste time deciding what to mount on my adaptor. I'm sure as you get better the need is not a necessary since you can most likely eyeball it and have a pretty good idea as to distance to your subject so you can relay that info to the focus puller for him/her to start at.
 
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