Has anyone upgraded the HPX viewfinder?

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David See

Active member
Hi all,

My disgust with the HPX's viewfinder is now well documented, so I won't go into that again, but I would like to know if anyone else has actually done what Panasonic recommends (for a price, of course) and upgraded to the 2.0" VF?

The model I was told to consider was the AJVF20W and new here it is around AU$4600.00, but I thought someone might have done it.

I might be wrong, but it looks to me as though the VF has a different mount to the more higher-specced ones.

Is it REALLY possible that the better VF's fit the HPX?

Cheers,

David
 
jeez. it's not the best but it's not that bad.....

if peaking were stronger i would be happy but i am able to focus with it.

i guess you could upgrade but the output is sd so don't waste your cash on an hd finder...
 
I upgraded and wouldn't go back to the 1.5" viewfinder... I found the letterbox image too small... way easier to see focus with the bigger viewfinder, but that's just me. They still aren't a patch on the HD viewfinder though.

Is it worth the money... well I don't know... I picked mine up as a demo for around $2000 cdn. Other people seem to be fine with the smaller one though.
 
It's not that bad??!!!??

Well, my 2004 Sony DSR-570 was superior to this one, and I thought THAT one was bad.

Sure, you can focus with it, but it takes a lot longer and you have to choose the "best of the worst" focus points to know you are in focus. Try doing a follow-focus with it! :crybaby:

Maybe when I get used to the focus assist (that doesn't stay put after a power-down) it won't seem so bad.
 
if your talking about a rack focus, i do them all the time with the standard evf. try cranking your contrast. that helps. i rarely use the focus assist because it only tells you if center frame is focused. most always my focus point is off to the side....
 
i tried to use a HD VF on HPX502 but all i got was zaggy images as its VF output is in SD mode (my guess you takes). I still have not got hands on WF20 VF. what the price if i were to exchange or buy an HPX502 with VF20 only.
 
Jonny,
Is most of your work shoulder mount stuff that requires a VF? If not, I would spend the money on a good on-board monitor.
 
Good thread, can anyone point to some good HD VF? or there isn't such? i'm tired of bw low quality SD viewfinder and will definintely invest ... thanks
 
The 500 only outputs SD to the VF, so the best you can do is a larger 2" SD VF.

That will help, but it's way expensive.
 
My opinion is that there is not enough peaking control in the standard vf.

Sure, it puts a nice edge around the text in the vf (who cares about that), but the adjustments seems to stop before enough peaking gets onto the actual image.

If we could get another 1/2 turn (at least) out of the peaking control, that would help dramatically.
 
yeah, honestly, the VF on the 500 is crap. But, at that cost what do you expect? I love my 500, but the first thing i'm adding to this camera once I make a return on the initial investment, is the 2" viewfinder.
 
good thread, I thought I was the only one with focus difficulties. Jeez this vf sucks bad. I shoot most of the times documantaries so run and gun. I defenitaly need the 2" if that makes the differance. Aren't there good second hand vfinders that fits this camera.
 
So... will the viewfinder on my Panasonic SDX-900 fit on my new HPX500? I thought I read somewhere that it will not. The connector looks the same... anyone?
Rich
 
The connector is the same but the mount is different, I think. You can buy the "slide mount/bracket" that will screw onto the vf as an accessory, as far as I know.
 
NewYorkLion said:
But, at that cost what do you expect?
Click to expand...

This reasoning makes me laugh. The AU$11500.00 (including lens) Sony HVRS270 HD camera has a colour LCD vf with better clarity and peaking function than this camera's. At least - when I trialled the Sony - I could tell what was in focus and what wasn't.

I thought the Sony's vf was bad enough when I trialled it, but the 500/502 one takes the cake. It's a shame, because, here is Oz, it means the REAL price of this purchase, to get it how it should be in the first place, costs the buyer $19,000...not $15,000.

I must reiterate I was disappointed I didn't pick up the vf issue when I tried it in the showroom. It might have swayed my decision. Not definite, but perhaps.
 
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