Be extremely careful with Zacuto EVF in sunlight

I don't understand why users are slipping pouches over the EVF instead of using the loupe's cap. Perhaps some are unaware that there is a cap available.

I'd happily pay for "auto-shutting mechanism', but at least Zacuto offers a loupe cap, & a 16x9 mask, two solutions the other EVF manufacturers do not.
 
I agree, Steve and the Zacuto team are on the ball with this one.
The 16x9 mask works very well. I have had it for approx. 2-3 months now, no issues.
 
Bern Caughey said:
I don't understand why users are slipping pouches over the EVF instead of using the loupe's cap. Perhaps some are unaware that there is a cap available.

I'd happily pay for "auto-shutting mechanism', but at least Zacuto offers a loupe cap, & a 16x9 mask, two solutions the other EVF manufacturers do not.
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I find the when I have the chamois eyepiece attached the loupe's cap is too hard to attach. It also is clunky if it hangs off the EVF. The cloth pouch hanging is quiet.
 
yeh i just use the Zfinder's lens cap. I have the 16:9 mask also now...but the lens cap is what i used alone before that. its clunky, and noisy and annoying but hey...i dont have a burnt screen.
 
I use the snap in cap because when handholding it's easier than having to trust a loose cloth or cover.. BUT it's clumsy and easy to forget to do it when you're working fast. I also have the 16x9 mask (which I added after the burn) and it helps a lot.

As for the guy above (snp "whining") who says, basically, "get over it", it's obvious he hasn't used one of these finders.. They are different from the CRT finders on traditional video cameras and burn very easily for some reason because of the focus on the loupe.. I burned the plastic bezel in seconds, and I've never had anything like that happen in over 40 years of using many-many film and video cameras.

The body of the loupe is large enough that it would be relatively easy to insert some sort of flip down device.. I'm going to work on it as soon as I finish the edit I'm on...
 
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I second the flip down cap idea. I had no idea that these EVF's could be burned so quickly. I'm pretty careful with my gear and have shot a lot with regular "betacam" style viewfinders. Always careful to tilt those guys down but I am just blowing it with these new EVF's. They burn so fast! Just leaning over and talking to an actor can do it. Or having crew move the camera...

For some reason I've been shooting a lot of stuff with kids in it lately and it's all outside in the full sun so the camera is low and the EVF is always tilted up. I fried one Z finder (that Zacuto replaced - thank you Zacuto!) by just moving the camera for a few seconds and not paying attention to where the EVF was pointed. After I talked to an actor I looked over in horror to see the thing pointed straight at the sun. it was just a few seconds so i was like uh-oh better move that thing before it gets burned. I jumped over and looked inside and there was a big burned circle in the center of the screen. GAAAAAAA!

I knew they could be burned but had no idea it could happen in a few seconds. When i got the replacement i was super careful. Had a little bag i would cover it with when moving the camera (the little plastic cap flops and clanks around, making noise so I just can't see that as an option on shoots with sound), always tilted it down . On a recent sunny gig it happened again though. No big burn, just a dot and a little yellow streak at the edge of the screen. It's so hard in the heat of battle on a production to be aware of where the EVF is pointing at all times. I'm always checking the sun, tilting it down, or covering it but I'm so worried about it that it is adding stress to my shoots.

I would happily pay Zacuto money for a super clever "Zacuto EVF sun flip down cap thing". Something attached to the Zfinder that won't bang around and make noise with a little switch that flicks it down maybe? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Zacuto EVF and the company support has been fantastic but I think the quick burning nature of these diopter/screen EVF devices is a pretty big problem.
 
For starters, I was shocked and pleased when B&H mailed me a 16x9 mask in a envelope with out having to request one, since I got my EVF before they came with masks. Good on B&H and Zacuto. However, is it just me that my eye cap no longer snaps/stays in place since I have installed the mask?..
 
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On my HPX170, I made a small-ish flap out of gaff tape on the rubber eyepiece on the opposite side of the protruding part. Then I got some light velcro, made two tiny pieces and now I basically have a better eyecup. Completely in the habit of closing it every second.. I'm not sure if it would work on the Zacuto, as I have never used it yet.
 
My EVF is mounted upside down from the AF100's handle, so I did not order the flip model. I use Zacuto's elastic bands to secure the loupe to the EVF, & when the cap is not in use it's tucked behind one of these elastics, where it doesn't clank around. If I didn't have this option I'd try a couple of tabs of velcro to secure the cap to the loupe when not in use.

Both Olof, & Hot Rod Cameras, have EVF swivel mounts in the works, & I'll likely buy whichever hits the market first. Still not as safe as an "auto-shutting mechanism", but should provide a bit more peace of mind.
 
Wow, a company that stands behind it's product. Even though an admittedly a bone head move on my part (exposing the EFV to direct sunlight) Zacuto is replacing the screen for small service charge. Also since I had an early unit they are including a 16:9 "mask" that is supposed to mitigate most of the sunlight danger. Whew, I thought I had toasted a $1K investment in a few seconds. Kudos to Zacuto. But I'm also locking my unit in the completely horizontal position.
 
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