Better EVF maybe?

TBH, apart from being able to position these far better than the on camera EVF, which on the AF100, Sony F3 just boggles my mind as to why they are where they are, I just cant see these being "better" than the inbuilt EVF. But happy to be proved wrong. A local to me will have a cineroid EVF early next week, so Im going to take a look at it personally.
 
The three of us that operate my AF102 find the Panny EVF virtually "unuseable" and we avoid it as much as possible.

Hope fully the Zacuto is some kind of improvement.

The best EVF we have ever used is on the RED. Superb.

So it is possible to do better ($$$$$ of course)
 
Shooter said:
The three of us that operate my AF102 find the Panny EVF virtually "unuseable" and we avoid it as much as possible.
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Such a curious comment to me -- I find it perfectly usable, it's as big as the EVF in a 2/3" broadcast camera, and it's high res. Yet I've heard others complain about it. This is one that I just don't understand.

The best EVF we have ever used is on the RED. Superb.

So it is possible to do better ($$$$$ of course)
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Sure; the Red "Bomb" EVF costs almost as much as an AF100 does, by itself ($3200 vs. $4700). External viewfinders seem to be fairly big or booming business, the Cineroid is out and they've announced new versions including HDMI->HD-SDI loopthrough and true HD-SDI models, and Redrock has announced theirs and Zacuto has announced theirs... there will be options.
 
Such a curious comment to me -- I find it perfectly usable, it's as big as the EVF in a 2/3" broadcast camera, and it's high res. Yet I've heard others complain about it. This is one that I just don't understand.
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None of us can get an acceptable "across the frame" definition / focus.

Any adjustment of the diopter displays considerable distortion of the images towards the outer edges of the frame. With the display showing onscreen INFO characters ...we can watch the lettering distort (warp) horizontally.
Adjusting the diopter also creates an edge effect ( ghosting)

It is simply too unpleasant to view and operate thru the EVF because it feels like one is wearing someone elses cheap plastic lens spectacles.

EVF sceen size is maybe just adequate but could be o.k ... if it was at least crisp edge to edge
 
Interesting -- I have not noticed such, and I do have to use the EVF diopter adjustment to compensate for reading glasses... when I don't have my eye lined up just right I can get a little bit of the edge ghosting, but that gets brought under control when aligned properly so I never thought of it as any big deal...

Okay, no worries, just wondering why people were having a problem with it, as I find it such a big step up from the HVX/HPX170 that I am actually pretty happy with it, but the issues you describe would be bothersome indeed.
 
Hmm, for whatever reason (someone else played with the camera, it shifted during transport, etc.) I've had to rack the diopter before, and when in focus, it's large, and perfect, at least in B&W. I used it extensively just this past weekend, and it was invaluable in the bright sunlight*. My only complaint is that I can't relocate it.

*just a warning/reminder - a fellow shooter probably permanently fried parts of his HMC-150's EVF because of sunlight streaming into the EVF. Ouch. I put a cheap, small lens pouch over mine to protect it.
 
I have the Cineroid, and any who have read those posts know that I've had some problems... mechanical ones...

However, when it works (it is working now) it is really a huge improvement. I don't mind the stock finder, it's almost as good as the $4000 ones you find in high-end cameras. But the Cineroid fills the eye, almost to peripheral vision. It is bright and contrasty and you can put it anywhere you want it.

Unfortunately the folks at Cineroid cut some corners on things like HDMI receptacles and battery holders, and those little nickel and dime items almost cost me a client (thankfully I had my HPX500 in the van). They would have had a lock on the market.

This Zacuto one looks really appealing and has some nice additional features... It does cost more, but after it's proved itself, I will plunk down the cash for one - or maybe that other one up there - or maybe a RedRock...
 
I will add a little info that I just discovered.

If I remove the eyepiece the EVF monitor is considerably sharper and clearer. Across the entire frame as well actually.

With the eye piece fitted..it reverts to my "issue" . Easy to demonstrate to myself by floating it on and off while looking thru.

I notice the eyepiece has a "plastic" lens in it and this has a degree of ND (2 stops according to my spotmeter) in it.

This little lens is also sprung loaded for some reason but appears sharper enough when viewed thru by itself .

EDIT Actually there are 2 lenses in here. One solid and one similar to a Wratten Gel filetr (hence the feeling of a spring load on the internal one_
 
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Shooter, you did remove the piece of protective plastic that is on the outside of the eyepiece. Right? Take a close look, I have seen this too many times, the plastic coating goes all the way to the edge of the VF glass. anyway your complaint sounds like it is still on there.

Best,

Jan
 
Jan_Crittenden said:
Shooter, you did remove the piece of protective plastic that is on the outside of the eyepiece. Right? Take a close look, I have seen this too many times, the plastic coating goes all the way to the edge of the VF glass. anyway your complaint sounds like it is still on there.

Best,

Jan
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I am positive that there is no protective plastic on the eyepiece Jan. I have looked very closely and I have also picked at the edge with a sharp instrument.

I seem to recall when I unpacked the camera ...there was a little tab on the protective plastic peel off.

What I am aware of, is the 2 layers that make the eye piece. The wratten-like one is flimsy and can be observed to distort a little when viewed at different angles. ( eye piece off camera). There is a gap between the hard lens and the wratten-like inner one.
 
Have you had someone from Panasonic evaluate what you are talking about? I am sort of in the same boat with Barry.

Thanks,

jan
 
Jan_Crittenden said:
Have you had someone from Panasonic evaluate what you are talking about? I am sort of in the same boat with Barry.

Thanks,

jan
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No I havent done that because I have improved it somewhat by "manipulating" the wratten-like ND lens (with a soft cloth) That seems to seat it better in the mount and removes most of the distortion I was observing.

I would love to have the courage to flick it out ( which would be so easy) but then the EVF may just be too bright. Watch this space!.

I know that the actual EVF is sharp and clear. The issue is simply with the set up in MY eye piece from what I have determined.

As I say... I have improved it 90%
 
Following this thread, decided to take my viewfinder apart. Had a look through the eyepiece and rotated it to see if there was any distortion, etc. Was sitting in front of our large screen imac and noticed as I rotated the eyepiece, the imac screen got brighter and darker and completely black at one point - just the screen, not the whole view through the eyepiece. Does this mean that this eyepiece has some sort of polarisation? - that supposedly works in conjunction with the screen in the EVF, refresh rates, etc. - rather than just ND, or as well as. Might try looking at the sky through it during daylight hours, or am I being dense? Curious.
 
Shooter just took a look at what youre talking about. Certainly if that wasnt seated properly it would have some ill effect.
 
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