C100: C100 EVF option

J

Joe Stas

Active member
Hi all,
Finally have to jump on an EVF - Can no longer struggle with the C100 LCD screen and the appalling viewfinder!

Just interested in what people use? Do you prefer to use an external monitor like a SmallHD or do you prefer to use a loupe like the Zacuto Z-finder?
 
I have the Zacuto EVF Pro. Its nice and sharp though I find the peaking feature is a little poor. I mainly use it for a shoulder mounted set up or when shooting in very bright sun light. Going by comparison reviews of the SmallHD DP4 and the Zacuto EVF Pro most seem to favour the Zacuto... I can't comment as I've never used the SmallHD.

I use the C100 LCD with a Petrol Mini Hood most of the time and it works very well. The C100 LCD is good when you get used to it. I never use C100 EVF!

Haven't tried the Zacuto C100 Loupe yet.
 
Curnsie said:
I have the Zacuto EVF Pro. Its nice and sharp though I find the peaking feature is a little poor. I mainly use it for a shoulder mounted set up or when shooting in very bright sun light. Going by comparison reviews of the SmallHD DP4 and the Zacuto EVF Pro most seem to favour the Zacuto... I can't comment as I've never used the SmallHD.

I use the C100 LCD with a Petrol Mini Hood most of the time and it works very well. The C100 LCD is good when you get used to it. I never use C100 EVF!

Haven't tried the Zacuto C100 Loupe yet.
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Did you get the Petrol Mini Hood after the Zacuto and relaise it works just as well in most situations?
 
I bought the Mini Hood first and it is really effective except in the brightest conditions. I was going to buy the Zacuto C100 loupe but I got the Zacuto EVF for a snip second hand. The EVF is a lot more versatile as I can use it to monitor on a jib or when shoulder mounted but tbh I only use it 50% of the time when shooting.
 
Curnsie said:
I bought the Mini Hood first and it is really effective except in the brightest conditions. I was going to buy the Zacuto C100 loupe but I got the Zacuto EVF for a snip second hand. The EVF is a lot more versatile as I can use it to monitor on a jib or when shoulder mounted but tbh I only use it 50% of the time when shooting.
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Thanks for the detailed reply. I had my eye on the Zacuto EVF Pro too for a while as I was going to get it for the 5D3. I would say it is a lot better than the LCD on the C100.
 
I have the Zacuto and use EVFs exclusively, only use the LCD for menu settings... I have the Zacuto grip extension and together they make a really good handheld shoulder mount option... I will say that my old Cineroid (1st model) has better peaking, and it's lighter, so I use it often as well..
 
Mac said:
I have the Zacuto and use EVFs exclusively, only use the LCD for menu settings... I have the Zacuto grip extension and together they make a really good handheld shoulder mount option... I will say that my old Cineroid (1st model) has better peaking, and it's lighter, so I use it often as well..
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The red peaking in my Zacuto is terrible! There is red dots/pixels all over the screen when on - not just around edges of items in focus - making it unusable. Have I to set something on mine to suit the C100? I seem to remember it being much better what passed through my Ninja 2 which I no longer have. Any ideas?
 
Here is a photo of the screen with red peaking on:
image.jpg

Update: when I look through the loupe it seems that the Zacuto EVF red peaking is focusing on the noise in the hdmi signal coming from the C100.
 
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That's why I like the old Cineroid - it has issues too, but the red peaking is excellent - I've seen them selling for under $500...

I do use the Zacuto most of the time (easier to change batteries), but without the red turned on (mine's not that bad though).. if I'm careful I can focus well with the the standard peaking.. I also use the 1:1 feature when I'm not sure, I have it programed on the lowest button so I can hit it quickly in and out...
 
Sorry, forgot to ask - have you tried that HDMI out to asnother monitor, because I don't have any noticeable noise from my C100. Last week I hooked it up via HDMI during half time on a friend's 80" screen an it was very clean at 2500 ASA.
 
I like my DP4, it is large enough to act as an onboard monitor when the director comes over and wants to see the frame, larger than a Zacuto. Also, when you flip it up it stays up.
 

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EIREHotspur said:
Have you informed/complained to Zacuto? This is a major issue that they should fix. Is it only on the C100?
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No i haven't contacted Zacuto yet. I want to get some feedback from other C100 users to see if this is a common problem. I borrowed this same EVF in May this year and ran it through my Ninja 2 and the red peaking was excellent as far as I remember. I bought it last week from the owner as he wasn't using it... and since I've since sold my Ninja I can't test to see if it still works correctly.
 
EIREHotspur said:
I await the outcome of this with great interest.
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I've just borrowed a cable to test it with my old Canon 550d and peaking works as it should... theres definitely something in the HDMI signal coming from the C100 that is throwing it off...:undecided
 
Might be worth emailing Zacuto and asking them if it's a common issue?

I'm still undecided on what route to go down then! haha.
 
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