C700: C70 + Little Portkeys LEYE EVF and Misc thoughts

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drummondb

Well-known member
Just got the C70 and that new little EVF from Portkeys, the LEYE.

PXL_20210113_191733825.MP.jpg

The EVF:

-Works pretty well

-the sweet spot in the middle of the viewfinder is pretty small. Shift your eye a bit around, and the image becomes distorted.

-obviously adds some bulk, but very little extra weight

-using a big beefy manfrotto cold shoe to ball joint. Can anyone suggest a more low profile way to add this right on that cold shoe?


Random musings on the C70:

-still really really disappointed there's no built-in EVF.

-after using the R6 for a few months, I really miss the IBIS. I guess that's the next great leap: IBIS plus internal NDs.

-SEEMS lighter than the c100, but not sure it actually is.

-Can't use clog2 in BT709 color. You must use cinema gamut. I don't always like using a profile that requires a technical LUT to transform the color to 709.

-Not sure why there's no CLOG-1. Wouldn't be hard to include for legacy uses.

-Shot a lot of test footage thinking the internal scratch mic was on, but it wasn't. Took a few minutes to figure out how to activate it.

-During the pre-release, Canon was saying you could mix and match any format and resolution on the two cards, but it seems more complicated than that. Only certain formats are available on card 2 based on what the mode on card 1 is set to.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I have to say I have yet to read about anyone who is in love with their C70.
Lots of people who like it, but not hearing from anyone who loves it.
 
Thanks for the write up. I didn't know that about the secondary recording mode. I have only been using ALL-I. The C70 not as exciting to shoot with as my Red, but it's a much more utilitarian camera. I've been considering this EVF as well and I really appreciate the picture of your setup.

drummondb said:
Can anyone suggest a more low profile way to add this right on that cold shoe?
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This body type is just really not conducive for low-profile EVF placement. Do you like to shoot from the chest, with your eye pressed into the EVF?

You could add a cheese plate/helmet of some kind to C70's cold shoe (I hear that the original C100 top plate from Smallrig works well). Then put a NATO stick on the front of it, and then attach this: https://www.smallrig.com/smallrig-monitor-mount-with-nato-clamp-2205.html

That would result in pushing the height of the necessary hinge forward instead of upward, and there wouldn't be any single points of contact to twist off.
 
SethB said:
I like the look of this cold-shoe monitor mount, but haven’t yet had an application to try it:
https://www.amazon.com/SMALLRIG-Tilting-Monitor-Mount-BSE2431/dp/B082HT9K26/
Click to expand...

I just got this and it seems that it quickly loosens and starts to flop. I dont want to condemn it to death because I havent used it on a shoot yet and it seems like you're supposed to periodically tighten it. But it was very tight when it showed up and after 15 minutes of jamming my monitor around to reposition it on the Ronin-S side handle, it was already loose and floppy. But maybe with more gentle use it might be fine
 
puredrifting said:
Thanks for the feedback. I have to say I have yet to read about anyone who is in love with their C70.
Lots of people who like it, but not hearing from anyone who loves it.
Click to expand...

I just used one for the first time this week as a B-Cam to my C300MKIII on a studio shoot and then yesterday shot a ton of IQ tests for a review video I’m working on. It’s an odd bird....reminds me a bit of the C200B in a way. It’s really two cameras in one: a C300mkIII when living in tripod land, and a super duper mirrorless cam when paired with the speed booster and/or gimbal. From the couple days I had it I’d say that last situation I’d want to use it is run and gun / handheld. Ergonomics are wonky and no viewfinder really limit this cam to tripod or gimbal work in my opinion.
 
ahalpert said:
I just got this and it seems that it quickly loosens and starts to flop. I dont want to condemn it to death because I havent used it on a shoot yet and it seems like you're supposed to periodically tighten it. But it was very tight when it showed up and after 15 minutes of jamming my monitor around to reposition it on the Ronin-S side handle, it was already loose and floppy. But maybe with more gentle use it might be fine
Click to expand...

I find it strange that with a catalogue of a bazillion doodads, Smallrig still doesn't seem to have a monitor mount with cold shoe on bottom (like what you have linked here) and with a nato clamp on top. That is what the C70/LEYE combo needs.
 
chris f said:
I just used one for the first time this week as a B-Cam to my C300MKIII on a studio shoot and then yesterday shot a ton of IQ tests for a review video I’m working on. It’s an odd bird....reminds me a bit of the C200B in a way. It’s really two cameras in one: a C300mkIII when living in tripod land, and a super duper mirrorless cam when paired with the speed booster and/or gimbal. From the couple days I had it I’d say that last situation I’d want to use it is run and gun / handheld. Ergonomics are wonky and no viewfinder really limit this cam to tripod or gimbal work in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Yeah, so far I have no complaints about the image. Looks great, colors are fantastic, etc. DGO is particularly impressive in the way it lets you explore shadow detail in post, especially for shadow-rich shots (forests, etc).

However, the ergos are not feeling right for me. Having your right hand in the handgrip strap is definitely how you will primarily support this thing in a run and gun situation and the buttons and controls do feel wonky in that situation. The worst is the combo of a wide design with all ports on the left. The HDMI port is exactly where your left hand would want to wrap underneath the cam to cradle it, especially if focusing manually on smaller lenses.
 
That setup with the Zacuto Kamelon is very slick but with cage and that EVF, you're looking at an $8K+ setup. Plus it's no longer all that compact. At that point, you might as well get a C300iii.
 
QuickHitRecord said:
That setup with the Zacuto Kamelon is very slick but with cage and that EVF, you're looking at an $8K+ setup. Plus it's no longer all that compact. At that point, you might as well get a C300iii.
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Or a lightly used C200 for half the cost? I know RAW is large but I like it.
 
ahalpert said:
I just got this and it seems that it quickly loosens and starts to flop. I dont want to condemn it to death because I havent used it on a shoot yet and it seems like you're supposed to periodically tighten it. But it was very tight when it showed up and after 15 minutes of jamming my monitor around to reposition it on the Ronin-S side handle, it was already loose and floppy. But maybe with more gentle use it might be fine
Click to expand...

Most of the monitor mounts seem like they are fighting basic physics. If the pivot point is way below the CofM of the device trouble lies ahead. I think the classic yoke you will see on steadicams is the solution. If you cant buy it you have to make it.

While Im a fan of SmallRig they do have one problem.. allowing user designs and ending up with stuff designed by people who are not actually experienced designers. It is interesting that portkeys goodgle images is 99% of a rendering. seems like a product that was launched before any physical versions were made and tested?
 
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ozmorphasis said:
I find it strange that with a catalogue of a bazillion doodads, Smallrig still doesn't seem to have a monitor mount with cold shoe on bottom (like what you have linked here) and with a nato clamp on top. That is what the C70/LEYE combo needs.
Click to expand...
1531757752_IMG_1028338.jpg

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...EShfc0wIuHelMkS41zZUaRJ_5SUycmKBoCtXgQAvD_BwE

+

1584955432_1421794.jpg

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...sP67lekxfPEyB3fmXZ6R6Qk-ZS1SDiBxoCOpQQAvD_BwE

+

61BjDs1ugqL._AC_SL1500_.jpg

https://www.amazon.com/SMALLRIG-Rods-Threads-Clamp-Mount/dp/B00PJWZKNG




puredrifting said:
Uh oh, me and the C200 are in trouble. That durned preacher man helped us out and now this
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Honestly, I wouldn't be worried about the law on this one. By the time they catch you your wife will have taken care of you.


puredrifting said:
I know RAW is large but I like it.
Click to expand...
That's what she said.
 
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QuickHitRecord said:
That setup with the Zacuto Kamelon is very slick but with cage and that EVF, you're looking at an $8K+ setup. Plus it's no longer all that compact. At that point, you might as well get a C300iii.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I think that cage setup with the EVF and handle looks pretty nice. I suppose it depends on your needs. If you're mostly shooting interviews or b-roll on a tripod or Ronin, the smaller size and weight of the C70 certainly has a huge advantage. The longer battery life is also great.

In terms of keeping the kit small, I think the best solution is a small loupe for the back of the LCD. Canon should have included this with the kit. The XC10/XC15 are under 1500 and both include a loupe... Maybe some sort of wireframe mount that attaches to the cold shoe or 1/4-20 on top.

I haven't done a side by side, but to me the image from the DGO sensor doesn't seem wildy different than the past C series cameras I have used. I still see unpleasant chroma noise say, on the dark side of a face when the shadows are sitting at 10 or 20 IRE.

The Clog2 is certainly cleaner, but to me it also looks quite a bit different than CLOG2/BT.709 on the C300ii. I never really shot much CLOG2/C.Gamut so I can't really comment on how that compares.
 
These EVF builds make me appreciate the built in c200 EVF, which I've been using a lot lately.

I'm thinking about long term camera operating and saving my body more and the rear EVF with easyrig lets me put it up to my eye without tilting my neck at all.

The same set up would work for c70/EVF shooters too and there's potential to use fewer rigging pieces (would just need top handle/loupe), which can help when transferring to a gimbal etc.

It won't work for everyone or every situation but just another set up to consider.
 
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