Directors finders? Anyone use?
- Thread starter jdk2man
- Start date
Re: Directors finders? Anyone use?
I personally have been wondering the same thing. I am wondering how helpful they can be, or is it just something to hang around your neck and look cool using.
I've been to both Cavsion's website and Filmtool's website looking at them. I am not too pleased buying a director's viewfinder that is 2.2" in length - and telescopes to only 3.2". Do you have any idea how small that is? And they are really expensive too.
They both list 1/3" video with focal ranges from 3.5-43.5, but I am not sure what that scale is for.
So, I am in the same boat, wondering how helpful they will be. I see pictures of a lot of filmmakers using them, but in the background there is always a film camera setup - not a video camera.
Hope someone answers this post.
-Declan
I personally have been wondering the same thing. I am wondering how helpful they can be, or is it just something to hang around your neck and look cool using.
I've been to both Cavsion's website and Filmtool's website looking at them. I am not too pleased buying a director's viewfinder that is 2.2" in length - and telescopes to only 3.2". Do you have any idea how small that is? And they are really expensive too.
They both list 1/3" video with focal ranges from 3.5-43.5, but I am not sure what that scale is for.
So, I am in the same boat, wondering how helpful they will be. I see pictures of a lot of filmmakers using them, but in the background there is always a film camera setup - not a video camera.
Hope someone answers this post.
-Declan
Stas_Tagios
Well-known member
Re: Directors finders? Anyone use?
A director's finder has more use for filmmakers working in larger formats like 35mm (or directors who want to look "professional" in behind-the-scenes stills
), where one can't simply tote the camera around to check various angles.
Using small cameras like the DVX makes it much simpler to just use your camera as a director's finder, since you can easily slap a battery on the camera and carry it around your set or location and determine from which angles you wish to shoot and which focal lengths and compositions you want. IMHO, when shooting small format video, a director's finder is a waste of money.
Some high-end director finders allow the mounting of 35mm lenses, so the director can view the scene through the lens he or she wants to use.
A director's finder has more use for filmmakers working in larger formats like 35mm (or directors who want to look "professional" in behind-the-scenes stills
), where one can't simply tote the camera around to check various angles.Using small cameras like the DVX makes it much simpler to just use your camera as a director's finder, since you can easily slap a battery on the camera and carry it around your set or location and determine from which angles you wish to shoot and which focal lengths and compositions you want. IMHO, when shooting small format video, a director's finder is a waste of money.
Some high-end director finders allow the mounting of 35mm lenses, so the director can view the scene through the lens he or she wants to use.
Re: Directors finders? Anyone use?
Stas is right. I have one for when I actually shot film. They have various focal length and aspect ratio settings. They're small and expensive. The one I have doesn't (and most don't) give you a true representation of focal length, DOF, etc that you would get actually looking through a lens. It simply masks what you see through the finder to give you a representation of the angle of view.
I can't remember the last time I pulled it out. I'd save your money for more valuable tools.
Stas is right. I have one for when I actually shot film. They have various focal length and aspect ratio settings. They're small and expensive. The one I have doesn't (and most don't) give you a true representation of focal length, DOF, etc that you would get actually looking through a lens. It simply masks what you see through the finder to give you a representation of the angle of view.
I can't remember the last time I pulled it out. I'd save your money for more valuable tools.
HansK
Veteran
Re: Directors finders? Anyone use?
Here's a very inexpensive way to create a director's viewfinder using an old credit card or similar:
http://www.rondexter.com/no_camera_camera_course.htm
I've made one and carry it around in my wallet. It's fun to take it out occasionaly and visualize shots.
I also highly recommend his site. Tons of information.
Here's a very inexpensive way to create a director's viewfinder using an old credit card or similar:
http://www.rondexter.com/no_camera_camera_course.htm
I've made one and carry it around in my wallet. It's fun to take it out occasionaly and visualize shots.
I also highly recommend his site. Tons of information.
G
Guest
Guest
Re: Directors finders? Anyone use?
Back when I was shooting mostly 16mm I owned one, but even then I hardly used it. The image through the director's finder was very small, and I generally found it easier to just eyeball it and use my imagination to figure what the effects of different focal lengths would be. Using a camera live the DVX100, I think it would be hard to justify not simply using the camera itself, except maybe to save batteries.
Back when I was shooting mostly 16mm I owned one, but even then I hardly used it. The image through the director's finder was very small, and I generally found it easier to just eyeball it and use my imagination to figure what the effects of different focal lengths would be. Using a camera live the DVX100, I think it would be hard to justify not simply using the camera itself, except maybe to save batteries.
Z
Zoomforce
Guest
Re: Directors finders? Anyone use?
actually goto a camera store and buy some matteblack slide trays, you can get them in the different aspect ratios and are less than a buck each.. does the job at least, and what you see through the hole is about what you get when you are at full tele.
actually goto a camera store and buy some matteblack slide trays, you can get them in the different aspect ratios and are less than a buck each.. does the job at least, and what you see through the hole is about what you get when you are at full tele.
Barry_Green
Moderator
Re: Directors finders? Anyone use?
I haven't seen a director's viewfinder on the set in years, especially with a DVX. Normally we just frame with the camera nowadays. Back when the camera was a giant Mitchell BNCR, the director's viewfinder made a lot of sense, but nowadays it's not used much.
I haven't seen a director's viewfinder on the set in years, especially with a DVX. Normally we just frame with the camera nowadays. Back when the camera was a giant Mitchell BNCR, the director's viewfinder made a lot of sense, but nowadays it's not used much.
Z
Zoomforce
Guest
Re: Directors finders? Anyone use?
I see it on tech surveys or location scouts sometimes, but as Barry said not with the DVX.. the DVX is basically a large viewfinder by itself.
I see it on tech surveys or location scouts sometimes, but as Barry said not with the DVX.. the DVX is basically a large viewfinder by itself.