EVF alternatives?

S

stevedocmaker

Well-known member
I am fed up with the stock EVF. I'm trying to shoot shallow depth of field, and focus is critical. The EVF just doesn't cut it, even with the focus aids in the camera (yes, I've tried setting the EVF to black-and-white).

I know of three aftermarket products, Cineroid, Zacuto, and LCDVF. I believe only the Cineroid product is shipping now, and there have been quality issues reported. Does anyone know of other alternatives either on the market or soon to be?

I can't figure out how one would mount any of these on the camera in a very useable way (since the hot shoe is at the front/top of the camera) without having the camera on a rig. I need to avoid using a cumbersome rig on the project I'm working on, does anyone have any other ideas on how to mount an aftermarket EVF? Has anyone tried removing the stock EVF? (I ask because it may be possible to attach a cold-shoe mount in the cavity where the EVF sits, and then put a ball mount on that.)

The only other solution I've been able to come up with is using a Hoodloupe on the LCD. It works (better than the evf), but isn't very ergonomic and falls off easily. I've also tried high magnification reading glasses (let's me get my face a few inches from the LCD), which also work but not in bright sun and present other problems. Any other ideas?
 
stevedocmaker said:
I can't figure out how one would mount any of these on the camera in a very useable way (since the hot shoe is at the front/top of the camera) without having the camera on a rig.
Click to expand...

I mount the EVF upside down with a Noga arm attached to the AF100's handle. While not necessary I also use quick release Cine Locks to speed up the build, & breakdown.

Regards,
Bern
 
Yep, bright sun is a challange . . . Hoodman?

In all other situations I've been able to nail focus with the existing LCD and a pair of "computer glasses."
(like reading glasses but made for your eyes to be approximately 21 inches away from what you are viewing).

They may/probably are called something different--any eye doctor should be able to explain/take care of your needs.
Others may laugh at this but it certainly works . . . was a $59 solution (after eye exam). Also works great when working on your computer.

Best.
 
SmallHD's DP4 looks pretty interesting; it's a small 4.3" monitor without viewfinder loupe for $549, and includes pixel-to-pixel. And then you can get it with the viewfinder loupe for $749 total.
http://www.smallhd.com/Products/DP4.html

I was thinking of a TV Logic or DP6, but at half the price or less for the DP4, it has the crucial function (pixel-to-pixel) and hey, even though it's not as high-res and a little smaller, you can put the loupe on it, and it's still only half the price of the DP6...
 
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dregenthal said:
Yep, bright sun is a challange . . . Hoodman?

In all other situations I've been able to nail focus with the existing LCD and a pair of "computer glasses."
(like reading glasses but made for your eyes to be approximately 21 inches away from what you are viewing).

They may/probably are called something different--any eye doctor should be able to explain/take care of your needs.
Others may laugh at this but it certainly works . . . was a $59 solution (after eye exam). Also works great when working on your computer.

Best.
Click to expand...
I'm laughing because that's pretty much what I do. picked up a pair of cheap reading glasses from Costco.
I want a EVF but waiting to see who will be the winner.
 
Have owned a Cineroid for a number of weeks and had not been impressed with iffy connections on EVF and AF101. Talked to distributor who pointed out that there is an L-clamp to address the less than solid HDMI connections. Now have Cineroid L=Clamp plus Cineroid Mini HDMI to Standard HDMI cables so not using an adapter, all is now well. The viewfinder mounted with a Manfrotto Hydrostatic arm is now a useful addition to the production process.
 
I agree cables are long so have had to loop them up a bit. At least there is now peace of mind that the connections are good.
 
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