EVF for the F3

petermullett

petermullett

Well-known member
I'd love to have some reactions from the forum members as to what EVF they own / are thinking of buying / or have used with the F3.
I did try out the Zaguto EVF last November but sent it back primarily because of the mounting options, ( it was also quite large on the camera for my taste ). I found it impossible to be able to re-orient the eyepiece quickly and securely. Ideally I'd love to be able to find a mount that allows a quick change of orientation like on my Aaton film cameras. I have the Berkey top cheese plate with the front extension fitted to the F3, so there's a wealth of mounting options.
High resolution isn't really a "must have", ease of operation and as compact a size as possible are the main wishes. I probably would not use it as a second screen option to the camera's built in one as I generally mount a PIX 240 on most shoots......It would be good if powering / battery choice could be the same as the PIX 240 or the F3 itself, I don't need yet another battery type in the kit.
While on that subject, has any other PIX 240 owner bugged / requested Sound Devices to make available a Sony BPU-30/60 back for the 240? I asked them about this from the beginning of 240 ownership so that I could use the same battery type that powers the camera, they told be that it could be done, but so far nothing's materialised. It would be good to have just one battery type for everything in the kit.
Anyway, I'll await ideas and opinions on the EVF choices....
Thanks!
Peter
 
Hi Peter. I couldn't use the camera without my tvlogic monitor with focus assist and waveform monitor. You can also use it as a more traditional view finder when used with a noga arm and a wide angle lens. How are you getting on with your Sony zoom lens? Sparky
 
Hi Sparky, I'll check on the tvlogic, but that's just a monitor isn't it? Didn't think they made an EVF.
If what you use is a monitor then that wouldn't work for me, with the PIX 240 aboard that would make too many monitors attached.
The other thing I can't get on with are flexible arms, noga or similar or whatever. To have to release the locking mechanism, adjust and re-lock always ends up in a mess with me with the monitor/EVF flopping around like a wet chip.

The lens? I've still yet to lay grubby mitts on it, it's still languishing in a producer's office in the USA waiting for the shoot we had planned to use it on to be re-scheduled. However I've a friend visiting SW France early next month so if all else fails I'll have him bring it over to me here.

Cheers....Peter
 
Hi Peter.. I used these cobbled together Zacuto parts to make a solid, repeatable, adjustable EVF mount. The Berkey plate is a integral part of the set up.

photo.jpgphoto(1).jpgphoto(2).jpgphoto(3).jpgphoto(4).jpg


Apparently Zacuto is making a pre-packaged set up for the F3 for this very use now.
 
Z01_0400copy.jpg

I Finally went with Abel's Pro-VFM and a Sony VF20. All viewfinder issues resolved, I can concentrate on my job. To me, that's worth a lot.

Z01_0313copy.jpg

Another view
 
Last edited:
thanks Fotojorno and J Cummings....First the Zugato set-up, is that with the Z Finder, I can't remember what the one I had briefly last Fall looked like?
My problem with that set-up is that it looks like one has to un-lock / lock a couple of "joints" to make any adjustment. Maybe I'm wrong, but that would negate me using it if that's the case. I move my eye and head angle around too much and when filming with the Aatons I'm constantly adjusting the VF to a new position...easy to do with those finders.
It's good to see that black camera tape still has work to do on digital rigs!
J Cummings's set-up looks really interesting, in fact I did look briefly at the Pro-VFM at Abel's in NYC before leaving for France in February.....Liked what I saw, but didn't try it out. Did you already have a finder to go onto the Abel mounting rig or did you have to buy one? Which one is it, I can't make that out in the photo's?
Powering options, to run that finder and the camera do you need to have the Anton Bauer pack?...My guess is yes.
Thanks again for showing these two solutions to me, I really appreciate it......Now if only we could safely remove the useless rear eyepiece completely without major surgery on the F3!
My F3 has had it's "tail" "docked" like Fotojorno's.

Peter
 
is it possible to get a wave form monitor to be displayed on your VF20? I find it an absolute must to just exposure on every scene, esp now shooting S-LOG. Thanks.
 
Sparky874 said:
is it possible to get a wave form monitor to be displayed on your VF20? I find it an absolute must to just exposure on every scene, esp now shooting S-LOG. Thanks.
Click to expand...

No, still not possible with the Pro VF. That's why you would also fly a small monitor or consult the display on the side of the camera if you need to.
But for my line of work, this setup has been has been perfect. That's the beauty (and the curse) of having so many options to customze your rig.

Peter, I do have a Sony VF20 viewfinder to swap out from one of my other cameras so I didn't have to go out and buy one. But even if I didn't, I probably would have bought one. My rig can have a total of 5 power taps from the Anton Bauer battery setup if needed, so accessory power isn't an issue.
 
I just recently tried out the Zactuo viewfinder and found it lacking in quality. It only has one mounting hole, the eyepiece kept coming off, hence the tape in the picture I imagine, and I found the resolution lacking for proper focus. I looked at the Abel rig at NAB and it seemed to be a good option for run and gun work.

JCummings: What should rig is that? I just bought the Element Tech. one and find it a little uncomfortable for my should, your's looks much better though.
 
Backfocus92 said:
JCummings: What should rig is that? I just bought the Element Tech. one and find it a little uncomfortable for my should, your's looks much better though.
Click to expand...

Kinomatik Movietube CR. It's just OK on the shoulder...certainly not as comfy as your average ENG camera pad.
 
petermullett said:
thanks Fotojorno and J Cummings....First the Zugato set-up, is that with the Z Finder, I can't remember what the one I had briefly last Fall looked like?
My problem with that set-up is that it looks like one has to un-lock / lock a couple of "joints" to make any adjustment. Maybe I'm wrong, but that would negate me using it if that's the case. I move my eye and head angle around too much and when filming with the Aatons I'm constantly adjusting the VF to a new position...easy to do with those finders.
It's good to see that black camera tape still has work to do on digital rigs!
J Cummings's set-up looks really interesting, in fact I did look briefly at the Pro-VFM at Abel's in NYC before leaving for France in February.....Liked what I saw, but didn't try it out. Did you already have a finder to go onto the Abel mounting rig or did you have to buy one? Which one is it, I can't make that out in the photo's?
Powering options, to run that finder and the camera do you need to have the Anton Bauer pack?...My guess is yes.
Thanks again for showing these two solutions to me, I really appreciate it......Now if only we could safely remove the useless rear eyepiece completely without major surgery on the F3!
My F3 has had it's "tail" "docked" like Fotojorno's.

Peter
Click to expand...

Yes, it is the Zacuto EVF and the gaffe tap is to prevent from losing the eyepiece, a little bump and it unsnaps pretty easily. Removing and reinstalling the EVF is perfectly repeatable. Slide the EVF off the vertical rod and then unscrew the "erector set" off of the small silver female rod "Zud" thats attached to the Berkey. Or jusr slide the EVF off and leave the whole mount attached if you need to go on and off throughout the day.
 
I bought the kinotehnik evf and so far I find its very good. has lots of nice features but for me its secure and is designed like a proper viewfinder. the price is what sold me on it. I wanted to use hdmi as a viewfinder is the only thing I want to connect hdmi. very clear screen which, while its not as clear as the retina display on the new alphatron by all reports, is more than enough for the job. focus is easy and it has assist etc. nice addition is the aa battery packs that can be inserted if the main dtap source is running low. I'm at a point where I'm tired paying 1000 plus for everything I want to add to my camera so at 750 euro its great value
 
I knew the Kinotehnik was a promising EVF but after looking at the video shown below I am pretty sold on it except for the HDMI connectivity which is a dealerbreaker in my books. The whole six minutes is worth taking in but at 4:20 is where they start talking about the friction plate style mounting/swivel system which is what we all want.


​

I must say I am quite enamoured with John Cummings' EVF setup which is from what I have seen to date the best setup (around 5 grand). The second best solution assuming the mounting system works out is the soon to be realeased Alphatron/TVLogic EVF (about 2 grand with Letus Mount listed below):

http://blog.abelcine.com/2012/04/16/nab-12-first-look-alphatron-evf/

paired up with untested the Letus EVF Knuckle:

http://www.letusdirect.com/cart/mcs-evf-knuckle-with-quick-release.html
 
Hello litpixel, very interested in your post. The Kinotehnik seems to come the closest in terms of what I would like to have in an EVF. The mounting options though are a little vague on their website so I am still trying to figure out how i'd mount the thing if I buy one. I have a Berkey top plate plus the front extension on my F3, do you know how I'd be able to mount the EVF on such a rig? How do you mount yours?
I'm with you as far as just using the HDMI, I use the SDI outs for the PIX 240 anyway and I really like being able to use rechargeable AA batteries on this EVF.
Pricing is also an issue too, again I'm with you on the 1K price tag that seems to be the norm' for anything added to our gear. In fact even when I was still buying accessories for my Aaton kits I referred to pricing out anything in CPU's, ( Camera Purchase Units, at $1000 per unit ). That doesn't seem to have changed too much.
Thanks for any additional information you can provide.
Peter
 
I will be holding out for the TVLogic and the Letus mount. I have the Cineroid SDI now and a Noga arm. Kinda still dig the Noga arm, its nice to be able to extend it as much as a VF extension. (But ya it gets loose..)
The extra bit of resolution, is whats going to make the difference and the ability to close off the diopter from the sun is HUGE. With the F-3 and the Clients, that still want to feak'in run and gun with it.... Having that better resolution is what i'm looking for. The red peaking helps but, still need just a bit more, to be comfortable and fast.

For me, its just why have 480 when you can have 640 and both HDMI and SDI.
 
I mentioned on the "other" board, but I had the letus mount, and it really doesn't work perfect. Viewfinder sits too far back, even with all the adjustments, so I just made my own custom mount, and its working out pretty good so far.
 
petermullett said:
Hello litpixel, very interested in your post. The Kinotehnik seems to come the closest in terms of what I would like to have in an EVF. The mounting options though are a little vague on their website so I am still trying to figure out how i'd mount the thing if I buy one. I have a Berkey top plate plus the front extension on my F3, do you know how I'd be able to mount the EVF on such a rig? How do you mount yours?
I'm with you as far as just using the HDMI, I use the SDI outs for the PIX 240 anyway and I really like being able to use rechargeable AA batteries on this EVF.
Pricing is also an issue too, again I'm with you on the 1K price tag that seems to be the norm' for anything added to our gear. In fact even when I was still buying accessories for my Aaton kits I referred to pricing out anything in CPU's, ( Camera Purchase Units, at $1000 per unit ). That doesn't seem to have changed too much.
Thanks for any additional information you can provide.
Peter
Click to expand...


Hey Peter

It comes with a sort of right angled system that sits into the front accessory shoe of the F3. Its surprisingly solid and allows for movement in all directions. Basically its quite a simple system that sits the viewfinder a range of different heights and distances from your eye. so it has full adjustment in terms of placement and locks off. so to me it functions like a regular viewfinder. I suppose there is the danger I might break off the hotshoe but I cant see that happening. I was goin to hold out for alphatron etc but all I need is a clear viewfinder to shoot with. that functions like a vewfinder I am used to and gives that 3rd point of contact I need for handheld. this does all that with a quality display and a host of useful functions. at the price I think its smashing value. and it works a treat

ps I am sure as it has a front shoe plate adapter to secure it, it could also come with the a screw on the end to screw into your berkey. probably best email Tarmo or Tonis for more details on that

actually heres a demo vid of it on an F3 http://vimeo.com/40759910
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top