C100: EVF recommendations for the C70?

D

drummondb

Well-known member
Dear lord please help. I'm a stubborn C100 mkII superfan. I am devastated the C70 does not have any kind of EVF or even a sh*tty clip-on loupe. For my shooting style, I am entirely dependent on the C100mk2/C200/C300-style EVF.

You lot are the smartest guys around. Any recommendations for a decent EVF that could keep the C70 as compact and light as possible? I'd preferably like it to screw right into the bottom of the EVF so it can be mounted in line in the the 1/4-20 cold shoe on the top of the C70, to keep the form factor similar to the C200-style body. Some options I see:

Z CAM EVF: Don't know much about it. Looks like it might have a 1/4-20 screw on the bottom for the mounting I'm after. Also takes HDMI. But would need a power cord ran to it.

PortKeys EVF OEYE: again looks like it can mount directly on the bottom of the EVF. Needs power. Many say fan noise is a deal-breaker

F&V SpectraHD 4: again, can be mounted like I want, it has battery power, so one less cable. Looks YUGE.

Modern Zacuto EVFs: not sure they can mount like I want, all need power.

Old school Zauto Z-Finder EVFs? Will you be able to configure the HDMI out on the C70 to provide a constant, old-school signal to the EVF as you change to all the crazy frame rates and resolutions?
 
Any EVF you'll put on top there will need to be powered externally and also most likely be a bit bulky.

There are no small EVFs the size of a matchbox like those built-in ones (which makes those so great).

I know this isn't the same but because this camera has that LCD that can be flipped and it can sit snug against the back of the body, you could possibly use this as a compromise if you are okay with cropping a tiny bit off the sides (since it's 3.2" going over a 3.5" screen):

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/887720-REG/Kinotehnik_lcdvf3c_LCDVF_Viewfinder_for_Canon.html

It would block the touchscreen but it could be taken off the magnetic frame when desired (you just wouldn't be able to use both at the same time).
 
Portkeys has teased a new EVF in the works that's pretty small and looks like it might be affordable. No idea when it will be available though.

I have the F&V SpectraHD EVF. It is very long and cumbersome and the navigating the menus with the little joystick is extremely difficult. I rarely ever use it.

I would be shocked if a third party like Zacuto didn't offer a loupe solution for the C70 in the next month or two.
 
I have used the Z-Finder EVF Pro ... would recommend that you look at the Gratical X ... the ZF EVF Pro is too big and the
resolution barely makes 4K doable.

The older Gratical X uses a clip on Canon LP-E6 battery so you do not need to suck the cam battery dry or add a V-mount with dTAP.

Watching the principals at Zacuto discuss their current finders ... they prefer the image size on the Gratical over the newer model.

An advantage is that this unit can be upgraded to handle HDMI to SDI conversion ... and the reverse ... should you move to a model with
SDI it will work. Resolution is good for 4K focus and the eye relief is great ... smaller than the ZF EVF Pro ... a bit of an expense but one that
will follow you for years to come.

Would recommend a cage ... with a Noga arm for the EVF ... drop the Canon handle .... you will have less vertical mass to deal with.

Or embrace a decent video head and mount it to the rails ....
 
Thanks NorBro, but I hate loupes of old, especially third-party ones with wonky attachments. Do I have to affix a frame to the LCD? Will I be able to close it? Does that one even have a diopter? I'm in my mid-40's, and have decent eyesight. But even I need slight tweaks.

QuickHitRecord, the new Potkeys looks promising, and I hope Zacuto develops a solution.

docmoore, I'd like to use a Zacuto, but I don't see an easy way to mount it. Cages and arms start blowing out this little camera way too big. And I am pretty proficient with my Sactler FSB8, but tripod or no tripod, I need an EVF.

I'm beginning to wonder if this poor world realized how amazing, compact and versatile the beautiful old C100 MKII was...
 
Im in the same boat. Idealy a small self powered evf (gratical eye size), no need for fancy OS, just a screen with Canon overlays and good fog and diopter fix. The old Zacuto Z-Pro is very comfy but EVF-resolution poor. The Gratical HUGE (and for that price I prefer a S5/R6/A7siii (well) and then you get a camera attached to the EVF too :-) Probably I will go the loupe-path.
 
Vino said:
Im in the same boat. Idealy a small self powered evf (gratical eye size), no need for fancy OS, just a screen with Canon overlays and good fog and diopter fix. The old Zacuto Z-Pro is very comfy but EVF-resolution poor. The Gratical HUGE (and for that price I prefer a S5/R6/A7siii (well) and then you get a camera attached to the EVF too :-) Probably I will go the loupe-path.
Click to expand...

Maybe I'll take a flier on the old-school Zacuto Z-pro until a better option emerges. It's got it's own power with common, small batteries. And on paper the resolution is not that much lower than the C100 MKII's EVF, and I never had problems judging critical focus with that. That upcoming PortKeys LEYE 2.4”⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ looks promising.
 
drummondb said:
Maybe I'll take a flier on the old-school Zacuto Z-pro until a better option emerges. It's got it's own power with common, small batteries. And on paper the resolution is not that much lower than the C100 MKII's EVF, and I never had problems judging critical focus with that. That upcoming PortKeys LEYE 2.4”⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ looks promising.
Click to expand...

Yes I changed my mind too - actually tested the Zacuto on the C300m2 this morning - with Canon overlays its actually pretty decent. Specs-wise the resolution should be like 800 x 480, C300m2s EVF is 1024 x 576 if I understand it right. So while the old Z is not perfect, it could work. And best of all, I already have it laying around...
 
docmoore said:
I have used the Z-Finder EVF Pro ... would recommend that you look at the Gratical X ... the ZF EVF Pro is too big and the
resolution barely makes 4K doable. ....
Click to expand...

Do you mean the Zacuto Z-Pro? Or the Z-Cam? From the specs the Z CAM 2.89" EVF101 looks promising and has higher specs than than the Gratical. But I don't know anyone who's tried one in the real world yet.

EDIT: Nevermind, I see you're talking about the Zacuto. But if anyone has any experience with the Z Cam I'd love to hear it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top