Tata Steva
Well-known member
Agreed!Best of luck to you too...
EVF SOLUTION (for now...)
- Thread starter Tata Steva
- Start date
CinemaElectronika
Well-known member
Size and weight side-by-side comparison between SmalHD DP4-EVF and Zacuto Z-EVF Z Finder
http://vimeo.com/26648159
http://cheesycam.com/smallhd-dp4-and-zacuto-z-evf/
http://vimeo.com/26648159
http://cheesycam.com/smallhd-dp4-and-zacuto-z-evf/
Tata Steva
Well-known member
This is how I set up my "fine focusing" procedure on DP4:There are 2 preset buttons on the top of the monitor. I set the "A" button to focus assist and "B" to 1:1 mapping. It works like a charm. I can focus properly each time. Actually, most of the time I use just the 1:1 mapping feature, as I find it sufficient to perform focusing. Focus assist feature is executed differently from other monitors/viewfindera I used. Once you press the button, image gets darker and the area in focus gets "line highlighted" showing what is in focus. Different but it works.On another note, I reconfigured my off shoulder set up (yet again). By getting some extra Manfrotto mounting bracket/plate and Redrock shoulder pad, I moved the whole set up back on shoulder and less on arms. This is all thanks to the fact that I found a proper area to mount DP4 right next to the matte box at the front of the rig. My Cinevate UNO handless were moved forward along the rails as well. Don't forget, I use still lenses on my F3 and since they are all relatively smaller than cine lenses there is less area on the front of the camera to mount additional accessories. It is tight, having a FF and handles and magic arm and matte box placed all on short rails coming from underneath the Nikon 17-55/2.8...Now, I am just waiting a few small mounting bits from Berkey Systems to secure all together. Bottom line, F3 sits nicely on my shoulder just like a regular full size camera and... I back to business for off shoulder shooting for extended time (if needed...).Pictures to follow once all is assembled.
I choose not to compare DP4 to Zacuto or any other EVF. I don't have The later one, I tried it and had a few issues with it (read previous posts). At the end, I decided not to buy it. The one I got, works for me.
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Lumiere
Well-known member
Sorry if this already discussed here, is anyone realised the huge magnification on Cineroid? That's the only reason i changed my mind on Cineroid. Can anyone confirm this and what about the Zacuto evf, some users also give bad reviews on this product? I need an EVF urgently. Thanks in advance
Tata Steva
Well-known member
It is surprisingly light. I don't have Zacuto for side by side comparison, but both EVFs are light enough to be added to camera for off shoulder set up... So far, I used it with one Canon battery and it lasted about 4-5 hours of operation. Battery seems like still full of juice... Now, you can add another battery on the back and I assume that would be ultimate amount of power for one day. I did order dtap cable when I ordered the EVF so if I ever go out of power with 3 Canon batteries I have, I can always plug it in on my swit batteries that I used for F3...
Andrew Stone
Veteran
Steve, I'm ordering up the DP4-EVF. Should be in my hands on Friday if all goes well. If you have any photos of your new mounting approach that may assist my cause.
G
G.P.
Guest
I used the Cineroid and hated it, it was super magnified and all you saw was pixels. It was by far the worst "EVF" I ever saw. it was just not done properly, no way to tell focus on anything. two thumbs wayyy down for the Cineroid from me.
I am currently using the Zacuto Z-Finder EVF Pro with my F3 and do not find it to be overly magnified. The image, in a well lit scene, is crystal clear and smooth. In low light situations requiring significant gain, the image is a tad grainy but still usable for focus. Pulling focus, even fine focus, is a snap and there is no pixelation. In my opinion it is therefore very much different than the Cineroid.
Tata Steva
Well-known member
Andrew,I am waiting a few mounting bits from Berkey, so I can mount EVF up front on the rails. If they come before the weekend, I will post some pics, if not than in September as I am leaving on Monday for this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg96DP0yAF4&feature=youtube_gdata_playerI will be shooting with 5D and Zacuto EVF for a month. Like it or not, I will be familiar with it by the end of this shoot...
Andrew Stone
Veteran
Thanks Steve. Much appreciated. Hope they are paying you the Big Bucks to shoot with a DSLR for a solid month!
Andrew Stone
Veteran
First impression of the DP4-EVF...finally feel I can focus the camera with confidence when operating in handheld mode. Very impressed with the product. The fixed diopter lens is not an issue and you will not want to attach enlargement diopter lenses unless you have usual shooting requirements. You would not want the magnification any higher. More later.
Tata Steva
Well-known member
Andrew,
I am glad you like...
Now, I got the Berkey bits today and put the kit together. All as planned, only I am missing proper length HDMI cable for now (one is too short, other too long):grin:
Uno handles are off F3 ready for upcoming 5D assignment, but the rest is there. Most important is that positioning is perfect once the camera is on the shoulder.
Magic arm (of this size) in the photo is temporary as I will be getting a shorter one (like the one on the top of the camera- stays there for mounting EVF for off stick shooting).
I was also able to source out a perfect eye shammy! For reference it is "OVAL LONG" model made by bluestarproducts.ca (here in Toronto)... With it on the rubber piece, it feels very comfortable now that rubber shell is so large.
Duke M.
Veteran
Is anyone bother by the fact that the DP4-EVF at $750 is basically a Hoodman EX1 kit (which sells for $150) with a longer extension? Oh, and the Hoodman has an adjustable diopter. (I'm not implying that they didn't do some R&D to make the bits of plastic fit their monitor, but its their monitor, they already knew all the dimensions.)
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I'm not getting what you're saying. $750 is for the monitor and the loupe as well as a bunch of other accessories. The hoodman is just a loupe.
Andrew Stone
Veteran
You are effectively paying $200 for the snoot with the well designed hinge and the form fitting around the monitor. The image quality is STUNNING.
There are so many decent things about this monitor. Top of the list is just how good the image is and how easy it is to pull focus with it. It is so good that you aren't not simply placing all of your attention on the peaking to nail focus; you can actually place a lot of your brain on the esthetics of what you are doing. I prefer the DP4-EVF to my very expensive Marshall monitor. I was doing rack focusing with the camera this afternoon and peaking or focus assist was NOT required.
They provide you with, of course, a peaking function but they also give you another focusing tool called "focus assist". They also give you false color for those that like to use that method for exposing their shots.
The diopter snoot is pretty well designed. They got 90% of it right. It clips onto the monitor in a very clever manner, the hinge has enough friction to it that it doesn't flop and has just enough resistance that it very solid and professional, industrial design is FIRST RATE. It doesn't have an adjustable diopter but the view on the screen is in focus. As I have said in previous posts in this thread, my eyes are stereotypical middleaged. My typical viewing distance for reading is at the full extent of my arms. I wear prescription readers ALL the time but the image is in PERFECT focus. One small irritant is the corners are slightly our of focus on the screen but you can pull them into focus by moving your eye a touch to the opposing side of the diopter lens. I know this will become automatic over time and frankly people will seldom need to pull focus in the very corner of the screen. The other irritant is the snoot makes a small klicking sound when you bring it down to the closed position. If you are running sound on your camera, which most people here will, you will not want to be opening and closing the snoot in the middle of a shot. You won't want to other than force of habit from using other EVF's because this one is so good you won't have to lift it in the middle of a shot.
The one thing I will be doing is purchasing a bunch of rails and rail connectors to create a solid exoskeleton to go from a top plate above the PL mount to the EVF. The noga style arm is completely inadequate as an attaching mechanism but this would be the case with any of these EVFs hanging off the F3. They are utterly useless in my view.
Fantastic EVF. It really will unleash the potential of the camera allowing the operator to focus on getting into the feel of the shot rather than wondering whether or not the focus was nailed or not.
There are so many decent things about this monitor. Top of the list is just how good the image is and how easy it is to pull focus with it. It is so good that you aren't not simply placing all of your attention on the peaking to nail focus; you can actually place a lot of your brain on the esthetics of what you are doing. I prefer the DP4-EVF to my very expensive Marshall monitor. I was doing rack focusing with the camera this afternoon and peaking or focus assist was NOT required.
They provide you with, of course, a peaking function but they also give you another focusing tool called "focus assist". They also give you false color for those that like to use that method for exposing their shots.
The diopter snoot is pretty well designed. They got 90% of it right. It clips onto the monitor in a very clever manner, the hinge has enough friction to it that it doesn't flop and has just enough resistance that it very solid and professional, industrial design is FIRST RATE. It doesn't have an adjustable diopter but the view on the screen is in focus. As I have said in previous posts in this thread, my eyes are stereotypical middleaged. My typical viewing distance for reading is at the full extent of my arms. I wear prescription readers ALL the time but the image is in PERFECT focus. One small irritant is the corners are slightly our of focus on the screen but you can pull them into focus by moving your eye a touch to the opposing side of the diopter lens. I know this will become automatic over time and frankly people will seldom need to pull focus in the very corner of the screen. The other irritant is the snoot makes a small klicking sound when you bring it down to the closed position. If you are running sound on your camera, which most people here will, you will not want to be opening and closing the snoot in the middle of a shot. You won't want to other than force of habit from using other EVF's because this one is so good you won't have to lift it in the middle of a shot.
The one thing I will be doing is purchasing a bunch of rails and rail connectors to create a solid exoskeleton to go from a top plate above the PL mount to the EVF. The noga style arm is completely inadequate as an attaching mechanism but this would be the case with any of these EVFs hanging off the F3. They are utterly useless in my view.
Fantastic EVF. It really will unleash the potential of the camera allowing the operator to focus on getting into the feel of the shot rather than wondering whether or not the focus was nailed or not.
Andrew Stone
Veteran
As the DP4-EVF users have found out, the supplied HDMI cable is both too short and has a mini-HDMI connector on one end which makes it near useless with an F3, unless you put a nanoFlash between the camera and the EVF.
Question. What kind of HDMI cables can you use? There are several standards. One is the 1.2a spec, another is the 1.3a and the similar 1.3b spec and the other is the more current 1.4 spec that allows for an ethernet signal to travel through the cable. Is there anyone which is a no go with the F3 and the DP4?
Looks like one will have to replace the 1.5' cable with a 3' one and use velcro ties to bundle up the excess.
Question. What kind of HDMI cables can you use? There are several standards. One is the 1.2a spec, another is the 1.3a and the similar 1.3b spec and the other is the more current 1.4 spec that allows for an ethernet signal to travel through the cable. Is there anyone which is a no go with the F3 and the DP4?
Looks like one will have to replace the 1.5' cable with a 3' one and use velcro ties to bundle up the excess.