Fs700 evf

R

ric8138

Active member
I am re-engineering my FS700 for shoulder mount shooting and need a good, sunlight compatible EVF. Can anyone suggest a setup that they have found success with? If you have a pic of your setup with rig, I'd appreciate it.
 
Kinotehnik LCDVEe.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/881840-REG/Kinotehnik_LCDVFE_Electronic_Viewfinder.html

It includes a very nice mounting bracket so there's no extra parts needed, just plug in your HDMI cable and some AA batteries and you're good to go! It also has less lag than most HDMI devices; it is certainly minimal enough that it doesn't bother me in the field.

If you're looking for a good shoulder mount setup I'd recommend a base plate/shoulder mount which is compatible with VCT-14 style wedge plates, otherwise it's just about impossible to get the balance to work both on the shoulder and on a tripod without re-configuring the rig every time. I've just ordered a Smallrig VCT shoulder mount as I wasn't happy with my current shoulder rig. It hasn't arrived yet though so I can't recommend it or give feedback about it yet. It was certainly much cheaper than the Zacuto alternative, though.
 
The FS700 has a native lag of 2-3 frames and the HDMI output from the FS700 adds a lag of 2-3 frames. I find the 4-6 frame lag unworkable when going sholdermount (it's ok on a tripod). But you can't really follow people fluidly with that kind of lag. The SDI output from FS700 however adds zero lag. I've used the Kinotekhnik EVF and found it unusable for my purposes. I've used the Cineroid retina EVF which was good. Also the Alphatron EVF has SDI input and I've read good things about it but haven't used it.

This is around 1000 euros. Then there's the Zacuto EVF's which have loads of useful tools and are higher quality but cost twice as much.
 
Essami said:
The FS700 has a native lag of 2-3 frames and the HDMI output from the FS700 adds a lag of 2-3 frames. I find the 4-6 frame lag unworkable when going sholdermount (it's ok on a tripod). But you can't really follow people fluidly with that kind of lag. The SDI output from FS700 however adds zero lag.
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Yeah, the lag is really annoying. I find it too much even on the 7Q via SDI as well... have to look at the built in screen when shooting... (which means I haven't tried to have it shoulder mount).
 
I am using the alphatron EVF - the only real problem is the LCD can get a burn quickly if you forgot to engage the lens cap of the viewfinder. This happens when you increase the diopter for users who wear glasses. I also use the Westside shoulder rig with a v lock plate. For me it has been the best solution -
 
dmitrizigany said:
Yeah, the lag is really annoying. I find it too much even on the 7Q via SDI as well... have to look at the built in screen when shooting... (which means I haven't tried to have it shoulder mount).
Click to expand...

I've tested this personally and the lag is the same with Odyssey when using SDI output and built in screen. 2-3 frames. But yep, it's really annoying for handheld. I can work with this lag though. You will will have trouble trying to follow really fast action for sure.
 
Definitely is worse on the Odyssey in my experience.
I shoot a lot of music videos and I'm also a musician, on the Odyssey I get disoriented watching people sing behind the beat. Not getting that on the built in monitor.
But even people just talking is annoying to watch on the Odyssey compared to the FS700's own monitor.
 
Well! I had to redo my tests and here's what I'm getting. Check the image attached. I did this same test a few years back with the Odyssey and Cineroid EVF and the results were different, of course can't find them anymore so... I wonder if this could be due to Odyssey firmware upgrades since to my recollection Mitch Gross has stated multiple times Odyssey does not add lag over the SDI. I wish I could try this out with the Cineroid again but I don't own it anymore.

FS700 internal screen = 3 frame lag
SDI to Odyssey = 5 frame lag
HDMI to SmallHD = 5 fram lag

FS700 lag Jan 2017.jpg
 
Maybe the FS700 has a 5 frame lag on external devices and the 7Q adds no additional lag? Seems contradictory to your earlier findings though. But as long as I've had it there's been lag.
 
I just had my first shoot yesterday using my Smallrig VCT Shoulder Mount - I can certainly recommend it! Does everything it should; puts the camera right over your shoulder, has plenty of room to balance fore/aft and works seamlessly with my Sony VCT-14 plate. Much less fatigue than my with my previous rig, which had the shoulder pad sitting pretty much underneath the FS700's battery.

As for lag with the EVF, I don't have a problem with it and I shoot lots of fast action sports. Although I generally never shoot 24/25p, it's always 50p or above for me. I vaguely recall that the the lag is frame based rather than time based - ie, at 50p, a 5 frame delay equates 1/10th of a second, whereas at 25p the same 5 frames equate to 1/5th second, or double the lag.

A few people have mentioned the Alphatron but I'd beware if you're using it outdoors in sunlight. I personally know several people who've burned the LCD screen, even with the newer version which has the built in lens cap (let's be honest, nobody is going to remember to flick the cap on between every single take!).
 
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