GH3 Good News on GH3 VF

J

jimagine

Well-known member
So I mentioned I was talking to the Hoodman people trying to come up with a solution for a VF to fit the new camera.
They were unable to get one to do tests, so I was giving them measurements and I came up with a thought.

So I ordered another HoodLoupe and HoodMag for a whopping $120 and I was right.
All you need is the Manfrotto 501PL QR plate and you're all set - that's it.

The extended 501 and the existing EVF create a perfect compression fit - I mean better than any system out there, and we've got most of them.
When I first measured the camera I realized that the little ridge to the left of the screen should make a perfect stop and it did (although it doesn't need it.)

It's perfectly light leakless (hey, a new word) and fits snug as if it were part of the GH3.
It weighs nothing and costs just a little more than that.

I noticed that the new version of the HoodLoupe is a tighter diopter and eyecup than the other couple we have which is great.
I mentioned the other day that I thought it was optically equal to the Z-Finder Pro. It's not quite, but it's really good and clear and 3x mag.
For a hundred bucks or so, it's a silly good fit.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/images/DVXuser_413/attach/jpg.gif

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/images/DVXuser_413/attach/jpg.gif
 

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We used it today on some scenes in the Northeast Kingdom, run and gun at about -3 Fahrenheit. Stayed on like it was glued, but popped off easily for storage.
 
Good job !
Just want to make sure. You're using the loupe meant to work with 3" LCDs, right ? Not the loupe for 3.2" screens?
Thanks!
 
masst said:
Good job !
Just want to make sure. You're using the loupe meant to work with 3" LCDs, right ? Not the loupe for 3.2" screens?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Yeah, the 3" Loupe and make sure you get the HoodMag eye piece 3x magnifier.
I figured a lot of people are already using Manfrotto QR systems, so that's all you need is the 501 plate on the GH3.
Then you just have the 14' 20 screw a little loose, slide the loupe against the little ridge to the left of the screen, and tighten it.

It actually positions it perfectly, evenly covering the screen L to R.
It makes handheld work really easy. I was using it with the 45mm 1.7 and it's so light, it's nothing to shoot.
I love cameras that stay out of your way and let you create.
 
jimagine,

Followed your suggestion & picked up the Hoodman bits.

Typically my GH3 gets mounted directly to an Edelkrone Pocket Rig, & like your setup, the loupe wedges in perfectly between the top of the Rig, & the bottom of the GH3's EVF.

Also tested both of Hoodman's newer 3.2" loupes, but even if the 1/4-20 thread were removed they'd still be too tall.

The Hoodman delivers a bigger image than the GH3s EVF, so likely superior for manual focus, but I need to spend more time working with it.

What exactly do you prefer about the setup?

Thanks again,
Bern
 
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Bern Caughey said:
jimagine,

What exactly do you prefer about the setup?

Thanks again,
Bern
Click to expand...

Pretty much the same things I like about them on my other cameras I guess.
A comfortable light controlling eyepiece.
A much more detailed and focusable image than the EFV.
The critical third point of contact for a shoulder mount.

I'm much more of a conventional cinematographer in that I like my eye on the camera...I've never liked shooting looking at a screen unless it's on set.
When I'm moving and shooting I like the intimacy of being there with the subject and I only get that with a big image in a viewfinder.
 
I much prefer an eyepiece too.

Be nice if Hoodman comes out with an alternative mounting option so the LCD & loupe could be articulated. Seems a smaller version of their "Neoprene Camcorder Mount Strap" would be easy enough for them to produce.

I'm almost tempted to cut one down myself.

http://www.hoodmanusa.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HCAM4

Once again thanks for sharing.
 
Thanks for the info and the test. That Zuiko lense does look great indeed. I'll try the GH3 LCD with my old LCDVF 3" loupe I use with the 5dMII and see how it goes
Thanks for sharing
Cheers!
 
I feel like I'm missing something. What advantage does this offer over putting an eyecup on the actual viewfinder and it's higher resolution?

Or is the GH3's LCD different in that it is higher resolution than the viewfinder?
 
Jester2138 said:
I feel like I'm missing something. What advantage does this offer over putting an eyecup on the actual viewfinder and it's higher resolution?

Or is the GH3's LCD different in that it is higher resolution than the viewfinder?
Click to expand...

Well that was a reasonable question and because I have a few days in the studio I set up the camera and tested both options.
At least with the HoodLoupe, the EVF has a bit more resolution. It's a very smooth image as well (where the mag on the HoodLoupe actually begins to show some pixel pattern.)

As I said in a post along with my Snowstorm at Imagination Farm, I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed shooting with the EVF, especially in those conditions.
But I need more control than that offers and until there's a replacement eyecup, this works really well,
 
hi bern and jimagine,

what about the optic of the hoodloupe?some say it is horrible...what do you think?good enough for manual focusing?
i'm looking for a loupe for the af100 and gh3,the hoodman seems to be the only one which could be used on both,
thank you for any help!
 
Horrible? Hardly, I've shot dozens of TV spots and films in the most demanding outdooor conditions with nothing but the Hoodloupe attached.
 
I tried the Hoodman's EX Pro Kit on the AF100 & hated it.

The optics were not flat field (so if the center was focused the edges were soft) & the Kit's too heavy for the AF's LCD.

On the GH3 the Hoodman is better.
 
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bern,
do you have any loupe solution for the af 100 lcd,tried the evf on the cam and i'm not sure,because of the postion and size of the
cam viewfinder,it is hard for detail work,to see the focus point( even with the focus tools)would like to have a magnification,
is the 3 x magnification on the hoodman ok or in other words do you see the whole lcd screen or just a part?
 
Bern Caughey said:
I tried the Hoodman's EX Pro Kit on the AF100 & hated it.

The optics were not flat field (so if the center was focused the edges were soft) & the Kit's too heavy for the AF's LCD.

On the GH3 the Hoodman is better.
Click to expand...

For the record, I'm waiting for a couple of new pieces to arrive this week to try and make the EVF workable day to day...a Bluestar cushion being one.
This is the new camera period I hate/sort of enjoy...trying to rig things for existing shoots while waiting for the proper industry support.
Often times we come up with solutions that circumvent the "proper insustry" stuff and just shoot with it for years.
 
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