GH2 How important is a LCDVF?

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peripatew

Well-known member
I'm a noob. I'm slowly buying gear as I need it. I'm thinking through the process of a shoulder rig w/ a follow focus. My question is how important is a LCDVF or an external LCD for achieving critical focus with the GH2?

So far I've been pretty happy with the results that I've been getting, but most of my work has not been run-n-gun or documentary style. I've been avoiding this, as I just get to much camera shake.

I understand the benefits, but without ever having used one, I just don't know.

Wisdom? (Also, what's the best option for the GH2? I couldn't spend more than ~$150ish, as I've got some earmarked for a rig.
 
Not important at all, I say. Zero importance. The GH2 has an excellent viewfinder already, you don't need to go sticking some expensive clunky thing over its LCD panel.

Those viewfinders shot to prominence on the Canon DSLRs because the Canons don't have live viewfinders. They have mirrored optical viewfinders, which work for stills, but not for video at all -- the mirror flips up during video, and the viewfinder is pitch black, so you're left with only the LCD screen which you can't rotate or anything, and it was just not usable in daylight. So the LCDVF or ZFinder came into play.

On the GH2 it's a non-issue. It has a super-sharp, very nice electronic viewfinder. Just use it as it's designed, and save your dough for things that will have a bigger impact on your footage.
 
So the viewfinder is better than the LCD for focusing? I find myself liking the LCD more as its quite a bit more comfortable. Thanks for the feedback, didn't know that about Canon cameras.
 
I don't know about the GH2, but I found focusing on the GH1 to be pretty easy just using the viewfinder or LCD....now a 5D would be a different story with wide open aperture, I'd want something other than the LCD. I found practice takes to be very helpful, so run and gun might be a bit harder....also getting a feel for particular lenses makes focusing easier - you just get used to them after a while.
 
peripatew said:
So the viewfinder is better than the LCD for focusing?
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Definitely.

I find myself liking the LCD more as its quite a bit more comfortable.
Click to expand...
Agreed, the LCD is more convenient depending on how/what you're shooting. But if you're in bright direct sunlight, you may find the viewfinder (EVF) easier to see. And, when using the viewfinder, you may find that your video footage is automatically more stable, because you'll have added an additional contact point (two hands and your head) thus reducing one axis of potential shake.

A nicer rubber eyecup would help the GH2's viewfinder to be more comfortable.
 
Barry_Green said:
And, when using the viewfinder, you may find that your video footage is automatically more stable, because you'll have added an additional contact point (two hands and your head) thus reducing one axis of potential shake.
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Exactely. Using EVF and a cheap 10$ 8mm shoulder support as a run&gun setup is enough to get usuable footage with up to 50mm lenses
IMG_993f3.jpg.
 
With the shooter and an enhanced rubber eyecup on evf, it can give 4 supporting points!!! Yes I agree with you that 50mm lens is practical limit for such setup for non O.I.S. lens.
 
yes, lenght is adjustable as well as angle. I don't know about US but on ebay Germany those older 8mm shoulder supports pop up pretty often and go from 5-20$ if it's a 1$ auction. None right now, sorry.
You might want to check ebay.de and search for 'schulterstativ' once in a while if they don't happen to appear on ebay.com.
 
I just shot an outdoor even and used the EVF and it worked really really well. Surprisingly well. Not as big as the 150, but worked very well. It would be even better if you could turn it black and white like other cameras... I don't think you can, but it's a great working solution.. especially outdoors...

The 14-140 is also a great solution for most outdoor applications. It's not a narrow DOF, but that's not always desired either.
 
I almost bought one of those $350 eyecup things for my Canon T2i. I am glad I found out about the GH2 before I pulled the trigger on that.
The more I use the GH2 the less I have used the T2i. I am afraid it will go to e-bay in the next few weeks.
 
HVXguy said:
I almost bought one of those $350 eyecup things for my Canon T2i. I am glad I found out about the GH2 before I pulled the trigger on that.
The more I use the GH2 the less I have used the T2i. I am afraid it will go to e-bay in the next few weeks.
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Got a gh1 then a gh2 and so the CAnon 7d went! I was just like you, got one to test it out and realised just how great they are for video!
 
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