loupe vs. video camera viewfinders

[chris f]

I'm interested in buying a loupe for when I go hand held with my 7D, but my question is how does a loupe compare to a viewfinder on say a DVX or HVX?

I always pass eye tests with perfect vision, but for the life of me I can never accurately pull focus from the viewfinder of a video camera (without zooming in, focusing, and zooming out, which you can't really do when you're following moving objects) and always have to rely on the LCD. That being said I'd love to have the extra point of contact, but don't want to spend money on a loupe if I'm still not going to be able to accurately pull focus when running and gunning.

 

[Chris Santucci]

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=196093

.

 

[david_p]

the viewfinder on my old DVX100a was not very good for critical focusing, in fact i cant imagine looking thru anything worse.

any loupe on the back of the 7D would be better than the eyepiece of a DVX IMO.

david
www.davidprobst.com

 

[morgan_moore]

The thinkg about small chip cameras is that focus is just not so critical

my initial experiences with an EX1 was not understanding focus at all

(coming from stills camera and fast primes)

Unless you are fully zoomed with a small chip camera ocus is just not really an issue

I think loupes give a 20% advantage and a 70% advantage in sunny conditions

Again choice of aperture is an issue - many are trying to pull at 2 or 1.4 - that is just impossible really

I watched this the other day..

http://provideocoalition.com/index.php/freshdv/story/freshdv_follow_focus_system_reviews/

check the art of focus pulling part 3

we see a full pro AC in action, relying on rehearsal direction, multiple takes - and no monitor at all

gives one some sense of expectations - anyone who thinks they can rely on themselves doing a one off down the aile wedding shot at F2 with tight framing is just setting the bar too high

while not the greatest follow focuser ever I think Im getting pretty good - and didnt have a loupe for the first year of 5d owning, basically I think the subject is going away therefor I must crank the lens up (im on nikkors) - as they say with flying a steadicam - feel the force Luke - its the only way

S

 

[Kholi]

Again choice of aperture is an issue - many are trying to pull at 2 or 1.4 - that is just impossible really


gives one some sense of expectations - anyone who thinks they can rely on themselves doing a one off down the aile wedding shot at F2 with tight framing is just setting the bar too high

while not the greatest follow focuser ever I think Im getting pretty good - and didnt have a loupe for the first year of 5d owning, basically I think the subject is going away therefor I must crank the lens up (im on nikkors) - as they say with flying a steadicam - feel the force Luke - its the only way

S

It just is NOT impossible. Saturday, a fourteen hour day on location, the AC pulled focus @ T1.3. That's not F1.3, that's T1.3 on Master Primes. By eye, on an LCD... in 4K (RED).

It was a music video, so talent is all over the place when singing and he's following. It is not impossible, it's all about experience which breeds intuition and technique.

I've constantly, consistantly pulled focus wide open on Still lenses, with no follow focus in uncomfortable positions-- Neck Craned to see the LCD, etc etc. I've done it while operating a Dolly and tilting camera at the same time, in 4K, on still lenses.

Wide open, in 4K, in an alley during a two minute fight sequence while someone else was operataing, right on the heels of his camera action, and with much success.

It's all practice.

As far as the hood-loupe and video camera viewfinder?> If I had to choose one I'd rip a Sony EVF off of an old camera and use that. I'm pretty sure it'd offer better results, for me at least.

 

[morgan_moore]

notthing is impossible but it seems to be a loot more to do with feel, physical obaservation (of the scene) etc than the LPI resolution of the monitor

One could argue (and I do - to some extent) that when one is lost inside a viewfinder that one becomes remote from the scene and that therefore pulling without a loupe is easier than with

certainly my preffered method is the smallHD over a loupe

S

 

[Kholi]

notthing is impossible but it seems to be a loot more to do with feel, physical obaservation (of the scene) etc than the LPI resolution of the monitor

One could argue (and I do - to some extent) that when one is lost inside a viewfinder that one becomes remote from the scene and that therefore pulling without a loupe is easier than with

certainly my preffered method is the smallHD over a loupe

S

Understood. However, part of the intuition comes from being present in the moment of image acquisition. While I may have the option to isolate my mind from the realtime event, it's always been better to be able to sort of mentally "feel around" the moment while being keen on camera position, etc etc.

In the end, as well, there's no one way to accomplish something. Whatever works for an individual just works.