Viewfinder and mic mount question

keylight

keylight

Veteran
Hi everyone,

I've enjoyed reading many of your posts. I'm considering a purchase of the 370 and have a quick question regarding the viewfinder.

My understanding is that the viewfinder is not removable. But I'm wondering, is it that the whole viewfinder cannot be removed from where it is mounted onto the camera, or does it simply mean that it is hard wired into the body.

What I would like to be able to do is remove (the viewfinder or rotate it 90 degree) for packing purposes.

On a related note, I'm wondering about the mic mount. Can it too be removed?

Here's a photo of the camera body, and the viewfinder and mic mount literally make the camera twice as wide as it needs to be for packing.

PAN-HPX300-imager2.png


I am looking at this new LowePro bag (have used LowePro for years with my still photo gear - they make some of the best bags bar none) for backpacking the camera in to remote locations: http://products.lowepro.com/product/Pro-Trekker-600-AW,2167,16.htm The max interior depth is 7.5 inches but the 370's width is just under 10 inches. If I can detach or rotate the viewfinder 90 degrees, then I'll have the perfect setup for me.

Thanks,
Robert
 
Just tried my 301 and I can't get the viewfinder and mic mount off, it moves along its slide but not removable as far as I can see.

I use the portabrace case and it has a bubble on the side to accommodate the viewfinder.
 
Wow. Thanks for the amazingly quick reply and spot on information. I have a quick followup if I may.....

Does it look like their might be a way to "modify" the end of the part where the viewfinder slides to allow it to slide off? I'm thinking perhaps of cutting two small notches into the plastic.

Maybe here:
Sjy_s90GdQhfU7sKlc3KVQ
viewfinder.jpg


Or perhaps on the other side....

Or maybe this just isn't possible and I'll need to find another bag.

I've used Portabrace bags in the past, but their backpacks look pretty unwieldy. I've also looked at the Kata Grizzly 3, and for the money (and features) the LowePro looks like a much better bag, providing of course, I can get the camera to fit!

Thanks,
Robert
 
Hi Robert,
I ran into the same problem. I ended up getting the Panny hard case for it after trying 2 other cases (KATA CCC-1-a and MCC-2-a). Both the Kata cases were WAY too tight on the viewfinder even collapsed all the way in. The Panny case is a beast though. I really wish there was a way to remove the viewfinder but no luck. There's lots of other options if you don't mind transporting the camera with the lens off...just plan on doing back focus in the field.
 
Your'e right about the viewfinder not coming off and the viewfinder cable is hard wired into the camera body.

if your buying a new cam i wouldnt go filing any bits off as i wouldnt want your warranty to get affected.

I use a Kata CB-400 soft case for the HPX371 and the cam fits in fine with the viewfinder in my favourite position and i have just enough room to keep my clip on matte box on too. (there is a slightly shorter kata bag if needed).

The Kata bag has a steel protection lip all around the case at viewfinder level to help protect against bumps, theres also a soft beany bag thing which sits under the lens to help pad it out.
 
backpacking with the camera....

backpacking with the camera....

Garion said:
if your buying a new cam i wouldnt go filing any bits off as i wouldnt want your warranty to get affected.
Click to expand...

The big concern for me is being able to pack the camera into a backpack I can take on day long (and possibly overnight) hikes. With the camera, tripod, and accessories (and some other essentials like water) I'm looking at carrying in about 40 lbs. So comfort plays a roll and I've tried on the LowePro bag I linked to earlier. Great fit.

I do worry about the warranty issue and in the end, won't do anything that would void the warranty. Seems kind of silly that they didn't provide a way to at least slide the viewfinder off. But I suppose that's one way to help differentiate this cam from the more expensive models (albeit a very small difference).
 
Looks good...

Looks good...

Thanks Steve. That looks like it might work for me. What do you do about carrying a tripod? I'm using a Gitzo GT3541L with a Vinten 5AS head. One thing I like about the LowePro is the ability to carry the tripod. My local shop has one in stock so I brought my tripod over and it attaches securely.

How do you carry your tripod?
 
I always like to have the tripod mounted on the pack too, hate not having my hands free for scrambling, looking through binoculars etc.
What I've done with all the packs I've had is bodge something up - usually a strap of some sort attached to the side of the pack and another to hold id in place.
There is a new Portabrace pack I noticed a while back that has a tripod mount - would be too small for my tripod (O'Connor 2060) but should fit most. Not sure if it's too small for a full sized cam though http://portabrace.com/productA-HKP-3L
Steve
 
Just returned from a month long shoot in the south pacific with my 370. The viewfinder is removable with a small phillips screw driver . Remove the end plate on the mic mount side of the VF and the VF can be slid off the mount for packing and shipping. That's what I wound up doing for packing and travel.
 
Excellent

Excellent

Excellent news. Thank you! My 370 should arrive Friday and I'll give it a try then. I'll head by my local photo gear shop and if it all fits in the LowePro bag, I'll buy it and post photos here for anyone who is interested....

By the way, how did you like the 370 on your shoot? Have you used the 300 before and is the 370 noticeably better?

Mark Smith said:
Just returned from a month long shoot in the south pacific with my 370. The viewfinder is removable with a small phillips screw driver . Remove the end plate on the mic mount side of the VF and the VF can be slid off the mount for packing and shipping. That's what I wound up doing for packing and travel.
Click to expand...
 
I have both a 300 and a 370. The 370 was great: I use IDX lithium batteries and a 98 wh batt runs the camera all day. IS there such a thing as too much sensitivity? Yeah maybe. I was routinely using an ND.9 filter in front of the lens and the 4 filter behind the lens when shooting in full sun in the tropics. The camera did not miss a beat in the hot marine environment over the month I was gone...
 
Follow up....

Follow up....

I purchased the Petrol bag and it arrived today. Monday it goes back. It's huge and not what I want. The bag itself appears well enough made, but it has some serious (for me) shortcomings.


  • weighs 12.6lbs (more than the camera)
  • is not deep enough for the camera (by the lens, further down near the back of the camera, it's fine).
  • doesn't have much ability to customize (maybe I'm spoiled by photo backpacks).
  • large bottom pocket is a bit useless (for my needs). It adds to the unwieldy nature of the whole thing. Cut it off and make the main compartment wider and thicker and it would be a better bag.
  • the four outside pockets on the flap aren't functional. It looks like 4 pockets, but it's really three (or maybe even two).
    • One is mostly a fake pocket that has the plastic viewfinder cutout (why even make it look like a pocket?). The one beneath it is a real pocket.
    • Next to these fake and real pockets are two other pockets that actually connect, so when you put something in the top pocket, it slides down to the bottom pocket. Great if you have something long to carry I suppose
    • They could make this bag much better by loosing all of these pockets and putting a system in place for attaching a tripod.
  • the shoulder strap is just a plain strap. Literally a nylon strap with no padding, no quick release buckles. It's useless
  • no way to mount a tripod. I thought about using the places where the shoulder strap attaches to rig something up, but it'll be weak and could fail.
  • The backpacking harness/suspension is MASSIVE and poorly designed.
    • The harness is overkill in my opinion, done more for show than for function. The padding for the back is one overly large thick piece. Compare a traditional backpack (used for extended backpacking trips) with the Petrol and you'll see that the padding is too much:
    • backpacks.jpg
    • They do provide a method for covering up all of this harness, but the bag is just too thick because of the extra padding.
  • It isn't waterproof. The zippers for the main compartment are covered, but the gain from their method of covering comes at the expense of making it harder to zip/unzip the bag. I suppose it's a good trade-off, but you need to watch that the zippers don't get caught.

So - what will I do? I went back to my camera shop and bought the LowePro Trekker 600. I'm going to post my thoughts on it, and some photos, in a new review thread.
 
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