Which EVF do you prefer?

nedcam

nedcam

Well-known member
I placed this post under Canon C300 forum but then got to thinking since I own an AF100 perhaps there is something to consider regarding the zebra output?

I need to pull the trigger on an EVF, tired of using my DP6 outdoors, and am planning to buy the Zacuto EVF Pro since that is what I am familiar with renting. However, I wanted to ask if anyone else has a better experience with another brand? I had my red peaking on in the Zacuto, do any other brands have better focus perception and zebra patterns? Also, with my shoulder rig I would like to power it with an Anton Bauer D-tap so it lasts all day.

One more thing, I have an Israeli arm and I can not adjust it with one hand without the EVF tumbling due to gravity. Does anyone use an articulating arm where you can adjust the position with one hand and it stays in place?

Thanks,
 
I've had issues also with using small monitors while shooting outdoors. I couldn't find one that offered an accurate rendition of what the camera was actually doing. I purchased an Alphatron EVF a month ago
which has solved all my problems. It offers the full gamut of features expected on a pro level monitor, including waveform monitoring which perhaps sets it apart from other EVFs. The color rendition is also
excellent.
 
I like Cineroid because of the smaller size. Especially when running on a P-tap (D-tap).

I talked to them about including more percentages on their waveform, and they said they will most likely be able to do that in the next update. This I was thinking would be useful while shooting C-Log, because then I would know where 7% and 32% and all those values are. Currently the Cineroid waveform has one 70% line marking, and then they use a sort of color system on the waves to represent certain exposure. Kind of like a simplified false color on the the waveform itself, but I would prefer the option of having some extra percentage markings.

The Alphatron looks more like Business, but the Cineroid seems to offer that same features plus a few (Like being able to use virtually any battery/power input, though whether the adapters are really worth while is debatable. the Canon battery comes lose at times, which is frustrating, but if you are using p-tap, then this shouldn't be an issue, and the options are always nice). And I like the ability to really slim the Cineroid down to something small.

Food for thought. The Cineroid probably won't blow you away, but it is hard to beat. I mentioned it because you mentioned the Zacuto, and I hate the Zacuto. Not sure if they fixed the issues with the Zacuto, but I have never wanted to swear so much in my life. Hate the Zacuto (though their diopter is ok by comparison, as long as it isn't busy falling off. Made in USA? Sadly not what it used to mean.).

Guess depends on your needs. The only high resolution EVFs that I know of are the Cineroid, Alphatron. I would choose and Alphatron over the Zacuto in a heart beat. But I went with Cineroid, and haven't regretted it yet. Though if you were using those 5dmk2 batteries exclusively to power the unit, I would consider the Alphatron, but since you are going with P-tap, the Cineroid gets a smaller light foot print with more mounting options to boot (three sides).
 
to the op. I use Solid camera EVF support with my Zacuto EVF and 7d http://shop.solidcamera.com/EVF-Support-Kits_c7.htm Pricey but SOOOO worth it Watch this video

https://vimeo.com/50730830

I use the rails mounted option with the Universal support kit http://shop.solidcamera.com/Universal-EVF-Support-KIT-w-15mm-LWS-Rod-Dovetail-Clamp-08-108-K11.htm

As for EVF i have owned the Zacuto since it was released and used a cineroid once...none of which is high quality enough for me. I will wait till the nex gen of evf's. I know one manufacturer that has one coming out with some really insane quality (specs wise). But i've been sworn to secrecy where that is concerned. No idea when that is coming out though.
 
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jambredz said:
to the op. I use Solid camera EVF support with my Zacuto EVF and 7d http://shop.solidcamera.com/EVF-Support-Kits_c7.htm Pricey but SOOOO worth it Watch this video

https://vimeo.com/50730830

I use the rails mounted option with the Universal support kit http://shop.solidcamera.com/Universal-EVF-Support-KIT-w-15mm-LWS-Rod-Dovetail-Clamp-08-108-K11.htm

As for EVF i have owned the Zacuto since it was released and used a cineroid once...none of which is high quality enough for me. I will wait till the nex gen of evf's. I know one manufacturer that has one coming out with some really insane quality (specs wise). But i've been sworn to secrecy where that is concerned. No idea when that is coming out though.
Click to expand...

True, I have not used a third party evf that I love yet. But I do hate the zacuto.
 
James0b57 said:
True, I have not used a third party evf that I love yet. But I do hate the zacuto.
Click to expand...

Hey James I just read your posts re Zacuto and I LOLed :) . Why do u hate the Zacuto so much? What issues do you speak of? I know i have my gripes...one of which being it is just not high res enough for me from I pulled it out the box. However when I saw the cineroid ...albeit the normal one on the level of the Zacuto (now i'm not sure what version that is because at the time it was just one version), I was like yikes! After that I gave thanks for my zacuto lol. However in all fairness that was just one time and I didn't even use if for an extended period of time.
 
I should clarify that I am using the Retina Cineroid EVF. I wouldn't consider their other models, as the resolution is same as zacuto and dp4. I have received good answers from their support. Just takes time. The engineer team is quite transparent and open minded about the products.

Ha, I have used the zacuto a couple times.

Post 2011, at that price, resolution and smear should be better.
-diopter falling off.
-diopter hanging when not in use.
-hdmi sticks out the side and prevents optimal positioning. Which can cause unnecessary bad posture and strain.
-slow start up.
-canon batteries come loose. Even falling out.
-screen flip/mirror should be easier.
-fat casing, takes more space when slimmer is better on an evf.
-resolution not confidence building. Takes to much intuition. But isn't terribly cheaper then higher spec evf's.
--made of plastic, but still heavy feeling.
I maybe could go on, but that's enough to make the point I guess. I am typing on a phone.
At the end of an intense 3weeks, I lovingly refered to it as the "sh%cuto".
 
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Had the first generation of Cineroid's EVF & it was poorly built. My experience with Zacuto's was better, but bought the Alphatron as soon as possible.

Alphatron's EVF's image is very good, but their menu is a mess. Punching into 1:1 requires multiple button pushes, & getting out even more pushes, so I use it like an optical viewfinder & never push any buttons. So far the resolution has sufficed for accurate focusing in 1080p.
 
That's what's so good about higher resolution evf's, rarely punching in to 1:1, because I know already. Depends on how tired I am. Every now and then I do it to reassure myself that I am not assuming.

Though, with the retina cineroid, the waveforms are outside the video image, which takes up screen real estate. So video resolution goes down to something like a zacuto, and focus becomes a bit more intuition like. But even then is better than zacuto because it still looks sharper. With the zacuto the image is larger and just looks like pixels, and that is distracting, the retina with waveforms turned on, may be similar resolution, yet the pixels are less perceivable. And then you also are getting waveforms, and a clean view of your shot, no overlay. And turning them on and off is fast. I think people are turned off by the cineroid ugly. Camera gear is a personal thing. If i could've waited for the next gen, I would. But no regrets.

At least I am not thinking about the evf when I work.

Again, it is not that I love the cineroid retina, it is that I am using it. I think the alphatron looks good, but just didn't suit me for a few reasons. Size, weight, were two.

Some people need the accurate colors on the monitor, so I make now comment about that, as I have never trusted most viewing systems for accurate rendering, just framing and focus. (remember bw evf's?) half the time i am shooting with mixed light, and lots of non standard slightly green led, and those weird warm flos. All mixed with some thing else, so I have to get close, and alter in post. Currently I am embracing the synthetic light look, with off skin tones. But when I need something more accurate I am glad to have a vectorscope and the cameras LCD for a second reference. Vector comes on with the waveforms and is one touch quick operation.

The nice thing about the alphatron, which I have never used, is that few people say anything negative about it, and it looks high end. Where as the roidster looks like a... Well what the name sounds like. I am horrible at reviewing products, because I tend to hate everything by the end of the day. I am no sales man.
 
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Menus on the roid are straight forward, but not great. The one issue i have with their setup, is the flip/mirror should not be so difficult. Should be assignable to a button. Other than that I find the 4 assignable buttons and the scroll wheel toggles waveforms on off, makes everything I need one press and no steps. So I rarely go into menus except to flip.
 
I wish evf's had a battery saver mode so on and offing the screen would be instant, but I can understand why they have a delay when acquiring data feed from hdmi.
 
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