FS7: Zacuto's new FS7 Z-Finder

Looks great, except it's $475. I have the BMPCC loupe and it's much better than the stock loupe. The camera balances way better, it's anti fog and the Zacuto magnification is clearer.

But $275 more for the flip-up? Expensive even by Zacuto standards.

Surprisngly, not having the flip up doesn't bother me that much. I'll live without it.
 
saw this and it definitely got my attention....until i saw the price....the 502 HDMI is 900? and this loupe is almost 500? and it provides in no way a better image?
 
The price is a bit steep for what it does. I am perfectly happy with the BMPCC right now. Balances nicely with the Zacuto Recoil.
 
If Sony fixed their LUT support I'd pony up for this Zacuto. Really don't want to bulk out my carry-ons with a Gratical or Sidefinder.
 
O/t but related question: can the FS7 toilet roll loupe be easily shortened just like the one on the FS100 and FS700?
 
Paul schefz said:
saw this and it definitely got my attention....until i saw the price....the 502 HDMI is 900? and this loupe is almost 500? and it provides in no way a better image?
Click to expand...

The 502 is $1200 US and the Sidefinder is $300 US. I've been testing them. The 502 image is definitely superior to the Sony LCD screen. With batteries, the combo weighs about 2 pounds so that does add weight for handheld work. I don't particularly like to worry about yet anther set of batteries but running via DTap requires a regulated cable owing to lower voltage range of 502.

I used a Zacuto EVF with my F3 and, other than messing with batteries, i was very pleased and I am certain I would be pleased with the Zacuto FS7 VF package. But $275 for the bracket is steep.

Ned Soltz
 
nsoltz said:
The 502 is $1200 US and the Sidefinder is $300 US. I've been testing them. The 502 image is definitely superior to the Sony LCD screen. With batteries, the combo weighs about 2 pounds so that does add weight for handheld work. I don't particularly like to worry about yet anther set of batteries but running via DTap requires a regulated cable owing to lower voltage range of 502.

I used a Zacuto EVF with my F3 and, other than messing with batteries, i was very pleased and I am certain I would be pleased with the Zacuto FS7 VF package. But $275 for the bracket is steep.

Ned Soltz
Click to expand...
the 502 hdmi is 900...incl sidewinder it is 1200...i tested the 502 as well, did not like the extra weight and hassle (batteries, or cable from batteries) but the image does look great....if sony would finally give me waveform with LUT on the supplied finder, i would be happy....i honestly don't see what this zacuto loupe would provide other then being smaller/shorter?
 
Received Zacuto's FS7 Z-Finder yesterday, & while I haven't used it in anger, first impressions are positive.

Build quality is robust & makes the FS7 seem less plasticky. The latches are very strong & can't imagine they'd ever get knocked loose. The loupe attaches to it's frame securely & I wasn't able to remove it, though may have been doing it wrong.

The key selling points were it's compact size & automatically closing eyepiece cover. Carry-on restrictions are a constant battle & Zacuto's Finder takes up about 70% the storage space of Sony's. Years ago I burnt a 5D2's LCD when it was subjected to a few seconds of direct Sunset & on another gig a Union AC fried an EVF when he left it pointed into the Sun, so the eyepiece cover is most welcome.

I don't wear reading glasses (yet) but had to use a relatively strong diopter. Not sure if this was caused by the extra spacing required for the flip-up feature. Since the diopter isn't instantly adjustable it doesn't seem like an ideal rental item. Changing the drop-in diopter isn't difficult but does require a Jeweler's Philips head screwdriver. If anyone is considering adding this Z-Finder to a rental package I suggest purchasing the additional two diopters.
 
How does the Z finder attach to the mounting frame? Going by the photos it appears that is attaches via adhesive only. Hope that is not the case because I am considering purchase.
 
It's all clip-on, no adhesive. Very solid.

I have to say, after a few of months of usage, I don't miss the old chimney at all!
 
There's a bit more look-around compared to the OEM loupe, but nothing that bothers me, however I've only used it for shooting 16x9, & haven't explored 17x9.

Imagine some will prefer the stock loupe, & it does provide a short Sun hood when flipped up, though in this position Zacuto's eyecup seems less likely to creep into frame simple because the Z-Finder is shorter.

It's a piece of kit that needs to be tested by each user, but I much prefer the Z-Finder's optics, build, size, self-closing eyecup cap, & clamp-on mechanism, over Sony's slightly better look-around.
 
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