LCD Viewfinder

[budwzr]

Well, I was about to give up on outdoor video with my T3i until I saw a guy using one of these http://www.amazon.com/NEEWER-DSLR-Foldable-Viewfinder-Magnification/dp/B004HD3G6Q/ref=...4588941&sr=8-1.

I ordered one of these, and I'll let you know later, but I'm kind of excited to solve this problem of not being able to see or focus in live mode in daylight.

The price is a little ridiculous for such a simple device, but this one is CHEAP compared to some of the others. B&H doesn't even carry this brand, and I guess it's because they want to protect their vendors, and their profits from competition.

I also ordered one of these "jar top openers", as a follow focus, from e-bay because they're sold out everywhere so apparently they work. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Trudeau-Silicone-Twist-Jar-Opener-Follow-Focus-Ring-NEW-/31034...04282819354828

I laughed at this one at first, but upon close scrutiny this thing SHOULD work pretty good. The geared teeth should not slip at all.

[magillagorilla]

How's that working out for you? I know I mentioned in another thread I need something like this really bad. I can't shoot video effectively in bright daylight. My problem is that the Nikon d7000 has a fixed LCD. I need to be able to easily remove the hood so I can shoot through the optical view finder.

[budwzr]

Fixed LCD is not a problem. There's a "frame" that you stick on the LCD, and that's permanent, and the hood snaps onto that. And it comes with a neck lanyard. It has a release button so it pops off easy.

The frame has the adhesive already on it, you just peel off the film. Then you have to let it sit for 24 hrs. to cure. I think that step is critical because a couple people on Amazon said their's fell off.

As far as video in the daytime, it works great. I can't imagine anything that would work better, at any price. So that solves that.

But my last issue is focus. I do like the silicone jar opener, it fits the focus ring exactly, it's very smooth, it doesn't slip, and it doesn't put wear and tear on the lens, however, it's still something to be practiced. You don't have to fumble for the focus ring, so that's a plus.

Anyway I did some test shooting at the fair http://youtu.be/CCtYylPo-oo?hd=1, but I was unable to hold focus on the moving rides, so I just used the footage as background.

[magillagorilla]

Nice, are you shooting 720 30p? What is the jar opener? Some kind of silicone ring like those popular bracelets?

[budwzr]

Nice, are you shooting 720 30p? What is the jar opener? Some kind of silicone ring like those popular bracelets?

Yeah, kind of like that. Click the link I put up there. I'll take a shot of it installed and post back.

The T3i doesn't have 720p30, only 720p60, so I shoot mostly 1080p30. The file sizes are about the same, but the1080 gives me more crop room, and it renders out to 720p30 real nice.

But yeah, all my "work" eventually ends up as 720p30. It's just such a nice perfect size and balance for portability and big screen.

I was standing in the beer line at the fair, and I sensed someone watching me, and when I turned my head there was a guy taking a shot of me with my rig over my shoulder, and I waved so he came over and asked about the LCD viewfinder and follow focus ring.

So the downside is you're highly visible, and people are on alert. Not so with a Playsport or pocketcam. And I do like to shoot verite, so be prepared for that.

I'll post back some pics.....

[budwzr]

This should give you a better idea about the stickon frame and clip:


[Attachment 8586 - Click to enlarge]

[magillagorilla]

Thanks for the visual. I get it now. I'd glue it to my existing lcd protector. That way I can remove the whole thing if I want.

The jar opener is clever. I may have to try something like that. I keep getting my fingers in the shot while fishing for the focus ring.

[budwzr]

I wasn't too thrilled having to glue something to the LCD. But if I can't shoot video in the daylight, then my camera is a waste. The frame only goes around the edge so no big deal. The other downside is that I can't close the LCD with the screen facing the body, but that's no biggie either.

What makes that jar opener unique is that it has "teeth" that lock together on the inner side, so once you slide the ring down it can't slip or stretch, and it's VERY light, almost no weight. Like you said, fumbling to feel the focus ring is a major distraction. But remember, it still does not assure proper focus, that takes a lot of practice.

[budwzr]

For the professionals, there's this one: $360! I can't imagine what the extra $310 that I saved was buying.


I suspect pros are used to paying a lot, so in order to sell these things to pros they needed to be priced accordingly. Looks like there's some extra contraption involved too.

It looks over-engineered. Like a Rube Goldberg device.

[magillagorilla]

It's a good thing I'm not qualified to have that hood because I can't afford it.

I think I'll make one from some cardboard and a lens from drug store reading glasses.