DSLR viewfinder & lenses
- Thread starter lefthook
- Start date
Hi lefthook - you are right to be concerned about trying to shoot video while looking at the LCD. As you may know, DSLR reflex mirrors blank out the viewfinder while shooting video, which requires the additional expense of either an LCD Viewfinder, external Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) or other external monitoring solution.
Most LCD Viewfinders require you to glue or screw on some kind of frame (see this video), which then attaches to the eyepiece with a set of magnets.
This is too complicated and expensive for me, so I shoot with mirrorless cameras. No mirror to deal with, and their built in EVFs continue to work while shooting video (just like a camcorder viewfinder).
For the price of a $1498 Canon HF G30, you can get an $898 (on sale) Panasonic GH3 with an EVF, a headphone jack, and 1080/60p for smooth action shots and/or in-camera slow motion.
And you'll have enough left over for the 10x Panasonic zoom.
This "Sergio Leone" type video was shot with the GH3 http://vimeo.com/72926221
Hope this is helpful!
Bill
Most LCD Viewfinders require you to glue or screw on some kind of frame (see this video), which then attaches to the eyepiece with a set of magnets.
This is too complicated and expensive for me, so I shoot with mirrorless cameras. No mirror to deal with, and their built in EVFs continue to work while shooting video (just like a camcorder viewfinder).
For the price of a $1498 Canon HF G30, you can get an $898 (on sale) Panasonic GH3 with an EVF, a headphone jack, and 1080/60p for smooth action shots and/or in-camera slow motion.
And you'll have enough left over for the 10x Panasonic zoom.
This "Sergio Leone" type video was shot with the GH3 http://vimeo.com/72926221
Hope this is helpful!
Bill
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You know the canon's only block out the optical viewfinder (eyepiece) in video mode, right Bruner? The LCD works fine.
Don't get me wrong, the panasonic still series that does video as well does a great job, but I've seen you mention that in several threads lately.
As far as lenses, lefthook, throw us some stills of shots you want to pull off and we'll help you deconstruct them and recommend glass.
Edit:
Oh, and most loupes (maginification/eye piece that goes over LCD) work great. Zacuto makes my favorite, the z finder, but there are many good options.
Don't get me wrong, the panasonic still series that does video as well does a great job, but I've seen you mention that in several threads lately.
As far as lenses, lefthook, throw us some stills of shots you want to pull off and we'll help you deconstruct them and recommend glass.
Edit:
Oh, and most loupes (maginification/eye piece that goes over LCD) work great. Zacuto makes my favorite, the z finder, but there are many good options.
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Yes, I know because I started out with a Canon.
I certainly understand that other people don't mind buying an accessory just to have a viewfinder that works for shooting video - but LCD Viewfinder accessories weren't for me - especially when they cost as much as the Zacuto.
It sounded like lefthook was struggling with the same issue, so I advised him to look at mirrorless.
Mirrorless cameras are not the solution to every problem, but they're certainly one solution to the blank viewfinder problem that new folks should be aware of.
Cheers,
Bill
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There's no way I could possibly operate using a DSLR viewfinder, or even for that matter an old (bigger) SLR viewfinder. They're simply placed in the wrong spot, in general too small, and it just would make for an awkward operating experience all 'round. I have no issue with an optical viewfinder (as long as it has the correct ground glass), but something like an Alphatron, DP4, or even Zacuto (as overpriced as Zacuto equipment is) is worth a purchase, assuming you're using a camera that warrants it, and are making enough money from it to justify the purchase.
Yeah using the optical viewfinder is a no-go even if it's an option. I 99% of the time use the screen built in the back of the camera (no additional expense - not sure why you "need" anything else to monitor).
Whilst I don't disagree with your approach, surel a loupe, or sun hood for the LCD would have been cheaper/easier?
The GH3 is arguably better for video, but especially when considering lens investment, is not necessarily the best or easiest option.
Here is why I want to use viewfinder and "long lens":
http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=47780 or http://youtu.be/XZFQ0NM7vL8 .
I think it would be very difficult to use LCD in very bright sunlight? And if trying to avoid footsteps on snow....(Lens).
Sorry about the quality! I have only Canon MVX450 now (Elura?)!
I also feel much more stable when filming with eyefinder than LCD, when held in hand. With LCD I got shaky videos.
This Jason: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgS2pHIyrb8
talks about cheap viewfinder, but then in the end says that it is hard to pull focus?
I have here or my wife has Nikon D3100. So I was thinking of:
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR
https://www.topshot.fi/product/8198/nikon-af-s-dx-nikkor-18-140mm-f35-56g-ed-vr
And LCD viewfinder...
But I have to think Or Dream about that GH3: The first price here what I saw was about 2300 USD / 1700€. With 14x140mm.
Thank you brunerww for very nice shot and everybody!
http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=47780 or http://youtu.be/XZFQ0NM7vL8 .
I think it would be very difficult to use LCD in very bright sunlight? And if trying to avoid footsteps on snow....(Lens).
Sorry about the quality! I have only Canon MVX450 now (Elura?)!
I also feel much more stable when filming with eyefinder than LCD, when held in hand. With LCD I got shaky videos.
This Jason: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgS2pHIyrb8
talks about cheap viewfinder, but then in the end says that it is hard to pull focus?
I have here or my wife has Nikon D3100. So I was thinking of:
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR
https://www.topshot.fi/product/8198/nikon-af-s-dx-nikkor-18-140mm-f35-56g-ed-vr
And LCD viewfinder...
But I have to think Or Dream about that GH3: The first price here what I saw was about 2300 USD / 1700€. With 14x140mm.
Thank you brunerww for very nice shot and everybody!
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jax - I understand that most people didn't come from Super 8, so they might not have grown up shooting with a pistol grip, but I never graduated to shoulder mount. I guess I'm a case of "arrested development" 
The pistol grip (with trigger) was $24.50US. Hard to find a decent loupe for that.
It certainly does not have the best 1920x1080 image quaility in this price class (the BMPCC shooting RAW wins that honor) - but Panasonic engineered the GH3 to be a video camera, just as much as it's a still camera. Very few workarounds, so it's relatively easy to work with. That is why I recommend it to new shooters in this price range.
On lens investment, I'm genuinely confused by your point. It is dead easy and relatively inexpensive to use any lens on a micro 4/3 mount camera, even PL glass with a $105US PL to MFT adapter.
One of my favorite lenses is the Canon FD 50mm f1.8 pictured on the right below. It costs about $25US used. The adapter is an additional $10US.
Photo taken with a camcorder
Of course, other lenses can be adapted to EF mount as well. When I had a Canon, I was able to mount Nikon lenses with an inexpensive adapter, but beyond that it was a challenge. FD to EF adapters needed an additional optic for infinity focus - and there was nothing like the Redrock Micro EF to MFT Livelens adapter to power lenses from other systems.
Overall, in my view, since my transition to MFT mount, I have easier access to a broader array of lenses than I did when I shot EF mount.
Warm Regards,
Bill
The pistol grip (with trigger) was $24.50US. Hard to find a decent loupe for that.
It certainly does not have the best 1920x1080 image quaility in this price class (the BMPCC shooting RAW wins that honor) - but Panasonic engineered the GH3 to be a video camera, just as much as it's a still camera. Very few workarounds, so it's relatively easy to work with. That is why I recommend it to new shooters in this price range.
On lens investment, I'm genuinely confused by your point. It is dead easy and relatively inexpensive to use any lens on a micro 4/3 mount camera, even PL glass with a $105US PL to MFT adapter.
One of my favorite lenses is the Canon FD 50mm f1.8 pictured on the right below. It costs about $25US used. The adapter is an additional $10US.
Photo taken with a camcorder
Of course, other lenses can be adapted to EF mount as well. When I had a Canon, I was able to mount Nikon lenses with an inexpensive adapter, but beyond that it was a challenge. FD to EF adapters needed an additional optic for infinity focus - and there was nothing like the Redrock Micro EF to MFT Livelens adapter to power lenses from other systems.
Overall, in my view, since my transition to MFT mount, I have easier access to a broader array of lenses than I did when I shot EF mount.
Warm Regards,
Bill
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Thank you, lefthook, for clarifying what you need. And that was a wonderful ice fishing video, very well done.
Instead of borrowing your wife's camera and spending 599€ for a longer lens for the Nikon, you may want to look at spending 509€ for a Panasonic G6 body and 229€ for a Panasonic 45-150mm lens.
For 24.90€ more, you can get a pistol grip for steady handheld shooting
You won't need an LCD viewfinder or sunshade because, like its big brother the 1000€ GH3, the G6 has a viewfinder that continues to work when you switch to video.
Here is what the Panasonic G6 can do at long focal lengths:
"Wayward" by Andrew Johnson: http://vimeo.com/76503135
"November Days with Lumix G6" by Thomas Rasel (using an adapted Sigma 400mm lens): http://vimeo.com/76503135
More videos from this camera here: http://vimeo.com/groups/dmcg6
Hope this is helpful - and look forward to more ice fishing videos!
Bill
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