Are these mini director viewfinders all the same?

[Pietro Impagliazzo]

- http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/292697-REG/Birns_Sawyer_162128.html
- http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/392557-REG/Du_All_Camera.html
- http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/635968-REG/Kish_Optics_SC_900_DV.html
- http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._Micro_Director_s_Viewfinder.html#accessories
- http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...don_Enterprises_1000_03_MINIPOC.html#features

I'm with a cheapo Opteka I bought on eBay that is also 11x zoom with all the same markings, same body, same everything.

The only thing I notice is that it blurs horribly the more I set to telephoto.

Does anyone have experience with any of them? I can't see anything in their description pointing to diopter adjustment.

I tried using mine with and without my glasses but it isn't of any help.

Shed some light please, Thanks in advance.

 

[Pietro Impagliazzo]

Bump...

 

[Tim Sutherland]

I've used the Birns and Sawyer one, There are slight differences in the ones you've posted but they're all basically the same thing, same design, they won't have any diopter adjustment for that price. I'm pretty sure all of these are made in China and all it does is move the lens elements farther apart, you see more of the inside of the barrell, and as it 'zooms' the image looks smaller inside the thing.

If you want something nicer, Birns sells one for about $275 or so that is better and has a nicer zooming mechanism. If you want a professional one though, I'd look at the Alan Gordon one that is about $700, that's the cheapest one I've seen that feels 'nice' all the way around.

Probably not what you wanted to hear, but that's my experience.

Tim

 

[George Butterfield]

If you want a professional one though, I'd look at the Alan Gordon one that is about $700, that's the cheapest one I've seen that feels 'nice' all the way around.

Now you're getting into the Canon 550D 2ti with a zoom lens price range. This makes a good Directors' viewfinder and also is handy for shooting story boards.

 

[Leo Ticheli]

I've got the big heavy expensive one and had the little guy. Both work to determine which lens to put up, but the little one fell apart and is no longer in the game. Of course the big one is out to pasture as well, replaced by a simple iPhone App, which has numerous advantages, except for the vanity factor of looking like a big shot with the director's finder.

Good shooting and best regards,

Leo

 

[Ketch Rossi]

I have tried them a, and they are all nothing good to me, and for this I will use nothing else but a PL mount director's view Finder, a very good investment in my opinion, or get a DSLR camera with the same crop factor and instal a PL mount on it, a Director's viewfinder that takes Pictures and clips too, but I still much prefer the Traditional PL mount Director's Viewfinder, the perfect tool.

In fact shopping for a new one right now posted here: http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?p=643466#post643466

 

[Pietro Impagliazzo]

I've used the Birns and Sawyer one, There are slight differences in the ones you've posted but they're all basically the same thing, same design, they won't have any diopter adjustment for that price. I'm pretty sure all of these are made in China and all it does is move the lens elements farther apart, you see more of the inside of the barrell, and as it 'zooms' the image looks smaller inside the thing.

If you want something nicer, Birns sells one for about $275 or so that is better and has a nicer zooming mechanism. If you want a professional one though, I'd look at the Alan Gordon one that is about $700, that's the cheapest one I've seen that feels 'nice' all the way around.

Probably not what you wanted to hear, but that's my experience.

Tim

The problem with mine is that it really blurs on the tele end, but that's not really a problem since wides and mediums are a lot more important to visualize for composition than a close, which involves less background elements.

I read about the Alan Gordon Vb (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/195356-REG/Alan_Gordon_Enterprises_1000_01.html), well, if I ever get the chance to try one personally maybe I'd buy.

Well... If those even more expensive ones are as good as my cheapo, that's a good thing to hear! hehe

Now you're getting into the Canon 550D 2ti with a zoom lens price range. This makes a good Directors' viewfinder and also is handy for shooting story boards.

Yeah, good point.

I've got the big heavy expensive one and had the little guy. Both work to determine which lens to put up, but the little one fell apart and is no longer in the game. Of course the big one is out to pasture as well, replaced by a simple iPhone App, which has numerous advantages, except for the vanity factor of looking like a big shot with the director's finder.

Good shooting and best regards,

Leo

Vanity factor, hehe, Leo tell me more about this iPhone app, what is its name?

I have tried them a, and they are all nothing good to me, and for this I will use nothing else but a PL mount director's view Finder, a very good investment in my opinion, or get a DSLR camera with the same crop factor and instal a PL mount on it, a Director's viewfinder that takes Pictures and clips too, but I still much prefer the Traditional PL mount Director's Viewfinder, the perfect tool.

In fact shopping for a new one right now posted here: http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?p=643466#post643466

Ketch, I'm sure a PL mount is the cream of the crop, but... What good is it if I don't have PL lenses? :hand:

But wouldn't a PL mount one only be superior if you put a nice lightweight S16 zoom on it?

Isn't the point of a viewfinder to give a director's freedom to move around and find the shot? If the director needs an AC to change his viewfinder lenses it kinda misses the point IMO.

What am I missing?

 

[Richard Foster]

I have and old Birns and Sawyer rangefinder model IIIB which I like and has better optics, but I must agree with others here that my Nikon is more useful, and since I use Nikon lenses and can change them quickly I can compose quickly and take pictures of the scene so this combo also works excellently as director's finder.

 

[Leo Ticheli]

Vanity factor, hehe, Leo tell me more about this iPhone app, what is its name?

It's called the Artemis Director's Viewfinder. Not a cheap App at $30.00, but works very well. http://www.chemicalwedding.tv/artemis.html

I really don't need a finder to compose a shot and can usually call the lens by eye, but a big hunk of glass hanging around your neck certainly looks cool!

Seriously, I use Artemis on every Red shoot. It's a terrific little App, and being able to take the pictures is a huge plus when scouting locations; you can go back and see exactly what your shots are going to be, framed with your prime lenses. Drop them right into a story board or shoot schedule.

Good shooting and best regards,

Leo

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Ketch, I'm sure a PL mount is the cream of the crop, but... What good is it if I don't have PL lenses? :hand:

But wouldn't a PL mount one only be superior if you put a nice lightweight S16 zoom on it?

Isn't the point of a viewfinder to give a director's freedom to move around and find the shot? If the director needs an AC to change his viewfinder lenses it kinda misses the point IMO.

What am I missing?

Any of the DVF's you have listed will do, but none will ever come close to the use and true Focal, and give the perspective as seen true the same glass that will be doing the shooting.

Now off course if you don't use PL glass, well that takes the need of a PL DVF out all together, but since I do use PL glass, I would not use anything else but a Professional PL mount DVF.

It is much easier and gives much freedom to have a PL mount DVF to mount your glass to, and go about on location with one case, ,then have to go about with an entire camera set up to see true the glass, even when bringing a camera now as small as the Epic and Scarlett.

So the PL mount DVF has his use, has had one for many years, and in my opinion continues to remain a very important tool of the trade.

 

[Pietro Impagliazzo]

Thank you all.