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Best viewfinder for RED DSMC 2 Cameras

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Nikhil Kamkolkar

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What's the current favorite for a viewfinder on RED cameras from a price-performance perspective?

I haven't been keeping up on camera tech developments, keeping super busy with writing scripts instead. So I'd assume there must be new options I am not aware of.

Longevity is also a key criteria. My 5" monitor seems to have developed the horizontal lines issue and I'm hearing from my bomb squad they can do absolutely nothing for me as it's "no longer supported". :( The list of products that are no longer supported by RED is VERY long, and getting longer. I'm really wary now of buying into anything that'll get obsolete with the next release (my poor Dragon which I upgraded to from an EPIC-X will also no longer be supported in a couple of months, it sounds like).

Anyway, still need to get my hands on a few must-have accessories and this is one of them.

Any input appreciated. Thanks.
 
Thanks guys checking both of those out. Anyone using Wooden Camera aks to attach these to the RED? Which ones work best with EPIC-W? I have the wooden camera top plate currently, so am leaning towards their EVF attachment kits.
 
I use a RED EVF but attach it with the Wooden Camera bracket. Simple, easy to use and highly versatile. Never failed me once!

Alex
 
I got the Portkeys EVF

I do like it, but the darn eyecup keeps falling off! Almost lost it twice. Do people do something to glue it on or something? I don't even see any replacement eyecups offered for it at B&H... thanks for any pointers folks.
 
EDIT:

After spending more time with the RED OLED EVF, i can’t recommend it, other than to say it has an image and connects to the camera.

When i first tested a demo unit, i figured i could either get used to it or change some settings to improve it.

Turns out there are no settings to adjust other than brightness.

Worse contrast and black performance than an LCD.

RED support says the locon look and washed out blacks are normal. The resolution was good and the optics ok, but image quality is dodgy. It also takes up the monitor out port, so not sure if there is any advantage to using RED’s evf. Image is good enough for framing, but is well behind all other OLEDs. Reduced contrast makes judging focus less efficient. Had RED support not assured me the look was normal, i’d have just assumed my EVF was faulty. Hope this helps.

Cannot recommend.
 
Last edited:
Nikhil Kamkolkar said:
I got the Portkeys EVF

I do like it, but the darn eyecup keeps falling off! Almost lost it twice. Do people do something to glue it on or something? I don't even see any replacement eyecups offered for it at B&H... thanks for any pointers folks.
Click to expand...

Some reviewers complained about fan noise with the Portkeys. How do you find it to be noise wise?
 
I hate to talk about a viewfinder we can't buy but the Panavision EVF for the DXL2 (RED Monstro) is the most incredible thing ever. Blows every other EVF out of the water including Sony, Arri, Canon and Panasonic.

I keep asking them to give me one. They tell me it would probably cost around $40,000. HA!
 
I ended up returning the Portkeys... didn't feel like glueing the eyecup in for the times I'd want to flip it for a DP who uses the other eye.

Going to sit on this for a while and see if anything else pops up in the marketplace. Or if I decide to revisit the Portkeys.

Also, bought, but returned the Kameleon. Heard bad things about the fan noise. Didn't feel like even checking it out. The RED EVF is too expensive and I want something that'll work with other cameras as well. And the Panavision EVF certainly sounds out of reach ;)

Is there really no perfect solution?
 
Peter Lyons Collister said:
I hate to talk about a viewfinder we can't buy but the Panavision EVF for the DXL2 (RED Monstro) is the most incredible thing ever. Blows every other EVF out of the water including Sony, Arri, Canon and Panasonic.

I keep asking them to give me one. They tell me it would probably cost around $40,000. HA!
Click to expand...

Have you compared it with Kameleon?
 
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