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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Can anyone recommend the best Director's Viewfinder for the RED?

Stephen Pruitt

Stephen Pruitt

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I'm wanting to buy a director's viewfinder, but I want to get a good one. Can anyone recommend a viewfinder that will work particularly well with my RED?

Thanks much.

Stephen
 
Nikon D300.
-A
 
Poi Boy said:
Nikon D300.
-A
Click to expand...

A DSLR with a similar crop factor would do the trick nicely. That's what I plan to do myself.

Anyway, don't want to hijack the thread, but...

Poi Boy, you got a D300? If so, how do you like it?

I have a FujiFilm S5 Pro (which I love) but have been considering upgrading to a D300.

PM me if you have an opinion (or samples) to share.
 
Do you want a PL mount directors finder that will allow you to use the actual lens you will be shooting with? Or do you want one like the Alan Gordon Mk-v directors finder? I have both, and they both have their advantages. The PL directors finder gives you the actual depth of field at a given stop, and they have a big, bright image and a real ground glass, the Mk-V fits in your coat pocket and you can go out on a scout with it without bringing a set of primes.

Thats why I have both, one goes in my briefcase, one on the camera cart.

Cheers,

Nick
 
Nikon D300 is an option that provide you to see the world through Nikkor lenses, M42 lenses and some high end Lenses for Hasselblad (mostly Zeiss).

Not enough.

Take Canon 40D.

Not just because of Canon lenses (that are not EVEN the best even if it's written L on them :biggrin:).

It's about a lot of other brands like Leica, Zeiss/Contax, Nikon F, Olympus OM, M42 lenses, also some Hasselblad, some Rollei, some Minolta etc...
 
Does anyone have some links to PL mount viewfinders for sale?

How much do they average in cost?

Also, you wouldn't necessarily have to lug around a prime set, that's what zooms are for.

Also, if you're going the route of DSLR's, the D3 would be a much better candidate due to the similar FOV. The D300 has a 1.5x crop factor.
 
Does anyone have some links to PL mount viewfinders for sale?

How much do they average in cost?

Also, you wouldn't necessarily have to lug around a prime set, that's what zooms are for.
Click to expand...

They cost from around $2k (without gg) up to around 10k. CAvision makes one, Denz makes an awsome one, there are a bunch.

http://www.visualproducts.com/storeProductDetail02.asp?productID=726&Cat=3&Cat2=43

Actually a great price considering it comes with a modulus 3000.
I assume you mean the red Zoom I can't imagine a full size cine zoom on a directors finder.

Nick
 
Alexander Nikishin said:
Also, if you're going the route of DSLR's, the D3 would be a much better candidate due to the similar FOV. The D300 has a 1.5x crop factor.
Click to expand...

Yeah but your redone sensor is not a 24X36 format and it is very close to the D300 cmo.

I think you can't use the D300 as director viewfinder as you have to speak the same langage with your DOP. The best would be to have the exact focal lenght/format you are shooting with.

Pat
 
What's a Magnification (Conversion or Crop ) Factor?
35mm-frame-crops-460-px.jpg

35mm film marked with digital camera sensor sizes.
(Green: Canon 1.3x, Red: Nikon DX, Blue: Canon 1.6x. Nikon FX and
Canon full-frame are the same size as the image in the film.)
Between Red: Nikon DX:1.5X AND Blue: Canon 1.6x is no big difference.

5_1184983969.jpg

Red relevant formats by Brook Wilard>>>LINK>>>

The most people still think that Nikon or Canon are real innovators in DSLR field TODAY.

But not.

Olympus, Sony, Fuji and Panasonic are the leaders of innovation.

Canon and Nikon can be described as a two sleeping fat dinos.
 
arrinick said:
They cost from around $2k (without gg) up to around 10k. CAvision makes one, Denz makes an awsome one, there are a bunch.

http://www.visualproducts.com/storeProductDetail02.asp?productID=726&Cat=3&Cat2=43

Actually a great price considering it comes with a modulus 3000.
I assume you mean the red Zoom I can't imagine a full size cine zoom on a directors finder.

Nick
Click to expand...

Thanks! Never thought of having such an intuitive viewfinder, modulus/tap & all! Nice.

The Denz is made for S16 not 35mm though.

Tresch said:
Yeah but your redone sensor is not a 24X36 format and it is very close to the D300 cmo.

I think you can't use the D300 as director viewfinder as you have to speak the same langage with your DOP. The best would be to have the exact focal lenght/format you are shooting with.

Pat
Click to expand...

Ah, so let me get this straight then, the FOV on a D300 is nearly identical to that of RED's? In other words, if I found a shot on the D300 suitable at 50mm, that same FOV would be found at 50mm's with a RED/Cooke ?
 
How do the Gordon Mark Vb viewfinders show DOF?

How do the Gordon Mark Vb viewfinders show DOF?

Okay. . . the Gordon Mark Vb viewfinder (about $600 or so) has a 12:1 zoom built in. Does this mean that it yields the same depth of field that looking through a 35mm camera would achieve? It says its zoom is the same as an 18mm to 200mm zoom lens.

I sure as heck can't afford $4000 and a RED zoom for this action!

What say ye? Is the Mark Vb the ticket???

Thanks much.

Stephen
 
The Mark V will not show you anything other than framing. It just shows angle of view, there is no iris, and no GG. Imagine looking thru half of a set of opera glasses with a 1.85 aspect ratio, that zoomed. It's a very useful tool.

Nick
 
Alexander Nikishin said:
Ah, so let me get this straight then, the FOV on a D300 is nearly identical to that of RED's? In other words, if I found a shot on the D300 suitable at 50mm, that same FOV would be found at 50mm's with a RED/Cooke ?
Click to expand...

Correct. Or at least 'close enough'. The act of handing the DP your camera and having him looking through the viewfinder. Or of showing a camera operator the shot you want and the act of setting up the shot will probably have a larger margin of error. Unless you're shooting motion control and have to absolutely perfectly exactly match a shot... it's effectively identical.

In fact. It would be peanuts to add a simple crop macro in photoshop to all of your photos to match S35.
 
Hi there S8. . .

What is the focal length range of this viewfinder for 35mm film? It's a lot less money than the Gordons. . . what does it give up?

Thanks much.

Stephen
 
Does anyone know the price of the Kish Optics Ultimate viewfinder?
 
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