EVF Mount's

[Jase]

I was looking at the Zacuto EVF mount system and it looks okay - especially for the price when compared to the Element Technica EVF mount. But the one thing I really like about the Element Tech mount is the leveler. Does anyone know if that leveler can clamp onto the back of the EVF if it's got the Zacuto mount on? And if so, can the bottom be clamped to any tripod?

Thanks!

Jase

 

[Curran Giddens]

The ET EVF Leveler actually connects to the ET EVF Extension piece. Not the EVF itself.

 

[NateWeaver]

In addition, having a leveler kinda requires a clutch on the finder pivot that is meant to hold the finder in place, but also let it move by hand easily.

The Zacuto would work, but you'd have to get the tension on it JUST right so it would not be loosey-goosey, but still could let the leveler "move" it. And it would be tough to keep the Zacuto at that just right tension.

 

[Jase]

Thanks for that. Second part to the question then. Will the leveler attach to any tripod head or sticks? Or is it mean to attach to an Arri gearhead only? Also, for those who have used the Zacuto and the ET mount, is it night and day for the ET over the Zacuto?

Thanks.

Jase.

 

[NateWeaver]

Thanks for that. Second part to the question then. Will the leveler attach to any tripod head or sticks? Or is it mean to attach to an Arri gearhead only?

Not all heads have the necessary interface and accessories. For a fluid head, there's usually some sort of adjustable horizontal arm that sticks straight back towards the operator that the leveling link attaches to. For instance, with O'Connor heads, O'Connor makes that accessory.

Also, for those who have used the Zacuto and the ET mount, is it night and day for the ET over the Zacuto?

I won't say it's like night and day, but the Zacuto will need attention throughout the day to keep tension right (even for non-leveler shooting), and it has the capability to get off level, so you might be adjusting throughout the day to keep the finder's horizon level to the body.

The ET you will just pop it on, move the finder around with one hand all day to put the eyepiece to your eye, and that's it. You don't have to screw with it.

 

[Alex Kornreich]

I have the Zacuto zandy and zwivel. It's certainly not as good as the ET, especially when the ET has the leveler. Without the leveler, however, from a purely functional standpoint, they're pretty damn close, which made it extremely difficult to justify paying 3-4 times more for the ET. Once the Zacuto's horizon is even with the camera, and it's locked off tightly, it'll stay the whole day. I've actually never had it fall down yet. Also for adjustments, it goes up/down, left/right, in/out, forward/backward (if that makes sense...). In other words, just about every director you need it to go. It can also swivel perpendicular to the camera if you need to operate from a weird angle, which i dont believe the ET can do.

I'm very happy with the Zacuto, and it certainly is more bang for the buck.