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EVF options for Raven?

Richard Williams

Richard Williams

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Hi I am wondering if any one has experience with different EVF's that would be suitable for the Raven?
While the Red DSMC2 EVF OLED would be best at $4150 I am hesitant with the price. It is 1920x1080 res and 0.8 lbs

The battle tested Bomb EVF LCOS is well priced at $2,000 It is 1280x784 res and heavier at 1.2 lbs

The Zacuto Gratical Eye SDI only EVF is very interesting at $1950
1280 x 1024 Res and only weighs 14 oz

has anyone had experience with this EVF?
Thanks
 
Have you thought about the blackmagic evf, with the wooden camera mod?
It is a fantastic viewfinder and it gets many good reviews. Also, it's relatively cheap!
This will be my new viewfinder.
 
Hi Rutger
Yes it is a good idea.
However I am thinking about getting a 2nd hand Red Bomb OLED EVF
It has the same resolution as the Zacuto Gratical 1280 x 1024 but has a couple of advantages
It seems I can get a picture and power from the one cable and keep the SDI out free - if I use the Gratical Eye or Blackmagic there is no loop through.
My SDI output is still free to run a picture to my 17' Panasonic field monitor
it is lighter than the Gratical HD and may be able to buy 2nd hand cheaper?
The Gratical HD and X have the advantage of a Loop through and Black magic has the advantage of higher res.
I worry with the Blackmagic that I will regret it not having a loop through so not being able to use both a field monitor and EVF at the same time.
So I will look further into a 2nd hand Bomb OLED
 
Matthew Quinn said:
ahh. you grabbed the jetpack?

wonder if you could hook up something like a teradeck for loop through/wireless feed to dirctor monitor
Click to expand...

Actually I ordered the I/O v-lock not the jetpack.
Yes you are probably right regarding the Teradeck
 
Matthew Quinn said:
So if you have the base expander you could use both sdi and hdmi out
i have also seen a few top plates with mutiple sdi ports
Click to expand...

Yes so the Gratical HD or X is probably the better option than the Eye with SDI in only and no loop out.
Have you ever compared the Gratical to the Bomb OLED EVF - (not the current DSMC2 version but the model before)?
They both are OLED's and both 1280 x1024
cheers
 
The BOMB OLED EVF is fantastic. The only issue is that it is very expensive. So if you find a good price for a used one, I would buy it in a heartbeat before any other model.
 
Marcus Friedlander said:
The BOMB OLED EVF is fantastic. The only issue is that it is very expensive. So if you find a good price for a used one, I would buy it in a heartbeat before any other model.
Click to expand...

Thanks Marcus, good to know. I have not used the Gratical or the Bomb OLED, so can only go on specs.
I suspected that the Bomb OLED would have to be reasonable given that it is 1280x1024 resolution.
 
Just to check
Can you run two monitors at the same time on the DSMC2 body
A EVF through the side pogo and a LCD through the top pogo?
 
No worries! Glad to help!

And you can use both the top and the side pogo at the same time. However, if you are using the side pogo, whether it be by itself or in tandem with the top pogo, you will be unable to use your HDMI port.
 
Marcus Friedlander said:
No worries! Glad to help!

And you can use both the top and the side pogo at the same time. However, if you are using the side pogo, whether it be by itself or in tandem with the top pogo, you will be unable to use your HDMI port.
Click to expand...

Great, thats fine with me.
 
I've made a comprehensive review of the Gratical EVF (check it out here: https://youtu.be/CLOySDJEpvQ). When I bought my Raven I decided to buy the Gratical EYE for a few reasons.

1) it's smaller. This is a big deal because if you put the camera on your shoulder the bigger GraticalHD has to go way in front of the camera for it to be perfectly at eye level. What this means is the Gratical ends up sitting up front beside your lens and can interfere with the mounting of your matte box.

2) the Gratical Eye has a single button, it's faster to change settings because you aren't fumbling around finding buttons. The one button has four settings on it.

3) the Gratical Eye has all the features of the HD. you don't have to buy them separately etc and it's cheaper.

4) Using the Axis Mini, the Gratical Eye can be mounted above or beside your camera. I would have loved to buy a new RED EVF because of the higher pixels and because I hate having cables on my rig, they are messy and annoying. What I don't like about the RED EVF is you're stuck with it being mounted on the side of the camera (I think there's an adaptor to put it elsewhere). The Axis Mini allows you more shooting positions. Also the price is high. The Gratical makes the camera so much easier to focus and check exposure in my opinion.

What I don't like about the Gratical Eye:

If you mount it with cables above, the eye piece sensor that shuts the unit off when not in use doesn't seem to be very reliable. You can shut this feature off but the idea is it saves energy. I find sometimes with my eye to the unit it shuts off unless I move around. I believe it would be more accurate if it was mounted the other way.

I've had a couple problems with the power going out on the EVF. I unplug and plug it back in and it still doesn't work. I need to speak to Zacuto about it. Perhaps it's the cable.

LASTLY, I don't mind there is no loop through. I run HDMI out to one monitor and SDI out to the Gratical.

Hope this info helps.
 
side pogo and hdmi are same feed I believe

For me having 10 bit color preview is VERY valuable
looks like Gratical EVF is 8 bit

1280x720 is not fine enough resolution for me some times on focus / texture but that is for lower end cine lenses and run and gun Indie shooting style; with external 10 bit HD monitor or if selecting focusing distance by eye / tape measure would not matter; wish HDMI 2.0 UHD output was available also
 
Last edited:
Kelly Conlin said:
I've made a comprehensive review of the Gratical EVF (check it out here: https://youtu.be/CLOySDJEpvQ). When I bought my Raven I decided to buy the Gratical EYE for a few reasons.

1) it's smaller. This is a big deal because if you put the camera on your shoulder the bigger GraticalHD has to go way in front of the camera for it to be perfectly at eye level. What this means is the Gratical ends up sitting up front beside your lens and can interfere with the mounting of your matte box.

2) the Gratical Eye has a single button, it's faster to change settings because you aren't fumbling around finding buttons. The one button has four settings on it.

3) the Gratical Eye has all the features of the HD. you don't have to buy them separately etc and it's cheaper.

4) Using the Axis Mini, the Gratical Eye can be mounted above or beside your camera. I would have loved to buy a new RED EVF because of the higher pixels and because I hate having cables on my rig, they are messy and annoying. What I don't like about the RED EVF is you're stuck with it being mounted on the side of the camera (I think there's an adaptor to put it elsewhere). The Axis Mini allows you more shooting positions. Also the price is high. The Gratical makes the camera so much easier to focus and check exposure in my opinion.

What I don't like about the Gratical Eye:

If you mount it with cables above, the eye piece sensor that shuts the unit off when not in use doesn't seem to be very reliable. You can shut this feature off but the idea is it saves energy. I find sometimes with my eye to the unit it shuts off unless I move around. I believe it would be more accurate if it was mounted the other way.

I've had a couple problems with the power going out on the EVF. I unplug and plug it back in and it still doesn't work. I need to speak to Zacuto about it. Perhaps it's the cable.

LASTLY, I don't mind there is no loop through. I run HDMI out to one monitor and SDI out to the Gratical.

Hope this info helps.
Click to expand...

Thanks Kelly for your in depth feedback and Gratical review.
Have you ever done a sise by side comparison with the Gratical Eye vs Red OLED Bomb as they are both OLED and both the same Resolution?
Zacauto have a video doing a comparison at a show but it is unfair as they are comparing the older lower res LCOS Bomb to the Gratical HD
cheers Richard
 
Hey Richard, I haven't done a side by side, but if I get my hands on a RED EVF I will for sure.
 
Kelly Conlin said:
Hey Richard, I haven't done a side by side, but if I get my hands on a RED EVF I will for sure.
Click to expand...

Thanks Kelly. I ended up going for a 2nd hand Red Bomb OLED. It has the same specs as the Zacauto Eye (or Gratical) but I like how I can connect into the side pogo via an adaptor, leaving my SDI out free for a client monitor.
But it would still be interesting to hear the results of any test that you may end up doing.
cheers Richard
 
Richard Williams said:
Thanks Kelly. I ended up going for a 2nd hand Red Bomb OLED. It has the same specs as the Zacauto Eye (or Gratical) but I like how I can connect into the side pogo via an adaptor, leaving my SDI out free for a client monitor.
But it would still be interesting to hear the results of any test that you may end up doing.
cheers Richard
Click to expand...

Good choice. You won't be disappointed!!
 
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