Is a second-hand RED BOMB EVF (LCOS) worth picking up?

[Dave Draper]

For $750 (shipped), is a second-hand RED BOMB EVF (LCOS) worth picking up?

Toying between this and the Gratical Eye, but don’t like that there’s no SDI loop-through on the Eye, and that it requires a D-Tap to power it.

 

[Jason Bodnar]

There have been some OLEDs go for 1k but they go fast when they pop up. I picked one up and it was like new and have been very happy with it even though the new DSMC2 one is an improvement for sure. I tested a LCOS at that 750 range and was not a fan, worth the 300-500 more to to get the OLED version if you can wait for one to pop up and grab it. My 2 cents

 

[Kenneth C Merrill]

I picked up an LCOS version for $550. At that price it's awesome for operating and composition--not a good choice for judging exposure or color or anything. But in general I only trust false color and a light meter for exposure anyway...

 

[Dave Draper]

There have been some OLEDs go for 1k but they go fast when they pop up. I picked one up and it was like new and have been very happy with it even though the new DSMC2 one is an improvement for sure. I tested a LCOS at that 750 range and was not a fan, worth the 300-500 more to to get the OLED version if you can wait for one to pop up and grab it. My 2 cents

What would you say is better about the OLED version versus the LCOS?

We’ve now been offered an OLED, so would be interested to hear.

 

[Jason Bodnar]

Dave,

Way better contrast ratio, improved power consumption by a reported 75% from RED when it was released. I saw at least 40-50% for sure, tough to tell difference with DSMC2 bodies also making dramatic improvements as well now. Black uniformity and White uniformity is near 100%, which is a huge deal. It is still a little soft without turning up sharpness some. The new DSMC2 OLED EVF is really nice, don't test it as you may want one Anyway, when this original OLED first came out it was like 3900.00 new and for LCOS owners it was a 1200.00 upgrade to go OLED. It all depends on what you are using it for, I use it primary for run and gun when in the sun and do not want to deal with sunshade and my other monitors. It is easy to frame up a shot, and can hit focus with magnify, a tad of sharpness, and focus peaking. Nice to see true blacks and whites. Again, this is not nearly as good as the new DSMC2 OLED or even some other very expensive EVF's but for the difference between LCOS and OLED it was an easy choice for me.