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Wooden Camera vs. Element Technica (EVF Mounts)?

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Paul Hawxhurst

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I am considering outfitting my Epic fleet with either the new ET EVF mounts (http://elementtechnica.mybigcommerce.com/epic-bomb-evf-mount/) or the Wooden Camera EVF mounts (http://woodencamera.com/universal-evf-mount-red). Whilst the price is attractive, I have no experience with the Wooden Camera model and am wondering how it holds up in the field. Do industry professionals have a preferred system? From a rental house perspective, which model is easier for ACs to work with? Any input from working shooters and pro ACs would be very helpful. Thank you!
 
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I use the Wooden Camera mount and really love it . The ET mount is a bit more clunky in size, but has a nicer locking mechanism.
They both work well. It comes down to user preference. I think rental wise the ET is more attractive. But as an owner/op that rents it out as well, I wouldn't buy the ET mount, it doesn't make my job that much easier to pay the additional price and I won't loose a rental because of it.
 
I would say that from a rental perspective that the ET is much more "pro" than the WC mount. The ET has more features, plus you don't have to loosen a level to tilt the EVF. But the ET also does cost 2x as much. If I were paying more towards top dollar for a rental, I would expect the ET mount.
 
One other benefit of the WC EVF mount is weight...it's fairly light, where as the ET mount will add much more heft to your small camera. In the end, the ET is a more finished and better overall design, but WC should be considered a very close second where aesthetics are less of a concern than basic functionality.
 
I have used the ET mount and have bought the WC - again because of size, weight and functionality. I want an evf mount that is low key and does not dominate camera.
 
The epic is 1/2 the size of the Red one.. be great if ET could shrink the design they haven't changed since the R1 came out to suit the new form factor (camera and EVF) just making add ons and mods to adapt it works for existing owners to carry over their gear but be great to see a more epic sized mount from them for new owners? :-)

That said the Wooden Camera mount is amazing especially as its 1/2 the price and is a really simple unfussy design.
 
I'm a huge Wooden Camera fan and have a ton of their stuff. I own/use several ET EVF mounts and regularly use the Wooden Camera EVF mount on another unit. In my experience the Wooden Camera is smaller, lighter and cheaper but the ET mount is by far superior in every functional way. This is by design, as the Wooden Camera unit is made to do a lot with a little, and the ET mount is designed to do everything a pro mount needs to do really well, at the expense of a little weight, bulk and expense.

To me the ET Mount has two really significant advantages.

One, it is a clutched design. Like every professional viewfinder mount I have ever used, it is designed to be adjusted "on the fly". You can add the amount of tension you want, but its supposed to be adjustable quickly and it does so beautifully. All of the systems that are "release, adjust, tighten" are problematic in a number of common operating situations. Yes, you can grab the Wooden Camera mount and wrench it into a new position, but it's not designed to do this, and so does not do it well. I have not used the Spinner, but understand it is also a "loosen, adjust, tighten" situation which is a deal breaker for me. But hey, I see a lot of people with EFVs on Noga arms, so to each their own.

Two, the adjusteable range of the ET EVF mount is better than any other mount I've ever seen. I prefer the original mount to the new design as I find the added length that was originally intended to accommodate the old, long EVF allows for an amazing range of positions for the smaller bomb EVF. The thing can adjust from a really comfortable handle held position, or extend a straight waaaaay back when on a dolly with a 24-290. And of course everywhere in between, or really high or really low. I have the extension piece and have never used it because the thing is so darn flexible. The Wooden camera has one "arm" and I think the double arm of the original ET EVF mount is brilliant. Wooden Camera smaller, ET way more flexible.

I do wish ET would make a new one with a thinner knuckle, as the current one is a legacy from the heavy EVF no longer in use (for me anyway). This pushes the eyepiece a little further away from the camera than it needs to be, but this has never been a big deal to me. Could be better though. I understand that the camera is really small and light. And there is a tendency to try and strip it down as much as possible. But the ET EVF mount actually works beautifully with the Epic. And until there is something smaller that has the same capability, I'll never be without one.
 
Buy them both. :)

The WC is lightweight, and might be part of a stripped down handheld set-up.

The ET EVF mount is great is you're going to be on a dolly and need an EVF extension and leveling rod. It's also great to have is you already own the Mantis system. If you go this way, look into both of the risers. You will likely need them.

I'm also trying to work out with ET a black anodized front bar to reduce possible reflections near the lens.
 
Jason Wingrove said:
The epic is 1/2 the size of the Red one.. be great if ET could shrink the design they haven't changed since the R1 came out to suit the new form factor (camera and EVF) just making add ons and mods to adapt it works for existing owners to carry over their gear but be great to see a more epic sized mount from them for new owners? :-)

That said the Wooden Camera mount is amazing especially as its 1/2 the price and is a really simple unfussy design.
Click to expand...

Mr. Wingrove ET did update the BOMB EVF and it's much smaller than before. I think the Wooden stuff is great though and Ryan is amazing and extremly fast at getting things to you.
 
I have the Red one. It's bigger and heavier than it needs to be. The clutch bit is nice, but I keep wanting a better way to position the viewfinder on the camera. I have tried Nato rails, Zacuto arms etc... still not able to get it close enough to the camera body or far enough forward when operating hand held.

I am thinking of adapting an Alexa mount to hold the Red EVF.
 
Jeff Garton said:
(...) Like every professional viewfinder mount I have ever used, it is designed to be adjusted "on the fly". You can add the amount of tension you want, but its supposed to be adjustable quickly and it does so beautifully. All of the systems that are "release, adjust, tighten" are problematic in a number of common operating situations. Yes, you can grab the Wooden Camera mount and wrench it into a new position, but it's not designed to do this, and so does not do it well. I have not used the Spinner, but understand it is also a "loosen, adjust, tighten" situation which is a deal breaker for me. But hey, I see a lot of people with EFVs on Noga arms, so to each their own.



I agree that the "release, adjust, tighten" mode of the WC UVF is not great. The lock comes off easily, when touching the VF and then it rotates freely. Sucks when you are doing handheld!
I worked around it by replacing the lock screw of the VF L-bracket by a standard bolt and block it with a nylon threaded nut on the other side.
I adjusted the friction with a jaw spanner and it didn't loose it ever since.
Although you can't change the friction within seconds, it does allow you to smoothly rotate the Vf into any position (also during shots) - and it will stay there.
That's enough luxury for me...

I love the WC UVF mount, for being so lightweight and small!
Click to expand...
 
Mike Halper said:
I am also curious about the Red Spinner mount pack. Has anyone tried it?
Click to expand...

I have the RED spinner and it works perfectly for my needs. Attached to a NATO rail on the side of the top plate, it's about as small of a configuration as there is. I don't need any more adjustments than it provides, so I'm happy with it.
 
Mark Phelan said:
I have the RED spinner and it works perfectly for my needs. Attached to a NATO rail on the side of the top plate, it's about as small of a configuration as there is. I don't need any more adjustments than it provides, so I'm happy with it.
Click to expand...
I've seen the spinner but never used it.. How do you adjust the spinner higher, lower, left? Right?
 
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