Z-Finder at DVinfo.net

Michael Simons · March 3rd, 2010, 01:42 PM

After reading post on how great the Z-Finder is, I received mine today. To be honest, I'm very disappointed. The image in the Z-Finder is not very sharp which makes it difficult to focus. It reminds me of the viewfinder on the Canon XL1. I'm not really sure what the red dial is supposed to do. I spin the dial and not much happens.

Chris Hurd · March 3rd, 2010, 02:00 PM

The dial is a diopter which should bring the display into clear and sharp focus.

Khoi Pham · March 3rd, 2010, 02:00 PM

It is very fine adjustment, you have to turn a lot to see the difference, look for the square pixel on the screen and turn it until the edge is the sharpess and practice focusing on something then use the zoom feature and check and see if you are focus, do that until you know what focus look like then you can use it reliable without having to magnify to check, without the Z-finder there is no way I can focus on the fly just looking at the lcd.
The LCD does not have peaking so it is not the Z-finder fault, what it does is block light, magnify the screen to allow you easier focusing, what I do is look at the edge of your subject and focus until there is stair step, then I know it is focus, if the edge is smooth then it is out of focus.

Jon Braeley · March 3rd, 2010, 02:32 PM

If you havent used it then you should send this back.
I have been waiting for another viewfinder to be in stock - meanwhile I found an old printers loupe from my photography days - when placed on the LCD I get a perfect magnified image for great focusing! The loupe folds out on hinges, so I now tether this to a lanyard.

Michael Simons · March 3rd, 2010, 02:43 PM

Thanks guys. I guess it's still better than wearing glasses. The only time I wear glasses is when I have to look at the LCD screen or read some fine print.

Art Varga · March 3rd, 2010, 04:10 PM

I've been on the fence on whether to purchase the z-finder or spring for a monitor ( smallHD). On a whim, I picked up a pair of 4.00 magnification reading glasses from my supermarket. Wow - what a surprise. It just so happens that when I hold my 5D in position on my rig, the glasses bring the LCD in perfect focus! ( about 8-10 inches from my eyes). It looks like the relative magnification is only about 1.25 but it seems to make enough difference that it will help with focus. Gee now what can I spend that $400 dollars on:)

Jon Braeley · March 3rd, 2010, 05:13 PM

For me the viewfinder is nice because I prefer to look through an eyepiece - I never use the LCD on my EX3 - always use the eyepiece. Mainly stray light is my problem with LCDs in sunlight.

These are very simple to make by the way - all the parts are readily available.

Khoi Pham · March 3rd, 2010, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Simons

Thanks guys. I guess it's still better than wearing glasses. The only time I wear glasses is when I have to look at the LCD screen or read some fine print.

If you wear reading glasses and when you adjust it and it still not sharp, you might have to order a taller mounting frame from them than using the original short frame that came with it.

Lance Watts · March 3rd, 2010, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Simons

After reading post on how great the Z-Finder is, I received mine today. To be honest, I'm very disappointed. The image in the Z-Finder is not very sharp which makes it difficult to focus. It reminds me of the viewfinder on the Canon XL1. I'm not really sure what the red dial is supposed to do. I spin the dial and not much happens.

You may have an unreasonable expectation as to what the Z-Finder is supposed to do. Any lack of "sharpness" is due to the resolution of the LCD screen NOT some supposed flaw in the Z-Finder. The Z-Finder merely magnifies the LCD screen.

Michael Simons · March 3rd, 2010, 06:58 PM

Lance, you are absolutely correct. Reading glasses work much better for sharpness. I'm thinking about returning the Z-Finder and it's $350 price tag. But will I need it on those sunny days?

Michael Simons · March 3rd, 2010, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khoi Pham

If you wear reading glasses and when you adjust it and it still not sharp, you might have to order a taller mounting frame from them than using the original short frame that came with it.

hey Khoi. With the Z-Finder, I don't need to use glasses. But glasses make the image much more sharper and easier to focus than the Z-Finder. So those $20 glasses at the pharmacy may be a better buy than the $350 Z-Finder.

Michael Simons · March 3rd, 2010, 07:05 PM

Forgot to mention, B&H did include a free Bescor LED 35N light which goes for $85 when I purchased the Z-Finder. So that was pretty nice.

Bill Pryor · March 3rd, 2010, 07:38 PM

Michael, if you want to shoot outdoors or to do any decent handheld shooting, you will need that, or a similar, viewfinder.

Lloyd Ubshura · March 3rd, 2010, 09:37 PM

I just got my Z-Finder today too and just logged on to post the EXACT same thing as you! Weird!

I am very disappointed also. I read how great it was, so I was expecting it to be fantastic.

In all fairness, I really don't think it's the Z-Finder that I'm dissatisfied with. It's the IMAGE that it's magnifying that stinks and it just gets worse bigger. The Z-finder sure seems solid enough and very well built, but I think I probably should have pocketed the money. I was probably overly optimistic.

The one thing I do like about it is (I hope) I can now shoot outside in the sunlight and still see the image.

@Michael, you beat me to the punch!

Jesse Haycraft · March 3rd, 2010, 10:59 PM

You guys might want to look into the LCDVF or building your own. I found the Z-Finder, after using a friends, to be ridiculously overpriced. I was planning on buying my own but once I saw how simple it was I just built my own. I can't believe Zacuto charges nearly FOUR HUNDRED dollars for a piece of plastic and a magnifying glass...

March 3rd, 2010, 01:42 PM	#1
Michael Simons Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Red Bank, NJ Posts: 553	Z-Finder After reading post on how great the Z-Finder is, I received mine today. To be honest, I'm very disappointed. The image in the Z-Finder is not very sharp which makes it difficult to focus. It reminds me of the viewfinder on the Canon XL1. I'm not really sure what the red dial is supposed to do. I spin the dial and not much happens.

March 3rd, 2010, 02:00 PM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	The dial is a diopter which should bring the display into clear and sharp focus. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

March 3rd, 2010, 02:00 PM	#3
Khoi Pham Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Dallas Posts: 747	It is very fine adjustment, you have to turn a lot to see the difference, look for the square pixel on the screen and turn it until the edge is the sharpess and practice focusing on something then use the zoom feature and check and see if you are focus, do that until you know what focus look like then you can use it reliable without having to magnify to check, without the Z-finder there is no way I can focus on the fly just looking at the lcd. The LCD does not have peaking so it is not the Z-finder fault, what it does is block light, magnify the screen to allow you easier focusing, what I do is look at the edge of your subject and focus until there is stair step, then I know it is focus, if the edge is smooth then it is out of focus. __________________ Khoi Pham www.proeditproductions.com

March 3rd, 2010, 09:37 PM	#14
Lloyd Ubshura Major Player Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 204	Ironic! I just got my Z-Finder today too and just logged on to post the EXACT same thing as you! Weird! I am very disappointed also. I read how great it was, so I was expecting it to be fantastic. In all fairness, I really don't think it's the Z-Finder that I'm dissatisfied with. It's the IMAGE that it's magnifying that stinks and it just gets worse bigger. The Z-finder sure seems solid enough and very well built, but I think I probably should have pocketed the money. I was probably overly optimistic. The one thing I do like about it is (I hope) I can now shoot outside in the sunlight and still see the image. @Michael, you beat me to the punch!

March 3rd, 2010, 02:32 PM	#4
Jon Braeley Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 528	If you havent used it then you should send this back. I have been waiting for another viewfinder to be in stock - meanwhile I found an old printers loupe from my photography days - when placed on the LCD I get a perfect magnified image for great focusing! The loupe folds out on hinges, so I now tether this to a lanyard.

March 3rd, 2010, 02:43 PM	#5
Michael Simons Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Red Bank, NJ Posts: 553	Thanks guys. I guess it's still better than wearing glasses. The only time I wear glasses is when I have to look at the LCD screen or read some fine print.

March 3rd, 2010, 04:10 PM	#6
Art Varga Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 552	I've been on the fence on whether to purchase the z-finder or spring for a monitor ( smallHD). On a whim, I picked up a pair of 4.00 magnification reading glasses from my supermarket. Wow - what a surprise. It just so happens that when I hold my 5D in position on my rig, the glasses bring the LCD in perfect focus! ( about 8-10 inches from my eyes). It looks like the relative magnification is only about 1.25 but it seems to make enough difference that it will help with focus. Gee now what can I spend that $400 dollars on:)

March 3rd, 2010, 05:13 PM	#7
Jon Braeley Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 528	For me the viewfinder is nice because I prefer to look through an eyepiece - I never use the LCD on my EX3 - always use the eyepiece. Mainly stray light is my problem with LCDs in sunlight. These are very simple to make by the way - all the parts are readily available.

March 3rd, 2010, 06:58 PM	#10
Michael Simons Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Red Bank, NJ Posts: 553	Lance, you are absolutely correct. Reading glasses work much better for sharpness. I'm thinking about returning the Z-Finder and it's $350 price tag. But will I need it on those sunny days?

March 3rd, 2010, 07:05 PM	#12
Michael Simons Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Red Bank, NJ Posts: 553	Forgot to mention, B&H did include a free Bescor LED 35N light which goes for $85 when I purchased the Z-Finder. So that was pretty nice.

March 3rd, 2010, 07:38 PM	#13
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Michael, if you want to shoot outdoors or to do any decent handheld shooting, you will need that, or a similar, viewfinder.

March 3rd, 2010, 10:59 PM	#15
Jesse Haycraft Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 57	You guys might want to look into the LCDVF or building your own. I found the Z-Finder, after using a friends, to be ridiculously overpriced. I was planning on buying my own but once I saw how simple it was I just built my own. I can't believe Zacuto charges nearly FOUR HUNDRED dollars for a piece of plastic and a magnifying glass...