Thanks for pictures Charles! Looked like you had fun. How did the
Genesis feel in your hands?

Sort of--like a Panaflex...??!

They didn't have that unit powered up, which was a shame. The eyepiece is a color HD viewfinder, really quite sharp and a pretty good replacement for an optical finder. Sort of a strange experience, seeing a sharp color video finder! I'd still miss seeing outside the framelines for approaching objects, stands, booms etc. though. I know Panavision is trying to figure out a way to accomodate this.

If I understand the matter correctly this would only be possible
by going optical or use a larger chip with pixels that are just for
the viewfinder (which is probably not economically possible?) or
a combination of both.

Another way might be to just lift your head from the viewfinder
every now and then Charles <g>

<<Another way might be to just lift your head from the viewfinder
every now and then Charles <g>>>

All <g>'s aside, with an optical path your eye becomes part of the light seal, so you can't take your eye off the eyepiece during the shot for fear of contaminating the image (unless the viewfinder has a pressure-activated shutter system, which the Panaflex doesn't, you have to apply a lever on the body)

Well isn't that interesting. It sounds like the same issue encountered when taking timed or unattended shots with an SLR still camera. That is, you have to cover the eyepiece to prevent spill light from hitting the film/sensor, eh?

yessir..same principles apply.

Occasionally a shot may be too difficult to operate with an eye in the eyepiece, in which case I close it off and use the onboard video monitor after making sure that there aren't any issues with things in the frame and the focus is good. And I've gotten down the method of turning my head while keeping it pressed against the eyepiece if I need to whisper something to someone behind me (usually the dolly grip)