Sony F3 - Things I really hope Sony change!

Doug Jensen · December 31st, 2010, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Stone

Doug are you familiar with the Hoodman Loupe for the EX1? Should work out of the box on the F3.

Not only am I familiar with it, I mentioned in Post #51 above that I own one and that it does NOT work. It is too short for the F3.

Leonard Levy · January 2nd, 2011, 01:50 AM

Doug,

Not having seen an F3 yet I'm, having trouble understanding what you mean by the hoodman being "too short" for the F3.
Is it too short to use in a comfortable way with some kind of shoulder brace, or does the camera bang into your shoulder when you try to put your head to the eyepeice?

Or is it a different issue entirely that the hoodman doesn't cover the full screen of the F3 because its perhaps larger than the EX-1 screen?

Do you have any doubt that it would be easy for hoodman to come up with a solutiion?

Lenny Levy

Doug Jensen · January 3rd, 2011, 06:33 AM

Leonard,

It's been about six weeks since I tried my Hoodman Loupe on an F3, so it is difficult to remember the all the reasons why it didn't work, but the main problem is that the LCD on the F3 sits too low. Compare the design of the F3 to the EX1. Where is the LCD located? Notice that the LCD on an EX1 sits relatively high up on the camera, thus making it easy to rest the camera on your shoulder and still have the LCD/Loupe postioned right in front of your eye.

On the F3, the LCD is positioned much lower on the body. So if you put your eye up against the LCD/Loupe then you've got several inches of empty space between the bottom of the camera and your shoulder. Or, if you rest the camera on your shoulder, then it is almost impossible to look through the Loupe. I suppose you could add a several-inches thick shoulder pad to the F3 to raise it up higher, but then you will have raised the center of gravity too high and the camera would be very awkward to operate. Also, since the LCD doesn't extend very far from the camera body, you really have to crunch your head up agains the side of the camera to even see through the Loupe. Bottom line is that it's not something I would ever want to use.

To answer your other two questions:

Yes, the Hoodman Loupe does cover the LCD because it's the same LCD as on the EX1/EX1R.

Yes, I'm certain Hoodman, Zacuto, RedRock, and others will have many accessories that solve most of the F3's shortcomings.

Dean Harrington · January 3rd, 2011, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Jensen

Leonard,

It's been about six weeks since I tried my Hoodman Loupe on an F3, so it is difficult to remember the all the reasons why it didn't work, but the main problem is that the LCD on the F3 sits too low. Compare the design of the F3 to the EX1. Where is the LCD located? Notice that the LCD on an EX1 sits relatively high up on the camera, thus making it easy to rest the camera on your shoulder and still have the LCD/Loupe postioned right in front of your eye.

On the F3, the LCD is positioned much lower on the body. So if you put your eye up against the LCD/Loupe then you've got several inches of empty space between the bottom of the camera and your shoulder. Or, if you rest the camera on your shoulder, then it is almost impossible to look through the Loupe. I suppose you could add a several-inches thick shoulder pad to the F3 to raise it up higher, but then you will have raised the center of gravity too high and the camera would be very awkward to operate. Also, since the LCD doesn't extend very far from the camera body, you really have to crunch your head up agains the side of the camera to even see through the Loupe. Bottom line is that it's not something I would ever want to use.

To answer your other two questions:

Yes, the Hoodman Loupe does cover the LCD because it's the same LCD as on the EX1/EX1R.

Yes, I'm certain Hoodman, Zacuto, RedRock, and others will have many accessories that solve most of the F3's shortcomings.

Was thinking of taking my EX3 viewfinder down to a shop with the F3 on display and see how that worked.
Perhaps, tomorrow would be a good day for that.

Timur Civan · January 6th, 2011, 02:36 PM

Cineroid | Hot Rod Cameras

At least for framing, this seems like a good investment. You can position it anywhere you like with a Noga arm. Not the Highest resolution monitor ever made, but its an eye piece, and can go where ever you need to balance the camera.

January 3rd, 2011, 06:33 AM	#63
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,415	Leonard, It's been about six weeks since I tried my Hoodman Loupe on an F3, so it is difficult to remember the all the reasons why it didn't work, but the main problem is that the LCD on the F3 sits too low. Compare the design of the F3 to the EX1. Where is the LCD located? Notice that the LCD on an EX1 sits relatively high up on the camera, thus making it easy to rest the camera on your shoulder and still have the LCD/Loupe postioned right in front of your eye. On the F3, the LCD is positioned much lower on the body. So if you put your eye up against the LCD/Loupe then you've got several inches of empty space between the bottom of the camera and your shoulder. Or, if you rest the camera on your shoulder, then it is almost impossible to look through the Loupe. I suppose you could add a several-inches thick shoulder pad to the F3 to raise it up higher, but then you will have raised the center of gravity too high and the camera would be very awkward to operate. Also, since the LCD doesn't extend very far from the camera body, you really have to crunch your head up agains the side of the camera to even see through the Loupe. Bottom line is that it's not something I would ever want to use. To answer your other two questions: Yes, the Hoodman Loupe does cover the LCD because it's the same LCD as on the EX1/EX1R. Yes, I'm certain Hoodman, Zacuto, RedRock, and others will have many accessories that solve most of the F3's shortcomings. __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools

January 2nd, 2011, 01:50 AM	#62
Leonard Levy Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,684	Doug, Not having seen an F3 yet I'm, having trouble understanding what you mean by the hoodman being "too short" for the F3. Is it too short to use in a comfortable way with some kind of shoulder brace, or does the camera bang into your shoulder when you try to put your head to the eyepeice? Or is it a different issue entirely that the hoodman doesn't cover the full screen of the F3 because its perhaps larger than the EX-1 screen? Do you have any doubt that it would be easy for hoodman to come up with a solutiion? Lenny Levy

January 6th, 2011, 02:36 PM	#65
Timur Civan Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 120	Cineroid \| Hot Rod Cameras At least for framing, this seems like a good investment. You can position it anywhere you like with a Noga arm. Not the Highest resolution monitor ever made, but its an eye piece, and can go where ever you need to balance the camera.