11 Comments Z-FINDER vs LCDVF

Article written by Skidblog on the 07 Jun 2010 in Canon 7D filmmaking,Spleen: Venting

LCDVF mounted to a 5D MKII I’ve had a chance to use the LCDVF viewfinder for DSLRs these last few days and I definitely do feel like a proper mug now. There is no doubt that the Zacuto looks good tacked onto your camera, but when I do a side by side comparison of the two, I just find that extra magnification to 3x makes it harder for me to focus. You look down a tunnel at the LCDVF (2x magnification) which seems to help channel the way you look at it. The Z-Finder is just a little bit too big and I question every critical bit of work. The LCDVF may be no better but psychologically I just find it easier to trust it. Their 2.5x zoom versions are probably bang on the money. The magnetic mount on the LCDVF works perfectly fine and I actually find the eyecup more comfortable to use. I paid £300 for my Z-finder. That’s just so painful I just hate it. My mate paid £125 for his LCDVF. That makes it even worse. My advice to anyone thinking of getting one (and you absolutely do need them when shooting outside in bright sunshine) – do yourself a favour and hire one first, get a feel for whether it works for you or not then think very very carefully about whether you really want to shell out that much money for an eyepiece. Ouch. Ouch, ouch, ouch.

I want my &*&hole back. And my dignity please.

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11 Comments Subscribe to these comments.

June 7, 2010 10:14 PM Dan Carr Website Reply

I’m glad you posted this Robin. I was sent a z-finder recently and just posted a big review on my site yesterday. It was not very favorable… http://dancarrphotography.com/blog/2010/06/06/z-finder-jr-pro-dslr-viewfinder-review-and-comparison-to-z-finder-pro/

2010-06-09 13:43:04 Skidblog Website

Wow, that's an excellent review and properly in-depth too. I don't have the discipline to go into stuff like that, testing is definitely not my thing. I'm definitely an out-of-the-box, throw the manual away, make it work somehow kind of person. Just don't have the patience. I'll post this up as it's good for people to see.

June 7, 2010 10:55 PM Richard Brown Website Reply

I know what you mean about Zacuto products and share your outrage at their steep prices. I had an LCDVF but returned it as the fixed focus did not suit my eyesite. I could only get a sharp image when holding the viewfinder a couple of cms away from the screen. Obviously my eyes aint great and I need to get an adjustable viewfinder. I also found the magnet was too weak on the LCDVF – when holding the viewfinder and panning the thing just came off! Just to confuse you all, maybe the Letus is the way to go?

2010-06-09 13:45:04 Skidblog Website

It's a toughie this eyepiece situation as they genuinely can help. Weirdly it's not outrage at Zacuto, just a frustration that, given who they are, their dedication to great products, they can't see what DSLRs are all about, the truly defining selling point of the kit. It baffles me. I didn't use the LCDVF in extremis, but it does seem like a few well placed rubber bands would get you round the falling off thang! Not ideal for sure, but then it's not so expensive either.

June 8, 2010 8:14 AM VillageBoi Website Reply

I have an LCDVF as I couldn’t afford a Z-Finder, I like it a lot and to me the 2x magnification is just fine. Would like test out a 2.5x mag viewfinder and if I find that to be better then it will… again, have to be the new LCDVF.

2010-06-09 13:45:30 Skidblog Website

Good to hear, I was actually quite taken with it, but then that's only in comparison to my Z-Finder...

June 8, 2010 10:12 AM Richard Brown Website Reply

I should have added that Alastair at Glidetrack offered me a refund for my LCDVF without an issue. Infact I ended up buying a Glidetrack that I’m happy with.

2010-06-09 13:47:09 Skidblog Website

Alastair seems to be a properly straight up guy, absolutely dedicated to customer service. I had a part fall off my glidetrack and he replaced it immediately free of charge. That kind of service is really rare and really memorable.

June 14, 2010 5:11 PM Bob Lorrimer Website Reply

Yeah, I cannot say that I am in love with my Z- Finder, thanks to the three times magnification I can find just about everything except focus!

I am thinking of buying another – then I can have one for each eye and settle the focus in between.

I am getting on better with My Focus Pull device….It is a vulcanised bicycle clip with a two inch bolt secured through the back of it. A half inch miniature ‘Pool Ball’ is fastened on the end. A couple of tiny rubber ‘O’ rings on either arm of the clip lock into the ribs of the lens barrel.

It’s pretty slick…. 75p ZACUTO!

May 14, 2011 1:25 PM Jose Reyes Website Reply

After I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new feedback are added- checkbox and now every time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any method you possibly can remove me from that service? Thanks!