James Steven Beverly Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I just bought an Isco-Optic Director's Viewfinder II because my DoP suggested director's viewfinder would be a good tool to have while scouting locations and I've been wanting one for a while now anyway AND this one will do 1/2in video format which is what my JVC GY-500 is so I can use it with it and my 35mms. I was just wondering who out there uses a director's viewfinder on a regular basis and which ones the have, also what are some of the best ones AND what do they go for? B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Bowerbank Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I don't know if they're too useful for scouting locations, a basic video camera works for me in that phase of production. It's always a great on set tool though for figuring out your framing & blocking while not having to lug the camera around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Steven Beverly Posted December 20, 2006 Author Share Posted December 20, 2006 Well, in that case, I'll bring a video camera with me as well. Which viewfinder do you use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lav Bodnaruk Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 did you just pick this up on ebay? i saw the same one sold today... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Steven Beverly Posted December 20, 2006 Author Share Posted December 20, 2006 (edited) Yeah, I paid a little more than I wanted to but new they go for 1300 bucks so I guess I got a good deal if it works correctly. I wanted a good one and I believe these are somewhat medium to high end, but that's why I wanted to see what everyone else used, because I'm not well versed in these things. B) Edited December 20, 2006 by James Steven Beverly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Buick Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I made a Director's Scope out of an old toilet roll, what can I say...it works...sort of...not really...no. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Brereton Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I made a Director's Scope out of an old toilet roll, what can I say...it works...sort of...not really...no. :( Another valuable contribution, Matthew... The Alan Gordon viewfinder is probably the best, but expensive. I've got an unbranded one that i bought from Panavision for about £150. It's similar to the Du-All viewfinder. No frills, but does what I want it to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael LaVoie Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I use a DVX100B. Barry Green in his book put a nice chart that tells you based on the digital readout of your zoom, what the 35mm equivalent lens would be. If I'm framing for S16mm, I use a Cavision viewfinder. It's really cheap just be careful. You get what you pay for and god help you if you ever need to send anything to them for repair. It could take months to get it back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Steven Beverly Posted December 21, 2006 Author Share Posted December 21, 2006 Another valuable contribution, Matthew...The Alan Gordon viewfinder is probably the best, but expensive. I've got an unbranded one that i bought from Panavision for about £150. It's similar to the Du-All viewfinder. No frills, but does what I want it to. The MarkV or the MarkVb OR was it one of the earlier MarkIVs? I was wondering how well those worked, a lot of people recommended them. B) If I'm framing for S16mm, I use a Cavision viewfinder. It's really cheap just be careful. You get what you pay for and god help you if you ever need to send anything to them for repair. It could take months to get it back. Well the whole trick is not to drop the damn things, that's why the make that little strap that goes around your neck. :D I like there CINE DIRECTOR'S VIEWFINDER. It looks luke some of the higher end ones I've seen lately. Do you use the small one or the full sized one. B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Paul Bruening Posted December 21, 2006 Premium Member Share Posted December 21, 2006 I use the Cavision as well. I got it off B&H. I think it was around $170.00 or so, new. I love it. It's small, versital, and hangs easy from the neck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Brereton Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 The MarkV or the MarkVb OR was it one of the earlier MarkIVs? I was wondering how well those worked, a lot of people recommended them. They're all good, but it's quite a chunk of metal to cart around with you. Your Isco-Optic is in a similar price range to the Alan Gordon, so I would think it's of similar quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Stephen Williams Posted December 21, 2006 Premium Member Share Posted December 21, 2006 They're all good, but it's quite a chunk of metal to cart around with you. Your Isco-Optic is in a similar price range to the Alan Gordon, so I would think it's of similar quality. Hi Stewart, The Downside of a heavy chunk of metal, when plonked in a case with a Nikon D70, the heavy chunk of metal killed the top LCD desplay! Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Hal Smith Posted December 21, 2006 Premium Member Share Posted December 21, 2006 A gentle suggestion for threads like this one: Please post website URL's if you know (or can cut and paste them). I personally do this all the time as a courtesy to others. If you include the http:// at the head of the URL then the Forum software will list it as a hot link. For instance: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller...;Q=&ci=3680? will take you right to the BHPhotovideo page for Director's Viewfinders. Be sure to include a blank space before and after the URL for the Forum software to properly format it as a hot link. Give Matthew a break, a toilet paper roll squashed rectangular and cut to the right length is better than guessing! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nooman Naqvi Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 Here is my Alan Gordon Mark Vb B) :wub: It comes with four aspect ratio (2.40 Anamorphic, 1.85, 16x9-Digital HD, and 1.33 Film-Video 4x3). Question is, for Super 16mm, the aspect ratio will be "16x9-Digital HD"? Shouldn't it be 1.66? but there is no marking for 1.66. Confused :unsure: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Stephen Williams Posted December 21, 2006 Premium Member Share Posted December 21, 2006 Here is my Alan Gordon Mark Vb B) :wub: It comes with four aspect ratio (2.40 Anamorphic, 1.85, 16x9-Digital HD, and 1.33 Film-Video 4x3). Question is, for Super 16mm, the aspect ratio will be "16x9-Digital HD"? Shouldn't it be 1.66? but there is no marking for 1.66. Confused :unsure: Hi, 16x9 is very close to 1:1.85. You should note that your finder is for 16mm not S16 Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Tim Carroll Posted December 21, 2006 Premium Member Share Posted December 21, 2006 Hi, 16x9 is very close to 1:1.85. You should note that your finder is for 16mm not S16 Stephen Stephen, I was noticing that too. What is a good Director's Viewfinder that is calibrated for Super 16 (1.66:1)? Thanks, -Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Buick Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 Another valuable contribution, Matthew... Well, what would you guys do without me, you all need a pro around to make sure you don't overexpose or something. :D Give Matthew a break, a toilet paper roll squashed rectangular and cut to the right length is better than guessing! :) Actually it wasn't squashed or cut to any lenght, I just looked through it. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Stephen Williams Posted December 21, 2006 Premium Member Share Posted December 21, 2006 Stephen, I was noticing that too. What is a good Director's Viewfinder that is calibrated for Super 16 (1.66:1)? Thanks, -Tim Hi Tim, I have never seen one, so I would make up my own scale relative to the 35mm one. Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Steven Beverly Posted December 21, 2006 Author Share Posted December 21, 2006 (edited) My Isco is calibrated for Super 16. It has a s16 setting at 1.66:1 and focal lenghts from 12mm to 115mm (what can I say, it's German). Of course it's freakin' 1300 bucks brand new so maybe 1.85:1 is close enough :blink: If I had, had to pay that for it I wouldn't have got a Isco I'd have probably gone with a Cavision as well. B) Edited December 21, 2006 by James Steven Beverly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Paul Bruening Posted December 22, 2006 Premium Member Share Posted December 22, 2006 I just got my Cavision out. It says, S16, 35 and AN on one side and 2/3", 1/2" and 1/3" on the other. It trombones with clicks and numbers to cover these lens lengths in S16- 10, 14, 20, 29, 43, 57, 86, and 114. The outer ring at the large end of the lens adjusts framing to cover these ratios- TV, 3516, 1.66, 16.9, 1.85, 2.35, and 2.55.It does seem to lack a kitchen sink, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Steven Beverly Posted December 22, 2006 Author Share Posted December 22, 2006 I think I read somewhere that's coming out on the 2008 model. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kalkarman Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 General question about all viewfinders out there: Can any actually show you the resulting depth of field based on lens choice? (I mean not just indicate it to you in terms of numbers, I mean actually see it, like I would using the actual lens - and without having to get a viewfinder that is nothing more than a handle and an eyepiece, therefore lugging around the primes box everywhere on set). I'm overseas so I can't get my hands on a Mark V easily, maybe I can find an Isco... do either of these show depth of field through the lens, or do they just "frame" it for you? Thanks, Kal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Steven Beverly Posted January 4, 2007 Author Share Posted January 4, 2007 I've been playing around with my Isco and it is WAY COOL! I'll do some tests tomorrow or the next day, but from what I can tell by focusing in on lamp in the foreground and looking down a hallway the DOF seems to be pretty big but I'll know more in the daylight. B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Tony Brown Posted January 5, 2007 Premium Member Share Posted January 5, 2007 I use an old Arri Directors viewfinder, I had it modded for Super 35. I prefer to line up with the actual lens as DoF affects my set ups as much as frame size. On recces I hate any form of finder. People take it as too literal and things ALWAYS change between recce and shoot. In Tokyo they complain if your not on the same slab if sidewalk you were when you said on the recce "we'll cover it from here too......" Shudder....... After filters its a good thing to invest in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Rizos Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 General question about all viewfinders out there: Can any actually show you the resulting depth of field based on lens choice? Kal No. These finders provide a highly magnified aerial image. Everything is always in focus from the front element to infitity. To see the actual depth of field a ground glass is needed. The interchangeable lens finders have a removable ground glass. It's probably impossible to produce a quality all in one finder, with a 15x zoom and ground glass, that will do 35mm to 1/3" video formats, and showed the depth of field for all formats and apertures. The cost would be astronomical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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