Thanks for summing everything up. I still think the condenser lens has to have a particular curvature (focal length) but thats what experimenting is going to have to answer. My adjustable tubes are micro threaded tubes that fit inside one another. As they unscrew they extend and then you lock them in place as you would on a rail system. Im currently looking for some new ones with a flat black finish.

-Brett

Jonathon Wilson
 

------ Also - in current form the image that reaches the DVCam is still rotated 180 degrees. Makes it a little hard to use - would be nice if there were some way to view the image right-side-up while composing.--------

What I did to reverse the image is using a cheap Ambico V-0310 Fish-eye ,around $60, that I put on my lcd and on top of it I use a smal telescope prism that reverse the image. Now I have a view finder on the side of my Vx-2000 so I can put it on my shoulder.

I also have a lcd monitor that I can put on the side but I realy don't like those monitor ,you have to be realy in front of it and it's hard to focus on this.

Here is a example.This is not the final version but not no far.

http://ideaspora.net/aldu35/ALDU35.JPG

Alain's viewfinder
 

Good job on the viewfinder. What kind of prism(s) are you using? I know what you mean about the LCD's. Never the less Im still going to flip or buy a special LCD because Im a steadicam operator as well.

The only thing that troubles me about the add-on LCD is the need for some kind of power for it. If you're walking around with your steadycam, you're going to have more wires and more weight in your batteries, or whatever. I'm sure it will work, but it's starting to be a lot of baggage... I like Alain's prism idea... I guess that old "learn to operate your viewfinder with both eyes open" technique really has its place here :)

As usual, Alain - nice job... looks like a nice rig.

Brett Erskine
 

It's call 45 degree erecting prism and it's $39.

Alain

Prism
 

There is some here but more expensive
mine is $39 Can so in Us it should be $2 :-(

http://secure.sciencecompany.com/thesciencecompany/product1.cfm?SID=1&Product_ID=261

Prism
 

Maybe something interesting here.

http://tweaktown.dealtime.com/xPF-Bausch_and_Lomb_Bausch_Lomb_Erecting_Prism_1_25

Alain, that's it, if you're going to put it on the viewfinder, the 1.25" size is OK, and you won't need your fisheye lens anymore. I was hoping to find this in the 2" size, to make the camcorder see correct image. Brett, have you had any luck finding the 2" porro?

This seems like such an elegant solution. Throw one of these onto the existing eyepiece... here's some more of the same, but lower prices:

http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_diag7.htm

http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_diag6.htm

It's not that easy.
It cannot just be put on the viewfinder.We have to put another
magnification lens on top of it to replace the one already on the viewfinder, and the focal of this is a problem ,You cannot just put the actual magnifier from the camera.Because the prism change the focal lenght neede'd.


I have see some biger but it's around $300.

Alain

<<<-- Also - in current form the image that reaches the DVCam is still rotated 180 degrees. Makes it a little hard to use - would be nice if there were some way to view the image right-side-up while composing. -->>>

Hi everybody (new to this very interesting forum ),
a way to rotate the image is to add an other lens....like the SLR lense rotate the image an additional lense after the condenser will revert the image...

but that makes a lot of glass to go through...and considering that the amount of light is a problem...


but we are forced to add a macro adaptor....i think that the additional lense to re -rotate the image and the macro adaptor can be merged into one single lense that we are going to calculate the front and back focal length.... :)

i don't know if it's really possible but why not...

Malheureusement , ce n'est pas si simple.


Alain

Inverting prism eyepiece
 

Right, Alain. I wonder if the eyepiece has a built in lens that corrects for the entire added eyepiece's focal length difference.

here is some new motivation for you all, a short made with a static35'ish device.

This short is groundbreaking!
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...5&pagenumber=1

http://www.originalversion.net/temp/makingof01.jpg

What I don't understand, is why he had a hotspot in Marla. Was it the result of taping through the viewfinder.

I will start getting my parts in this week. I have high hopes, wish me luck.