Hello everyone. Just curious if anyone recommends a certain viewfinder/loupe for the T2i. Preferably it will be of the hinged type so you can open and close it with ease. I am on a modest budget so max price of $350 would be ideal. Thanks for the info. Have a great day!

Hello everyone. Just curious if anyone recommends a certain viewfinder/loupe for the T2i. Preferably it will be of the hinged type so you can open and close it with ease. I am on a modest budget so max price of $350 would be ideal. Thanks for the info. Have a great day!

Search for the GGS loupe. It is a flip-up loupe that comes with a self-adhesive mounting frame with a glass protector. It is not a perfect fit in terms of aspect ratio for the 550d's 3:2 LCD, but I am very happy with mine.

You don't have to spend all that amount of money.
I found this for £43
NEEWER 3x Magnification 3" LCD Foldable Viewfinder: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

Glued it onto this.
LCD Hood Screen Protector for Canon EOS 550D | Linkdelight.com (http://www.linkdelight.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=156)

Looks like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlUq9OP-x5Q

That NEEWER loupe looks identical to the GGS loupe. They are great value at about 1/10 of the price of a Zacuto Z-finder. I have had the opportunity to compare the GGS side by side with a colleague's Z-Finder & we both agreed that there is precious little optical difference between the two. The GGS loupe is made of a cheap plastic & probably won't last for years & years like the Z-Finder but for the money it can't be beaten.

And the Z-finder doesn't flip up. I just bought my second GGS finder and am getting an adapter to use with my EX-1. I highly recommend this viewfinder.

Hello everyone. Just curious if anyone recommends a certain viewfinder/loupe for the T2i. Preferably it will be of the hinged type so you can open and close it with ease. I am on a modest budget so max price of $350 would be ideal. Thanks for the info. Have a great day!

Amazon.com: 3:2 Swi-View LCDVF LCD Viewfinder for Canon 60D, T3i, any other 3:2 3" LCD Cameras by Carry Speed: Camera & Photo

Money well spent for me. It works great. Doesn't hinge though.

Love my Hoodman

Cinema Kit Pro-Hoodman Corporation (http://hoodmanusa.com/products.asp?dept=1066)

Another option is the LCDVF. There's a special type designed for the T2i.

Kinotehnik - The makers of LCVDF and LCDVFE (http://www.kinotehnik.com/)

I use one and have no complaints except that is has no diopter.

You don't have to spend all that amount of money.
I found this for £43
NEEWER 3x Magnification 3" LCD Foldable Viewfinder: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnification-LCD-Foldable-Viewfinder-Magnifier/dp/B004TDXMHM/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt)

Glued it onto this.
LCD Hood Screen Protector for Canon EOS 550D | Linkdelight.com (http://www.linkdelight.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=156)

Looks like this.
DIY Viewfinder mounting using LCD Shade - DSLR - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlUq9OP-x5Q)

This is amazing! How simple of an idea yet nobody has built a loupe like this. Any user with a battery grip does need to buy silly extenders for their loupes and also no frame stuck onto the camera! Just brill!

Will this solution work on a 600D (t3i)?

i have this one 3" LCD ViewFinder Extender for EOS Canon 500D 550D 600D 60D DSLR with case bag | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-LCD-ViewFinder-Extender-EOS-Canon-500D-550D-600D-60D-DSLR-case-bag-/160696129204?pt=AU_Cameras_Photographic_Accessories&hash=item256a3c56b4) and i'm very satisfied with it

I doubt if this solution would work with the flip screen.
If someone has both 550d and 600d maybe they could say if the viewfinder and the lcd are in the same place.

I doubt if this solution would work with the flip screen.
If someone has both 550d and 600d maybe they could say if the viewfinder and the lcd are in the same place.

I absolutely love this guy and his videos. Check it out. He has previous one where he does a different version for non-flip out screens. Go Graham! Quality.

Fitting the GGS Perfect Viewfinder to Fold Out LCD screen DSLr's - YouTube

Looks good, how would you then attach a quick release if the thread is being occupied by the bracket?

Simply buy a slightly longer 1/4" fixing screw, or cut your own, and position the VF bracket with the QR plate under it, then fix both to the camera with aformentioned screw

I love the t3i articulating screen and every solution so far a viewfinder fitting means I either remove my battery grip, buy an original battery grip, stick a frame on the screen, etc. I really wanted a way that I could quickly remove the viewfinder and use the screen if needed and this solution is great DIY Canon T3i / 600D LCD View Finder Mount CheesyCam (http://cheesycam.com/diy-canon-t3i-600d-lcd-view-finder-mount/) I hope it helps!

anyone tried this?

Camcorder Mounting Strap-Hoodman Corporation (http://www.hoodmanusa.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HCAM4)

should work on the flipout LCD's

I have it on my 60D. Works great when the scren is swung out, but you should be aware of the extra weight when it is attached. I like to use it with the hoodman CineCrane when the screen is folded in. That way works awesome on my 5D as well.

I have seen something similar to this but worried that applying to much pressure on the viewfinder may break it as you want to press it as tight as possible.

I have a events booked this year and really want to spend wisley.

The Zacuto EVF looks great it really does but £650 is it really worth it?

The biggest issue I had on my last shoots was the focusing using the t3i, like most people I had no idea if what I was shooting was 100% in focus or not. After using the forum the world of viewfinders opened up to me but each one had an issue with the t3i articulating screen. I came across this video yesterday from JJ and I think that setup just works perfectly. Zacuto EVF Gorilla Plate Bracket + Pincher Review - YouTube

The cost of such a setup is around this much plus the Pincher!
Z-Finder EVF Pro £654.02
Zacuto EVF Gorilla Plate Bracket - Z-EGPB (ZEGPB) £160.42
Zacuto Gorilla Baseplate £48.65

any other options means I loose the flip screen.

Does anybody have any experience with the EVF finder and would you say it's a sound investment?

I would spend on an external monitor before getting a Z-Finder. Zacuto is top notch, including service and of course offers a world-class lifetime warranty. But I think you have to consider what you need and the options that are available.

JS

The most imporatnt feature to me is peakinghttp://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/730644-REG/Marshall_Electronics_V_LCD50_HDMI_5_On_Camera_Monitor.html this looks great but I cant find any examples of it in use. I

I really don't think that it's justified to spend more on the Zacuto EVF than the camera costs. The resolution isn't HD as it's only 800x480 which is barely more than the LCD Monitor & as soon as you hit record the 600D's HDMI output drops to SD anyway. In my experience peaking & zebras that are generated in the monitor are nowhere near as good as when they are actually generated within a properly designed camcorder. My advice to improve your focusing would be to use Quick AF before you hit the record button & then use a loupe & practice, practice, practice.

any other options means I loose the flip screen.Don't get too hung up on this. The articulated screen is a 'nice to have' but not essential & is only really useful when you can't easily get your eye to the camera e.g. you are holding it above your head or it's down on the floor. I can live without the articulated screen if it means that I can use a good loupe.

Depends on whether you ever need to shoot away from your head. 90% of the time I shoot with the loupe. But for the other 10% I'm thankful I have an articulated screen as I can get shots that are simply impossible without it.

May I ask which loupe you have and does your screen close if it has a frame attached to it?

Don't get too hung up on this. The articulated screen is a 'nice to have' but not essential & is only really useful when you can't easily get your eye to the camera e.g. you are holding it above your head or it's down on the floor. I can live without the articulated screen if it means that I can use a good loupe.

The reason I love it so much is because when I use the slider for a lot of low angle shots I can just flip it. I guess thats the only real advantage possible If I were to get a merlin I could also flip it and use it then.

It may be that I just buy a sticky frame and never close the t3i screen again.

Depends on whether you ever need to shoot away from your head. 90% of the time I shoot with the loupe. But for the other 10% I'm thankful I have an articulated screen as I can get shots that are simply impossible without it.Only the 60D & 600D/T3i of the Canon DSLRs have an articulated screen so there are plenty of people shooting good video on 5DIIs, 7Ds or 550D/T2is.

May I ask which loupe you have and does your screen close if it has a frame attached to it?I have the luxury of shooting most of the time with a 5DII. However on my 600D I use the swing-out screen without a loupe for framing the shot but if I use a loupe I have stuck the frame from a GGS onto the metal frame of a loupe that fixes with the tripod screw. I know that I cannot use the battery grip but these cameras are all about compromise. I wouldn't stick a frame onto my 600D & give up the articulated screen but then as I said I have the luxury of shooting mostly with a a 5DII.

I found this which may help CarrySpeed LCD View Finder on a Canon 60D with the battery grip attached on Vimeo

I have had 2 people call me in the past week asking if I use the 5DMKII...I say no the t3i and off they go. The 5DMKII is driving me crazy hurry up 5DMKIII! I seriously don't think the 5DMKII is worth nearly 3 times the price of the t3i but it's starting to loose me business.

I have had 2 people call me in the past week asking if I use the 5DMKII...I say no the t3i and off they go. The 5DMKII is driving me crazy hurry up 5DMKIII! I seriously don't think the 5DMKII is worth nearly 3 times the price of the t3i but it's starting to loose me business.I have never had to decide whether the 5DII is worth 3X the price as three years ago I bought a 5DII because that was then the only Canon DSLRs with video & the first videos that I saw online were just amazing (they still are & here they are Paris and San Franciso videos by night - Chris MacAskill's Photos | SmugMug (http://cmac.smugmug.com/gallery/6677452_e9rL5#!i=427227023&k=AsXNo)). The 5DII has at least two big advantages over the 600D. It has much better low light performance & better choice of wide angle lenses. The 5DII is so clean & noise free even at ISO 3200 that I often run with that & just adjust the aperture for exposure or use ISO3200 so that I can stop down when I don't want an ultra-shallow DoF. I also shoot a lot with the 16-35mm F/2.8L at 16mm. I am awfully glad that I do have a 5DII but the 600D is a great value backup camera even if it lacks the low light performance & doesn't have the same rugged build quality.

Only you can know whether it is worth you purchasing a 5DII but in the meantime when asked if you use a 5DII why not say 'Yes' & then hire one if you get the gig?

Good idea, most 5DMKII range from £85 a day + VAT, then I have to add on the cost of batteries, chargers all money, which I am setting aside for the 5DMKIII.

I am hoping that my new Samyang 35 1.4mm will help in low light situations. In all honesty if I could go back a few months would I buy the 5DMKII? My honest opinion would be still be no. I know the t3i will be a great backup camera once the 5DMKIII is released and I won't have the thought of a camera worth £1400 not being used on a regular basis.

Going back to the viewfinder I finally spent around £60 on

The Swi-View CarrySpeed Loupe, cover and Frame along with 3 x Trudeau Twist Jar Openers for my Follow Focus :)

Hi All,

After many hours of research I have finally managed to build a view finder which works with my 600d that does not need any sticky frames and works with a battery grip :)

I ordered a Carry Speed viewfinder from the USA and an additional frame which cost me around £66.
I found that bottom of the frame was just to thick to fit between the grip and the camera so I took it to a local metal workshop and had them grind it down to around 0.5mm and also take a piece out so I can quickly loosen the grip and remove the frame when I want to use the articulated screen.

Please find the pictures attached. I will be adding some foam tomorrow around the frame so if I push too hard on the viewfinder I will not worry about any metal to metal contact.