How to Fix a busted Letus Hawk at DVinfo.net

Steve Oakley · June 7th, 2011, 11:42 PM

I love / hate this LCD VF. you only get a couple fo adjustments in the screws before they will strip out. The solution ? epoxy :( but it works

DIY Quick Fixes For Your Busted Letus Hawk

Les Wilson · June 8th, 2011, 05:00 AM

I don't have a fix but I think it would be a good idea if you posted your experience on this DVinfo thread about Nino Leitner's review of viewfinders. He obviously didn't use the Hawk very much:
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-eo...omparison.html

I almost jumped at the B&H pricing to save $25 over the Z-Finder but on a second read of Nino's review, I saw a mention that you have to remove those screws to remove the Hawk from the camera. I am very glad I went with the Z-Finder.

Personally, I think the attachment is a significant design flaw ergonomically but even worse is that given what you've experienced, it's a significant and fundamental mechanical design flaw. A warranty doesn't fix that.

Given all that, I feel Nino's review was far too positive on the Hawk and you'll be doing DVinfo readers a great service to warn them.

Steve Oakley · June 8th, 2011, 08:11 AM

After Nino did that review, Letus changed the mount to a quick release thats so-so. it works, but it does't hold the VF 100% snug to the camera. there is a 90deg bracket that holds the VF to the QR mount, 2 screws in the VF, 2 in the mount. The bracket is to accommodate different mounting positions. thanks for the suggestion, I'll go add it up over there.

Paul Digges · June 8th, 2011, 12:45 PM

Nice fix. As a gearhead, Epoxy and I go waaay back haha.

Anyhow, it's a damn shame such a gorgeous(and pricey) piece of kit ended up being a flop. I think with modern manufacturing techniques these sorts of problems should be a non issue. That, coupled with a company's ability to instantly gather all kinds of feedback about their product through means such as product review sites, reviews on online stores, and even communities such as this one, should make things like this obsolete anymore. You develop a produt, your testing shows it's solid, it goes out to the real world, real world use proves it's poorly designed, and you make the changes. In this particular case, it really is that simple.

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but it seems that with the great advances in tech that we've become used to, we've also become more acceptable of lesser quality products in general. We no longer demand that a company put out a solid product and refuse to buy it if it's not up to standards, we just groan and grudgingly reach for our wallets. Honestly, this applies to just about all walks of life these days it seems. Woah, major tangent there. Sorry.

Like I said, seems like a solid fix, and at least it's on the bottom so it's not super noticable.

June 7th, 2011, 11:42 PM	#1
Steve Oakley Trustee Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: United States Posts: 1,158	How to Fix a busted Letus Hawk I love / hate this LCD VF. you only get a couple fo adjustments in the screws before they will strip out. The solution ? epoxy :( but it works DIY Quick Fixes For Your Busted Letus Hawk __________________ Steve Oakley DP • Audio Mixer • Editor • Colorist http://stevenoakley.com

June 8th, 2011, 05:00 AM	#2
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: How to Fix a busted Letus Hawk I don't have a fix but I think it would be a good idea if you posted your experience on this DVinfo thread about Nino Leitner's review of viewfinders. He obviously didn't use the Hawk very much: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-eo...omparison.html I almost jumped at the B&H pricing to save $25 over the Z-Finder but on a second read of Nino's review, I saw a mention that you have to remove those screws to remove the Hawk from the camera. I am very glad I went with the Z-Finder. Personally, I think the attachment is a significant design flaw ergonomically but even worse is that given what you've experienced, it's a significant and fundamental mechanical design flaw. A warranty doesn't fix that. Given all that, I feel Nino's review was far too positive on the Hawk and you'll be doing DVinfo readers a great service to warn them.

June 8th, 2011, 08:11 AM	#3
Steve Oakley Trustee Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: United States Posts: 1,158	Re: How to Fix a busted Letus Hawk After Nino did that review, Letus changed the mount to a quick release thats so-so. it works, but it does't hold the VF 100% snug to the camera. there is a 90deg bracket that holds the VF to the QR mount, 2 screws in the VF, 2 in the mount. The bracket is to accommodate different mounting positions. thanks for the suggestion, I'll go add it up over there. __________________ Steve Oakley DP • Audio Mixer • Editor • Colorist http://stevenoakley.com

June 8th, 2011, 12:45 PM	#4
Paul Digges Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 153	Re: How to Fix a busted Letus Hawk Nice fix. As a gearhead, Epoxy and I go waaay back haha. Anyhow, it's a damn shame such a gorgeous(and pricey) piece of kit ended up being a flop. I think with modern manufacturing techniques these sorts of problems should be a non issue. That, coupled with a company's ability to instantly gather all kinds of feedback about their product through means such as product review sites, reviews on online stores, and even communities such as this one, should make things like this obsolete anymore. You develop a produt, your testing shows it's solid, it goes out to the real world, real world use proves it's poorly designed, and you make the changes. In this particular case, it really is that simple. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but it seems that with the great advances in tech that we've become used to, we've also become more acceptable of lesser quality products in general. We no longer demand that a company put out a solid product and refuse to buy it if it's not up to standards, we just groan and grudgingly reach for our wallets. Honestly, this applies to just about all walks of life these days it seems. Woah, major tangent there. Sorry. Like I said, seems like a solid fix, and at least it's on the bottom so it's not super noticable.