WARNING on using CRT view finders..... at DVinfo.net

Ray Bell · June 23rd, 2009, 11:53 AM

Just thought I should pass along this information as many have not had the chance to
use a CRT view finder out in the bright sun light....

What I'm going to describe to you is a situation that occurs all the time to non suspecting
Scuba Divers that shoot footage with their camera's mounted in a underwater housing....

The same situation will also apply to land based photography when utilizing a CRT view finder.

One of the obvious requirements for a underwater housing is that the diver has a way to
see the CRT display for framing and focus... many of the housing manufacturers utilize
a diopter lens in front of the CRT just like all manufacturers of the CRT view finders for
the D5MKII... the diopter is either glass or high grade plastic.... but in either case they
are a magnifier lens.

Now here is the Warning notice, and I have seen this personaly several times in the past
couple of years while out on dive trips...

If you have your CRT view finder mounted on the camera and the view finder lens comes
in direct alignment with the sun and the CRT, I can without any reservations tell you that the
CRT is going to get cooked by the magnification of the suns energy directed onto the cameras
CRT... its not a pretty sight and I'm sure not a cheap fix if it happens to a 5DMKII....

Just be careful and be aware of the situation and you shouldn't have any issues if you keep
the sun out of the finder/crt path...

Steve Cahill · June 23rd, 2009, 01:00 PM

Happened to me on a EX1 not once but 2x before I found the culprit, the sun and a maginifier used for focusing, like burning ants with a magnifier lens.

See this regarding the EX1 @ How to Replace Your EX1?s LCD

More adpt to happen on a LCD that can rotate upwards. The Sony part was $300.00 for a new LCD.

June 23rd, 2009, 11:53 AM	#1
Ray Bell Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,414	WARNING on using CRT view finders..... Just thought I should pass along this information as many have not had the chance to use a CRT view finder out in the bright sun light.... What I'm going to describe to you is a situation that occurs all the time to non suspecting Scuba Divers that shoot footage with their camera's mounted in a underwater housing.... The same situation will also apply to land based photography when utilizing a CRT view finder. One of the obvious requirements for a underwater housing is that the diver has a way to see the CRT display for framing and focus... many of the housing manufacturers utilize a diopter lens in front of the CRT just like all manufacturers of the CRT view finders for the D5MKII... the diopter is either glass or high grade plastic.... but in either case they are a magnifier lens. Now here is the Warning notice, and I have seen this personaly several times in the past couple of years while out on dive trips... If you have your CRT view finder mounted on the camera and the view finder lens comes in direct alignment with the sun and the CRT, I can without any reservations tell you that the CRT is going to get cooked by the magnification of the suns energy directed onto the cameras CRT... its not a pretty sight and I'm sure not a cheap fix if it happens to a 5DMKII.... Just be careful and be aware of the situation and you shouldn't have any issues if you keep the sun out of the finder/crt path...

June 23rd, 2009, 01:00 PM	#2
Steve Cahill Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 321	Happened to me on a EX1 not once but 2x before I found the culprit, the sun and a maginifier used for focusing, like burning ants with a magnifier lens. See this regarding the EX1 @ How to Replace Your EX1?s LCD More adpt to happen on a LCD that can rotate upwards. The Sony part was $300.00 for a new LCD. __________________ Regards Steve