Best Accesory for $400

Cody Dulock · February 25th, 2010, 09:44 PM

well, I guess at larger venues use a tripod with a camera platform to get you above the crowd and use a telephoto zoom lens. For the small venues I think the monopod could work very well.

Brian Valente · February 26th, 2010, 07:50 PM

Just a little more info on behalf of Hoodman. I'm not their spokesperson but I did have a chance to play with their new cinema hoodeye.

The new piece includes an enlarged eyecup (think video style) and a 3x magnifying optic. Best of all it works with the existing hoodman hoodloupe 3.0 so you just pop it on the eyepiece part.

Also Hoodman optics are really stellar - they get their optics from a german optics company they cannot name, but a name you would absolutely recognize. As Jon pointed out the issue is really just keeping the eye centered and the new video eyecup does just that.

I for one am definitely looking forward to the release of this accessory. Promises to be really great performance at a fantastic price.

Cheers

Brian

Jim Giberti · February 26th, 2010, 08:11 PM

Brian, I really like the idea of this and would be a first user. My only ?? (that you've just answered) was how would they implement the upgrade as an accessory?

The current optics obviously have a very narrow useable FOV, and as I've written, the new Eyeloupe definitely helps focus on the center comfortably - but won't adding a new magnifier to that simply magnify the blurriness? I expected some sort of swap-out/retrofit.

It is kind of ironic how they went to such length to poo-poo the use of magnification by their competitors only to offer it themselves.

That said, I really like the idea and if it's as optically clean as the Z-finder, then I'd definitely add it to mine.

Any idea of release date or estimated price?

Brian Valente · February 26th, 2010, 08:19 PM

Hi Jim

As I said, I don't speak for Hoodman and don't know the details on price and availability, but what I do know is if the hoodloupe itself is around $70-80 i would guess an accessory is almost assuredly less than that. Like the current cinema eyepiece, you just pull off your existing eyepiece and put on this one. easy peazy

as far as release date, I hear it's very soon now. If I can find out more details I'll post here

cheers

Brian

Jon Fairhurst · February 27th, 2010, 01:18 AM

I know the release date...

It will be only a day or so before the day I purchase it. ;)

Brian Valente · February 27th, 2010, 01:21 PM

Update - the official word is release this Monday March 1 (yes a couple days from now)

Cheers

Brian

Jim Giberti · February 27th, 2010, 06:45 PM

Well you're more of an spokesman than you let on Brian <g>. Seriously, that's great. I've just put a second hand held system together and have the Z-finder on the other one. This should be a nice way to make the Hoodloupe that much better.

Gotta say, it's really nice to see companies make existing products more relevant and useful with upgrades. Like, despite some of the bitichin, Canon is about to do again with the 5DII.

Harry Simpson · February 27th, 2010, 08:46 PM

Sounds like i may need to add one more item to my list there!!

Jim Giberti · March 2nd, 2010, 12:46 PM

Now I'm actually checking the Hoodman site for any news on this release, but nothing.

Brian Valente · March 2nd, 2010, 12:54 PM

Update- apparently the release is next week. I may know more tomorrow, so I'll post any updates here.

Cheers

Brian

Jim Giberti · March 2nd, 2010, 01:01 PM

Thanks Brian and I'll do a review as soon as it's released.

Brian Brown · March 3rd, 2010, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Fairhurst

I know the release date...

It will be only a day or so before the day I purchase it. ;)

Or the day AFTER I buy something similar, less effective, and three x the $. ;-)

February 26th, 2010, 07:50 PM	#17
Brian Valente Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 293	Just a little more info on behalf of Hoodman. I'm not their spokesperson but I did have a chance to play with their new cinema hoodeye. The new piece includes an enlarged eyecup (think video style) and a 3x magnifying optic. Best of all it works with the existing hoodman hoodloupe 3.0 so you just pop it on the eyepiece part. Also Hoodman optics are really stellar - they get their optics from a german optics company they cannot name, but a name you would absolutely recognize. As Jon pointed out the issue is really just keeping the eye centered and the new video eyecup does just that. I for one am definitely looking forward to the release of this accessory. Promises to be really great performance at a fantastic price. Cheers Brian __________________ ========================== Brian Valente Redrock Microsystems

February 26th, 2010, 08:19 PM	#19
Brian Valente Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 293	Hi Jim As I said, I don't speak for Hoodman and don't know the details on price and availability, but what I do know is if the hoodloupe itself is around $70-80 i would guess an accessory is almost assuredly less than that. Like the current cinema eyepiece, you just pull off your existing eyepiece and put on this one. easy peazy as far as release date, I hear it's very soon now. If I can find out more details I'll post here cheers Brian __________________ ========================== Brian Valente Redrock Microsystems

February 27th, 2010, 01:18 AM	#20
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	I know the release date... It will be only a day or so before the day I purchase it. ;) __________________ Jon Fairhurst

February 27th, 2010, 01:21 PM	#21
Brian Valente Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 293	Update - the official word is release this Monday March 1 (yes a couple days from now) Cheers Brian __________________ ========================== Brian Valente Redrock Microsystems

February 27th, 2010, 08:46 PM	#23
Harry Simpson Major Player Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Nashville, TN. Posts: 581	Sounds like i may need to add one more item to my list there!! __________________ Nashville TN using Canon 5D MK3, Canon 550D, RODE SVM mic, 70-200 f2.8L II IS, 24-105 f4L IS, 50 and 85 f/1.8, Vegas Pro 11, Zoom H4n, Blackbird, Lilliput Monitor, Lightroom

February 25th, 2010, 09:44 PM	#16
Cody Dulock Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: arlington, texas Posts: 420	well, I guess at larger venues use a tripod with a camera platform to get you above the crowd and use a telephoto zoom lens. For the small venues I think the monopod could work very well.

February 26th, 2010, 08:11 PM	#18
Jim Giberti Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bethel, VT Posts: 824	Brian, I really like the idea of this and would be a first user. My only ?? (that you've just answered) was how would they implement the upgrade as an accessory? The current optics obviously have a very narrow useable FOV, and as I've written, the new Eyeloupe definitely helps focus on the center comfortably - but won't adding a new magnifier to that simply magnify the blurriness? I expected some sort of swap-out/retrofit. It is kind of ironic how they went to such length to poo-poo the use of magnification by their competitors only to offer it themselves. That said, I really like the idea and if it's as optically clean as the Z-finder, then I'd definitely add it to mine. Any idea of release date or estimated price?

February 27th, 2010, 06:45 PM	#22
Jim Giberti Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bethel, VT Posts: 824	Well you're more of an spokesman than you let on Brian <g>. Seriously, that's great. I've just put a second hand held system together and have the Z-finder on the other one. This should be a nice way to make the Hoodloupe that much better. Gotta say, it's really nice to see companies make existing products more relevant and useful with upgrades. Like, despite some of the bitichin, Canon is about to do again with the 5DII.

March 2nd, 2010, 12:46 PM	#24
Jim Giberti Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bethel, VT Posts: 824	Now I'm actually checking the Hoodman site for any news on this release, but nothing.

March 2nd, 2010, 12:54 PM	#25
Brian Valente Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 293	Update- apparently the release is next week. I may know more tomorrow, so I'll post any updates here. Cheers Brian __________________ ========================== Brian Valente Redrock Microsystems

March 2nd, 2010, 01:01 PM	#26
Jim Giberti Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bethel, VT Posts: 824	Thanks Brian and I'll do a review as soon as it's released.