Hoodman how-to

[John Locke]

Anyone else here using a hoodman for their XL1 viewfinder? If so, how are you using it...over the existing rubber eyecup? Or did you remove the eyecup?

I've had mine on over the eyecup, but the rubber gets buckled from the "squeeze" and I'm afraid it'll permanently become warped.

So just how does one take the rubber eyecup off?

[Dick Steele]

I use an I-cuff, I use mine with the eyecup on with the Hoodman/I-cuff behind the cup and tightened down, I know about your concern about warping the eyecup, yet this should be no problem, I removed my I-Cuff a couple days ago to maintenance my viewfinder, and within about an hour the eyecup had returned to original form, so there is not any worry to the "warping" of the eyecup it will return to normal. If you are concerned there is no harm in taking it off.

Just give it a twist and a pull, it will come off fairly easy with no worries.

Hope this helps.


Dick Steele
3rd Coast Cinematics

[Rob Lohman]

I'm using one, John and have the same "problems" as you do.
Also have it over the cup and it is buckling as well. Also due to
the cup's design my hood is moving right a bit which makes it
harder to surround my eye completely.... Wasn't there something
in the manual on how to remove the rubber eye cup?

[John Locke]

Manual? Did you say manual?

I ditched my manual the day I bought my camera since it was in Korean.

[Rob Lohman]

Now you know you can also download it from that great Canon
site... Right?

[John Locke]

"Manual? I don't need no steeenking manual!"

Now you know why I started coming to DVInfo.net in the first place. Found it ALL right here and at the Watchdog.

(unpaid plug)

I did download a copy a looooong time ago and found it informative for about 30 minutes...then deleted it. It's pretty light in information...tons more info here.

[Rob Lohman]

Well... I did a small test and was able to:

1) find the page in the manual (page 16)

2) remove the rubber eye cup (not in the manual)

3) use the hoodman without the eye cup

The easiest way to get rid of the cup is to first take the
magnifying section off the rest of the viewfinder by using the
release button on the bottom (you can screw the top section
off). This is described in the manual:

Slide and hold the release lever on the
underside of the viewfinder and then twist the
eye cup counter-clockwise (until the mark on
the eye cup lines up with the mark on the
viewfinder) to allow you to remove it from the
viewfinder.

That is on page 16 which describes it for changing from right
to left eye viewing.

If you have that section off you can easily pull the eye cup off
if you work from the bottom. Do it gently.

I've also gotten it back on but that required more work to get
the cup over the edge again. If you've ever applied a new tire
to your bicycle you know how it must be done.

With the cup off the hoodman sits a lot better but also a lot
less tight on the viewfinder. It shifts much more easily. Also
adjusting the viewfinder for your eye is more difficult this way.

I'm sending you some pictures I took whilst playing with this.

[John Locke]

Thanks, Rob!

That's twice today you've come to my rescue. I'm worried about when the bills will hit my mailbox.

I got the pix you made and I'll give this a go myself...just to do it to see how it's done. But since you say the Hoodman is less stable without the eyecup, I'll probably opt to keep it on.

[Rob Lohman]

Nothing beats trying and seeing it yourself indeed. I'm pondering
myself whether to leave it on or off....

[John Locke]

The verdict is in..."ON."

Too wobbly without the eyecup.

[Cazi Brasga]

While we're on the topic, instead of creating another thread I figure I'll ask here.

Hoodman or I-Cuff?

Any input or opinions will be appreciated.

[Rob Lohman]

Do you have a link for that I-Cuff? (never heard of it before)

[John Locke]

Found it, Rob...it's www.i-cuff.com.

Looks like it's the same as the Hoodman EXCEPT it appears to hold its shape. Could probably use this without the rubber eyecup and not have to worry about drooping.

Thanks for the link!

[Ivan Hedley Enger]

I got both the Hoodman and the i-cuff, and in my opinion the i-cuff is far better. It certainly holds its shape, and it keeps it´s position better (I do prefer to use the i-cuff with the the rubber eyecup though). On my XL1s it´s the i-cuff that´s permanent mounted.

[G. Randy Brown]

I thought for sure the eyecup was supposed to be removed after seeing what it did to it, and finding out how uncomfortable it was. After removing the eyecup though I thought "surely this isn't right (with it just kinda hanging there...all in all I feel like a sucker for paying that much for something that probably cost them a couple of dollars. I do like their LCD hoods though.
Randy