Color LCD viewfinder

[G. Randy Brown]

Good morning guys,
I was shooting a "mock trial" at a courthouse and I accidentally smacked the crap out of my XL1s on one of those hard benches. After a deep breath I looked at my lens and (PHEEW!) it was okay. I started shooting again and noticed <i>something</i> had chunks of stuff on it so I wiped the lens but no change. Fortunately I had another XL1s handy so I grabbed it and finished the shoot. Later I noticed the small chunks (probably pieces of plastic) were there even on playback so that relieved me that it was not the lens....right? Of course I have already wiped the viewfinder glass on the outside with no change so I'm presuming it is on the inside of the viewfinder. Alright, alright, I'll get to the point!
My question: Are there any precautions I should know about before I try to disassemble the viewfinder or should I not even attempt it and send it in for repair?
TIA,
Randy

[Rob Lohman]

The top part with the lens can be taken of pretty easily I think
and I've also done it myself. There is a release switch at the
underside of the viewfinder which you will need (and then rotate
the upper part??). Ofcourse no touching the LCD screen or
anything beyond that.

[G. Randy Brown]

Ahhh-ha!!!
The old hidden release button huh? Thanks, Rob I knew if I was patient enough someone would give me the advice I needed...BTW, it worked like a charm and clean as a whistle with no apparent damage.
Thanks again Rob,
Randy

[Meindert Bosma]

Anybody here with any experience placing the Ikegami VF 15-46 on the Canon XLS1 ??? I hear it fits and I know the price is half the price of the Canon one with a better picture and of course easyer focussing.

Thanks for any tips or information

Meindert

[Chris Hurd]

I'm wondering how you would get power to that EVF. Or for that matter get a video signal into it? It's a nonstandard connector on the XL1 / XL1S.

[Meindert Bosma]

Hi

I know that there is a way to power the viewfinder external. I have an article about a Dutch TV series shot on XL1 using these modifications. You can find it at
http://www.abcdv.com/article/articleview/87/1/32/
I'm trying to locate the cameraman who shot this so I can do the same but hoped to finf here someone who had experience with this also. I know the viewfinder and at half the price of the Canon it may be worth it.

[Dietmar Zonewicz]

I'm working on an similar project. I try to use an old VF from an Sony Betacam (BVP70).

You need an service manual from the used VF and this document:
http://www.dvinfo.net/canon/articles/article29.php

I use the composite out of my XL-1 an an external battery. But I had a problem with my VF as the line-transformer stoped service. so I bought a new one, and now I'm on my way again.

[Andrew Kiu]

Anyone advices / experiences on “run and gun shot” situations or “Guerilla” shot using XL-1s with 0.7” color LCD viewfinder without buying additional accessories * Standard set Xl-1s with MA200.

Here the Scenario “An interview with a famous artist surrounded & crowd with photographers, journalist, fans, etc… and you are behind of everyone and
The question is “Can I capture and see clearly thru my 0.7” color viewfinder with lift up the camcorders above my head?.

All Suggestion welcome. *

[Nick Hiltgen]

I don't know if this would help but sometimes when I would shoot like that I'd do one of two things. 1) take the top of the viewfiner odd so that just the lcd is exposed or 2) leave the viewfinder together but set it to "far" mode, it really just depends on how much you like squinting.

[Dean Sensui]

Andrew...

There's a lever at the top of the viewfinder that allows you to see the whole LCD screen with extended eye relief -- or at a distance greater than usual.

It doesn't do much for focus or anything else except allow you to know that the subject is being framed properly.

Such "hail Mary" situations are difficult at best. But knowing that your subject is "in frame" is a big help when the alternative is not getting a shot at all.

Dean Sensui
Base Two Productions.

[Stefano Archetti]

I need to extend (8") the viewfinder cable on my canon XL1s PAL. Is it possible?
I searched on Google but didn't find anything.

On the cable that came with my xl1s the code is:

E66085 AWM STYLE 2990 80C VW-1SC Japan


Where do you think I can find such a cable?

[Yi Fong Yu]

i just shot a wedding and when i was near the stage with the bright hot lights i sweat so much that it steamed up my viewfinder for a good straight 30min. anyone else experience this? other than cooling down, how do you cope with it?

[Richard Alvarez]

Couple of choices. Mainly, back off the viewfinder a bit, give the eyepiece some air, a chance to "breathe".

If you are using the color viewfinder, see if you can get a chamois eyepiece.

I prefer the B&W viewfinder. It's larger and sharper, allows you to "back off" and still see a large clear image.

Run a small external monitor. Couple of different brands available, do a search.

Good luck.

[Arnaldo Paixao]

Get in shape :)

Seriously, last year shooting weddings in August, in good sunny Portuguese weather with 32 to 35 degrees centigrade, in a small crowded chappel ,I was sweating like a pig. The sweat would run down my foread, eyebrows, eyelashes, the eyes. I had to remove my eyeglasses and wipe my face several times.

Since then I'm on a diet and exercise. It pays off. No more sweating and no more pains in the back. And now I can endure those long wedding shooting days, much much better.

But until you do that, what Richard said, aplies perfectly.

Best regards,
Arnaldo

[Wayne Orr]

I don't know if it will fit on your rubber eye cup, but a lot of pro shooters use a wrist sweat band to help control perspiration. You may have to bend back the rubber eye cup for a proper fit. Very low tech and inexpensive, and it works.