Color LCD viewfinder

Josh Bass · January 13th, 2003, 02:01 AM

What do you mean? That the user has control over? All I've found is the EVF color in the menu.

Don Palomaki · January 13th, 2003, 05:21 AM

The internal are service adjustments, not end-user adjustments.

January 21st, 2003, 11:20 AM

On cleaning my viewfinder objective I saw that there appears to be a neutral density gelatin filter, on the inside facing the lcd screen - that scratches easily.

It is held in place by an easily removable metal ring. Removing this would certainly increase brightness without having to make any other adjustment.

Does anyone know what the purpose of this gelatin filter is?

Regards.

Ken Tanaka · January 21st, 2003, 11:26 AM

Most accurate answer from me: no, I don't know with certainty what it is.

Speculation: It's either an anti-reflective film or has something to do with the sun burn problems that the original XL1's had. That is, sun coming through the viewfinder for moderate amounts of time would fry the lcd. The film might well block certain wavelengths of incoming light to help protect the lcd.

January 21st, 2003, 12:40 PM

Ken

I think you are probably right! - this must be the miraculous 'modification' that Canon came up over the original design.

Regards.

Josh Bass · January 21st, 2003, 12:55 PM

So removing this = bad idea?

Ken Tanaka · January 21st, 2003, 01:00 PM

Removing anything = bad idea. Everything's there for a reason. The smallest part is probably the result of hard-fought engineering and manufacturing battles. If something wasn't absolutely needed it wouldn't be in the camera.

January 21st, 2003, 01:04 PM

If you have no suitable protection for the viewfinder outside - then yes it is probably asking for trouble.

However you can buy a self closing eyecup that replaces the existing one from Optex in England - you press your eye to open it and when you remove your eye it closes - it was infact designed sepcifcally to protect the evf pixels when film in bright sun.

Regards.

John Leatherbarrow · February 5th, 2003, 02:08 PM

I think I know the answer to both of these questions but will ask them anyway.

I have an old XL1, one of the first UK issues, with which I have always been delighted and have found no reason to replace as yet.

Question 1 - (probable answer - send to Canon for complete service)
My viewfinder has developed burnt-in red, green and blue pixels which do not affect record or playback but are obviously a bit of a nuisance. What could have caused this?

Question 2 - (obvious answer - dispose of sensibly and replace)
One of my many batteries, which is old but not excessively over used, shows up as being discharged by the camera and a battery tester but will not accept a charge as the charger indicates that it is fully charged.

Sorry to be so boring but I am curious and will ask more interesting questions in future.

Best wishes, JL

Chris Hurd · February 5th, 2003, 03:25 PM

You're definitely on the right track, John... you've correctly answered both of your questions. Good luck,

Jeff Donald · February 5th, 2003, 04:52 PM

I would say your view finder deteriorated as a result of age, heat, shock etc. Direct exposure to sun light can cause severe damage, but even indirect sun light can cause the Vf to get very hot. Batteries just get old and won't hold a charge. Heat is the worst enemy to batteries.

Andrew Petrie · February 23rd, 2003, 12:02 PM

the FU-500 viewfinder is housed on a rail and is secured in place with a screw knob. The knob always comes loose. I enjoy getting creative with my angles, and that means I twist the camera at times. The viewfinder always seems to slacken, and flops around. Very annoying.

Any ideas? I wonder if the ahrdware store has a similar knob, but with rubber washer around it to 'bite' the railing a little.

Josh Bass · February 24th, 2003, 03:01 AM

I got this one daddio. It's kind of complicated. I asked for a rubber grommet, at a local hardware store. The one I used was to thick (not circumference-wise, but the other way, know what I mean? Anyway, I cut it in half (not into semi circles, but two thinner, whole circles know what I mean?) and put one of those between the wheel that you use to tighten and loosen the viewfinder slider (sure that's not the right term) and the little piece that juts off the handle. You have to do some unscrewing, so if this makes you nervous, don't do it. Anyway, the bastard stays in place now.

Chris Hurd · February 25th, 2003, 11:55 AM

See also the "Cheap Trick" on this page.

Bob Glover · February 28th, 2003, 02:31 AM

Hello there. Looks like a great forum. Nice to be a part of it.

I have an XL1S (PAL). There is a flashing "CP 2" message in the viewfinder that I cannot get rid of.
I ave tried Custom Preset menu options to no avail.

Anyone have any ideas.

Thanks in advance

January 13th, 2003, 02:01 AM	#76
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	What do you mean? That the user has control over? All I've found is the EVF color in the menu. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

January 21st, 2003, 11:26 AM	#79
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Most accurate answer from me: no, I don't know with certainty what it is. Speculation: It's either an anti-reflective film or has something to do with the sun burn problems that the original XL1's had. That is, sun coming through the viewfinder for moderate amounts of time would fry the lcd. The film might well block certain wavelengths of incoming light to help protect the lcd. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

January 21st, 2003, 12:55 PM	#81
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	So removing this = bad idea? __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

January 21st, 2003, 01:00 PM	#82
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Removing anything = bad idea. Everything's there for a reason. The smallest part is probably the result of hard-fought engineering and manufacturing battles. If something wasn't absolutely needed it wouldn't be in the camera. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

February 5th, 2003, 02:08 PM	#84
John Leatherbarrow Tourist Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: London UK Posts: 1	Batteries and viewfinder I think I know the answer to both of these questions but will ask them anyway. I have an old XL1, one of the first UK issues, with which I have always been delighted and have found no reason to replace as yet. Question 1 - (probable answer - send to Canon for complete service) My viewfinder has developed burnt-in red, green and blue pixels which do not affect record or playback but are obviously a bit of a nuisance. What could have caused this? Question 2 - (obvious answer - dispose of sensibly and replace) One of my many batteries, which is old but not excessively over used, shows up as being discharged by the camera and a battery tester but will not accept a charge as the charger indicates that it is fully charged. Sorry to be so boring but I am curious and will ask more interesting questions in future. Best wishes, JL

January 13th, 2003, 05:21 AM	#77
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	The internal are service adjustments, not end-user adjustments.

January 21st, 2003, 11:20 AM	#78
CUT Productions Posts: n/a	On cleaning my viewfinder objective I saw that there appears to be a neutral density gelatin filter, on the inside facing the lcd screen - that scratches easily. It is held in place by an easily removable metal ring. Removing this would certainly increase brightness without having to make any other adjustment. Does anyone know what the purpose of this gelatin filter is? Regards.

January 21st, 2003, 12:40 PM	#80
CUT Productions Posts: n/a	Ken I think you are probably right! - this must be the miraculous 'modification' that Canon came up over the original design. Regards.

January 21st, 2003, 01:04 PM	#83
CUT Productions Posts: n/a	If you have no suitable protection for the viewfinder outside - then yes it is probably asking for trouble. However you can buy a self closing eyecup that replaces the existing one from Optex in England - you press your eye to open it and when you remove your eye it closes - it was infact designed sepcifcally to protect the evf pixels when film in bright sun. Regards.

February 5th, 2003, 03:25 PM	#85
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	You're definitely on the right track, John... you've correctly answered both of your questions. Good luck, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 5th, 2003, 04:52 PM	#86
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	I would say your view finder deteriorated as a result of age, heat, shock etc. Direct exposure to sun light can cause severe damage, but even indirect sun light can cause the Vf to get very hot. Batteries just get old and won't hold a charge. Heat is the worst enemy to batteries. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

February 23rd, 2003, 12:02 PM	#87
Andrew Petrie Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 484	The colour viewfinder gets loose the FU-500 viewfinder is housed on a rail and is secured in place with a screw knob. The knob always comes loose. I enjoy getting creative with my angles, and that means I twist the camera at times. The viewfinder always seems to slacken, and flops around. Very annoying. Any ideas? I wonder if the ahrdware store has a similar knob, but with rubber washer around it to 'bite' the railing a little. __________________ Andrew \| Canon XL1s, ME66, Vinten Vision 3, GlideCam V16 (for sale!)

February 24th, 2003, 03:01 AM	#88
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	I got this one daddio. It's kind of complicated. I asked for a rubber grommet, at a local hardware store. The one I used was to thick (not circumference-wise, but the other way, know what I mean? Anyway, I cut it in half (not into semi circles, but two thinner, whole circles know what I mean?) and put one of those between the wheel that you use to tighten and loosen the viewfinder slider (sure that's not the right term) and the little piece that juts off the handle. You have to do some unscrewing, so if this makes you nervous, don't do it. Anyway, the bastard stays in place now. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

February 25th, 2003, 11:55 AM	#89
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	See also the "Cheap Trick" on this page. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 28th, 2003, 02:31 AM	#90
Bob Glover Tourist Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Perth Western Australia Posts: 3	CP2 Message in viewfinder Hello there. Looks like a great forum. Nice to be a part of it. I have an XL1S (PAL). There is a flashing "CP 2" message in the viewfinder that I cannot get rid of. I ave tried Custom Preset menu options to no avail. Anyone have any ideas. Thanks in advance __________________ Bob Glover Perth Western Australia