FU-1000 monochrome B&W CRT viewfinder

Mark A. Foley · June 2nd, 2004, 09:43 AM

I just ordered two B/W viewfinders for my cameras and just finished reading Ken's fine article about this device...however, I'm curious what the funtions of the four LEDs on the viewfinder body....I assume a tally light feature but what else?....:-)

Ken Tanaka · June 2nd, 2004, 10:42 AM

Good for you, Mark. That was a pretty $ outlay but I think you'll be impressed.

Good question concerning those four little, red headlights. Answer: All four are tally lights. That is, they all flash together and have no other purpose. Go figure.

Mark A. Foley · June 2nd, 2004, 10:46 AM

do they flash together or in sequence? I'm trying to figure out the significance of having four LEDs.....

Ken Tanaka · June 2nd, 2004, 11:00 AM

They flash together. No Las Vegas effect. I've no idea why there are four. I think Ikegami made that design decision long before they retrofitted the viewfinder for the XL1.

Mark A. Foley · June 2nd, 2004, 11:05 AM

Thanks for the info....also after reading your article on the manual lens, it confirmed my decision to order a couple of lenses for the cameras also. Big money spending day (along with an addtional XL1s). I just hope my 501 heads with handle the additional weight....

Ken Tanaka · June 2nd, 2004, 11:11 AM

Aw, geez Mark. Whatever you do, stay away from my Firestore FS-3 article, at least until next month! And just ignore my upcoming article on the KinoFlo 12v lighting.

Mark A. Foley · June 2nd, 2004, 11:13 AM

good point as my money supply has become exhausted.....

Josh Allen · June 9th, 2004, 11:48 PM

Is that FS-3 article up yet Ken? I would love to hear your opinion on it.

Ken Tanaka · June 9th, 2004, 11:49 PM

It sure is, Josh!

Josh Allen · June 10th, 2004, 12:05 AM

Thanks for the link Ken. Great write-up, especially the XL1 caveats. Despite those it is still a very tempting unit.

Sorry for taking this thread off topic :)

Mark A. Foley · June 10th, 2004, 03:36 AM

Ken,
Do you know how much (I imagine probably negligble) of additional current draw is there present with the tally lights on? Due to the high cost of outfitting two cameras with the viewfinder and manual lens, I haven't yet upgraded to a dual battery setup. However, I am using the -945 batteries and hopefully will give me some decent recording time.

I'm getting ready to use the new equipment for a wedding shoot this weekend and in the past I've had piece of mind when I look up in the balcony at my son as verify his cameras are indeed rolling.

Ken Tanaka · June 10th, 2004, 09:37 AM

"Do you know how much (I imagine probably negligble) of additional current draw is there present with the tally lights on?"

No I don't, but I wouldn't imagine it to be a significant battery draw.

Tripp Stapleton · June 23rd, 2004, 05:00 PM

Hello,
My Canon FU-1000 Viewfinder all of a sudden won't power on. It's connected properly to the XL1s and has a fully charged Canon battery connected to it. THe stock FU-500 works fine.
Please advise if anyone has any tips or tricks that I don't know about.
Thanks,
David Stapleton

Ken Tanaka · June 23rd, 2004, 05:12 PM

It sounds like an internal fuse has blown. Another member encountered a similar problem not long ago. In his case the problem may have been related to using the camera on a/c power while using the FU-1000, something that the manual warns against.

Canon Service is your only alternative.

Tripp Stapleton · June 25th, 2004, 04:55 PM

Thanks Ken for the quick reply. I'll post more info here for other users who may have similar issues once hear back from Canon.

June 2nd, 2004, 09:43 AM	#46
Mark A. Foley Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Bonaire, Ga. Posts: 356	B/W Viewfinder Question I just ordered two B/W viewfinders for my cameras and just finished reading Ken's fine article about this device...however, I'm curious what the funtions of the four LEDs on the viewfinder body....I assume a tally light feature but what else?....:-)

June 2nd, 2004, 10:42 AM	#47
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Good for you, Mark. That was a pretty $ outlay but I think you'll be impressed. Good question concerning those four little, red headlights. Answer: All four are tally lights. That is, they all flash together and have no other purpose. Go figure. __________________ 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

June 2nd, 2004, 11:00 AM	#49
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	They flash together. No Las Vegas effect. I've no idea why there are four. I think Ikegami made that design decision long before they retrofitted the viewfinder for the XL1. __________________ 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

June 2nd, 2004, 11:11 AM	#51
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Aw, geez Mark. Whatever you do, stay away from my Firestore FS-3 article, at least until next month! And just ignore my upcoming article on the KinoFlo 12v lighting. __________________ 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

June 9th, 2004, 11:49 PM	#54
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	It sure is, Josh! __________________ 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

June 2nd, 2004, 10:46 AM	#48
Mark A. Foley Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Bonaire, Ga. Posts: 356	do they flash together or in sequence? I'm trying to figure out the significance of having four LEDs.....

June 2nd, 2004, 11:05 AM	#50
Mark A. Foley Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Bonaire, Ga. Posts: 356	Thanks for the info....also after reading your article on the manual lens, it confirmed my decision to order a couple of lenses for the cameras also. Big money spending day (along with an addtional XL1s). I just hope my 501 heads with handle the additional weight....

June 2nd, 2004, 11:13 AM	#52
Mark A. Foley Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Bonaire, Ga. Posts: 356	good point as my money supply has become exhausted.....

June 9th, 2004, 11:48 PM	#53
Josh Allen Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Wildomar, CA Posts: 89	Is that FS-3 article up yet Ken? I would love to hear your opinion on it.

June 10th, 2004, 12:05 AM	#55
Josh Allen Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Wildomar, CA Posts: 89	Thanks for the link Ken. Great write-up, especially the XL1 caveats. Despite those it is still a very tempting unit. Sorry for taking this thread off topic :)

June 10th, 2004, 03:36 AM	#56
Mark A. Foley Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Bonaire, Ga. Posts: 356	Ken, Do you know how much (I imagine probably negligble) of additional current draw is there present with the tally lights on? Due to the high cost of outfitting two cameras with the viewfinder and manual lens, I haven't yet upgraded to a dual battery setup. However, I am using the -945 batteries and hopefully will give me some decent recording time. I'm getting ready to use the new equipment for a wedding shoot this weekend and in the past I've had piece of mind when I look up in the balcony at my son as verify his cameras are indeed rolling.

June 10th, 2004, 09:37 AM	#57
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	"Do you know how much (I imagine probably negligble) of additional current draw is there present with the tally lights on?" No I don't, but I wouldn't imagine it to be a significant battery draw. __________________ 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

June 23rd, 2004, 05:00 PM	#58
Tripp Stapleton New Boot Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 20	FU-1000 Viewfinder Problem Hello, My Canon FU-1000 Viewfinder all of a sudden won't power on. It's connected properly to the XL1s and has a fully charged Canon battery connected to it. THe stock FU-500 works fine. Please advise if anyone has any tips or tricks that I don't know about. Thanks, David Stapleton

June 23rd, 2004, 05:12 PM	#59
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	It sounds like an internal fuse has blown. Another member encountered a similar problem not long ago. In his case the problem may have been related to using the camera on a/c power while using the FU-1000, something that the manual warns against. Canon Service is your only alternative. __________________ 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

June 25th, 2004, 04:55 PM	#60
Tripp Stapleton New Boot Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 20	Thanks Ken for the quick reply. I'll post more info here for other users who may have similar issues once hear back from Canon.