Cinegear Expo June 11th-12th in L.A.

Rob Lohman · June 15th, 2004, 02:18 AM

Thanks for pictures Charles! Looked like you had fun. How did the
Genesis feel in your hands?

Charles Papert · June 15th, 2004, 11:27 PM

Sort of--like a Panaflex...??!

They didn't have that unit powered up, which was a shame. The eyepiece is a color HD viewfinder, really quite sharp and a pretty good replacement for an optical finder. Sort of a strange experience, seeing a sharp color video finder! I'd still miss seeing outside the framelines for approaching objects, stands, booms etc. though. I know Panavision is trying to figure out a way to accomodate this.

Rob Lohman · June 16th, 2004, 03:00 AM

If I understand the matter correctly this would only be possible
by going optical or use a larger chip with pixels that are just for
the viewfinder (which is probably not economically possible?) or
a combination of both.

Another way might be to just lift your head from the viewfinder
every now and then Charles <g>

Charles Papert · June 16th, 2004, 10:42 AM

<<Another way might be to just lift your head from the viewfinder
every now and then Charles <g>>>

All <g>'s aside, with an optical path your eye becomes part of the light seal, so you can't take your eye off the eyepiece during the shot for fear of contaminating the image (unless the viewfinder has a pressure-activated shutter system, which the Panaflex doesn't, you have to apply a lever on the body)

Ken Tanaka · June 16th, 2004, 11:10 AM

Well isn't that interesting. It sounds like the same issue encountered when taking timed or unattended shots with an SLR still camera. That is, you have to cover the eyepiece to prevent spill light from hitting the film/sensor, eh?

Charles Papert · June 16th, 2004, 11:26 AM

yessir..same principles apply.

Occasionally a shot may be too difficult to operate with an eye in the eyepiece, in which case I close it off and use the onboard video monitor after making sure that there aren't any issues with things in the frame and the focus is good. And I've gotten down the method of turning my head while keeping it pressed against the eyepiece if I need to whisper something to someone behind me (usually the dolly grip)

June 15th, 2004, 02:18 AM	#16
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Thanks for pictures Charles! Looked like you had fun. How did the Genesis feel in your hands? __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

June 15th, 2004, 11:27 PM	#17
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Sort of--like a Panaflex...??! They didn't have that unit powered up, which was a shame. The eyepiece is a color HD viewfinder, really quite sharp and a pretty good replacement for an optical finder. Sort of a strange experience, seeing a sharp color video finder! I'd still miss seeing outside the framelines for approaching objects, stands, booms etc. though. I know Panavision is trying to figure out a way to accomodate this. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

June 16th, 2004, 03:00 AM	#18
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	If I understand the matter correctly this would only be possible by going optical or use a larger chip with pixels that are just for the viewfinder (which is probably not economically possible?) or a combination of both. Another way might be to just lift your head from the viewfinder every now and then Charles <g> __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

June 16th, 2004, 10:42 AM	#19
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	<<Another way might be to just lift your head from the viewfinder every now and then Charles <g>>> All <g>'s aside, with an optical path your eye becomes part of the light seal, so you can't take your eye off the eyepiece during the shot for fear of contaminating the image (unless the viewfinder has a pressure-activated shutter system, which the Panaflex doesn't, you have to apply a lever on the body) __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

June 16th, 2004, 11:10 AM	#20
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Well isn't that interesting. It sounds like the same issue encountered when taking timed or unattended shots with an SLR still camera. That is, you have to cover the eyepiece to prevent spill light from hitting the film/sensor, eh? __________________ 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 16th, 2004, 11:26 AM	#21
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	yessir..same principles apply. Occasionally a shot may be too difficult to operate with an eye in the eyepiece, in which case I close it off and use the onboard video monitor after making sure that there aren't any issues with things in the frame and the focus is good. And I've gotten down the method of turning my head while keeping it pressed against the eyepiece if I need to whisper something to someone behind me (usually the dolly grip) __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com