Viewfinder for LCD: have you ever used it?

[Adriano Moroni]

Hi, a friend of mine advised me to use this viewfinder on sunny days. Have you ever used it? Is it useful to make videos?This is the link: https://www.amazon.it/GGS-Swivi-S5-l...evole+SWIVI+S5

Thank you

[Noa Put]

Considering where you will be shooting you"ll need something to shield off incoming sunlight when you look through the viewfinder, what's on the gh5 now is not sufficient for that purpose. A addon loupe for the lcd screen will certainly help to get a better view of what you are shooting.

[Rainer Listing]

At first glance this particular example seems massively overpriced. There are much lower cost even maybe identical versions available, shop around. The can be useful on some cameras where the EVF shuts down when shooting video (like the Canon 60D) or where your rig stops you from using the EVF.

[Adriano Moroni]

Originally Posted by Rainer Listing

At first glance this particular example seems massively overpriced. There are much lower cost even maybe identical versions available, shop around. The can be useful on some cameras where the EVF shuts down when shooting video (like the Canon 60D) or where your rig stops you from using the EVF.

Maybe you didn't ever use that kind of viewfinder and you don't understand its usefulness in sunny days. Surely it also has its downsides. Anyway I don't understand why only one or two viewfinders have a cockpit that gives the option to see the screening LCD image from above so that you can shots putting the camera down.

[Peter Riding]

I have three versions of these including a Zacuto and a version of the one you've illustrated all be it without the ability of that one to "look round corners". However I very seldom use any of them because for me its far more important to be able to adjust setting on the fly by touching the lcd without having to remove a viewfinder. I improvise with a shade if needs be even if its just a baseball cap to hand; sometimes I carry the Zacuto on a lanyard on my shoulder. I'm using canons rather than Panasonics but I guess its the same scenario.

I'm not sure if the Pannys can work with smartphones (both wireless and wired) but if so that would be another option. The smartphones can of course be used to control the cams and do not need to be physically close to the cams.

Pete

[Jo Ouwejan]

I am somewhat astonished.
I have always used a pro cam and I therefor always had a viewfinder with an eypiece.
Furthermore, I prefered to buy a camera that had the most important settings under a specific button.
I recomend a procam to all of you, allthough it is slightly more expensive.

[Adriano Moroni]

Many are telling me GGS Swivi S5 is a very usefufl piece. Other guys are telling GH5 EVF has a lot more definition than a LCD screen and it is not usefull. What is your thought about the definition of LCD?

About ProCam, what ProCam do you seggest? I thin it is big and I never can buy it and use it in my trips around the world.

[Bryce Comer]

There is always this company, which makes a very useful product that transforms your LCD into an EFV. I don't have one, but made one almost identical a few years ago, & love using it.
https://vary-i.com/

[Adriano Moroni]

Vary-i seems a valid solution for my GH5 because I am going to Africa where there are sunny days. Many times I shoot with the camera at the hips and I can't see inside the EVF. I was thinking to buy Vary-i loupe for my GH5, but before I need to know your experiences with it. It is a little expensive and I don't like to throw away money. I know GH5 LCD screen has worse resolution than the EVF and it is only 800 x 600 pixels. Could you give me some real suggestions please?

[Rainer Listing]

Originally Posted by Adriano Moroni

Maybe you didn't ever use that kind of viewfinder and you don't understand its usefulness in sunny days.

I've actually still got a collection of this type of viewfinder from years ago (hence the mention of the 60D), and like I said, they can be useful. None of them ever cost near as much as the Euro 243 example you pointed to, even the Zacuto, maybe prices have gone up. But there's no electronic parts and I doubt the optics on that model are anything special, up to you if you think the dual view is worth a few hundred Euros. Although it wouldn't suit field use, you can buy a Lilliput monitor with hood for less. I agree with other posters that if you've got an EVF without a rig you don't need a loupe. Other thing, the fittings on these loupes tend to be loose or fiddly (I finally ended up gluing one on with hot melt). BTW, I've just come back from Africa, the "remote tribes" seemed to have a very good understanding of the value of money.

[Rainer Listing]

Adriano, since my post above I've just been thinking about this - I don't think you'd get any benefit at all from this device on a hand-held or tripod mounted GH5. Note you still have to put your eye on it to shoot, so it doesn't do more than the EVF. What you're probably really after is a sunhood

[Adriano Moroni]

Yes, you are right but I can shoot from below. Look at thie link: https://vary-i.com/product/vary-i-solo-for-the-gh5/