Viewfinder Blues

I'm farsighted and have reached the limit of adjustment on my Varicamâ€™s viewfinder. Even with my glasses on, I can't really sharpen the image.

I believe VF diopter is -2.00 to 0.00; does anyone have a source of a lens that can be fitted to provide more correction?

Thanks to all,
Leo Ticheli
Director/Cinematographer
Birmingham/Atlanta

Leo Ticheli wrote:

>I believe VF diopter is -2.00 to 0.00; does anyone have a source of a >lens that can be fitted to provide more correction?

Any good optometrist can make you a supplemental diopter -- very common.

Jeff Kreines

Thanks, Jeff,

To avoid having to start from scratch, disassembling the VF and determining the location and size of the lens, can anyone provide some more detailed information?

Best regards,
Leo Ticheli
Director/Cinematographer

Leo Ticheli wrote:

>To avoid having to start from scratch, disassembling the VF and >determining the location and size of the lens, can anyone provide >some more detailed information?

It would simply be a supplemental lens that clips on outside the viewfinder â€“ akin to wearing glasses.

Same size as rear lens of eyepiece, or close, to make it fit.

Jeff Kreines

Leo Ticheli wrote:

>I'm farsighted and have reached the limit of adjustment on my >Varicamâ€™s viewfinder. Even with my glasses on, I can't really sharpen >the image.

I have the same problem. Go to your local camera store and buy a set of 52 mm close up adapters. They come +1 +2 +4, they screw in nicely to the Varicam VF and should do the trick. Remember to take them out of any rental camera you use prior to returning, something I am still trying to learn.

Mark Smith
Oh Seven Films
143 Grand St
Jersey City, NJ 07302

Mark,

You, sir, are a gentleman and scholar. Dashed out and picked up a +2, 52 MM diopter and screwed it right in. All is beautiful once more.

I'm sure Jeff Kreines would have ordered a block of optical glass and hand-ground it to second of angle perfection, but your suggestion was a lot easier!

I'm rather surprised that this simple fix is not more widely known. I should think the diopters would be included in the list of offered accessories as in stills cameras.

Thank you for the help, Mark,

Leo Ticheli
Director/Cinematographer
Birmingham/Atlanta

Leo Ticheli wrote:

>I'm sure Jeff Kreines would have ordered a block of optical glass and >hand-ground it to second of angle perfection, but your suggestion was a >lot easier!

Yes, but no new tools to buy -- what fun is that?

Jeff Kreines

Leo Ticheli wrote:

>I'm rather surprised that this simple fix is not more widely known.

I think I'll try this myself. Anyone know if viewfinders tend to have common size, or is every camera different? Do most have facility to screw something in? I use the Varicam a lot, but also the Sony 900 and my BL, etc.

Thanks

Blain Brown
DP
LA

Leo Ticheli wrote:

>You, sir, are a gentleman and scholar. Dashed out and picked up a +2, >52 MM diopter and screwed it right in. All is beautiful once more.

My pleasure. It s a simple fix for the far sighted like you and me. My experience with broadcast cameras is that the diopter ranges are all over the place. I've had cameras where the standard adjustment range was ok for me and other individual cameras in the same model- family that weren't even close. I now carry a set of diopters in my kit and Iâ€™m good to go.

The 52 mm's fit into most broadcast camera VF's from Sony 400 up through F900 as well as Panasonic Varicam, & SDX. In some cases they won't screw into a Sony VF but you can get them wedged in there well enough to work.

Mark Smith

If adding external diopter correction, don't be surprised if you occasionally see some image ghosting, especially of small bright areas in an otherwise dark scene, that might appear due to internal reflections off the newly added corrector.

Whilst experimenting with various eyepiece and diopter correction arrangements for our AccuScene viewfinders, we have discovered that it is important to have good AR coatings on external correctors both inside and out, and that the faintest fingerprint or grease smudges can totally negate the AR coating. BTW, we have approx +1.5 to -4.5 diopter correction on our VF.

Regards

Russell Branch
AccuScene