Hello everyone! Since a lot of you are interested in buying the parts ready made, either because you don't have a 3D printing service near you or you want to make sure that the parts fit exactly: Luca and I thought about it and decided to give it a try and make a small first batch to send out. If you are interested in ordering the parts ready made from us, please send me an e-mail with your contact details and how many sets you would like to order. I will get back to you as soon as we can estimate when we are ready to ship the first parts and at what price we can offer them. Some of you had also requested a protective cover for the display in case the LEYE is transported with the Z-Finder removed. We are creating that now and it will be part of the set. Please keep in mind that we are doing all this besides our jobs and families and we are not a professional dealer. Therefore it will not be as fast as ordering on Amazon ;) We are very excited about how it is going and hope to be able to provide you with the parts soon. Best, Thorsten and Luca ❤
Ah, I just did it myself :) the first part where the screen fits didn't really sit perfectly, and there is some light leaking but I think it's perfect :)
Should I contact you by email for the prints? I already have a pair that I had done but they have many flaws; I would like to contribute and also get a copy that is not so primitive and unreliable.
Thanks! I used the razor to cut the tape and then carefully peeled the tape off the screen after the screen was freed from the eyepiece. Everything lined up perfectly for the assembly!
Update: I'm using 3 Zacuto spacers bc I want to view without my reading glasses. This amount of spacers creates a longer lever arm that stresses the printed adapter connection. I could see the adapter start to delaminate. Instead of trying to printed another adapter, I super glued the two printed adapters together and then epoxied the first Zacuto spacer to the adapters. Hopefully when the viewfinder gets bumped the eyepiece can separate further up the spacer chain.
I have no idea why TH-cam's algorithm sent me here. I'm an editor, and have zero interest in camera hardware. However, I wanted to say how fantastic this project looks. What a great idea. I wholeheartedly approve of anything like this that democratises a creative process. Great video. Even I understood what the issue was and would, if I eve needed to, give this a go. Bravo!
Hi all. I've just modded my EVF and the results are absolutely stunniny. I have modded the very first version of the L-EYE, with HDMI only and no LP-E6 battery buit DC input. For all L-EYE users still wondering, if the mod is worth the risk… it is! As Thorsten explains in the video, the riskiest step is peeling off the stripes from the panel. After I've finished the mod, suddenly there was flickering on the the panel where the stripes have been… dont't b afraid, the issue was gone the next morning. I think the panel needs a bit time to recover from the procedure ;-) Well done, Thorsten!!!
I performed the modification today and accidentally removed the ribbon cable connector the first attempt. Took out everything and connected the ribbon cable connector to where it belongs. It is working now. Also stick the extra black tape to cover any light leak. Make sure to attach 2-3 Zacuto Z-Finder Extender Frames. My eyesight requires 3 pieces to adjust correctly. Perfect!
Can you explain how to reconnect the ribbon cable? Mine doesn't power on after the mod but I cant see anything detached.Was yours detached on the screen end of the cable?
Fixed this with help from T - Disconnecting the flat ribbon cable is a very common thing that can happen during the modding process, in fact it happened to a lot of users that wrote me from their experiences. The good thing is, that up to now everyone has been able to connect it again. Just try to carefully connect it again on the board of the evf, where the plug may have got loose in the socket (I guess it’s covered with some tape on top - you don’t have to remove that, just give it some gentle pressure on top; some users wrote that you can even hear a soft click-sound but not everyone mentioned this). After connecting the display again you should be able to turn on the evf again.
I just did the mod. Very easy. If you live in a cold climate, I recommend GENTLY using a heat gun to warm the whole unit up and also on the tape. It helps peeling the tape off. Also I had to put a drill bit through the holes of the 3 D printed locking cover. Very excited to test. Thanks Thorsten. I will drop you a donation, very smart.
I, like others here, have zero involvement in this hobby; I'm an aerospace engineer who's at most thought about maybe buying a camera to take landscape photos during hikes and trips. As a matter of fact, I hadn't even known what a viewfinder was before this video, I've gotten quite complacent with my "all in one" phone. All that said, this project was excellent! It really covered a lot of topics, and to see your 3D prints work so flawlessly, with a satisfying click no less, was great. Keep it up!
Hey everyone! Just wanted to share my astonishing results after modding my EVF. I have the LEYE III HDMI/LP-E6 and had quite an adventure finding the right parts. Building my own mod was satisfying, but be cautious when opening the EVF, for my part I ended up with a few dead pixels and I wore out the screws a bit for not initially using the right Torx tool. Despite that, the mod makes shooting such a joy! I am currently using a bongo cable to secure the Zacuto Z Finder Pro firmly to the L-EYE III, because the 3D part was not printed that well by my local 3D printer and the Zacuto is a bit loose on the 3D part. I recommend having a blower bulb and a soft cloth handy to keep the screen clean and dust-free, as dust can be amplified by the loupe. But overall, I'm thrilled with the results. Thanks, Thorsten for sharing with the community! Happy shooting!
Hello everyone! Since a lot of you are interested in buying the parts ready made, either because you don't have a 3D printing service near you or you want to make sure that the parts fit exactly: Luca and I thought about it and decided to give it a try and make a small first batch to send out. If you are interested in ordering the parts ready made from us, please send me an e-mail with your contact details and how many sets you would like to order. I will get back to you as soon as we can estimate when we are ready to ship the first parts and at what price we can offer them. Some of you had also requested a protective cover for the display in case the LEYE is transported with the Z-Finder removed. We are creating that now and it will be part of the set. Please keep in mind that we are doing all this besides our jobs and families and we are not a professional dealer. Therefore it will not be as fast as ordering on Amazon ;) We are very excited about how it is going and hope to be able to provide you with the parts soon. Best, Thorsten and Luca
Genuis, very impressed! This is the best of what the internet can be, people coming up with smart solutions and sharing them with the rest of the community.
(A word of caution to others) Please take your time with this project especially in regards to the fit and finish of the 3D prints. Unfortunately I was a bit hurried when installing the screen in the 3D print and cracked the LCD - the space for the screen in the 3D print came out a little small which caused the screen to crack when I tried to install it. This is likely due to expansion from my printer and could have been fixed with a new print or some manual post processing. I'm also not sure if the original LEYE and LEYE II & LEYE III all have the same dimensions, mine is the V1 and the holes needed to be shifted a bit to align, probably also just printer problems. The screen will still display an image so I can see how much of an improvement this mod is, just be careful you fellow rat bags. I will comment here if I have any luck obtaining a replacement 2.4" 1440x900 panel. I think the odds are slim.
UPDATE: I have successfully purchased a replacement screen, to do my own repair, from Portkeys for 79 USD (inc postage) via their service email - I didn't mention how I broke the screen....
Thank you for making this. I bought the LEYE after watching all the review videos when it came out, with the idea in mind to replace the lens. Really appreciate your thoughtfulness in creating an affordable solution. Also agree that a printable cap would be a nice final touch. I'll hopefully have the upgrade completed next week and will share the results.
Thanks Jamie, so you did it and succeeded! Awesome! That‘s a first success story 🍀 Do you have any comments on the modification process? How did it go? Did you do it alone or did you have help? If you have any additional advice for the modding please share, because I just heard from someone who tried and unfortunately broke the display :( Glad you made it!
@@thorschon Woah, crazy to be one of the guinea pigs! It was a pretty easy process - unscrewed the existing loupe, pulled the tape off to free the screen (my ribbon cable did disconnect from the board, but I was able to plug it back in without issue). Once I got the first 3D printed part on it had a hard time "snapping" into place (Might have just been a resolution issue of the printer my friend used to make the parts?) but once I screwed the second piece down with the first it settled into place. Looks and works great so far!
This has saved my LEYE. It's nearly unusable for me with the small image and distortion. I've often considered swapping it from another kit. What you've done is life changing for this chap! Thanks! Support coming your way once I'm sorted.
What a fabulous mod, thank you so much for this! I used gentle heat from a hairdryer to warm everything up a bit and loosen the tape glue, which helped the tape come off fairly easily. Also clamped the Leye on the desk, which helped a lot.
maaaan ! this is the best thing I've seen as upgrading cheap stuff ! easy and so efficient. When I'll do mine, I'll pay you for your work (not donate, paying !)
Just did the mod. Amazing. Day and night. It's probably mentioned somewhere but be careful not to unseat the connector for the flexible ribbon. Mine came out but I was able to reseat and tape down. Fantastic modification! Thanks Thorsten!!!
I already had a Z-finder EVF that stopped working, and had gotten a LEYE iii (HDMI only version), and had a cousin with a 3D printer. I just made this modification and man am I excited! Thanks very much!
Hi there! Just a question, if I may - I read through all the comments, and it was not 100% sure that the 3d printed adapters work on the HDMI only version as well. Reading your entry I assume that everything fits fine? That would be great news! Thanks and best regards - Mike
@@Fotoschmied yes everything fit fine on my HDMI only leye iii. I would take care with the ribbon as I accidentally disconnected mine and it took some trial and error to make sure it was plugged correctly back in. 😅 But that's probably true no matter which version you have.
FANTASTIC work Thor! I've been eyeing (ha) that Portkeys for a while so if I ever do make the purchase I'll absolutely do this mod! Thanks for sharing the files :D
I did it and I love the result! It's night and day! Thanks so much!!!!!!! PS I used a heat gun, not too close but got the tape heated up and it came off pretty easy straight from the back of the monitor.
I've done 2 of these mods, and both times the ribbon cable connecting the screen came loose and made it seem like it was broken. It comes off very easily. Luckily it also re-attaches very easily. Great mod - thanks!
Can you explain how to reconnect the ribbon cable? Mine doesn't power on after the mod but I cant see anything detached.Was yours on the screen end of the cable?
@@oiohig Push the cable down against the board firmly where they meet. If what happened to you is what happened to me, it pulled loose enough that there is no more connection, even though the ribbon looks like it's still attached to the board. Lots of times these ribbon connectors will have a snap lock or levers you hold up to secure the connector in place, but this one doesn't.
@@NadirNovelties Thanks that’s exactly what happened to mine but as easy fix when you know it’s the ribbon. A push down on the tape & it clicked into place. Thanks for the reply!
Excellent work- thank you. It’s just a pity (as I’ve said before on one of the reviews on TH-cam) that portkeys should make the unit cost $100 more and then we would not have to do this. Your video might inspire Portkeys. They almost have a perfect product.
I’m glad you made this because I was just about to research modifying a Portkeys with one of my Zacuto eyepieces! It’s really too bad that Portkeys created a very useful tool with a poor eyepiece.
Amazing work Thorsten! I've often thought of getting the Portkeys EVF but was always reluctant because of the diopter. Thank you for this great "hack". Cheers from Canada! :)
This did work for me. I would say that without the modification I probably would have returned the viewfinder. You need to set yourself up correctly. I drilled a hole in a small piece of plywood and put a Tee nut on the back side. Then I could screw in a 1/4 - 20 arri style monitor mount to nato rail ball arm. (Thorsten is using something like this in the video). This allowed me to mount the viewfinder and rotate the set-up as I needed. I put some small shot bags on the plywood and worked on my desk under good light. I also wore a head lamp. It's like painting, preparation is the most important step. Portkeys sets these up just a little differently now, but it is basically the same. I also created two small plastic squares that were slightly smaller than the screen, and I covered one side of each with a microfiber cloth. I could use these to sandwich the screen if need be. I only needed to use one to slightly press down on the screen as I removed the tape. I felt like I was real careful, but surprise, when I went to power up the viewfinder the screen lit up, but the blue Portkeys logo did not appear. I thought I was done for, and was about to put it back together and return it. But after I took it back apart, I pressed down on where the ribbon cable attaches to both the screen and the inside body. Everything felt and looked fine. Anyway, before putting it back together I slapped a battery on it and the blue logo was there. It seems fine now. I shook it around and dropped it on my sofa and it still seems fine. 100% more useable. Eye cup is much better. Used a Zacuto fleece cover on it and it's super comfortable. Need to get a plus +2 diopter so I can remove some of the frames. So glad I did this. Thank you Thorsten.
@@ereceeme It was awhile ago, so I don't completely remember, but I believe I was pressing lightly down with one of the padded squares and pulling tape away with a tweezer. Probably pressing / holding it against it's mount.
I end up just replacing the glass without needing to remove the whole thing. I took off the eyepiece and the glass inside and replaced with a glass from a VERY cheap evf I had laying around and it looks much better then before.
@@hovendov I guess my response got delete because there was a link in it, so here we go again. You can remove the eyepiece by unscrewing it all the way out. You have to force a little bit, but it comes out ease. Now you will see the inside glass attached by 4 screws. Unscrew it and remove this part. Now there will be another glass inside, but it's not attached to anything, you can remove it using something to pinch it out. I used two screws. You finally removed all the glass and there will be a hole direct to the screen. Now it's time to use your imagination and find some magnifying glass to replace the ones you took out. I had a cheap Canon 5D viewfinder laying around and removed the eyepiece together with it's glass. I'll try to put the link in the next comment. Now it's just a matter of attaching it to the PortKeys. You can maybe 3D print something to attach one piece to the other or even use some tape. This is up to you. The glass from the viewfinder is bigger then the PortKeys one, but you could have it cut and replace the eyepiece glass of the portkeys if you prefer.
Thanks Murilo for sharing! That also sounds like an interesting approach! Still, regarding the eyepiece, I like the build quality of the Z-Finder more than that of the PortKeys. I‘m a little farsighted and have to adjust the diopter… the PortKeys diopter rotates very easily and often during a shooting day, so I have to adjust it a lot. The Z-Finder has a far better diopter, doesn‘t fog up with the anti-fog lenses (which happened a lot with the eyepiece of the PortKeys). I also like that I can still buy diopter lenses and other spare parts for it… That's why I would be more in favor of the Z-finder.
I’m still using my Zacuto Z-finder EVF. It was originally used on an FS100, then an FS5, now on an FX6. It’s still a good Evf, considering it’s low weight, Canon battery and is incredibly durable. I’ve had mine for 12 years.
Obviously people will need to verify for their own country, but in the US companies are completely prohibited from voiding warranties due to a user opening the device, and the same is true in the EU during the two year guaranteed warranty period. So long as you have your receipt from wherever you bought the LEYE if you encounter a manufacturing issue unrelated to the modification you are legally allowed to send it in for replacement or repair (So long as you are able to successfully unmodify it first).
My Leye III just arrived and after checking if it works I immediately did this mod. I think with this mod you can also use the leye iii as a display but you might need to add an acrylic sheet between the 3d printed parts so you don't accidentally scratch the screen.
Hi! Do you know if this mod would work on the HDMI only version of thie Leye III? I believe the build is the same aside from the missing SDI connection. If so I'd happy contact you to purchase the mod parts, this looks great!
I'm not gonna lie. EVF limitations have been an obstacle for my Sony FX3 even with an Atomos screen. I'm going to give this some consideration for sure.
Great stuff. I have a water housing and worried that the modification would extend the length to much to fit. But i'll do some measurements. Seriously, you would think that Portkeys would have a good look at this and go forward and make new version using your suggestions. Of course not buying up every used Zacuto Loupe.
I was really looking forward to this. I ordered the parts. Waited an eternity to get them. When they came in, I followed your instructions to the T. Set up good lighting, had all the right tools, and was well prepared. I was very careful, following your video step by step. It was really quite simple. I got it all together, hooked up some power and video and… BOOM! nothing. This procedure, while very carefully performed, killed my Portkeyes monitor. It is dead. So buyer beware. You are taking a risk. I’m happy for those who’ve had success with this but it turned out to be an expensive failure for me and definitely not because I did anything wrong.
Are you sure that your monitor is killed? Perhaps you have pulled too much at the cable with the copper conductors, so that the plug that is connected to the board has lost contact. One can not see that at the first glance, because some black tape covers the rather broad plug with all its contacts.
Amazing video. Thanks so much for releasing the print files. My local library actually does 3-d printing too! I put in a request and 2 days later it was ready. Just need to acquire a z finder before they rise in price due to your video.
Thank you this is absolutely amazing. I have no experience with 3D printing. However we have a 3D printer at the office. How do you add the support in the corners of the tray part? Is it already included in the file? If this works, I’ll make sure to donate!
Cura is an open source slicing application for 3D printers. ultimaker.com/software/ultimaker-cura/ Cura allows users to prepare and slice 3D models for printing, customise and optimize print settings for a variety of 3D printer and material combinations. Supports in 3D printing are essential to print objects with overhanging parts. In the "advanced" printing settings there is a section called "Support", where you can enable this feature.
Success!! Except we pulled the taped down ribbon off the board disconnecting the LED screen. Very fiddly reconnecting it. Had to take the tape off the ribbon, very carefully to get the ribbon connections reconnected by pressing them down and properly re-aligned. Obviously, did it right as we attained picture with the mod.
FYI, I recently purchased a second-hand zFinder. However, I haven't acquired a Portkeys Leye yet. My intention was to secure one at a favorable price before your video gained widespread attention 😂 If you have any other tips like this, please share 😊 PS: I will donate once I try it!
Hmm, do you really think we could experience a high growing demand? 🤔 Damn, maybe I should’ve bought some LEYEs and Z-Finders before releasing the video 😂
The Z-Finder is used on many other displays for quite a while now and I have not heard any complaints about image distortion, neither I have experienced it myself. Unfortunately, the iPhone camera can hardly reproduce what it's like to look through the viewfinder yourself. The video does indeed show minimal shifts (I guess you mean at 6:20), but I haven't noticed anything like that in real life…
@@thorschon Thanks for the reply and yes I was referring to 6:20. But that’s really good to know that with your eye up to the Z finder on the portkeyes it doesn’t shift the image convex which is how it appeared on the video. Thanks for clearing that up:)
Hey Thorsten. Many thanks for this hack. Do you happen to have compared the modified Leye, to a better viewfinder like the o-eye from Portkeys or the one from Z-cam? With all that distortion, I discarded the Leye instantly when I had the opportunity to put my eye on it. Without seeing first through the better Zacuto eyepiece, I can’t tell about resolution, color and general panel quality. That’s why I ask you to elaborate a little more. Thanks again
Hello nochmals, hast du eigentlich noch bereits gedruckte Adapter zum Verkauf? Falls ja: Was möchtest du dafür haben? Könnte die ggfs. vielleicht sogar hier in Kölle abholen. LG
Hey there, great modification. Thanks a lot. Does it (the 3D blueprint etc.) work with the standard LEYE version as well. To be honest I don't even know whether the standard LEYE version has all of the issues of the SDI version ... Best wishes
Woah. If EVFs are just field monitors with eyepieces strapped on, I wonder if a budget DIY solution using similar eyepiece and a small dense monitor would make sense if the price was right!
In my experience it's not that easy to find a suitable monitor for such a project. For me the PortKeys LEYE SDI is the first "monitor" in a long time that has all the necessary features such as being small/compact, energy efficient, battery powered if needed… Its 2.5 inch screen is perfect in combination with the Z-Finder (which was built for displays around 3.2 inches - but a lot of people find the resulting image of that display size combined with it‘s 2.5x magnification too large). But I‘d be happy to see another approach on this! :) I guess projects like this are a good way to show the companies that there actually IS a demand for an affordable evf.
Thanks! I‘ve no experience with ABS and heard that it‘s not easy to process due to the high melting point… but if he can do it, it should be a great and sturdy material for the parts 👍🏽
Great mod, I will try it as soon as I get the Zacuto. Is it ok to heaten the tape with hot air to loosen it prior to detaching it? How did you clean the mirror side of the display after removing the tape?
Hi @thorschon I completed a second upgrade just today. Process went nearly the same but I did have the monitor cable disconnect - but as an encouragement to anyone out there who this might happen to, don't give up! It might take a few tries to get it back in but using the printed frame helps with alignment. My advice, place the LCD into the frame, line up the edges and attempt again. Finally got it to connect, and then tested it with power and signal. Once I could confirm it was connected, I added the next frame, set the screws and tested a second time. Here's a link to my first build: th-cam.com/users/postUgkxW7W1EUtz21lpioLyxgpZV3upjE3TaaCp
Thank you so much for sharing! This looks absolutely great :) I can imagine how scary the moment was when the flat ribbon cable slipped out. And it’s great to now have the experience that it can be reconnected, thanks to your feedback :)
@@thorschon no problem for the disconnection of the LCD, the same happened to me and I reconnected with no problem. However, I broke the LCD when the tiny allen key I was using to screw in the printed frame... It just touched the glass surface and f*cked it up. What a sad day! Have you an Idea on how to get a spare one? I asked to the european seller, but they gave me a contact that didn't reply to my request...
The connection is similar to laptop screen, keyboard etc. Ribbon connections. I directly removed it, it was kind of a challenge to connect it but it's still better then damaging it
@@TheReelport I reached out PortKeys about this mod, my hope is that they'll embrace the audience and come up with a Universal Loupe Edition, with a hard mounted screen, and swappable mounts for the Z-Finder, Hoodman, LCDVF etc. Glad it worked out for you though!
I am soooo tempted.. what could possibly go wrong. Just curious, what are ball park figure for printing things like this? Oh and this works for the HDMI one as well I guess. +++ update+++ just bought one on Wallapop for €70, lets see if I can do this.
Hello Lee, I have also wondered! As I have the SDI version myself, it was easy to take all the measures to create the parts. The not-SDI version looks very very similar, but I couldn‘t find detailed drawings of the model with exact measures to compare the dimensions, so unfortunately I can not guarantee that the parts fit. But you‘re actually giving it a try, this is so exciting! Please keep us updated if it fits, works, etc. 🙏🏽🍀
in originally designing the viewfinder did portkeys put a decimal point tin the wrong place? as to make the image smaller seems like a massivr oversight or ingnorance in optics as a whole.
Hey, I have uploaded a picture for you, there you can estimate the dimensions (in cm) drive.google.com/file/d/1jSwUX9Pgbv6D9Y6C2i7MHv_syu2_4TOi/view?usp=drive_link I use two extender frames, so if you take less than that, you can also save space.
Ok I did notice a couple of problems. One is alarming in that if you are not careful you can easily knock the loupe entirely off the Zacuto frame or frames, causing it to fall to the ground. Possibly breaking it and the loupe lens inside. I wish it was more secure. And if you add more Zacuto frames this adds to the vulnerability. So I solved this and the dangling Z-Finder lens cap that hangs on a string. If you use 3M double interlocking industrial strong velcro, a large enough piece straddling the Z-Finder loupe (applied on top) together with the 3D frame and/or additional Z-Finder frames; then will stop it all coming apart and falling. Secondly, if you add a piece to the cap itself, the cap will then stick to the velcro strip you glued on to the top of the viewfinder loupe. So now the cap is secure and will not dangle around getting in the way or creating noise the camera shotgun might pick up.😊
The idea behind the 3D printing solution was to make the modification as affordable as possible. Offering the modification as a service would require you to send me your viewfinder (I‘m actually based in Germany, so if you‘re abroad we‘d have to deal with customs, etc.), then we‘d need insurance… I guess in the end it could be not profitable any more… But everybody knows somebody - I‘d love the idea of helping each other with the modification, maybe a friend is skilled with 3D printing, another one good with taking things apart… and putting it together of course ;)
Thank you for this. I am thinking of ways to have a minimal and very small monitor for my BMMCC, I think this is a good option. Do you think it’s also okay to use it without the viewfinder attached? Just the monitor and maybe put a screen protector or something?
You‘re very welcome! Without the eyepiece I find the screen size too small for the use as an onboard monitor… For that purpose I really like my 5 inch monitor.
Hello everyone! Since a lot of you are interested in buying the parts ready made, either because you don't have a 3D printing service near you or you want to make sure that the parts fit exactly: Luca and I thought about it and decided to give it a try and make a small first batch to send out. If you are interested in ordering the parts ready made from us, please send me an e-mail with your contact details and how many sets you would like to order. I will get back to you as soon as we can estimate when we are ready to ship the first parts and at what price we can offer them. Some of you had also requested a protective cover for the display in case the LEYE is transported with the Z-Finder removed. We are creating that now and it will be part of the set. Please keep in mind that we are doing all this besides our jobs and families and we are not a professional dealer. Therefore it will not be as fast as ordering on Amazon ;) We are very excited about how it is going and hope to be able to provide you with the parts soon. Best, Thorsten and Luca ❤
I quite liked the movie "The Matrix".
What movie did you shoot?
NO, we are not intrressed, I broke my screen, This is a bad idea.
Ah, I just did it myself :) the first part where the screen fits didn't really sit perfectly, and there is some light leaking but I think it's perfect :)
Should I contact you by email for the prints? I already have a pair that I had done but they have many flaws; I would like to contribute and also get a copy that is not so primitive and unreliable.
@luisa9628 please do so :)
Thanks! I used the razor to cut the tape and then carefully peeled the tape off the screen after the screen was freed from the eyepiece. Everything lined up perfectly for the assembly!
Update: I'm using 3 Zacuto spacers bc I want to view without my reading glasses. This amount of spacers creates a longer lever arm that stresses the printed adapter connection. I could see the adapter start to delaminate. Instead of trying to printed another adapter, I super glued the two printed adapters together and then epoxied the first Zacuto spacer to the adapters. Hopefully when the viewfinder gets bumped the eyepiece can separate further up the spacer chain.
I have no idea why TH-cam's algorithm sent me here. I'm an editor, and have zero interest in camera hardware.
However, I wanted to say how fantastic this project looks. What a great idea. I wholeheartedly approve of anything like this that democratises a creative process. Great video. Even I understood what the issue was and would, if I eve needed to, give this a go.
Bravo!
Hi all. I've just modded my EVF and the results are absolutely stunniny. I have modded the very first version of the L-EYE, with HDMI only and no LP-E6 battery buit DC input. For all L-EYE users still wondering, if the mod is worth the risk… it is! As Thorsten explains in the video, the riskiest step is peeling off the stripes from the panel. After I've finished the mod, suddenly there was flickering on the the panel where the stripes have been… dont't b afraid, the issue was gone the next morning. I think the panel needs a bit time to recover from the procedure ;-) Well done, Thorsten!!!
I want to do the mod but can I download the 3d printer plans and send them to an outsource? and have them mailed to me?
I performed the modification today and accidentally removed the ribbon cable connector the first attempt. Took out everything and connected the ribbon cable connector to where it belongs. It is working now. Also stick the extra black tape to cover any light leak. Make sure to attach 2-3 Zacuto Z-Finder Extender Frames. My eyesight requires 3 pieces to adjust correctly. Perfect!
Can you explain how to reconnect the ribbon cable? Mine doesn't power on after the mod but I cant see anything detached.Was yours detached on the screen end of the cable?
Fixed this with help from T - Disconnecting the flat ribbon cable is a very common thing that can happen during the modding process, in fact it happened to a lot of users that wrote me from their experiences. The good thing is, that up to now everyone has been able to connect it again. Just try to carefully connect it again on the board of the evf, where the plug may have got loose in the socket (I guess it’s covered with some tape on top - you don’t have to remove that, just give it some gentle pressure on top; some users wrote that you can even hear a soft click-sound but not everyone mentioned this). After connecting the display again you should be able to turn on the evf again.
I just did the mod. Very easy. If you live in a cold climate, I recommend GENTLY using a heat gun to warm the whole unit up and also on the tape. It helps peeling the tape off.
Also I had to put a drill bit through the holes of the 3 D printed locking cover. Very excited to test. Thanks Thorsten. I will drop you a donation, very smart.
I, like others here, have zero involvement in this hobby; I'm an aerospace engineer who's at most thought about maybe buying a camera to take landscape photos during hikes and trips. As a matter of fact, I hadn't even known what a viewfinder was before this video, I've gotten quite complacent with my "all in one" phone. All that said, this project was excellent! It really covered a lot of topics, and to see your 3D prints work so flawlessly, with a satisfying click no less, was great. Keep it up!
Hey everyone! Just wanted to share my astonishing results after modding my EVF. I have the LEYE III HDMI/LP-E6 and had quite an adventure finding the right parts. Building my own mod was satisfying, but be cautious when opening the EVF, for my part I ended up with a few dead pixels and I wore out the screws a bit for not initially using the right Torx tool. Despite that, the mod makes shooting such a joy! I am currently using a bongo cable to secure the Zacuto Z Finder Pro firmly to the L-EYE III, because the 3D part was not printed that well by my local 3D printer and the Zacuto is a bit loose on the 3D part. I recommend having a blower bulb and a soft cloth handy to keep the screen clean and dust-free, as dust can be amplified by the loupe. But overall, I'm thrilled with the results. Thanks, Thorsten for sharing with the community! Happy shooting!
I want to do the mod but can I download the 3d printer plans and send them to an outsource? and have them mailed to me?
You should really print a bunch of them yourself and sell them ready-made. People would have no problem paying upwards of $30-$50 for the mod parts.
Hello everyone! Since a lot of you are interested in buying the parts ready made, either because you don't have a 3D printing service near you or you want to make sure that the parts fit exactly: Luca and I thought about it and decided to give it a try and make a small first batch to send out. If you are interested in ordering the parts ready made from us, please send me an e-mail with your contact details and how many sets you would like to order. I will get back to you as soon as we can estimate when we are ready to ship the first parts and at what price we can offer them. Some of you had also requested a protective cover for the display in case the LEYE is transported with the Z-Finder removed. We are creating that now and it will be part of the set. Please keep in mind that we are doing all this besides our jobs and families and we are not a professional dealer. Therefore it will not be as fast as ordering on Amazon ;) We are very excited about how it is going and hope to be able to provide you with the parts soon. Best, Thorsten and Luca
@@thorschon Are there any available?
I ordered a set about 2 weeks ago and received it all good. also got a cheap new zfinder. now im waiting to buy the leye evf.
@@ereceeme Would that be a Z-Finder Pro 2.5x?
I have got this one under my radar but I am worried I might not have all the pieces needed…
Genuis, very impressed! This is the best of what the internet can be, people coming up with smart solutions and sharing them with the rest of the community.
You’ve done an amazing service to the community, thank you! Instantly bought a Z-finder to do this mod asap!
(A word of caution to others) Please take your time with this project especially in regards to the fit and finish of the 3D prints. Unfortunately I was a bit hurried when installing the screen in the 3D print and cracked the LCD - the space for the screen in the 3D print came out a little small which caused the screen to crack when I tried to install it. This is likely due to expansion from my printer and could have been fixed with a new print or some manual post processing. I'm also not sure if the original LEYE and LEYE II & LEYE III all have the same dimensions, mine is the V1 and the holes needed to be shifted a bit to align, probably also just printer problems. The screen will still display an image so I can see how much of an improvement this mod is, just be careful you fellow rat bags.
I will comment here if I have any luck obtaining a replacement 2.4" 1440x900 panel. I think the odds are slim.
UPDATE: I have successfully purchased a replacement screen, to do my own repair, from Portkeys for 79 USD (inc postage) via their service email - I didn't mention how I broke the screen....
Thank you for making this. I bought the LEYE after watching all the review videos when it came out, with the idea in mind to replace the lens. Really appreciate your thoughtfulness in creating an affordable solution. Also agree that a printable cap would be a nice final touch. I'll hopefully have the upgrade completed next week and will share the results.
Thank you, glad you like it :) I would be very happy to hear of the outcome!
What a brilliant piece of work, well done guys.
Guys this is amazing. Let me share a fact very few people know. The SmallHd 502 with Sidefinder attachment turns it into an AMAZING viewfinder.
yes but its no longer available. too bad
Thank you for providing the files! I had a friend print them off and indeed - HUGE difference using a Z-Finder over the stock loupe. Amazing!
Thanks Jamie, so you did it and succeeded! Awesome! That‘s a first success story 🍀 Do you have any comments on the modification process? How did it go? Did you do it alone or did you have help? If you have any additional advice for the modding please share, because I just heard from someone who tried and unfortunately broke the display :( Glad you made it!
@@thorschon Woah, crazy to be one of the guinea pigs! It was a pretty easy process - unscrewed the existing loupe, pulled the tape off to free the screen (my ribbon cable did disconnect from the board, but I was able to plug it back in without issue). Once I got the first 3D printed part on it had a hard time "snapping" into place (Might have just been a resolution issue of the printer my friend used to make the parts?) but once I screwed the second piece down with the first it settled into place. Looks and works great so far!
Thank you for your contribution to the community, this looks incredible!
This has saved my LEYE. It's nearly unusable for me with the small image and distortion. I've often considered swapping it from another kit. What you've done is life changing for this chap!
Thanks! Support coming your way once I'm sorted.
What a fabulous mod, thank you so much for this! I used gentle heat from a hairdryer to warm everything up a bit and loosen the tape glue, which helped the tape come off fairly easily.
Also clamped the Leye on the desk, which helped a lot.
Good on your for providing the 3D print files. I really appreciate that, and praise the excellent modelling work!
Love diy that make products better. Thank you for sharing
You are a genius! That hardest part was getting the Bambu Labs P1S print settings correct and obvious cleanup. Thank You. 🙏🏼
maaaan ! this is the best thing I've seen as upgrading cheap stuff ! easy and so efficient. When I'll do mine, I'll pay you for your work (not donate, paying !)
Just did the mod. Amazing. Day and night. It's probably mentioned somewhere but be careful not to unseat the connector for the flexible ribbon. Mine came out but I was able to reseat and tape down. Fantastic modification! Thanks Thorsten!!!
I want to do the mod but can I download the 3d printer plans and send them to an outsource? and have them mailed to me?
Thank you for the great idea and files, I've just finished the mod and it's great looking forward to using this tomorrow
Yes!! Love this. Gonna check it out. Be cool to have a cover/cap to protect when the eyepiece gets taken off during travel etc.
Fantastic! Thank you for the video and the dedication to the community!
Not all heroes wear capes... THANK YOU!
I love watching mod-videos. Very satisfying. Note: For those of you with $1200, Portkeys has a pro version that's amazing.
Yeah but cumbersome
And noisy
Thank you very much, this is really amazing.
A significant improvement to the viewfinder.
Thanks for this,I got a friend to print the parts and did this last week,well worth the effort.
Hi Thorsten. Thank you for your kindest advice.
I already had a Z-finder EVF that stopped working, and had gotten a LEYE iii (HDMI only version), and had a cousin with a 3D printer. I just made this modification and man am I excited! Thanks very much!
Hi there! Just a question, if I may - I read through all the comments, and it was not 100% sure that the 3d printed adapters work on the HDMI only version as well. Reading your entry I assume that everything fits fine? That would be great news! Thanks and best regards - Mike
@@Fotoschmied yes everything fit fine on my HDMI only leye iii. I would take care with the ribbon as I accidentally disconnected mine and it took some trial and error to make sure it was plugged correctly back in. 😅 But that's probably true no matter which version you have.
FANTASTIC work Thor! I've been eyeing (ha) that Portkeys for a while so if I ever do make the purchase I'll absolutely do this mod! Thanks for sharing the files :D
Amazing video! Thank you for the information and your clear presentation!
Thank you Pippin Took for saving the world!
I did it and I love the result! It's night and day! Thanks so much!!!!!!! PS I used a heat gun, not too close but got the tape heated up and it came off pretty easy straight from the back of the monitor.
I've done 2 of these mods, and both times the ribbon cable connecting the screen came loose and made it seem like it was broken. It comes off very easily. Luckily it also re-attaches very easily.
Great mod - thanks!
Can you explain how to reconnect the ribbon cable? Mine doesn't power on after the mod but I cant see anything detached.Was yours on the screen end of the cable?
@@oiohig Push the cable down against the board firmly where they meet. If what happened to you is what happened to me, it pulled loose enough that there is no more connection, even though the ribbon looks like it's still attached to the board. Lots of times these ribbon connectors will have a snap lock or levers you hold up to secure the connector in place, but this one doesn't.
@@NadirNovelties Thanks that’s exactly what happened to mine but as easy fix when you know it’s the ribbon. A push down on the tape & it clicked into place. Thanks for the reply!
this is AMAZING ! i was not considering it due to the problems that you mentioned, but this mod is awesome, thanks for making it !!!
Hi Thorsten, super Idee, super Video. 1000 Dank! Thanks a lot! It works like a charme! 🙂
Excellent work- thank you. It’s just a pity (as I’ve said before on one of the reviews on TH-cam) that portkeys should make the unit cost $100 more and then we would not have to do this.
Your video might inspire Portkeys.
They almost have a perfect product.
Amazing job! Great video
I’m glad you made this because I was just about to research modifying a Portkeys with one of my Zacuto eyepieces! It’s really too bad that Portkeys created a very useful tool with a poor eyepiece.
Amazing work Thorsten! I've often thought of getting the Portkeys EVF but was always reluctant because of the diopter. Thank you for this great "hack". Cheers from Canada! :)
this is genius! thanks for the all work and the really entertaining video :)
Thank you so much for making this video, the quality is extremely high!
Very COoL. Outstanding original idean and post editing :)
I regret selling my LEye! Great idea.
This did work for me. I would say that without the modification I probably would have returned the viewfinder. You need to set yourself up correctly. I drilled a hole in a small piece of plywood
and put a Tee nut on the back side. Then I could screw in a 1/4 - 20 arri style monitor mount to nato rail ball arm. (Thorsten is using something like this in the video). This allowed me to mount the viewfinder and rotate the set-up as I needed. I put some small shot bags on the plywood and worked on my desk under good light. I also wore a head lamp. It's like painting, preparation is the most important step. Portkeys sets these up just a little differently now, but it is basically the same. I also created two small plastic squares that were slightly smaller than the screen, and I covered one side of each with a microfiber cloth. I could use these to sandwich the screen if need be. I only needed to use one to slightly press down on the screen as I removed the tape. I felt like I was real careful, but surprise, when I went to power up the viewfinder the screen lit up, but the blue Portkeys logo did not appear. I thought I was done for, and was about to put it back together and return it. But after I took it back apart, I pressed down on where the ribbon cable attaches to both the screen and the inside body. Everything felt and looked fine. Anyway, before putting it back together I slapped a battery on it and the blue logo was there. It seems fine now. I shook it around and dropped it on my sofa and it still seems fine. 100% more useable. Eye cup is much better. Used a Zacuto fleece cover on it and it's super comfortable. Need to get a plus +2 diopter so I can remove some of the frames. So glad I did this. Thank you Thorsten.
Did you sandwich the glass or placed it on the table and pressed lightly?
@@ereceeme It was awhile ago, so I don't completely remember, but I believe I was pressing lightly down with one of the padded squares and pulling tape away with a tweezer. Probably pressing / holding it against it's mount.
I end up just replacing the glass without needing to remove the whole thing.
I took off the eyepiece and the glass inside and replaced with a glass from a VERY cheap evf I had laying around and it looks much better then before.
would love to know how you did this
Me too
@@hovendov I guess my response got delete because there was a link in it, so here we go again.
You can remove the eyepiece by unscrewing it all the way out. You have to force a little bit, but it comes out ease.
Now you will see the inside glass attached by 4 screws. Unscrew it and remove this part.
Now there will be another glass inside, but it's not attached to anything, you can remove it using something to pinch it out. I used two screws.
You finally removed all the glass and there will be a hole direct to the screen. Now it's time to use your imagination and find some magnifying glass to replace the ones you took out. I had a cheap Canon 5D viewfinder laying around and removed the eyepiece together with it's glass. I'll try to put the link in the next comment.
Now it's just a matter of attaching it to the PortKeys. You can maybe 3D print something to attach one piece to the other or even use some tape. This is up to you.
The glass from the viewfinder is bigger then the PortKeys one, but you could have it cut and replace the eyepiece glass of the portkeys if you prefer.
Thanks Murilo for sharing! That also sounds like an interesting approach! Still, regarding the eyepiece, I like the build quality of the Z-Finder more than that of the PortKeys. I‘m a little farsighted and have to adjust the diopter… the PortKeys diopter rotates very easily and often during a shooting day, so I have to adjust it a lot. The Z-Finder has a far better diopter, doesn‘t fog up with the anti-fog lenses (which happened a lot with the eyepiece of the PortKeys). I also like that I can still buy diopter lenses and other spare parts for it… That's why I would be more in favor of the Z-finder.
@@Murilo_Resende thanks so much. I don't have access to a 3d printer at the moment, so this a big help 🙏
I’m still using my Zacuto Z-finder EVF. It was originally used on an FS100, then an FS5, now on an FX6. It’s still a good Evf, considering it’s low weight, Canon battery and is incredibly durable. I’ve had mine for 12 years.
Obviously people will need to verify for their own country, but in the US companies are completely prohibited from voiding warranties due to a user opening the device, and the same is true in the EU during the two year guaranteed warranty period. So long as you have your receipt from wherever you bought the LEYE if you encounter a manufacturing issue unrelated to the modification you are legally allowed to send it in for replacement or repair (So long as you are able to successfully unmodify it first).
My Leye III just arrived and after checking if it works I immediately did this mod. I think with this mod you can also use the leye iii as a display but you might need to add an acrylic sheet between the 3d printed parts so you don't accidentally scratch the screen.
You are a genius! A SOOOOOPER GENIUS!
wow, very good and kind video, thank you!
Hi! Do you know if this mod would work on the HDMI only version of thie Leye III? I believe the build is the same aside from the missing SDI connection.
If so I'd happy contact you to purchase the mod parts, this looks great!
Great idea. I briefly owned the LEYE but returned it because of the tiny view in the viewfinder.
Why didn't Portkeys make it your way!??!
The ways of PortKeys are inscrutable ;)
If I ever get back to cameras, I will definitely give this a go.
Absolutely brilliant.
Sorry, if it had been discussed before, does this mod work with the 2.5x and the 3x version? 😅
Great Idea! I LOVE IT!
I'm not gonna lie. EVF limitations have been an obstacle for my Sony FX3 even with an Atomos screen. I'm going to give this some consideration for sure.
Wow. Thank you. I'm interested to order!
Great stuff. I have a water housing and worried that the modification would extend the length to much to fit. But i'll do some measurements. Seriously, you would think that Portkeys would have a good look at this and go forward and make new version using your suggestions. Of course not buying up every used Zacuto Loupe.
Excellent!👏🏾 I for one would definitely pay for the parts as buying a 3D printer is not an economic option just to build it myself! 👍🏾🙏🏾
You may find 3D printing agencies in your local area
@@danielstassen813 Thanks for the suggestion, If we have such a service here in Gothenburg Sweden then I might give it a go! 👍🏾🙏🏾
I was really looking forward to this. I ordered the parts. Waited an eternity to get them. When they came in, I followed your instructions to the T. Set up good lighting, had all the right tools, and was well prepared. I was very careful, following your video step by step. It was really quite simple. I got it all together, hooked up some power and video and… BOOM! nothing. This procedure, while very carefully performed, killed my Portkeyes monitor. It is dead. So buyer beware. You are taking a risk. I’m happy for those who’ve had success with this but it turned out to be an expensive failure for me and definitely not because I did anything wrong.
Are you sure that your monitor is killed?
Perhaps you have pulled too much at the cable with the copper conductors, so that the plug that is connected to the board has lost contact.
One can not see that at the first glance, because some black tape covers the rather broad plug with all its contacts.
Maybe you created a short without noticing.
Great work, great project!
Amazing video. Thanks so much for releasing the print files. My local library actually does 3-d printing too! I put in a request and 2 days later it was ready. Just need to acquire a z finder before they rise in price due to your video.
Thank you this is absolutely amazing. I have no experience with 3D printing. However we have a 3D printer at the office. How do you add the support in the corners of the tray part? Is it already included in the file? If this works, I’ll make sure to donate!
The support is not included. We added it in Cura. Make sure to use a 0.4 mm Nozzle for the print.
Cura is an open source slicing application for 3D printers. ultimaker.com/software/ultimaker-cura/
Cura allows users to prepare and slice 3D models for printing, customise and optimize print settings for a variety of 3D printer and material combinations. Supports in 3D printing are essential to print objects with overhanging parts. In the "advanced" printing settings there is a section called "Support", where you can enable this feature.
Success!! Except we pulled the taped down ribbon off the board disconnecting the LED screen. Very fiddly reconnecting it. Had to take the tape off the ribbon, very carefully to get the ribbon connections reconnected by pressing them down and properly re-aligned. Obviously, did it right as we attained picture with the mod.
FYI, I recently purchased a second-hand zFinder. However, I haven't acquired a Portkeys Leye yet. My intention was to secure one at a favorable price before your video gained widespread attention 😂
If you have any other tips like this, please share 😊
PS: I will donate once I try it!
Hmm, do you really think we could experience a high growing demand? 🤔 Damn, maybe I should’ve bought some LEYEs and Z-Finders before releasing the video 😂
You deserve so many more views. Great idea. I’m shocked nobody else thought of this. Seems so easy and obvious now.
❤ 🎥
cool, thanks for sharing.
Anyone figure out where to buy replacement LCD screens? Mines all vertical lines after. 😢
I wonder if it is not safer to simply cut off the overhanging tape from the LCD instead peeling it off completely
Great mod! Very inventive. Cheaper than the ZCam!!
Thanks for this, but the magnified image with the zacuto loupe also seems to distort/bend the image?
The Z-Finder is used on many other displays for quite a while now and I have not heard any complaints about image distortion, neither I have experienced it myself. Unfortunately, the iPhone camera can hardly reproduce what it's like to look through the viewfinder yourself. The video does indeed show minimal shifts (I guess you mean at 6:20), but I haven't noticed anything like that in real life…
@@thorschon Thanks for the reply and yes I was referring to 6:20. But that’s really good to know that with your eye up to the Z finder on the portkeyes it doesn’t shift the image convex which is how it appeared on the video. Thanks for clearing that up:)
Hey Thorsten. Many thanks for this hack. Do you happen to have compared the modified Leye, to a better viewfinder like the o-eye from Portkeys or the one from Z-cam? With all that distortion, I discarded the Leye instantly when I had the opportunity to put my eye on it. Without seeing first through the better Zacuto eyepiece, I can’t tell about resolution, color and general panel quality. That’s why I ask you to elaborate a little more. Thanks again
Hello nochmals, hast du eigentlich noch bereits gedruckte Adapter zum Verkauf? Falls ja: Was möchtest du dafür haben? Könnte die ggfs. vielleicht sogar hier in Kölle abholen. LG
Hey there, great modification. Thanks a lot. Does it (the 3D blueprint etc.) work with the standard LEYE version as well. To be honest I don't even know whether the standard LEYE version has all of the issues of the SDI version ...
Best wishes
So........I cracked my screen attempting this mod. Does anyone know if you can replace the screen?
Woah. If EVFs are just field monitors with eyepieces strapped on, I wonder if a budget DIY solution using similar eyepiece and a small dense monitor would make sense if the price was right!
In my experience it's not that easy to find a suitable monitor for such a project. For me the PortKeys LEYE SDI is the first "monitor" in a long time that has all the necessary features such as being small/compact, energy efficient, battery powered if needed…
Its 2.5 inch screen is perfect in combination with the Z-Finder (which was built for displays around 3.2 inches - but a lot of people find the resulting image of that display size combined with it‘s 2.5x magnification too large). But I‘d be happy to see another approach on this! :) I guess projects like this are a good way to show the companies that there actually IS a demand for an affordable evf.
This is very useful. Was looking for a cheaper alternative for evf
very cool construction. Does this also work with the zacuto z finder 3x
Brilliant! Found someone locally who can print. but he doesnt do PT material. Is this a deal breaker? PLA or ABS. Whats the 2nd choice?
Thanks! I‘ve no experience with ABS and heard that it‘s not easy to process due to the high melting point… but if he can do it, it should be a great and sturdy material for the parts 👍🏽
Can I ask how this turned out? I don't have access to PT either.
Great mod, I will try it as soon as I get the Zacuto. Is it ok to heaten the tape with hot air to loosen it prior to detaching it? How did you clean the mirror side of the display after removing the tape?
wow you are a professional 👍
What type of connection does this device connect to the Sony FX30 camera? hdmi? type c?
Hi @thorschon I completed a second upgrade just today. Process went nearly the same but I did have the monitor cable disconnect - but as an encouragement to anyone out there who this might happen to, don't give up! It might take a few tries to get it back in but using the printed frame helps with alignment. My advice, place the LCD into the frame, line up the edges and attempt again. Finally got it to connect, and then tested it with power and signal. Once I could confirm it was connected, I added the next frame, set the screws and tested a second time. Here's a link to my first build: th-cam.com/users/postUgkxW7W1EUtz21lpioLyxgpZV3upjE3TaaCp
Thank you so much for sharing! This looks absolutely great :) I can imagine how scary the moment was when the flat ribbon cable slipped out. And it’s great to now have the experience that it can be reconnected, thanks to your feedback :)
@@thorschon no problem for the disconnection of the LCD, the same happened to me and I reconnected with no problem. However, I broke the LCD when the tiny allen key I was using to screw in the printed frame... It just touched the glass surface and f*cked it up. What a sad day!
Have you an Idea on how to get a spare one? I asked to the european seller, but they gave me a contact that didn't reply to my request...
The connection is similar to laptop screen, keyboard etc. Ribbon connections. I directly removed it, it was kind of a challenge to connect it but it's still better then damaging it
@@TheReelport I reached out PortKeys about this mod, my hope is that they'll embrace the audience and come up with a Universal Loupe Edition, with a hard mounted screen, and swappable mounts for the Z-Finder, Hoodman, LCDVF etc. Glad it worked out for you though!
Gracias luisito!
😂👍🏽
I am soooo tempted.. what could possibly go wrong. Just curious, what are ball park figure for printing things like this? Oh and this works for the HDMI one as well I guess.
+++ update+++ just bought one on Wallapop for €70, lets see if I can do this.
Hello Lee, I have also wondered! As I have the SDI version myself, it was easy to take all the measures to create the parts. The not-SDI version looks very very similar, but I couldn‘t find detailed drawings of the model with exact measures to compare the dimensions, so unfortunately I can not guarantee that the parts fit. But you‘re actually giving it a try, this is so exciting! Please keep us updated if it fits, works, etc. 🙏🏽🍀
in originally designing the viewfinder did portkeys put a decimal point tin the wrong place? as to make the image smaller seems like a massivr oversight or ingnorance in optics as a whole.
Hey Thorsten. Regarding putting that EVF into a water housing, how long is it. I need to see if it fits.
Hey, I have uploaded a picture for you, there you can estimate the dimensions (in cm) drive.google.com/file/d/1jSwUX9Pgbv6D9Y6C2i7MHv_syu2_4TOi/view?usp=drive_link
I use two extender frames, so if you take less than that, you can also save space.
I have the original Z-finder EVF without the diopter adjuster, I wonder if that would work
Also wonder if they still sell those 3d parts
Ok I did notice a couple of problems. One is alarming in that if you are not careful you can easily knock the loupe entirely off the Zacuto frame or frames, causing it to fall to the ground. Possibly breaking it and the loupe lens inside. I wish it was more secure. And if you add more Zacuto frames this adds to the vulnerability. So I solved this and the dangling Z-Finder lens cap that hangs on a string. If you use 3M double interlocking industrial strong velcro, a large enough piece straddling the Z-Finder loupe (applied on top) together with the 3D frame and/or additional Z-Finder frames; then will stop it all coming apart and falling.
Secondly, if you add a piece to the cap itself, the cap will then stick to the velcro strip you glued on to the top of the viewfinder loupe. So now the cap is secure and will not dangle around getting in the way or creating noise the camera shotgun might pick up.😊
Hi, this is great, I'm going to give it a go. What 'x' diopter have you used with your setup? Thanks
The extender frames come in with an option for 3 inch screens and 3.2 inch screens. Is there a preference?
Awesome thank you!
This is tight. Do you think you may offer services to do the mods?
The idea behind the 3D printing solution was to make the modification as affordable as possible. Offering the modification as a service would require you to send me your viewfinder (I‘m actually based in Germany, so if you‘re abroad we‘d have to deal with customs, etc.), then we‘d need insurance… I guess in the end it could be not profitable any more… But everybody knows somebody - I‘d love the idea of helping each other with the modification, maybe a friend is skilled with 3D printing, another one good with taking things apart… and putting it together of course ;)
Thank you for this. I am thinking of ways to have a minimal and very small monitor for my BMMCC, I think this is a good option. Do you think it’s also okay to use it without the viewfinder attached? Just the monitor and maybe put a screen protector or something?
You‘re very welcome! Without the eyepiece I find the screen size too small for the use as an onboard monitor… For that purpose I really like my 5 inch monitor.
i wonder if you can just pullout the leye diopter and replace it with a better one. the rest of it on both is just a box no?