Ikelite - Super eye viewer

[dm_junkie]

Hi,

Need some advice or if possible to give me some pointers. I am considering a ikelite setup but I do not intend to go for those camcorders that reverses the image so that I can use the side mirror. Prefer the feel of point and shoot. Two months ago tried on my friend's DSLR and the super eye viewer by ikelite actually makes the subject smaller. So I am skeptic that this will work well for me.

In order that I can make use of the eye viewer, I noticed that I might need to add-on with something to improve on the field of vision especially if I am into macro filming.

For example, typically say the HG or HF series of canon camcorders have the super eye viewer available. But can anyone help me:-

1) confirm if from the inside (where we fit the camcorder in) it is threaded so that I can add on a close-up filter to aid the magnification?

2) Help me check physically the diameter and if the outside of the eye viewer is threaded?

Appreciate if you could help advice me.

 

[mobula]

Buy a different housing? Why Ikelite?

Filming with an external monitor is nice because you can watch and film the animals at the same time.

This one I would buy now:

http://www.sealux.de/e/pdf/E-UNM190-Sony-Stand-16.01.2008.pdf

with a Century lens or a Raynox 0,3.

 

[robint]

I would e-mail Ikelite with your questions! They have the best customer service and have no problem with questions like this.

From what I see on those housings, it looks like to me that they magnify quite alot. On the HF & HG housings the screen is open inside the housing so you can see that and don't really need the viewer.
Ikelite Housing for Canon Digital Video Cameras

If you are going to be shooting macro subjects all the time, then maybe you will want to go with another housing that has a built-in macro lens. Ikelite housings aren't really made for that.

robin

 

[howard4113]

I'll second what Robin said. I've had several Ikelite DSLR's with the "Super Eye" magnifyer - which is not so super. So when it came time to upgrade my video system from an old JVC -- I considered that I always use the LCD screen and never the viewfinder. My new Canon HG-20 doesn't even have a viewfinder - that option & bigger drive is about $300 more - and the case is $150 more; not worth the difference IMHO. For macro work, I'd think that an external sight (something like the old wire rectangles used on nikonos) would be helpful to locate the subject, but I'd use the LCD screen once the subject was centered. A full external display is the best option -- if you have the money for a different housing to support it! But then again the Canon isn't the closest focusing camera out there.

Mark

 

[dm_junkie]

Hmm...I have also checked with ikelite. Hope they can get back to me soon. I realise this as in terms of budget; was offered a good price for the housing so am prepared to check the possibilities out.

Like the theory of reverse closeup lenses or the magnifier improvised on the eye viewer. I did think of using the prism which can manipulate the images to become real ie right is right with the introduction of a two way mirror concept. This works, just want to find something easier that I can simply thread them onto the housing.

 

[blibecap]

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