After so many years with the same housing and a viewfinder attached to it I have purchased a new Isotta housing for my loved D500 and a Inon 45º viewfinder.

The thing is that I never have mount or demount any viewfinder at all, I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, lol.

Anyone could provide some info about changing the viewfinder, some youtube link maybe? The instructions are not very detailed in this regard.

 

Also, I would like to ask if those who use viewfinders disassemble them before travelling? Or keep them in place?

 

Thank you very much.

Hi canislupus

I use a Subal 45-degree viewfinder on a Subal housing with a D500.

On that system there is a threaded ring which screws on to the viewfinder when it’s pushed into the housing. A pair of o-rings on the part of the viewfinder that pushes through the housing provides the water seal. It’s very simple but effective.

I do remove the viewfinder for traveling as it’s otherwise an awkward shape in my Pelican case. It’s a 2-3 minute job to install or remove it using a very simple tool. Once you’ve done it once or twice, I’m sure you’ll be comfortable with the process.

I have an Isotta housing with Inon 45 degree viewfinder. It is the same process as Tim describes for Subal.

Changing the viewfinder is easy... The backing ring on the Isotta viewfinder, on inside of the housing, has two small indent holes. I am not sure if there is a specific tool, but to change I use circlip pliers to interlock with the indent holes to simply loosen, then screw off the backing ring by hand. The standard Isotta viewfinder then pushes out once the backing ring is removed. It is sealed with double o rings.

To install the Inon 45 degree viewfinder, simply align two small pins with corresponding indents on the housing clear window then push the viewfinder into place and do up the backing ring. (The Inon viewfinder has a single o ring.) The Inon viewfinder backing ring has four small indents and a tool that comes packed with the viewfinder to turn the backing ring. Best not to be too tight and obviously have silicon grease on the o ring.

Like Tim I do not leave the viewfinder in place for travelling (it looks a bit vulnerable sticking out) and is easy to change over. By the way, the viewfinder was pretty much essential on my previous Olympus OMD EM 1 ii, but easy to manage without on a SonyA7R5, though still useful for macro.

6 hours ago, canislupus said:

After so many years with the same housing and a viewfinder attached to it I have purchased a new Isotta housing for my loved D500 and a Inon 45º viewfinder.

The thing is that I never have mount or demount any viewfinder at all, I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, lol.

Anyone could provide some info about changing the viewfinder, some youtube link maybe? The instructions are not very detailed in this regard.

 

Also, I would like to ask if those who use viewfinders disassemble them before travelling? Or keep them in place?

 

Thank you very much.

It's really not a great deal different to changing a port except on a smaller scale, treat the o-rings the same way. As mentioned Isotta use a threaded ring to retain the viewfinder. The two holes they suggest using a small allen key in each one to get more leverage if required. If you have circlip pliers that's ideal, but the two small keys should be enough. It doesn't need to be super tight, just snug as the water pressure will hold the viewfinder in.

I also have an Isotta with the 45 degree Inon viewfinder. I honestly don't use any tool at all, I just screw it hand tight. Never had an issue.

Thank you very much all for the information, very useful for me.

I will test first the housing without the viewfinder just for giving a try and mount it for the next dive.

Btw my Inon viewfinder has no tool in the package.

Like you said TimG I think I will also demount it when travelling, I didn’t want to mess with that in the past but maybe time to start😉

9 hours ago, canislupus said:

Like you said TimG I think I will also demount it when travelling

Like the other I do the same.
I can confirm that it is really easy to mount and dismount the viefinder.