Inon/Hugy viewfinder in Sea&Sea

interesting... but yikes, that looks like it really hangs out there! (can't seem to be able to directly link to that scubacam.nl pic)

My guess from the looks of that photo and what Martyn did for his custom installation on his 5D housing is that this scubacam.nl mod just attaches the 45 deg viewfinder onto the existing S&S viewfinder on the exterior.

Nuno, if you do find some more info, much appreciated if you can explain what is involved there. The way it protrudes from the housing, the 45 deg viewfinder looks really vulnerable...

interesting... but yikes, that looks like it really hangs out there! (can't seem to be able to directly link to that scubacam.nl pic)

 

My guess from the looks of that photo and what Martyn did for his custom installation on his 5D housing is that this scubacam.nl mod just attaches the 45 deg viewfinder onto the existing S&S viewfinder on the exterior.

 

Nuno, if you do find some more info, much appreciated if you can explain what is involved there. The way it protrudes from the housing, the 45 deg viewfinder looks really vulnerable...

I agree with you. I think this will indeed attach to the existing S&S viewfinder but I will have to check. Unfortunately, the store is rather far from where I live and I will not be able to go there and check it live (also dont know if they have this viewfinder over there).

Scubacam is my supplier in the Netherlands for UW photo equipment. I sent him an email but I will talk with him to understand better how it works.

I will keep you posted.

Nuno

Quick update: I called Scubacam.nl and the 45 viewfinder is connected to the existing viewfinder so no retrofit. Indeed the viewfinder will be further from the housing (they mentioned about 9 centimeters).

Regards

Nuno

The S&S DX-400D has the 0.8 viewfinder option. What does that mean in regards to the Inon 45? Will it fit or will a mod/adapter be required?

The S&S DX-400D has the 0.8 viewfinder option. What does that mean in regards to the Inon 45? Will it fit or will a mod/adapter be required?

No such luck... unless you are willing to do some DIY. I just came back from the ADEX show in Bangkok and had a chance to look at a Nexus 5D & D200 setup with the Inon viewfinder option. Very nice... I really wish S&S would work up something to allow retrofitting the Inon Viewfinder on their housing.

Hi Guys,

Looking at that Scubacam version, it looks to me like you'll end up with a small viewfinder image, possibly with some corner clipping. I don't know this for sure, but it would be my educated guess, looking at the way it is rigged. The image has to go through the 0.66x or 0.8x pickup first, then the Inon finder. The Inon finder was clearly designed to get close enough to the camera viewfinder to avoid any pickup optics. Maybe it works OK, but I'd caution anyone to try it first.

Martyn

No such luck... unless you are willing to do some DIY. I just came back from the ADEX show in Bangkok and had a chance to look at a Nexus 5D & D200 setup with the Inon viewfinder option. Very nice... I really wish S&S would work up something to allow retrofitting the Inon Viewfinder on their housing.

Thanks. Another check in the "con" column. Modification is fine when there are no other options.

A guy would be better off to modify a 350D anyway if he was fixated on S&S.

I stopped in Backscatter's shop yesterday and they are installing this viewfinder into Sea and Sea housings. I just looking through the new viewfinder installed in the shop, it appears slightle better coverage, and perhaps a little brighter. It does make you tilt the housing more to see the LCD screen, but does not block it. For ~$900 it is definately comparable, maybe a little better than the subal IMHO, but is pretty bulky. For shooting Macro, I suspect it's a definate big advantage, for wide angle, it's maybe not as necessary.

Since I love toys so much, I'll probably eventually get one........

John

John... oooh that is nice about backscatter and the inon viewfinders... tempting... Do you know if you can unmount the viewfinder?

I'm under the impression that it cannot be taken on & off on a whim. That's one of the drawbacks that causes me to hesitate.

It is a nice feature, I hope to try out their rental which has the viewfinder on it in the next few weeks.

John

Here's some more info:

http://www.backscatter.com/learn/article/article.php?ID=35

it's on a L&M housing here, as mentioned, I understand they will also mount to a Sea & Sea housing.

John

I'm under the impression that it cannot be taken on & off on a whim. That's one of the drawbacks that causes me to hesitate.

 

It is a nice feature, I hope to try out their rental which has the viewfinder on it in the next few weeks.

 

John

I can't speak for backscatter's..........but the one I bought from Ryan (Reef Photo), I can easily remove from my S&S housing. Takes about 30 seconds. I transport the housing with it off. However, if you want to take it diving without the Inon viewfinder, it is alittle more work. You have to take the five screws out of the clear plastic, which incorporates the viewfinder, and the LCD screen. Ryan sent me the original plastic, a seal, and the OEM .66 viewfinder so I could take the Inon viewfinder off and replace it with the OEM viewfinder,... if I wished. I haven't done it, but my guess would be.... less than 5 min. as it would only require five screws to be taken out......grease the o-ring, and 5 screws back in.

Brant

Hey Everyone,

I'll chime in on this to clear up how we are mounting the viewfinder on the Sea and Sea housing.

The entire OEM Sea and Sea viewfinder is removed from the housing. This is done by removing the pickup finder that threads on the inside of the housing, then beneath that there is a nut that is removed by using a spanner wrench. We then remove the existing OEM eyepiece. Then we take the Inon viewfinder and remove the Inon mount and replace it with a custom part that we manufacture to adapt it to the Sea and Sea housing. The Inon finder and our part booth have double o-ring seals. This unit is then installed through the housing and the original spanner nut from Sea and Sea threads on to our adapter on the inside of the housing. This is a complete replacement--we are not using any of the original Sea and Sea optics. The viewfinder is optimally placed to provide the best quality image possible. We are also putting the Inon finder on other brand housings in a similar manner.

We designed this to be permanent and it is a very solid mount. One could mount and unmount the viewfinder if they have the spanner wrench. For people who are comfortable doing this type of work, it is not difficult to do, and would only take minutes to do.

Best regards,

Jim

Thanks Jim.......I was wondering why your setup of the Inon Viewfinder didn't come right off like the setup I bought from Reef Photo.

FYI, Ryan bought a new clear Veiwfinder plate from S&S and had it drilled to accept the Inon viewfinder as it comes from Inon. It makes it much easier if you want the Inon viewfinder removeable, IMHO.

Here's something for us S&S housing owners who are getting tired of waiting for S&S to come out with their own ext. viewfinders (on top of the custom installs Backscatter.com already provides)...

But no detail on which S&S housings it will work on...

Here's something for us S&S housing owners who are getting tired of waiting for S&S to come out with their own ext. viewfinders (on top of the custom installs Backscatter.com already provides)...

But no detail on which S&S housings it will work on...

 

Hi Pak,

That looks nice. Where did you find it? Which brand?

Out of topic, just got the D300 and I am now waiting for the S&S housing for it.

cheers

Nuno

click on the pic for link. It's the Inon 45 deg. viewfinder. at www.fun-in.com.tw. Seems they sell one that fits S&S housings.

Here's something for us S&S housing owners who are getting tired of waiting for S&S to come out with their own ext. viewfinders (on top of the custom installs Backscatter.com already provides)...

But no detail on which S&S housings it will work on...

 

We can install the Inon 45 finder on any of the Sea and Sea housings. So far we have done D200, 5D, and the Fuji S2 Pro. The S2 Pro needed a different adapter. Most of the older Sea and Sea housings need a different adapter as well.

We have also put it on a number of Ikelite housings. Each Ikelite is a custom install because the stock eyepiece threads into the back of the housing rather than being a press fit. Since Ikelite "taps" the threads on the back of the housing for this purpose, the start of the first thread can be anywhere. Because the rotating Inon finder needs to click stop at 0, 90, 180 and 270 degrees, those click stops must be made after the adapter piece is threaded into the back of the housing.

The new MDX housings from Sea and Sea won't be a problem. We'll be able to install the finder on those as well.

In any of the installations, the housing is left unmodified. This allows the user to remove the Inon finder and re-install the stock finder at any time.

Best regards,

Jim

Hi,

I know the company www.mike-dive.de can built INon 45° viewfinders in Sea&Sea, UK-Germany and sealux housings. He gives also garantee on the retrofitting I believe.

Rob

If interested, here is a pic of the same Inon viewfinder custom fitted to my DX-D80 here in the UK.

I too, could not wait for Sea & Sea to launch one. This modification may be catching on!

I've done a couple of dives with it and really like it. It's not a massive leap forward but for me it would feel mighty grim to go back to the ordinary finder again.

Here is a previous shot that Eric took at the Sea & Sea stand at the DEMA show of a D300 housing + viewfinder fitted. Its interesting to speculate what this one would be like if Sea & Sea do launch it.