dSLR viewfinders

This is a really interesting discussion. There is a lot of personal preference when it comes to viewfinders - and size isn't everything. My Hasselblad housing has a massive viewfinder that you can look through with both eyes simultaneously! But I still prefer a standard housing.

I think the thing to avoid is a housing viewfinder that does now shot you the whole frame. A housing that makes you move your head from side to side to see the whole frame is a disaster - but there are still plenty of housings out there like that. Make sure you take a mask to the shop when trying housings.

Another important factor when comparing cameras is viewfinder brightness. Some have better focus screens than others and this can make a big difference in the dark depths of the ocean. My Nikon D2X is signifcantly brighter than my Nikon F100 and I actually prefer the view through the D2X viewfinder (in the housing) to the F100 (despite the F100 being bigger and full frame).

I am still umming and ahhing over getting the GS viewfinder for my Subal. I have used it on the D70 and it makes a massive difference to the view although I am not sure it makes any difference to my photography.

There is such a lot of personal preference in viewfinder choices. People have different eyesight and have different preferences when in comes to composing images and relying on AF.

Alex

Just wondering if the Subal / Sealux viewfinders are actually interchangable ?

 

It is clear that they look the same but is it  the same mount ?

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As far as I know both Sealux and Subal get their viewfinders from the same supplier (although Sealux got them first and were probably involved in the design process). Optically they are the same. And I assume physically too.

The problem is that neither will sell you a viewfinder without a housing! And neither will put you in touch with company that makes them.

Alex

The problem is that neither will sell you a viewfinder without a housing! And neither will put you in touch with company that makes them.

I second that. I know someone who had tried to buy the viewfinder without a housing. No chance - and they (Subal and Sealux) wouldn't tell their source / who builds them. He wanted to adapt the viewfinder for his housing (different brand). This viewfinder item seems to become kind of important marketing/competition topic to the manufactures.

I didn't have an enhanced viewfinder on my Seacam (film) housing. But I'm glad to have it on my 10D housing with the camera's small viewfinder compared to film/fullframe.

Julian