Digital Cameras Ratings: Z-Finder Pro 2.5x Review

Average Reviews:
4.0 out of 5 stars

(More customer reviews)I bought a Zacuto Z-Finder 2.5x to take advantage of the tremendous video opportunities with the Canon 5DII. With or without glasses, you simply can not focus this camera in video mode without some sort of magnifying setup. The Z-Finder is a professional viewfinder that is head-and-shoulders better than imitators.

First off, it works perfectly! Focusing is tack sharp and I can even shoot moving subjects. This is a high-quality optical viewfinder that covers the entire live view screen from side-to-side. The fit is tight and secure on the back of the camera. It takes a pretty good yank to remove the Z-Finder, plus it has a safety loop you can secure around your neck or the camera.

The anti-fog disk over the rear eyepiece works great. I've used my Z-Finder in the humid, steamy air of Houston after a rainstorm, and it never has a hint of fog. Zacuto includes an extra anti-fog disk in case you ever damage the original.

The tough machined aluminum Gorilla Plate (included) attaches to the camera's tripod socket, then the Z-Finder's mounting frame connects to the plate via an odd combination of thumb wheels and hex nuts. You can still connect the camera to a standard tripod with the Gorilla Plate attached. The Z-Finder is not difficult to attach, but take care to center the viewfinder perfectly. The thumb wheel/flange connection almost doesn't fit with the 5DII, but it is secure when tight. The mounting frame's flange should be 1/4 inch longer.

One annoying design quirk is a big protruding knob on the rear of the Gorilla Plate. It makes it very difficult to reach the on/off switch on the Canon 5DII.

I'm giving the Z-Finder 4 instead of 5 stars because of: 1. the high cost, 2. the mounting frame flange almost doesn't fit, 3. the annoying and ill-placed tightening knob.

But at this time, there simply isn't any other pro-level viewfinder for DSLR video photography. If you are serious about DSLR video, don't hesitate!

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Product Description:

The Z-Finder Pro 2.5x is another one of Zacutos Optical Viewfinders that allows DSLR cameras to have the correct form factor for video. It offers 2.5x focusable magnification (a 3x magnification is available), a 40mm diameter Zacuto optical designed Anti-Fog lens, an eyecup preventing extraneous light leakage, a diopter and a field of view perfectly matched to 3 LCD screens. The diopter allows you to dial in the focus to match your eye perfectly. If you need extra focal point you can use the Z-Finder Extender Frames. The Z-Finder Pro 2.5x has a diopter range of -4.75 and up (unlimited with extender frames). These are semi-permanently stackable frames that attach to the skirt of the Z-Finder Pro and extends the Z-Finder glass further way from the LCD screen for people who are farsighted.

The Z-Finder Pro uses the Gorilla Baseplate and Z-Finder mounting frame to mount to the camera. The Gorilla Baseplate attaches to the bottom of your camera using a 1/4 20 screw and the Z-Finder mounting frame attaches to the Gorilla Baseplate using thumb screws. The rubber back mounting frame does not attach to your LCD; it is held in place against your LCD with pressure. This method allows you to quickly remove the Z-Finder Pro by snapping it off the frame. If you want to remove the entire mounting frame from your camera, you can do so by loosening the thumb screws and pulling up on the metal mounting frame to release it. With the Z-Finder Pro, you are also a step closer to using one of the Gorilla Support Rigs, as they use the same baseplate as the base.

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