Why no eyecup on latest HDV cams?

[JAC]

The new Canon A1 & G1, and Sony V1 don't appear to have rubber eyecups to block stray light. Is this because manufacturers now consider that users prefer to frame and focus mainly using the LCD screens?

Funny how both manufacturers have done this at the same time, any thoughts?

[SimonMW]

The V1 I tested had an eyecup.

[Nigel Longman]

I find there are times when I prefer to use a viewfinder and when I do I like all the stray light excluded, so I think it's a shame that the rubber eyecups are being phased out.

On my cameras I supplement the eyecups with a soft chamois leather and sponge pad which makes using them very comfortable and excluding stray light easy. I got a handful of them that I'm still using as a freebie at a Video Forum, but similar looking items are availably cheaply. Look here http://www.chamoisleathers.com/products/shop.asp?cid=487 for example, although I've not bought any from this source.

Regards NL

[JAC]

I was prompted to start this thread after seeing manufacturer's promo shots of these cameras, so I hope I am wrong and the rubber eyecup is not dead. Depending on what I'm shooting on my DVX100 I alternate between the LCD screen and viewfinder. When shooting a documentary in Africa at the start of this year I used the yiewfinder almost exclusively because of the very bright sun - blocking out stray light glare was very important.

Thanks Nigel for the link for the chamois eyecups.

[mooblie]

Such reasonable prices too!

[Dave R Smith]

My Z1E has a basic oval eyecup fitted and an included extra a sculpted, slightly larger eyecup.

[The-Video-Company.co.uk]

I swapped the eyecups on my Z1 as soon as I got it out the box. They're much better than the oval ones in my opinion, but it is nice to have the choice.

[Michael Renn]

Yes its true that the A1 dosn`t have a rubber eye cup. I have an A1 which has a plastic eye cup (standard) and really cant see what the worry is, it works fine and is not uncomfortable. The camera is an excellent one, only thing that could have improved it would have been a better low light performance (7.1lux)
Mike.

[SimonMW]

The V1 has an eyecup. Don't worry!

[The-Video-Company.co.uk]

The camera is an excellent one, only thing that could have improved it would have been a better low light performance (7.1lux)

Have you seen the low light test between the A1, and the DVX? It's quite impressive.

[Michael Renn]

No I haven`t, where can it be found.
Mike

[The-Video-Company.co.uk]

It' only a couple of posts back, but the feature is here:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=77259