The Zacuto C100 Z-Finder Pro Now Available For Preorder
The C100 is a great camera with very nice ergonomics for handheld use. The viewfinder on it isn’t so good. It’s very small and is placed to close to the back of the handle and your forehead touches it. I feel like I’m cramming my face into it and still cant get a good view of the image. The other issue with the viewfinder is the image is tiny. The LCD on the C100 is pretty good but if your shooting outdoors then it can be an issue. Using a viewfinder also gives you that one extra contact point that helps stabilize your shots and lessons fatigue in your arms. I prefer a viewfinder over a LCD screen and now you can turn the LCD into one with the new C100 Z-Finder Pro. Zacuto has been working on this ever since the camera came out and it looks like it’s ready to go and is available for preorder for $365.00
C100 Z-Finder Pro Plus Z-Band
The C100 Z-Finder Pro has a 1.8x magnification to accommodate the wider screen on the C100 LCD screen. The frame, made specifically for the C100. It slides on to the LCD screen. Since the Z-Finder Pro is heavier than the swivel can hold so a Z-Band attaches to the tape measure pin on the camera. Unscrew it and reattach. then the two ends attach to the viewfinder so it can stay in place if you need to move it up or down. A neat idea. Watch the video below for a demo on how it works.
The Z-Finder Pros 2.5x and 3x cannot be used on the C100 LCD screen as you will not see the entire image. To order and for more information visit: The Zacuto Store.
Installing the C100 Z-Finder Pro from Zacuto on Vimeo.
C100 Z-Finder Pro Description
The C100 Z-Finder Pro is an optical viewfinder, specifically designed to attach to the Canon C100 cinema camera LCD. This Z-Finder will magnify the LCD screen by 1.8x and has a diopter for specific focus tuning. It cuts out any extraneous light and offers an initial point of stability by pressing your eye against the large eyecup. The C100 Z-finder Pro comes with a 40mm diameter Zacuto optical lens, anti-fog coated protective covers, and all necessary additional accessories for the Canon C100. The diopter allows you to dial in the focus to match your eye. If you need extra focal points you can use the included Z-Finder Extender Frames. These are semi-permanent stackable frames that attach to the body of the Z-Finder Pro and extend the Z-Finder glass further away from the LCD screen for people who are farsighted.
The C100 Z-Finder Pro is comprised of three important parts. The first is the viewfinder itself with the lens, diopter, and eyecup. The second is the mounting system. The mount slides onto the Canon C100 LCD screen when articulated. The viewfinder snaps on and off the frame and can hang around your neck on the included lanyard when not in use. The third part is a set of Z-Bands that attach to your camera via a screw hole on the film panel included on the left side of the camera and then clip into two ball sockets on the Z-Finder itself. These Z-Bands add tension and support to the mount so the LCD screen and viewfinder can be set at any angle. Without the use of the Z-Bands, the hinge on the LCD screen cannot support the viewfinder (in any tilted up positions).
The C100 Z-Finder Pro is specifically designed for the Canon C100 camera and is not compatible with any other cameras or alternate set ups.
The C100 Z-Finder Pro Includes:
Z-Finder Pro eyepiece/loupe with 1.8x magnification and diopter
C100 Z-Finder Mount
C100 Z-Finder Pro Z-Bands
Three (3) Extender Frames
Lanyard and Lanyard Hook
Lens Cap, Sun Mask, and protective boot
Z-Finder Dust Cover
One installed and one additional Anti-Fog disc. This also acts as a lens protector and is expendable. More can be purchased here. We also have anti-fog wipes.
WARNING The Z-finder is a magnifier and as such will magnify the sun and could damage the LCD screen if the sun is allowed to shine directly through the Z-finder lens. This is not a defect but a physical property. Caution should be taken to avoid direct sun light. Proper use of the included lens cap and sun mask will dramatically reduce but not eliminate risk.
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Filed in: C100 • New Release • Zacuto
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Hi Erik!
Thanks for all your reviews–they have been extremely helpful to me as I design my kit.
I have a C100 and when I bought it, I got the Zacuto Predator for handheld stabilization. The predator never really felt comfortable to me, so I am returning it and probably buying a C-Shooter instead. I am going to be traveling to Italy in about a month and need to be able to shoot all day, probably in bright daylight, so I wanted to also add a Z-finder. My concern here is that I won’t be able to position the camera/z-finder far enough from my face to make it effective. Since I haven’t seen either one in person, it’s very hard to tell. What are your thoughts? If you think this is absolutely not workable, do you have any other suggestions? I think an EVF is a little out of my price range at the moment, and I’m also trying to keep the weight down.
Oh, also! I am 5’3 and a girl so that always seems to make things a little more difficult. Any advice you have would be great. THANKS in advance!!
Hi kate.
I don’t think you want a rig like the C-Shooter. It’s heavy. A monopod might serve you better and/or the new Zacuto Marauder and a C100 Z-Finder. This is a light weight solution that is probably going to work out a little better. It folds up really small so you can store it in your pocket or bag. Check it out here.
http://store.zacuto.com/idevaff/idevaffiliate.php?id=179&url=265