Z-Finder Pro 2.5X Optical Viewfinder

Received this professional tool as expected. The platform is made out of a solid block of aluminum, machined to precise dimensions. It mounts directly to the camera using the tripod mounting hole and it has adjustments to position the eyepiece holder at exactly the correct spot to fully cover the display screen on my Canon 7D. While the shroud for the actual eyepiece is made of some sort of plastic, it is a very dense plastic and does not have any give to it. It includes a machined aluminum knurled large wheel that is used to focus the eye lens for any needed diopter correction. There are also extra spacers that could be used if the initial correction is not suficient. I am using this tool with two lenses, my Canon 100mm to 400mm zoom and a Celestron 8" telescope with a reducer (1000mm at f6.3). Both of these have their own tripod mount so I do not need to use the tripod mount provided as part of the aluminum platform. Being able to focus in live view with a 2.5x magnification plus the zoom capability of the camera's display, I am able to get tack sharp shots of birds and other critters under most conditions (even bright sun-light!). This little device makes it work for me and my less than perfect eyesight. I haven't shot any video using this tool yet - but I can see where it would almost become a necessity! Certainly a hefty priced item, but well worth the price , both in terms of the quality of the manufacture of the product, and in terms of the functionality/ease of use. It fulfills and exceeds my expectations!

It does work, but keep in mind that when you look at your 'in focus' shot you will also see the pixels on your DSLR's screen. Not pretty but it does help you achieve a pretty sharp focus. My biggest complaint is the way it attaches to the camera. You have to use a heavy mounting plate that is brittle and will eventually wear out near the mounting screw. Who wants to add weight and bulk to your camera? is this really the best they can do for a mounting system? Second complaint.. I have to use the additional spacers and they won't pop off to detach like the Z-finder does. When I pull on them the entire mounting plate bends and feels like it's going to break. I end up leaving them on the mounting bracket at all times because of this. Third complaint: It's way too over priced. Even half the price would be pushing it. It's really just a fancy magnifying glass, but it does look kind of cool and it really will improve your focusing issues with DSLRs.

The material overall is in the same class as the view finders that are sold at $30, less than 1/10 of the price of the Z-Finder. The foam on the base plate attached to the LCD screen is poorly glued and misaligned. Zacuto claimed that the place is secured on the Canon 5D II, and this is not true. The red screws just barely touche the base plate. The connection of the eye piece to the plate is so badly designed that you will break the plate easily everything time you try to remove the eye piece. If you want to try this product, buy it from a decent seller with no hassle return policy such as Adorama because you will return it as I did.

Zacuto stuff is overpriced, I know. But there isn't much that goes into this. Its just a couple of small pieces of plastic and metal, yet it costs more that a lot of sophisticated camera products. It works well, and helps a bunch when outside, but the loop doesn't come off easy. I seem to fight with it when trying to pop it off. Also, I can't tell if the diopter does anything.

The Z-Finder opens up a whole new world in seeing what's on the small screen on your DSLR. For me the eyepiece can be uncomfortable and I end up pressing the viewfinder very tight to my face to be able to see the corners of the screen. I think they make a softer more comfortable pad to replace the rubber one though. I still love my Z-Finder but I ended up purchasing a Marshall Monitor as a focusing aid instead. But if you're going for a smaller quick rig, the Z-finder allows you to see what's going on and gives you another point of contact to make shots more stable.

I did a lot of research on this viewfinder as well as the 3x version, and decided to go with this one. It mounted nicely to my canon rebel t2i, and now I never take it off. Everything is adjustable to ensure that it fits nicely. Before this product, it would be hard for me to tell if something was in focus or not, and also how much "noise" I was getting in the image. Now, with the 2.5x magnification and the wonderful screen of the t2i, I can see all of that and adjust accordingly. There are two small flaws with the product, however. These aren't even worth taking off one star, in my opinion. 1. How expensive it is. Considering how much I paid for it, I would have at least expected it to be made out of metal, or something weather resistant. I opened the box to find out that it was mere plastic. Basically, you're buying a really expensive magnifying glass. 2. I have to take off the viewfinder every time I need to change the battery. This doesn't seem like it would be too much of a problem, but in order to take out the battery (without having to pay for more product) you need to unscrew the bottom and unmount the whole thing from the camera. At least I don't have to re-adjust after I switch out batteries though! I just attach it back on and screw into the bottom.

Pops off way too easily. Not ideally suited for run & gun shooting because just lightly brushing against it pops it off. The protective cap never stays on either. The frame is solid and mounts easily. It works but I wish it was a twist on or fold-away-mechanism.

Like any DSLR videographer, I'm looking for a quality viewfinder, preferably one I don't have to glue or 3M a LCD frame to my camera. However, I don't want to dish out $375.00 either! (A viewfinder should not cost more than a camera lens!) So I did my research. Turns out you can recreate this EXACT viewfinder by buying it in 3 different pieces and save $140.00! And you can buy all of these pieces right here on Amazon. (Hopefully this has your attention!) You can also look at the pictures of the Zacuto Z-Finder and the pictures of the other 3 pieces and you will see they indeed are the exact same. The pieces needed to put together your own Z-Finder are as follows: Zacuto Z-GRB Gorilla Baseplate Zacuto Z-MFS Z-Finder Mounting Frame for Small DSLR Bodies VF Prime DSLR Camera LCD Viewfinder for 3" LCD Two of the pieces are even made by Zacuto, and the viewfinder is molded exactly like the Zacuto viewfinder, likely made in the same factory... This way you won't have to worry about sticking the adhesive LCD viewfinder frame directly to your expensive DSLR! I don't want to pay $375.00 for this overpriced item, you shouldn't have to either!

Es ist wohl das mit Abstand teuerste Stück Plastik, das ich besitze und trotzdem werde ich es nicht wieder hergeben. Woran liegt das? Es passt einfach in allen Blangen: die Augenmuschel sitzt angenehm und kann in jeder erdenklichen Position fixiert werden, auch bei langer Benutzung beschlägt die Linse nicht, die Kamera kann zum fixieren an den Kopf gedrückt werden, ohne das etwas wackelt oder unangenehm ist und letztendlich ist die Bildqualität überzeugend. Ein oder zwei klitzekleine Problemchen gibt es aber schon. An meiner 5d Mark II sitzt die Halterung etwas knapp in der Gorillaplatte. Die zwei Schrauben scheinen aber trotzdem ausreichend Halt zu bieten. Hier wären 2-3 mm mehr beruhigender. Die zusätzliche Klemme an der Gorillaplate ist schick, aber der Schnellspanner verdeckt bei mir den On/Off Schalter ein wenig. Aber, ich frage mich, wie konnte ich nur so lange ohne leben?

Der Z-Finder Pro 2,5x macht grundsätzlich auf den ersten Blick einen ordentlichen Eindruck. Die Verarbeitung ist solide und erscheint stabil. Das äußerliche Design wirkt allerdings eher etwas geschmacklos. Die Abbildungsleistung der Optik ist so gut, daß man die einzelnen Pixel des Kameradisplays klar und deutlich erkennen kann. Das hat allerdings andererseits den Nachteil, daß die Beurteilung der Motivschärfe dadurch schwerer fällt. Bei 2,5-facher Vergrößerung ist das aber gerade noch zu verkraften. Der eingebaute Diopter zur Anpassung an die individuelle Sehschärfe funktioniert mäßig gut. Nachteilig fand ich allerdings besonders die relativ geringe Justierweite, um den Z-Finder exakt auf die Position des Displays einstellen zu können. Dadurch paßt der Z-Finder leider nicht auf alle meine Kameras. Sehr "professionell" ist allerdings auch der Preis des Z-Finder Pro. Ich habe den Z-Finder Pro deshalb mit zwei preisgünstigen Alternativen von "TARION" und "KAMERAR" verglichen. Beide Modelle liegen preislich unter 90 Euro. Sowohl der TR-V1 von TARION als auch der QV-1 von KAMERAR sind in der Abbildungsleistung nahezu identisch mit dem Z-Finder. Ich konnte zumindest keinen sichtbaren Unterschied erkennen. Auch hinsichtlich der mechanischen Verarbeitung können die beiden preisgünstigen Produkte mit dem Z-Finder durchaus mithalten. Für das Modell von KAMERAR gibt es als Zubehör zwei unterschiedliche Basisplatten, von denen eine für DSLR-Kameras und die andere für Micro-Four-Third-Kameras und Kompaktkameras geeignet ist. Ich habe mich letztendlich für die preisgünstige Variante von KAMERAR ertschieden, denn mit beiden Basisplatten habe ich mit diesem Modell eine kostengünstige und dennoch ordentliche Displaylupe gefunden, die auf alle meine Kameras paßt, angefangen von der kleinen Lumix TZ-10 Kompaktkamera über meine GH4 bis hin zur großen Nikon D800. Fazit: Gute Displaylupe, aber man bekommt Vergleichbares auch schon zu einem wesentlich günstigeren Preis.