Zacuto DSLR Z-Finder

Since everywhere I travel lately more and more videographers are turning in their bulky P2s for the sleek convenience of the 7D, I thought this blog would be of use. From our freinds at Vurb Moto.

Zacuto DSLR Z-Finder

04/12/10

by Zacuto Z-Finder

NON-MOTO Warning! This one is for all of you inspring and/or professional videographers that are looking into purchasing a new DSLR Camera for video shooting.

Zacuto's Z-Finder optical viewfinder is just the tool you'll need for shooting professional video on the Canon 7D, 5D MkII, the Nikon D90, D300s and other DSLRs with 3" LCD screens. Whether shooting handheld or on a tripod, the Z-Finder turns your camera's LCD into a clear, easy-to-focus viewfinder that lets you see your image in magnified detail even under the brightest sunlight. Just as crucially, the Z-Finder provides that extra degree of handling comfort and point of contact--between the camera and your eye--that adds stability to any handheld video.

The Good

• Adds 3x magnification to your camera LCD, making focus much easier as well as making the shooting experience much more "video like"
• Helps to stablize the rather lightweight camera
• Professional quality
• Compact, easy to carry design
• Adjustable diopter allows focusing to most eyes
• Extremely easy to install and use
• Includes a free Bescor LED-35D Dimmable 35W LED Video Light when ordered from BHPhotoVideo!

The Bad

• The price. At 375$ it's a bit pricey.
• It attracts dirt. Whether in the field or in the bag, the Zacuto Z-Finder seems to attract dust and debris quite easily. While it doesn't damaged the camera, it can intrude on your shooting experience by having dirt or hairs in the magnified areas.
• The mounting system. While it's nice to be able to easily snap the Zacuto Z-Finder on and off, it can also play against you while in the field. It can easily fall off, so keeping a close eye on this piece of equipment is quite neccessary.
• Fogs easily. Having a fog spray or cloth handy is definitely a plus.

The Bottom Line

We wrote on the Canon 7D in a previous product review, and while we absolutely love the camera and can't imagine not shooting with it now, the Zacuto Z-Finder is an absolute must-have accessory. We have a list of nearly a dozen things that we've purchased to accessorize our Canon 7D DSLR cameras, and this is the one that tops the list. Even though it's a bit pricey, shooting a professional level video with sharp focus would be extremely difficult without this bad boy.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND PURCHASE THE ZACUTO Z-FINDER