Great accessory for the X1, maybe?

[Hektor6644]

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Hi:

 

I just ordered the "HoodCrane" from Hoodman ( HoodCrane-Hoodman Corporation ) for my X1, which I purchased from B&H ( Hoodman HoodCrane Universal Hot Shoe Mount for LCD HCRN B&H ) and the "HoodBoost" adapter directly from Hoodman. I have no idea how the X1 will look with the Crane mounted on the camera, but it is great, imho. I’m sure that in the future, someone will come out with a better and more discreet attachment. However, until then…

 

I’m just letting you know and what you think about it? I will post my impressions, after I get the Crane.

 

 

Best regards,

 

Hektor

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[phancj]

Not to be offensive or anything but my first thought was why would you put this giant contraption on the tiny X1? Wouldnt it defeat the purpose of the X1? For the DSLRs i can see the point since they are big and bulky anyway....my two cents.

 

CJ

[Hektor6644]

Not to be offensive or anything but my first thought was why would you put this giant contraption on the tiny X1? Wouldnt it defeat the purpose of the X1? For the DSLRs i can see the point since they are big and bulky anyway....my two cents.

 

CJ

 

Hi CJ:

 

Thanks for your response.

 

I understand what you are saying; I hate how the crane looks on the X1. However, it has nothing but advantages. Under the sunlight, it is almost impossible to see the LCD. I now hold the Hoodman Loupe, with the left hand, against the LCD, and shoot with the right. However, I need a third hand to manage some of the controls like the Focus. Therefore, I have no choice than to shoot 11-point, for example.

 

 

Another major problem is the 2.7” LCD. The HoodLoupe and others are 3”. If you press anywhere semi-hard, you can also press the controls with the loupe. It is also impossible to attach the Loupe with Velcro – size differential. The Crane can be adjusted three ways: up-down, left-right, and in-out. All of them are crucial, imho. Up-down is important for obvious reasons. Left-right is very important, because you need to get it to the right and away from the left-side controls – again size differential. Lastly, in-out prevents from pressing the controls inadvertently.

 

It looks like…you know what. However, it turns, imho, the X1 into, at least, a fixed lens M8 and a very serious camera. In addition, it is not permanent – the crane can be dismounted.

 

Best regards,

 

Hektor

[diogenis]

Woa!

Intimidating at the least. Why don't you just buy Leica's optical viewfinder for the X1? It's a wonderful accessory and also very compact. That thing is junk!

[Hektor6644]

Woa!

Intimidating at the least. Why don't you just buy Leica's optical viewfinder for the X1? It's a wonderful accessory and also very compact. That thing is junk!

 

Hi Diogenis:

 

I understand that it looks like junk. However, the other day I was shooting in the shade, with some sunshine, and I could not see the screen or the numbers; I had to tilt the camera. I have the Voigtlander 35mm Viewfinder mounted on the hot shoe:

 

 

It looks great – silver – but it is useless - not even the focus points. If I go 1H, I have to look at the LCD and guess where the point might be. In other words, I have no choice than to use the 11-points and hope for the best. With this thing, I will have a better "viewfinder" with more information displayed than with the D700.

 

I only hope that this is a temporary thing. Someone will have to come out with a similar concept designed for the X1. I’m getting it this Friday and will let everyone know how it works; it might not.

 

Best regards,

 

Hektor

 

PS: One thing that I keep forgetting to say. The Hoodman Crane is for those days that I cannot see the LCD or the numbers. In Southern California, those days are often. For the past few days until this Thursday, they say, we have had and will have nothing but sunshine of the liquid kind - it never rains in California .

[Guest]

i use the VF too. it works nice, no problem.

use only the one point AF and pre fokus,in my opinion the only way for a controlled and fast AF.so it´s easy to find the fokus point,even if i use the viewfinder.

try it ,after some time it works....

[Hektor6644]

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i use the VF too. it works nice, no problem.

use only the one point AF and pre fokus,in my opinion the only way for a controlled and fast AF.so it´s easy to find the fokus point,even if i use the viewfinder.

try it ,after some time it works....

 

Hi Lambda:

 

Thanks for your response.

 

I agree, but it does not work if you cannot see the LCD because of the sunlight. This is not a knock on the X1; there are many days that I cannot see the LCD on the D700, but I have the info in the viewfinder.

 

I love the X1; it is a beauty and a very serious camera. Furthermore, it is the only Leica I can afford. I moved heaven and earth to get the camera and accessories: canceled the pre-order on the D7000 using the saved money, sold the D5000, the Nikon 16-85 VR, and the Zeiss ZF 35 f/2. However, every camera or lens is not perfect. The X1 does not have a viewfinder like the future Fuji X100. On the other hand the Fuji is not a Leica and the X1 is and it comes with the Leica colors. If there is a shortcoming, I have to find a way to overcome it.

 

I really do not if it will work or not, but, at least, I’m trying. If not, I will return the Crane to B&H, if I can. I have to destroy the plastic case to get to it.

 

Best regards,

 

Hektor

[Hektor6644]

Hi Everyone:

 

Yes, I will get the HoodmanCrane – no question about it. It is the best solution, imho. However, I do not think that I will be caught in public shooting with that thing mounted on the X1. The more I look at it, the worse it gets and you guys are not helping! Actually, I will RMA it. Back to the drawing board.

 

Best regards,

 

Hektor

[earleygallery]

Good grief! Sledgehammer/nut!!!

 

Probably easier to hire someone to fly a plane trailing a very large blackout sheet to block the sun for you on days when you are out shooting.

[phancj]

I live in SE Asia which is smack near the equator sunny all year round honestly I never felt a dire need for any VF...sure sometimes colors are washed out on the LCD in the blazing sun but that'll not cripple any framing of sorts.

 

CJ

[Ecaton]

Don't get caught walking around with this thing by homeland security. It might take some time to explain that it is not dangerous:D.

[Hektor6644]

Hi:

 

I’m working on another alternative: Delkin Devices eFilm Point & Shoot Mini Pop-Up DU2.8-M BLK On top of that shade, I might be able to Velcro the HoodmanLoupe. I’ll see. The good news is that B&H notified me that the Crane has been shipped – I have tracking number .

 

I had a worse problem with the D5000 with the viewfinder – I could not see the numbers under a bright sun light. I came out with a solution, which was mounting the concoction of the DK 21m magnifying eyepiece and the Hoodman eyepiece for the D300 – problem solved. A lot of people got rid of the D5000 because of the “light seepage.”

 

I’ll find something.

 

Thanks,

 

Hektor

[JeTexas]

You could also tape a toilet paper tube to the LCD and look through that ... but I wouldn't.

[AlanJW]

You could also tape a toilet paper tube to the LCD and look through that ... but I wouldn't.

 

The toilet tube looks like a better choice than the crane, which is rediculous for a camera as small as the X1. And I'll bet the image quality is just as good. However, based on experience with grandchildren and toilet tubes, I can say definitively that you run the risk of increased noise.

[pop]

I think I will ask my wife to build me the ultimate and latest gadget in screen vision aids. She told me that she might have time somewhen this coming April for this research project of mine.

 

She's responsible for making the costumes of a small local theater. My invention involves a length of opaque cloth which attaches to the camera. It's worn over the head when you want to see the screen. You also can use it when you don't want to be seen while taking a photograph.

[Hektor6644]

Update:

 

I did attach the Hoodman Loupe to the X1 LCD. The solution was Velcro. So far it seems to work quite nicely, but time will tell. I did wrap the cloth Velcro around the four edges of the Loupe and the teeth ones to the screen. Well, not really the screen, but the Giotto screen protector. Actually, it is not even the Giotto, but the laminated screen protector that is there to protect the Giotto, which protects the LCD. I now have the Loupe that protects the laminated…

 

The X1 is not as slick with the Loupe mounted on it, but wow! I now have my best and largest “viewfinder” ever and I can work the buttons without any problems. I even have a real time histogram in the “viewfinder.”

 

Thanks everyone for talking me out of the Hoodman Crane.

 

Hektor

[phancj]

Must say I admire your tenacity...