Inon/Hugy viewfinder in Sea&Sea

[Rattus 0]

Hi Guys,

 

Looking at that Scubacam version, it looks to me like you'll end up with a small viewfinder image, possibly with some corner clipping. I don't know this for sure, but it would be my educated guess, looking at the way it is rigged. The image has to go through the 0.66x or 0.8x pickup first, then the Inon finder. The Inon finder was clearly designed to get close enough to the camera viewfinder to avoid any pickup optics. Maybe it works OK, but I'd caution anyone to try it first.

 

Martyn

[WIBB 0]

No such luck... unless you are willing to do some DIY. I just came back from the ADEX show in Bangkok and had a chance to look at a Nexus 5D & D200 setup with the Inon viewfinder option. Very nice... I really wish S&S would work up something to allow retrofitting the Inon Viewfinder on their housing.

 

 

Thanks. Another check in the "con" column. Modification is fine when there are no other options.

 

A guy would be better off to modify a 350D anyway if he was fixated on S&S.

[jarhed 0]

I stopped in Backscatter's shop yesterday and they are installing this viewfinder into Sea and Sea housings. I just looking through the new viewfinder installed in the shop, it appears slightle better coverage, and perhaps a little brighter. It does make you tilt the housing more to see the LCD screen, but does not block it. For ~$900 it is definately comparable, maybe a little better than the subal IMHO, but is pretty bulky. For shooting Macro, I suspect it's a definate big advantage, for wide angle, it's maybe not as necessary.

 

Since I love toys so much, I'll probably eventually get one........

John

[pakman 0]

John... oooh that is nice about backscatter and the inon viewfinders... tempting... Do you know if you can unmount the viewfinder?

[jarhed 0]

I'm under the impression that it cannot be taken on & off on a whim. That's one of the drawbacks that causes me to hesitate.

 

It is a nice feature, I hope to try out their rental which has the viewfinder on it in the next few weeks.

 

John

[jarhed 0]

Here's some more info:

 

http://www.backscatter.com/learn/article/article.php?ID=35

 

it's on a L&M housing here, as mentioned, I understand they will also mount to a Sea & Sea housing.

 

John

[BrantD 0]

I'm under the impression that it cannot be taken on & off on a whim. That's one of the drawbacks that causes me to hesitate.

 

It is a nice feature, I hope to try out their rental which has the viewfinder on it in the next few weeks.

 

John

 

I can't speak for backscatter's..........but the one I bought from Ryan (Reef Photo), I can easily remove from my S&S housing. Takes about 30 seconds. I transport the housing with it off. However, if you want to take it diving without the Inon viewfinder, it is alittle more work. You have to take the five screws out of the clear plastic, which incorporates the viewfinder, and the LCD screen. Ryan sent me the original plastic, a seal, and the OEM .66 viewfinder so I could take the Inon viewfinder off and replace it with the OEM viewfinder,... if I wished. I haven't done it, but my guess would be.... less than 5 min. as it would only require five screws to be taken out......grease the o-ring, and 5 screws back in.

Brant

Edited May 29, 2007 by BrantD

[JimDeck 2]

Hey Everyone,

 

I'll chime in on this to clear up how we are mounting the viewfinder on the Sea and Sea housing.

 

The entire OEM Sea and Sea viewfinder is removed from the housing. This is done by removing the pickup finder that threads on the inside of the housing, then beneath that there is a nut that is removed by using a spanner wrench. We then remove the existing OEM eyepiece. Then we take the Inon viewfinder and remove the Inon mount and replace it with a custom part that we manufacture to adapt it to the Sea and Sea housing. The Inon finder and our part booth have double o-ring seals. This unit is then installed through the housing and the original spanner nut from Sea and Sea threads on to our adapter on the inside of the housing. This is a complete replacement--we are not using any of the original Sea and Sea optics. The viewfinder is optimally placed to provide the best quality image possible. We are also putting the Inon finder on other brand housings in a similar manner.

 

We designed this to be permanent and it is a very solid mount. One could mount and unmount the viewfinder if they have the spanner wrench. For people who are comfortable doing this type of work, it is not difficult to do, and would only take minutes to do.

 

Best regards,

 

Jim

[BrantD 0]

Thanks Jim.......I was wondering why your setup of the Inon Viewfinder didn't come right off like the setup I bought from Reef Photo.

FYI, Ryan bought a new clear Veiwfinder plate from S&S and had it drilled to accept the Inon viewfinder as it comes from Inon. It makes it much easier if you want the Inon viewfinder removeable, IMHO.

[pakman 0]

Here's something for us S&S housing owners who are getting tired of waiting for S&S to come out with their own ext. viewfinders (on top of the custom installs Backscatter.com already provides)...

But no detail on which S&S housings it will work on...

 

Edited December 14, 2007 by pakman

[Nunomix 0]

Here's something for us S&S housing owners who are getting tired of waiting for S&S to come out with their own ext. viewfinders (on top of the custom installs Backscatter.com already provides)...

But no detail on which S&S housings it will work on...

 

 

Hi Pak,

 

That looks nice. Where did you find it? Which brand?

 

Out of topic, just got the D300 and I am now waiting for the S&S housing for it.

 

cheers

 

Nuno

[pakman 0]

click on the pic for link. It's the Inon 45 deg. viewfinder. at www.fun-in.com.tw. Seems they sell one that fits S&S housings.

[JimDeck 2]

Here's something for us S&S housing owners who are getting tired of waiting for S&S to come out with their own ext. viewfinders (on top of the custom installs Backscatter.com already provides)...

But no detail on which S&S housings it will work on...

 

 

We can install the Inon 45 finder on any of the Sea and Sea housings. So far we have done D200, 5D, and the Fuji S2 Pro. The S2 Pro needed a different adapter. Most of the older Sea and Sea housings need a different adapter as well.

 

We have also put it on a number of Ikelite housings. Each Ikelite is a custom install because the stock eyepiece threads into the back of the housing rather than being a press fit. Since Ikelite "taps" the threads on the back of the housing for this purpose, the start of the first thread can be anywhere. Because the rotating Inon finder needs to click stop at 0, 90, 180 and 270 degrees, those click stops must be made after the adapter piece is threaded into the back of the housing.

 

The new MDX housings from Sea and Sea won't be a problem. We'll be able to install the finder on those as well.

 

In any of the installations, the housing is left unmodified. This allows the user to remove the Inon finder and re-install the stock finder at any time.

 

Best regards,

 

Jim

[sharky1961 2]

Hi,

 

 

I know the company www.mike-dive.de can built INon 45° viewfinders in Sea&Sea, UK-Germany and sealux housings. He gives also garantee on the retrofitting I believe.

 

 

 

 

Rob

[Trevor Rees 1]

If interested, here is a pic of the same Inon viewfinder custom fitted to my DX-D80 here in the UK.

I too, could not wait for Sea & Sea to launch one. This modification may be catching on!

 

 

I've done a couple of dives with it and really like it. It's not a massive leap forward but for me it would feel mighty grim to go back to the ordinary finder again.

 

Here is a previous shot that Eric took at the Sea & Sea stand at the DEMA show of a D300 housing + viewfinder fitted. Its interesting to speculate what this one would be like if Sea & Sea do launch it.

 

[bruceterrill 0]

Here is a previous shot that Eric took at the Sea & Sea stand at the DEMA show of a D300 housing + viewfinder fitted. Its interesting to speculate what this one would be like if Sea & Sea do launch it.

 

 

Hi Trevor,

This view finder doesn't look like the Inon version. Do you know who makes this one??

Does anyone know the maker of this view finder??

Bruce

[pakman 0]

Great info guys. Good to see that we S&S housing owners have options!

 

Trevor - "if S&S launches it"... exactly... any bets on 2009?

[Yoko Qno 0]

I have a INON Straight Viewfinder on my DX-350D.

My DX-350D back is modified to accept the Inon finders.

I can see all four corners of the finder,too

[eskasi 1]

As per my request, Divervision (Which is owned by the same person as Fun-In) is checking if their Inon viewfinder will fit the D300 S&S housing which I am ordering...I certainly hope so