Clint Milby
Remember last week when SmallHD announced a new monitor, the 504? Well, in the tradition of their DP4-EVF from 2012, they’ve turned to the 502 into one of the coolest little viewfinders I’ve seen. They call it the Sidefinder.
The Sidefinder’s patent pending “folded” shape means a footprint smaller than many of today’s third party EVF solutions, while offering a much bigger screen boasting more than double the viewing area in most cases. Its shape also allows operators to slide the viewfinder closer to the camera than any other third party EVF, eliminating a common source of neck strain during shoulder mounted operation.
The key ingredient of the Sidefinder is SmallHD’s new 502 field monitor. Its tool set and simple user interface translates directly into the operation of the Sidefinder, while adding several unique settings that may be customized based on user preference, such as an adjustable field-of-view.
“The ideal field-of-view for a viewfinder is a highly polarized topic,” comments Dale Backus, SmallHD co-founder and product visionary. “Some want a large field-of-view to achieve accurate focus more quickly, while others prefer it to be smaller so that shot composition is easier and eye strain is minimized. The Sidefinder is the first electronic viewfinder to provide a highly adjustable field-of-view of 20-degrees to 40-degrees so that no preference is left behind.”
Shooters also get to choose how they control the Sidefinder. Since the user interface of the 502 field monitor is so simple, it has been transplanted onto a tiny omnidirectional remote that can be mounted right at your fingertips so that camera operators never have to move their hand away from the camera to instantly see focus and exposure tools.
The Sidefinder is also incredibly flexible when it comes to mounting options. Shipping standard with a specialized side-mount bracket, the EVF can be fastened to any camera setup using a 15mm rod system, ¼-20 based EVF mount, NATO rail clamp, and even an Arri-style Rosette mount.
Using a built-in LP-E6 battery bracket, the Sidefinder accepts power from rechargeable Canon LP-E6 batteries. External power may be provided via D-tap using a regulated LP-E6 adapter cable, or from an AC adapter that also snaps into the monitor’s battery plate.
For added versatility, the slimline 502 monitor swiftly detaches from the optical system of the Sidefinder altogether for use as a stand-alone compact monitor on a jib-arm, gimbal rig, slider or other camera support.
Price and availability will be announced at NAB 2015 (SmallHD Booth C9548) and HDSLR Shooter will be their to report it as it happens.
Check out all of our 2015 NAB Show coverage here: indieshooter.com
For more information on the Sidefinder visit: www.smallhd.com/sidefinder
