45 degree viewfinder - worth the money?

I've shot my Nauticam rigs since 2015 using a 180 degree viewfinder, but I'm intrigued by the idea of a 45 degee one.   Are they really worth it?  I know there is a question of money valuation there, and $1300 is a lot of money.   But - do they really really help?

I'll be shooting in Bonaire for 2 weeks in June, so have an opportunity to really use one.

However, I'll also be going to the Digital Shootout, where they have a Nauticam rep and demo equipment.  Possibly including a viewfinder for sale...?

PHXAZCRAIG wrote:

I've shot my Nauticam rigs since 2015 using a 180 degree viewfinder, but I'm intrigued by the idea of a 45 degee one. Are they really worth it? I know there is a question of money valuation there, and $1300 is a lot of money. But - do they really really help?

I'll be shooting in Bonaire for 2 weeks in June, so have an opportunity to really use one.

However, I'll also be going to the Digital Shootout, where they have a Nauticam rep and demo equipment. Possibly including a viewfinder for sale...?

Hi Craig,

There are two advantages of the 45° viewfinder:

#1.: When the ambient light is bright, you still can see very well through it, compared to a backscreen (but this advantage you have already with your 180° viewfinder).

#2.: The 45° angle: Often an upward perspective is desired and this results in heavy bending of the neck. Sometimes it is even impossible to perform with 180° or backscreen. Here comes the great pleasure of working with 45°: very easy you have the upward perspective, if desired, and it greatly spares you neck muscles...

The drawback is that one has to learn to frame the objects accurately, because you do not look directly at them, but with an angle of 45°. This requires a few dives, but then you will not want to change back and will not even notice the 45° angle (I use my 45° viewfinder always). There are only few people who will not learn it and give up...

When Nauticam has demo equipment at the event you are going to, I would write them in advance that you want to test one for your housing, so that they bring one along (there are two versions, depending on camera and you need the right one!). You have time then to play around and get accustomed. After the event they may give it away as a demo-version with discount...

Wolfgang

P.S.: I am not the only one who likes 45°, look at this Wetpixel tread here: https://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?/topic/68502-do-you-prefer-a-45-or-180-degree-viewfinder/

kelpdiver wrote:

If I were going to get one, it would be the 45. The 180 doesn't offer much to me. But of course being mirrorless, the LCD already serves the 180 uses well, at the cost of battery. You being on the SLR is a different matter.

It's counterintuitive, but AFAIK on most, if not all mirrorless cameras, the viewfinder consumes more battery than the LCD screen,

But this is again where the external 5" displays interest me, as they can be shifted up and down on angles as you wish. The Nauticam solution will cost considerably more than 1300 - I think it's probably closer to 3 for the housing, the monitor, and the cabling. But Backscatter sells the Anglefish which is a single piece housing/display for ~1500.

There's also the Weefine WED-7 which is somewhat slimmer than the Anglerfish.

kelpdiver wrote:

interesting - maybe the higher pixel density? Or brightness? How to confirm for a given model?

That, and OLED vs LCD, I believe. It's right there in the CIPA battery life ratings. For example, if you click on the Z9 review in the sidebar, it says "The z9 is rated as delivering 740 shots per charge if you use the rear LCD and 700 if you use the viewfinder. These figures jump to 770 and 740, respectively, if you use energy saving mode."

kelpdiver wrote:

If I were going to get one, it would be the 45. The 180 doesn't offer much to me.

I have never not used it.  I got it for the high eyepoint mostly.  I like using a viewfinder a lot of the time for the extra point of stability when I have it pressed against the mask.  I doubt I would have much trouble getting used to a 45.

And my neck hurts after a lot of diving, so...

But this is again where the external 5" displays interest me, as they can be shifted up and down on angles as you wish. The Nauticam solution will cost considerably more than 1300 - I think it's probably closer to 3 for the housing, the monitor, and the cabling. But Backscatter sells the Anglefish which is a single piece housing/display for ~1500.

I'm able to buy what I want if I think it will be handy - but this is also a tradeoff for weight and sheer hassle of packing yet more gear.  I'm maxed out.  I already check two bags plus have a roller and waist bag for carryon.   Anything I add means taking something else away.  At least a 45 degree viewfinder would be smaller than the 180!

See if you can arrange to try out both. The VF won't add drag or weight over your existing, but I don't think swapping back and forth is very convenient.

I do hope to try new things, given the opportunity.  But I'm comfortable with what I have and more interested in learning about strobe control than adding more gear.

kelpdiver wrote:

PHXAZCRAIG wrote:

And my neck hurts after a lot of diving, so...

this would seem to be the primary incentive then. I would think the 45 would generally help, but in a few situations be less ideal. Though the ones that come to mind - wide angle shot horizonally, you can do without the viewfinder pretty readily.

My personal experience is, that after becoming accustoumed to the 45° viewfinder, also WA is very comfortable and when there is bright sunlight, it is a clear advantage. The viewfinder needs to be turned (what is easily accomplished), as the strobes also need it (not always, but often), when switching from portrait to landscape...

Wolfgang

P.S.: Craigs situation, as a DSLR photographer, is a little bit different from the situation of mirrlorless users: with the optical viewfinder as primary viewfinder, an additional viewfinder for the housing is even much more required for good visibility (for mirrorless users that can easily use the backscreen, it is mostly the 45° angle that is worth going for the additional viewfinder).

Architeuthis wrote:

P.S.: I am not the only one who likes 45°, look at this Wetpixel tread here: https://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?/topic/68502-do-you-prefer-a-45-or-180-degree-viewfinder/

Yes, I participated in that thread.

Some of my decision depends on how easy it is to rotate the finder for portrait mode.  I do a lot of portrait mode, and of course the 180 degree finder is perfect for switching back and forth a lot between it and landscape.

PHXAZCRAIG wrote:

Architeuthis wrote:

P.S.: I am not the only one who likes 45°, look at this Wetpixel tread here: https://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?/topic/68502-do-you-prefer-a-45-or-180-degree-viewfinder/

Yes, I participated in that thread.

Some of my decision depends on how easy it is to rotate the finder for portrait mode. I do a lot of portrait mode, and of course the 180 degree finder is perfect for switching back and forth a lot between it and landscape.

I find rotation of the viewfinder easy: you just take it with one hand and rotate it (at least the old MIL version that I have) - no unscrewing, unplugging etc. required. Of course on additional issue that one has to take care of, but this is UW-photography...