The ClearViewer. A short review.

Ripleysbaby

supernatural anesthetist
Location
Cumbria UK
Name
Garry
I came across the ClearViewer website ages ago, But dismissed it for several reasons. However the photographic slump I've been in recently pushed me into ordering one from the U S of A.
Not cheap ! At least not if you buy in the uk. My order, The bottom mounted model with the
premium lens, Plus the tripod adaptor was £62-45 ($80) Add to that Royal mail handling charge and import duty £19-58 ($25) Sigh ! £82 !!! All the time waiting for the delivery I was thinking , This better be good. Delivery was quicker than expected, and as luck would have it, was a bright sunny day.
So lets try it out ! Now as Mrs Brown would say Fecking Brilliant !
My GR now has a big bright Viewfinder and I' as happy as a pig in !
I just wish I'd bought one sooner. Like a lot sooner.
Simple and quick in use, doesn't make the camera a whole lot bigger, and With the optional
tripod adaptor / thumbscrew . Quick for taking off and putting on. Bought on its own the ClearViwer is attached with a small plastic panhead screw. but of coarse needs a tool to remove. I'll probably source a smaller knurled screw at some point. As you can see the tripod adaptor is quite large. Is it worth £82 ? To me yes, every penny . I would highly recommend the ClearViewer to anyone who use cameras without viewfinders. Or in fact those who want a bigger view. And it is a BIG view !

ClearViewer home

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ClearViewer closed
by Garry, on Flickr

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ClearViewer open
by Garry, on Flickr
 
at first, I thought it was just a magnifying glass, but it seems the working distance allows you to put your eye right up to it like a traditional viewfinder? And then the whole LCD screen seems like a big screen TV in front of your eyes ? Is that about right?
 
at first, I thought it was just a magnifying glass, but it seems the working distance allows you to put your eye right up to it like a traditional viewfinder? And then the whole LCD screen seems like a big screen TV in front of your eyes ? Is that about right?

Thats about Right Luke. And I don't need my glasses to use it either. Brilliant. :2thumbs:
 
@Ripleysbaby Garry, I wonder about using the ClearViewer in bright light; while I can imagine the usefulness of the enlargement effect and the joy of being able to put the camera to your eye, it's a bit harder to accept that direct light may be less detrimental to screen visibility ... But maybe I misread you in this respect.

M.
 
@Ripleysbaby Garry, I wonder about using the ClearViewer in bright light; while I can imagine the usefulness of the enlargement effect and the joy of being able to put the camera to your eye, it's a bit harder to accept that direct light may be less detrimental to screen visibility ... But maybe I misread you in this respect.

M.

It is hard to believe it actually works in bright light but it does . Sure I've had to move my hand to shade now and then. But I also had to do that with my GX8 viewfinder. I am genuinely impressed with this accessory. The only downside would be using it on a lower resolution screen than what the GR has.
 
I may well give this a shot. For the GR, but maybe as well for the E-PL7 - I just can't bring myself to mount the EVF (VF-2, btw. - not the superior VF-4) on a regular basis, it's just too ugly a wart (though it works well enough ...).

M.
 
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I may well give this a shot. For the GR, but maybe as well for the E-PL7 - I just can't bring myself to mount the EVF (VF-2, btw. - not the superior VF-4) on a regular basis, it's just too ugly a wart (though it works well enough ...).

M.
That would mean buying 2 . The baseplate is fixed (model specific) . I've been out with it again today. Brighter conditions. A dirty LCD shows up very well. Dust more than smears. And shading with your hand is quite often necessary. But it's comfortable. It will be staying on my GR. wether it's sunny or not, I like the extra stability as well.
For me , money well spent.
Even though I was stood in the shade I had a hard job seeing buster using the screen. With the ClearViewer I see everything .

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R0000209 by Garry, on Flickr
 
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