SLR Viewfinder - Cavision

This is the Cavision MHE52 viewfinder, a single lens element cap designed to mount over a 3.5 inch LCD, such as the 5DMkII, transforming the LCD into a viewfinder for Live View and video work. It greatly enhances working in sunlight or conditions where the viewfinder can be hard to visualize allowing more accurate composition and focusing.

The camera mounts to the plate in front of the viewfinder and is adjustable to mount snugly to the LCD on most cameras. There is a swing connection so you can quickly swing the viewfinder out of the way if you want to look through the eyepiece, etc.

The viewfinder can be mounted, along with the camera, on a Cavision shoulder mount to provide great stability and good visualization.

Please Note: Height alignment of the LCD Viewfinder is intended for the Canon 5DMkII and may not align properly with other cameras. For use with the Canon 7D and T2i an additional RPC4580 spacer plate must be requested.

Roger’s take: Let me be subtle and understated here: THIS THING ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, TOTALLY ROCKS! Any questions?
Ok, the obvious first: it gives you a 2x view of the camera’s LCD in a nice enclosure so light glare is completely a nonissue. Accurately manually focus in Live View handheld? Check. Even with my bad eyes I suddenly have no trouble with manual focus. Accurately follow focus shooting video? Check! See above. Do both no matter how bright the sun? Check!
Ok, so it does what it says it will do. So well that I changed the lenses I was going to use shooting an indoor party this week because this will let me use the manually focused lens I really wanted to use, but was afraid to in indoor light. But I’m most impressed by its great design. No stupid looking rubber band thingies to hold it on the camera. A very sturdy, very adjustable mount screws into the tripod mount making the camera and viewfinder one piece. And a thumbscrew lets you drop the viewfinder out of the way if you want to shoot through the eyepiece for a while. And about half the price of the ‘famous brand’ competitors price. Simply excellent. So excellent that when I saw the first few we ordered on trial, I sent another order in for twice as many. This is the best new accessory I’ve seen in months.