Complete Package For: Canon EOS-D30,D60,10D,20D,30D, 1D MK II, 1D MK IIN Nikon-D1, D2H, D2X, D2Xs, D200, D80 Pentax- *istD,* istDs, *istDs2, *istDL, K100, K10D, K110D Samsung-GX-10, GX-1L,GX-1s Fuji-S3 Pro, S5 Pro Sigma-SD14

75021 (RC21)

75022
(RC22)

75023
(RC23)

Minolta

D200, D50, D70s, D70, D80, D100, N80, N75, N55, N65, Pronea 6i, N70, N60, N50 N6006, N6000, N5005, N4004s, N4004, N2020, N2000, FG, FG-20, EM, FM10, F80, F50, F55, F60, F65, F70, F75, F80D(S), F301, F401, F501, F601, etc.

Fuji S1 Pro
Fuji S2 Pro
Fuji S3 Pro

*included with all Zigview models

Canon Ec-C Type

EOS Digital Rebel XTi, Digital Rebel, Digital Rebel XT, 300D, 350D, 30D, 20D, 10D, 5D, 1D, 1D MK II, EOS 66, 888, 100, 100s, 500N, etc.

*included with all Zigview models

Canon Ed-C Type

EOS 3, 5, 55, Kiss, etc.

*must be purchased separately for all Zigview models

Pentax ist, istD, istDs, ME, ME super, MZ, etc.

Sigma SD9, Sigma SD10, etc.

Also Fits Contex N Series Cameras

*included with Zigview-B only - must be purchased seperately for the Zigview-R & Zigview-S2

• There are three different Zigview S2 models in order to provide optimum condition for image quality and sensitivity.

• Even if the proper Zigview S2 model is used for your SLR camera, the Zigview S2 LCD display image is not exactly aligned to camera viewfinder image information.

• If Zigview S2 LCD displays well aligned image as the picture above, Fully Displayed, angle adjustment is not necessary.

• If the Zigview S2 LCD cannot display well aligned image as pictures above, Hiding Bottom and Hiding Top, angle adjustment is required for proper image display.

• There are three kinds of metal insertions for angle adjustment. The thickness of No. 1 metal insertion is the smallest. The thickness of No.3 metal insertion is the largest. The number of white dots represents metal insertion number as picture below:

• Inserting metal insertion between Zigview S2 and eyepiece adapter prevents lower part image display being cut off.

• Adjusting metal insertion is not required after proper initial installation.

• Attach eyepiece adapter to Zigview S2 main body after inserting proper metal insertion as following picture:

• Fasten all 4 screws when metal insertion is used.

• If upper image is cut off after installing metal insertion (as in picture below), metal insertion thickness is larger than proper size.
• Then, use lower number of metal insertion.

• If all three metal insertions cannot prevent lower image cut off, please contact customer service center (Climax Digital) for proper Zigview S2 model selection.

Video Assist Setup: Zigview S2 (updated with video)

http://www.objectsatrest.org/?p=170

Copyright 2006 D.G. Goans

I just got the new Zigview S2 (model B) with video out which is intended to help with video assist. I tried it out tonight with my Serlio puppet and here are some photos, info, and some thoughts about the product so far. There is also a thread at the StopMotionAnimation.com forums with another Zigview S2 user’s results so far. The Climax Digital website has more info and pics.

Here is a video clip comparing the frames captured with the Zigview and the final output from the Nikon. It is an MP4 file using the H.264 codec at a resolution of 640×480 and is just under 2MB in size. If you can play it, you can get a sense of the quality I am seeing with the Zigview.

Here is the packaging. It comes with the video out cable, and several eye-piece adaptors for Canon, Nikon, and some other cameras. Since I got this from the UK I had to get a $20 Kensington Travel Plug Adapter for Worldwide AC Power to plug it into the wall. (The plug adaptor is the larger cylindrical object with the yellow sticker on it and does not come with the unit but I put it in the pic.) The unit is battery operated but it looks like the battery may run down after a few hours. Fortunately it can operate and charge the battery when plugged in.

Here is the unit attached to my Nikon D50. The unit is really lightweight and the buttons are plastic. It feels a bit delicate but hopefully it can withstand a lot of handling over time. The unit just slides/snaps down onto the viewfinder of the Nikon. Really easy to attach and remove and it swivels around which makes it a lot easier to see what’s going on in the frame at various camera angles. The viewfinder on the unit allows me to focus pretty and so far it appears to capture the whole field of view so I can compose and focus without removing the unit. The video out cable from the Zigview S2 is plugged into a USB Video Grabber that I got at Compusa. The video grabber installed fairly easily into my USB hub so I didn’t have to buy and install any cards in the computer.

I am currently using Stop MotionMaker Advance and here is a screen shot of the desktop with the Zigview as video assist. This should be the actual size of the application panels since I cropped but did not re-size anything in Photoshop for this image. You should be able to get a sense of what the Zigview looks like at 640× 480 this way. The image has some noise but I can see everything in the viewfinder and there is enough detail for me to check movements from frame to frame. Plus I’m usually standing about 3 to 6 feet away when moving things so at that rage the 640×480 window looks pretty good for video assist.

Note: This website has re-sized this image to for formatting. Click on image for larger size.

Here are a couple of shots to demonstrate the coverage of the viewfinder with the actual hi-res photo taken with the Nikon. I re-sized the hi-res photo which is twice the resolution for this comparison. Again, the zigview appears to provide almost total coverage of what the camera is seeing which really helps with composition.

So far I think this may work out well. It is definitely a step up from the web cam that I was using which had really poor resolution. I couldn’t see details in the face or hands of the puppets with the web cam which I am now able to see thanks to the Zigview.