Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

works as advertised and easy to use

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

This worked quite well for using live view to focus & compose in bright sunlight. The diopter adjustment is nice, especially if you wear glasses. It was a bit tricky to get it tightened down in the hot shoe. I also found that zooming all the way in works less well for focusing if there is any noise at all - it just magnifies the noise. At less zoom it is great to see the screen brightly lit with good contrast & is easier to focus precisely even in bright sunlight.
I found it to be quite bulky & was afraid to squish it inside my camera bag & so tried it hanging from a shoulder strap. Likely to get caught on something that way. So, I decided to return to B&H (thanks for your liberal return policy!).
I ordered the Hoodman Compact Hoodloupe Optical Viewfinder for 3.2" LCD instead, along with the Hoodman Cinema Strap. For me, I think this will be more convenient with similar functionality.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

Although there is some slight distortion in the corners, it serves its purpose quite well. Solid piece of gear if you're working outdoors.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I've had some mixed feelings about the Cinema Kit Pro over about the year or so I have been using it. I will start with my thoughts on the HoodCrane.
Initially it seemed like a great product. It was very adjustable which was appealing and the build quality looked promising. Both of these factors proved to be true, however I had a lot of trouble keeping the HoodCrane in the hotshoe mount of my 60D. It would gradually slip out after a few mintues even when it was seemingly very tightened down and light began to leak in. I put a rubber washer on the coldshoe mount hoping to avoid slipping with metal on metal contact with the camera, but it still didn't solve the problem. To make a long story short the HoodCrane didn't hold the loupe snugly against the screen and essentially defeated the purpose of using the loupe in the first place. The second point that I was dissatisfied with is that the HoodCrane obviously holds the loupe in a fixed position like a lot of other DSLR LCD/eyepiece set-ups. Now I can't believe I didn't put more thought into this, but the ergonomics were just terrible for me while using this on sticks. The fixed position is fine if you have a fixed screen, however if you've got a articulating LCD like I do on a 60D it renders it immobile and becomes very annoying shooting anything above or below an eye level set up. Having said that if you're using this on a should rig I'm sure it would be fantastic. Ultimately I scrapped the HoodCrane entirely and strapped the loupe onto my screen with a couple elastic bands. It works wonderfully and I didn't lose my articulating screen.
Now, onto the loupe. In short I loved it. The build quality is great and I found the magnification and focus of the LCD perfect. The eyecup isn't terribly comfortable, but it functions well enough.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

My film partner and I are complete opposites in vision; he's nearsighted, and I'm farsighted and amazingly, we both could see through this loupe just fine with a quick twist of the eyepiece. The z-finder had me confused on which to get due to its eyesight specs, plus I found it a bit pricey. The Hoodman worked great. We do an audio/visual podcast, and we mounted our wireless mic effortlessly on top of the Hoodman shoe that was attached to our Nikon D800. AND, like another reviewer, I too thought something was wrong with the Focus that turned out to be a little piece of protective plastic that fell out of the diopter that made everything blurry (I too was about to throw it out!). SO, DO DOUBLE-CHECK that this piece of plastic may be affecting the focus, because it really does work great!

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I had previously purchased 2 other viewfinders for a Canon T3i but every one of them required a more permanent attachment to the LCD screen which I didn't want. I needed to be able to use the camera without the viewfinder and then quickly reattach it when filming video. The Cinema Kit Pro was exactly what I was looking for. The hotshoe attachment works great and it is extremely easy to position it to match the LCD screen and keep it secure without a lot of manipulation and adjustment. The locking arms work great to get it located exactly behind the LCD and the eyepiece is easily adjusted for proper alignment. The arms are adjustable to just about any position for different cameras and the beauty is that it can be quickly flipped up out of position without removing the entire unit from the camera. This is a definite advantage to the viewfinder over others. The unit does not have to be permanently attached so that the camera can be used normally and the LCD screen can be closed for protection when the camera is not being used. This is a great unit and a great value for the price.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I use this for birding. I get my still shot, flip it down and around and get my video clip. Nothing is permanently attached to the camera.The loupe has a soft rubber feel and will not scratch anything. Set it once ,tighten and forget about it.Re-attach to hotshoe and your ready to view again.Optics seem clear and undistorted.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I use this to capture video on a Nikon D7000 camera. The mount is nice because it places the hood in the same place everytime without having to fidget with anything. The hood blocks out unwanted light making it easy to compose the scene.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I can now shoot video with my D600 in bright sunlight! The unit is well constructed, sturdy and works perfectly. Set up is a snap. I'm thrilled with my Hoodman.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

My 5d is used mostly for handheld video and the reason I purchased the unit. First adjust the "fit" so it covers the viewer properly and fits snug. As shipped required multiple adjustments but it is very adjustable. Test in bright sunlight. No light leak with my unit. Adjust the diopter to match your vision. This requires some trial and error. A tripod and fixed subject at a known distance facilitated fine tuning the unit (getting the focus precise before adjusting the unit.) Works very well and avoids issues with other units that require vendor specific mounting adapters that lock you into their products.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I am starting out with using my DSLr for videography and wanted something to help with shooting. Using the LCD screen is certainly the best, but I needed something to shade the light and give you a good look when out shooting. This certainly fits the bill. I was going to just get the Hoodloupe, but decided to get he kit, because I wanted to be able ot easily take the loupe on and off and also have something that holds it there securely when I need it. The crane works well for this purpose, although I have not used it very much at this point so long term eas of use is yet to be determined. The magivification piece is also helpful for critical focus when using the LCD. I also use this sometimes on my IR camera for critical focus using the LCD as well when taking shots. Overall, a bit pricey for what you get (as is most photo/video gear) but a god starting point for anyone starting out with video on there DSLR. If all goes well,I certainly would consider investing in a higher end piece of equipment in the future, but this certainly serves my purposes for now.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I got my cinema kit pro and connected everything knowing it would be great because I have the earlier version of the loupe and it worked great. Well I got it on the camera and Everything was blurry. Couldn't figure out what was wrong after making many adjustments. I had just tossed it into my discard camera junk bag when a little piece of plastic fell off the diopter (protective plastic) I didn't even know was there. Works Perfectly Now!!!!

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I just got my new Hoodman Pro in and love it! I read a lot of reviews before buying it, and was surprised at a few of the negative reviews when I installed mine and tried it out. It's a great buy for the price, and an excellent addition to my equipment list. The mounting is simple and very adjustable, as well as sturdy. There IS a piece of protective plastic that has to be removed from the diopter before use,... so I'm wondering if some of the negative reviews about focus issues were written before this plastic was removed. The diopter is adjustable to differing eyesights, and focus is clear. A nice unit, and priced well in a world of over-priced DSLR add-ons'.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I am very pleased with the product as well as the help received in determining it usefulness. The result is that its purchase has resolved a major probem with focusing the camera when seeking to video. The alternative was to have blurry video: a definite No No for a videographer!

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I shoot a lot outside in bright sun and I would not be able to confirm exposure without it. I like the comfort when I use the view finder. Well made.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

Trying to shoot video of an Anhinga and an alligator recently I could barely tell when I had good framing because of all the glare and reflections on the LCD screen.

This device solves that problem extremely well when shooting live view or video on my Canon 7D. It also flips out of the way easily when I want to use the regular viewfinder.

Works great and I'm very happy with it!

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

This kit is among the cheapest available, and it's also cheap in teh construction and functionality.
It doesn't stay in place properly, light comes in from the side and the side view is out of focus. It's not possible to adjust it. I returned and bought the Zacuto... it's all another story ...

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I went out to a nature preserve to shoot pictures of anything found. It was a bright sunny day, I put this on my camera and could see the pics taken clearly and easily immediately after taking. This is probably going to be on my camera anytime I'm taking pictures outside. It is easy to flip away so it is out of the way if you don't want to use it for a period of time, but can stay on the camera for when it's wanted. Adds a bit of weight but is worth it.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

This product may help in some situations but it is not clear enough for accurate focusing. I returned it, and now I am going to get a monitor and hood. This was for my Canon 7d.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

Although it looks like some strange medical appliance, it's a very effective solution to the problem of achieving precise focus shooting hi-def video with today's DSLRs. The construction is sturdy and in operation it stays in place securely and swings out of the way easily. I guess I'd have to add, while it deals with one problem of using a DSLR for video shooting, its awkward appearance tends to underline that these cameras are not ideal for video.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

works as advertised and easy to use

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

This worked quite well for using live view to focus & compose in bright sunlight. The diopter adjustment is nice, especially if you wear glasses. It was a bit tricky to get it tightened down in the hot shoe. I also found that zooming all the way in works less well for focusing if there is any noise at all - it just magnifies the noise. At less zoom it is great to see the screen brightly lit with good contrast & is easier to focus precisely even in bright sunlight.
I found it to be quite bulky & was afraid to squish it inside my camera bag & so tried it hanging from a shoulder strap. Likely to get caught on something that way. So, I decided to return to B&H (thanks for your liberal return policy!).
I ordered the Hoodman Compact Hoodloupe Optical Viewfinder for 3.2" LCD instead, along with the Hoodman Cinema Strap. For me, I think this will be more convenient with similar functionality.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

Although there is some slight distortion in the corners, it serves its purpose quite well. Solid piece of gear if you're working outdoors.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I've had some mixed feelings about the Cinema Kit Pro over about the year or so I have been using it. I will start with my thoughts on the HoodCrane.
Initially it seemed like a great product. It was very adjustable which was appealing and the build quality looked promising. Both of these factors proved to be true, however I had a lot of trouble keeping the HoodCrane in the hotshoe mount of my 60D. It would gradually slip out after a few mintues even when it was seemingly very tightened down and light began to leak in. I put a rubber washer on the coldshoe mount hoping to avoid slipping with metal on metal contact with the camera, but it still didn't solve the problem. To make a long story short the HoodCrane didn't hold the loupe snugly against the screen and essentially defeated the purpose of using the loupe in the first place. The second point that I was dissatisfied with is that the HoodCrane obviously holds the loupe in a fixed position like a lot of other DSLR LCD/eyepiece set-ups. Now I can't believe I didn't put more thought into this, but the ergonomics were just terrible for me while using this on sticks. The fixed position is fine if you have a fixed screen, however if you've got a articulating LCD like I do on a 60D it renders it immobile and becomes very annoying shooting anything above or below an eye level set up. Having said that if you're using this on a should rig I'm sure it would be fantastic. Ultimately I scrapped the HoodCrane entirely and strapped the loupe onto my screen with a couple elastic bands. It works wonderfully and I didn't lose my articulating screen.
Now, onto the loupe. In short I loved it. The build quality is great and I found the magnification and focus of the LCD perfect. The eyecup isn't terribly comfortable, but it functions well enough.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

My film partner and I are complete opposites in vision; he's nearsighted, and I'm farsighted and amazingly, we both could see through this loupe just fine with a quick twist of the eyepiece. The z-finder had me confused on which to get due to its eyesight specs, plus I found it a bit pricey. The Hoodman worked great. We do an audio/visual podcast, and we mounted our wireless mic effortlessly on top of the Hoodman shoe that was attached to our Nikon D800. AND, like another reviewer, I too thought something was wrong with the Focus that turned out to be a little piece of protective plastic that fell out of the diopter that made everything blurry (I too was about to throw it out!). SO, DO DOUBLE-CHECK that this piece of plastic may be affecting the focus, because it really does work great!

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I had previously purchased 2 other viewfinders for a Canon T3i but every one of them required a more permanent attachment to the LCD screen which I didn't want. I needed to be able to use the camera without the viewfinder and then quickly reattach it when filming video. The Cinema Kit Pro was exactly what I was looking for. The hotshoe attachment works great and it is extremely easy to position it to match the LCD screen and keep it secure without a lot of manipulation and adjustment. The locking arms work great to get it located exactly behind the LCD and the eyepiece is easily adjusted for proper alignment. The arms are adjustable to just about any position for different cameras and the beauty is that it can be quickly flipped up out of position without removing the entire unit from the camera. This is a definite advantage to the viewfinder over others. The unit does not have to be permanently attached so that the camera can be used normally and the LCD screen can be closed for protection when the camera is not being used. This is a great unit and a great value for the price.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I use this for birding. I get my still shot, flip it down and around and get my video clip. Nothing is permanently attached to the camera.The loupe has a soft rubber feel and will not scratch anything. Set it once ,tighten and forget about it.Re-attach to hotshoe and your ready to view again.Optics seem clear and undistorted.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I use this to capture video on a Nikon D7000 camera. The mount is nice because it places the hood in the same place everytime without having to fidget with anything. The hood blocks out unwanted light making it easy to compose the scene.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I can now shoot video with my D600 in bright sunlight! The unit is well constructed, sturdy and works perfectly. Set up is a snap. I'm thrilled with my Hoodman.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

My 5d is used mostly for handheld video and the reason I purchased the unit. First adjust the "fit" so it covers the viewer properly and fits snug. As shipped required multiple adjustments but it is very adjustable. Test in bright sunlight. No light leak with my unit. Adjust the diopter to match your vision. This requires some trial and error. A tripod and fixed subject at a known distance facilitated fine tuning the unit (getting the focus precise before adjusting the unit.) Works very well and avoids issues with other units that require vendor specific mounting adapters that lock you into their products.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I am starting out with using my DSLr for videography and wanted something to help with shooting. Using the LCD screen is certainly the best, but I needed something to shade the light and give you a good look when out shooting. This certainly fits the bill. I was going to just get the Hoodloupe, but decided to get he kit, because I wanted to be able ot easily take the loupe on and off and also have something that holds it there securely when I need it. The crane works well for this purpose, although I have not used it very much at this point so long term eas of use is yet to be determined. The magivification piece is also helpful for critical focus when using the LCD. I also use this sometimes on my IR camera for critical focus using the LCD as well when taking shots. Overall, a bit pricey for what you get (as is most photo/video gear) but a god starting point for anyone starting out with video on there DSLR. If all goes well,I certainly would consider investing in a higher end piece of equipment in the future, but this certainly serves my purposes for now.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I got my cinema kit pro and connected everything knowing it would be great because I have the earlier version of the loupe and it worked great. Well I got it on the camera and Everything was blurry. Couldn't figure out what was wrong after making many adjustments. I had just tossed it into my discard camera junk bag when a little piece of plastic fell off the diopter (protective plastic) I didn't even know was there. Works Perfectly Now!!!!

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I just got my new Hoodman Pro in and love it! I read a lot of reviews before buying it, and was surprised at a few of the negative reviews when I installed mine and tried it out. It's a great buy for the price, and an excellent addition to my equipment list. The mounting is simple and very adjustable, as well as sturdy. There IS a piece of protective plastic that has to be removed from the diopter before use,... so I'm wondering if some of the negative reviews about focus issues were written before this plastic was removed. The diopter is adjustable to differing eyesights, and focus is clear. A nice unit, and priced well in a world of over-priced DSLR add-ons'.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I am very pleased with the product as well as the help received in determining it usefulness. The result is that its purchase has resolved a major probem with focusing the camera when seeking to video. The alternative was to have blurry video: a definite No No for a videographer!

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I shoot a lot outside in bright sun and I would not be able to confirm exposure without it. I like the comfort when I use the view finder. Well made.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

Trying to shoot video of an Anhinga and an alligator recently I could barely tell when I had good framing because of all the glare and reflections on the LCD screen.

This device solves that problem extremely well when shooting live view or video on my Canon 7D. It also flips out of the way easily when I want to use the regular viewfinder.

Works great and I'm very happy with it!

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

This kit is among the cheapest available, and it's also cheap in teh construction and functionality.
It doesn't stay in place properly, light comes in from the side and the side view is out of focus. It's not possible to adjust it. I returned and bought the Zacuto... it's all another story ...

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

I went out to a nature preserve to shoot pictures of anything found. It was a bright sunny day, I put this on my camera and could see the pics taken clearly and easily immediately after taking. This is probably going to be on my camera anytime I'm taking pictures outside. It is easy to flip away so it is out of the way if you don't want to use it for a period of time, but can stay on the camera for when it's wanted. Adds a bit of weight but is worth it.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

This product may help in some situations but it is not clear enough for accurate focusing. I returned it, and now I am going to get a monitor and hood. This was for my Canon 7d.

Comments about Hoodman Cinema Kit Pro:

Although it looks like some strange medical appliance, it's a very effective solution to the problem of achieving precise focus shooting hi-def video with today's DSLRs. The construction is sturdy and in operation it stays in place securely and swings out of the way easily. I guess I'd have to add, while it deals with one problem of using a DSLR for video shooting, its awkward appearance tends to underline that these cameras are not ideal for video.