I'm not like most G3 users, I suspect, in terms of my relationship with the flip-out LCD. I actually don't use it unless I have a strong need to. I prefer to shoot as many of my photos as I can using the optical viewfinder (OVF). If I need exposure/shutter info, the small LCD panel on the top of the camera provides that info. I do use the large LCD for other settings/adjustments that can't be done on the small LCD - but the small LCD can do a lot - what a wonder that little bugger is!
Anyway, w/the 1.75x Canon tele and lensmate 58mm adapter, you really can't see much of the image area via the OVF. So I am forced to use the LCD for most of my zoom shots. I just don't like that. I've used digicams w/LCDs for about four years so it's not a matter of me not getting used to them, I just prefer the OVF. 
Anyway, I practiced w/the G3 and found that I could see enough of the upper right side of the shot to do a pretty good job of framing my shots via the OVF w/the zoom on. Problem was, these are sports shots, and I can't see quite enough of the action to time and frame the shot as well as I want to.
Moment of epiphany:
I was playing w/the camera w/the zoom on tonight at home, and while idly shooting various things across the living room from myself (am I a fun guy or what!?) I didn't bother to use the OVF on one shot - I looked over the top of the camera (along the axis of the center of the flash hot shoe and the center of the zoom lens. Surprise - the object I was taking a picture of was framed pretty well!! I realized after a few more shots sighting over the top of the camera that I could actually shoot this way. The hot shoe is centered on the lens, and makes a pretty good "sight."
An added benefit of shooting this way would that I would have a full field of view as I tracked the action on-field.
So - I'm thinking that all I need to do is make a small square "window" (out of wire, or plastic, or maybe even thin strips of balsa wood) to serve as my viewfinder, attach it to a mount that will fit into the hotshow and I'll have a viewfinder that I can use w/the zoom. I'd have to play w/the size and positioning to give me reasonably consistent framing, and would use it when shooting full or near-full zoom shots. Of course it won't show the actual zoom, but the OVF doesn't really either, and I'm pretty accomplished at framing my zoom shots w/out seeing the actual zoom.
So before I start, a couple of questions:
1. Does something like this already exist that I can purchase? Unlikely, but wanted to ask.
2. Any thoughts about materials/design if I make it myself?
3. Does anything exist that I could use as a base to make this from (particularly wondering if there is a something out there that would provide the "shoe" portion that will fit in the G3 hot-shoe mount.
Time to rest now...and let my genius brain cells recharge.
Thanks,
Dana
