Can't see LCD in sunlight, help

would like to read/see what solutions are out there and what you've been using. if its any bright out there i can not see the LCD on my 1D4, therefore very difficult to adjust to the settings i need. TIA.

Something like this?

http://www.hoodmanusa.​com/products.asp?dept=​1017

You didn't state a price range but since your using a 1D4 you can probably afford this.

Zacuto Z-Find-Pro3 Optical Viewfinder

I have the one made for my 5D3 which has a 3.2" screen iirc your 1D4 is 3" so the link above should be the right one for your setup.

These work amazingly well and since it's clamped on to the camera it doesn't pop off like the Hoodman I previously had and returned used to do. They aren't cheap but if you plan on using them to compose your image and perhaps even go over to Manual Focus like I have it is indispensable.

Also, I use it for sunrises and sunsets so I don't have to look at the sun through the viewfinder, which is dangerous, to compose my images. I flip on live view and use the LCD to compose, focus, shoot, and review...

The biggest complaint I've seen against it is the price. But if you compare it to paying say $300 (or more - me included) for a 77mm or 82mm piece of precision colored glass (like Singh-Ray CPL and VND filters) I think the Z-finder is a fairly good deal if you use it as often as i do.

I like the Zacuto but it looks like I'll have to unattach it every time I put my camera in its backpack. So, so far the Hoodman is more practical, but not as cool. Lol

N.V.M. wrote in post #16037176
I like the Zacuto but it looks like I'll have to unattach it every time I put my camera in its backpack. So, so far the Hoodman is more practical, but not as cool. Lol

Actually the bracket is attached to the camera like an L-bracket but the "loop" itself pops off just like the Hoodman. So the camera is no larger than one with a L-bracket and much smaller than a 5D3 gripped.

The advantage of the Z-finders bracket is that you don't need any adhesives to attach the "loops" holder frame around the viewfinder. On the Hoodman the "loops" holder frame around the viewfinder is held on with an adhesive that tends to soften in the heat and move, get dirty and make a mess of you viewfinder area, and lose its grip and drop off over time.

I use the hoodman for my leaf back cause its unreadable outside. I also had to become really good at reading a histogram.

I'll assume you've already tried turning the LCD's brightest up and covered the screen with your palm and/or turned your back to the sun to shade the LCD while reading it....all free!

Russ61 wrote in post #16037651
I'll assume you've already tried turning the LCD's brightest up and covered the screen with your palm and/or turned your back to the sun to shade the LCD while reading it....all free!

Try doing that in Live View zoomed 10x to do a precise MF on a bright sunny day. While you'll likely miss the shot, I won't... well I might, because I'm a klutz but at least I'll be able to see what I missed

I've shot on a regular LCD at half brightness and managed to see fine, this was skiing on probably the sunniest day of the season, I can't think of many times where it's gonna be brighter.

magnusrn wrote in post #16053055
I've shot on a regular LCD at half brightness and managed to see fine, this was skiing on probably the sunniest day of the season, I can't think of many times where it's gonna be brighter.

Really depends where the sun is. I've been in conditions where I could not see what was on my LCD screen due to the sun. Very frustrating using the camera in those conditions. Got the Zacuto finder and problem solved.

I use a hoodman cinema kit. It has a crane bracket that mounts in the hotshoe, this way it stays on the camera, but with a quick move of a lever I can lift it and swing it out of the way. It also means I'm not taking off my L bracket. It's not as clean looking as the Zacuto, but it gets the job done quickly and easily.
http://www.amazon.com …ds=hoodman+cine​ma+pro+kit

Hogloff wrote in post #16053081
Really depends where the sun is. I've been in conditions where I could not see what was on my LCD screen due to the sun. Very frustrating using the camera in those conditions. Got the Zacuto finder and problem solved.

Ah I suppose that's true, that could have been a factor

thread update!

tried turning up the lcd brightness, did not work, and i saw an ad in Craiglist for a Hoodman loupe. we'll see how it goes.