Video Tap / Video Assist for use with 16mm/SUper 8 Cameras

[Gabe Agoado]

I've been trying to figure out a way to get a video tap on my film cameras, ex. my K-3. I am looking for a solution which will give me an image through the viewfinder that I can then hook up to a small monitor for framing/focusing so I don't have to walk around with my eye in the eye-cup all the time. I just don't know a suitable camera to use for this application. I've considered the small security cameras/bullet cameras that you can find online, but not sure if the 3.6mm wide angle they can provide would be optimal.

I have this camera (pictures attached). I put it up to a couple of viewfinders and tried it indoors and it worked when I had the camera pointed directly at a light, otherwise it was very dark. I think it has it's advantages as it has its' own white balance settings, LCD screen if the monitor runs out of power, and it has its' own memory and slot for a memory card if I wanted to be able to playback a shot I just took.

Not sure what better solutions people have come up with, if there is something I am missing then feel free to educate me.

UPDATE: I did try this with my smartphone, and it seems to work, but I'd still need to run it to another monitor to make it worthwhile.

[bolextech]

I've made up a few of these over the years. I've always used small C-mount cameras, preferably of the low light variety. Used a lot of KT&C cameras.
Depending on the camera's chip size, the lens was usually between 8mm and 12mm. C-mount spacer rings were usually necessary to achieve close focus.
I would usually machine a coupling ring so that the whole thing attaches solidly to the eyepiece.

Jean-Louis

[Mana]

Expensive, but...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HD-Fujica-ZC100 ... XQCtlRSu0R

[milesandjules]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zigview-S2-Digi ... SwiwVWSwQN

these work to....made for slrs before they had live view

[Gabe Agoado]

While the Zigview seems like a good idea, all the reviews I have found say that the image quality sucks, even when connected to a separate monitor, and for the price he's asking I do not think it's worth it.

The KT&C cameras seem like a good option, but too large for my rig, hard to find an HD one.

I was considering something like this
http://www.amazon.com/Vanxse%C2%AE-Secu ... 5R26J2PKPG
because it is very small and lightweight, seems like something that's easily mountable anywhere on my rig. It also looks to be HD, so output to a HD monitor would work.