Author Topic: Sunshade for LCD screen? (Read 2325 times)

Crossquill · « **on:** March 22, 2011, 05:25:07 PM »

Hey folks. I just got back from a week in Arizona with my E-P1, and I had a lot of trouble seeing the LCD screen out in that bright sun. I was wondering if any of you smart people have figured out any cheap homemade sunshades to use with the E-P1 or E-P2. Or is there a good commercial one available?

Post pictures of your rig if you've devised something clever.

traveler_101 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 22, 2011, 06:02:39 PM »

The Hoodman loop is one of the more popular solutions: http://www.hoodmanusa.com/products.asp?dept=1017
Some guys have figured out a way to attach the device to the E-P1 so it stays in place while shooting.

I have the E-P1 as well. I find that even in adverse conditions the LCD screen is still usable for reading setting information, though you can't see well enough to frame the shot. The solution is to attach an ocular viewfinder to the hot shoe. I use the VF-1 (available on e-bay now for around $60). It allows you to frame your shots with either the 17mm or the Panasonic 20mm lenses without relying on the LCD screen. It can work with the 14-42 zoom lens if you set it somewhere between 17 and 20mm and leave it at that length.

The other alternative is to get the E-P2 with the electronic viewfinder.

corgifan · « **Reply #2 on:** March 22, 2011, 11:11:24 PM »

Welcome to my world! Our wonderful AZ sun has it's drawbacks sometimes.

I've been looking at this shade and wondering how it would work:

http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Screen-Shade-Digital-Cameras-Screens/dp/B0010CCC12/ref=sr_1_65?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1300863429&sr=1-65

Delkin makes a pop up shade and I've seen one on a P&S camera. The quality was ok but it didn't look real sturdy for busier shooters:

http://www.amazon.com/Delkin-DELKIN-POP-UP-SHADE-1-8/dp/B000F6PK04/ref=sr_1_144?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1300863826&sr=1-144

This one looks kind of interesting:

http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Screen-Shade-Digital-Cameras-Magnifier/dp/B0013H43O8/ref=sr_1_22?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1300863950&sr=1-22

Getting anything that fits right will be the challenge, there's not much free real estate around the perimeter of the LCD screen.

Doug

Zelebrator · « **Reply #3 on:** March 25, 2011, 12:15:20 AM »

I like the Delkin Universal Pop-Up Shade on my E-P1. It fits perfectly, and attached carefully, the symbols next to the buttons are still visible. It is lightweight, and it's easy to remove the pop-up shade, only leaving the frame. It really helps when shooting in bright sunlight.

http://delkin.com/i-5829814-universal-current-pop-up-shade-for-black-3-0-lcd.html

traveler_101 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 25, 2011, 12:35:15 AM »

Quote from: Zelebrator on March 25, 2011, 12:15:20 AM

I like the Delkin Universal Pop-Up Shade on my E-P1. It fits perfectly, and attached carefully, the symbols next to the buttons are still visible. It is lightweight, and it's easy to remove the pop-up shade, only leaving the frame. It really helps when shooting in bright sunlight.

http://delkin.com/i-5829814-universal-current-pop-up-shade-for-black-3-0-lcd.html

Hi Zelebrator,

A couple of questions: What does the Delvin look like on the camera? Do you leave it on permanently? It may be less useful in Scandinavia where I live because bright light often comes at you almost horizontally; it's a little different than the middle latitudes, but of course I travel to other places so the shade might still be useful. Thanks for posting.

Zelebrator · « **Reply #5 on:** March 25, 2011, 01:40:57 AM »

You can find a picture here:

http://e-p1.net/accessories/lcd-hood!/

The Delkin shade looks pretty similar. The frame which stays permanently on is very thin, probably 1mm only. With the shade attached, the E-P1 become a bit more "bulky", of course, but for me this is perfectly fine. Compared to the solution with an attached hoodloupe the pop-up shade is far more compact.

The shade stays permanently on in my case. If the pop-up would annoy me, I would simply remove it, just leaving the frame.

If your main issue is "horizontal light", however, I would assume that an electronic view finder is the best solution for you. The loupe is quite expensive, even if it is cheaper than the VF-2, however the loupe is only a loupe, and therefore the price is not acceptable to me. It might however be the better solution in your case.

peterb666 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 25, 2011, 04:17:32 AM »

I use the Delkin shade on my E-P1. It is reasonably effective but has a couple of design issues.

It obscures the button labels on the E-P1 but there are not that many buttons anyway and you probably know them off by heart anyway.

The method of attachment of the hood onto the frame isn't very good. Just 4 very small tabs slide into slots in the frame. The shade is easily dislodged.

You need to remove the protective clear plastic section from the frame. Very easy to do as it pops out with only a very small amount of force. The problem with this plastic is that it is higly reflective. You really don't want to see your face in the screen.

The bottom like is the Delkin hood is effective but it is also a pain in the rear end.

traveler_101 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 25, 2011, 02:37:09 PM »

Quote from: peterb666 on March 25, 2011, 04:17:32 AM

The bottom like is the Delkin hood is effective but it is also a pain in the rear end.

You have a delicate way of putting it, Peter! Zelibrator, not to worry about the weird light rays up here. I have the VF-1 which means that even on the sunniest days I am o.k. with AF and the 20/1.7 lens. And normally there are plenty of clouds so I have no problem using with my MF lenses. I will consider another buying another Pen camera when IQ improves significantly and an EVF is built into the camera. Love my E-P1 even with its limitations.

Zelebrator · « **Reply #8 on:** March 27, 2011, 11:12:10 PM »

Quote from: traveler_101 on March 25, 2011, 02:37:09 PM

... I will consider another buying another Pen camera when IQ improves significantly and an EVF is built into the camera...

That's what I am considering, too. However, a Pen with built-in EVF might be less compact. I already find the E-P1 with kit lense attached to be quite bulky, not to mention the 14-150mm.

I did not experience any reflections, but it hasn't been that sunny yet, so I might consider removing the plastic "screen protection". In particular as I already had a screen protector attached to the display.

peterb666 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 27, 2011, 11:28:57 PM »

Quote from: Zelebrator on March 27, 2011, 11:12:10 PM

I did not experience any reflections, but it hasn't been that sunny yet, so I might consider removing the plastic "screen protection".

I have quite pale skin so light reflects off my face so may not be an issue for you. Each layer you add will have some effect on light transmission and as the E-P1 already has a hard LCD surface, I prefer not to add anything extra (although if someone developed an effective anti-glare film that didn't cut down brightness I would use it).

Sunshade for LCD screen?