Introduction: HOMEMADE DSLR VIEWFINDER - DIY LCD Z-Finder

By knoptop.com
About: Go Make Something!
DSLR Camera's can shoot amazing video, but being photo camera's first, they typically need some accessories to help shoot video.  LCD Viewfinders are one of the first accessories needed, but they can be VERY expensive!

Here's a simple way to make an LCD viewfinder for your DSLR camera (or any other LCD display)!!
It'll cost about $5 but most of this stuff you probably have around your house, so it'll really cost you nothing!!


Step 1:

What you'll need:

Baby Powder Container
(or any container with a round hole at one end, and rectangular end on the other side).

Magnifying glass (plastic lens)

Rubber bands (hair ties work great, and add a pro look).

A set of earphones, you'll need the padding from those (just one).

Some hot glue and paint.

That's it!!

Let's get started!

Step 2:

Remove any stickers from your container, and cut the bottom of the container off, leaving as much of the plastic in tact.  Temporarily place the magnifying lens inside the container using tape.

With the lens in place, put the container on the LCD of your camera and test the focal length.  If it's out of focus, trim a little off the bottom of the container and check again. Continue to do this gradually trimming the bottom of the container so you can get the custom focus for your eye with your viewfinder (container).

Step 3:

Once you get your focus set with your viewfinder, remove the lens and paint the container.
Be sure to prep the plastic and use paint for plastic.

Step 4:

After your viewfinder (container) is painted, we're going to hot glue the lens in place.  You want to bead around the lens with hot glue and place it inside the container, and add more glue to secure inside.

Step 5:


Next cut a hole in the foam earphone padding and stretch it over your container eye piece.

Step 6:

Take your hair ties (rubber bands) and tie two together using a slip knot so the band forms an 'X' formation.  Make two of these and stretch them over the eyepiece of your viewfinder.

Step 7:

Your DONE!  It's that easy!  Now lets stretch it over the camera.  Stretch the top bands over the top of the camera. Then the bottom over the bottom of the camera. You'll will most likely need to use the tripod mount as the holder of the bottom band. 

And that's it!  DSLR LCD VIEWFINDER!

Step 8:

Here's another example using a different type of container!
This container needed to be slightly modified to fit the LCD. I simply cut a slit in each side and hot glued them back into position to fit the LCD area exactly. I cut and stuck sticker foam on both sides to give it a unique look and also to cover the cuts on the side of this customized viewfinder!

Get creative and go and make one yourself!!