Lindsey Optics Large Format Director’s Viewfinder – Interview with Dwight Lindsey

by Jeff LochMay 14^th, 2020

During our cinema5D Virtual Show, we had a conversation with Dwight Lindsey – CEO and founder of Lindsey Optics – about their latest Lindsey Optics Large Format Director’s Viewfinder. This lens finder is used to preview shots without any electronics inside, and it covers formats from Super-35 up to Alexa 65. Let’s take a closer look at it!

Image credit: Lindsey Optics

Lindsey Optics Large Format Director’s Viewfinder

The cinema5D Virtual Show is an excellent occasion to learn more about new high-end products. The Lindsey Optics Large Format Director’s Viewfinder that was announced last month is no different.

The main advantage of a “mechanical” lens finder compared to a smartphone, for example, is that it is 100% reliable. There are no electronics, so no battery, no glitch, no reboot, no digital contrast enhancement. What you see through it is the view the lens is going to give to the camera. Also, by looking directly into the viewfinder, you get a much more “immersive” feel to what the shot will look like, and you can adjust the eyepiece diopter to your vision from -4 to +4.

As a quick reminder, this lens finder can cover a wide variety of formats, including Large Format (ARRI Alexa 65 and RED Monstro 8K), Full Frame (Sony Venice), and Super 35. You can switch between each format quickly by simply swapping a module inside the LFDV.

The Lindsey Optics LFDV features an LPL lens mount, but also includes an LPL to PL Mount adapter. At the moment, no other lens mounts are available, but third-party adapters do exist in case you need it. Also, at the moment, it covers spherical lenses only, so no anamorphic. In the future, they might release another module/version that is anamorphic compatible.

Image credit: Lindsey Optics

Pricing and Availability

The Lindsey Optics Large Format Director’s Viewfinder is available now for $10.000. It comes with a case, the three modules, and the LPL to PL lens mount adapter. This is a premium price for a premium product, and the main target is rental houses.

What do you think about the Lindsey Optics Large Format Director’s Viewfinder? Did you ever use a lens finder on one of your shoots? Let us know in the comments below!