Red EVF vs. BOMB-EVF ? Have you used both ?

[George D.]

This question is directed at those of you who have used the original Red-EVF and are now using the new BOMB-EVF:


Are you happier with the BOMB?

Do you think the improvements are worth the extra cost?

Is the BOMB really that much better? Why?

What are the exact differences between the two viewfinders?

Can you see ALL the camera information (histogram, ISO, WB, menu, etc.) within BOTH viewfinders, or just the BOMB?

Any information or feedback comparing the two viewfinders would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

.

[Jon Nash]

Im also looking for constructive feedback on the Bomb v Original EVF. I've been asking but Im not hearing any constructive comments. Please chime in.. My 10 cents worth is that I love the look and size of the Bomb but in my experience with my own Bomb found the original EVF to be a truer image and the optics easier to view . I wouldn't take my experience as definitive yet as I am wanting to do some tests with other Bombs and a controlled side by side test on both R1's and Epics . Has anyone else has been able to do a evaluation who can offer some constructive feedback?

[Paul J Steinberg]

I've found the Bomb a step back.
My personal experience with my Bomb EVF.


+ The size is a big improvement over original EVF
+ The heater should make working in winter much easier. Spent the day on an ice rink yesterday and it performed well.

+/- The dot pitch of the screen seems tighter but the blacks are quite milky.

- The diopter requires you to put your eye right up into the viewfinder. If you pull your eye back a few mm the edges go soft then disappear.
- You can only see the top or bottom information displays, not both. I personally find this quite frustrating as I am often jumping between frame rates and not being able to see all the information at a glance has caused me to shoot a take at the wrong frame rate more than once. You have to push the two buttons on the front of the viewfinder to switch between top/bottom information displays. You can't do that on a take without shaking the camera if you're on a 50mm+ lens.
- No peaking to assist with eye focus.

[George D.]

I've found the Bomb a step back.
My personal experience with my Bomb EVF.


+ The size is a big improvement over original EVF
+ The heater should make working in winter much easier. Spent the day on an ice rink yesterday and it performed well.

+/- The dot pitch of the screen seems tighter but the blacks are quite milky.

- The diopter requires you to put your eye right up into the viewfinder. If you pull your eye back a few mm the edges go soft then disappear.
- You can only see the top or bottom information displays, not both. I personally find this quite frustrating as I am often jumping between frame rates and not being able to see all the information at a glance has caused me to shoot a take at the wrong frame rate more than once. You have to push the two buttons on the front of the viewfinder to switch between top/bottom information displays. You can't do that on a take without shaking the camera if you're on a 50mm+ lens.
- No peaking to assist with eye focus.

Thanks Paul.

Are you saying that you CAN see the top and bottom info with the Red EVF but not with the BOMB unless you switch back and forth with the buttons? That is a REAL drag!

And, I certainly don't like milky blacks.

This is very good for me to know.

Thanks again.

.

[Cüneyt Kaya]

the bomb on epic.
+you see the whole menu.
+size and weight

+- i have no controll to turn on/off the heater
-the epic menu doesnt let me use open gate, because there is none...yet:)
ergo the image feels like stuttering and has a rainbow effects.

when the evf controlls are enabled the bomb will be badass :)

-----hoping for a really slim module where you have another monitorport.
i never use the hdmi, would gladly switch that against a second monitor port :)

[Cüneyt Kaya]

ah, but compared to the old EVF it is better over all imho :)

[Mark Toia]

This question is directed at those of you who have used the original Red-EVF and are now using the new BOMB-EVF:.

Are you happier with the BOMB?...
YES and NO, Love the size of it... Not overly happy with the blacks.

Do you think the improvements are worth the extra cost?
Tough question, the image tones are better in the original EVF... but when you put a RED EVF, next to the BOMB EVF.., it quite literally daufs it. size does matter on the EPIC.
The extra cost goes into shrinking technology.

Is the BOMB really that much better? Why?...
It isn't much better image wise, but it's small and it has a heater (great for those cold days, which reduces the risk of banding which the old EVF had major issues with) And once you get used to using it, you will end up embracing its size, especially hanging off a EPIC

What are the exact differences between the two viewfinders?.
SIZE, Resolution, Heater (reducing image banding when cold)... Thats about that.

Can you see ALL the camera information (histogram, ISO, WB, menu, etc.) within BOTH viewfinders, or just the BOMB?
You can see it all, so don't worry about that... BUT!!!... if you pull your eye away a little bit to much from the cup, the corners get clipped... but like I said earlier, once you get used to it, that never tends to happen.

Any information or feedback comparing the two viewfinders would be greatly appreciated.
Over all nothing really to worry about. The new BOMB, lacks a little in some areas, but gains in other areas. Like size and heater.
The only real down side for the BOMB is the milky blacks. Once RED figure out how to get more dynamic blacks out of it, it would be perfect.
The funny thing is, the image on the new BOMB evf looks better when its running off the REDONE... So if it looks good on the REDONE, it has to be just a bit of time before it looks as good on the EPIC.

Once again.. the size makes it a winner over the original and the it compliments the EPIC nicely. It is better.

[Florian Stadler]

The Bomb is significantly smaller and lighter (and supposedly has a heater built in that I can't figure out how to turn on/off).
It lacks a zoom in button.
It has milky blacks and I don't trust it for exposure (yet?)
It has less vertical resolution and requires a toggle to see top or bottom info on the Red One but not on the Epic.
The image appears smaller overall due to the reduced size optics of the finder and the edges of the eyepiece circles are poorly blacked out and are creating a distracting circle around the image.

I will continue to use the original EVF in studio mode and use the Bomb for handheld/run & gun...

[Mark Pugh]

Epic firmware release notes mention:
EVF black level raised in some cases.
I'm not sure if that means "Bomb EVF cases"
If that's the case then maybe it's a firmware issue that will be resolved.
I can't recall anyone from Red suggesting in previous threads that mentioned black levels, that to be the case, though.
I think it's previously been mentioned "change the shadow level" but that changes metadata also.
There needs to be an adjustment of the shadow detail in the viewfinder separate to metadata.

The Bomb displays more shades of luminance- you can see it when the Red One is displaying "Luma Ramp", which increases the detail seen in faces, etc.

[Mark Toia]

Hey Mark... you in Jakarta yet.
I'm here till Wednesday, if you want to catchup.
Adam stevens here too..