Build a FS7/FX9 Replacement Viewfinder Bracket for Under $100
FS7 MK1 monitor modified to to clamp onto the Nato rail of your choice with Small Rig SWAT Rail Clamp 1245 and with a Hoodman HD350 Sunhood.
INTRODUCTION
The stock viewfinder on the Sony FS7 (MK 1/2) and the new Sony FX9 does not have the best design. The design was improved when Sony Released the FS7 Mk2 and later the FX9, but it remains inelegant. There are several pricey solutions from Wooden Camera ($330) and Vocas ($215.00) with the Vocas model being my favorite for is slim and well thought out design. But what if we could do practically the same thing with parts from Small Rig and Nicey Rig? And what if it came in for under $100 bucks?
SmallRigs FS7/FX9 Top Handle Special Screw
Price: $12.00
Finally SmallRig has come out with a dirt cheap fix for what has been an inherent problem in Sony’s top handle design since the original FS7 came out in 2014. The stock screw is very difficult to access with the top handle mounted to the camera and strips easily. This special screw from Small Rig helps makes the stock handle more functional by allowing you to tighten the rod clamp by hand. It also makes disassembling the viewfinder bracket easier for storage and travel.
Small Rig 2” 15mm Rod Pack
Price: $10.00
This short 15mm rods are perfect to keep help build this setup. One is necessary to use later in mounting the monitor to rail clamp. You can use the second one to make mounting the NATO Rail camera handle’s 15mm rod port super clean. If you have some spare 15mm rods around you can use use a hacksaw to cut them to the size you need.
Nicey Rig Nato Rail with 15mm Rod Clamp
Price: $25.00
This piece clamps onto the 15mm rod coming out of your stock handle and extended forward to eventually hold the monitor.
Note: I find this Nato Rail a bit too small at 150mm. The Vocas model is 170mm long, Small Rig’s at 147mm andWooden Camera’s is 127mm but includes the extender piece. The Vocas 170mm nato rail is the perfect size as the viewfinder’s cabe is isn’t long enough to go any further out. I wish someone would make a slightly longer version of this of this Nicey Rig piece. If you order, perhaps order from somewhere with a simple return policy incase you want to switch to the Wooden Camera Nato XL or the Vocas Nato Rail itself. Also see the Rail Clamp 1254 below for a solution that overcomes the short nato rail lenght.
Small Rig SWAT Rail Clamp 1245
Price: $30.00
This piece clamps onto the NATO rail above and also has 15mm rod clamp. Take the one of the 2” 15mm rod pieces and cut as small as you’d like (or don’t cut at all). Insert one end into the viewfinders rod port and into the rod port of the rail clamp. And voila, you’re done. (see photo at header)
Small RigSWAT Rail Clamp 1254
Price: $30.00
This piece is an alternative way of mounting the viewfinder that is more similar to Wooden Camera’s model. It attaches to the Nato Rail in so that the 15mm rod is parallel instead of perpendicular like the rail clamp above. You can then choose the 15mm rod length of your choice to extend the view finder out further just as the Wooden Camera adapter works. This overcomes the challenge of the smaller Nato Rail and gives you more flexibility.
Hat tip to Joshua Frank who came up with this solution.
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