When shooting, you want to have a clear image in the viewfinder free of stray light so you can frame and focus correctly and to minimize eye fatigue. Eyecups aid in the process of shielding light and providing comfort to the operator.

There are basically three types of eyecups for any video camera. The stock rubber eyecup, a foam/chamois eyecushion, and the i-Cuff.

Rubber eyecup: ($ included)

On a professional camera, the rubber eyecup usually gives you minimal protection from glare. Some cameras, such Sony's VX-2000/PD-150 comes with two eyecups, one uncomfortably small (pretty useless) eyecup, and another much larger with a rubber flap that blocks ambient light when you are looking through the viewfinder.

Those rubber flaps on the side of the eyecup work great, that is, unless you wear glasses. Then your glasses usually push out the rubber flap and sunlight comes streaming into the viewfinder. Lets not even mention the grease and oil that gets onto the glasses!

If you have ever shot out in less than ideal weather, in rain or sweltering sun, you'll know that uncomfortable feeling from the your perspiration the rubber eyecup gives when it's humid and hot or how your viewfinder fogs up when it's raining. Most people would rather not do the scuba diver/swimmer technique of spitting in their viewfinder for a temporary "anti-fog" solution.

On consumer DV cameras, it’s pretty fair to say that the eyecups, if they could be even called that, are useless.

 

Chamois Eyecushion: ($7)

A cheap, disposable solution. The cushion gives you a little padding from the rubber, and the chamois absorbs the sweat.

The eyecushion is held in place by friction with the rubber eyecup. I've had a couple instances hiking with my camera slung over my shoulder that I lost the eyecushion along the way. This also means you need to get an eyecushion that fits your viewfinder well. My JVC DV500's eyecup isn't as large as the Sony's and the eyecushion falls off easier, but the Panasonic HD viewfinder is too big for the eyecushions

Note that a sterile chamois eyecushion also separates your eye from the eyecup, which may be important in rental gear. Getting pinkeye from the viewfinder left by a previous camera operator is not fun at all!

i-Cuff: (Pro: $65, DV: $40)

An Emmy winning Director of Photography himself, Ira Raider invented the i-Cuff to solve the problems of most field camera operators, combining both an ambient light shield and comfortable chamois. Ira sent me two i-Cuffs, the i-Cuff PRO that fits professional cameras, and the i-Cuff DV, which fits prosumer camera gear.

I put the i-Cuff PRO on my JVC GY-DV500 camcorder and it was a perfect, snug fit. Although no instructions were included in the package, it is quite self-explanatory how to install the i-Cuff. You simply stretch the elastic to go over the eyecup, and when place, tighten the fit using the Velcro strap. I originally found that the i-Cuff wiggled out of place when I slung the camera over my shoulder, but that was because I did not tighten the Velcro strap enough. It doesn’t move at all now

For operators with glasses, I appreciated that the i-Cuff does not rest or push on my glasses, keeping it free from smearing the oil and grease onto my glasses. To me, this alone is worth it all!

The i-Cuff PRO fits most 1" to 1.5" viewfinders. The PRO could not fit on a Panasonic HD viewfinder, which will be solved as Ira is making a "HD" version for larger 2" viewfinders.

Originally, I thought that adding the i-Cuff to the viewfinder might prevent the Portabrace viewfinder case from fitting correctly. I was wrong. The i-Cuff PRO worked perfectly with the Portabrace case.

In fact, the i-Cuff even works well with the built-in rain slicker on the Portabrace shoulder case. I took a picture before I stepped out into a near-blizzard. The i-Cuff worked perfectly keeping the viewfinder dry, helped in preventing fogging up of the viewfinder and was very comfortable on my face.

 

i-Cuff: ($40)

Using the i-Cuff DV on my consumer Canon ZR10 proved a little awkward. It looked more like a black tumor growing out the back of the camera than anything. The i-Cuff went on and secured easily, but the viewfinder is still hard to see due to its minuscule size (not Ira’s fault). You will need to stare down the barrel of the viewfinder with the i-Cuff. It doesn’t make your viewing any easier.

The i-Cuff installation on the Sony PD-150 process was just as simple and easy, although the viewfinder still cannot be lowered completely with the viewfinder on and battery changes involves moving the viewfinder up. Although I’m certain that it has improved on the PD-150, its earlier cousin, the VX-1000 suffered from broken viewfinder ribbons with too many flexes.