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This guy hated his Sony A7 electronic viewfinder so much that he just cut it off

Oct 13, 2017 by John Aldred 27 Comments

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I have to say, this is probably one of the more extreme camera mods I’ve seen in recent times. Sure, there were some doozies back in the days of film when everything was mechanical. But now? With all the intricacies of digital chips and circuits? Not so much beyond “How to add a microphone jack” hacks. This, though, takes it to the extreme.

One member of the Xitek forum decided he just really didn’t like his Sony A7’s electronic viewfinder. So, he got rid of it. Yup, that’s right, he removed it completely, then made a new top plate for his camera to cover the hole. Essentially, it’s now a sort of full frame version of the A6500.

The user, who goes by the name “Wheat uncle” (at least that’s what Google translated it to), had a goal. To turn the camera on the left into the camera on the right. Decapitating a mirrorless camera might seem a bit extreme, and it is. But if it works for the A6x00 series, why not for full frame?

The first task was to dismantle the camera and remove the electronic viewfinder itself.

Then, cut off the viewfinder cover from the top plate.

 

With a freshly cut hole in the A7 top plate, a new cover had to be made.

Once attached, the final result looks remarkably clean. If you didn’t know any better, you’d just assume it comes this way from the factory.

As I said, a bit extreme, but if the final result works, why not? The only thing I think that would annoy me, personally, is the loss of the hotshoe. If Google’s translation of the Xitec thread is correct, it is possible to have kept it. It just requires a fair bit more work to do so. If you don’t really use flash, not worth the extra effort.

So, if you’re not a fan of your Sony A7 series viewfinder, now you know you can just take it off. Well, with the use of some elbow grease and a few tools.

Sony did actually patent a full frame mirrorless camera without a viewfinder at one point. So, perhaps this might prompt Sony to finally start producing it.

[via SonyAlpha Rumors]

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Filed Under: DIY Tagged With: a7, camera hacks, DIY, electronic viewfinder, EVF, sony, sony a7

About John Aldred

John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

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John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

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