Aputure Gigtube Viewfinder

The Aputure Gigtube Viewfinder is a pretty cool little gadget. It acts as a removable LCD live view screen for your DSLR with built in camera remote. For me, there are a number of possible scenarios where this would be particularly useful:

Having used this gadget myself over the past couple of weeks, I must admit it is pretty useful. I like to video my kids with the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and to get the shot looking great, I like to film them running about from a low angle.

Placing the Aputure Gigtube on the camera’s hot-shoe with the screen facing up makes this task so much easier and it means I can run around holding the camera low down whilst seeing exactly what I am filming. Something impossible to do with a DSLR without the Aputure Gigtube Viewfinder. ;

Update 2018: Many DSLR's and mirrorless cameras are incorporating articulating screens these days which helps.

Main Features

It is also good for stealth-type nature shots where you want to be away from the camera. Although it is not wireless, you do have a 6′ cable to give you some separation from the equipment.

Studio work will benefit too where you cannot necessarily get low enough to look at the rear LC screen. This can be useful when either attached to the camera or used hand-held.

Here are the Specs:

The Aputure Gigtube Viewfinder acts pretty much the same as your rear LCD screen. It incorporates the live view with image review once capture has been made. The whole thing is pretty simple to set up and use by simply pacing one cable into the remote release socket and the other into the AV out socket.

You can rotate the image on screen by 180 degrees for ease of viewing. The battery should last for 3 hours of continuous shooting. It is worth making the effort to only use the screen when needed as this 3 hours can quickly run out when on location.

To see a list of DSLR’s that are currently compatible with the Gigatube, please visit the Aputure website or check them out at Amazon.

Notes and Niggles:

Update: Having just used this device when shooting a recent wedding (video) I found it extremely valuable when shooting from the hip or low down when filming kids running about on the dance floor.

It can also be used well for stealth videoing/photography. You can point the lens at someone at a 90 degree angle and look down at the camera as though you are not actually filming but maybe cleaning the camera or adjusting it.

Using the viewfinder to focus and frame your shot, you can get some pretty cool footage and/or stills without the guests/couple knowing! I am sure you could find a whole host of other uses for the Aputure Gigtube Viewfinder.