Joshua's DIY View Finder

According to wikipedia, in photography, a viewfinder is what the photographer looks through to compose, and in many cases to focus, the picture.


According to Joshua Chiam, videographers also need view finder, in order to confirm that he focused well and could check to ensure that the footage is good. Especially when it's outdoor.. a view finder helps could help to avoid direct sunlight reflecting from the camera screen.. oh well oh well.. so Joshua said he needs a view finder.

But it cost about RM150 just for one!

So he found DIY ideas over youtube.. and during CNY, when we were bored in Alor Setar, he decided to try it out.

1st, need to find a plastic case that's about the size of the camera screen. We looked up and down in the house but could not find something that fits. Then Joshua's mum thought about Johnson's Johnson's baby powder.... so we went to the Pacific Mall with the measurement of the screen size. Took the risk and spent RM11.90 on this baby powder.

Joshua and his mum opened the lid and got rid of all the baby powder. Put in other containers and then Joshua started cutting it... he tried and tried, could not cut straight line. =.=

I had to take over, draw a simple line with pencil and cut accordingly...

2nd, need a magnifying lense. We went to Pacific Mall's stationery section and found this mini magnifying lense. Spent RM8.90 on it. We didn't know whether it would fit, but thought if it's too big we can try to sand it since Joshua's dad has a lot of sandpaper at home. We thought removing it from the handle would be difficult, but it's much easier than expected.

It fits perfectly! No need to sand. :D

Trying on Cammy.


3rd, buy black spray paint. If not wrong, it's RM7.90. We realised later that it is not very good quality paint though..

Anyway, yes paint the plastic case inside and out.


4th, buy strong glue. Can't remember how much... should be about RM10 for a small can. When the paint dried completely, Joshua used a sponge to glue the lense to the walls of the black case. The sponge I believe was taken from Joshua's dad's storeroom.


5th, find rubber bands that's long enough to tie the blackcase to Cammy!


Here's the DIY version of View Finder! :D
Total cost, not more than RM40! Would've been cheaper if we already have the milk powder at home, have unwanted magnifying lense, glue & paint in the storeroom. Hahaha..


We later on have to find yarn rubber band to hook at the are where Joshua will rest his eyes on, so that it creates a cushion to rest on.

Looks like the view finder DIY is quite successful! Just hope that it is durable! :D