Camera Monitor Shroud
15 Dec 2019 (New design to fit a new camera)
We purchased a Canon XF-405 video camera. This camera is a big improvement over the Vixia (though we still use it too) and it has a flip-out monitor on the side (like the Vixia) and a viewfinder that is helpful when shooting outdoors in bright environments. Sometimes being able to use the flip-out monitor is the better choice because of screen resolution. In that case, it's nice to have some shade for it when necessary. So, I created this new design that I submitted to 3D Hubs for printing. This time I had access to better design software (i.e. SOLIDWORKS) that allowed me to make a product that better fit the camera.
The shroud as received from 3D Hubs. On the right you can some of the fuzzy side of Velcro tape I added to make it a snug fit and eliminate rattling.
The shroud installed. It slides on and off easily but, not so easy that it would fall off unintentionally.
Another view of the installed shroud.
18 June 2014 (A couple hours to design and eight hours to print)
We've probably all seen those inexpensive video cameras with the flip-out monitor screen on the side. That configuration has many advantages, like being able to see what you're recording without having to have your eye in a viewfinder. A great advantage when shooting over a crowd. The downside of this configuration is it's impossible to see the display when we're out in bright sunlight. That is when a viewfinder is nice to have. The problem is, cameras that have both a monitor and viewfinder, and have the capabilities that the one below has, start to get expensive (over $1000). A bit high to pay for a viewfinder. The idea of creating a monitor shroud seemed like a good solution provided I got all the measurements correct.
The Canon Vixia HF M50. Great camera, and I really wish it also had a viewfinder.
The monitor dimensions are:
92mm x 51mm x 11mm
Printing the shroud at HeatSync Labs in Mesa, AZ. It took about 8 hours to print in PLA plastic.
The monitor shroud design I came up with using OpenSCAD. The different colors are to make editing easier. The code is below.
The completed product.
Testing the fit. It has a snug fit and didn't rattle or require anything extra to hold it in place.
Another view.
//Monitor shroud for Canon Vixia HF M50 camera and
//other cameras with a 92x51x11mm side monitor
//Colors added to make editing easier
//Written by Athena Roberts
//14 June 2014
$fn=20;
// Places shroud in an orientation compatible with 3D printing
translate ([0,56,3])
rotate (a=[0,-90,180])
{
// Creates the shroud
color("lightgrey")
cube([93,53,3]); // goes behind display
color("red")
translate ([0,53,0]) cube([102,3,103]); // shade above display
color("lime")
translate ([-3,-3,0]) cube([3,59,103]); // shade left of display
color("tan")
translate ([0,-3,0]) cube([93,3,17]); // below display
color("blue")
translate ([0,0,14]) cube([93,6,3]); // holder below display
color("purple")
translate ([0,47,14]) cube([93,6,3]); // holder above display
color("yellow")
translate ([0,6,14]) cube([16,41,3]); // holder left of display
}