Before we begin this awesome project, let’s try to “un-ruffle” some feathers that might be hackled by calling the subject of this article an electronic viewfinder (EVF). You’re correct in thinking that this project is NOT, in the truest sense of an EVF, an EVF. In other words, the image displayed on this project’s electronic viewfinder isn’t a LIVE stream from the in-camera sensor.

Rather, this EVF is an electronic equivalent of a conventional optical viewfinder used on a camera’s cold shoe mount. Therefore, this EVF displays a LIVE stream view that is external, but parallel with the camera’s lens.

It’s unbelievable; it’s incredible; and, it uses a retro gaming handheld. Let’s begin.

And Now the Granddaddy of Them All – a DIY EVF!

OK, this is the reason you are here, right? You want to learn how to add an honest-to-gosh true DIY electronic viewfinder to your, for example, Panasonic Lumix S9! This project is very rare in the DIY world. Why? Because it’s so simple that anyone can build it and it works great.

But, best of all, this EVF isn’t the exclusive domain of the Lumix S9. It’ll work for just about ANY camera with a cold/hot shoe mount. This includes film cameras, too!

Oh, and one more thing before we begin our project, the cost for this EVF is less than $100. As a means of justifying this price, please consider this: not only is this an electronic viewfinder that displays the camera’s subject on an eye-level screen, but you can also listen to music, watch videos, and play retro games on this EVF project! Now, how dope is that?

Hmm, I can tell that you’re skeptical of these claims. Therefore, here’s the complete parts list for building your own DIY EVF:

Total: $98.47 (exclusive of possible tariffs)

There are two sides to this project: a hardware side and a software side. We’ll begin with the hardware assembly, first.

Hardware Step-by-Step

Step 1. Use the screwdriver included in the MagicX DIY Kit and remove the four screws from the back of the MagicX Mini Zero 28 handheld.

Step 2. Push and separate the two plastic shells of the handheld on the side near the TF2 microSD card slot. Use a credit card for separating the remaining sides of the handheld, by sliding the card around the perimeter of the case.

Step 3. Lay the handheld face down on the foam cushion that comes with the kit and STOP. Slowing lift the back case and detach the battery cable from the main printed circuit board (PCB).

Step 4. Locate a midway point along the lower edge of the top case just below the heatsink. Insert a piece of tape on the PCB along this lower edge. This tape will act as insulation between the 1/4″ nut and the PCB. Place one of the Camvate nut’s on the tape between the tiny PCB components. Mark the center of the nut on the case’s outer plastic shell.

Step 5. Drill a 1/4″ diameter hole at this mark. STOP, do NOT use a power drill for this step. The soft plastic could melt and ruin the handheld’s surface. Only use hand tools for drilling this hole. Periodically, test your drilling with the Nanlite adapter and Camvate nut by temporarily reassembling the two case halves together. 

Also, this step will take the largest amount of your time. Therefore, proceed slowly and carefully and you’ll soon have a DIY project that’ll give you pride of accomplishment.

Step 6. Disassemble the Nanlite adapter. Slide one of the Kondor rubber washers onto the threads down to resting on top of the cold shoe. Thread both of the knurled nuts onto the adapter. The second Kondor rubber washer is added to the top of the second knurled nut. These washers will help to cushion and distribute the force from the nuts when tightened against the cold shoe and against the lower side of the plastic handheld.

Step 7.  Loosely thread the Camvate nut onto the Nanlite adapter until the adapter’s thread is flush with the top of the nut. Slide this combination into the hole/slot that you previously drilled into both case halves. Reattach the battery cable to the PCB. The red cable should be opposite the “+” symbol on the PCB. Gently snap the two plastic case shells back together, ensuring a snug fit. Add each of the four screws back into the lower case shell.

Step 8. Carefully thread the top knurled nut/washer combination up snuggly against the plastic shell. Similarly, slide the Nanlite adapter onto the cold shoe and snuggly tighten the lower knurled nut/washer combination against the camera’s shoe.

You are now finished with all of the hardware assembly steps. Lay the completed project temporarily aside and start charging the MagicX handheld. It is now time to begin the software steps.

Software Step-by-Step

If you’ll recall, the MagicX Mini Zero 28 was purchased without a TF card. Therefore, you’ll have to download and install the OS yourself. Don’t worry it’s easy and it’s the first step.

Step 1. Goto the Magicx Mini Zero 28 GitHub and download the “Mini.28.Static.Stock.firmware._V2.1_32G.img.xz” file that is located near the “Assets” dropdown menu under the “Finally:” subhead. Expand this firmware file with your computer. The final image file will be about 31GB in size.

Step 2. Goto the Balena Etcher disk utility Web site and download the version for your computer OS. Install this utility on your computer.

Step 3. Insert your 32GB SanDisk Memory Card into your computer and use the Balena Etcher utility to install the Magicx firmware file on this card.

Step 4. Insert the firmware card into the TF1 slot on the Magicx handheld.

Step 5. Start the handheld by holding the power button (i.e., located on the bottom of the handheld) until the “Blue” LED is illuminated. The new firmware will startup (e.g., Version 2.1) and load the Android 10 OS plus the Dawn game launcher app. We will be only using the Android OS, but feel free to explore the Dawn game launcher for your own recreation. Refer to the instructions packaged with the handheld.

Step 6. Press the R2 trigger button. The Dawn game emulators will be displayed.

Step 7. Press the L1 trigger button, once. The Android tools will be displayed.

Step 8. Push-in and HOLD the right joystick for one second. The virtual mouse pointer will be displayed. Use the left joystick to move the mouse pointer and press the A button to perform a mouse click. Move the pointer to Settings and press the A button to click on the icon.

Step 9. Select Network & Internet and setup your WiFi connection. You will need this network connection for downloading one final app.

Step 10. Press the G button (i.e., located below the LCD near the site of your newly installed hardware cold shoe adapter) and return to the Android Tools.

Step 11. Select (e.g., using the virtual mouse pointer and click button) Firefox.

Step 12a. We will NOT use the Google Play Store for downloading the required app used in this project. Rather we will use Firefox. Type this URL:  and press the A button.

Or,

Step 12b. Yes, you can use Firefox for downloading the app, but using the buttons, arrow keys, and joystick can be cumbersome. A simpler method is to use your computer for downloading the app, then copy it to another, optional TF2 32GB microSD card inside its Download folder. You can download the app from:

Step 12c. Regardless of your selected download method, on the above Web page, scroll down until you see this link: “USBCAMERA.apk (4.18MB) Android 4.4 and above.” Click this link and download the APK file.

Step 13. Once the APK file has been downloaded/transferred, navigate to the Download folder and click on the app’s APK. You might see a warning about installing apps from other sources. Click the “Settings” option and select the installing other sources option from the displayed settings screen. Click the return arrow and you will return to the image app pop-up window. Select “Install” and return to the handheld’s desktop.

Step 14. The USB-Camera app is now installed on your Magicx handheld. Press the L1 trigger button to display All applications. Scroll down and the “USB-Camera” icon should be visible. Highlight the icon and press the A button, accept the license agreement terms, accept the usage conditions (change these later in settings), and accept cookie usage (again, change these later in settings).

Step 15. Attach the M5Stack Atom S3R M12 camera to the USB OTG port of the handheld. Use the adapter for this connection. Grant the app access permission for automatic start during the connection of a USB camera. You might have to set the app’s resolution to 480×320 before an image will be displayed. It could take a couple of setting/saving resolutions before a video image appears. Be patient. Also, the image can be rotated for the proper orientation.

Congrats, you’ve just built the most unbelievable, incredible, awesome, DIY project. Feel free to boast about your new EVF.

Once you’ve got this project up and running, you might actually learn to appreciate using this EVF on your camera. Why? Name any other EVF that allows you to play video games during lulls at a photographic shoot?

Enjoy.

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