Best viewfinder accessories for the Sigma fp series?

Question

Seriously im about to lose it with this camera in the sun. I love the fp L for the colors and the size but god trying to use the back screen in the bright Arizona sun is just a joke. I cant see anything. I bought the LVF-11 loupe thing because everyone said it was the best way but honestly I hate it. Its way too big and turns this tiny pocketable camera into a weird bulky monster that doesnt even fit in my bag right. Plus it keeps getting in the way when I try to use the touch screen for focus points.

I really want to keep using this system for my street photography trip to Japan next month but if I cant find a better way to see what im shooting its going on eBay. Are there any other options that arent as massive as the Sigma one? Ive looked at:

small rig components

maybe some weird third party eyecups

those tiny hot shoe viewfinders but do they even work for framing

Does anyone have a setup that actually keeps the camera small but lets you see in daylight? I have about $300 to spend on this but im just tired of squinting and guessing where my focus is...

PacketPhantomX · Accepted Answer

Honestly, I feel your pain. Arizona sun is brutal on screens. If you really want to keep the fp L pocketable for Japan, you might want to consider a high-quality optical finder like the Voigtlander 28mm Metal Bright Line Viewfinder. It sits right on the hot shoe and is tiny compared to that Sigma loupe monster. Just be careful because you wont get any focus confirmation in the glass. Its purely for framing your shot. You gotta make sure your zone focusing skills are sharp or use back-button focus and trust the AF beep. For the focus issue, I would suggest looking at the TTArtisan 28mm Optical Viewfinder if you want to save some cash for sushi in Tokyo. Its way cheaper but gets the job done. One thing people forget is to dive into the menu and set a shortcut for the Monitor Moonlight or High Brightness mode. It eats battery like crazy, so maybe grab an extra Sigma BP-51 Li-ion Battery while youre at it. Ngl, even with a finder, the screen is still your main hub for settings, so getting a solid matte protector like the Expert Shield Anti-Glare Screen Protector Sigma fp can take the edge off the reflections. It wont make it a miracle screen, but it helps you see the menus enough to survive the midday sun without losing your mind.

UrbanSpecter · Answer

> its way too big and turns this tiny pocketable camera into a weird bulky monster In my experience, you just gotta get the Sigma EVF-11 Electronic Viewfinder. Optical ones are tiny but useless for focus. Its sleeker than that loupe... try finding one used.

ZoneZephyr · Answer

Just saw this. Quick question tho, what focal length are you mostly shooting for your street stuff? Framing is one thing, but nailing focus is another beast.

Ricoh GV-2 Mini External Viewfinder is tiny for 28mm framing.

JJC LCD Screen Sun Shield Hood folds flat to block glare. Ive tried many setups over the years and honestly, if you need to see focus, hot shoe finders wont help.