Portkeys OVF-Z380 Eyepiece Kit Released for Sony PXW-Z380/Z300 – Flip-Up Optical Loupe, -3 to +8 Diopter

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by Johnnie BehiriToday

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Portkeys has released the OVF-Z380, an optical eyepiece kit for the Sony PXW-Z380 and PXW-Z300 camcorders. The loupe clips onto the camera’s LCD and turns it into an eye-level viewfinder, with a -3 to +8 diopter, an adjustable silicone eyecup, and an internal dust-proof structure. A flip-up design moves it out of the way when the operator needs the touchscreen.

Sony’s PXW-Z300 has no built-in viewfinder. When Sony announced the PXW-Z300 in July 2025, the handheld XDCAM camcorder came with 1/2-inch 4K 3-CMOS Exmor R sensors, a 17x zoom lens, an electronic variable ND filter, and C2PA content authentication, but operators frame on a 3.5-inch LCD only. Accessory makers have since offered optical loupes for that screen. We reported on the Zacuto Z-Finder for the PXW-Z300 one week after the camera’s launch, and on the Vocas EL-40 Eyepiece Loupe at IBC 2026. The Portkeys OVF-Z380 is a third option, and it comes from a company that is better known for its on-camera monitors.

A loupe for the Z300’s LCD

The OVF-Z380 is a passive optical viewfinder. It has no display and no electronics of its own. According to Portkeys, it mounts on the camera’s LCD with a screen mount that the operator releases with a button on the bottom of the unit. In the lowered position, the operator looks at the camcorder’s own screen through the loupe’s optics. The flip-up design lifts the loupe off the screen, so the touchscreen stays available for menus, playback, and low-angle shots without removing the kit from the camera. Portkeys says that installation and removal are quick.

An eyepiece also gives the operator a third point of contact with the camera, together with both hands. For news and documentary crews who shoot handheld in bright daylight, that is often the main reason to use a loupe on a camcorder that ships without a viewfinder. We discussed this in more detail in our article Welcome Back, EVF – We’ve Missed You!.

Diopter, eyecup and dust protection

The diopter adjusts from -3 to +8. That range covers many operators who would otherwise wear glasses behind the eyecup, especially farsighted ones. The eyecup is made of soft silicone, and Portkeys says that its orientation can be adjusted.

Dust on the optics or on the LCD is a common problem with loupes, because any particle between the eye and the screen shows up magnified. Portkeys addresses this with an internal dust-proof structure that includes a dust-protection glass between the screen mount and the optics, and with a removable dust cap that protects the eyepiece when the kit is not in use.

Size, weight and construction

The housing is made of ABS, glass, and aluminum alloy. The OVF-Z380 measures 156 x 99 x 71mm / 6.1 x 3.9 x 2.8in and weighs 282.6g (10oz). For comparison, Vocas gives a weight of 385g (13.6oz) for its complete EL-40 kit for the Z300, which includes a friction bracket for the camera’s LCD arm. Zacuto’s Z-Finder for the Z300 also uses a bracket that locks two of the arm’s three axes and mechanically strengthens it.

Current limitations

Portkeys does not publish a magnification figure for the OVF-Z380, and the product information does not list the box contents. Portkeys also does not say whether the kit includes a support for the Z300’s LCD arm, which Vocas and Zacuto supply with their loupes. Zacuto states 2.5x magnification for its Z-Finder. Operators who compare the three options should check these points before they buy.

The OVF-Z380 is not the first link between Portkeys and this camcorder. With the Portkeys firmware update for nine monitors in March 2026, the company added Wi-Fi and USB-C camera control for the PXW-Z380 to monitors such as the LH7P, LS7P, and BM5 IV WR. We last covered the company in September, when it introduced the Portkeys LH5P III monitor.

Price and availability

The Portkeys OVF-Z380 eyepiece kit is listed at B&H for $299. CVP does not list the kit at the time of writing. For comparison, Vocas sells the EL-40 with its Z300 attachment for €779, excluding VAT. More information is available on the Portkeys OVF-Z380 product page.

Do you shoot with the Sony PXW-Z300 or PXW-Z380, and do you frame on the LCD or through a loupe? Would a lower price and weight be more important to you than a support bracket for the screen arm? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!