Barely visible OVF frame lines in strong sunlight

[x.z.]

When shooting in bright sunshine a few days ago, I could not see any frame lines in OVF so I have to switch to EVF. For one moment I thought the menu was messed up or something went wrong. But then I found the lines were still there, they were just too dim to be visible against bright background.

It seems XP1's framelines were lit by a LED, it's brightness may not be enough in certain environment. Unlike Leica Ms which rely on good optical design, their frame lines are always brighter than background.

 

[kermaier]

Were you wearing sunglasses while shooting? Polarized lenses can make the projected OVF data invisible. At least this is what I found with my X100....

 

[Pablito]

Leica frame lines can disappear too if the light is a certain way.

 

[macjim]

You can adjust the brightness... If you adjust the brightness of the display, the viewfinder info brightens too. Check the handbook to see where it is done.

 

[jsrockit]

Were you using the eyesensor option>? If so, you have to keep your eye very close to the sensor on a sunny day (especially with glasses) or the sensor gets tricked half way between on and off... and the framelines fade in and out.

 

[x.z.]

Thank you all for your good suggestions.

You can adjust the brightness... If you adjust the brightness of the display, the viewfinder info brightens too. Check the handbook to see where it is done.

This really solve the problem, thank you Macjim for the hint! I know LCD brightness can be adjusted from Q menu but I never tried it because I seldom use LCD live view to take pictures. However the handbook doesn't mention that the bightness of OVF framelines (and other info) as well as EVF is also adjusted here; what more, the brightness of OVF/EVF can be different from that of LCD!

 

[j.scooter]

Can someone post instructions on how to change brightness of the OVF?
I can change the brightness in both the LCD and EVF, there is nothing in the manual that speaks to making changes to the OVF.

 

[GaryLH]

Can someone post instructions on how to change brightness of the OVF?
I can change the brightness in both the LCD and EVF, there is nothing in the manual that speaks to making changes to the OVF.

The evf brightness is tied to the ovf. U change LCD w/o using the ovf. When u change the ovf, use the eye piece and hit the quick menu button. U can adjust the ovf for a different value then the LCD. However, what ever u your choice was for ovf is used for the evf as well.

Hope that helps

Gary

 

[semilog]

The LCD Brightness menu item is context-sensitive. If the back LCD display is selected when you enter the menu system, then you'll adjust the brightness of the LCD. If the EVF is active when the menu is invoked, you'll adjust the EVF and OVF frame lines.

This is not, of course, an intuitive system. But it does work.

So far as I can tell, it's not possible to adjust the EVF and OVF frame lines separately.

Edit: I think what gary is saying above and what I'm saying here are the same.

 

[GaryLH]

The LCD Brightness menu item is context-sensitive. If the back LCD display is selected when you enter the menu system, then you'll adjust the brightness of the LCD. If the EVF is active when the menu is invoked, you'll adjust the EVF and OVF frame lines.

This is not, of course, an intuitive system. But it does work.

So far as I can tell, it's not possible to adjust the EVF and OVF frame lines separately.

Edit: I think what gary is saying above and what I'm saying here are the same.

I think u said it much better ...😉

Gary

 

[j.scooter]

Thank you both.


James