Fuji X-E2 is a disappointment on a sunny day.

[kshapero]

I was at a very sunny beach today here in Southern Florida. My X-E2 EVF was absolutely useless with legacy lenses. I had a 40/1.4 lens closed down to f16. EVF was totally dark. I then tried the Fuji 18-55 at f16 and the EVF was only marginally better. The LCD was no help at all as expected. Am I an X100S with OVF candidate or what?

 

[marcr1230]

X100s is great - I'd also suggest the Oly E-M1, my current fav digital

The viewfinder on the x100s is great, the limitation is the fixed lens, it works for many but not all
The ND filter on the x100s is really functional and let's you shoot wider open
The shutter is whisper like

The Oly is big camera in a small body, EVF is great, features galore, in body image stabilization fantastic and a choice of primes and zooms

 

[kshapero]

X100s is great - I'd also suggest the Oly E-M1, my current fav digital

Isn't the Oly an EVF also?

 

[marcr1230]

Oly is EVF with a back LCD and viewfinder - no problems at all so far in varying lighting conditions

 

[marcr1230]

The Oly has a boost mode in the EVF so even stopped down you should see well
But if the goal is to use legacy, you might be better off with a sensor size that matches the lenses

Personally I see no need to use the legacy lenses on the Oly
There is so much good glass in MFT

I briefly thought about getting an adapter and decided against

 

[semilog]

I use legacy glass on my X-E1 all the time. Daylight, low light, etc. No problems as you are describing.

You've got a preference setting that's funky somewhere. Possibly the "fire without lens attached" setting; possibly the "preview exposure in manual mode" setting; possibly something else. But there is something not set right.

35 Summilux ASPH on X-E1 (crop should be just a hair tighter):


natural bridges by Semilog, on Flickr

 

[Pablito]

You've got a preference setting that's funky somewhere.

I agree. What you describe should not be happening.

 

[zleica]

If you wear eye glasses that are darken during sunny days, it will affect the way you see through the EVF. X100s should be better if this is the case.

 

[gavinlg]

In my bedroom with the lighting conditions dark enough that I need 1/15th/f1.4 iso200 to get a normal exposure, I still get a decently bright EVF (albeit a bit grainy) when a lens is stopped down to f16. Keep in mind with the 18-55mm lens it won't actually physically stop down the lens to f16 until you half press the shutter button.

So yeah, you are definitely doing something wrong, not the camera.

 

[gavinlg]

On a very bright day you can forget every EVF around, because you see nothing. Had the same experience with my X-E1 and heard that from other EVFs too, even from hardcore EVF fans.

I don't particularly like evfs very much (which is why i bought the xpro), but I can definitely see the evf without any problems on a bright/hot day at the beach with my xpro1. It isn't really any darker or less bright than in a dim room… And Australia has to have the harshest sunlight of just about any country.

 

[gavinlg]

It might come down to how an individual holds the camera to their eye and also possibly eyesight… I have to say the OVF is so much nicer to use on the beach. And with the firmware update it is very accurate too.

 

[Keith]

I supect that glasses wearers are the problem here with too much light entering the eyepiece for the evf to cope with.

 

[back alley]

hard to beat a snow covered scene in bright sunshine for a high glare factor but my fujis work just fine out there.

 

[gavinlg]

I'm wearing glasses. The distance to the viewfinder is higher, so maybe that's a problem too. At that day, I took the camera to the eye but the viewfinder was black because the eye sensor was irritated from the glasses and the bright sun. Had to switch manually between viewfinder and monitor.

But I must say that this does not influence the sight through the viewfinder of a DSLR.

Honestly, anyone who uses that sensor should just turn it off. I haven't met a sensor that was intuitive or quick enough to not be a pain. The camera is a viewfinder camera, not a point and shoot.

 

[NazgulKing]

I was at a very sunny beach today here in Southern Florida. My X-E2 EVF was absolutely useless with legacy lenses. I had a 40/1.4 lens closed down to f16. EVF was totally dark. I then tried the Fuji 18-55 at f16 and the EVF was only marginally better. The LCD was no help at all as expected. Am I an X100S with OVF candidate or what?

I think what happens is that at f16, your 18-55 isn't exactly set at "f16".

 

[nongfuspring]

What I wouldn't give for a sunny beach right now!

I've been going through my menus trying to emulate what you're experiencing (with an X-E1) but I just can't get my EVF that dark unless I shoot on full manual with high aperture indoors. My guess is that you've got a dud and you should take it back to the store. I don't think glasses are the issue since I often shoot with sunglasses on in full sunlight with no problems.

 

[jsrockit]

I'll admit it... In bright sun, I have to switch to OVF at times. The EVF will be useless at times in bright bright sun. I do wear glasses though too.

 

[goamules]

I live in Arizona, our whole state is a sunny beach. Just no water. Seriously, I've usually been fine with electronic viewfinders here, and at real beaches. The cameras are a G1, G2, and X-E1. The sensors turn on the eyepiece as soon as I'm close to it, and I can see what I'm shooting fine (I only shoot legacy lenses). The only time I've had trouble was with the G1 and polarized sunglasses, which seem to have a mismatch with the EVF and sometimes it looks dark. Tip: Take your sunglasses off.

 

[kshapero]

Maybe I have a setting wrong (wish I knew what it was), but it just ain't going to compare to a real rangefinder like an M3. Nonetheless I think I will stick to using the Fuji AF lenses for now on my X-E2. Still love the rig.

 

[kbg32]

I've beem using EVFs for quite some time and have never had any problems with them. Currently I use a Fuji XE-1, an Olympus OMD EM-5, and a Panasonic G3.