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

I wear glasses, no problem. Is a Canon P or Leica M3 finder better? Probably. But I can live with the EVF with all the advantages of price, sensor, controls, and more.
 
Just to make sure.. Polarized sun glasses and evf are a no-no.

I rarely go past f11 legacy or native lens. The times I have, I cannot remember having this problem so long as the sensor is not being wiped out because the ISO is too high. (Fixed iso like 3200).

Anyway these days I am mainly using auto iso, so I cannot remember seeing this problem at all lately, unless I forget to takeoff my polarized sunglasses before I take a picture on a bright sunny day.

Gary

Correction... Now that I think back. It was really a situation where the f stop was at f2 or so and the iso was high. The sensor got wiped out temporarily before I had a chance to change the f stop.
 
Last edited:
Akiva,
Something sounds not right here. I have an X-Pro1 and it doesn't behave this way at all. I have no problems in bright sunlight, using legacy or Fuji lenses. And I wear glasses.

By chance, are you wearing polarized lenses? That will cause this problem with any modern EVF. I had to have my prescription sunglasses changed to non-polarized.

Otherwise, I suspect some setting is not yet dialed in correctly. Of course, it could also be a defective EVF?
 
Seems an easy trouble shoot: try it without glasses, and with metadata shown in EVF. Even if the image in the EVF is dark the histogram, shutter speed, meter etc should still be fully visible.

If you still can't see much, then you have a defective unit and should send it back ASAP. My guess is that if it really is as you describe it then that is most likely the case.
 
kshapero said:
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?
Click to expand...

The finder should not "black out" at a higher aperture. Or do you find the EVF to be too dark generally? Acessory eyecup available?
 
kshapero said:
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?
Click to expand...

I can understand the legacy lens causing the EVF to be dark. It would be the same on an old SLR using stop down metering, such as an older Pentax. The 18-55, I don't understand why this would cause your finder to be dark as well. As someone, mentioned before, it could be how you are setting your camera to be used. Could be a problem with your lens or camera. I have no issues such as this with my XE-1. And yes, using polarized sunglasses and an EVF just doesn't mix well!
 
i've had a bad experience also shooting the X-E1 in very bright light, the EVF wasnt very useful. I wear glasses and the distance from the vf made sun glare hit my eye, and the image wasnt that clear to see. it made me crave an ovf... thought of selling the x-e1 and getting an xpro1 but since it's a big bigger im not sure if i'd enjoy it.

i've had an x100 and loved the viewfinder. i'd use ovf on daytime and then the evf when i wanted more precise focusing (smaller AF rectangle) or a preview of the dof, mostly at dark situations. i am missing the silent shutter and the ovf and the more compact profile... i'm more prone to getting an x100s now than a 23/1.4, the extra stop wont make a huge difference in dof and the price is somewhat similar (900new vs 1300new/1000used)... 35mm is my fav focal length and i am missing it too.
 
Jamie Pillers said:
Akiva,
Something sounds not right here. I have an X-Pro1 and it doesn't behave this way at all. I have no problems in bright sunlight, using legacy or Fuji lenses. And I wear glasses.

By chance, are you wearing polarized lenses? That will cause this problem with any modern EVF. I had to have my prescription sunglasses changed to non-polarized.
Click to expand...
Wow, that may be the problem, I do wear polarized lenses. I will check into this.
 
I had trouble with the XE1 in bright sunlight. I had to shield my face with one hand or wear a hat. I actually called the camera shop during a shoot and asked if I could switch to the xpro because of this.
 
Huh....I guess you guys with the "can't see the viewfinder" problems never shot an SLR stopped down, for the, well, 50 years they were popular?

I notice the only threads that get a lot of replies are the ones that start out controversial or negative, or are turned that way by the first few comments. If someone starts a thread, "I love my new XYZ!" it will get 3-6 replies saying "great, enjoy" or such. If someone starts a thread with, "I'm giving up film....I'm curious, why would anyone like Tri-X?.....I sold my Leica M9...." it will get pages and pages and pages of replies and commentary. Interesting forum/human dynamic.
 
goamules said:
I notice the only threads that get a lot of replies are the ones that start out controversial or negative, or are turned that way by the first few comments. If someone starts a thread, "I love my new XYZ!" it will get 3-6 replies saying "great, enjoy" or such. If someone starts a thread with, "I'm giving up film....I'm curious, why would anyone like Tri-X?.....I sold my Leica M9...." it will get pages and pages and pages of replies and commentary. Interesting forum/human dynamic.
Click to expand...

Of course. There has to be change, difficulty, or conflict otherwise there's nothing to talk about.
 
goamules said:
Huh....I guess you guys with the "can't see the viewfinder" problems never shot an SLR stopped down, for the, well, 50 years they were popular?

I notice the only threads that get a lot of replies are the ones that start out controversial or negative, or are turned that way by the first few comments. If someone starts a thread, "I love my new XYZ!" it will get 3-6 replies saying "great, enjoy" or such. If someone starts a thread with, "I'm giving up film....I'm curious, why would anyone like Tri-X?.....I sold my Leica M9...." it will get pages and pages and pages of replies and commentary. Interesting forum/human dynamic.
Click to expand...

I love my Lumix G1 and G5. I'm an eyeglass wearer, live in bright, sunny New Mexico and have little problem with EVFs.

And yes, I've shot with film SLRs and used depth of field preview. But that's not how EVFs work. They "gain up" to keep the scene relatively constant in brightness regardless of the actual scene illumination. Back in 2008 when I bought the G1 (yes, I was an early adapter to mirrorless) people were complaining that the EVF kept a constant brightness. They wanted it to look like an optical SLR viewfinder.

Back to the OP's problem with the Fuji, it sounds to me like the design of the eyecup causes too much stray light to enter. On the few occasions when that's a problem with the Lumix G cameras, I hold the camera with thumb under the bottom right corner, my fingers shielding the eyecup, and use my ring finger or pinkie to press the shutter. A bit unconventional, but it works.

BTW, most of my compact film cameras with "bright" optical viewfinders also have this problem, and it varies from model to model by the design of the rubber eyecup and how wide the OVF image appears.

~Joe
 
JoeV said:
Back to the OP's problem with the Fuji, it sounds to me like the design of the eyecup causes too much stray light to enter. On the few occasions when that's a problem with the Lumix G cameras, I hold the camera with thumb under the bottom right corner, my fingers shielding the eyecup, and use my ring finger or pinkie to press the shutter. A bit unconventional, but it works.
Click to expand...

And the Fujis have added complexity in the form of an eye sensor as well.
 
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