GF1 View finder and LCD clutter

[justins7]

I am a longtime Leica user who is loving the Panasonic GF1 -- it's the first digital camera I actually enjoy using.

The only (relatively minor) complaint I have is the fact that it is difficult to get the clutter off the screen when shooting. I want to see just the image, no numbers or other information. You have to hit the display button several times, and then when your finger is on the shutter release the date and time suddenly show up. Why on earth would you want to know this when you are shooting?

And yesterday I finally got to check out the viewfinder at Adorama in NY. It seems that you can never clear the info from the screen on the VF, and the image area does not even use the full size of the VF.

Does anyone know if there is a way to clear this distracting info from either the LCD or the Viewfinder?

Thanks!

 

[GaryLH]

The is no way I know to completely eliminate it outside of using a optical finder and trusting the camera to do the right thing (AF focus and P mode).

But you can min. the affects down to one line at the bottom by cycling thru the display button at bottom of camera to left of the 4way buttons. U can also go into setup and change the display mode to either put the one line display in the unused area or not.

Hopefully someone who has used the camera longer may know how to do exactly what you want.

Good luck
Gary

 

[justins7]

I would love to use a brightline finder, but I am using a 25mm c-mount lens which needs constant manual focusing.

 

[Visuals]

I would love to use a brightline finder, but I am using a 25mm c-mount lens which needs constant manual focusing.

is it possible to manual focus with the EVF?
What about an Optical View finder?
Which is better for manual focusing?

There are so many scattered threads about the GF1's view finder, I just wish we can just have a sticky with all the questions, comments, experiences, and reviews about the finders people use on their Micro 4:3 cameras 🙂

 

[jky]

You can't manual focus with an optical finder.
With the EVF, I find it adequate for manual focusing. However, I find the focus so accurate that I only use the EVF for framing.

 

[justins7]

When I tried out the EVF I found that focusing was okay, especially zoomed in. It is decent. (the lens is a 25mm 1.4 Pentax c-mount, so it is a bit easier to see the out-of-focus area with its limited depth of field).

I just didn't like having the numbers at the bottom, which I find really distracting. Plus, $200 is a bit much.

I have tried to use an optical viewfinder, but I find that, unless zone focusing and stopped down with a wide depth of field, correct focus is difficult.

I have been manually focusing with the LCD screen. I find that it is harder to hand-hold this way without shaking, which is why I wanted to try the EVF.

 

[GaryLH]

When I tried out the EVF I found that focusing was okay, especially zoomed in. It is decent. (the lens is a 25mm 1.4 Pentax c-mount, so it is a bit easier to see the out-of-focus area with its limited depth of field).

I have been manually focusing with the LCD screen. I find that it is harder to hand-hold this way without shaking, which is why I wanted to try the EVF.

I have been thinking about going the EVF route as well when using manual focus lenses. Even thought about getting a G1 body to use with manual focus lenses.

In terms of LCD... I do a general manual focus first before going 10x to fine focus. But I compose and take the picture in 1x. Trying to take the picture in 10x is just tooooo aggravating --> every little shake shows up:bang:.

Gary

 

[Nick De Marco]

I have been asking a similar question on the dp forum (about using the EVF on a GF1 for manual focussing lenses) in the past 24 hrs - so you might be interested in the replies

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1041&message=34608983

I think I will try the EVF on the Panny. The problem I find with manual focusing is I need to magnify and then you get shakes with handheld and then, as you are holding the camera away from your body, there is the danger you will move it after focussing and before taking a pic. So I find it can be time consuming and not always accurate. When I tried the EP2 and its EVF, in the Hong Kong shop, I found I could quite easily focus my Canon 50mm f1.2 lens using it without magnification, and if I did magnify having set up the shot already could just press the shutter with EVF still to my eye once focussed. I think this will be both quicker and more accurate.

Nick

 

[GaryLH]

Thanks --> good read Nick. Hope to hear back from you on your experiences with the EVF....

Gary

 

[photograham]

I just wish it was less cluttered, maybe they'll get it one day

 

[Nick De Marco]

Sorry but I went and bought the panasonic EVF and, having now used it for a day, I can say it is NOWHERE near as good as the one I tried on the EP2. Big disappointment. It's about impossible to focus a manual lens with it without magnifying, and so has little advantage for these purposes over using live view, the EP2 one, I found, you could focus without magnification.

I am now back to wondering whether to buy an EP2 just so I can use my manual lenses.

 

[justins7]

Now you tell me this? :bang: I just ordered one.

I had tried it in the store, and I felt like as long as I could zoom in it would be useable.

 

[Nick De Marco]

Sorry Justin - I only found out after it was delievered myself. Hope you have better luck. Maybe I shall get used to tit but no doubt the EP2 one is miles better

 

[jky]

Sorry but I went and bought the panasonic EVF and, having now used it for a day, I can say it is NOWHERE near as good as the one I tried on the EP2.

I find the EVF fine for my uses, but you're absolutely right about the EP2 finder... it sure is a beauty.
Clearer and with larger magnification.
Hopefully Panny will come out with a new & improved EVF in the future.

 

[Rooster]

I've got one coming as a package with my GF1 (UPS comes tomorrow!). Lucky for me, I've got the advantage of never having used micro 4/3 before. That also means I've never used the E-P2 EVF, so the GF1 should suit me just fine if I don't know what I'm missing.

On the other hand, I plan to use this camera as a pocketable, go-anywhere kit. To do that most efficiently, the EVF will be with me in another pocket but not always on the camera. I plan to only use it when the LCD would be in direct sunlight, when I need the EVF for stability against my eye, or if I find it much easier to MF with the EVF. On that front, I've read that the LCD is perfectly fine for MF once you get used to pressing the right combo of buttons.

I just don't see what the fuss is over the resolution. Do some of you guys always have this thing atop your camera?

 

[maliq]

Question? Will the EP2 finder work on the GF1?

 

[Rooster]

Question? Will the EP2 finder work on the GF1?

Nope. Not at all.