Next Generation Electronic Viewfinders

[DougFord]

There's rumor that leica will build a camera without their traditional RF assembly perched on top. (not displacing the current m model camera)
No rangefinder = EVF.
The problem with the optical VF is the intrusion of the lens/hood in the field of view on a compact camera body. Fuji's hybrid design would allow one to switch to EVF when obstruction becomes unacceptable if this design were adapted to an interchangeable lens model. In fact, the hybrid finder would be the PERFECT solution if leica was thinking about a body that would accommodate both m-mount and r-mount lenses via adapter.
IMO, the Fuji hybrid finder isn't 'stop gap' technology. As long as they keep building cameras as dedicated devices with attached VF, then the Fuji hybrid VF is just the first generation of a concept that will be a viable option well after the EVF has been 'perfected'.

 

[bwcolor]

There's rumor that leica will build a camera without their traditional RF assembly perched on top. (not displacing the current m model camera)
No rangefinder = EVF.
The problem with the optical VF is the intrusion of the lens/hood in the field of view on a compact camera body. Fuji's hybrid design would allow one to switch to EVF when obstruction becomes unacceptable if this design were adapted to an interchangeable lens model. In fact, the hybrid finder would be the PERFECT solution if leica was thinking about a body that would accommodate both m-mount and r-mount lenses via adapter.
IMO, the Fuji hybrid finder isn't 'stop gap' technology. As long as they keep building cameras as dedicated devices with attached VF, then the Fuji hybrid VF is just the first generation of a concept that will be a viable option well after the EVF has been 'perfected'.

You just might be right. Perhaps the Fujifilm concept will be refined over the years and not just morph into a better EVF. It seems to me that the mechanical rangefinder will be replaced with an electronic arrangement. Since an EVF is just a computer monitor and the camera has a processor which can be programmed to present whatever is required on the screen, even the rangefinder can be duplicated with the EVF. This would get rid of the space taking mechanical viewfinder.

 

[Thardy]

There is nothing wrong with Panasonic's EVF. It works.

It works in bright light when you can't see a thing on the LCD, and it shows what the lens sees. Plus I bought mine at a deep discount from Amazon. No complaints from me.

Saying that, I heard that Olympus will release a "pro" mft body soon. Maybe that and the gf3 will have a nice built in evf.

 

[Phew!finder]

I used to own a Panny GH1 (primarily for video work) and I have to say the EVF in that is awful; laggy, low resolution, inconsistent exposure...hardly any better than the EVF on an ENG video camera.

In fact they are worse in many ways.

Truth is the EVFs do 'work' in that you can see what's going on behind the lens but they sure don't add to the experience of making an exposure. It's a very detached, unsatisfying experience compared to a good OVF...

 

[RayPA]

There is nothing wrong with Panasonic's EVF. It works.

And works very well. Very usable. I think it's great, and I'm hoping the technology continues and advances. The hybrid OVF in the X100 is another great "improvement" (more like a return to rationality). So glad the trend seems to be moving away from the back-panel LCD as the sole means of focusing and composing . 😎







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