Optical vs electronic viewfinder...

RichC

RichC

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...or why I ditched my SLR.

I’ve used optical viewfinders (OVFs) all my photographic life, owning various SLRs and rangefinders. Until recently, I used a Nikon dSLR (the D800E), and prior to that a Leica M8, preceded by an Epson R-D1.

But I tried out a camera with an electronic viewfinder (EVF) a couple of weeks ago...

I’d done that before, over a decade ago. And I was underwhelmed. The view was blurry, pixelated and smeared dramatically when I moved the camera. But this time was a revelation! The EVF has advanced so much that the view seems like real life. I didn’t feel I was looking at a screen. And, crucially, its view shows me how my photograph will appear - colour, exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows... you can even set it to show the world in B&W. And it works when it’s too dark for OVFs - just press a button to temporarily brighten the EVF so you can see to compose!

Also, I use only manual lenses - which can be hard to focus using a digital SLR as their viewfinders aren’t designed for manual focus. However, manual focus using an EVF is easy and accurate.

I was amazed by the experience. Before, I sneered at EVFs and couldn’t conceive of not using an OVF - but not having looked through a state-of-the-art EVF I had no idea how good they are now.

I’m now a convert to EVFs: I’ve bought a camera with one, and sold my Nikon D800E.

I won’t go back to to using an OVF. It’s obsolete!

Another revelation of the camera I tried was it’s built-in image stabilisation (IS). This is something I’ve never used before, but now that I have I can’t imagine life without it. Hand-holding at impossibly slow speeds. Goodbye tripod!

There’s a more in-depth overview of my experience of moving from an SLR to a mirrorless camera with EVF and IS in this subforum.
 
I've used both. I prefer optical but I need to have one that I can put my eye up to.

It's clumsy as {expletive} holding a camera out and trying to compose on the screen!
 
RichC said:
I won’t go back to to using an OVF. It’s obsolete!
Click to expand...

In the other thread, you mention you're *indoors with a cold* -- hence the question: how good is *your* EVF when it's *really* cold, say 0 C or less?

How good are EVFs generally when it's really cold?
 
dmr said:
I've used both. I prefer optical but I need to have one that I can put my eye up to.

It's clumsy as {expletive} holding a camera out and trying to compose on the screen!
Click to expand...
Totally. I don’t know how people do it! I need a viewfinder, though I do occasionally use the screen in live-view but only on a tripod.

Sumarongi said:
In the other thread, you mention you're *indoors with a cold* -- hence the question: how good is *your* EVF when it's *really* cold, say 0 C or less?

How good are EVFs generally when it's really cold?
Click to expand...

Well, it works fine in a British winter (+/-5 C)! But I don’t use any camera in winter much because I don’t work well in the cold!
 
Interesting! Sometimes we are so used to what we have always done and used that it's easier to refuse any change. But when we try we discover that there are improvements...
I like the OVF of my M10 but sometimes for particular shots I find useful the additional EVF...
robert
 
Tried a Sony A7 EVF (can't remember which model though) in a shop and found there was still enough delay when moving the camera about to make me feel slightly seasick. Not sure if that would be better outdoors though so sticking to my D700. :)

Ronnie
 
The problem that I had with EVFs is when I’m wearing polarized (prescription) sunglasses - I can’t see a thing! I had this issue when I was road-testing a Leica SL - in ‘landscape’ orientation I couldn’t see a thing, however when I took a picture in ‘portrait’ orientation I could see. I guess it all depended on the orientation of the polarization in the sunglasses, but it made it pretty much impossible for me to use in bright sunlight (and at the time I was testing the SL, I was in New Mexico). I suppose I could have gotten an entirely different pair of non-polarized, prescription sunglasses, but I really didn’t see the point. I still have the same issue with my EVF that I use with the Monochrom 246. I’m not sure if that issue applies to all EVFs out there, or if that’s just the way it is.
 
I haven't found a Sony EVF where I can shoot while wearing sunglasses. My DSLRs with their OVFs are vastly superior in this aspect.
 
RichC, I went the opposite way—started with EVFs and now primarily rely on OVFs. I haven't used the latest generation (say last 5 years) of EVFs, but I found the refresh rate too limiting for moving subjects. (Has this been fixed now?)

That said, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the usefulness of having a tilting EVF (perhaps this relates more to the Leica crowd). Does anyone else find a significant difference in photographing people when looking down into a tilted EVF, as opposed to looking straight at them via OVF? People seem to notice less. When they do, the reactions also tend to be more bemused/curious at this 'old-fashioned' sort of shooting style.
 
The problem that I had with EVFs is when I’m wearing polarized (prescription) sunglasses - I can’t see a thing!
Click to expand...
Aha...so that's what is is. I have experienced the same problem with a Fuji camera but in the portrait orientation.
 
I use both, depending on conditions and mood honestly. No need for dramatics :)

"Hand-holding at impossibly slow speeds. Goodbye tripod!"
Define 'impossibly slow speeds"
 
I use both. Each viewing system (EVF vs Optical) has different strengths and weaknesses. We might pick one as "best" in our usage, but neither is optimum in all instances.
 
Obsolete? I didn't realise Nikon were still making many manual focus lenses for their DSLRs? After all: You were using the Nikon with the lenses its focus screen was designed to be used with, weren't you?
 
Sumarongi said:
How good are EVFs generally when it's really cold?
Click to expand...

From Fujifilm's website for the X-Pro2: operating temperature -10°C - +40°C / +32°F - +104°F

In practical terms, last year I used my X-Pro2 extensively in Kirkenes, Norway, in temperatures that were down to -17C.

No problems with the EVF but the batteries gave up the ghost after about three hours or so.
 
I've been able to work with OVF, EVF and rear LCD's. I still prefer the OVF but I learned to like EVFs when I bought a Fuji X-T1. Big, bright, sharp and clear--it made a believer out of me. But....

Outdoors, in bright side-directional sunlight, working with an EVF is frustrating to me. I wear eyeglasses and stray light gets to the viewfinder and prevents me from viewing the image very well. Also, the EVF image can become overly contrasty in bright sunshine. So high in contrast, I can't see details. As for LCD screen viewing, I love the Ricoh GR. I carry it at times I can't or won't carry a larger camera. But when sunlight hits the LCD screen, it's time to guess the framing of the subject 'cause I can't see squat.

Indoors with low light levels or outdoors under cloudy/overcast skies, EVF and LCD viewing is great. But OVFs work better for me in bright sunlight and work well enough for me under other conditions.
 
Here is no VS.
Some folks are forced to use EVF due to problems with eyes.
Some like me are too quick and on top of it are too sensitive for EVF. I can't stand jutter of unstabilized image in EVF. I'm motion sick and after few minutes of using it I can vomit.

Enjoy your EVF. :)
 
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