JoeV
Thin Air, Bright Sun
Some months ago the optical VF in my X10 somehow decoupled itself mechanically from the main lens, leaving it out of focus and useless. Since then, I've been using the camera with the rear screen, but it is easily washed out in bright light.
I tried fashioning a makeshift sun shield for the rear screen, which worked somewhat, but was still a compromise, and also affected the camera's handling and portability.
Then I began to be conscious of how much I like the 4:3 aspect ratio, and how both the X10 and my Lumix G5 share a common 4:3 aspect ratio. Some more research led me to the Olympus VF-1 external viewfinder, one of the few external OVFs with both good optical quality and a reasonable price, well under $100. So I got me one.
I noticed the VF-1 is hard to fit into the X10 hot shoe, but a bit of work with a rotary tool onto the VF's plastic mounting bracket fixed that problem.
Aesthetically, I really like the looks of the VF-1 atop the X10, as from the front it matches the camera's black appearance, yet is silver from the sides and back. Its frame lines match the X10's native 4:3 aspect ratio, and being mounted above the main lens means very little perspective error.
I set the X10 lens to the "35" setting, which very much matches the framelines in the VF-1.
It's nice to have real framelines, and being able to see outside those lines while composing.
Coupled with the EXR high-dynamic mode, this camera is now a very slick little street shooter. I'm well pleased.
~Joe
PS: Here's a short write-up in my blog about this rig.
P1090709a by jvcabacus, on Flickr
I tried fashioning a makeshift sun shield for the rear screen, which worked somewhat, but was still a compromise, and also affected the camera's handling and portability.
Then I began to be conscious of how much I like the 4:3 aspect ratio, and how both the X10 and my Lumix G5 share a common 4:3 aspect ratio. Some more research led me to the Olympus VF-1 external viewfinder, one of the few external OVFs with both good optical quality and a reasonable price, well under $100. So I got me one.
I noticed the VF-1 is hard to fit into the X10 hot shoe, but a bit of work with a rotary tool onto the VF's plastic mounting bracket fixed that problem.
Aesthetically, I really like the looks of the VF-1 atop the X10, as from the front it matches the camera's black appearance, yet is silver from the sides and back. Its frame lines match the X10's native 4:3 aspect ratio, and being mounted above the main lens means very little perspective error.
I set the X10 lens to the "35" setting, which very much matches the framelines in the VF-1.
It's nice to have real framelines, and being able to see outside those lines while composing.
Coupled with the EXR high-dynamic mode, this camera is now a very slick little street shooter. I'm well pleased.
~Joe
PS: Here's a short write-up in my blog about this rig.
P1090709a by jvcabacus, on Flickr
f16sunshine
Moderator
It does look great!
Thanks for posting your work around.
I bet the view is quite a bit brighter and wide open compared to the built in vf.
Cheers!
Thanks for posting your work around.
I bet the view is quite a bit brighter and wide open compared to the built in vf.
Cheers!