Epson's new electronic viewfinder may replace optical ones

Leonard Goh | Oct 16, 2009

(Credit: Epson)

One gripe I have with electronic viewfinders (EVFs) is that they are usually low-resolution displays with slower response times. Also, their color rendition is typically not as good as LCD's. But Epson's newly developed EVF seeks to correct all the flaws, and the company states that this can even replace optical viewfinders (OVF).

Epson's new EVF will utilize a 1.44-megapixel TFT color panel made from high-temperature polysilicon. It measures 1.2 inches diagonally and has a color filter to prevent tonal breakup when viewing fast-moving subjects through the EVF.

The Japanese firm is targeting its new product at dSLR manufacturers with hopes to replace the traditional OVF. This means dSLRs can be made smaller and slimmer by removing the mirror component which is necessary for reflecting light to the OVF.

However, we think the enhanced EVF is probably more suited for smaller shooters such as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 which employs an external EVF attachment. dSLR users may still be more used to OVF whose main advantage is a zero lag response time and no color shifting caused by digitization of the scene. That said, dpreview.com did list some advantages for dSLRs to use Epson's EVF, one of them being the elimination of a mechanical lag time caused by the mirror moving when taking a shot.

Given that compact interchangeable lens camera systems such as Micro Four Thirds are gaining momentum in the industry and look set to be a huge trend in 2010, Epson's latest innovation will be welcomed by consumers who want high-resolution EVFs which offer minimal lag response and accurate color reproduction.

Filed under: Digital Cameras
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