Electronic or optical viewfinder?

Leonard Goh | Oct 20, 2009

The Olympus 17mm optical viewfinder for the E-P1 and Panasonic's DMW-LVF1 for the Lumix DMC-GF1. (Credit: Olympus and Panasonic)

Last week, Epson announced the production of a high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) with the company hoping it will replace the optical viewfinder (OVF) in dSLRs. Given that most EVFs we've tried have frustratingly slow response times and inaccurate tonal reproduction, we are somewhat skeptical of Epson's claims. Still, I will give it the benefit of doubt until I've tried it.

Personally, I'm a huge advocate of optical viewfinders. Using them not only reduces power consumption, the zero lag response time is important for photographers who want to snap fast-moving subjects. I asked several photographers whether they could accept EVFs for their dSLRs, and their response varied. Some said they would embrace EVFs if these can equal OVFs' viewing clarity and performance in dim environments. Others have expressed they will stick to OVFs.

Do you think EVFs can replace OVFs? Shout back here.

Filed under: Digital Cameras
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Phillipgparsons

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Phillipgparsons says...
They both have their advantages, but if resolution is suitably improved I welcome EVF. Advantages: 100% view accuracy; see the color tones change as you flick through the white balance options, see the depth of field you are going to get without the view going dark, see where burn out will be BEFORE you take the shot, EVFs can zoom into the critical part of the image to check focus more accurately, EVFs can display a range of information in the viewfinder, or no information as you wish, EVFs allow a 1/3s grid to be displayed, or not, allow review the shot & check the exif information through the viewfinder - much easier in bright light conditions, I've used an slr, but I'm settled with a Fuji S100fs. No doubt the week points in cameras like this (relatively slow focus & chromatic aberration) could be improved, but it's good enough to have won me first place in competitions over the slr brigade!

Oct 20, 2009 17:16

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JamCanSing

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JamCanSing says...
EVF's on new dSLRs that can shoot video will be a boon to cinematography. Having thru the lens view for focusing, depth of field, lighting, etc will save having to squint at the 3-inch live view LCD and avoid holding the camera awkwardly. Optical viewfinders will stay true to digital still photography.

Oct 20, 2009 19:09

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wilswong

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wilswong says...
The best resolution is the eye and photography till now using optical viewfinder gives the most practical solution.

1/3 grid? Optical has it now

Burn out? One's good understanding of metering will ensure such problems are kept to the minimum.

White Balance? One should have set it up even before the shooting session begins and not check through the EVF.

A lot of good photography habits during the film era such as getting the right ISO for the shoot has come undone because of digital usage. Preset the settings will ensure that when the moment comes, it can be captured.

In photography, the key point is to capture the moment. All the tweaking would have cause one to miss the moment. The optical viewfinder using light is the fastest medium and our eyes is the fastest sensor.

Am not a fan of 3" live view LCD. The idea actually increases the likelihood of camera shake because of how people are forced to hold the camera because of the screen. A simple use of optical view finder would have solved at least 50 percent of handshake pictures. But how many cameras now have a hole for composition when the sun is blazing down on you on a snow capped mountain?

Keep it simple...

Oct 20, 2009 21:42

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