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Four Thirds User (Click here) tested the new Olympus VF-3 viewfinder: “Compared to the VF-2 the immediate impression is a smaller and less spacious view. The lower resolution also means that the very finest details that are visible with the [shoplink 25394]VF-2[/shoplink] can be lost with the [shoplink 25395]VF-3[/shoplink]. But apart from that the experience is quite similar. Refresh and flicker, when present, characteristics are much the same, as are colour and contrast.”
It is up to you to decide if the $60 dollar price difference justifies the lower resolution of the VF-2. I would have expected Olympus to launch a better external viewfinder and to lower the VF-2 price. But that’s just my personal opinion. All I know is that Sony announced the [shoplink 25396]NEX-7[/shoplink] having a much higher quality 2,4 milion dot OLED viewfinder. I hope something like that can be announced soon by Panasonic and Olympus.
Links to the two Olympus viewfinders:
Olympus VF-3 [shopcountry 25395]
Olympus VF-2 [shopcountry 25394]
34 Responses
I personally hope that something like the NEX-7 as a whole will be announced by Olympus or Panasonic. We still need a Pro m43 camera.
Olympus is working on a PEN Pro already they said, so indeed.
About this finder. IMO a $60 price difference is simply not enough.
I personally don’t understand the VF3, it is worse in pretty much every way and not THAT much cheaper..
I would have thought they could at least also drop the tilt part so it could at least be a bit more noticably smaller. At least that way there is some kind of common sense to releasing a lower res finder when the competitors are releasing better ones than even your premium one..
Though maybe if the Vf2 is going to be replaced by an even higher res and even more expensive model it may make sense???
@Admin:
There is a typo: “It is up to you to decide if the $60 dollar price difference justifies the lower resolution of the VF-2.” must be “lower resolution of the VF-3”
If they can. Sony has put a lot of R&D into OLED so they could very well have big a head start. But who knows, Panny is also an electronics giant, so they might come up with an alternative. I hope so. I like 43s as a system more.
The Oly VF-2 viewfinder display is developed and produced by Epson.
I have not heard much about the EP3 (and maybe EPL3?) using pixel binning with the VF2/3? apparently the low light performance is exceptional and not grainy with the EP3 and the VF2 (maybe vf3 too?) as it takes the 12Mpix image and resamples down to the VF size so non-little noise in the dark! I just wish they did this for the LCD too??? seems odd they did’nt if the tech is sitting right there…
For me the night ability would be more compelling reason for a VF than the obvious…. But I hear little about it and would love to see a youtube vid showing how good it is?!
NEX-7 rules with his EVF.
M43 needs urgently such body.
VF2 & VF3 are too expensive and too big.
Not sure but I think that the GH2/G3 viewfinder still has better image due to the field-sequential “gapless” design – despite of its lower resolution.
In good light and with correctly set diopter it’s even hard to notice that you can see just an electronic preview.
The G3’s EVF and VF2 are both 1.44 MP.
The GH2’s EVF is 1.55 MP.
In general I find it annoying to see a downgrade of features and specification in the last month. I’m seriously considering a NEX 7 + manual focus lenses if Oly and Pana don’t finally do their homework and introduce a camera with built in viewfinder that does not look like a mini dslr.
At the moment the best choice for manual lenses would probably be the NEX series.
Sorry these kind of reactions are quite laughable.
If the NEX fullfills your needs than why complain ,iso just buy the thing when it’s available. Olympus will surely update the serious VF when they feel this is necessary.
Anyway the VF2 is quite good. “Peaking” in the NEX is very nice and easy in the Sony, but it doesn’t mean the E-P… isn’t easy as well, just a little less so.
I can see they would want to lure starters/upgraders to buy a VF. If this is a little cheaper then the VF2 it’s ok. The VF3 is also smaller/lower than the VF3 and can be locked on, so not at all a much worser deal.
I.m.o. the more advanced user will buy the VF2 anyway.
Still don’t understand what’s the problem with the “mini DSLR” design. The G3‘s LVF is confortable and well placed. Moreover, the Sony NEX-7 may be an excellent camera (actually IS) but it has a hideously ugly look.
Nex7 is quite big, almost SLR like, plus large lenses make very little sense.
I’m not thrilled about its sensor either.
Nex5n + evf seems like a better buy.
Sony has very good sensor (although I think colour sucks) and apparently great evf, but lenses are poor and upcomming lenses too big.
The NEX-7 is about the same size as the GF1, Check this out:
http://www.bmupix.com/display/ShowImage?imageUrl=/storage/post-images/NEX-7_GH2_Sensors_Compared-Model-Edit_S-2.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1314973287748
I wouldn’t bother with the Sony lenses at all. Take a few manual lenses, like Pentax, Hexanon, Rokanon or Voigtländer Leica M mounts, then buy some inexpensive lens adaptors. Done. Sony’s focus peaking only works with manual focus and can also uses focus magnification like M4/3, so you’d be set.
I absolutely agree that the NEX-5 + their 2.5MP add-on EVF looks like a great combo. Unless Sony has beaten the laws of physics, a 24MP sensor in the NEX-7 sound excessive.
Hello all!
Have you missed me?>
I have to agree with Mr. Reeee again. I just ordered the SONY NEX 5N from HongKong with the OLED EVF.
Because I came to the conclusion, that the 24MPIX N7 would be excessive, overkill, and probably not the optimal solution for my needs in regards to file size, its LATER launch and the crazy PRICE.
So just did the obvious, I ordered the sexi, white 5N body only and the EVF and I am really looking forward to it… Together, it cost me 630 EUR, which is the same, as I paid for my bellowed EP1 some years ago.
I mean, guys, you really can not deny it any longer. The m4/3 line only has good lenses as an advantage. But all the other advantages are on SONY’s side. And as I couldn’t care less for the SEL lenses (however, I am really looking forward to the announced 50/1.8 with OSS !>) as I love to use MF optics, there IS NO OTHER WAY, than the bigger sensor for smaller crop, and better performance.
The 5N now even has fullHD video, that stomps 5DMK2 into the ground, it has ISO100, software configurable button for AEL, really good, usable out of the camera JPEGs with great color (which I didn’t like on my NEX3, sharpness and great high ISO) and many more improvements.
A friend of mine got two Rokkors from me, just to play with. And since he saw the difference that my and his camera body make with the same lenses, the only thing he now thinks of, is how to sell the GH1 and 14-140 combo :>>
Wish you all well!
…and we are so proud of you
I ordered a NEX-7 to use with adapted manual lenses myself, but I think you’re underestimating how important of an advantage lenses are. Saying that lenses is the only advantage m4/3’s has over Sony is like saying the only advantage Car A has over Car B is that Car A has a better engine. Lenses are the single most import aspect of a camera system, and if I couldn’t adapt Leica M glass to the NEX-7 the camera wouldn’t have much of a use for me. However, adapting $1000 manual focus lenses isn’t exactly something the average consumer does.
If you care about autofocus (which obviously most people do) I wouldn’t even consider getting a NEX camera over a m4/3’s body. In fact if Olympus “leaks” their Pro Pen before my NEX7 arrives and I like what I see then I’ll most likely cancel my NEX7 order. If Oly creates a body similar to the NEX7 with built in shake reduction, weather seals, super fast AF speed, wireless flash control, and uses the 16mp sensor from the G3 then I would rather have that then the NEX7 or NEX-5.
Wrong analogy :
Sensor is the Engine in the Car analogy as they cant be replaced/interchanged with any other system.
OEM Alloy Wheels are more appropriate for the lenses comparison. The whole point of ILC is that you can interchange lenses. OEM doesnt exite you, fine. I am sure you will have a world of lenses to replace that with. Missing Autofocus ? Not an issue. Get a LEA2 Adapter and use full PDAF feature with that combo.
My point – Stop boxing yourself with brand loyalty. Use whatever is the best of all worlds. Currently, all leading reviewers rate the NEX system/sensor much higher than the rest. Plus its APSC , not some puny 2x, 2.7 x system. Even if you have the Best Leica $10k lens in the world, M43 cannot match the new APSC Sony sensors on DR, IQ, High ISO, resolution and any other attribute that matters to image Quality. Not making it up. You all know it already. If that compromise works for you – be happy and chose whatever you want. it doesnot for me though.
Brand Loyalty? Lets see, in the last 5 years alone I’ve owned the following cameras: Pentax K100D, Pentax K10D, Nikon D200, Olympus E-P1, Sony NEX-3, Canon G10, Canon 50D, Pentax K-7, Panasonic G1, Olympus XZ-1
I’ve pre-ordered a NEX-7, and a I bought my mother a Sony A200 a few years ago. I have nothing against Sony. However the simple fact is with Sony’s current mediocre lens line up (“mediocre” might be a bit too generous actually) unless a person wants to adapt manual focus lenses I would not recommend a Sony NEX to them over a m4/3’s body.
hello Pablo congratulations with your new camera ….any chance for us to have the address or mail of your Honk Kong guy ?
Thank you Julio
Blimey. Some people have never heard of the term “good enough”. VF-2, VF-3 and Panasonic’s internal EVFs are just that. Good enough for every purpose I can think of. Not “the best”, but certainly good enough.
+1
Yes, but I would welcome a higher resolution EVF (AND LCD!) on my GH2, especially since I use it for manual focus. Even with focus-assist, it sometimes seems a bit grainy.
@Nelson… The Sony NEX EVF is $350, the VF-2 $250. I’d pay an extra $100 to nearly double the resolution!
” Even if you have the Best Leica $10k lens in the world, M43 cannot match the new APSC Sony sensors on DR, IQ, High ISO, resolution and any other attribute that matters to image Quality.”
Uh, sure, I guess you could buy $10k Leica and retrofit it on an NEX body and your photos would, overall have better IQ than that Leica lens on a 4/3 or m4/3 body.
Unfortunately, that’s unrealistic for 99.9% of digital camera owners.
You’re subconsciously making one major assumption here…
That the NEX cameras actually have all the native lenses to compete with all the 4/3 m4/3 native lens. They don’t – not even close.
Also, you forget the whole point of m4/3: It’s not just mirror-less, it’s also overall A LOT smaller & lighter. Example: Currently, NEX has nothing that can come even close to competing with an Olympus e-p3 sporting the new 12mm f2.0 lens with respect to IQ + Size + Focusing Speed. That’s reality.
The NEX 7, until it’s released with a solid native lens lineup, is still fiction.
Sony EVF is even more expensive than VF-2
True, but at least then you’re getting somewhere. This is backwards !
Now if this VF-3 were half the price of the VF-2 and a new VF-(1?) with better quality would replace the VF-2 at the same price … that would make sense !
+1
You can claim a few of those for a Sony, but not all at once. IQ is related to a bunch of things, in particular the lens, and the m43 cameras are currently ahead of the game here.
Resolution, sure, but when you go to a higher resolution, you drop the pixel size, and it’s pixel size that determines the fundamental performance of your sensor vs. light. For example, my Olympus E-PM1 actually has slightly more pixel room than my Canon 60D (APS-C). You’ll find this has been improving as technology improves, but there’s only one degree of freedom here at the same level — more pixels always means smaller sensors and thus more noise.
I guess the VF-3 is meant as a less costly replacement for those VF-2 that have fallen out of the hot shoe to their screaming death. 😛 Wouldn’t it make more sense if the more expensive VF-2 were to have a locking mechanism? How about a VF-2N? They are doing the kit lenses over, why not the finder? Yikes!
I prefer the look and size of the black vf-2. I purchased it along with my epl-2 earlier this year and it’s a killer combo.
I purchased a Canon FD 50mm f1.2 lens and without the vf-2’s higher resolution screen, I’m sure I’d have a much harder time nailing the focus (yes, it’s an *f1.2* lens which crops to 100mm full-frame equivalent).
Here’s a flickr set you can check out, most of which would not have been possible without the awesome vf-2:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevetsi/sets/72157627508550731/
(though they may not be up to Pablo’s NEX standards…)
nice i put my 50 mm 1.4 FD on an E-Pl 1 i borrowed for a day. Lovely! Mind you i had to make do with the manual assist on the screen, a bit challenging but i pulled off some nice images There a few posts back on my web page. I’m looking forward to getting an E-P 3 soon but i’ll wait for a VF4 and see if they go OLED and higher res because i’m not that enamoured with EVFs so far especially in low light. Just a matter of time i suppose
The VF-3 does have two advantages (maybe three) over the VF-2: 1) It locks into the hotshoe. This is a fairly big deal. 2) Larger diopter adjustment wheel (not such a big deal). and 3) Smaller size (but not by much). So far, the VF-3 appears to be available only in silver. Not so good. Overall, given the price difference, I’d probably stick with the VF-2 – but I really wish it could lock into the hotshoe. If the VF-3 was priced at least $100 below the VF-2, I might feel differently. But $60 isn’t enough to cut it.
I am about to return a VF-3 after using it for one week on my ep-3 due to a significant amount of color and contrast inaccuracy when compared to the screen and the picture playback. While the lower resolution limits the the ability to see detail the reviews I have read indicate that the color and contrast should be about the same. This was confirmed by an Olympus support person – its also hard to imagine that Olympus would release an EVF not capable of more faithful imaging. The question is do I have a faulty unit or are my expectations too high? The addition of a locking mechanism would seem to be an important feature but I might be exagerating the risk of the unit coming loose and smashing on the ground. There are only two reviews on Amazon but one validates my experience.