Our reader “Andi” made a nice finding! If you visit that german Olympus page (http://www.de.olympus.ch/consumer/208_manuals.cfm?prodID=E-P3_master) and download the E-P3 manual you can find something “unexpected” on page 120. You can see the picture of the new VF3 which has a builtin flash!
The question now is…why didn’t Olympus announce the VF-3 yet? I do hope it has at leats the same quality of the [shoplink 23839 ebay]VF-2[/shoplink] if not better! I have been told by my sources that the VF-3 is cheaper than the VF3! Check the current VF-2 price at [shopcountry 23839].
Reminder -> Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds):
FT1=1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2=21-40% chance the rumor is correct
FT3=41-60% chance the rumor is correct
FT4=61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct
85 Responses
Not mentioned in the post…the new VF-3 will also have a pop-up umbrella to keep the camera dry and a time-release air freshener. 🙂
where do you see a build in flash?
For the E-P3, i would prefer a VF without flash that is reduced in size…
The flash can be seen on the screen capture from the youtube video Olympus posted (it’s on the front of the EVF).
And yep; seems like most users interested in external EVF’s will also be the same users that buy the E-P3. Why couldn’t they just made a VF2 without the hinge to make it smaller and cheaper? That hinge adds quite a lot of bulk. Users that want it could have bought the VF2, and the rest of us could have gotten a smaller and cheaper EVF.
Eric
I agree – a smaller and cheaper VF2 is the way to go. Get rid of the hinge to get a smaller form factor. If someone wants the hinge then they could buy the VF-2. But it seems that they havent done that.
The hinge is actually best thing about the viewfinder if you do street photography.
wait the german manual doesnt say anything about flash and doesnt even show the front of the vf. if it had a feature like flash, they would mention it because it is a feature. they would show the front rather than the back so it was instantly distinguishable from the vf2. manuals are made to rely on iconography, with clear differences in parts.
also if there is a flash, it has to be controlled completely by menu choices, there isnt an on/off switch (by poping up the flash)
i dont think there is a flash built in, i wonder if i will be proved wrong. lets see 🙂
Are u sure that is has a built in flash ?
Why would it have built in flash – all rediculous speculation because 1 low res image has a shiny area on it people just assume is flash…. I say NO WAY – combine flash and VF in 1 unit like this??? They are not going to do that… its just adding to much into 1 unit – they will be trying to make it as cheep as possible not as over the toply featured as possible…
Just downloaded polish version of the manual and haven’t found any informations about built in flash in VF3.
the VF3 is not shown on the English version at all, only the VF2. And I don’t see any mention of a flash either on the German page. Oh, well -I expect we’ll know soon enough.
There is no built in flash (to less space!) and – btw – it’s not the german site, it’s swiss (.ch). do you known some specs?
It might have af illuminator and not flash which would make sense for previous generation of pens.
I don’t see any flash but the idea of a focus assist light for the earlier PENs (except E-P1) would be ideal. I can see it still tilts up with a knob on the side.
Nah, that’s more likely the dioptric correction.
A flash tilts the beam up, an EVF for looking down as in a macro shot…
Is it a flash built in really?
I don’t thik the charging capacitor will fit, in addition to the LCD!
That would be about right. I can’t see how they could add a pin lock to stop it sliding out either. It just seems the VF-3 is just an updated VF-2.
VF-3 is cheaper than the VF3!
For those that don’t want the all-in-one, the previous versions are not broken. It is a brilliant idea already. Having the choice makes it even finer.
What we need for EVF-3 is not a built in flash but a built in flash shoe!
Current problems with EVF-2:
One cannot fix or lock it to the E-PL2/EP-2/E-P3 – what’s about a wheel for locking the EVF-3 at the flash shoe of the camera?
There is no possibility to work efficiently with EVF-2 and – for example three additional Olympus flashes simultaneously – if you want to have one flash fixed at the camera and control the other flashes by wirless control via pop up flash).
Is there a chance to get an EVF-3 with an additional shoe to connect to FP-1 Flash Power Grip via FL-CB02 or via infrared to control the FL-50 R?
This could be useful for other flash accessories like the Olympus FL-BK04 Flash bracket too.
If youll bump into something u can say bye bye to your expensive EVF if youll have a huge fash attached on top of it
Not if it is made of metal to support an FL50R.
Flash shoe on top of EVF is a bad idea because EVF would have to be very big and fixed in order to be strong enough to support the weight and stress of the flash.
Also, try twisting the flash head to see that it doesn’t go too smothly and you would rip the EVF apart very quickly that way.
Additional flash can’t control RC flashes anyway in TTL mode, it can only trigger them in slave mode.
+1
The ability to control off camera strobes via an RF trigger at the same time I use an EVF is the only reason I own a G1 instead of a PEN. I don’t see how Olympus can’t know about this issues.
+1
Paulus:
Or alternatively, what we need is an extension cable for the accessory port. The extension cable would allow the VF-2/VF-3 to be mounted elsewhere, and you can still use the hot-shoe for a flash. A simple bracket would allow the VF-2 to be mounted perhaps on the left side. For an electronic viewfinder, there is no requirement that the VF being in line with the lenses, like there was for SLR and rangefinder cameras (including the VF-1).
It would be nice if there was some solution that allowed both the use of the EVF and external microphone, such as a splitter cable, or perhaps a dedicated bracket that mounts the EVF and has 3.5mm phono ports.
If the VF-3 comes out, I do hope it has some sort of locking mechanism. If you are worried about such things, using a rubber band around the camera body to hold the VF-2 in place, or one of those lens cap leashes (that don’t work too well for lens caps IMHO, but are great for lens hoods that loosen over time).
been said!
i’m too late…
nuff said!
+ 1
Mr. Michael Meissner,
Thank you very much!
Much, much easier: a PC connector on the body to add a flash (“PC” as in Prontor-Compur, not Personal Computer).
Hopefully that will be on the professional Pen (that could be a nice feature to differentiate the line-up).
For a theoretical flash integrated into the VF-3: simply not enough space. Maybe the “front window” on the low-res pic posted before is simply a window to catch ambient light and save battery when possible.
While it is nice to dream about new bodies, with new connections, given Olympus just announced 3 new bodies, and two of which don’t even have prices or release dates, it is more practical to think what could Olympus deliver in the short term that would work with the existing bodies.
Also, PC connectors are perhaps one of the worst designed connectors, and you usually need to keep a tool to reform the connector when it stopped working. The Nikon screwmount perhaps makes it slighly less likely to come apart.
Finally, if Olympus is going to put a flash connection on the body, it would be better IMHO, to bring back the old 5 pin connection that they used in the days of the C-* cameras (and is used in the FP-01 and FP-BK01 brackets). However, with the wireless flash now present, I don’t really see Olympus going that way.
How about someone making a VF remote extention lead – so you can Borg yourself right up….
VF on a kind of monicle and camera pointing where ever, so you can take very sneeky photos!
Well you can borg yourself up with video out right now and video glasses. I bought a pair of glasses some time ago, and couldn’t get the right connections, and put it down. Maybe I should get back to it.
Oooo go on link me some video glasses 🙂
I’ve been patiently waiting the last 15years for someone to bring out a stereoscopic hi-res glasses setup (mainly for VR, with motion head tracking and the ability to plug into a PC game)… but just video glasses would be cool…. for borg photography requirments 🙂
Mind you the EP3 accesory video output is ment to be far better than the LCD – one reviewer said the low light visability with the VF2 on the EP3 is beyond…. way way clearer picture than on the LCD!!! intersting – looks like the EP3 pixel combining is used for output to the accesory port but not for the LCD output (assume just binning for LCD)!
I don’t know much about Panasonic, but Olympus VGA output is strictly QVGA level (320×240). For small handheld devices that is fine, but you probably don’t want to hook it to your 60″ TV set.
One thing that is a missed opportunity, is Olympus like most cameras these days has a HDMI output port. But they automatically turn off live view if you plug in a HDMI cable. It is a shame, because then you could use the HDMI for high-def live view, and still use the shutter release to take pictures.
I bought a Wolverine MyMovie pocket video camera, that was one of the few pocket video cameras that took video input. After getting the VGA cable, and a connector from radio shack, I was able to hook up my E-3 and E-P2 to do live view via hand held device:
http://www.the-meissners.org/2010-small-albums/2010-pimp-my-ep2/small/2010-06-11-09-42-033-mymovie.jpg
However for my eventual use, the MyMovie isn’t the best platform, since I bought it at closeout prices, and it uses a unique battery. I think the one time I tried to use it, the battery only lasted an hour or so.
I looked around and found a JXD i696 portable music player with a 2.8″ lcd screen that also takes video input fairly cheap on ebay. It uses Nokia 5C cell phone batteries which are easy to come by. The i696 only does QVGA video but since my cameras don’t do more than that, it is fine. This is evidently the older model, and the newer models have more pixels, but they have a fatal flaw (IMHO) in that they don’t have replaceable batteries. When I’m in full steampunk mode with my camera in a bellows outfit, I often need the unit to go 8 hours or more before I can recharge. I don’t have pictures of it yet.
On ebay if you search for “Olympus live view remote control” you will find several devices that combine shutter release and video out, some wired, some wireless. Normally, I would post the links, but I’ve discovered that on this forum if I post ebay, etc. type links, the post has to wait for the moderator to approve it.
As I said, I got an old MyVu personal media player set up for Apple i-whatevers, since I don’t own Apple gear, I’m not sure I have the right connections. But maybe I should get back to it.
Hope its the same resolution. At least it has a nicer shape than the VF-2 from the outside !! I am not sure if its a flash or not but i still wonder what the dial on the left hand side is for.
I am still waiting for the day that there is an FT5 for an Oly M43 camera with a built-in EVF 🙂
If that is a viewfinder with a built-in flash, then kudos to Olympus. Once I thought about it, it seemed such a good idea I wondered why nobody had thought of it before.
The next step of course is a more powerful flash unit with a built-in viewfinder.
Back in the mists of time when “pro” cameras didnt need a crane to lift them, cameras were much more modular than they are now.
Personally I think a “pro” camera should be one that has options. For example, I much prefer an optional battery grip as per the Nikon D7000 to one thats built in as in the D3.
Adding or subtracting parts of the camera when you need them is something I find very useful. The modular approach also takes account of what people want. There will be many Pen owners who have no desire for a viewfinder. If they don’t they have an option where they don’t have to pay for one.
If the VF-3 has a flash option, then with the interchangeable grip, these are small steps on the way to providing some choice. (Maybe this is the start of the rumoured Olympus “modular” camera.)
I’d like to see lots more options – a battery grip, wireless trigger, flash bracket, add-on articulated video screen.
Things like this make cameras more versatile and gives us more choice.
I was skeptical at first but the more I see of a system like the Ricoh GXR, the more I like it.
For me a “Pro” Pen is something that gives me lots of choices and lots of options.
I agree. “Pro” means nothing really, but I do appreciate modularity as a concept. The more parts I can remove or replace the better. The next step would be separating the sensor from the mount and operating interface, just like with MF cameras or the Ricoh GXR.
BTW, many DSLR users don’t understand modularity. When I pull the VF-2 out of my pocket and mount it some people seem rather confused.
good idea, FL-50vf, with high eyepoint EVF build-in 🙂
Must be for diopter adjustment.
think so too, as the eyepiece is much more compact then the vf-2
I think the is diopter adjustment also.
I think you guys are correct on that one. I was expecting it to be smaller than the VF-2 without the hinge, but it seems not.
It would be great if it was the same resolution and cheaper than the VF2.
The knob would be an easier way of adjusting the diopter than what appears to be a twist of the lens on the VF-2 (I don’t own one & only assume that is how it adjusted). If that is the case, it could be exactly the same quality as the VF-2 but maybe a little cheaper to produce, but then again, maybe not.
The VF-3 now looks like the view finder on an E5 where as the VF-2 looks like the E1 in shape (being round).
That sounds like a great idea: What about a mount for glases?! So, you could shoot while looking into another direction, with nobody realising that you are just taking a picture. This would be something!
And no more need for a swivel screen.
Oh man, how I wished they would realise this idea.
@donparrot
for all your covert needs lol
http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Voyeur-Olympus-Digital-Cameras/dp/B0027IGDSG
hrhrhr
Flash? Where? All I see is the diopter adjustment in better place than in vf-2. I would like to see a smaller evf without the hinge thingie.
I have downloaded the dutch version, also on system chart you see the VF3.
On page 102 of that manual, for the accessoires it is mentioned as well.
There is no word of buildin flash, i would like a flash connector like in the OM days, so that you can use an external bracket with a flash on it.
http://www.olympus.nl/consumer/208_manuals.cfm?prodID=E-P3_master
Looks a bit like the Panasonic LVF-1, hope the image quality is a bit better though.
Admin, where do you get this built-in flash info from? No mention in the manual, and the image doesn’t seem to confirm this either.
I agree. Admin ought to tell us where he is getting this EVF/flash all in one information. It’s apparently not described in the available online manuals and that depiction shown here shows nothing in regard to a flash that’s conclusive. I don’t doubt that there is a new EVF and maybe it does have an interesting capability in comparison to the VF-2 but this built-in flash idea seems ridiculous.
Your right it is rediculous…. Just because 1 image a while ago kinda had a what loked like seethrough glass/plastic bit at the front… Truth is it was so poor quality (the image) that it could have just been a styling thing or a shiny plastic cover piece… it just looked a bit like a flash front…. but come on a flash inbuild into a VF??? thats just not gonna happen – if you want a flash get a flash…. well thats how oly will sell it, for shaw! and its supposed to be a cheeper VF?!!
Too much placed on 1 poor image….
Hey Admin,
this picture is copyright protected, you can link it, create an own version but you should not steal it…
He hasn’t stolen anything. If you go back and read what he says, the image is clearly attributed to the online manual. Try to be a little more careful with the groundless accusations.
Wow. Some people can’t control their internal, self-righteuos OCD lawyer, huh!?
I hope you don’t hum popular songs …. cus them there notes is copyright!
Steal? There is a link to the source!!!
Hey Calvo, how about you go mind your own business? Unless you’re affiliated with Olympus, or 43rumors.com, you have neither right nor obligation to claim Admin is “stealing” anything, or suggest Admin has done something wrong. Don’t like it? Don’t patronize the web site. People’s self-righteousness annoys the piss out of me! Especially when they’re flat out wrong!
I have to admit, this is one of the strangest rumors admin has ever posted.
I can understand why there might be a flash in the EVF (For E-PL3, E-PM1).
But I just can’t believe that Olympus would actually make one.
If this is true, everyone can point back to this message and I will eat my hat 🙂
And if you tip the finder up to view from above the flash illuminates your feet? Erm…no. AF light maybe?
i thought this. does the viewfinder tilt? if not, how lame. if so, then the flash is useless
Re “Canon watch” hehehe – you even had something like this. But ask your designer to do something about the small icon of the site: the notch at the top of the C, when resized to favicon, makes it look like oriental crescent moon with a star. Instead of resampling, the icon should be hand-edited for a small size.
Haha I also noticed this.
VF-3 with built-in flash?
Sure. All for only $350.
Stick em up, folks! 😉
Where did this built-in flash rumor come from?
It would have to be fairly bulky to have both and EVF and flash in one box!
It is going to be cheaper than a VF-2
the rumor was based on that screenshot from the e-p3 video ad
It comes from the picture out of a video, where u can see the VF-3 mounted on an E-PL3 and it look like it was some sort of window(flash) in the front. But no one can really say what it is.
It was posted here a couple of days ago.
Edit: lol someone already answered the question…
I have a very unconventional idea that might even work… Hear me out.
You can make a camera that has a viewfinder *and* a flash shoe!
I know it’s hard to do, and I think a dozen camera companies tried that during the last several decades, producing only about several hundred different camera models with both the viewfinder and the hotshoe.
Wait… What do you mean by “if they do that, how are they going to sell you an E-P4”?
“You can make a camera that has a viewfinder *and* a flash shoe!”
Sure, nice idea in theory but it’d probably be wobbly as hell, look even more awkward, and really is just a crutch because Oly didn’t put and EVF in the body to begin with.
What I need is a EVF with a built in stereo jack so that I can plug in the mic when I am using the EVF. Now either you can use the SEMA-1 mic kit or EVF and not both.
+1
+1
Exactly, and that actually could be the case here. The leaked photo from last week shows what appears to be a MIC jack on the VF-3….
Maybe Oly cancelled the introduction of the VF-3 because of the upcoming 3MPx OLED VF from Sony. Sometimes it is better not to release a product rather than to release one that is brand new and nevertheless looks like a joke compared to the competition…
I hope the viewfinder socket is designed to allow for different resolutions, may be even follows certain standards, like HDMI. This way, Olympus can take advantage of future display technologies, either of viewfinders or external displays.
Interesting thought. I wonder if Oly/Panny have anything similar in store. While their EVF’s are perfectly adequate, both the Oly VF-2 and the EVF used in the G3 are almost 3 years old now. That new Sony OLED EVF is going to make both of them look really bad in comparison. Hopefully Panasonic has something better in store for the Pro GF.
Evf and flash but cheaper than vf2!?
That thing wont last 4yrs and will brake down. Some delicate cheap electronics.
Movable part, tha will go through constant stress…
Even if it were the same price I wouldn’t trust it to last long.
In the german maual, where the vf3 is featured, there is a list with all compatible flashes in the flash section. There the vf3 is not mentioned. If it had a built-in flash, I suppose it would.
I have seen no solid indications of a built-in flash in any picture or grab from a video.
I don’t think the built-in flash is real.
Actually, now that I have looked more closely at the video in 1080p I see that there is something on the front of the VF-3 and it does in fact look like a flash diffuser.
If it is, I bet they did something tricky to allow to be used with the viewfinder in the 90 deg. position.
If so, this would be very very nice to have. Now if it just came in black . . .
This design is probably due to Olympus having heard every review complain how the use of an external VF prohibits the use of a flash. Users often have conflicting complaints and it’s always interesting which ones Oly decides to fix. This was a no-brainer, however. The VF3 can fix shortcomings on the EP1 and EP2 until the “pro” model comes with a a built in EVF. I still hope that sell the little clip on flash that comes with the E-PL3
I think The efv seen in the video is see though and you can see a thin strip off electric binding with soldering on it a bit like the old lap tops used to have on there hinge , I think it is smaller than the vf2 because the camera it’s own in the video is smaller than the older models , so in essence smaller cheaper and uses less power so it looks brighter on cameras like the xz-1
Hi folks,
That’s not a flash you ‘re looking at ( If you mean the front Half of the rectangular object ). It’s the sliding slot for the 90% Right angle Flip. And if you mean the Buldge on the left hand side of the VF3, that’s probably an AF Assist Lamp.
It will be near impossible to squeeze a Tungsten tube housing in there without getting in the way of the swivel Mechanism.
The English language version of the manual does NOT have any reference to the VF-3 and the illustration on p120 (the system chart) only shows the existing VF-1 and VF-2 viewfinders. Personally I don’t see that there is space in the right-hand picture (the VF-3) to include a flash unit.
The AF assist on the E-P3 is on the body of the camera just in front of the Mode dial.
Admin needs some holiday I think.
And what if I’m right? 🙂
I really think the EVF needs to be built into the body. Buying a camera without a viewfinder is akin to buying a car without wheels.
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