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Anyone use an Optical Viewfinder

S

subseasniper

New Member
Hey all.

I've been looking at the OVF's available for the GR and have been considering buying one in the hope it will speed up my reaction time when out shooting.

They are not cheap and before I buy I would like to hear from anyone who has an OVF.

Do they make a difference to the way you shoot?

Any positive or negative thoughts are appreciated.
 
One thing to watch out for is that there is no diopter adjustment. I bought a GV-1 with my GR but can't see a thing through it :D
 
Hi
I deliberated a very long time before taking the plunge. I finally settled for the Lumix 24mm OVF designed for the LX3/5 cameras. It's a good fit and I like it very much. The 24mm lines fit the 28mm lens well. It has a nice shape and doesn't obstruct the flash which some OVF's do. Does it make a difference? I was in the woods yesterday and I kept framing with the screen, the OVF wasn't getting used too much. When I'm in urban areas or shooting 'street' the OVF is all I use.

I have to put myself in a certain frame of mind. It's like shooting an old film camera. Set the iso, aperture and shutter. You don't know if you bagged it until the film's developed. I like that. You work with your instincts developed from learned experience and knowledge. Digital often teaches us not to trust our instincts, everyone is chimping. If you want to get away from that an OVF is a useful tool. Slightly more meditative too, yet also fast working.

I can't honestly say I get better pictures, I don't think an OVF weighs one way or the other in that respect. Like most things it comes with pro's and con's. Generally I much prefer shooting with the OVF. On the other hand, it's a bit more hassle to set up, carry and protect. If I'm rushing about my day, the OVF doesn't feature. It's bulky (relatively) to be pulling in and out of the pocket. My advice, get one. they hold their value so can always be re-sold.
 
subseasniper":235091il said:
Hey all.
I've been looking at the OVF's available for the GR and have been considering buying one in the hope it will speed up my reaction time when out shooting.
They are not cheap and before I buy I would like to hear from anyone who has an OVF.
Do they make a difference to the way you shoot?
Any positive or negative thoughts are appreciated.
Click to expand...

Where I live at times the light is very clear, direct and harsh. I carry an OVF for the GR in my kit when I go out.
It goes on at times when I can't see the LCD or I want more stabilisation using my face/nose.
I find the frame lines reasonably accurate but a little of extra in the frame.

As I am a center focus/lock then take image user I wish the OVF had a center mark like a [ ] in the middle so that you could use this with combination of the lock LED. At the moment I guess where the AF mark is.

Its an expensive item but has been used enough that it was a worthwhile expenditure for me.
 
Here's how my GR looks like with a cheap 28/35mm VF that I bought on ebay.
11723084856_609c4c8c6c_m.jpg
11722577573_6a2e69fb60_m.jpg


I love it, set the snap mode to 2m, f8-11 and you're good to go
 
I like the Zeiss 25/28mm. It centers right above the lens on the GR, the 28mm framelines and parallax indicator work pretty well at medium to far distances. You can also get Zeiss diopters for it (I use a -1 for my slight nearsightedness). Downside is the expense, though it’s a large, high-quality piece of optic. I already had this for use on my Leicas, so there was no new cost for the new use for me.
 
I use a Panasonic 24mm finder which shows essentially the exact width of Ricoh lens . It has a 2:3 ratio which is how I shoot anyway .
 
Yeah, I've got a Sony viewfinder on it - picked it up cheap as it was a refurb. Was designed for the NEX but just took the base plate adapter off and it fits perfect. As for how I find it for shooting - probably doesn't make the photos any better, but does feel more natural when taking a photo. One thing I do find is that I'm having to relearn the framing slightly as there is an offset between the lens and the OVF. Other thing is that the OVF adds some bulk to the camera and makes it slightly less pocket-able. Definitely makes it look a little cooler tho...
 
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