Customer Reviews

Olympus VF-1 Optical Viewfinder for use with Olympus PEN E-P1 Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I purchased the VF-1 viewfinder as part of a kit including an E-P1 camera and a 17 mm pancake lens. I wear glasses and have never been able to use a viewfinder (the experience was either like looking through a toilet paper tube, or I couldn't see the whole area of the viewfinder), so I didn't bother using the viewfinder, instead composing photos with the LCD screen.

I recently had the opportunity to try a Voigtlander viewfinder on my camera (lent to me by another photographer couldn't believe that I was taking street photos using the LCD), and was amazed at how well I could see though it. So I dug out my unused Olympus viewfinder, and discovered that (on my E-P1 at least) it's even better than the Voigtlander viewfinder (which costs four times as much!).

First of all, the rectangular bright lines in the VF-1 viewfinder match the 4:3 aspect ratio of the E-P1 sensor. Other viewfinders (like the Voigtlander I borrowed) are intended for use on film cameras and digital cameras with a 3:2 aspect ratio, so the bright lines crop the top and bottom of the image that the E-P1 records, and extend beyond the right and left edges. If you care about accurately framing your image, other viewfinders won't do.

The VF-1 viewfinder has a high "eye point," which means that it works well for someone wearing glasses. I can see the area outside the bright lines without difficulty, which is something I can't say for most other viewfinders (including the ones built into Leica cameras, amazingly enough).

Even if I had an E-P2 camera instead of my E-P1, I would use the VF-1 viewfinder rather than an electronic viewfinder. The optical viewfinder displays an area larger than the image. I can see what is just outside the bright lines, and recompose as necessary. With an electronic viewfinder, all you see is what will be in the image, and nothing more. For my kind of photography (street photography), being able to see an area larger than the image makes a big difference.

In bright light I often have difficulty seeing an image on the LCD screen, and have to shade the screen with my hand while I'm photographing. It's awkward and it looks a bit furtive, which isn't how I want t appear when photographing in the street. The viewfinder, on the other hand, works in all light. I also find that I am faster with the viewfinder than when composing with the LCD screen, and I can move around easier with the camera at my face.

Bottom line: If you have a E-P1, E-P2 or E-PL1 and a 17 mm pancake lens, you owe it to yourself to give the VF-1 viewfinder a test run, even if you wear glasses.

This accessory optical finder mounts on the Olympus PEN E-P1 retro-styled (and retro-marketed, "Olympus PEN Since 1959") camera specifically for use with the thin "pancake" 17mm lens. With the fast optical finder and that wide-angle lens, the camera evokes memories of rangefinder cameras, perhaps Leicas and Canons of the 1950s and 1960s. With this setup, I took a bunch of street images, quick clicks of sidewalk scenes. It's an excellent camera, lens, and viewfinder setup. It's especially powerful with digital imagining since only a small fraction of such shots turn out "perfectly" (no fault of the camera, more of the casual picture taking).

If something akin to a 35mm rangefinder, but with modern technology, is of interest to you, you should try it out in the camera store. The whole setup E-P1, 17mm, and this viewfinder are too expensive to buy on a whim, but it is a solid setup with retro appeal but all of the modern features.

I bought this and returned it as I was told that the Digital viewfinder was so much better and worth paying $250 for.....well, I wish I kept this optical and saved a lot of cash too. I returned the optical and bought the digital and now regret having paid big $$$ for a bulkier viewfinder that basically shows a somewhat pixilated poor image quality that when moving has lag! (quite annoying) I have an e-pL1 and use both the kit lens of 14-42, the 17mm pancake and a zoom lens of 150mm. This optical viewfinder basically will show you your image as if you are looking through a "17mm" lens. If you change lens, then you may find yourself switching between your viewfinder and your LCD for an accurate depiction of what you are seeing. But I actually preferred the quality image with the optical over the digital! And it has a much smaller/neater profile! (just my opinion)

There are many negative reviews for this item, and I think they're largely unwarranted.

No, this thing can't show your settings in-line, or provide for perfectly accurate framing, as one would expect from a SLR (or an EVF on the PENs). This is a very simple optical viewfinder, hearkening back to the range finder days (albeit without the range finder itself). If you want the bells and whistles of a full-fledged EVF on a PEN, then you should get the Olympus VF-2 Electronic ViewFinder instead.

On the other hand, this product does exactly what it's supposed to do: it lets you frame your photo without using a LCD display (when combined with the Olympus 17mm f/2.8 Lens).

It's constructed adequately, and attaches to the shoe well enough. Be aware that you lose the ability to use shoe-mount flashes with this attached. It has the expected brightlines to indicate framing, but be warned: due to parallax this won't be totally precise, especially for very close objects. Such are the laws of physics.

There's no focus indication on this thing, so you really have two viable ways to shoot: one, use AF (and hope that it hits); or two, set the 17mm to hyperfocal manually and just shoot away. Annoyingly, without a distance scale on the 17mm, you'll have to use the LCD panel to set up the initial focus if you end up going the hyperfocal route. If you're doing street photography this can be just the ticket; quickly raise it to your eye and pull the trigger. Fire and forget.

Although this device is designed for the 17mm f/2.8, there's nothing stopping you from using it with any zoom lens that covers 17mm; just set your zoom lens to 17mm and you'll be able to use this OVF the same way.

Now, truth told, I use this very seldom, since in most cases the flexibility of the VF-2 or even the rear LCD panel is very valuable. But sometimes, just for fun, I use the VF-1 instead, and I really enjoy it. It reminds me of shooting with an old 110 fixed focus film camera back in the day. If shooting in this manner sounds attractive to you, by all means, this is a nice piece of kit (though I ding it one star for price / build quality ratio). Otherwise, take a pass, and either stick with the rear panel or pick up the VF-2.

The VF-1 fits and works perfectly on my Olympus XZ-1.
Its optical field-of-view is very close to the XZ-1's default start-up 28mm equiv lens setting.
It is a simple solution to the problem of capturing fast-moving action in bright daylight. Put the camera on SCN > Sports mode and you're all set!
In daily use, I carry the XZ-1 in one shirt pocket, and the VF-1 plus a spare camera battery in my other shirt pocket. Size... when the VF-1 is on the camera, the XZ-1 won't fit in your shirt pocket... get a neck strap if you want to have the VF-1 always ready to go.

I am not sure if the one I got was defective or not but the image in the viewfinder cut was about 1/3 off on the vertical axis of the actual image taken and there is no means of adjusting it. Basically it failed at its one purpose. Long story short I should have tried a viewfinder with my camera before selecting one to purchase.

This viewfinder is fine as far as it goes. It just is barely more useful than the lcd screen on the back! Save your $$ for the evf-2!!

Beth

I purchased this when I ordered the camera thinking that it would be a good idea for when in high light areas. Upon getting the camera I found that I can see the LCD perfectly in the sun without it. It is a great camera, but this viewfinder is not worth the price tag.

I have been less than pleased with my Lumix GF1 camera. How it ever got "Camera of the Year" I'll never understand. I absolutely loved my old Lumix and if anyone wants thisone for a discount let me know. I got the view finder as I lost so many photo opportunties on a trip that we took to Africa, due to the bright sun, and not being able to see what I was trying to photograph. The Olympus VF-1 Optical Viewfinder did not fit so I'm greatly disappointed again. All in all I thought the camera, lenses and viewfinder were all money thrown away!!!