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FZ28's EVF - What aaaare they playing at???? Part 2
- Thread starter Vandyu
- Start date
MaineTim
Veteran Member
Not shirt pocketable, that's for sure.
Matter of opinion. You say clunky, I say useful and versatile.
I've been carrying mine constantly for about 9 months, no problem. Haven't read of anyone damaging one, though anything is possible. It's tougher than you might think.
If your version could be flipped up to put it perpendicular to the lens as the Ricoh can, you'd have something. I find that an extremely handy feature, and use it all the time (more so than the articulated LCD on the FZ50, which I also love).
To each his own.
Sorry to be late to the party. I've been out using my cameras.
Tim
--
http://mainetim.zenfolio.com/
Vandyu
Veteran Member
You really need to examine a Konica Minolta A2. Wonderful EVF that allows you to look down through it or straight through. Now that was a great camera. Not perfect, but had some awesome features.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/konicaminoltaa2/page3.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/konicaminoltaa2/page3.asp
Vandyu
Veteran Member
From DPR Review of Konica Minolta A2:
"The DiMAGE A1 had an impressive 235,000 pixel LCD electronic viewfinder, which now appears to have been implemented by several other manufacturers in their prosumer cameras. Konica Minolta, not satisfied to be using last years technology have gone one better and describe the LCD in the DiMAGE A2's electronic viewfinder as having 922,000 pixels (just short of a megapixel), which sounds unbelievable until you look through it and realize it could indeed be true. This is one of the smoothest (no visible break between adjoining pixels) yet sharpest electronic viewfinders I've ever used.
Electronic Viewfinders are a matter of taste, many other reviewers simply hate them. I personally recognize them as the only alternative to a true pentaprism TTL viewfinder on a digital camera such as this. Thanks to the high gain black & white mode in low light you can still continue to use the A2's EVF in low light situations.
Just like the 7 series and A1 the A2's viewfinder also has two other unique features, firstly it can be tilted through 90 degrees, and so can be used easily from above. Secondly it has a proximity sensor which allows the camera to automatically switch from the LCD to the EVF (or just switch the EVF on or off) when your eye meets the viewfinder eyepiece. There is also some dioptre adjustment."
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/konicaminoltaa2/page3.asp
"The DiMAGE A1 had an impressive 235,000 pixel LCD electronic viewfinder, which now appears to have been implemented by several other manufacturers in their prosumer cameras. Konica Minolta, not satisfied to be using last years technology have gone one better and describe the LCD in the DiMAGE A2's electronic viewfinder as having 922,000 pixels (just short of a megapixel), which sounds unbelievable until you look through it and realize it could indeed be true. This is one of the smoothest (no visible break between adjoining pixels) yet sharpest electronic viewfinders I've ever used.
Electronic Viewfinders are a matter of taste, many other reviewers simply hate them. I personally recognize them as the only alternative to a true pentaprism TTL viewfinder on a digital camera such as this. Thanks to the high gain black & white mode in low light you can still continue to use the A2's EVF in low light situations.
Just like the 7 series and A1 the A2's viewfinder also has two other unique features, firstly it can be tilted through 90 degrees, and so can be used easily from above. Secondly it has a proximity sensor which allows the camera to automatically switch from the LCD to the EVF (or just switch the EVF on or off) when your eye meets the viewfinder eyepiece. There is also some dioptre adjustment."
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/konicaminoltaa2/page3.asp
Mikedigi
Forum Pro
Hadn't heard of a rotating EVF before, interesting idea.
I think though that I'd rather have it integrated into the shape of the camera.
I'd do the same if it only stopped raining . . .Sorry to be late to the party. I've been out using my cameras.
Mike
Panasonic EffZedEight, Fuji EffTwenty
Mikedigi
Forum Pro
Thanks for showing us this, I had no idea that an EVF had ever been that advanced. Must have been great to use . . . even my FZ8 EVF comes close to being as useful as a TTL OVF (if you include the bonus of the clarity when reviewing).
Mike
Mikedigi
Forum Pro
One thing that has come out of these 2 threads is that people vary greatly in their view of the user-friendliness of EVF's.
I wonder whether some of the problems are because of poor diopter adjustment.
First thing I noticed with my FZ8's EVF is that it is as critical to get the diopter adjustment right as it is with a pair of binoculars.
Having done that, I found that it was very easy to move the diopter wheel accidentally. So having readjusted the diopter to my eyes, I put a small strip on masking tape over the diopter wheel and that has cured the problem completely - EVF always sharply focussed.
There is a hint in some of the posts that the FZ28 EVF requires especially careful adjustment, being smaller but higher resolution
Another possible EVF problem that people may encounter is the Image Stabilization Mode 1. Watching the scene shimmy around through the EVF makes me sea-sick. So I only use Mode 2, or OFF when appropriate.
--
Panasonic EffZedEight, Fuji EffTwenty
I wonder whether some of the problems are because of poor diopter adjustment.
First thing I noticed with my FZ8's EVF is that it is as critical to get the diopter adjustment right as it is with a pair of binoculars.
Having done that, I found that it was very easy to move the diopter wheel accidentally. So having readjusted the diopter to my eyes, I put a small strip on masking tape over the diopter wheel and that has cured the problem completely - EVF always sharply focussed.
There is a hint in some of the posts that the FZ28 EVF requires especially careful adjustment, being smaller but higher resolution
Another possible EVF problem that people may encounter is the Image Stabilization Mode 1. Watching the scene shimmy around through the EVF makes me sea-sick. So I only use Mode 2, or OFF when appropriate.
--
Panasonic EffZedEight, Fuji EffTwenty
Mikedigi
Forum Pro
. . . hit the Post button prematurely. Must put a strip of masking tape over it.
That sentence was meant to say:
"There is a hint in some of the posts that the FZ28 EVF requires especially careful adjustment, being smaller but higher resolution, but that it gives good detail if this care is taken."
Mike
That sentence was meant to say:
"There is a hint in some of the posts that the FZ28 EVF requires especially careful adjustment, being smaller but higher resolution, but that it gives good detail if this care is taken."
Mike
Ravynne
Leading Member
My evf adjustment works fine. I have never had any problems, nor have I ever bumped my evf diopter. I have no idea how anyone can bump that thing unless they are wrapping their left hand over the top of the camera instead of holding it from the bottom.
Aleasha.
--
Ravynne's Gallery
http://picasaweb.google.ca/sharazani
Enjoy life to the fullest
Aleasha.
--
Ravynne's Gallery
http://picasaweb.google.ca/sharazani
Enjoy life to the fullest
Mikedigi
Forum Pro
Good . . . for me the wheel got moved in general camera handling, e.g. taking it out of a case, opening the battery cover to take out the card or battery, etc. . . . not when shooting.
Mike
mjonesgraphics
Leading Member
Funny enough, happens to me ALL the time. 
--
Mark Jones
Olympus 2100 (UZI), FZ18, OLY B-300, OLY A-Macro.
http://www.pbase.com/mjonesgraphics
--
Mark Jones
Olympus 2100 (UZI), FZ18, OLY B-300, OLY A-Macro.
http://www.pbase.com/mjonesgraphics
Mikedigi
Forum Pro
Thanks Mark . . . if it happens to relatively well-informed people on this Forum, it must happen even more to people out there who don't know a diopter from a doughnut. Murphy's Law ensures that if it can happen, it will happen.Funny enough, happens to me ALL the time.
I don't know whether the diopter wheel was made more difficult to move accidentally after the FZ8 . . .
Mike
Panasonic EffZedEight, Fuji EffTwenty
ruud abeln
Well-known member
This whole discussion is nonsense!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The EVF size is only reduced from the 0.44" (fz18) to 0.40"(fz28), if you have both camera's it is easy to measure!!!!
If I compare both EVF's my conclusion is:
=> FZ28 has a better electronic viewfinder
The FZ28 EVF is better fitted for the human eye with 5% more pixels and 10% smaller Field of View.
The FZ28 EVF is really better for spectacles wearers (with a more stable exit pupil).
The FZ28 EVF's Field of View is the same as looking at the lcd at 16cm. And old man with spectacles cannot do that!!! What aaaare you talking aboutt!!!!
Ruud
The EVF size is only reduced from the 0.44" (fz18) to 0.40"(fz28), if you have both camera's it is easy to measure!!!!
If I compare both EVF's my conclusion is:
=> FZ28 has a better electronic viewfinder
The FZ28 EVF is better fitted for the human eye with 5% more pixels and 10% smaller Field of View.
The FZ28 EVF is really better for spectacles wearers (with a more stable exit pupil).
The FZ28 EVF's Field of View is the same as looking at the lcd at 16cm. And old man with spectacles cannot do that!!! What aaaare you talking aboutt!!!!
Ruud
Vandyu
Veteran Member
This is wrong--The EVF size is only reduced from the 0.44" (fz18) to 0.40"(fz28), if you have both camera's it is easy to measure!!!!
FZ28
0.20" Color EVF (201,600 dots), Field of View : approx. 100%, Lens 19.6x
FZ18
The electronic viewfinder has been borrowed from the FZ8 too. It sports 188,000 pixels which makes it perfectly usable and a good alternative to the display in bright sunlight. Although far from perfect it's certainly one of the better electronic viewfinders on the market.
FZ28
0.20" Color EVF (201,600 dots), Field of View : approx. 100%, Lens 19.6x
FZ18
The electronic viewfinder has been borrowed from the FZ8 too. It sports 188,000 pixels which makes it perfectly usable and a good alternative to the display in bright sunlight. Although far from perfect it's certainly one of the better electronic viewfinders on the market.
mjonesgraphics
Leading Member
I would have preferred it to be "stiff' or even "clicked". Drives me bonkers!. Perhaps a little cap over it? At least on mine the wheel turns VERY easily. If I touch it, I alter the position.
Happens all the time while I'm looking through EVF and switch the flash to "open"
--
Mark Jones
Olympus 2100 (UZI), FZ18, OLY B-300, OLY A-Macro.
http://www.pbase.com/mjonesgraphics
Happens all the time while I'm looking through EVF and switch the flash to "open"
--
Mark Jones
Olympus 2100 (UZI), FZ18, OLY B-300, OLY A-Macro.
http://www.pbase.com/mjonesgraphics
Gary R.
Veteran Member
That proximity-sensor viewfinder is a joke...I used one, and found it annoying, silly, useless, dumb, and the first thing I'd turn off.
And really, how important is a swivel viewfinder? Much less versatile than a swivel LCD, because you have to be right up against it, which makes it useless for when an LCD comes in handy, holding overhead or down low.
And, in another post, all the fuss about a rubber eyecup? Just locate one that fits over the eyepiece, and use that, problem solved. I use the Orion eyecup on my FZ50, it never occurred to me to gripe that they didn't include one with the camera.
This almost sounds like a case of "viewfinder pixel-peeping"; I've used an FZ28 briefly, and didn't notice any lousy viewfinder, seemed OK to me. Granted I didn't compare it side by side with other models, but lots of folks didn't even seem to be aware there's a problem with it, unless they read it here.
--
Gary
Photo albums: http://www.pbase.com/roberthouse
ruud abeln
Well-known member
Yes, that is the Panasonic Info.
But Panasonic seems to use an other definition for the field of view of the fz18 then that of the fz28!!!!!
- for the fz18 = whole Field of View
- for the fz28 = half Field of View
Ruud
Mikedigi
Forum Pro
Yes, the diopter wheel on my FZ8 is very easy to turn - e.g. just brush it with my sleeve.
Hence the masking tape - doesn't bother me because on a "photo day out" I cover the whole back (except buttons) and rear corners of the FZ8 with masking tape anyway, so that it can hang round my neck and rub on coat buttons, belt buckles, etc., without getting damaged.
Mike
Panasonic EffZedEight, Fuji EffTwenty
Mikedigi
Forum Pro
After about 208 messages on this topic, there does not appear to be a consensus. Some people love the FZ28 EVF, others find it usable, others don't like it so much.
Which is not surprising, as probably a thread on the FZ8 EVF would have produced a similar mix of opinion - it's all down to individual eyesight, taste, habits and histories.
What I do hope is that Panasonic continue to improve the EVF and continue to have a class-leading EVF in the FZ range, as this is an integral part of the FZ's attraction for a lot of people.
I didn't buy an FZ because it was cheaper than its competition but because I thought it was THE class act. And I still do. In spite of any flaws.
Mike
FZ8, F20
Which is not surprising, as probably a thread on the FZ8 EVF would have produced a similar mix of opinion - it's all down to individual eyesight, taste, habits and histories.
What I do hope is that Panasonic continue to improve the EVF and continue to have a class-leading EVF in the FZ range, as this is an integral part of the FZ's attraction for a lot of people.
I didn't buy an FZ because it was cheaper than its competition but because I thought it was THE class act. And I still do. In spite of any flaws.
Mike
FZ8, F20
fennerty
Forum Enthusiast
Update: Panasonic have now got rid of their majority share holding in JVC who have joined up with Kenwood
David
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The Amateur Formerly Known as 'UZ'pShoot'ERS' 'Happy Shootin' Comments, Critique, Ridicule, Limericks, Jokes, Hi-jackings, EnthUZIastically, Encouraged... I Insist!
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