X10 viewfinder question

I'm really enjoying my X10, but the one thing that drives me crazy is that using the optical VF simply doesn't show enough of the scene for composition - has anyone figured out any tricks to help with this?

Yes, flog it, the OVF is all but useless, they would have been better off leaving it off and reducing the price.

Paul.
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Michael49 said:

I'm really enjoying my X10, but the one thing that drives me crazy is that using the optical VF simply doesn't show enough of the scene for composition - has anyone figured out any tricks to help with this?

Click to expand...

It's not necessary to use the viewfinder for everything . Even if you use it only for short periods to get the desired framing/composition, the LCD should be good enough even if there's some glare from the sun. Getting the framing just right will maximize image quality, but if you use the viewfinder's more inclusive frame you'll be able get the framing just right by cropping on the computer. You might lose a megapixel or so, but that probably won't be noticed unless you look very closely. Even if you use the X10's LCD or if it had an EVF, some camera movement will always shift a perfectly framed photo somewhat if you don't use a tripod. So even if you shoot using the LCD, if you shoot hand held, you should frame a bit more loosely anyway.

I find it great. Just shoot with things right out to the edge of the vf area, and it works fine. Just takes getting used to.
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Don Erway
http://picasaweb.google.com/onederway
http://www.pbase.com/derway

Thanks for the input guys. Would have been so nice if they had made it a bit larger so it more closely represented the actual scene that was captured.

if you are willing to give up some field of view, and shoot 3:2, the vertical field of view is pretty similar between the 3:2 image and what you see in the OVF. this way you only need to account for the extra horizontal field of view.

You spend an hour or so testing and seeing how it differs from the shot at various distances. It's no better or worse than any of the dozen rangefinders I've used over the decades. Once you get a feel for it, it's so easy to compensate.

I've found it to be lots better than my Canon G10 - brighter and more co-aligned with actual sensor view for landscape shots (except for the 85% limitation).

What everyone seems to forget is that, before the advent of LCD screens, compact cameras all had viewfinders with parallax error - and adjustments had to be made accordingly. So why people are so critical of the X-10 viewfinder, I don't know. Obviously it would be better to have a DSLR type viewfinder but, still, any viewfinder is better than none, IMHO. I actually find that I use the viewfinder quite allot because, being in Oz, I'm always shooting in bright conditions which renders the LCD screen useless. I just shoot more of the scene and then crop later.

There's a third option over the LCD or the OVF: The Clearviewer, newly available in an X10 model, but you have to request it in either the standard or premium version, as it's not listed on the clearview.com site. I've had one almost permanently screwed into my tripod bushing since mid-December.

Advantages:

a) Confers all the compositional accuracy and viewfinder information of the LCD. But image is significantly magnified and camera shake is minimized at eye level.

b) Pushing one's eye against the CV tends to shade the LCD, and is generally superior for telephoto shooting and long exposures; whereas composing at arm's length can be squinty (esp. in bright sunlight) and unstable.

c) For telephoto shooting in either landscape or portrait mode, CV aids in assessing facial expressions and subtle gestures. Really sweet in the 85-112mm range.

d) Black plastic trim blends well with X10 exterior. Slim, lightweight and compact, folds flat for storage. Tucks away easily near the baseplate if you choose to shoot off the LCD or OVF.

My X10 feels incomplete without it. If this sounds to you like a paid commercial, I receive no remuneration nor am I an employee. Just a satisfied consumer.

I neglected one final point: You get focus confirmation off the LCD when you shoot with the CV. Lack of focus confirmation is one of the the most frequent gripes I hear about OVF shooting.

You can use the old rangefinder trick of keeping both eyes open then you can see what is walking in to your frame.

Or if you can find one, attach a zoom brightline viewfinder. Leica made one, but there must be other ones out there.

Good luck.

Michael49 said:

I'm really enjoying my X10, but the one thing that drives me crazy is that using the optical VF simply doesn't show enough of the scene for composition - has anyone figured out any tricks to help with this?

Click to expand...

Michael49 said:

I'm really enjoying my X10, but the one thing that drives me crazy is that using the optical VF simply doesn't show enough of the scene for composition - has anyone figured out any tricks to help with this?

Click to expand...

I would appreciate if there's a small dot that mark the centre of the frame,at least.

William Ing said:

I neglected one final point: You get focus confirmation off the LCD when you shoot with the CV. Lack of focus confirmation is one of the the most frequent gripes I hear about OVF shooting.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info on this device William - I think I'll give it a try. I rarely use a tripod, so I'll order the premium lens with the hot-shoe mount.

Hi Jade,

Nice to know at least one person on this thread is willing to heed my advice and take the CV out for a spin with her X10.

However, because I really like the foldaway convenience of the tripod mount version, my advice would be to order that one over the hot shoe mount version.

Unless a) you have a strong preference for keeping your tripod bushing free of any accessory except a tripod itself; or b) because you like to keep an everready case on your X10 almost all the time and are willing to remove the shoe mount version from the hot shoe between uses; or c) because you really value the extra rigidity of the hot shoe version. (lt doesn't have any hinges like the tripod version.)

Anyway, all the above arguments are based on my personal shooting style. Good luck with the CV and the X10, whatever you decide.

Hi Jade:

I hope you see this before you submit your order for a CV.

l just re-read your message where you say you rarely use a tripod and therefore will order the shoe mount CV.

Apologies if I'm in error, but I believe you misunderstand: Using a tripod mount CV has NOTHING to do with whether or not you use a tripod. This version merely screws into the little hole of your X10's baseplate. (Look at the illustrations on the CV Website again.)

When not in use, the CV folds up very compactly against the camera's LCD. For me, this is far more convenient than having to remove the shoe mount CV from the hot shoe between uses.