Deciding between K1-ii and Panasonic S5 - (please no MILC vs DSLR)

andrewparkoo wrote:

The other big dividing line is EVF versus OVF - EVFs have improved massively but if you're a purist and going on feel and connection with the camera I don't think you can beat a high quality OVF.

The viewfinder is the primary place I interact with my camera. I spend time looking for compositions and waiting for the moment. If I can't fall in love with the image in the VF, I might not even take the picture.

I like Lumix cameras. I have a small MFT system with a GX8 and four lenses. The EVF that's tolerably big and sharp, with realistic colors. But I'll still prefer the K-1 OVF nine times out of ten. An EVF has advantages for very dim scenes, where it can boost the gain, and very bright scenes like sunsets and ice formations, where an OVF might fry your eye.

But I've never seen an EVF that can properly show me full range of highlight and shadow detail in a contrasty scene. The new Nikon and Canon flagship models are supposed to be the best yet; they're over $5000 each. The Panasonic S5 is their budget model, with the same specs as my six-year-old GX8. How long will you be satisfied with that EVF, after a new, improved model comes along? And how many camera upgrades will you pay for before you reach your personal level of satisfaction?

Of course, any followup to the K-1 ll might be expected to have the improved, premium OVF tech of the K-3 lll, so maybe I'm in for an upgrade myself someday! But overall, it's a perfected product, a trustworthy, full-featured tool that needs little improvement.