An Appeal to Fujifilm to Change the Optical Viewfinder in the X-Pro 3

[oking23]

I own the X-Pro 1, X-Pro 2, and X-Pro 3. The X-Pro 3 is absolutely a delight and I often find myself using it with my old Fujica prime lenses. The only issue I have with an otherwise remarkable camera is the limitation of the optical viewfinder. It restricts the number of lenses that can be reasonable used to the 23mm, 27mm, and the 35mm. In light of the fact that so many individuals purchase the X-Pro cameras for the hybrid viewfinder, I find it difficult to comprehend just what the rationale might have been for changing the viewfinder that worked quite well in the X-Pro 2.

I am appealing to Fujifilm to bring back that very functional optical viewfinder from the X-Pro 2. Hopefully, this can be accomplished with a firmware. If there are others in the forum who share my sentiments, please add your voices. The X-Pro 3 is really an extraordinary camera, however, this implementation of the optical viewfinder really needs to be addressed.

 

[DarnGoodPhotos]

Changing the viewfinder magnification can not be done with firmware.

 

[Threaded]

The rationale’s pretty simple when you think about it; the OVF is perfect for the 23mm FOV and ideal for the X100V it was primarily designed for. It works passably enough for the X-Pro, and creates a substantial saving for Fuji via the economies of scale involved in producing one viewfinder assembly for both camera lines. Disappointing but logical.

 

[oking23]

I’m not sure that it explains why there was a need to change the X-Pro 2’s viewfinder. If costs were of concern why not utilize a system that was already in place and functioned extremely well?

 

[Truman Prevatt]

I am appealing to Fujifilm to bring back that very functional optical viewfinder from the X-Pro 2. Hopefully, this can be accomplished with a firmware.

No it can't.

If there are others in the forum who share my sentiments, please add your voices. The X-Pro 3 is really an extraordinary camera, however, this implementation of the optical viewfinder really needs to be addressed.

As a long time Leica M user - the Pro3 is very similar with my M4 OVF. The Leica M4 OVF is usable for 28 mm (18 on APSC) through 135 (90 on APSC). However it works best for focal lengths 28 though 90 (60 on APSC). I find the Pro3 OVF works fine using 18 through 50/56. It will work with the 90 but it is like like using the 135 on the M4 - the frame lines are small. You can do it but why?

The Pro3 OVF frame is bigger and brighter than the Pro2. It is also clearer and more crisp. I use the OVF on my Pro3 solely for focal lengths 18 through 56. The bright lines frames are plenty big and there is no intrusion in the frame. The exception is the 23 f1.4 so on the Pro2/Proi3 I use the f2 version since it is tapered to work with the OVF. I would have no issues using the 90 in a pinch in the OVF.

The good news is the EVF on the Pro3 is much improved so for the 90 I would flick on the EVF or more likely have it on my H1.

I consider the improvements of the Pro3 EVF, the clarity the brightness and the crispness of the overlay in the OVF and the sharpness in the ERF insert makes the Pro3 OVF an improvement over the Pro2 OVF and the only reason I bought a Fuji camera is the OVF and if they screw it up - I probably would abandon Fuji. The only sacrifice I see in the Pro3 OVF is in the 90 and anything wider than 18.

I don't do ultra wide angle (24 or less focal length on 35 mm) and right now I primarily use my H1 for larger lenses like the 90. So I'm fine with the Pro3.

 

[bluequartz]

I’m not sure that it explains why there was a need to change the X-Pro 2’s viewfinder. If costs were of concern why not utilize a system that was already in place and functioned extremely well?

I'm not sure if I'm over-paraphrasing from the reviews/interviews that were shared about the X-Pro 3, but I think it went somewhere along the lines that in order to make the OVF bigger and to improve the EVF, they had to drop the dual-magnification afforded by the X-Pro 2 version. Then, the X100V came out with practically the same VF specs and people surmised it's the same 'to save on R&D costs' - though was it ever confirmed by Fujifilm?

Edit: oh yeah, mentioned in Dpreview's article .

 

[Threaded]

I’m not sure that it explains why there was a need to change the X-Pro 2’s viewfinder. If costs were of concern why not utilize a system that was already in place and functioned extremely well?

The Pro2’s viewfinder used a 2.36mp LCD panel, which basically makes it prehistoric as far as most people are concerned at this point. A new viewfinder had to be developed for both cameras. Developing just one and having a single production line churning them out for both models brings obvious savings.