Panasonic vs Olympus EVF

I wonder if anyone here has an opinion on the difference in EVF quality on Panasonic v Olympus, and I'm comparing here the G7, which I've had for a few years, and the OM-D E-M10 Mk ii. I love nearly everything about the G7 except its viewfinder, especially outdoors where any sort of bright light renders it very hard to use for me (I do wear glasses). I know you can shield the light with your other arm but how much of a pain is that? Having used the Olympus for a week I'm amazed at the difference (OK I have bought an Olympus EP-16 bigger eyecup for it which is something you maddeningly can't do with the G7). The Olympus seems more vivid and so much better outside and makes the G7 look washed out in comparison.

Interestingly have just watched a Camerabs Youtuve video where the presenter says the complete opposite, i.e. that the OLED panel in the Panasonic is more vibrant and clear than the LCD Olympus!

Am very taken with this E-M10, two other things I love about it are the keystone in-camera perspective control and the one click quick delete - it's wonderful!

I'm now seriously tempted by an OM1 Mk ii, and hoping it has the same viewfinder!

viewfinders seem to be very subjective.  The most highly rated viewfinder seems to be the G9 yet some people hate it.

I've seen no issues - other than in very bright sunlight - with the EVF on the EM-1 I and EM-1 II. They work well for me although I find they lead to a 1/3 stop underexposure on landscape images. But that is a pretty minor thing and easily corrected by ordinarily shooting at +.3 EV.

carlo14 wrote:

I've just discovered that my OM-D E-M10 has an OLED EVF, so similar type to the G7. It's certainly preferable though in my opinion.

Yes, I was going to correct your original post, the EM10ii (not the original 10) has an OLED EVF. Not familiar with the G7, but the EVF in the 10ii is certainly contrast-ier and more saturated than what's in the original 10, or in the 1ii. Whether that is better, I dunno. I got used to it quickly.

Some also noted issues with flickering and jittering, but they can be corrected by adjusting some menu settings.

One thing to consider is that with OLED EVFs you can use polarized sunglasses. That's what I heard at least...

Sorry, can't really compare Oly vs Pana.

There are at least 3 different EVF's, so it is important you realize which EVF you have:

• OLED: This is used on the Panasonic mid/upper range cameras, and the Olympus E-m10 mark II/III, Pen-F, and E-m5 mark III cameras. In general, OLED tends to be brighter, and blacks are true black. If you wear polarized sunglasses, OLED EVFs do not distort the image (it might be dimmer, but the image is not distorted). For me, most of the OLED displays tend to saturate the colors somewhat. This means in post processing you might need to raise the levels to get the image that you saw in the viewfinder.
• TFT LFD: This is used in the Olympus higher end cameras (E-m1 mark I/II/III, E-m5 mark I/II, and E-m1x) and with the older external viewfinder. TFT LCD displays do have issues with polarized sunglasses. In my experience, all Olympus cameras with TFT LFD viewfinders except for the E-m5 mark II, will distort about 1/2 of the screen when you are in landscape orientation. The E-m5 mark II seems to be completely opaque in landscape orientation. In my opinion, TFT LCD tends to have 'more natural' colors. In terms of the Olympus cameras, the refresh rate is higher for TFT LCD.
• Field Sequential: This is used in the lower end Panasonic cameras (typically GX). Unlike OLED or TFT LCD, there is only one LED per pixel, and it relies on persistance of vision, changing the LED color fast so that your eye merges them together.  This tends to bother some people, particularly when the camera is moved, and they report seeing a rainbow mode.

Agreed with others that evf is very personal. I suppose there should be no evf more controversial than that of GX7/85/9. Use field sequential display such that might cause rainbow effect, seasick or even can trigger migraine... Then a 16:9 display unit when shooting in 4:3, total 25% spaces is wasted to make it smaller... It is also of high resolution, and very bright so many complained it, some hated it but including myself, have no problem using it.

I am also a long time spectacle wearer (now half century already) having bad eye sight (myopia, astigmatism and Presbyopia as well). I have no problem on the evfs including that of GX7/85.

A biggest inconvenience so far of those evfs I used to have (G1, LVF2 of GX1, GX7, GX85) are all non OLED. I wish to put on a sunglass since living in a region of abandon sunshine, but all of those evfs are not polarized sunglasses friendly. As I rely heavily on the Live View in evf for exposure setting, only a better than nothing: non polarized and in very light color coating sunglasses be used.

I added a G85 recently, which has OLED EVF/LCD. I am a happy man again. No more black stripes on screen when changing orientations, I can see how the brightness condition will change on Exposure setting...

Try to wear a polarized sunglasses and shoot with the OLED and non OLED display, you should tell the difference.

TBH the larger evf of G85 indeed never gives me a wow factor vs GX7/85 (still shooting them use by side daily). The OLED is the major benefit to me.

BTE, it is a personal preference.

Michael Meissner wrote:

There are at least 3 different EVF's, so it is important you realize which EVF you have:

• OLED: This is used on the Panasonic mid/upper range cameras, and the Olympus E-m10 mark II/III, Pen-F, and E-m5 mark III cameras. In general, OLED tends to be brighter, and blacks are true black. If you wear polarized sunglasses, OLED EVFs do not distort the image (it might be dimmer, but the image is not distorted). For me, most of the OLED displays tend to saturate the colors somewhat. This means in post processing you might need to raise the levels to get the image that you saw in the viewfinder.
• TFT LFD: This is used in the Olympus higher end cameras (E-m1 mark I/II/III, E-m5 mark I/II, and E-m1x) and with the older external viewfinder. TFT LCD displays do have issues with polarized sunglasses. In my experience, all Olympus cameras with TFT LFD viewfinders except for the E-m5 mark II, will distort about 1/2 of the screen when you are in landscape orientation. The E-m5 mark II seems to be completely opaque in landscape orientation. In my opinion, TFT LCD tends to have 'more natural' colors. In terms of the Olympus cameras, the refresh rate is higher for TFT LCD.
• Field Sequential: This is used in the lower end Panasonic cameras (typically GX). Unlike OLED or TFT LCD, there is only one LED per pixel, and it relies on persistance of vision, changing the LED color fast so that your eye merges them together. This tends to bother some people, particularly when the camera is moved, and they report seeing a rainbow mode.

Another factor you may want to consider is an EVF diopter adjustment. My E-M5 II and III have them. I don't need one or know about any other models but assume the the E-M1s have them.

Is it a norm features for cameras?

Not to mention the old film slrs, my 1st digital camera, Panasonic LC5, a 2001 4Mp compact, using ovf has such adjuster. My first evf compact, Panasonic FZ5, a 5Mp superzoom fixed lens camera of 2005, also has it.

The major or only difference could be how powerful they would be.

alcelc wrote:

Is it a norm features for cameras?

Not to mention the old film slrs, my 1st digital camera, Panasonic LC5, a 2001 4Mp compact, using ovf has such adjuster. My first evf compact, Panasonic FZ5, a 5Mp superzoom fixed lens camera of 2005, also has it.

The major or only difference could be how powerful they would be.

Seems like an easy thing to google.

alcelc wrote:

Is it a norm features for cameras?

Not to mention the old film slrs, my 1st digital camera, Panasonic LC5, a 2001 4Mp compact, using ovf has such adjuster. My first evf compact, Panasonic FZ5, a 5Mp superzoom fixed lens camera of 2005, also has it.

The major or only difference could be how powerful they would be.

Anything with an optical viewfinder is likely to have a diopter.  But it seems common to have in electric viewfinders as well.  I've had a few times when I needed to adjust the diopter, either because it got moved, or because I was using different glasses (or no glasses).

AFAIK, all Olympus cameras with an EVF have a diopter adjustment. Similarly the older external viewfinders (VF-2, VF-3, and VF-4) for select Pen/OM-D cameras had a diopter adjustment. Now, different cameras have different amounts that can be adjusted, and different eyepoints.

Note, the E-m1 mark I had an issue that if you used one of the larger diopter adjustments, and the viewfinder was exposed to the sun, it could burn into the viewfinder and create permanent ugly green blobs. When I sent my E-m1 mark I in for its two warranty repairs (non EVF related), one of the things noted was that they specifically checked the EVF for blobs (and the other 2 common problems, strap lug nuts coming off, and the mode dial issues). My brick and mortar store also has an official Olympus cleaning event each year, and last year or the previous year, the guy ahead of me had the green blob issue.

While I never had an issue with the E-m1 mark I EVF (other than trying to use it with polarized sunglasses), I did have the back light fail on my refurbished E-m5 mark I in the middle of a Disney World vacation (fortunately I had bought the extended warranty).

alcelc wrote:

Is it a norm features for cameras?

Not to mention the old film slrs, my 1st digital camera, Panasonic LC5, a 2001 4Mp compact, using ovf has such adjuster. My first evf compact, Panasonic FZ5, a 5Mp superzoom fixed lens camera of 2005, also has it.

The major or only difference could be how powerful they would be.

Just remembered something else to consider when wearing glasses. My E-M5 III has a 27mm (extended) "eye point" (how far away your eye must be from the viewfinder to see it entirely). DPR says the "...EVF has a long eye point for glasses wearers".

I don't know what the eye point is for other cameras except the E-M5 II which is 21mm but it might be something to consider before purchasing a camera.