Is Oly going to ever build an M4/3 with built in VF?

[Voldenuit]

If you add a VF to the pen format, then it won't look like a pen anymore. To big a part to insert in the body to keep the same look.

Need I remind you that the original Pen F had a reflex viewfinder 50 years ago and wasn't any bigger than the digital PENs?

Or that the E-330 also has a reflex viewfinder and has no "hump"?

I'm confident in Oly's engineering prowess and their ability to design a solution that can keep the size down.

 

[captain-beardy]

I'm confident in Oly's engineering prowess and their ability to design a solution that can keep the size down.

Well I wish they'd get on with it, I really do.

Mind you, my experiences in IP product and development would suggest that either the engineers have already designed said unit, and the marketing men are waiting for the right moment to release it onto the world, or (more likely?) the marketing men men have given the engineers a vague brief, no money and an impossible time scale to deliver. I am, however, just talking from jaded experience you understand.

 

[Paul Panetta]

Hmm, they could make a portion of the lcd higher res but keep it synced it with the rest of the lcd so it works at the lower res and uses the higher res when in vf mode.

They just need to think outside the square and place it inside the rectangle

I wonder if it would be possible for some ingenious manufacturer to turn the LCD into a viewfinder when you place your face up to it. Surely they could just shrink the lcd view into a viewfinder size view (with an adjustable size and di-opter) with some electronic wzardry and maybe add a curtain around the lcd that can spring out against your face to block out light. Then you would not need to worry about increasing the physical size of the camera to accommodate what is essentially another lcd panel. There would be no need for external add-on devices either.

Well, what about resolution ? if the image is much smaller, you need a better resolution.. Do you think that an lcd with two different resolution could be implemented ? Methink it's easier to keep both separated.

--
rrr_hhh

 

[Voldenuit]

Mind you, my experiences in IP product and development would suggest that either the engineers have already designed said unit, and the marketing men are waiting for the right moment to release it onto the world, or (more likely?) the marketing men men have given the engineers a vague brief, no money and an impossible time scale to deliver. I am, however, just talking from jaded experience you understand.

Haha, I'm an engineer myself so I totally get you .

 

[Adrian Lewis]

...

If you add a VF to the pen format, then it won't look like a pen anymore. To big a part to insert in the body to keep the same look.

I vote against it and for an articulated lcd. A separate VF is a nice complementing accessory and should remain so.

From: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1041&message=35464556

..., I've mocked-up another version of the E-PL1; making it just wide enough to take the VF-2 (as indicated by the red ring).

 

[firefox23508]

Size would increase??? I think the Sony NEX's have proven beyond a shadow of doubt that the innards can be a whole lot smaller than Panasonic's or Oly's M43 cameras thus far. Shrink the current innards and there remains plenty of room for an EVF without a size increase.

 

[tedolf]

Another forumer showed that in body IBIS takes up a lot of space. I wouldn't want to lose in body IBIS even if it meant a smaller body. The E-pl1 body is small enough (except turn the battery sideways, make the body a little less long. What we need are smaller lenses.

 

[Jon Ragnarsson]

--
http://jonr.light.is
http://www.4-3system.com

 

[amalric]

With the VF-2 turned on the main LCD is off. The size of the LCD in the VF-2 is physically much smaller than the main LCD.

Seems to me that using the VF-2 instead of the LCD might extend battery life. Has anyone done any testing of this?

Contrary to expectations, the EVF seems to use more power than the LCD. Perhaps because there are more pixels in the EVF?

I've read this somewhere, but don't recall where.

There's a hint here, by user paisatge:

http://www.mu-43.com/f42/my-vf-2-arrived-2152/index2.html

Am.

--
Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amalric

 

[amalric]

Exactly, therefore I expect the camera will be bigger, although without a hump.

It would be an important step for those who would use it as their only, camera, but a step backwards for those who privilege the smallest possible size.

To me a tilt screen to avoid glare is all that is needed on a PL1 form factor.

Am.
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Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amalric

 

[Stephen Kovac Jr]

Yes! Just hang in there.

 

[dasrocket]

I'll take a built-in EVF and an AF assist lamp instead of the onboard flash, thank you.
--

'...In order to get what you want in life, you have to get rid of what you don't want!...'

 

[captain-beardy]

I'll take a built-in EVF and an AF assist lamp instead of the onboard flash, thank you.
--

'...In order to get what you want in life, you have to get rid of what you don't want!...'

+1 though in an E-P rather than an E-PL body please. I'd buy one tomorrrow

 

[saghost]

Size would increase??? I think the Sony NEX's have proven beyond a shadow of doubt that the innards can be a whole lot smaller than Panasonic's or Oly's M43 cameras thus far. Shrink the current innards and there remains plenty of room for an EVF without a size increase.

Umm... the NEX cameras released so far don't have EVFs built in (subject of this discussion,) nor even available or announced so far - which makes this comment pointless.

Of course, they are also lacking IBIS and built in flash, both significant size drivers on this scale - and things I like having in my cameras. So no, try again.
Walter

 

[saghost]

I thought the plan was to have a top end model with EVF built into the body by now ... has anyone heard anything?

If it isn't being discussed here, there probably aren't any rumors around. Like a lot of people, I'm expecting to see Olympus's first generation "pro" micro four thirds at or just before Photokina in September. Whether it'll have a built in EVF, though, I couldn't guess. They might take the Panasonic approach of a mini-dSLR w/EVF - or they might go some other interesting directions...

I think a faster continuous rate is probably a slam-dunk - they can do that with off the shelf pieces (E-3 shutter and GH1 sensor.) Weather sealing has been an Olympus hallmark for some time. I'd count on remote flash control, and therefore likely some sort of built in flash. But I'll be interested to see what directions Olympus chooses beyond that.

There's definitely an opportunity for a true digital rangefinder, with EVF and parallax based AF/live view, but that doesn't really feel like an Olympus pro camera to me. If Leica decided to enter, that'd be their style....
Walter

 

[Ehrik]

Contrary to expectations, the EVF seems to use more power than the LCD. Perhaps because there are more pixels in the EVF?

Yes. But one would think this would be more than balanced by the EVF not having to cover a wide viewing angle nor having to compete as strongly against the sunshine.

3"-sized LCDs is a more mature product with more competition, high-end EVFs (or specifically this Epson) have perhaps not been as optimised for power usage yet.

--
Just my two öre,
Erik from Sweden

 

[firefox23508]

You missed my point regarding the NEX cameras, I am well aware of what they don't have ... my point was that they packed a larger sensor in a smaller form factor than Oly or Panny, shrinking the inside components to make room for an EVF

(while still retaining IBIS) is possible without increasing the outside form factor of existing M43 cameras. The shape may change a little but the overall size doesn't necessarily have to. So, you try again.