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TITLE :Olympus VF 4 ViewFinder (Black) BRAND : Olympus PRICE: $239.99 If not sure !!!!!! Check !!!!! Check Prices>> |

Most helpful customer reviews
36 of 38 people found the following review helpful.
Very impressive EVF, quite a bit better than previous models
By jalywol18
I have had both the VF-2 and VF-3 for my Olympus M43s, and have also been using Panasonic M43 cameras with integrated viewfinders for a while (GH2; GH3; even have used the LVF-2 on a GX1). In past, I have preferred the Panasonic viewfinders, simply because they have a larger magnification/larger view than the Olympus versions, and are easier to see. However, the VF-4 changes all that....
Very simply, this is the best EVF that M43s cameras have ever had. It has a huge field of view, the colors are bright and accurate (Both of which were a huge letdown on the GH3, by the way) and it seems to be very responsive. In addition, it has a handy locking mechanism, so you can leave it on the camera and not worry about it getting accidentally knocked off (which was a problem with my VF-2). The optics are excellent, too, with no blurring of sides or edges as you move your eye or head relative to the viewfinder.
In terms of size...it's a little bigger than the
VF-2, but it's not huge, and it is quite light in weight.
I can't tell you how well the automatic eye sensor switch works, since I do not have the E-P5 (which is the only camera that the automatic eye sensor works with right now). However, this works the same way as the two earlier EVFs in that respect on anything other than the EM5; and that is you do have to push a button on the EVF to activate it. The button is in an easy to access spot on the viewfinder, so that's not a big deal, though.
If you have been thinking about getting an external viewfinder for your EPL or EPM series PEN, this is definitely the one to get. It changes the diminutive EPM2 into something that behaves like a much larger camera in terms of how easy image composition is when it is on. It also helps stabilize the camera when you hold it up to your eye, rather than out at arm's length....And the image rendition in this EVF is truly excellent.
One other thing....you MUST
download and install the latest firmware update from Olympus for your PEN to recognize this EVF. (The only camera that does not need the update is the EP5). It only took a couple of minutes (although the instructions are a little confusing... just remember that once you have connected the camera to the computer, and the rear screen of the camera says "storage", you MUST click the OK button (in the middle of the thumbwheel on the back of the camera) before the computer will recognize the camera and start the update. If you do not do that, the computer will not find the camera and will keep giving you an error message.)
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful.
Breakthrough EVF Performance!
By P.K. Frary
I bought the VF-4 for an Olympus Pen E-P3: updated camera firmware to 1.7, slid on the VF-4 and was propelled into eyeball Nirvana! The 2.36 dot display is a knockout: remarkable clarity and the 1.48x magnification nips at the heels of a full frame DSLR viewfinder. Under soft diffused light, the VF-4 produces a vivid view as good or better than the viewfinder of a full frame DSLR, e.g., EOS 5D MKII. The clarity of the VF-4 makes it wonderful for stealthy reviewing of images through the viewfinder, e.g., in a dark theatre where you don't want to cause a distraction. The breakthrough is vastly improved panning performance: the smearing and jumpiness of the VF-2 is mostly gone, even in low light! I assume this remarkable improvement is due to a faster refresh rate and is a game changer for those interested in panning sports.
I love the tilting eyepiece: ideal for shooting in tight spaces, ground level or for stealth. I can see the entire image with sun glasses on, so
plenty of eye relief for most eye glass wearers. The knurled diopter adjustment wheel is large and sits on the top right: a quick turn and the viewfinder is tack sharp (I'm nearsighted). The click stops are tight so inadvertent adjustment should be rare. It comes standard with a rubber eyecup, albeit not as deep or comfy as the accessary EP-9 Eyecup for the VF-2.
The VF-4 mounts on the hotshot and locks in place. Squeeze a wee button to release it. The lock feels secure although a heavy blow might knock it southbound. To use the VF-4, press the button below the eyepiece to toggle between EVF and LCD. If you have an E-P5, you can use your eye to control toggling! The body shell of the VF-4 is plastic and well finished in a grippy flat black finish. It's so light the camera feels the same with or without it. It is a bit bulky, protruding 3 cm from the top deck and is 20% larger than the VF-2.
After a few weeks of use I found a few minor shortcomings. In bright
sunlight, performance is similar to the older VF-2: sharp and contrasty but shadows tend to block up. In dim light it yields a brighter view than reality but at the cost of noise and texture artifacts.
The VF-4 is a big step up in image quality over prior EVFs from Olympus and Panasonic. EVF shortfalls are diminishing with each redesign and the current takeaways are inconsequential to most users. It's the best Olympus accessory EVF of 2013 and better than any EVF used in prior camera designs. The VF-4 greatly enhanced performance, enjoyment and ease of use with my E-P3, and that's all that counts.
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful.
Excellent, but READ THIS
By N.S.
I have nothing to add to the other comments, as they pretty much sum it up. This viewfinder is top notch.
KEEP IN MIND, though that the image quality will be degraded on older, 12mp generation Olympus Pen cameras, all EXCEPT the E-P3 and E-PL3.
Long story short - the image quality in the viewfinder will be less stellar when used on the E-PL2, E-PL1, E-PL1s, E-P2 and XZ-2, compared to what you will see in a E-PL5, E-PM2, E-M5, E-PL3, E-PM1, E-P3.
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