Name: Used Olympus Electronic Viewfinder VF-2 - BLACK undefined
Brand: Olympus
SKU: US1654266
Price: 179.00 USD
Availability: Discontinued
Rating: 4.3 (26 reviews)

Olympus Electronic Viewfinder VF-2 - BLACK

Olympus VF-2

Olympus

Adorama

Used

Photography

Camera Accessories

Viewfinders & Eyepieces

Olympus Viewfinders & Eyepieces

Olympus VF-2 

Top Rated Gear: Used Olympus Electronic Viewfinder VF-2 - BLACK undefined

The VF-2 Live Finder, for the E-P2 or E-PL1, easily slides into the camera's accessory port and hot shoe when needed - for example, when shooting in direct sunlight. It also tilts up to 90�, a real benefit when composing shots at low angles for dramatic or practical purposes. The LCD is 2x brighter and has 3x more contrast than competing models. Its high magnification and built-in diopter adjustment offer easy viewing with and without eyeglasses. You can also adjust the brightness and color temperature of the view finder using the E-P2's EVF ADJUST menu function. Brightness can be modified + or - seven steps. The VF-2 refreshes quickly to minimize image ghosting on fast-moving subjects.

Used Olympus Electronic Viewfinder VF-2 - BLACK undefined

Important accessory when working in sunlight or close to the ground (tilting function) In practical use - Compared to the VF-4 the VF-2 has no lock to secure the viewfinder in place when on camera

Works great on the older Pen cameras

A must have accessary when you need higher resolution them LCD or when shooting with bright light behind you and you can't see well enough with the LCD. It would be nice if it were smart enough to detect your eye so it turns on and shits off automatically and if it locked on the camera like the flash does. It may do both with a newer model but still useful when you need it. It has never fallen off the camera but I check it all the time when in use. Refresh is very fast and resolution and brightness is excellent.

Must Have

I bought the Olympus VF-2 viewfinder to use with my Leica X-Vario.  It works perfectly and is a great alternative to the more expensive Leica brand viewfinder.

Olympus VF-2 for Leica X-Vario

Leica M (type 240) offers exactly the same device for a lot more money. Purchasing the Olympus version saves money and performs perfectly. If you are used to the EVF on Sony cameras or other mirrorless cameras, the resolution of the viewfinder may not be impressive, but it is far better than switching out dedicated optical finders for various wide or tele lenses. You can frame and use magnification to assure your focus. Best of all, it allows you to use just about any manual lens that can be adapted to the Leica M-mount.

Use it instead of Leica version

* This is an ok viewfinder 
* It is useful for bright sunny days
* Has poor integration with the camera: 
-- it disables some functions
-- rear lcd will not show current settings with the vf
* It adds considerable bulk reducing the camera portability.

Lacks integration with PEN cameras

Good small viewfinder. Comes in very handy when shooting in bright light and when shooting at slow shutter speeds.
Adds bulk to my E-PL1 but still a (jacket) pocketable camera.

surprisingly useful

I purchased the VF-2 to use on my E-PL2 camera. It is solidly made, has a very bright, clear view and makes use of the camera much easiier, particularly with my 40-150 zoom! Unfortunately, it has one MAJOR, possibly costly design flaw, in my opinion. It DOES NOT lock onto the hot shoe and though it seems to fit snugly, it WILL come off...much easier than you think. I know..it has twice on me in the first two weeks of use. Luckily, I saw it happen and didn't lose it. So my 2-star rating is due to this flaw...it is a 5-star performer...when it stays in place. For $249, it should be lockable and secure.

Great viewfinder with a major design flaw!

I got this because the LCD screen isn't visible in bright sunlight or when used with the housing underwater.  I've never been a fan of electronic viewfinders and have avoided them up till now.  On a recent trip I used the camera with its underwater housing and couldn't see anything except (dimly) the very small after image after I shot a picture.  The EVF is expensive, but I somewhat reluctantly decided to buy it when there was a rebate. 
The EVF is easy to mount on the hot shoe and doesn't seem likely to fall off, though I would have preferred it to have a locking mechanism.  The colors seem a tad washed out and not quite accurate and movement is a little bit jerky.  But an improvement on the earlier EVFs I've seen some years ago.  But LCD screens being what they are, the EVF is useful in spite of its shortcomings.

Does the job adequately

I use this on my Olympus XZ-1. It's the same IQ as the finder on my OM-D and makes outdoor photography much easier than using the rear LCD. Full information and sharp and bright!

Outstanding experience!

Easy to carry and use, when sun washes out LCD display.

Comes with a small case which clips on camera bag, using velcro.

Great Upgrade

Very nice for use in bright sunlight. A bit in the pricy side, but would buy again.

Handy Item

Avid kayaker, in need of eyepiece in bright light.  This serves the purpose well.  
Small and efficient.  Just wish the viewfinder was built into the camera.

Only better if it was built-in

this is a perfect addition to the pen3,  i have been using a canon dsl for many years and added this to my collection because of its size.  i have bought several lenses for it and i have not one complaint

would not have a pen without one

Upgraded from a pro-sumer compact to the E-P3. I did not realize how much I relied on my viewfinder. The E-P3 has a great display but it's barely visible in direct sunlight. This viewfinder corrects that problem. It's clear, shows camera settings, has an adjustable diopter, can be raised to a 90 degree angle for low shots and even though it does not lock to the "hot shoe" it fits very snugly with no fear of coming loose. It's a bit pricey but well worth the expense. It transforms the E-P3 into a true DSLR alternative.

Completes PEN E-P3

Really nice product, push it on and press the button and you have a full view. Especially nice when you are used to an SLR or have to focus at an angle. Very nice view

Fantastic Product

This is a must for serious outdoor use. The camera's LCD screen is almost impossible to see in sunlight. The viewfinder also has much better resolution if you want to use a manual focus option.

The viewfinder is bulky and you loose the benefit of compactness in a Micro 4/3 camera, but you really need it for outdoor work.

Olympus makes a less expensive optical finder that has a locking mechanism, but it does not have near the resoution as th VF-2.

A must for bright sunlight: Expensive

Lacking the option of a built in viewfinder, this is the next best thing. It works. It's bright and clear. It fits snugly and shows no sign of getting easily or accidentally dislodged. Now that the price has come down some, it's expensive, but not outrageously so. And it works on any of the PEN cameras, so if, as I do, you have more than one, you can easily move it as needed. I consider it an essential, not an option. Don't bother with the VF-3. The small difference in price is not worth the huge difference in quality.

Does the job

This is a little bulkier than the newer less expensive OVF, but worth the extra money IMO.  Higher resolution, larger image magnification.  Only drawback is it doesn't lock in place like the new one.  Useful in bright sunlight when the LCD can be difficult to use.  Also useful for it's tilting feature, and in low light where you can stabilize the camera better holding it up to your face.  Having said all that, the current OVF is currently 100 dollars off if ordered with the camera.  for this price difference, I would consider the new one for occasional use.  the locking feature of the new one is very useful, wish this one had it.

best OVF for olympus m4/3

I wouldn't shoot without this nifty, little gadget first because I hate doing the arm's length, tourist reach. It's no way to compose and shoot while remaining unobtrusive. The VF-2 also contributes to stability while shooting.

I have two minor problems. It is small and lightweight, and so I'm not altogether sure how much abuse it will take. Secondly, the detent that keeps the finder in its lowered position rather than rotated upward is little weak. I have a tendency to pop it out of position. By the same token, I wish the rotation was a bit stiffer.

A Must Have

I puchased this product since I was having difficulty focusing my Olympus EP3. Now that I am in my 40's, I need to keep the camera at arm's length. Also strong sunlight washes out the screen of the EP-3. With this I can see my picture clearly. I also use manual lenses with my Ep-3 and this is definitely makes is much easier - especially whan taking macro shots or when using zoom lenses. I think the camera should come with this. Only drawback is that I have to remove it before putting my camera back in it's small pack.

Must have (almost)!

Now I can actually see what I am shooting which I couldn't always using the screen.

Great item.

Very pricy, but probably worth it. Makes the whole experience better.

A necessary piece of equipment.

A needed accessory when shooting in bright light conditions and also when using a zoom lens so that you can hold your camera steady. Image is nice & bright making composition easier. I question its durability only because of how lightweight it is. It does slip on and off the the hot shoe easy and stays secure if you don't hit it against an object. Otherwise, it does move out a little. Just used it during a two week trip to Ireland and I'm glad I had it with the 2000+ pictures I took.

A needed accessory

I bought the olympus E-PL1. I liked everything about the camera but felt a little handicapped when it came to shooting in low lights or extremely bright light situations. The LCD wasn't good enough. I then decided to buy this view finder and got one. It is very expensive. But otherwise I would say it is a must have thing. It works superb. It just sits on my camera and due to its size and light weight I hardly feel that as an attachment to the body. The best part I liked and felt it worth the price was its tilt feature. You can tilt the view finder upt 90 degrees, this helps a lot when taking pics where you have to literally sleep on the floor or bend to take pics. This for sure is something that one would need.

Wonderful piece.

This is a must-have in bright sunlight. The image is very sharp and it allows you to see the same information that is on the larger LCD screen and compose your shot. I would not be without it. I've never gotten over the habit of using a viewfinder and this fills that void. All the information you need is there on the screen.
   The image is so sharp you would think it's an optical viewfinder.

Well worth the money

I like it very much and seldom use the LDS now.