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Review Summary
2017-03-21T08:59:37
To complete the E P L 8
Juan C.
2016-09-20T16:58:36
My only negative is I am afraid of knocking it off the camera, but otherwise I love it. Works very well outdoors.
Cheryl P.
2016-07-19T12:08:13
Clarity and ease of use better than the VF-2 which was very good. It wood be nice if a rubber eyepiece extension was included. This makes viewing the subject much easier than the screen and no reflections from. the sun.
BRUCE C.
2014-03-24T21:00:00
A purchased this because, shooting from eye level, holding the camera against my face helps keep the camera from shaking or otherwise moving. It works very well for that purpose. I am not comfortable as yet with the electronic image the viewfinder delivers, but I expect to adjust to it as I use the camera more. My only real complaint is that it is a little awkward engage the device when it I want to shift from the LCD to the viewfinder when working quickly. If the button were located on the side or the top of the device, it be easier to make the switch.
damend
2014-02-17T19:00:00
I use the viewfinder for close up and outdoor bright sunshine photography (especially without a tripod)- which greatly improves several Pen cameras' flexibility and utility. The lock-in-place shoe keeps it secure. The normal horizontal position adds stabilty when taking pictures necause the camera rests against your head. The 90 degree vertical position provides flexibility when shooting low level perspective pictures (and provides for some clandestine shots). Updating the firmware to accomodate the electronic viewfinder was easy and effective. Eye relief with glasses could be better and the viewfinder adds bulk to the camera.
PHOTOS B.
2013-12-19T19:00:00
The VF-3 is now a permanent mount on my XZ-1. I now have the the same stability in holding the camera and sunlight viewability as my DSLR. Checking manual focus which is rarely used in the XZ-1 is not as good as an optical finder, but meets the other needs admirably. Hinged mounting makes up for fixed view screen on camera.
David O.
2013-12-14T19:00:00
OLYMPUS VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder – This is one of those items that I found very useful during the transition from DSLRs to MILCs (Olympus PEN E-PL5) and in conditions where there is a high level of intense ambient light. It took a little time to get the adjustments for brightness and contrast just the way I wanted them, but it was well worth the effort.
RC
2013-06-03T21:00:00
This is a great addition to any PEN system. I've been able to take photos better when the sunlight washes out the screen of my PEN mini. It's also great for macro photography and manual focus as it allows more precise adjustments. I'm a novice and now that I use the EVF I'm finally holding my camera properly. The resolution of the screen in the EVF is good but if you don't align in the right way, the image can be difficult to see as it's supposed to be specially if you wear glasses but with practice this really is not an issue. I've realized now that this tool will help you frame better shots in almost any situation even though the color rendition could be better.
JOSE L.
2013-05-20T21:00:00
Makes it easy to frame your subject in bright sunlight but just as important makes it easy to see your settings. Image view is too contrasty and unsaturated to thrill you like an SLR view, but it does the job to help get great final image quality from those little Olympi.
THOMAS H.
2013-03-25T21:00:00
Small Pen camera needs focus aid for non-auto focus lenses. Using the rear screen for this is a waste of time and energy. The VF3 is the almost perfect answer but it sits to high and is easily damaged. Still, I could not do without it. It would be far better designed if it sat close to the top of the camera and was flat or near flat. The camera and VF3 however are outstanding for size and IQ. And yes, I also have a full frame dslr (Canon 5dmk2) to compare it to.
PAUL P.
2013-02-11T19:00:00
I love the compactness of my PEN, but there are times when a viewfinder hits the spot. This slips on easily, locks on and works a treat -- then can go back in the bag.
Oly P.
2013-02-04T19:00:00
Rather than hold the camera at arms length, this item lets you use the camera in the traditional way.
CARL H.
2013-02-04T19:00:00
It won't even mount on my EP3. I mean it wont even begin to slide into the hole bellow the hoteshoe. Of course I didn't want to force it. But I mean really come on right out of the box brand new and I can't mount it on my camera. I am alongtime user of the VF2 which is amazing and preforms flawlessly.
Zennomad
2013-01-29T19:00:00
I use this most of the time since I don't like to use the display to frame. The viewer does the job, but it would be nice to have better resolution and color rendition.
GEORGE K.
2012-12-27T19:00:00
At its original retail price, this EVF was horrendously overpriced, but with recent discounts it is worth every penny. I'm using it with an E-PL1, which ironically has an LCD screen that is almost unreadable in bright light where the camera sensor performs best. Even though the EVF lags when panning the camera and the resolution is low, it allows me to see the camera settings and clipping indicators in all lighting conditions. This has at least doubled my "keeper" rate. The locking mechanism gives me peace of mind, and the tilt function is handy at times.
SB
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Approx. 920,000 dots
100%
Approx. 17.4mm (-1m)
(-3.0 to +1.0m)
Approx. 1.00x (-1m, 50mm Macro, at infinity)
1.00" x 1.70" x 1.75" (25.4mm x 43.5mm x 44.7mm)
Approx. 1.0 oz (28g) without cover
Improves Camera Technique
By CARL H.
Rather than hold the camera at arms length, this item lets you use the camera in the traditional way.
Works like a charm
By Cheryl P.
My only negative is I am afraid of knocking it off the camera, but otherwise I love it. Works very well outdoors.
The VF-3 is a compact viewfinder that slides and locks onto the accessory port of Olympus PEN and XZ-1 models to provide 100% field of view and 1.00x magnification. The VF-3, which is compatible with all PENs that have an accessory port, is quite useful for outdoor shooting, low-angle shooting or telephoto shooting. Bright with high contrast from the center to the edges. Additionally with the tilting mechanism (up to 90 degrees) low angle shoots become an enjoyable shooting experience.