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Technical Details
- Detachable optical view finder
- Special design
- Multi coated for a clear view
- For the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm 1:2.8 Pancake lens
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Product Description
Manufacturer's Description
With this detachable viewfinder it is possible to enjoy the use of an optical viewfinder. The 3 multicoated glass elements ensure a clear view through the finder with a magnification of 0.47x. The VF-1 is especially designed and with its small size a perfect addition to the Olympus PEN.
Product Description
Prolong your battery life and line up shots easily with this Olympus VF-1 external viewfinder.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
As a long term SLR user I find it more natural to hold a camera to my eye. Also performance of the E-P1 LCD screen is a little weak and in bright sunlight it becomes somewhat useless.
So I thought a detachable viewfinder would be useful. It has known limitations in that it has no electrical contact with the camera and its field of view only matches the 17mm Olympus lens.
However there is no way of accurately lining your eye up with the viewfinder. So if you are looking at a slight angle to the camera then the photo you get is not what is expected. Also the viewfinder probably has a 25-30mm field of view with markings etched on the viewfinder glass to show what is the frame. Most of the time these markings are all but invisible.
The lack of communication with the camera is also an issue in that you don't know what the camera is focussing on. Where a lens has a large aperture (as have the Olympus 17mm or the Panasonic 20mm) then focussing using the screen and then using the eyepiece to frame the photo won't get the expected item in focus. In short the viewfinder would only be useful when using a tripod. And why would you want to?
Remember too that this viewfinder uses the flash hotshoe so illuminating your subject becomes impossible.
Finally the device feels of very low quality. It is an all plastic device that weighs nothing and looks like the toy that it is.
So I thought a detachable viewfinder would be useful. It has known limitations in that it has no electrical contact with the camera and its field of view only matches the 17mm Olympus lens.
However there is no way of accurately lining your eye up with the viewfinder. So if you are looking at a slight angle to the camera then the photo you get is not what is expected. Also the viewfinder probably has a 25-30mm field of view with markings etched on the viewfinder glass to show what is the frame. Most of the time these markings are all but invisible.
The lack of communication with the camera is also an issue in that you don't know what the camera is focussing on. Where a lens has a large aperture (as have the Olympus 17mm or the Panasonic 20mm) then focussing using the screen and then using the eyepiece to frame the photo won't get the expected item in focus. In short the viewfinder would only be useful when using a tripod. And why would you want to?
Remember too that this viewfinder uses the flash hotshoe so illuminating your subject becomes impossible.
Finally the device feels of very low quality. It is an all plastic device that weighs nothing and looks like the toy that it is.
14 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Having been brought up a fair number of cameras with external viewfinders including the current Panasonic LX3 this is far better than most and a fraction of the cost of current competition.
The main problem I have with most small modern digital cameras is that they do not have a viewfinder and I cannot see LCD screens clearly without glasses. This viewfinder was one of the main reasons for going for the Olympus Pen series as it would at long last replace my aging film Hexars and Leica with a useable option.
Photography using this type of viewfinder camera combination is very different to the approach I have with an slr and I can see why some slr users can't adjust.
Shooting with this is faster, and allows far firmer hand held shooting tham the lcd.
The combination of this viewfinder with the EP-1 will get results almost as good as the new Leica X1 for half the cost and give you the option for interchangeable lenses. The Leica also has a similar external viewfinder.
The main problem I have with most small modern digital cameras is that they do not have a viewfinder and I cannot see LCD screens clearly without glasses. This viewfinder was one of the main reasons for going for the Olympus Pen series as it would at long last replace my aging film Hexars and Leica with a useable option.
Photography using this type of viewfinder camera combination is very different to the approach I have with an slr and I can see why some slr users can't adjust.
Shooting with this is faster, and allows far firmer hand held shooting tham the lcd.
The combination of this viewfinder with the EP-1 will get results almost as good as the new Leica X1 for half the cost and give you the option for interchangeable lenses. The Leica also has a similar external viewfinder.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
It's worth reiterating that this viewfinder is external and does not talk to, or get any messages from the camera. Therefore you won't get any information whatsoever about your metered exposure, or more importantly what the camera has focused on. But the VF-1 is still in my opinion worth having, because it enables you to compose your image well, even if you use a Panasonic 20mm f1.7 lens. I understand that the field of view offered with the latter is more accurate than the cropped reading given by the viewfinder when Olympus's own (inferior) 17mm f2.8 pancake lens is attached. Also, I am firmly of the old-fashioned view that a viewfinder helps considerably to stabilise the camera, and having it as close to the eye as possible feels like a much more natural position for the camera to be.
I recently also purchased a medium sized, retro styled carrying bag for my E-P1 camera and unfortunately the addition of the VF-1 causes space issues when it's attached in transit. However, it's very simple to take the accessory on and off and therefore like practically everything else, there's a way around the problem.
For a relatively experienced photographer, the lack of a viewfinder seriously detracts from the basic Olympus E-P1 camera. If like me you're accustomed to having one at your disposal, you will certainly regret the omission. This one is by no means perfect, but it's much better than nothing.
I recently also purchased a medium sized, retro styled carrying bag for my E-P1 camera and unfortunately the addition of the VF-1 causes space issues when it's attached in transit. However, it's very simple to take the accessory on and off and therefore like practically everything else, there's a way around the problem.
For a relatively experienced photographer, the lack of a viewfinder seriously detracts from the basic Olympus E-P1 camera. If like me you're accustomed to having one at your disposal, you will certainly regret the omission. This one is by no means perfect, but it's much better than nothing.
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