F55: F5/55 LCD vs OLED viewfinders

J

JCummings

Well-known member
Since these two VF's have been in use for awhile now, I'm curious to learn which one you use and why you chose it.
I'm especially interested in how they both do on outdoor shooting and how "eyeglass friendly" they are.

Do you find one is easier to focus with than the other? Does the LCD offer a larger picture? Any other thoughts?


Forgive me if this has already been discussed ( I couldn't find anything specific.)
 
Go for the LCD one - bigger, brighter and very clear - coming from an ENG background ,I am very impressed with it. I have used the OLED a few times too when I have hired the camera before - but delighted I went with the LCD one.
 
I own the OLED one and yes it produces a very nice image. One thing I got use to with older VF's was the ability to flip up the diopter and just look at the 2" screen from a bit further away, for certain shoots of course that would allow it. The Sony LCD will let you do this, the OLED will not. For that reason I am mostly using an external 7" monitor which just adds more hardware to the overall equation.

Different strokes for different folks but just something you may or may not care about.
 
I seem to recall that the LCD isn't able to show false-colour metering, just the OLED and the 7" monitor - is that right?
 
Yes, I sorta recall that too. I wonder if that's changed by now?

I also recall the fact that it only works with slog2 and that the color mapped range values are quite wonky. For example GREEN will show you 30-35%, PINK shows you 41-45% then a WHOPPING HUGE jump to YELLOW which shows you 102-104 and RED to show you 105%.

So you have a way to show you middle grey, and one stop over, but nothing to show you the 60-70% range.
 
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starcentral said:
Yes, I sorta recall that too. I wonder if that's changed by now?

I also recall the fact that it only works with slog2 and that the color mapped range values are quite wonky. For example GREEN will show you 30-35%, PINK shows you 41-45% then a WHOPPING HUGE jump to YELLOW which shows you 102-104 and RED to show you 105%.

So you have a way to show you middle grey, and one stop over, but nothing to show you the 60-70% range.
Click to expand...

That's a bit daft.

The green and pink values are good because they give you correctly exposed caucasian skin tone, and 1-stop under exposed skin tone (i.e. good for quickly sorting out exposure on a face). But I don't understand why there isn't simply a universal 11-step false colour standard that runs up in 10 IRE values from 0-109 IRE (for log gammas):

Pure Black: 0-10
Deepest Shadows: 11-20
Regular Shadows: 21-30
Middle Grey-ish: 31-40
Skintown: 41-50
Skin Highlighttown: 51-60
Things that will be very bright: 61-70
Don't put detail here: 71-80
Bright Sky: 81-90
Brightest Sky: 91-100
Totally Illegal Stuff: 100-109

If that were standardised across all implementations of False Colour, everyone's life would be easy. My PIX240 does it right, and that's why you'll have to pry it from my cold dead hands.
 
Ideally they would make an OLED that flips up - why didn't they do that? OLED screens are on low cost DSLR's, at 5000 dollars for a VF, surely it wasn't a cost issue!

I ended up getting the LCD, but the whole flip up part is broken and missing. I contact sony and asked for a price but they haven't answered yet. YIKES - they are probably still adding up the price for me a week later LOL

That little ND wheel that you turn with your fingers - that little plastic part fell off and it costs 150 dollars to replace. 150 dollars for a piece of plastic??? thats insane even by pro-equipment prices. Of course, I could have just kept using it without it, but come on, it's a 30,000 dollar camera - no need to look ghetto trying to save 150 bucks, not to mention that controlling the wheel is a PITA without it and it's nice to be able to see it's setting without having to reference the VF

I also like the LCD's mirror flip up, so you can face the camera and pull focus, not just looking straight towards what you are shooting. Could come in handy if you have someone pulling focus i guess... I just like having options and the LCD gives you more options.. BUT I would like to see more DR!!!

J
 
The OLED EVF can't work as a flip-up because the OLED itself is about the size of your thumbnail. The big advantage to this is that the whole viewfinder assembly is physically so much smaller than the LCD one. I find that the large assembly gets in my way a lot, either by blocking my access to the lens or blocking my view when I peek over. The OLED is a joy to work with in comparison.

One thing I don't like is the camera's insistence on putting menu trees in the EVF only instead of on the damn side panel of the camera where they belong. Fine if you want both, but it just has to go on the side panel. There's a swarm of buttons so I can't keep my eye to the eyepiece all the time, which means I have to go back & forth constantly when making adjustments. Put the menu controls and the menu display at the same place.
 
Hey John -
I've had my F5 for a couple of weeks now and I got the LCD. I'm glad I did for all the reasons stated above. I love the double flip-up function - especially lately since I've been spending a lot of time heads-down in the menus. I have a friend who has the OLED and I also had the OLED on a loaner F5 that I had while waiting for my camera to come in (thanks BandPro!). My limited experiences playing with the OLED confirmed my decision. It's BEAUTIFUL, but dark. And small. Did I mention that it doesn't flip up?! ;-)

One tip I read somewhere along the way was to install a 52mm clear filter into the threads under the eyecup normally reserved for a diopter. Apparently the coating on the magnifying piece is pretty delicate and this keeps it from getting a) dirty, and b) scratched when being cleaned after it gets dirty.

I've put one on and it's been fine. I'm not sure this is possible on the OLED.

I've read some reports of both the LCD and OLED being a bit prone to fogging, but that hasn't been my experience. But then again...mine has mainly been used for sit-downs in a controlled environment so this isn't too surprising. Maybe the clear filter helps with that as well.

Hope this helps,
B
 
I got the lcd because I like the flip up feature, and also like the lcd on my pmw350 which seems to be noticeably brighter than on the f55. If it has false color, I haven't found how to enable it.
 
If I understand you correctly Brian, neither VF comes with an adjustable diopter built in? You have to add your own?
How about the actual aperture (opening) of the VFs...is the LCD actually better in that respect?

When you guys say the OLED is darker, that mean it's probably not as viewable outside on a bright day?

I know the LCD looks clunky, but it sounds like that's the price you pay for a better all-round VF?

Thanks for all the responses.
 
Another gripe I has with OLED is that after 15 seconds if your face is not directly up to it then it blanks out in order to prevent damage from sunlight.

So even if there was a flip up for it (which there isnt) there is no way to disable the auto blanking.
 
Hahaha yes true enough. I meant more by menu option but your way would work.

I just can't use a VF for long periods of time. Really miss that flip out on the F3....
 
starcentral said:
Hahaha yes true enough. I meant more by menu option but your way would work.

I just can't use a VF for long periods of time. Really miss that flip out on the F3....
Click to expand...

Yeah, it certainly is nice to have both options. Yet another thing that the Amira looks like it will get just right.
 
LCD Plus:
A must for run and gun-- all kinds of positions available
Easy menu read out
Eye does not have to be on eyepiece
Mini Monitor when flipped up
Much brighter than OLED better for outdoor work

LCD Minus
Huge, can run into your matte box if you have your shoulder plate way forward to compensate for the weight of a front heavy lens.
Focus not as sharp as OLED

OLED PLUS:
Better for picture evaluation, more what you see is what you get
Better focus better resolution
Very compact, easy to rig

OLED MINUS
Contrast has to be turned up to 99 to avoid an overly dark picture
Eye has to be on the eyecup, reminds me of shooting with a film camera, not so good for run and gun.
Need a separate small monitor for any off eyepiece shooting


Conclusion
Outside, Doc work go with the LCD
Inside, studio work, go with the OLED
 
Hi John -
Both VFs do come with the adjustable diopter - just like we've always been used to - but the LCD (not sure about the OLED) had threads for an additional, fixed diopter. the LCD opening is actually larger. I think the OLED "darker" phenomenon is somewhat a function of that technology being able to produce a blacker black. the overall effect is one of the VF appearing darker. not sure - but the impression is that it's a darker picture. I'm past the LCD looking clunky and I actually prefer the way it looks now. maybe its because i know how versatile and functional it is. i'm a form-follows-function kinda guy. plus...it's cheaper!
 
One great thing about the Sony VF's is that there is no timeout on the expanded focus feature., so if you shoot with expanded focus turned on it will stay on. On the F3 it would timeout after several seconds.
 
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