F55: OLED or LCD Viewfinder?

The OLED is very impressive. Beyond the significantly higher resolution, the truer blacks and more accurate colors means that one can accurately light and expose based on this EVF. With so small a panel, the optics don't have to be huge to properly magnify and the frame is rendered rectilinear (the box is square, not curved). The technology of LCDs makes image quality with decent contrast and resolution harder when the screen is smaller. Light will bleed from one pixel to the next.

One of the big isues I have with these LCD EVFs with flip-up eyepieces is that the whole thing is usually quite huge and clumsy. They always block my peripheral view to the lens and the scene around me. It really hampers me as an operator.

The new LCD is the best LCD EVF Sony has ever made. The OLED is better.
 
Yes I will have to do some testing and shopping, both VF and ext. LCD 3" - 7".

I can't manage to look through a VF for prolonged periods of time without resulting in eye strain, headaches, and eventually sloppy focus and framing.. ideally I would end up with both a VF and LCD though, so I'm open to suggestions if anyone has any. As long as I can have frame guides and peaking show up in it, I'm good. It can even be B+W for all I care, although color OLED would impress the clients peering over my shoulder when shooting I'm sure :happy:
 
starcentral said:
I can't manage to look through a VF for prolonged periods of time without resulting in eye strain, headaches, and eventually sloppy focus and framing.
Click to expand...

Obviously you have never used a good EVF, because there is no better way to shoot than an honest to god viewfinder! If you get eye strain or headaches you're either dealing with substandard equipment or you don't have the diopter adjusted for your eyesight.
 
I've used a few good VF's in my day but the issue for me becomes more during complex shots and camera moves, for example when you are dollying camera towards subject, tilting and pulling focus either all on your own, or even with a 1st AC sharing external monitor. An EVF is just not practical under some situations.
 
I must say that SmallHD OLED top-of-the-line for $2600 has great specs. Will check it out at NAB and I'll ask them for a review unit.

Ned
 
starcentral said:
I've used a few good VF's in my day but the issue for me becomes more during complex shots and camera moves, for example when you are dollying camera towards subject, tilting and pulling focus either all on your own, or even with a 1st AC sharing external monitor. An EVF is just not practical under some situations.
Click to expand...

I understand what you are saying and don't disagree with THESE reasons for not using an EVF, but those aren't the reasons you listed in the post I commented on.
 
nsoltz said:
I must say that SmallHD OLED top-of-the-line for $2600 has great specs. Will check it out at NAB and I'll ask them for a review unit.

Ned
Click to expand...

Yes it certainly caught my eye, especially for the price. I would probably opt for Sony OLED VF and ext. SmallHD OLED ext. Monitor.

Doug Jensen said:
I understand what you are saying and don't disagree with THESE reasons for not using an EVF, but those aren't the reasons you listed in the post I commented on.
Click to expand...

Yes I understand, I just wanted to shed more light on my comment about "sloppy framing and focus" since you made it sound like I might never have had used good equipment or know how. :happy:
 
Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you haven't used good equipment. But just out of curiosity, which high-end viewfinders have you used that caused eye strain, headaches, and sloppy focus and framing. And can you list any viewfinders that did not lead to those problems?
 
Last edited:
Finally had a chance to compare the Oled and LCD EVF's side by side.
Image in the Oled is outstanding. In a direct comparison, the LCD is more "mushier" (is that English?).
Just not as defined as the Oled.
the Oled also feels like it has a much stronger build. its heavier then the LCD but smaller.
And less moving flip-open parts.
So my money goes to the Oled.
 
Got my first look at the OLED viewfinder tonight at the BandPro event in NYC.

Really impressive. Juan Martinez presented on behalf of Sony and he noted that with its 10,000:1 contrast ratio, that would translate into 13.5 viewable stops. In other words, the viewfinder comes closest to representing what the sensor is actually seeing. I also like the fact that it is proximity activated. So far less chance of burning.

I know I'm good at spending other people's money, but it is really worth considering.

Ned
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top