Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

crs · 10-05-2012, 11:08 AM

Has anyone actually tested the K-01 with the O-VF1? All I could find were some empty posts like "didn't work" or "not a good match".

I'd really like to get a K-01 with the 40/2.8 XS/LE or a 35/2.8 LE, but the lack of a VF is a deal breaker for me. There's got to be a solution. And no, that huge rubber boat people put on the LCD is none.

Last edited by crs; 10-05-2012 at 11:21 AM.

lytrytyr · 10-05-2012, 01:07 PM

The angle of view should match a K30/2.8 or FA 31/1.8 Ltd on the K-01.

crs · 10-05-2012, 01:08 PM

So with this external VF I'd be forced to use either of these two lenses?

lytrytyr · 10-05-2012, 01:44 PM

You wouldn't be forced to, but they'd match the best.
With a wider lens, like a 28mm, you'd have more on the sensor than you saw through the viewfinder,
although that might be an advantage for close-ups where parallax becomes an issue.

crs · 10-05-2012, 02:31 PM

Am I correct in claiming that there are no contacts on the hotshoe so that none of the electronic VF would work?

Edit: Isn't there any VF out there with indicating lines for different focal lengths or like an adjustment knurl?

hcc · 10-05-2012, 03:38 PM

Originally posted by crs

Am I correct in claiming that there are no contacts on the hotshoe so that none of the electronic VF would work?
Edit: Isn't there any VF out there with indicating lines for different focal lengths or like an adjustment knurl?

To the best of my knowledge, there is no O-VF or E-VF for the K-01.

On the other hand, there are ways around. One example is shown at DPR:
Pentax k-01 add on improvements: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

I have to say that I was initially negative about the absence of O-VF in the K-01, but I am not used to. The IQ of the K-01 is truly amazing and this compensate easily a minor inconvenience. The K-01 with the DA40mm xs is also very compact. Realy compact. That is a great advance when you travel.

Hope that the comment will help.

crs · 10-05-2012, 03:58 PM

First, I appreciate your help. But that thing you linked me is exactly what I don't want (the giant rubber boat). There must be something that can be put on that hotshoe that does the job well. I refuse to believe that there isn't. It's 2012.

I have never been, I am not and I never will be a LV kind of photographer. It's just wrong (personal preference, of course). On the other hand, I do want a K-01. It's a vicious circle.

lytrytyr · 10-05-2012, 11:34 PM

Originally posted by crs

Isn't there any VF out there with indicating lines for different focal lengths or like an adjustment knurl?

How about this:

Voigt 15-35 VF

(It does cost as much as a K-01, though.)

Adam · 10-05-2012, 11:51 PM

Originally posted by crs

Am I correct in claiming that there are no contacts on the hotshoe so that none of the electronic VF would work?

At CP+, Pentax said that there would be no EVF add-on for the K-01. If contacts were there, however, I'm sure something like the Ricoh GXR EVF could have been adapted for use on the K-01.

crs · 10-06-2012, 04:16 AM

Originally posted by lytrytyr

How about this:

Voigt 15-35 VF

(It does cost as much as a K-01, though.)

This thingy is pretty neat, but the price is just over the top. Unfortunately.

Originally posted by Adam

At CP+, [..]

Did they mention something about a successor to the K-01?

Originally posted by Adam

[..] there would be no EVF add-on for the K-01. [..]

What about an OVF?

Originally posted by Adam

[..] If contacts were there, however, [..]

So there definitely are no contacts at all?

RonHendriks1966 · 10-06-2012, 05:43 AM

I tested this and it doesn't match. The angle of view is correct, but the O=VF1 is to high up and only the bottom half is matching with the top half of your picture.

Adam · 10-06-2012, 09:53 AM

Originally posted by crs

Did they mention something about a successor to the K-01?

At the time, the camera had just come out, so not really. But according to the latest interviews, it seems that the interest in the K-01 wasn't as high as Pentax had hoped. We will have to wait until the next CP+ event to see what its fate will be...

lytrytyr · 10-07-2012, 01:14 AM

Originally posted by RonHendriks1966

I tested this and it doesn't match. The angle of view is correct, but the O=VF1 is to high up and only the bottom half is matching with the top half of your picture.

Was this with the FA 31?

But doesn't it depend on the distance of the subject?
For landscape, I would think that it should work.

Many cheap old cameras of the 1960's
had optical viewfinders well off the axis of the lens.

RonHendriks1966 · 10-07-2012, 02:05 AM

This was with FA31mm. Well maybe you can adjust the thing by making it looking down a little bit, since otherwise it will fit the image.

lytrytyr · 10-07-2012, 03:30 AM

Ron, how close did the subject have to be
before you started missing more than about 5% of the picture height?

10-05-2012, 11:08 AM	#1
crs Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 36	Pentax K-01 with O-VF1 Has anyone actually tested the K-01 with the O-VF1? All I could find were some empty posts like "didn't work" or "not a good match". I'd really like to get a K-01 with the 40/2.8 XS/LE or a 35/2.8 LE, but the lack of a VF is a deal breaker for me. There's got to be a solution. And no, that huge rubber boat people put on the LCD is none. Last edited by crs; 10-05-2012 at 11:21 AM.

10-05-2012, 02:31 PM	#5
crs Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 36 Original Poster	Am I correct in claiming that there are no contacts on the hotshoe so that none of the electronic VF would work? Edit: Isn't there any VF out there with indicating lines for different focal lengths or like an adjustment knurl? Last edited by crs; 10-05-2012 at 03:06 PM.

10-05-2012, 11:51 PM	#9
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	Originally posted by crs Am I correct in claiming that there are no contacts on the hotshoe so that none of the electronic VF would work? At CP+, Pentax said that there would be no EVF add-on for the K-01. If contacts were there, however, I'm sure something like the Ricoh GXR EVF could have been adapted for use on the K-01. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

10-06-2012, 04:16 AM	#10
crs Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 36 Original Poster	Originally posted by lytrytyr How about this: Voigt 15-35 VF (It does cost as much as a K-01, though.) This thingy is pretty neat, but the price is just over the top. Unfortunately. Originally posted by Adam At CP+, [..] Did they mention something about a successor to the K-01? Originally posted by Adam [..] there would be no EVF add-on for the K-01. [..] What about an OVF? Originally posted by Adam [..] If contacts were there, however, [..] So there definitely are no contacts at all? Last edited by crs; 10-06-2012 at 04:34 AM.

10-06-2012, 09:53 AM	#12
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	Originally posted by crs Did they mention something about a successor to the K-01? At the time, the camera had just come out, so not really. But according to the latest interviews, it seems that the interest in the K-01 wasn't as high as Pentax had hoped. We will have to wait until the next CP+ event to see what its fate will be... Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

10-05-2012, 01:07 PM	#2
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	The angle of view should match a K30/2.8 or FA 31/1.8 Ltd on the K-01.

10-05-2012, 01:08 PM	#3
crs Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 36 Original Poster	So with this external VF I'd be forced to use either of these two lenses?

10-05-2012, 01:44 PM	#4
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	You wouldn't be forced to, but they'd match the best. With a wider lens, like a 28mm, you'd have more on the sensor than you saw through the viewfinder, although that might be an advantage for close-ups where parallax becomes an issue.

10-05-2012, 03:38 PM	#6
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,005	Originally posted by crs Am I correct in claiming that there are no contacts on the hotshoe so that none of the electronic VF would work? Edit: Isn't there any VF out there with indicating lines for different focal lengths or like an adjustment knurl? To the best of my knowledge, there is no O-VF or E-VF for the K-01. On the other hand, there are ways around. One example is shown at DPR: Pentax k-01 add on improvements: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review I have to say that I was initially negative about the absence of O-VF in the K-01, but I am not used to. The IQ of the K-01 is truly amazing and this compensate easily a minor inconvenience. The K-01 with the DA40mm xs is also very compact. Realy compact. That is a great advance when you travel. Hope that the comment will help.

10-05-2012, 03:58 PM	#7
crs Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 36 Original Poster	First, I appreciate your help. But that thing you linked me is exactly what I don't want (the giant rubber boat). There must be something that can be put on that hotshoe that does the job well. I refuse to believe that there isn't. It's 2012. I have never been, I am not and I never will be a LV kind of photographer. It's just wrong (personal preference, of course). On the other hand, I do want a K-01. It's a vicious circle.

10-05-2012, 11:34 PM	#8
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by crs Isn't there any VF out there with indicating lines for different focal lengths or like an adjustment knurl? How about this: Voigt 15-35 VF (It does cost as much as a K-01, though.)

10-06-2012, 05:43 AM	#11
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	I tested this and it doesn't match. The angle of view is correct, but the O=VF1 is to high up and only the bottom half is matching with the top half of your picture.

10-07-2012, 01:14 AM	#13
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by RonHendriks1966 I tested this and it doesn't match. The angle of view is correct, but the O=VF1 is to high up and only the bottom half is matching with the top half of your picture. Was this with the FA 31? But doesn't it depend on the distance of the subject? For landscape, I would think that it should work. Many cheap old cameras of the 1960's had optical viewfinders well off the axis of the lens.

10-07-2012, 02:05 AM	#14
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	This was with FA31mm. Well maybe you can adjust the thing by making it looking down a little bit, since otherwise it will fit the image.

10-07-2012, 03:30 AM	#15
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Ron, how close did the subject have to be before you started missing more than about 5% of the picture height?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
For Sale - Sold: Pentax Viewfinder O-VF1 for 01 Prime for Pentax Q	mike.hiran	Sold Items	5	10-03-2012 09:59 AM
Storing box for the O-VF1 viewfinder	StigVidar	Pentax Q	3	02-20-2012 08:29 PM

Pentax K-01 with O-VF1

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!