[Kevin B123]

I have zero experience with EVF's save a very brief look at through a Panasonic something at work which seemed too bright.

The specs for these things never reach 100% and 1.0x magnification (Sony A1 = 0.90x).

Why is that?
There must be a technical reason I'm sure, but as the EVF screen is divorced from the actual view you would think the mini TV could be real life size magnification

I'm missing something.

Meanwhile the K3iii will be 1.05x magnification, are the EVF manufacturers being lazy or is this an actual differentiator?

Just musing

[c.a.m]

I've often wondered about the VF magnifications. It appears that Ricoh Imaging has leap-frogged over the EVF convention.

- Craig

[Fogel70]

The problem in making a large viewfinder is that t can be difficult to see the whole viewfinder, especially when using glasses. Or the viewfinder will have to protrude much futher back from the cameras. A 0.90x VF on a full frame camera is much larger than a 1.05x VF on a APS-C camera.

And for an OVF, the larger it gets the dimmer it will be as the same amount of light has to cover a larger area.
The OVF on K1 II has 0.70x magnification, but it is still larger than the OVF on K3 III. Edit: 0,70x on FF will be approx be the same as 1.05x on APS-C.

AFAIK all EVFs cover 100% of the image, but it can be more diifficult to manage with OVFs as require so tight tolerances in manufacturing of the camera.

[aaacb]

My Panasonic G95 has 0.74 magnification (relative to ff), while the K1 has 0.7. Not noticeable in practice and I wouldn't want a larger viewfinder since when I've used one, such as older film cameras, I had trouble seeing it all with eyeglasses.

1.05x magnification,

That's for apsc size, the ff equivalent is 0.7. Found this nice conversion chart. I'm not sure why manufacturers report relative to the sensor size in the first place, since what matters to me is the image that I see. 1.05/0.7 is quite a bit larger than previous models indeed

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Last edited by aaacb; 02-27-2021 at 12:45 PM.

[Kevin B123]

That's for apsc size, the ff equivalent is 0.7. Found this nice conversion chart. I'm not sure why manufacturers report relative to the sensor size in the first place, since what matters to me is the image that I see. 1.05/0.7 is quite a bit larger than previous models indeed

Thanks for the link, it's interesting and shows the limit for DSLR's but should that apply to an EVF where it is optically disconnected to the world?

[angerdan]

The specs for these things never reach 100% and 1.0x magnification (Sony A1 = 0.90x). Why is that?
Meanwhile the K3iii will be 1.05x magnification, are the EVF manufacturers being lazy or is this an actual differentiator?

You're right. Theese lists does proof it:
Mirrorless EVF Sizes | Neocamera
DSLR Viewfinder Sizes | Neocamera

Great to know that neocamera already has all curent specs for the K-3 III added to the database.
Pentax K-3 III DSLR Camera Specifications | Neocamera

[Fogel70]

Thanks for the link, it's interesting and shows the limit for DSLR's but should that apply to an EVF where it is optically disconnected to the world?

How large VF do you need? If you have to look around in the viewfinder to see the whole scene it will be more difficult to compose the image.
Or are you one of them that always like to sit at the front row at the cinema?

[Kevin B123]

How large VF do you need? If you have to look around in the viewfinder to see the whole scene it will be more difficult to compose the image.
Or are you one of them that always like to sit at the front row at the cinema?

LOL, IMO the gold standard for viewfinders would be the MX or ME / Super where you get the joy of 0.97x, 95% or 0.95x 92%. It makes a palpable difference to the experience of shooting, at least that's what I feel using the ME Super.
So I kind of assumed that the EVF world would want that, but it's not happening.

Bigger is better in VF's, spread those dot around a bit more!.

[Fogel70]

A VF with 0.90x magnification and 100% coverage is pretty much the same size as the largest VF from manual focus days.
Slighly smaller than MX, but bigger than ME.

[normhead]

The gold standard for viewing would be an 8x10 view camera, or possibly my K-3 with the flu card used as a display.

[Kevin B123]

A VF with 0.90x magnification and 100% coverage is pretty much the same size as the largest VF from manual focus days.
Slighly smaller than MX, but bigger than ME.

You maybe right on that, I'm not going to get to see an A1 in person and it's not a camera I would want / need anyway.
It must be an expensive thing to produce or else lower tier cameras would have it as well. The Nikon Z's are 'affordable' mirrorless and manage 0.8x, so better than OVF's typically in DSLR's but only just.

[Fogel70]

The gold standard for viewing would be an 8x10 view camera, or possibly my K-3 with the flu card used as a display.

This must be the gold standard. If you can't stand straight inside the viewfinder, it is too small.

[Kevin B123]

The gold standard for viewing would be an 8x10 view camera, or possibly my K-3 with the flu card used as a display.

Hmmm, I've never used (been spoilt by) an 8x10 so I can't comment. I do find the ME super viewfinder a pleasant experience though, with just a 35-70mm variable lens.
We need to get on the case of mirrorless cameras to up the game, being shamed by old film cameras and all (A1 excepted, if we must).

[angerdan]

LOL, IMO the gold standard for viewfinders would be the MX or ME / Super where you get the joy of 0.97x, 95% or 0.95x 92%.

You're right, they offer an effective size of 0.92 / 0.87.

model.......

cover

magn.

crop

size

Pentax MX....

.97%

0.95

...1

......0.92

Pentax LX.....

.95%

0.92

...1

......0.87

Pentax 645D

.98%

.0.62

...0.8

..0.76

Pentax K-1...

100%

0.7

.....1

.....0.70

Pentax K-3 II

100%

0.7

.....1

......0.70

DSLR Viewfinder Sizes | Neocamera

[texandrews]

You're right. Theese lists does proof it:
Mirrorless EVF Sizes | Neocamera
DSLR Viewfinder Sizes | Neocamera

Great to know that neocamera already has all curent specs for the K-3 III added to the database.
Pentax K-3 III DSLR Camera Specifications | Neocamera

I've never seen this Neocamera site before...but it looks decent. Thanks!