Originally posted by Digitalis I personally am against EVFs in professional cameras - for entry level and amateur cameras they are perfectly fine, but for professional work, No. The screens themselves used in EVFs may not chew up much energy - it is the processing hardware that does, as well as the sensor and the increased requirements on the AF system - especially with larger sensor formats that will make energy requirements higher than a OVF equipped camera.
The Sony RX1 can take 270* shots on one charge, the Nikon D6 can take 900* shots - I know the RX1 doesn't have an EVF, reasonable battery capacity** and are based on roughly the same FX format sensor - the difference is the RX1 is using the sensor continuously, the D6 has an OVF and a shutter mechanism used to expose the sensor only as needed to produce an image.
*CIPA standard
** though what I take to be an unintentional oversight the RX1 could have had a more powerful battery without affecting the form factor - Nikon D6 uses the EN-EL15 7.0V 1900mAh 14Wh - Sony RX1 uses the NP-BX1 3.6V 1450mAh 4.5Wh
Pro's are people too, so there's as many differences amongst them as there are in people.
A pro that cares about battery life?!? That's funny. I can only think of photojournalists. I don't care if a pro level camera can only take 10 shots on its battery, or has no battery at all. In my studio its going to be hooked to the DC all the time. Because the LCD is switched on all the time. Much MUCH better control an accuracy.
And even
if battery life would matter, what pro goes out shooting without extra batteries? If I'm prepared to lug around 20 lenses, three bodies, my flashes, triggers, bags, screens, reflectors, then I sure can accomodate 10 extra batteries that - in total - take up the space and weight of just one of my lenses.
IMHO, battery life is more of a reason to elevate EVF's to flagship / pro / prosumer level bodies, instead of keeping them at the entry level. Whilst OVF's are better off at the entry level cameras, where consumers find mobility so important, that they are prepared to sacrifice IQ and features. The only reason a feature should not be used if it is not helping the IQ.