Originally posted by Rondec EVF versus OVF is an argument that can't be won either way. It truly is a matter of taste. Some people really do get headaches looking into an EVF and feel eye strain fairly quickly. Others can use them all day long without a problem and really like the overlays that are possible with them as well as the manual focusing helps. I still do prefer a good OVF. A nice, bright, uncluttered viewfinder which looks like the world around me is what I want.
As to the original article, I think it was pretty decent. I haven't found issues with auto focus, although if I am super shaky -- trying to shoot 300mm at 1/10 second, I should probably just give up. The photo won't be usable, not because of auto focus issues, but because I just can't hand hold it here. Honestly situations that strain SR aren't likely to be ones where you are shooting quick moving objects. If you are shooting at a rodeo with a shutter speed of under 1/500 second, it isn't likely you will get a lot of great shots and not because of SR's inability to keep up. The sensor can be stable and you still have a bunch of motion bur from your subject moving. Metering certainly isn't effected by it.
The whole telephoto thing with lens based stabilization being claimed as better is stated a lot, but I don't honestly think there is a huge difference between the two. The author doesn't mention Olympus, but they probably have the best IBIS and they have been great at stabilizing telephotos for a long time. Pentax isn't as strong in that department, but I am sure they are working on improvements.
Yep, i thought it was a good article. I liked how they presented advantages and disadvantages for each option. Thats how the world of design is. Pentax is now claiming 4.5 stops shake reduction for their latest SR in K3 II, which is the same amount that Sony is claiming..
I think you're right to be circumspect about lens stabilization being better. But what lens stabilization has going for it - you can see it in the VF. And what Sony/Olympus IBIS has going for it - you can see it in the VF. What Pentax SR doesn't have going for it - you can't see it in the OVF. Its hard for Pentax to fight that.