Olympus VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver)

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

Really like the product! Excellent view and solidly attached.

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

Because, like on most cameras with only a lcd screen, this adds an option when the lcd screen is hard to use in bright sun

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

This is essential if one is interested in out door photography on bright days. The view is not what one would expect through the viewfinder of an SLR...but this is not an SLR. Great piece of kit...performs as advertised...

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

Used on my EPL-2. You must upload the software to be able to use this. Not as good as the VF-2 quality wise, but it has a positive lock unlike the VF-2, plus it is cheaper, and works very well on action shots.

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

I got used to shooting with EVF since I started to use DSLR. So for a EVIL, EVF is definitely needed. I bought this VF-3 for my Olympus E-PL5. It works well and provides decent range of vision under sunlight. Its size and color also matches my PL5. And,unlike VF-2, VF-3 has a locking button, which makes EVF fix to the camera tight.However, compared with VF-2, VF-3's resolution is lower. Moreover, the color of image showed in VF-3 looks unreal. BTW, the window is too small for my eye. As VF-3 is $ lower than VF-2, the disadvantages I mentioned above are acceptable.

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

Bought it for my E-PL2. Got it when Olympus was running a special with an $ rebate, so end up paying only $ . Performance wise it is distant away from its brother VF-2, as the resolution is not high enough. But for the price I paid, the value is hard to beat. Use it whenever I can: close macro shots, outdoors with bright sunlight, etc. Very useful tool if you have a PEN.

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

Works very well. I would buy this product again and again!

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

This little jewel is perfect to use with my EPL2 and my legacy glass. I've read other reviews about people complaining about the resolution and I have not had any problems. Images are nice and sharp, no more squinting at the LCD in bright light trying to manually focus a lens. Being a wearer of eyeglasses I've found the VF-3 to be quite comfortable and there seems to be no distortion at all. Plus it locks on the camera. How cool is that. If you want a viewfinder for your Pen series camera, and want to save a few bucks without compromising quality, this really is a hidden gem.

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

I got the VF-3 during rebates for my E-PM1 that I got from the Penready Project. THE LCD screen just wasn't doing it for me and was too hard to see in bright sunlight. The EVF isn't perfect for outdoor use but that's a problem with EVFs in general.

The VF3 for the cost is still a keeper, and it locks on securely unlike the VF2 so I don't have to worry about losing it.

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

Works very smmoothly- it takes a while to get used to it but once you do it works great. Remember to read the instructions, as you have to download the latest "firmware" from Olympus- if you dont, it will not work. I really like it , use all the time. PS- I got it on sale

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

I understand the the VF-2 has a significantly better resolution, but the VF-3 meets my needs for composing a shot through a viewfinder. While I might regret not having better resolution to focus more precisely for an occasional picture, I used the $100 I saved to help purchase a new lens. Also I read a review where someone lost their VF-2; the VF-3 has a competent lock mechanism and isn't going to come off, so a nice bonus.

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

I just bought this for my Oly EPL2- it's a great investment! My camera feels much more stable when I use this, held against may face as opposed to squinting at the screen at arm's length. You'll still want to do some tweaking using the big screen for advanced shots, but this is best for everyday shooting, and what you see using autofocus produces great pictures.Resolution is decent, certainly good enough for most situations I find myself in. It's not as good as a full-fledged optical viewfinder like that found on true SLRs, but what're you gonna do? Locks in place, and tilts up to 90 degrees, but of which are very handy features. It's a little pricey IMO, but I bought this on sale for [$], so this was worth it for me.Very important: there is a firmware update for any of the PEN camera's older than a EPL5 which you MUST have for this to work. Updating your camera is pretty easy, just go to the Olympus site and they'll fix you up.Overall, this definitely makes my epl2 much better.

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

Got it almost half price from B&H ($), though I'm not sure I would have got it at full price. Fixes one of the shortcomings of the E-PM1, i.e. can now use the camera when bright sunshine washes out the screen. Most of the time the E-PM1 is a charm to use, though you have to adapt to an "arms length" shooting technique, this viewfinder is just the ticket for occasions when that technique is impractical.Viewing is great (way better than my old Canon S3), not as good as a DSLR's optical VF but hey, I wasn't expecting such "competition" from this. The locking mechanism is great, means you won't knock it off by accident, and is quite unobstrusive. A must (if you get it on rebate) for a PEN.

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

I use my VF-3 viewfinder for all but the most casual photography. I find that I get a much better percentage of good shots with the viewfinder than without.

It attaches on easily and securely. The lock feature prevents it from coming loose. The diopter control makes it easy for people requiring corrective lenses. The button to toggle between the VF-3 and the camera's LCD works well.

The VF-3 is definitely a "must have" for taking pictures outside on bright days. It also helps with picture stability and composition, especially when using a zoom lens and when using manual focus assist. I like the 90 degree tilt feature, which comes in handy taking low angle shots with my E-PM1.

Having said all that, it has a plastic build quality and one has to be careful not to knock it around.

The LCD itself is reasonaby sharp with more than adequate resolution for serious photography. However, colors appear to be slightly washed out and flat, when compared to the camera's LCD. Light sources in a darker environment appear to be brighter than normal.

Those issues do not detract from the fact that, in my opinion, the VF-3 is a necessory accessory for serious photography. Olympus should have priced it much more reasonably, though.

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

Although my E-PM1 has a nice, large LCD screen, on bright days I found that I had a lot of trouble composing shots. The VF-3 solved that problem. It also made it much easier to work with a zoom lens (Panasonic 45-200mm). The bottom line is that it actually helped me get better pictures - and that's what it's all about.The quality of the viewfinder screen is not great, but is more than adequate to help with composing shots and adjusting settings. The diopter adjustment works well and the 90 degree tilt feature makes it easy to get those low angle shots.That said, this viewfinder feels plasticky. You have to be careful not to bump it around. It's definitely over-priced and Olympus is getting away because there is no alternative!

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

Ok, not bad, and meh are the only phrases I can come up with. I bought this to go with my E-PL1 because I never really enjoyed using the LCD screen, I'm old school and prefer a viewfinder. I chose the VF-3 over the VF-2 because it was a few dollars less, slightly smaller, and has 1.0 magnification instead of 1.5, which I prefer.

After the firmware update I tried it out. The view just doesn't look good. Colors are a bit washed out, and if your eye is not dead-center while looking into the viewfinder the colors take on a pinkish tone. However, outside in the sun the viewfinder is a lot easier to see than the LCD.

Luckily the E-PL1 built in flash can still be used, but for bounce flashing the viewfinder does block a little bit and so pictures tend to be a little dark on the right side, but just a little.

Overall I am not impressed, but I still prefer using a viewfinder, and I'm hoping over time it will grow on me.

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

A great addition to my Pen 3. Seems to be made well and I like how this newer one has a locking option.

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

What is more important to you, size or resolution? If you have the ep2 or 3 probably resolution, if the pen lite (though not the epl1 as that apparently is too long in the tooth to work with the vf3) then the smaller size of the vf3 will be for you.

Fits ergonomically with the smaller pens and very workable still in terms of resolution and brightness. I am a fan.

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

Great in bright sunlight or if you would rather look through a viewfinder to compose rather than holding out the camera at arms length.
4 stars as i am having some issues with changing fstop ,ex adjustment and asa when using the viewfinder sometimes have to switch back to the screen .
inconsistant problem, so maybe it is the operator.
Would not be without it!!!

Comments about VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder for Select Olympus PEN Cameras (Silver):

Very good accessory to my olympus E-PL2, can't shoot without a viewfinder.