p.1 #1 · XT series Viewfinder, does it get better?
Hi, I adore my little X-T1 graphite edition. It's only downside for me is it's viewfinder. Compared to my Canon R bodies, it's absolutely abysmal.
I've been seriously considering upgrading to XT3 or XT5 primarily for that reason. Of course each will offer other nice upgrades, but I wouldn't even be thinking about it if the X-T1 EVF was better.
Well, I just read a thread where people were saying the X-T5 VF is still significantly substandard vs EOS R or the Fuji X-H2!
Part of my attraction to the XT line is it isn't as big or shaped like a modern DSRL/MRLS like a Canon, but if I understood the posts correctly, for whatever reason that means sacrificing on a good EVF.
I've not looked through another Fuji since the X-T1. Has the EVF improved a lot on the XT3 and XT5? Or do I really need to consider the X-H2 for a good EVF? Why is that?
p.1 #2 · XT series Viewfinder, does it get better?
CyberDyne wrote:
Hi, I adore my little X-T1 graphite edition. It's only downside for me is it's viewfinder. Compared to my Canon R bodies, it's absolutely abysmal.
I've been seriously considering upgrading to XT3 or XT5 primarily for that reason. Of course each will offer other nice upgrades, but I wouldn't even be thinking about it if the X-T1 EVF was better.
Well, I just read a thread where people were saying the X-T5 VF is still significantly substandard vs EOS R or the Fuji X-H2!
Part of my attraction to the XT line is it isn't as big or shaped like a modern DSRL/MRLS like a Canon, but if I understood the posts correctly, for whatever reason that means sacrificing on a good EVF.
I've not looked through another Fuji since the X-T1. Has the EVF improved a lot on the XT3 and XT5? Or do I really need to consider the X-H2 for a good EVF? Why is that?
the XT1 is a pretty old camera at this point, and there have been a lot of advances since then. Resolution is higher and the old issues with latency and jerkiness are largely diminished to the point of irrelevance.
I cannot offer you a comparison to Sony and Canon, but I can tell you that the quality of the viewfinder is never a concern for me with my XT5. I literally never think about tit.
p.1 #3 · XT series Viewfinder, does it get better?
CyberDyne wrote:
I've not looked through another Fuji since the X-T1. Has the EVF improved a lot on the XT3 and XT5?
Yes they have improved and the 3.69m dot viewfinders are quite a bit nicer than the old 2.36m dot EVF in the X-T1.
However, the X-T3 / X-T5 viewfinders won't be as nice as the ones in your Canon R. Even though they might share very similar 3.69m dot panels (the R5 has 5.76m), the Canon's have nicer viewfinder optics. I think this might be partially down to size constraints in the X-T series, so they might not be able to fix it easily.
I wouldn't buy an X-T5 at this point. The X-H3 and X-T6 are both rumored to be released later this year - either get one of those, or pick up an X-T5 / X-H2 for less money once people start switching.
p.1 #4 · XT series Viewfinder, does it get better?
Can’t say how the EVF in the X-T5 has improved as it is my 1st Fuji camera bought last year. It is just fine for all my use, no complaints. Just love the camera!!
I recently added the X-E5 as a 2nd body and the 3.69 million dot EVF in the X-T5 is FAR superior to the 2.36 million dot one in the X-E5. So much so that the 2 Voigt MF 18 and 27mm pancake primes I bought for the X-E5 will now be used instead on the X-T5, as manual focusing is much easier to do with its the 28% larger EVF and higher mp screen. And it is Far superior to the EVF’s in my compact Sony bodies, the A7CR and A6700, which are identical at 2.359 million dot. (Yes a $3,400 Sony FF camera has the same crappy EVF as a $1,400 Sony APS-C camera)
Oh and the X-T5 LCD at 1.84 million dot is also a big step above the X-E5 and both Sony LCD's vs 1.4 for X-E5 or 1.36 for the Sony's. Much easier to see in bright sunny conditions.
p.1 #5 · XT series Viewfinder, does it get better?
SpecFoto wrote:
Can’t say how the EVF in the X-T5 has improved as it is my 1st Fuji camera bought last year. It is just fine…
I think you are getting at the important point here.
While it is true that some other cameras have even higher resolution EVFs, that is one of those things that is unlikely to make a significant (if any) difference to most of us. The image in the XT5 viewfinder is actually quite good.
It is useful to avoid “spec chasing,” where any time that some camera has some specification that exceeds the level of some other camera, we decide that the lower-spec camera is somehow not good enough. But you really need to think of this in context — how does that difference stack up against other specifications in terms of real world performance?
When it comes to even higher EVF resolutions, I don’t oppose them… but they won’t make a significant differnce for man of us.
And the main point for our OP is that current Fujifilm EVFs are nothing like his reference point, the relatively old XT1.
p.1 #6 · XT series Viewfinder, does it get better?
SpecFoto wrote:
Yes a $3,400 Sony FF camera has the same crappy EVF as a $1,400 Sony APS-C camera
Small cameras like the X-E5 require the use of a smaller EVF panel. As of now, those 0.39" type panels are only available with max. 2.39m dots (=1024x768 resolution).
Larger cameras can use physically larger panels, e.g. 0.5" type in the X-T5. Those panels are currently available in 3.69m dots (=1280x960) or 5.76m dots (=1600x1200).
A few cameras now use an even larger panel that's 0.64" in size and has 9.44m dots (2048x1536 pixels).
There's no replacement for displacement, no matter the cost of the camera..
p.1 #7 · XT series Viewfinder, does it get better?
fjablo wrote:
Small cameras like the X-E5 require the use of a smaller EVF panel. As of now, those 0.39" type panels are only available with max. 2.39m dots (=1024x768 resolution).
Larger cameras can use physically larger panels, e.g. 0.5" type in the X-T5. Those panels are currently available in 3.69m dots (=1280x960) or 5.76m dots (=1600x1200).
A few cameras now use an even larger panel that's 0.64" in size and has 9.44m dots (2048x1536 pixels).
There's no replacement for displacement, no matter the cost of the camera..
Thank you for the explanation on the EVF viewfinder sizing. Two of my older bodies use the 5.44 m dot screens, the OM1 and Sony A7RIV. The X-T5's EVF at 3.69 m dot is, of course, not quite as clear as those, but it is very usable to me. For a body that only cost me $1,599 brand new last year it could have been worse (see below).
Far as the Sony not using a 0.5" EVF on the A7CR, it's part of the reason they are no longer my preferred camera. At a $2,000 add over the A6700, which is a better camera except for the mp count, if they added only 0.11" in height they could have at least put in the same 3.69 m dot EVF as in my half the cost X-T5.
p.1 #8 · XT series Viewfinder, does it get better?
SpecFoto wrote:
Far as the Sony not using a 0.5" EVF on the A7CR, it's part of the reason they are no longer my preferred camera. At a $2,000 add over the A6700, which is a better camera except for the mp count, if they added only 0.11" in height they could have at least put in the same 3.69 m dot EVF as in my half the cost X-T5.
The design goal for the Sony A7CR was minimal size, same as Fuji's goal with the X-E5. I don't know why you keep bringing up the price difference, it's completely irrelevant in that case. You want to hit a certain size, you're stuck with the panels that fit that size - same with the RX1R III even though it's a $5k camera.
For Fuji, you'd land somewhere in-between the X-E2 and X-Pro3. Now I would be interested in a camera in that segment, but it's not what the A7C or X-E5 are supposed to be.
Re subject of this thread: The X-T line will likely be limited to the 0.5" panels, so we shouldn't expect a huge bump in resolution with the X-T6 - if any at all. Viewfinder optics might improve though. Technically they could use the 0.64" panel in the X-H line and make the viewfinder really nice (similar to the GFX 100 II even), but I doubt they'll go that route.
p.1 #9 · XT series Viewfinder, does it get better?
The XT5 viewfinder is great, much better than the XT1.
However, the R5's viewfinder is on a completely different level. It's incredibly bright, responsive and detailed. (I haven't used the R6's viewfinder so can't really speak to that).
That being said, the R5 is a much higher end camera than the XT5, so you get what you pay for. But value-wise, the XT5 is still a great option.
p.1 #10 · XT series Viewfinder, does it get better?
Thanks for all the replies.
I'm glad to hear that things have improved, as I imagined that they must have. I'll continue looking for a good price on a used XT5 or XT3.
p.1 #11 · XT series Viewfinder, does it get better?
In the autumn, I had the opportunity to compare the viewfinders of my X-E3 camera with the X-E5, X-T5, and GFX 100. The X-E5 has a noticeably finer (higher-resolution) viewfinder than my old X-E3. The size is the same. The X-T5 has an absolutely amazing viewfinder—it’s larger, yet just as sharp as the one in the X-E5. The GFX has a huge viewfinder. I think I could get used to the GFX, but it felt too large to me—I had to move my eye from corner to corner and couldn’t take in the whole frame at once.
I definitely recommend going to a store and trying it out yourself to form your own opinion.
p.1 #12 · XT series Viewfinder, does it get better?
TBH, I find the EVF's of all current Fujis "lacking." My Nikon Z9 was far better. They work, but IMHO they're barely marginal in lower light and definitely nothing to get excited about. I'd honestly wait until the XT6/XH3 get released and see what those EVF's spec out at in comparison; or go to another brand.
I personally am looking at Sony right now or may just go back to Nikon, haven't decided, but it'll be for both a better EVF and full-frame as I am bored with the vanilla performance from APS-c...
p.1 #14 · XT series Viewfinder, does it get better?
Well I just compared the X-T5 an X-H2 EVF and do enjoy the X-H2 but I’m perfectly happy with my X-T5’s EVF. Nice and sharp and I can easily see everything I need to. Of course your own vision wil impact it bur make sure you have properly adjusted the diopter setting in each. That said my X-E5’s EVF is smaller but for a camera its size and form factor I’m not sure you can expect more. Have the same issue with the smaller EVF on my Sony A7CR/A7CII compared to the A7V.
p.1 #15 · XT series Viewfinder, does it get better?
FWIW, at some level the quality of the EVF just isn’t that big of a deal for me. YMMV.
It certainly has to be decent, but I just think of the EVF as a way to see the scene, frame a composition… and not necessarily view a high quality version of it. I can certainly do that with any of the current EVF models.
On the other hand, things like a tendency to glitch or have excessive latency could be an issue. But resolution? Not really.
p.1 #16 · XT series Viewfinder, does it get better?
If you are simply using your EVF for framing your shot, you don't need much. But if you are manually focusing a macro lens, whole different story. That's why for me, EVF quality and MF aids go hand in hand.
p.1 #17 · XT series Viewfinder, does it get better?
SGinNorcal wrote:
If you are simply using your EVF for framing your shot, you don't need much. But if you are manually focusing a macro lens, whole different story. That's why for me, EVF quality and MF aids go hand in hand.
I do manually focus using a much lower resolution LCD display on my FF system, and it isn't a problem. The technique is to sort of rock back and forth past the optimum focus point to find that ideal focus position. (You'd want to do that while magnifying the display in any case, as you can't see focus well enough otherwise regardless of the display resolution.)
p.1 #18 · XT series Viewfinder, does it get better?
gdanmitchell wrote:
I do manually focus using a much lower resolution LCD display on my FF system, and it isn't a problem. The technique is to sort of rock back and forth past the optimum focus point to find that ideal focus position. (You'd want to do that while magnifying the display in any case, as you can't see focus well enough otherwise regardless of the display resolution.)
Yes, I can also rock back and forth because that's easier than trying to fine tune the focus properly. And the resolution really sucks when you magnify/punch in. I get that this is similar to other brands and you can find ways to work around. I would just like to see Fuji be better than everyone else at the tactile user interface. I think that would fit in well with Fuji's design intent and help present their bodies as the best APSC available. But then also make these improvements to Gfx.
p.1 #20 · XT series Viewfinder, does it get better?
RoamingScott wrote:
Guys, there are focus aids so far beyond these caveman methods out there to explore!
My knuckles get sore from dragging the ground! But seriously, that's kind of my point. I would like to see state of the art EVF combined with copying all the best MF aids from others plus a couple we haven't thought of yet. Yes, Fuji needs to put effort into improving their AF but it you combined that with best in class MF, to me that would make for compelling models. They have so many other things going for them, IMO.
