Steve Spencer wrote:
Oh and I am starting to develop cataracts so a brighter viewfinder is really nice too
Maybe off-topic, but I had cataract surgery on both eyes (1 week apart for each eye) in March and opted for single vision distance correction. Besides the vision correction itself, the change in seeing colors was so vibrantly different it was jarring. I literally lost sense of what true colors looked like....
So best of luck whenever you decide on surgery. It wasn't bad at all - just make sure to use the eye drops on schedule like your doctor recommends until the drops are gone.
The original a7C viewfinder gave me trouble as an eyeglass wearer. The eye relief was too short on the first generation camera. The mark II viewfinder improved eye relief just enough that I can comfortably use it with my glasses. Magnification and brightness also improved on the mark II.
This is all personally subjective. People with different vision and different eyeglass prescriptions will have different experiences. The bigger a7/a9 bodies have even greater eye relief and magnification so those viewfinders will work more easily for almost anyone.
twelveish wrote:
Not to take anything away from your experience, but I think it goes deeper than that. Maybe the type and strength of the correction in your glasses play a part too.
Like Juha mentioned, I'm also very near sighted (around -5.5), and similarly, I have no issues with the A7cII EVF. As mentioned, it's easier for me to see the whole frame in the EVF with A7cII than in my A7rIII.
But obviously, even for me, the larger EVF have other benefits.
Edit: I got myself that eye cup, thanks for the reminder, OP!
Sorry for my A7C rant, but basically I mostly liked A7CII. Frustrating...
My glasses are slightly on positive side, right eye is +1.75. That must be behind my very negative EVF experience.
Been shooting on the a7cii for two years, to be honestly I dont notice the quality of the evf much since its not used to shoot much action. I usually frame my photos with the lcd just as much as the evf as well. I only really noticed how subpar it was using it back to back with a a7rv so thats just a testament to how usable it still is. Light leakage is annoying though, but you can just buy the cheap small rig eye cup attachment.
I own A7r iii and I am fine with its evf but I don't know how much I am missing compared to better evf's in A7r v and A1 series, etc.. I wear glasses but I always take off my glasses before switching to evf. Almost all my macro shots are in manual focus. I turn is focus picking and rely on that. It works and evf on my camera does not seem to be a problem.
Had this question myself today regarding the different EVF resolution on these camera bodies!
So I use the A73 and A7r3
The EVF of the A7R3 is significantly better than on the A73. Much more enjoyable.
The A7V only interests me for the high res EVF and the flippy screen - otherwise no need for all the speed upgrade on the computer side.
Important factor is going to be the color rendering of each series and how many MP you really need.
I sold my A7RV because it was just more than I need. Plus the 7(r)iii series has its dual stage / high-gain ISO noise invariance at a higher 640 ISO than the 400 or something of the newer bodies (although the A7V seems to be changing this trajectory).
Anyhow, EVF is super important, get the best one you can. And get a Hoodman eyecup for whatever model you choose. I use the round one (Link Here)
