Do EVF's Alter Your Perception Of The Scene You Are Composing? In my landscape photography, I use DSLRs with optical viewfinders. OFV's are as pure to WYSIWYG as you are going to get.

ScottWardwell Loc: Maine

In my landscape photography, I use DSLRs with optical viewfinders. OFV's are as pure to WYSIWYG as you are going to get.
One of the pro's often cited about mirrorless are the use of Electronic View Finders and how they give the photographer a Heads-Up Display view of the exposure and all the data associated with it including a Histogram.
My question is about the image shown on the EVF. Is that a JPEG and is it altered by the in-camera settings? If you are shooting on a VIVID setting; are you seeing an enhanced vivid image in the EVF?
In full disclosure, I have never used a camera with an EVF except when using Live View on my DSLR.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I never noticed, I don't pay attention.
I just compose and shoot.
I've already seen the view with my eyes without the camera.
Just a different viewing mechanism to me.
My DSLR is TTL, my bridge has an EVF.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

ScottWardwell wrote:

In my landscape photography, I use DSLRs with opti... (show quote)

The display shows an image that is not quite right due to the compression. An optical view finder offers the reality.

It does not mean it is bad, just beware that every time one depends on a digitized image there will be issues. As to the histogram, this has long been an issue when it comes to in camera lack of accuracy. I would guess it is the same. One difference, you can see it BEFORE you shoot and not after.

An issue that you should be aware of, if you shoot raw… The histogram display will be all over the place if you try to use the full DR capabilities of your camera. That part is important in landscape photography.

The only WYSIWYG is when you compose, and that is already available in regular DSLRs. (pay attention to those pesky vertical lines, not the horizon!!!)

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

ScottWardwell wrote:

In my landscape photography, I use DSLRs with opti... (show quote)

Basically yes. The image in the EVF with most mirrorless cameras is a simulation of the JPEG the camera will create -- camera image settings applied. However depending on the make and model you may be able to turn that off. In my Fuji X-T4 I can switch the EVF to what Fuji calls "natural live view" which simulates an OVF view of the scene.

Good question. In switching to mirrorless the thing I miss most is an OVF view of what I'm photographing. I've learned to adjust as the other benefits of mirrorless for me are worth it. For example having live, before the photo is taken, exposure aids like highlight warnings is something I wouldn't give up to reclaim an OVF view.

ScottWardwell Loc: Maine

Ysarex wrote:

Basically yes. The image in the EVF with most mirr... (show quote)

My D850 does give me highlight warnings as "Blinkies" when using LiveView. But having that in the viewfinder would be an advantage.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

ScottWardwell wrote:

My D850 does give me highlight warnings as "Blinkies" when using LiveView. But having that in the viewfinder would be an advantage.

The problem with liveview on a DSLR is what you have to give up to use it. For one that disables the camera's PDAF system and blacks out the viewfinder. Critical focus on a modern mirrorless camera is really nice. Just press a button to magnify the focus point in the viewfinder to where you can be certain of accurate focus.

My move to mirrorless was unintentional. In other words I bought my first mirrorless camera for the lens system and not the viewfinder. Now all my cameras are mirrorless and although I can still say I miss an OVF I wouldn't go back. Giving up the OVF has been worth it.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Ysarex wrote:

The problem with liveview on a DSLR is what you ha... (show quote)

Live view on new Canon DSLRs uses the amazing DPAF so no loss in AF capabilities as other DSLRs do.
Same system as mirrorless cameras and it also uses it in video mode.
So not all DSLRs lose capabilities in live view except for the inability of using the viewfinder, which for me sucks.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

ScottWardwell wrote:

In my landscape photography, I use DSLRs with optical viewfinders. OFV's are as pure to WYSIWYG as you are going to get.

This is not quite right. Optical viewfinders offer a view of what you you are seeing. Not what you will get. For example if your exposure or WB is off, what you get is very different from what you see optically.

ScottWardwell wrote:

One of the pro's often cited about mirrorless are ... (show quote)

A correctly setup and adjusted EVF will show the image as it will appear on screen after capturing it. On my OM-D if I am shooting in vivid the image in the EVF will show the effect of the vivid setting. I assume this the case with Canoicon as well but I have not specifically tested for that on my Z7. I have found that the Z7 EVF features are not as advanced as on the OM-D but that is because Canicon is still playing catch-up in the mirrorless market.

I recommend you rent or borrow a mirrorless camera and try it for yourself. See if you like it. Some people prefer EVF others prefer optical. Go with what works for you.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

JD750 wrote:

A correctly setup and adjusted EVF will show the i... (show quote)

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

I don't notice the difference.

User ID

ScottWardwell wrote:

In my landscape photography, I use DSLRs with optical viewfinders. OFV's are as pure to WYSIWYG as you are going to get.
.

OVF for WYSIWYG ?!?!?!?

ROTFLMFAO 10X

An open frame or “wire frame” finder is huuuugely closer to WYSIWYG than an OVF. However, that assumes years of experience in using it. For a much less experienced user a digital camera with EVF is the closest thing.

Acoarst for film shooters there’s no EVF so without long experience no viewing system offers them WYSIWYG.

BebuLamar

User ID wrote:

Not really. An open frame “wire frame” finder is huuuugely closer to WYSIWYG than an OVF. Acoarst that assumes long years of experience in using it. For the less experienced user a digital camera with EVF is the closest thing.

Acoarst for film shooters there’s no EVF so without long experience no viewing system offers them WYSIWYG.

I am sorry that you use the term WYSIWYG wrong. A wire frame is close to reality but far from what you get. The OVF is not as close to reality as the wire frame but it's closer to reality than what you get. The EVF is very close to the image you actually get but far from reality. So what you see with your wire frame is not the image you get.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

User ID wrote:

Not really. An open frame “wire frame” finder is huuuugely closer to WYSIWYG than an OVF. Acoarst that assumes long years of experience in using it. For the less experienced user a digital camera with EVF is the closest thing.

Acoarst for film shooters there’s no EVF so without long experience no viewing system offers them WYSIWYG.

Depends on the camera? Not all EVFs are WYSIWYG, some are simply a "view".

User ID

BebuLamar wrote:

I am sorry that you use the term WYSIWYG wrong. A wire frame is close to reality but far from what you get. The OVF is not as close to reality as the wire frame but it's closer to reality than what you get. The EVF is very close to the image you actually get but far from reality. So what you see with your wire frame is not the image you get.

I’m sorry that you read me wrong ...

Or maybe I should have put “years of experience” in bold face and all caps to prevent being misread.

Regardless of the above, we both agree on the EVF as the ultimate in-camera WYSIWYG viewing device.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

User ID wrote:

I’m sorry that you read me wrong ...

Or maybe I should have put “years of experience” in bold face all caps to prevent being misread.

Regardless of the above, we do agree on the EVF as the ultimate WYSIWYG viewing device.

Some EVFs are a portion of the actual sensor image. YGALMTWYS - you get a little more than what you see.