mossgate Loc: Phoenix, AZ

I purchased an Olympus OM-D M1 camera last December. The camera works fine for the most part, but the viewfinder has issues. I wonder if now that other M1 owners have had their cameras for awhile whether they are experiencing the same problem.

The viewfinder gets yellow speck (splatters?) in it and thus has to be replaced. Only so many of those specks can build up before you can't see through it anymore.

The only explanation I have been given is that the camera can't get hot. First of all, I live in Phoenix, AZ. Also, I recently spent some time in Massachusetts where the weather never got above 85 degrees. Yes, the sun was shining (well, at least part of the time). I never had a camera before that couldn't handle "heat".

Considering the camera is now on its fourth viewfinder I guess this is going to be an ongoing problem. So far I haven't had to pay for the repairs because of the 6 month repair warranty I get each time it is fixed (replaced). However, if the next speck attack happens past the time allotment I am into having to pay up each time it reoccurs. Bummer.............

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Maybe it's time to look to another camera manufacturer: Canon, Nikon, Sony?

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

mossgate,

It is unfortunate you are experiencing this nasty problem. Olympus has fallen into a deep canyon when it comes to digital cameras and quality performance.

I don't think the problem is unique to OLY, but other brands have experienced a similar problem, it sounds like lubricant is splashing onto the lower prism surface from the internal mirror as it flips up to the prism.

Suggestions:
When you send it in again make sure you are sending it to an official Olympus warranty repair station.
Carefully describe the problems and history.
Suggest they look at the entire area around the prism, mirror, and digital sensor for lubricant problems.

If it comes back, and again shows these symptoms consider purchasing a different brand DSLR; like Canon, or Nikon. Then place your OLY on eBay for sale with all the attachments that were made for the OLY.

Michael G

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

The Olympus OM-D M1 is mirrorless and has an electronic viewfinder.

Curious problem, though. I've always liked the ergonomics of Olympus cameras.

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

GoofyNewfie,

Thanks for the correction.

Michael G

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Hi mossgate

Are saying it's in the VF or On the LCD screen on the back of camera where these yellow spots show up?

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Hi mossgate

You are not alone check this site out below!

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3649685

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

It is an issue I've read about but never experienced with my EM1. It is explained officially as an EVF problem, not a camera problem, so it is strange that every new EVF you bring in seems to be "catching" the disease which would make me suspect the camera. Have you pushed to try to get them to replace the camera itself? I'd sure be trying! It is not a common problem, but is well enough documented that we all know it can legitimately exist.

I certainly have exposed mine to heat. Living in Mississippi means it has to endure 100 degree temps in summer. And I'm not particularly careful with it either.

mossgate Loc: Phoenix, AZ

To Armadillo and all who have replied.......

Precision Camera repairs cameras for Olympus and other camera manufacturers and is Olympus's designated repair place for my camera. They are the ones who have been doing the replacements and I have no issues with their work. This appears to be a manufacturing issue. It is my understanding that the viewfinder is a closed unit which makes me wonder what there could be inside of it that could create specks.

The camera works fine and there is no issue with the screen, just the viewfinder. Photos are not affected. Looks like something I will have to bring it up with Olympus somehow. It would be nice to resolve the mystery. That the camera can't "get hot" isn't sufficient enough of an answer.

mossgate Loc: Phoenix, AZ

RichardSM......

Thank you for the link. I had started that topic on dpreview some months back and didn't return. Looks like a lot of replies to my message there. My diopter is set on high also. So perhaps the real answer lies in keeping the viewfinder covered when not being used. I will give that a try. I am so used to how this camera works and handles that I hate to start over with another brand....not to mention the money invested in it. I wouldn't wish to pass the headache onto someone else by selling it.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

No issues with mine...but I have heard of this before.

Peekayoh Loc: UK

The camera is not fit for purpose and you should ask for your money back. Paying for a replacement Viewfinder will be a costly thing and paying more than once will probably not prove cost effective.

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Hi mossgate

I did not read all the post on dpreview and i did not know you had started it thanks for letting us know. I was surprised to read so many of those post with that problem, but it does seen odd that Olympus has not found or addressed that issue publicly. Yes it might be a pain to drop that camera line with so much in vested? It certainly is a decision you will have to think about however it turns out: the best of luck to you!

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

The least you could do is recognize that Olympus cameras are mirrorless and your generalized recommendation is completely off the wall. Clearly you don't own one.

And your statement about Olympus falling into a deep canyon concerning digital cameras and quality is insulting to all of us m4/3 users without any statistics to warrant such a glaringly incorrect statement. I have never heard anything but praise from Olympus owners.

First of all, Olan Mills studios bought Olympus digital cameras in the days of 5 - 6 MP to equip all their studios nationwide for digital work. Most of those cameras are still working to this day and only get pitched when one fails. The results from those cameras that you can buy as large as you can fit on your wall are excellent image quality.

Second, Olympus cameras are regularly reviewed online as having image quality as good as, or better than, most any dSLR costing up to twice as much as the Olympus in question.

Third, Olympus cameras are regularly used in the medical field where image quality and reliability are paramount. Olympus is also in other fields of optics other than just cameras.

I have an Olympus PEN and the quality of it's build, compared to any other digital camera I've had since 1998, is like a little tank. Everything about it is tight, solid feeling, it has a metal casing, and it never gives me any problem. As I said in another post earlier today, I've shot around 80,000 auto-bracketed frames in the last year and it hasn't failed to work perfectly every time. I would never be afraid of buying another Olympus because of quality or image issues.

The OP acknowledges living in Arizona. In some parts of Arizona they have to put a refrigeration unit on the well water pipe coming out of the ground to cool household water enough to be able to sit on the toilet because the tank water is hotter than a sauna So I'd say parts of Arizona could be considered an extreme environment for any camera.

I've never heard of this yellow spot thing before. I wonder if the OP were to ask, if Olympus support department would tell them if they've seen this before in intense environmental conditions. Yet Olympus cameras are taken all over the world in extreme conditions and keep on working.

I'd like to know if any Olympus owners on UHH have experienced this, heard of anyone experiencing this, or if Google research would find people with this problem.

mossgate Loc: Phoenix, AZ

I've never heard of this yellow spot thing before. I wonder if the OP were to ask, if Olympus support department would tell them if they've seen this before in intense environmental conditions. Yet Olympus cameras are taken all over the world in extreme conditions and keep on working.

I'd like to know if any Olympus owners on UHH have experienced this, heard of anyone experiencing this, or if Google research would find people with this problem.[/quote]

Maracomarks......

Go to the dpreview link that RichardSM supplied in his reply to me and you will see what this "yellow spot thing" looks like. Someone somehow was able to show an actual image of one. That image doesn't show the multiple spots that can occur. And it doesn't show how they over time can BUILD UP on the inside of the viewfinder.

What is important here is how Olympus handles problems when they do occur. For some of us, this spotting issue is going to be a continuous problem and if we cannot resolve it ourselves we will be stuck with endless repairs. We can't resolve the problem ourselves if we do not know exactly what the problem REALLY is. The camera getting "too hot" is not the complete answer. What is it that happens when the camera gets "too hot." How many cameras have you owned that got "too hot"? I have used many inexpensive point and shoots that never got "too hot".

Seems like a whole newly manufactured batch of viewfinders made so that lubricant (or whatever) doesn't become mobile when the camera is handled would seem to make sense if this is indeed some type of lubricant problem.

Only Olympus knows what is going on here. It is hard to believe that they don't know that the problem exists. What makes a company credible is how they resolve problems....how accountable are they to their customers. If they kept track of how many viewfinders they have to reimburse their contracted repair place for, they would have a clue about the issue you would think.

I purchased my camera on the basis of the glowing reviews I read about it. But most of those reviewers review many cameras and don't necessarily continue using every one of them after the articles are written. As in the case of this issue, it sometimes takes a bit of shooting before the problem becomes noticeable.