Der Spiegel

I am sure this has been discussed before somewhere but back in the days of film SLRs, the only way to accurately see the image to be photographed was via a mirror reflecting the scene onto a screen in a viewfinder. So, why in this digital age should the mirror be retained as it is a very simple matter to electrically connect the image sensor to an EVF?

Basically, the mirror concept is quite primitive but the principle is to this day adopted in even the most expensive DSLR. Just think, that mirror has to be moved "out of the way" every time a shot is taken just to allow the light to reach the sensor!

I ask this question as I have just bought a Panasonic G1. No mirror, much lighter and smaller as a result and image quality just as good as my Pentax K-m. The EVF performance equals and in some ways is better than my K-m's viewfinder and of course it offers "live view" all the time.

Will there come a time when all DSLRs lose their 'R'?

Possibly, but not everyone likes looking at an EVF and they are more difficult to see in bright light. The colour reproduction may not be accurate, they drain the battery, manual focusing is all but impossible, the refresh rate isn't up to following fast moving objects.

That's a few reasons! But one day, who knows?

Have you tried a G1 John? Personally, my colour perception is grim but what you see in any viewfinder cannot accurately represent the final image. The EVF is the best I've used and with manual focus the image in it is enlarged such that it can be more accurate than AF. At my age I don't go for fast moving objects and I always carry a spare battery

If it suits you, go for it. I'm sure you'll see lots of SLR-type cameras with EVFs instead of optical viewfinders in the next few months, with interchangeable lenses too.

Will there be a Pentax one though, rather than a Pen?

Highly expensive video cameras use black and white EVFs, and they are said to be very easy to focus. However, the colours don't look too good.

Personally, I rather like the old spiegel.

G

I tried the G1 out a few weeks back, and although I found the EVF to be better than any I'd seen before, I thought for general viewing (ignoring the zoom capabilities for a moment) it wasn't a patch on an optical viewfinder.

However, given the progress in this sort of area, I can't wait for the day when an EVF gives the the same sort of 'resolution' that an optical one does, with instantaneous refreshing, so that it looks, at first glance, to be an optical viewfinder.

Then, the ability to zoom into details, brighten up in low light, have a live histogram and other info overlays etc. will be incredibly useful when required.

Shouldn't be too long, but still a couple of years I would think.

Dan

EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens) such cameras are called and not SLR (Single Lens reflex).
I'm with all that went before me and say that they aren't there yet.
The refresh rate is one of them it isn't fast enough and also dark light performance isn't that great, haven't tried the last one myself though.

With dropping the mirror you will not gain a size reduction of the camera since the lens still needs to have the right distance from the sensor. Therefor I don't see Pentax taking the step making an EVIL in the near future, it would mean they need a new lens series to make the most out of it.

There are also some other objection against such camera like that the sensor is on all the time so wearing out and heating up creating more image noise. Also it drains batteries the whole time while using.

There already is a new lens series available admittedly not with Pentax written on them, yet

The G1 is considerably smaller than my K-m that in itself is smaller than the average DSLR. The big advantage is weight with the G1 clocking in a good 1Kg lighter as a body and two lens package compared to a similar arrangement with the K-m.

Just think Stefan how popular you would be with KL-M

Andrew, sorry it didn't come over correctly.

I was trying to say that if they would go for an EVIL camera they need to have a new lens series so that can be used with the shorter distance between lens and sensor. Most of us are with pentax for their glass and I don't see that many would buy the smaller glass.

Also the smaller glass you are referring too is for the micro format those sensors are even smaller then APS-C and many find that not big enough and would rather have Full-Frame so I don't tihnk it's smart that pentax would go smaller with their sensor meaning that they would have to need new lenses.
Also if they go for the Micro they need to buy licenses and such probably.

What you are suggesting now is a KL-M with panasonic glass... good luck selling that to pentax users loving their glass.

I just don't like what I see through the electronic viewfinder of the Panasonic. In all other respects I found it an interesting and attractive camera. The EVF is a dealbreaker for me, even though the logic of the OP makes sense

What I was hinting at Stefan was how a G1 would ease one's hand baggage allowance when flying on your country's national airline

Thanks, it's not often I have sensible logic

Samsung are busy now with an hybrid system, APS-C sensor without a mirror. link
I believed Pentax said they had no interest in such system at the moment.

Yes but buying a complete new camera system (camera+lenses) because you have smaller and lighter hand baggage is a bit over the top

It's not exactly new technology. My first digital camera (a Fuji Finepix 4900) featured an EVF. It was better than using the rear screen, but far from a proper SLR viewfinder.

I don't think this will appeal to serious SLR users, but it might be an attractive option for those wanting to step up from a P&S.

G