Two Styles *, One User.

 * ... of viewfinder configuration

More than only the electronic viewfinder (EVF) definition, it might be the configuration of them that will definite the style of photographic approach the user will adopt in front of his/her main subject. Most of today's EVFs are good enough to get a good evaluation of the picture focusing clarity as for the exposure accuracy. But the EVF position on the camera body can be also determinant of how you will behave yourself as a photographer. 

Since the two inventions of the rangefinder camera and  of the pentaprism reflex models, the never finished debate rages over the photo planet: What is the best system of viewfinder? No final answer has been ever found but many have concluded that each of these different optical viewfinder configurations have their own advantages and ... flaws*! With electronic viewfinders, there is no more mechanical constraint for configuring its physical position on the camera body and what you see will be what you get. So, what is the point from now?

To be more specific today, the EVF configuration can be designed according the manufacturer inspiration of the moment. It simply replicate what we use to say during the analog-film era. Some technical astuces have been proposed over time like the presence of an in-board electronic flash over the EVF or the mobile off-center EVF that is tilt-able like a waist level finder. Beside those ones, the EVF performances will stay about the same. Some of them will get a better definition, a faster reactivity or/and a longer eye point. 

The "Rangefinder Planet" (off lens centered viewfinder) very popular at the introduction of the digital photography era are phasing down a lot for the profit of the centered EVFs (like the old pentaprism reflex viewfinder). You can still have access to some models like the Sony's or Fujifilm's ones in the APS-C or Full sensor image format. In the M4/3 image sensor format category, no actual new models are available if you except some ancient stock still found through  photo dealers here and there. It is a pity considering that "rangefinder style" (or off lens centered viewfinder) cameras are preferred by many street or travel photographers for their small size body dimensions and their notorious discretion in face of the main subject. Many are hoping that OM System and Panasonic will issued new versions of their Pen-F or GX series. 

The "Reflex" category refers to the lens centered viewfinders which are perfect for action photography and are easier to apprehend in terms of final perspective and subject physical position from the context without continually consulting the EVF. Sports, nature, macro photographic assignations are often better served by this type of viewfinder. Presence of an electronic flash that pop-up a little higher is also an interesting advantage if the option is available. However these camera models are usually bigger and heavier that the "rangefinder style" counterpart but hand prehension. larger functional push buttons and dials and fully articulated rear viewing screen are undeniable advantages proper to the neo-reflex EVFs. It is also notorious perception that a lens centered viewfinder seems better suited for tripod/monopod working set-up.

*** 

In regards of these two EVF styles, I have never be able to make a definite conclusion in favor of one from the other. It may be a question of what creative mood the photographer is trying to experiment. Let's hope that these two EVF configuration options will be maintained and expanded in the future for the benefit for all the enthusiasm photographers.

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* Optical viewfinder flaws and advantages: For the rangefinder, it was the parallax phenomena that present a different framing than the actual taken picture especially for short distance subjects but the rangefinder cameras have a reputation to be "silent" cameras because of the absence of the return mirror mecalnisism present into the reflex models and moreover the focusing by superposed images is often see as faster and more efficient. For the pentaprism reflex finder, it was the brief moment of blackness during the very exact picture taking moment but the precision of final picture framing and the accuracy of the final subject perspective were their big advantages over the rangefinder viewfinders. 

Photos Daniel M