EVF = B&W viewfinder?
 

Hi All,

New member here and new to videography. I am in the market for a camcorder and am comparing the DVX100A and PD-170. DVX100A brochure indicates EVF viewfinder ... does this mean B&W only?

Also, are all viewfinders on camcorders EVF's? Meaning, none (DVX100A and PD-170) have TTL viewfinders. I assume this is true if viewfinders display overlayed information.

Thank you,
Vincent

Welcome Vincent,

1. The DVX100A's viewfinder is a color LCD. "EVF" is shorthand for electronic viewfinder and does not connote b&w or color.

2. Viewfinders on all video cameras take their image from the CCD's, not directly through the lens, per se. And that's the only mechanism that would make any sense, unlike a film camera.

Ken,

Thank you for the info.

Reading about viewfinders, I understand that PD-170 offers B&W viewfinder because it is easier to manually focus accurately in B&W than in color. Does DVX100A offer the option for B&W viewfinder? If not, how do you like manual focus on DVX100A with the color viewfinder?

Vincent

The DVX has no optional viewfinder configutation; it is what it is.

Personally I find focusing with the DVX100's large lcd panel easier than the with eyepiece. The new DVX100A features a new peaking display feature. This derives from a similar feature found on professional b&w viewfinders, which places a slight edge enhancement around sharply-focused areas in the frame. Although the 100A's peaking display is not adjustable (as pro viewfinders are) this is a nice enhancement to aid in focusing.

Notwithstanding, I would not let the viewfinders be a decisive factor selectingg between the DVX and the PD.

Ken,

I just read the operational manual for the dvx100a and it indicates that you can set the EVF to either color or bw. Is the manual incorrect?

I do not yet have my 100A in-hand (it will arrive this week). But if the manual says so, who am I to argue?!

But understand that this, in itself, doth not a high resolution viewfinder make! That is, simply desaturating a color lcd is of relatively little additional help for focus assistance. Coupled with a peaking display it's certainly far better than a standard consumer color lcd viewfinder. But resolution of the viewfinder is arguably the more important factor with respect to focus assistance. That's why all professional video viewfinders are b&w crt's with 500+ lines of horizontal resolution.

Thank you for pointing out this option, Vincent.

Yes, the dvx100a does let you put your viewfinder in B&W. I usually leave it in B&W while and keep the 3.5in flip out the way it is. The edge enhancement is a great feature and really allows objects in focus to "pop" when you have it right.