6D viewfinder too big ?

[hugoleveille]

Hi

New to this forum

I just got my new canon 6d and I simply love it. Before, I had the canon XSi. One thing that I noticed is that when I look in the 6d viewfinder, it is very big. It nearly impossible to see it all. With the XSI, the visible square was smaller and I could easily see the image I was going to take. But with the 6d, I cant see the edges all at once. I have to move my head a bit from left t right to see it all. And if I waer my glasses, its even worst since my eyes are a bit farther.

Is is due to the full frame sensor? Anyone else noticed this ?

 

[insanitybeard]

It certainly is due to the larger full frame sensor (and consequently larger mirror, prism etc).... An unusual complaint that the viewfinder is too big though, usually the reverse is true.... My partner has an old EOS400D and compared to my 7D, the viewfinder is tiny! I much prefer the 7D's larger viewfinder for focussing and composition. Bigger is better as far as I'm concerned!

 

[Aaron78]

Hi

New to this forum

I just got my new canon 6d and I simply love it. Before, I had the canon XSi. One thing that I noticed is that when I look in the 6d viewfinder, it is very big. It nearly impossible to see it all. With the XSI, the visible square was smaller and I could easily see the image I was going to take. But with the 6d, I cant see the edges all at once. I have to move my head a bit from left t right to see it all. And if I waer my glasses, its even worst since my eyes are a bit farther.

Is is due to the full frame sensor? Anyone else noticed this ?

I'm sure you get over it quickly, once you see the leap you've made in image quality from your old camera. I own a 7D and had a 5D II for about 6 months, and you could notice the size difference through the viewfinder, but it was never a problem. Looking back at my old files thoug, the 5D II's IQ blows the 7D out of the water in every regard. Enjoy your new camera

 

[Fleetie]

Even the 5D3's viewfinder image is small compared to old-style film SLRs' viewfinder images.

My Olympus OM2SP's viewfinder image is much larger. I wish the 5D3's image were that size!

I think the OM2SP's image magnification is about 1.0X, whereas the 5D3's is quite a lot less than that.

But the 5D3 has to fit other things like digital readouts underneath the image; maybe that's why they made the actual image area smaller.

 

[Sporgon]

You make a valid point. In the halicon days of 35mm SLRs the true pro cameras had smaller viewfinders than the other little gems that were produced in those days. Cameras such as the Olympus OM1 and Pentax MX had much larger viewfinders than any of today's DSLRs.

It is easier to follow fast sport when you can clearly see the whole picture.

You can fit a Canon eyepiece extender to your 6D which will give more 'eye point' and make the viewfinder smaller. They are quite cheap. I use them on my FF cameras for sport.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Eye relief can make a big difference in perceived visibility thru the viewfinder. The Pro models have more eye relief, which is great for those who wear glasses or just don't want to have to press their eye so tightly against the camera.

Maybe they should call it nose relief. Thats the purpose of the eye piece extenders.
I have several old film SLRs, I'll compare them with my 5D MK III. OM-1, OM-2, FM, Elan 7e, SRT 101, Pentax, Nikon F, and several more.

 

[Skirball]

I also have issue with the 6D's lack of noise at higher ISOs.

 

[BrettS]

I also have issue with the 6D's lack of noise at higher ISOs.

+1 ROFLMFAO!!!!!!!

 

[TrumpetPower!]

First time I've ever heard anybody complain about a viewfinder being too big.

But, as others have suggested, it may be that the problem is the eye relief. I can't be bothered to compare the specs, but I wouldn't be surprised if the 6D has a comparatively close eye relief, meaning you have to mash your nose against the camera to get your eye close enough to see everything.

What I personally really want is the viewfinder from my parents's Pentax ME-Super on my 5DIII. Such an awesome viewfinder! Why, oh why, are we stuck with these small, dim, flat viewfinders these days? And let's not forget the wonderfulness of the split microprism...so much superior to a flashing red dot it's not even funny.

Ah, well...at least we do have live view, which more than makes up for it when shooting things that don't move.

b&

 

[BrettS]

But, as others have suggested, it may be that the problem is the eye relief.

I used a EP-EX15 Eyepiece Extender on my 30D, and it transferred handily to my 6D. Just seems a bit more comfortable.

 

[hgraf]

It's funny, the reason I ended up with Canon was this exact reason.

When I was in the market for.my first DSLR the choices were a Canon XS, a Sony (I think it was the a230 or a330?), an Olympus and a Nikon.

The only two cameras that I could see the whole "square" was the Canon and the Nikon. Both the Sony's and the Olympus had me moving my head around to see all four corners.

I do wear glasses, but I wear then really close to my face, and couldn't believe this issue existed. Most sales people were also surprised, but confirmed my results.

I ended up with the XS, it was slightly cheaper them the Nikon and I liked the interface a little more.

I recently tested several cheaper DSLRs and a few still had that issue. Again the Canon and Nikon's seemed to not have the problem at all, whole the Sony's I tried were better then before, but I still found that to see say the meter I had to shift my head a bit.

Very surprising. TTYL

 

[bholliman]

I prefer the larger, brighter viewfinder on the 6D and 7D compared with the smaller, dim viewfinder on the T2i Rebel I started with. But, to each his (or her) own. As others have suggested, an eyepiece extender may help.

 

[pwp]

A best forgotten distant memory is peering down the tunnel that was the 20D viewfinder.
For composition and analysis, bigger is better. You'll get used to it and wonder why you ever made this post.

-PW

 

[sandymandy]

far sighted ?

 

[sleepnever]

Interesting. Never seen that complaint. I couldn't wait to go from my Rebel T2i's viewfinder to the 5D3's. It'd be hard to go back.

 

[Dylan777]

If you think 97% Viewfinder Coverage in 6D is too big, wait until you shoot with 5D III @ 100%

 

[emko]

going from 550d to 5D3 i noticed right away how awesome the view is never did i say that its to big. When i look in the 550d now it feels like a toy way to small i don't even know how i used it before.

 

[nWmR12]

I know what you are talking about at least when wearing glasses. I just happened to not notice it probably since I got used to it with my 5Dc. Just actually checked I don't have the eyepiece on the 5Dc and it is way easier to see the entire frame then with it on. I was comparing it to my 5DmkIII which has the eye piece also took that off...same conclusion I can see the edges. Still I prefer to use the larger VF then the smaller ones now...one of the reasons why I don't have a rebel anymore.

 

[learncanon]

If you think 97% Viewfinder Coverage in 6D is too big, wait until you shoot with 5D III @ 100%

this is a common misconception.

 

[pliiats]

Does anyone know if there is much difference in viewfinder size or brightness when going from a 450D(XSi) to 60D?

I know it means going from pentamirror to pentaprism but how much does that mean in real life?