EVF-DC1 Electronic Viewfinder

This is a review of the EVF-DC1 viewfinder for the Canon G1X Mark II.I had been hoping Canon would improve on the original Canon G1X, their first attempt at a compact, high-end point and shoot with a big sensor. The original G1X received a lot of criticism for its tiny optical viewfinder, poor focusing performance, limited zoom range, and lack of close-up focusing.I was very excited to first learn of the G1X Mark II and its improvements over the original G1X. I am "old school" and really don't like composing photos by using an LCD screen. I prefer using a viewfinder. I must admit I was still reluctant to spring for the extra $250 for the EVF, after already committing $750 for the G1X Mark II camera. Boy, am I glad I did.What I Like:1.You can see everything you normally would on the LCD screen. That includes during A) shooting, B) plowing through the menu and C) playback.2. It come on automatically as soon as you put your eye close to it and switches back to LCD screen view as soon as you pull your eye away from it.3. It tilts up which is great for low angle.4. It's very responsive and is practically "real-time" viewing of your subject.What I don't like:1. It's price2. It adds a little to the overall size dimensions on top of the camera.I just gave it a two-week workout on a photo excursion to Alaska. The combination of the size of the camera, the image quality and the ease of use of the EVF made it fun again and enjoy travel and take great photo at the same time.For me personally, shooting video is painful without a viewfinder. Video is so easy to shoot with the EVF attached to the hot shoe of the camera.Why the 5-stars instead of 4-stars, despite the negatives I listed above? The positives: its brightness and superior viewing of the scene and critical reviewing of the images is so useful and enjoyable that they outweigh the negatives enough for me to give it a 5-star rating.I review a lot of Canon equipment and accessories and I don't blindly support everything Canon does. If you can handle the price tag, I can't imagine anyone not liking this attachment.Bruce LovelaceCanonCameraGeek.com

I knew I wanted a viewfinder for a couple of reasons. They are great for scenery on sunny days, of course. Also, with the diopter adjustment, I don't need reading glasses to read menus or see what I am shooting - my main reason for choosing it. I couldn't find a camera I wanted with an integrated viewfinder so I was happy to find a camera with optional viewfinder. This viewfinder is so much nicer than the teeny pop-up ones on other small cameras. The only drawback I can see is that I will probably pack the camera without the viewfinder when traveling and will need to remember to re-install the hot shoe cover provided with the camera. One warning: I could not believe it when this expensive and fragile electronic part arrived in an envelope with no protective packaging. Even the extra battery I ordered arrived in a heavy cardboard box. I don't know what the vendor was thinking. So far, the viewfinder seems to work perfectly, but I just keep hoping there was no shipping damage that will show up later.

If you're used to using a viewfinder, you'll feel like considering this. Outside when it's bright and the rear display is hard to use, this comes in handy. I'm not sure where the sensor is located, but when you bring the camera to your eye the display on the back of the camera goes black and the display in the viewfinder automatically lights up. There are options in the camera setting and on the side of the unit to have you turn it on and off manually as well. It has a diopter so if you wear glasses you can adjust the view for clarity. It rotates up nicely so you can be looking down "into" the viewfinder. This would be very helpful if you're shooting very low on the ground. Since it sits on the hot-shoe, I'm sure it draws its life from the camera's battery, depleting the already somewhat strained battery life of the Canon G3X. If you have a camera case, consider getting a larger camera bag so this also fits or taking it off when you're not using the camera. Finally, this is a very pricey item and probably out of the price range for a casual user or anyone who doesn't really feel they will use it often. It would be 5 stars if the price was lower. Sometimes it's bundled with the camera for a substantial savings. Overall, I'm glad I purchased it.

I purchased the EVF-DC1 to use on my Canon M3. My main complaint about the M3 has been the LCD with no viewfinder, which is always a challenge in direct sunlight. Frankly, Canon fell short in comparison to competitors in this regard. The DC1 corrects that shortcoming with a crisp, detailed EVF display that switches automatically from back LCD to EVF and back when you bring your eye to the viewfinder. An adjustable diopter helps those with less than 20/20 vision. The unit is well-built and attaches securely with no extra wiring. Nice touch is the swivel to tilt up the finder for low level viewing. Unlike the others, I don't fault Canon's pricing as an M3 owner because the camera and several lenses are not cheap and the finder doesn't seem to be a major expense compared to the total system price.