Epson WorkForce WF-2540 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $129.99
Sale Price: $89.00
Today's Bonus: 32% Off

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This unit was tested on a Windows 7 Home Premium desktop workstation.

SHORT REVIEW OF NON-SCANNING FEATURES:

Yes, this does have a small footprint, but note the extra 6 inches of height and 3 inches of depth needed when trays are extended for printing. Setup was easy, though if you know what you're doing, I recommend connecting the printer to your wireless network BEFORE you install the software on CD to your PC you can then just say "printer is already on network" when prompted during installation. I tested ALL advertised features (including AirPrint and send and receiving FAX) and was able to get them all working to varying degrees. Per page printing costs are fairly standard for an inkjet (7-10 cents per page black and white; 20-25 cents for color including nicer photo paper). Speed is "quick" and not "super fast." Big batch jobs will still require a laser printer. To keep the size of this review reasonable, I'll leave it to other reviews to supply more specifics other than scanning features.

SCANNING FEATURES:

Note that there is a less expensive version of this printer, the Epson WorkForce WF-2530 which is virtually identical to the WF-2540 being reviewed here. The one major difference in the scanning features, discussed below, is that the cheaper WF-2530 does not have an external USB interface. This means that the WF-2530 must be attached to a computer by wifi or USB cable in order to scan. Otherwise, other than the extra interface option for an ethernet connection and a slightly different control display on the WF-2540 being reviewed here, it appears to be identical in size, speed, and function.

That being said, one of the best features of this all-in-One (WF-2540) is that it does have that external USB port. This actually allows the unit to be a stand-alone, non-attached, non-networked scanning station. If your workstation breaks, your network goes down, or you run out of ink, you can still scan documents to a USB drive and take them elsewhere to print, email, or whatever. As well, you can use as a stand-alone photocopier.

The second best feature for scanning is the automatic document feeder (ADF). It can hold only 30 pages, and was a little finicky when I used thicker source paper to scan. Still, ADF's are a great feature for an inexpensive all-in-one unit like this. Note that if you scan directly from the control panel of the unit, your only choices are 200, 300, and 600 dpi resolution, and either PDF or jpeg formats only. The PDF is NOT searchable with no default of optical character recognition (OCR). The included ABBYY software cannot convert non-searchable PDFs to searchable (OCRed) PDFs. If you save scans as jpeg images the included ABBYY software CAN load and convert jpegs to searchable PDFs.

Using the workstation as a stand-alone scanner, I was able to create and store to attached USB drive a 5 page pdf document scanned at 200 dpi in color mode in 160 seconds (32 seconds/page). The same test document scanned at 600 dpi in color mode took 260 seconds (52 seconds/page). Rule of thumb would be 30-60 seconds per page depending on resolution.

Using the included EPSON Scan software, which runs on your computer, you can choose from a larger number of options than the limited ones from the control panel of the printer. E.g., you can set resolution from 60-9200 dpi, choose color smoothing, set to scan in gray scale, etc..

Scanning speed with a wireless connection varied greatly depending upon how far the WF-2540 is from your wifi router wifi connection speed and strength is critical. Using the same 5 page document and the EPSON Scan software with the WF-2540 in wireless mode, I needed 20 minutes to produce a document when the unit was 50 feet away from my wifi router. Moving the WF-2540 to about 20 feet away, the same job took about 8 minutes. Connected with a USB cable to my PC, the same job took about 6 minutes. It was STILL much slower than the direct scan to attached USB device.

Rule: scanning and creating documents via wifi WILL be slower, and with a weaker wifi connection can be unusably slow. Consider how far your WF-2540 will be from your wifi router.

I give this 5 stars for being an excellent small office solution with a lot of built in flexibility (especially the USB scan and store capability). Connect by ethernet, wifi network, USB cable, or use as a stand-alone scan, copy or fax unit and you're ready to go.

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Olympus FE-340 Pink Camera Deluxe Kit

Customer Ratings:

I bought this camera for my wife. She absolutely loves it! The camera is easy to use. The kit has everything you need to get started. We like the magnetic closing of the camera case. The close up phot option takes great pics. We have had this camera for over a year with no issues at all. I cannot attest to its connectivity to a computer, since we simply pop the memory card out and hook it up to our card reader. Works perfectly every time.

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Samsung SDS-P3040N 4 Channel DVR Security System 500 GB HDD 4

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $699.00
Sale Price: $449.00
Today's Bonus: 36% Off

I selected this camera setup after looking around and learning a little bit. I need 4 cameras so this fit the bill. It is easy to install as long as you don't have any complex wiring runs. I didn't use the included 60ft wires as most of my runs were longer than that so I used bulk siamese RG-59(18-2) and terminated it myself.

The cameras look nice installed and provide decent image quality. The daytime color images and IR night images serve my purpose of just wanting/needing to see what's going on while I'm away. The image clarity meets my needs.

Play back is simple although I have yet to explore most of the setup options or connect to the DVR via the internet.

The DVR runs a little warm, but has worked well so far. (1 month)

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Optoma ML550, WXGA, 500 LED Lumens, 3D-Ready Mobile Projector

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $899.00
Sale Price: $469.00
Today's Bonus: 48% Off

Purchased this when no reviews were available on Amazon or the wider web so took a bit of a risk. I had an old optoma which claimed 3000 lumens, so I was a little concerned this unit wouldn't be bright. In fact, It's amazing.

Things I love:

* Tiny, literally, it's a true micro projector. Fits in palm of hand.

* Very bright, widescreen display, even at 4m in a light room. Incredible given size of projector.

* Easy setup and remote for keystone etc.

* High quality color and great constrast ratio

Things I don't love:

* It has a couple of small fans which create a high pitched sound all the time, to varying levels (depending on screen mode). During quieter parts in movies or TV it's noticeable.

Overall, this projector creates an incredible display from a tiny package and I'd highly recommend it to anyone in a smaller room or who travels a lot.

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Sony NEX-5N 16.1 MP Compact Interchangeable Lens Camera

Customer Ratings:

This camera is great. It is easy to use, takes great pictures, and touch screen is very responsive. The only downfall to the camera is when you have a large lens on it. The camera is really off balance and can be hard to take quality photos. Overall I would not hesitate to buy this camera if you are thinking about it. It has been a great investment.

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TCL LE40FHDE3000 40-Inch 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV (Black)

Customer Ratings:

I recently purchased this television on sale for $300 to serve as an extra TV for my man cave bar. Here's a quick rundown of some important points:

These TCL televisions are cheap, but don't seem to be of poor quality. The television itself is sleek and thin and other than the location of the control buttons on the TV itself (they are arranged behind the front bezel on the right side), everything else is laid out well. This TV comes with a two year warranty and unless I'm mistaken, they use Samsung screens.

Out of the box, the picture is clear and crisp. Colors are bright and blacks are dark. I noticed a little bit of a red tinge to the skin of some people, but with a little tweaking that went away easily. In fact, it was so mundane and the factory settings were so good that I had to force myself to change it. The brightness of the TV seems to have quite a range, but it wasn't difficult to find the right lighting for the room I have it in.

I was worried when I purchased this that it only had a 60Hz refresh rate, but the other positive aspects outweighed this one concern (40", 1080p, LED, $300, etc...). I have watched nearly every sport that ESPN airs on this television, and the only blur that I could notice was immediately after someone struck a tennis ball or punted a soccer ball across the field. Even then, I could only notice it if I was looking for it and really paying attention. I watched the O's game on it last night and I couldn't notice any blur whatsoever. They lost, but looked great doing it.

The sound is absolutely fine for a TV this size. I've read quite a few television reviews, and someone always seems to complain about the sound, no matter what make or model. If you desire 7.1 surround quality from this (or any) television, buy the appropriate audio equipment. Otherwise, in my opinion, the sound that this thing produces is perfectly fine.

If you want a large screen for a cheap price, stop here. This TV might not have all of the bells and whistles that Samsung or Sony offer, but you also are not paying anywhere near those prices, either. This TV offers a great picture at a great price (at 40"), and for my money that is all that I really care about.

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HTC Flyer 7" Android Tablet, 16 GB

Customer Ratings:

There are many specifications-based reviews out there on the Flyer, so I won't repeat those, and instead base this write-up off of my experience with HTC's device over the last few weeks. I have to start this review by saying that I've been a tablet PC user for years, and have found many recreational and business related uses for computers that have active pen input. But even my current tablet PC, an HP Touchsmart, can get tiresome to carry around all the time. I work with kids, and needed a backup device that was small, quick to turn on, and could be loaded with fun activities for children. That's where the Android tablets come in. I rooted a couple of Nookcolors, and instantly fell in love with the 7" form factor. So when I learned that HTC was going to be releasing a 7" tablet with some kind of active stylus, it sounded like the best of both worlds (small android tablet with pen input), and I knew I had to check it out.

I have to say that when most people think of a stylus, they think of that plastic stick that they used to poke their old palm pilots with. That is NOT what this is, nor is it intended as a replacement for touch input. This pen input is intended as a replacement for pen and paper, as you might use when you draw or take handwritten notes. When you're talking about active pen input, you're looking for 3 things: Precision, pressure sensitivity, and palm rejection. I hate to be this blunt, but if you can't view a stylus as being anything other than that dead plastic stick from the old days of resistive screens, then this type of device just simply isn't for you.

When I learned that the Flyer used N-Trig technology instead of the Wacom digitizers I'm used to, I was initially hesitant. I do a lot of artwork and handwritten notes on the Touchsmart, and while it's not perfect on the HP, the Flyer would have a lot to live up to. I knew I had to test it first in a store before I bought it, because if it didn't work well, I might as well stick with the rooted Nooks which did many of the same things and were half the price. The local Best Buy had the Flyer on it's release date and so I tried it out.

I'll be the first to say that the pen experience on the Flyer is NOT up to the quality of the wacom tablet PCs. I don't know if it's the sensors, the N-Trig technology, or if it's simply how the Android OS handles pen input. It's not the size, as I have a Motion Computing slate that is near the same size, and the pen accuracy on that device is far better. However, having said that, it is worlds better than using a regular capacitive stylus on an ipad, galaxy tab, or other similar device. I tried using a nice capacitive stylus with my Nooks and it was no better than using my finger. The Flyer is a far better inking experience, and I feel comfortable drawing or taking notes with it. It only has a couple of levels of pressure sensitivity (thick and thin) as far as I can tell, but you can make a decent sketch with it if you concentrate. If you'd want it rated on a scale, I would say a finger is a 1, capacitive stylus a 2-3, tablet PCs a 7-8, and the Flyer would be a 5.

Obviously I liked the inking enough to actually buy a Flyer even though I already had the Nooks and the Tablet PC. And since purchasing it, it continues to impress me. It's responsive, versatile, and durable. I can use it for games, drawing, notes, word processing, watching movies, streaming music from home, and just about everything else I could need from a media-consuption device. Better yet, many things listed as cons by others who have reviewed it have actually turned out to be related more to device settings (e.g., a washed out screen is because the autodimmer is set to low by default) and inadequately documented capabilities (e.g., standard microusb cables *do* work).

As much as I like the Flyer, it's not perfect. Unfortunately much of that stems from the pen use...the main thing that sets it apart from the flood of other android tablets out there. The preciseness of the pen tip can only be used in a small range of preloaded apps that HTC included (the opposite end can be used as a regular capacitive stylus, but again, it's like fingerpainting). For notetaking, there's the Notes app, and for drawing you can either use the Notes app or the Kid Mode app through Zoodles. They're decent apps, but they're not great. Perhaps I have been spoiled by programs like Onenote and Autodesk Sketchbook on the PC. But even on android, there are better apps out there for drawing or notes, and yet the pen will not work with them at this point. I'm sure HTC had a reason for limiting the pen this way, but I've yet to hear what it is. Luckily, this is software based, not hardware based, so HTC and other developers may release apps and updates that would allow the pen to be used in a wider range of applications. And since the Flyer is so new, I would imagine that these kind of advances are right around the corner. So I could see the Flyer's "good" inking experience go to "great" pretty quickly if it's given the right kind of attention.

Overall, it's a great little tablet. But, if you are not someone who likes to sketch or take notes, I would strongly suggest you look elsewhere. That's not to say that the Flyer is not a great all-around tablet. It is. It's fast, has a nice screen, great battery life, and a decent camera. But the main point of the Flyer is the pen. If you don't plan on using it for that purpose, you'll probably be happier with something else.

Cheers!

UPDATE 8-10-2011

HTC has just released their SDK to the public/developers which includes the Pen input. This means that other developers can now start integrating pen input into their apps, and we are likely going to see some of the well known drawing apps, like Sketchbook Pro, be updated soon. One developer, the author of the Fresco drawing app, started working on it shortly after it came out. This change might easily earn the Flyer another star.

In another development, it looks like HTC is working on a slightly larger Scribe-enabled tablet known as the Puccini, and it looks like it will ship with Honeycomb. Also, Lenovo is just about to release a Thinkpad Tablet (also with N-trig and Honeycomb), and by all appearances, the stylus appears to work across all apps as a form of input (not sure about the pressure sensitivity, though). My hopes are that the Flyer will get Honeycomb somewhere around the same time as the Puccini, and this update will allow the functionality of the Flyer's stylus to jump as it did with the Thinkpad.

UPDATE 10-4-2011

Well, I had hoped that I'd be able to update this with a description of how much more Honeycomb unlocks the potential of this little tablet. Unfortunately it's been two months, and the official build of Honeycomb for the flyer hasn't been released yet. However, I'd never post an update if I had nothing good to say. For those who are adventuresome, there is a leaked build of Honeycomb that you can install on your Flyer. The process doesn't look terribly hard, but it's not for the casual user either. Personally, I've decided to wait til the official version comes out.

BUT, in even better news, the Flyer has dropped in some places (like Best Buy) to $299! I'm hoping this will mean that a lot more people can enjoy the tablet, and that will lead to greater interest in it by developers...which ends up being better for everyone.

UPDATE 1-8-2012

The official Honeycomb update was released last week. What can I say...for me, this is what the Flyer *should* have been when it was released over half a year ago. Now the pen works across all apps at least the same as your finger, and in a wide number of apps, you have features like pressure sensitivity and palm rejection. One of these HC apps, Quill, does such a fine job of smoothing the ink that it nearly rivals the experience of a Wacom digitizer.

There are pros and cons for going over to Honeycomb, so for those Flyer owners who haven't done it yet, definitely weigh the benefits (the XDA Developers website is a great resource for this). It really depends on what you use your Flyer for. I would imagine that if you're a heavy pen user like I am, it will be a much easier decision.

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Garmin GPSMAP 62stc Handheld Navigator

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $499.99
Sale Price: $459.48
Today's Bonus: 8% Off

UPDATE September 7 2010. The issues resolved below are solved by release 2.50 of the 62st firmware. I have no trouble recommending this unit at this point!

I purchased the 62st recently and took it out for a 9 mile geocaching adventure. While I like the unit very much in general, it has one major problem. Like any hiking GPS, the 62st will record your track as you hike, letting you upload it to your computer when you return home. This is very useful for keeping track of your adventures. The accuracy of the 62st's GPS, combined with its barometric altimeter, lets you accurately record your track for later use.

Sadly what I discovered is that on the 62st simply pressing buttons on the GPS interferes with the barometric altimeter. Pressing even a single button on the GPS can result in spikes in the recorded data of 30 feet or more! On my first test hike, my 62st GPS said that I had climbed more than 8000 vertical feet, while the other GPSes carried by my friends on the same hike recorded only 2000.

I did apples-to-apples comparison experiments of the Garmin 62st, Garmin 60csx and Delorme PN-40, and only the 62st exhibits this bug. Pressing buttons on the other GPSes does not interfere with the recorded track data.

I have been in contact with Garmin Support about this issue, but as of today there is no fix.

Until this issue is resolved sadly I cannot recommend the Garmin 62s or 62st. I hope for a fix soon!

UPDATE as of 8/12/2010: Today Garmin released a new set of beta firmware for the 62 series GPSes. In preliminary experiments, the new firmware seems to have significantly improved things with respect to the altimeter. I will do more testing this weekend, but the situation seems to be improving! I'll report back early next week.

UPDATE as of 8/22/2010. The beta firmware has fixed the altitude issue. Some users have reported problems in updating to the beta, so I'd still suggest holding off on a purchase until Garmin releases a new "official" firmware release. I've taken the GPS out on several hikes totalling over 20 miles, and am quite impressed with it. I upgraded my review to three stars today, and will give it another star once a new firmware release is available.

UPDATE as of 9/7/2010. Garmin has now released firmware 2.50 for the 62st. If you update your unit to the new firmware level, I have no problem recommending it. My earlier problems are fixed.

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Pioneer AVH-P6300BT 7-Inch In-Dash DVD A/V Receiver

Customer Ratings:

This Head unit, Pioneer AVH-P6300BT is an excellent fit for my car. It is perfect for any vehicle that only will accept a single DIN dash opening. Mine is more like 1.5 DIN but with the Crutchfield adapter fits great. The only modification I had to do is to trim off the rear support inside the dash. Dremel tool tape and about two minutes of my time.

The 7' screen is nice and big. It features touch screen controls with manual volume, SRC and FWD / REV buttons. most all other functions are touch screen. The FWD and REV also have duplicate touch controls on screen. There is a USB port on front, and an aux in for a 1/8 mini. This jack is also used for the Auto EQ function.

Mine is connected to several Amps powering 12 speakers and a 10' sub. I yanked out the crappy Monsoon System. Excellent sound, very loud, but crisp and clear.

This thing is not short on connections. 6 channels of outputs, Bluetooth mic for hands free calling, video out for back seat monitors, USB,

Aux in, SD card reader, rear view camera input, interface bus, tethered remote input, etc....

Flip out screen is very stable especially in a lowered Trans-Am with sport suspension

You can adjust the screen viewing angle to lay slightly forward, straight, and laying back. You can use a standard iPod/iPhone USB cable to listen to audio. However you need to purchase the cable required to view video/audio! Use cable below.

Pioneer CD-IU51V AV iPod/iPhone Cable for Pioneer AV and Navigation models

My only gripe is I haven't gotten the Auto EQ to work......yet. But not much of an inconvenience because you can program the 8 band EQ just like a normal EQ.

Plus I got mine when the price was $569 :) now it's $695 : Ouch.

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Nikon COOLPIX S30 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 3x Zoom Nikkor

Customer Ratings:

This is the second Nikon waterproof camera we've purchased. The first was the AW100, and I like both cameras for different reasons. I bought the AW100 for me to use while scuba diving in shallow water, and I got the S30 for the kids to use in the pool. It's perfect for them. The buttons are large and easy to use, and I like the setup the shutter button and video record button are both on top, separated by the on/off button, and all the menu, feature and playback buttons are on the back. I think this is a great design for kids.

Many of the "fun" options in the camera are definitely designed to appeal to kids, but I'm looking forward to trying some of them, too, such as the time lapse and fireworks modes.

In terms of images, the HD videos are very sharp, and the photos are also good, as long as you make sure to set the camera to the highest resolution. Note that if you select the option to add an in-camera frame to your images, the camera seems to default to the lowest resolution 2 MP so I would avoid this setting if you want good quality photos. You can always add a digital frame later with photo editing software.

I think this is a great camera if you just want something to take to the pool or the beach and you don't want to worry about the kids dropping it in the water or on the ground. It's easy to use, takes good photos, and you can't go wrong with a Nikon. The only things I don't like about this camera are the AA batteries (I wish it used the same rechargeable as my AW100) and the battery/memory card door; I have to use both hands to slide the lock one way and slide the door the other way. You won't have to worry about the kids accidentally opening it, which is a good thing, but I much prefer the design of the AW100. Other than that, however, I think this is a great camera for the price.

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Gateway DX4380-UR23 Desktop (Black)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $549.99
Sale Price: $529.99
Today's Bonus: 4% Off

This desktop computer is very quiet and effortless in it's operation. The included keyboard and mouse is an after thought but you can easily upgrade to a better one of your choice. I do recommend this computer to anyone looking for a new desktop for their home or office that also performs at gaming speeds.

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Sigma 18-50mm f/3.5-5.6 DC HSM Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Nikon

Customer Ratings:

I couldn't believe this lens was under 100 dlls. I've also got one in the 55-200mm range and it's just as good as this one.

I bought it because a friend of mine dropped the camera with the original nikon on it and it broke the support. I chose it because I like a lot the other one I have. This one autofocuses just as or faster than the nikon that comes standard with the camera.

Personally I prefer this one because it feels sturdier and the finish makes it look less toy-like. It also has a metal attaching ring, not like the nikon that has thin plastic one.

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Olympus PT-EP01 Underwater Case for PEN E-PL1 Digital Camera

Customer Ratings:

The camera housing is perfect for my needs, I was looking for a package that was light, yet with possibilities of having near professional level options.

Both the E-PL1 camera and the PT-EP01 fit the bill perfectly. Shooting in RAW with no extra light made it possible to correct for the lack of colour on 20m, although a flash is recommended.

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Sony Ericsson R800IEUBLK Xperia Play R800i Unlocked Phone

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $350.00
Sale Price: $209.99
Today's Bonus: 40% Off

I recently got the Xperia Play. The phone itself is great, clear pictures, nice signal, operating system is quite stable.

As you may imagine be careful about battery life and get used to carry with you a portable battery charger.

If we think about it, the whole idea of this phone may be for people who travel a lot or have to wait a lot. I parked my car in front of my girlfriend house, while I wait I take out my phone and play for a little while (1 hour).

Send a couple of text messages, get some phone calls and charge your phone. The Xperia play itself is great, just I wish battery was better. Instead carrying my cellphone and my PSP. Now I need to carry my phone and a portable charger.

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Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Black Gold Special Edition

Customer Ratings:

I eyed this camera for a long time before buying. I always had SLRs before but lately only owned super zoom point and shoots. (5 M pix). I wanted a little better resolution and a lot more flexibility and ability to control what the camera does as well as quickness, and smarts. This one has it all. Now after having gotten used to it, I love everything about it. For example, it has several different "themes" for the display and you can set the "Vari-program" modes to look different than the "P, S, A and M" modes so you can see at a glance if you're in "point and shoot" or "think about it" modes. The "Quick-Set" menu button makes it super fast to set the most commonly changed settings. I love the way you can set ISO to be "Auto" in the "P, S, A and M" modes but set a minimum shutter speed and max ISO and it will ramp up the ISO within those limits. So it keeps ISO set at 100 until correct exposure would require a speed slower than your min shutter speed setting and only then starts ramping up the ISO. Really smart. And it has a real "Time" function like the old SLRs had. You have to buy the little remote but it's cheap, works fantastically and goes in a tiny case that goes on the camera strap so it's always with you. That replaces the old locking cable release you had to have to do time exposures. So you can take long exposures and from my initial tests in light polluted skys, it's going to take great starfield and milky way shots (with the fast lens I also bought. See separate review of the 50mm f/1.4G). And I love the exposure/focus lock button that can be set to do either or both (five different settings). And having good, precise manual focus at a touch of the focus ring is such a refreshing change from the point-and-shoots. The "delete" button is super fast to delete any shot. Just push it twice. I also love the rapid fire mode where it shows you how many shots are left in the buffer in viewfinder. So when you fire off four rapid shots of that little soccer player about to score, you don't have to wait for all four to store, you can see as it progresses that you can take one, two, three and finally four rapid shots again to plan ahead. And in that same situation, using the "sports" mode, it automatically sets focus to "continuous" which I normally don't use and stresses high shutter speeds. (Another place where it's nice to have a fast lens.)

Speaking of that, I've hardly used the 18-55 VR zoom that came with the kit. I've read that it's a very nice lens but have no experience yet since I LOVE the 50mm f/1.4G I got. I could go on and on. Photography is fun again!

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Fujifilm X-E1 Digital Camera Body, Black - Bundle

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $1,598.00
Sale Price: $1,148.74
Today's Bonus: 28% Off

The sensor is fantastic for milky way photos. The colors rendered are very natural. It's not over the top, and if you like saturated photos, then you'll have to work that on your own, but the SOOC is so natural. Portraits are easy to get skintones in.

The metal and faux-leather body is amazing, and the lens is supurb.

The AF isn't that great, but I do landscape photography, so it doesn't matter at all.

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Olympus VF-4 ViewFinder (Black)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $279.99
Sale Price: $279.00
Today's Bonus: $0.99 Off

I have had both the VF-2 and VF-3 for my Olympus M43s, and have also been using Panasonic M43 cameras with integrated viewfinders for a while (GH2; GH3; even have used the LVF-2 on a GX1). In past, I have preferred the Panasonic viewfinders, simply because they have a larger magnification/larger view than the Olympus versions, and are easier to see. However, the VF-4 changes all that....

Very simply, this is the best EVF that M43s cameras have ever had. It has a huge field of view, the colors are bright and accurate (Both of which were a huge letdown on the GH3, by the way) and it seems to be very responsive. In addition, it has a handy locking mechanism, so you can leave it on the camera and not worry about it getting accidentally knocked off (which was a problem with my VF-2). The optics are excellent, too, with no blurring of sides or edges as you move your eye or head relative to the viewfinder.

In terms of size...it's a little bigger than the VF-2, but it's not huge, and it is quite light in weight.

I can't tell you how well the automatic eye sensor switch works, since I do not have the E-P5 (which is the only camera that the automatic eye sensor works with right now). However, this works the same way as the two earlier EVFs in that respect on anything other than the EM5; and that is you do have to push a button on the EVF to activate it. The button is in an easy to access spot on the viewfinder, so that's not a big deal, though.

If you have been thinking about getting an external viewfinder for your EPL or EPM series PEN, this is definitely the one to get. It changes the diminutive EPM2 into something that behaves like a much larger camera in terms of how easy image composition is when it is on. It also helps stabilize the camera when you hold it up to your eye, rather than out at arm's length....And the image rendition in this EVF is truly excellent.

One other thing....you MUST download and install the latest firmware update from Olympus for your PEN to recognize this EVF. (The only camera that does not need the update is the EP5). It only took a couple of minutes (although the instructions are a little confusing... just remember that once you have connected the camera to the computer, and the rear screen of the camera says "storage", you MUST click the OK button (in the middle of the thumbwheel on the back of the camera) before the computer will recognize the camera and start the update. If you do not do that, the computer will not find the camera and will keep giving you an error message.)

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