This SmallRig OVF fits most major camera brands, providing a retro experience and neat solution for cameras without viewfinders

Lifestyle image of person using camera with SmallRig Camera 28mm External Optical Viewfinder attached

External viewfinders have their limitations, but they’re a great solution for cameras that really solely on a rear LCD (Image credit: SmallRig)

SmallRig has just launched the Camera 28mm External Optical Viewfinder, which fits compatible Sony, Leica, Ricoh, Fujifilm , Nikon, and Canon cameras. It’s built to replicate the optical viewing experience of classic film cameras, and will no doubt appeal to users of retro cameras such as the Fujifilm X100VI, Nikon Z fc, and Leica Q3, all of which are compatible (see full list of compatibility below).

I can see this little OVF coming into its own when paired with a camera such as the Ricoh GR III, Fujifilm X-M5, or Nikon Z30, all cameras that rely entirely on rear LCD screens and don’t otherwise have a viewfinder.

This little external OVF provides a 35mm equivalent 28mm field of view, for a wide-angle perspective that SmallRig says is “optimized for street photography”. It has a built-in 4:3 rectangular viewfinder and is said to use “premium” optics, within its five-lens optical construction, delivering high-light transmission (98%) and “exceptional clarity with minimal distortion”.

This little device is built from aluminium alloy, weighs roughly around 23g and measures 29.0x25.9x21.0mm / 1.1x1.0x0.8in. Inside the box you get the viewfinder itself and a cleaning cloth.

SmallRig Camera OVF compatibility

Fujifilm X-M5 camera with a Fujifilm 35mm lens attached held in a pair of hands — Cameras without a viewfinder like the Fujifilm X-M5 will benefit most from an external OVF (Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World)

Canon EOS M5
Canon EOS M6 Mark II
Canon EOS M6
Canon EOS R50
Canon EOS R50V
Fujifilm X100V
Fujifilm X100VI
Fujifilm X-T30
Fujifilm X-T50
Fujifilm X-H2S
Fujifilm X-T4
Fujifilm X-T5
Fujifilm X-E4
Fujifilm X-E5
Fujifilm X-M5
Fujifilm X-S20
Fujifilm X-pro3
Leica Q3
Leica SL2
Leica SL3
Leica SL2-S
Leica SL3-S
Nikon Z 30
Nikon Z 50 II
Nikon Z fc
Nikon Z f
Ricoh GR III
Sony ZV-E10
Sony ZV-E10 II
Sony ZV-1F
Sony A6600
Sony A6700

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My old DSLR made me realize how much I miss optical viewfinders – and how much I dislike EVFs. The Fujifilm X-M5 finally delivers on the compact promise of the mirrorless camera. Plus, the lack of viewfinders on modern mirrorless cameras is short-sighted, and I wish optional EVFs were on offer.

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Mike studied photography at college, honing his Adobe Photoshop skills and learning to work in the studio and darkroom. After a few years writing for various publications, he headed to the ‘Big Smoke’ to work on Wex Photo Video’s award-winning content team, before transitioning back to print as Technique Editor (later Deputy Editor) on N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine.

With bylines in Digital Camera, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, Practical Photography, Digital Photographer, iMore, and TechRadar, he’s a fountain of photography and consumer tech knowledge, making him a top tutor for techniques on cameras, lenses, tripods, filters, and more. His expertise extends to everything from portraits and landscapes to abstracts and architecture to wildlife and, yes, fast things going around race tracks...

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