Olympus EE-1 Dot Sight Review with the M.Zuiko 300mm f/4

[@gregsyverson]

I use my Dot Sight to just find my subject then immediately go to the camera eye piece. It is so much faster that way to find a subject. I love it. Helps me get some great eagles in flight

[@RJPhotographics]

If you have no budget, I found it a huge help to make 'iron sights' - something sticking out the top of the lens hood, and something to line up on the hot shoe cover. Even just using the lens hood screen on the Leica 200mm 2.8 set facing up helps.

[@martinhollands8239]

At last a review of this that I understand and shows me what I ill have to do.

[@cojim]

I use a similar pointing device with an astronomical telescope. The trick is to use the dot sight with both eyes open. It is a unitary power device (i.e., no magnification), so there is no effect on eyeball focusing. It takes a little practice, but works amazingly well for tracking moving subjects like BIF.

[@bengtenyman]

Agreed. I like it very much. I wish I knew how to get rid of the play (despite the clamp nut) in the hot shoe.

[@robertpanick2660]

Well presented review Mathieu, which is something I've come to expect. I have the EE-1 and a few observations. First holding a long telephoto, even the 40-150 away from your body causes a few problems. First, it becomes difficult to keep the camera stable, not to mention the camera gets very heavy. I've tried using it by looking through it to acquire my subject and then drop down to the EVF. That works better than holding the camera out, however if the subject is moving the time from EE-1 to EVF can cause you to loose the subject. When I did a search for how people were using it, I came up with an interesting one from someone that had created a mount for the EE-1 so that it was on the left side of the camera, at the same level as the EVF. It was adjusted so that with his left eye open, he could use that for finding his target, he then used his right eye to compose in the EVF. Of course that requires you to be able to shoot with both eyes open, or at least switch between them. I suspect the best use would be on a tripod using a Wimberly type mount for the camera. That would help with getting the target, being able to use the back panel of the camera for composition, and take care of the problem of weight and stability. With these smaller lenses on MFT systems, it may be possible to use a ball head with the ball head setup so the mount is at a 90 degree angle and the lens foot mounted. Both the ball head and rotation would need to be left loose, this would give you a poor mans Wimberly type of action.

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

+Robert Panick thanks. Yes it's true that holding the the camera/lens away from the body is more tiring but I found it to be the most accurate way of using the EE-1. However your suggestions are definitely valid. I guess many people find a personal configuration to use the accessory.

[@przybylskipawel]

Maybe it would work better with a monopod as a support?

[@adriancoleman1120]

I've just read an article that appears to contradict your observation that the sight needs to be recalibrated if changing focal lengths by a significant amount. The writer states that for calibration purposes focal length does not matter. Rather the crucial determinant is the subject/target distance. Would you agree?

[@wickie4801]

Best video about this dot sight. Thank you for sharing some tricks/tipps. I now ordered in used condition for 90 Euros.

[@paulmcwilliams8641]

This device is very expensive. You can use any red dot sight it is just a matter of mounting. I sometimes use a cheap one on my Sony 200 - 600 when photographing raptors in flight. Using a picardy mount it can be fitted to the lens foot mount, but it makes it a bit difficult to calibrate as it then cannot be mounted on a tripod. On a hot shoe mounting the parallex error is magnified, so it can be confusing. My best results have been with my Panasonic G9 and 100 - 300 combo with the red dot sight mounted almost touching the lens. Also I can calibrate using the camera's tripod mount. I have used this setup to capture images of dragonflies on the wing. No matter which system you use, once calibrated you need to practice to allow for distance, dependant on the parallex error.

[@JohnBurnley-k4i]

Thank you very much. BEST review and instruction on the use of the EE-1 dot sight I have seen on KZbin.

[@santiagodeloscaballeros3743]

Merci beaucoup Mathieu! Vos vidéos et vos explications sont toujours d'une très grande qualité. Grâce à vous, j'ai appris l'existence de cet accessoire et je viens de le commander. Il n'est pas facile de bien photographier des oiseaux en vol, je pense et j'espère que cet ajout à mon équipement va m'aider à faire de meilleures photos de ces derniers! Très bonne continuation, bonnes photos et amitiés.

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

Merci!

[@GSXRMVDUCRD]

Great solution to the viewfinder blacking out when shooting 3-10 fps, with a moving subject. Thanks

[@samrobertstheratcliff]

GSXRMVDUCRD didn't think of that, makes a lot of sense in that situation

[@GSXRMVDUCRD]

FYI there are similar gun sights available on Ebay for $20. You also need a foot to fit the gun sight on the camera.

[@GSXRMVDUCRD]

+Sam Roberts Similar gun sights are available on Ebay for $20, You also need a foot to attach the gun sight on the camera. It is not as firmly mounted to the camera as the EE-1 but it works well

[@henrikgustav2294]

ah yes. interesting

[@karenwillshaw7772]

I've just purchased the Dot Sight. I've yet to calibrate and use. My question is do you use C-AF or S-AF? Thank you

[@DaveLundy]

You make opening the battery compartment look extremely easy. I've been trying to get mine open for the past half hour. It won't budge! I've tried half a dozen different ball point pens, as well as a paper clip, to push down the button. I also tried an indelible marker, but apparently it was too blunt to depress the button. It seems to depress OK, but the battery cover only slides out a tiny fraction of an inch. What's the secret?! Since it's all made of plastic, I'm afraid of pressing too hard on it. As expensive as it is, I'd hate to destroy it just trying to install the battery. :-(

[@DaveLundy]

I finally pried it open with a small kitchen knife. It certainly shouldn't be THAT hard to open.

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

I don't remember to be that difficult to be honest, perhaps the cover on your sample is a bit more difficult to slid out.

[@josephfisher1615]

LOL … I just received one of these from my son. I couldn’t get the battery cover off either. The button only takes light pressure tp depress but the cover wouldn’t slide open. I handed it to my wife who got it off in 3 seconds! 😖🥰😂

[@janvangastel6763]

I just bought the EE-1 after reading this review. Setup was easy, because I used to do it with my telescopes. I am going to use it on my OM-systems OM-1 camera. Problem is, that the camera will not auto focus without me looking through the viewfinder or without the screen being opened. Is there a setting that I can focus without that? I could't find it. I use backbutton focus (AF-ON button).

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

Hmm, have you tried to disable the eye sensor, and just leave the LCD active? (press and hold the button near the MENU button).

[@janvangastel6763]

@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons Thanks for your answer. I disabled the eye sensor and now it does exactly what I want.

[@해공천사]

로버트페닉님 설명 잘들었습니다 감사합니다

[@thierrygillard6896]

Why re-calibrate at every change of lens? The center of the image remains the center of the image, whatever focal lens you attach. I use a hunting device. It can be affixed more steadily to an arca-swiss rail via the picatinny clamp and is also more rugged and weather proof.

[@JamieMacDonald]

Love the video Mathieu! I think this is exactly what the birders out there need to see. Keep the videos coming!

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

+Jamie MacDonald thanks! Yes it's a great tool for bird photography and I wanted to test it for a while.

[@Leif_YT]

+Jamie MacDonald I think it makes it also much easier to track a target, especially with our mirrorless cameras and their blackout times in the viewfinder while shooting bursts. I've recently seen a post of someone who shoots greyhound races and for him using the E-M1 with the EE-1 was like night and day .. it helped him so much.

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

Good point about the blackouts in the EVF. However being able to shoot at 9fps in C-AF improved that a lot.

[@paristo]

+Jamie MacDonald It is not just for BIF shooters but take that to sports and the difference is huge even on DSLR. It just needs to be reminded that the RDS isn't benefit just for mirrorless shooters because slightly longer blackout or small delay because missing live view, but it is there to help with the biggest problem what is "tunnel vision" that will disallow even best sports photographer not to see what is happening around the frame. And the RDS helps in that as you can use both eyes open easily and just track targets and let the camera do its job. It is just sad that RDS can't be used in macro photography for those fast small buggers ;)

[@bolseg1]

+Jamie MacDonald hellllooo nice seeing you on this page....not really a birder thou hopefully you know where this parrot and the EM-1 pic came from ; )

[@przybylskipawel]

Hi! Do you have to calibrate differently for different shooting distances?

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

No if you calibrate the centre carefully, it should work with different distances.

[@rafaelvila9050]

​@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons HI, Nice video. But I just was calibrating my EE-1 and found that when the vertical dot position is calibrated for very long distances it has a big error for short ones. I see very clearly that the calibration is just valid for some distance range. I'm using Olympus OM-D-E1 and 300mm F4 lens. Somebody with similar experience? or it is just me?

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

You should get better results if you calibrate for a shorter distance first.

[@przybylskipawel]

@@rafaelvila9050 Definately. That is just a colimator. It has to be calibrated for a given distance. And the bigger the bump with the viewfinder (the further the dot sight from the optical axis of the lens) the more important calibration is. Lines from the center of the sensor to the target and from the dot sight to the target are not paralel. They are convergent. However at the long distances it is negligible angle.

[@rafaelvila9050]

Thanks,. It's what I thought: The parallax effect... So, at the end it's only valid in some range. For BIF you then should estimate your average distance to birds and calibrate there

[@Mark-ks9jj]

Great video, well explained thank you

[@bolseg1]

Hi, Mathieu...it's a little too late to ask. I just bought this Oly EE-1 Dot Sight last Friday 03-31 and it's on it's way. My question sir is do I have to calibrate this dot sight every time I turned it off? I will be using this dot sight on my Oly E M-1 mounted with the Oly 40-150 F 2.8 Pro. The EE-1 will only used for the said lens.

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

+fog head 111 theoretically if you never change lens it should be fine. However keep in mind that the two dials you use to calibrate the red dot are freely so you might need to re-calibrate from time to time. Always calibrate at the longest focal length (in your case 150mm). It should remain calibrated for the entire day but if you use it again let's say a week after, I would check the calibration before start shooting.

[@bolseg1]

+Mathieu Gasquet (MirrorLessons) Thank You and regards to Heather...

[@dr.andreaferrero]

Even your Gloves are labeled OM-D?

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

I got them at a press event.

[@garybrown9719]

Is this how you get all the hawks in focus

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

Do you mean the red kites? No, I don't have it, I only got the sample for my review.

[@kbruff2010]

1/11/2022 thank you 🙏 Sir for this wonderful information

[@khoanguyen2753]

i would pick a suppressor over a dot sight any day

[@NATURENUTT7]

Khoa Nguyễn what is a suppressor and why do you feel it is better?

[@Emilmarch]

Here ya go: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_sights

[@ArjenJongeling]

I have the monstrous Samyang 800mm mirror lens and I use it for aviation filming. The thing is, once you loose an airplane and it flies out of your view finder, you'll never find it back. You think the EE-1 is a solution for this? The filter size is 105mm (!), you think it's in the way decribe?

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

+Arjen Jongeling which camera are you using?

[@ArjenJongeling]

EOS 600D

[@ArjenJongeling]

correction in my original reaction: last words should be 'like you describe' :-)

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

+Arjen Jongeling by looking at images online, you should be fine with the EE-1 on the 600d. Of course estimating with google images is one thing, trying it is another. If you mount the lens on the 600d and look with your eye at the same level of the hot-shoe, is you view clear?

[@ArjenJongeling]

+Mathieu Gasquet (MirrorLessons) yes it is. I figure the worst that can happen is that I see a little bit of the barrel in the scope. I think I give it a try with a cheap airsoft scope, they seem to use them on rifles. Cost as little as $ 15 in China :-)

[@michaelhawkins1173]

Well done Mathew very helpful thank you.

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

Glad it was helpful!

[@fderive]

Hi guys, watching this video got me thinking about straps, i really don't know anything about them. For a setup like this can anyone make a recommendation on a strap that doesn't put the weight on the neck. Thanks :)

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

+fderive I use the Peak Design Slide. Thanks to the anchor links system, you can attach the strap on various parts of the camera like for example at the bottom with the supplied arca swiss plate and keep the strap around shoulder/chest and not the neck. Have a look here: www.mirrorlessons.com/2014/07/28/re-thinking-the-concept-of-camera-straps-a-review-of-the-new-peak-design-slide-leash-clutch/

[@fderive]

Thank you Mathieu

[@samrobertstheratcliff]

Mathieu Gasquet thanks, that answers the question I just asked :)

[@marclaplume9879]

dommage vous avez jamais de video francais pour explication c est pas tout le monde qui comprend l anglais

[@rfcdgaf]

buy a pic rail adapter for $20 off ebay or aliexpress, and have your choice of optic, from red dot sights to lasers to laser holders, this is hilariously expensive for what it is. You can do this for 1/2 the cost if not less of this factory option

[@AkaiMiso]

Thank you for the useful video!

[@paultaylor5513]

You always give very clear and interesting videos.

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

+Paul Taylor thanks, glad you like them.

[@strac2534]

Es ce que ca ne te gêne pas (au niveau du front) quand tu repasses en vue dans l'oeilleton ?

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

non cela ne ma pas dérangé.

[@iansant1]

Interesting to see you at Bwlch Nant Yr Arian just 2 miles from our house! I just bought the EE-1 and found this video quite helpful

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

Thanks! I go there often for my BIF tests. I love the red kites. Can't wait to go back once they re-open.

[@henrikgustav2294]

interesting device. not only for birding. imagine sports

[@daviddaw999]

or planes at airshows.

[@Bohemian0522]

so in short, this is really only useful when shooting wildlife or sports, where you need to keep track of the moving subject in a long focal length? This is the first time I heard of this product, interesting.

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

Yes it's useful especially if your subject is far away.

[@MrHasherd]

Thanks for the clear explanation.

[@faze_alex24_yt13]

I actually use this for airsoft 😅 sense it’s a aiming device I use a screw mount rail

[@konstikowarsch]

Where to get the gloves?

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

I got them at an Olympus press event.

[@konstikowarsch]

I want them too :(

[@fleetingdays]

Wish I could afford it! Owner 300mm f4.

[@richardruda267]

Very good - thanks

[@dublbude]

I bought one of these, and always found myself spending more time setting this thing up, and it never is perfect. You will spend more time messing with it, than taking pictures. There are 3 places the ee-1 does best..... -Sitting on a shelf or in a drawer. -On a camera you don't use, but you want to look neat, from a cosmetic standpoint. -Left in your camera bag. Where the ee-1 does not perform so well.... -On the camera you plan to shoot with.

[@Digiloog]

Fits on every camera with a Hot Shoe? Sony camera's also?

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

Yes, as long as the lens is not too large at the front, you can use it with any camera.

[@Digiloog]

@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons Thx. Correct me if I'm wrong, but in always thought the design of Sony's Hot Shoe was different than others.

[@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons]

the design is the same, but Sony cameras often have what they call the Multi-Interface shoe which has more electronic contacts and allow you to use dedicated Sony accessories (microphones etc.)

[@Digiloog]

Ah Ok. Than I'm confused with that.

[@gurubry]

They don't fit a sony's hot shoe 100% -- they only go in 3/4 of the way, because of the sony multi-interface shoe. Even if you tighten it down, It will still wiggle back and forth if you try to wiggle it... I use SmallRig L-bracket with a cold-shoe attachment and it fits perfectly in there, without any wiggling..

[@richardpolichetti7757]

Thank you!

[@chrismavrangelos5877]

thanks, great video

[@wheretheyhaveribs55]

Sniper confirmed.

[@Raven7215]

CLEAR and Comfortable Video review, better than most of bullshit review in KZbin, subscribed!

[@Kevin-fj5oe]

Or you can get a cheap red dot

[@RJPhotographics]

how do you get around the lack of a rail though?

[@vikrantrm4237]

ohhh... it's a absolutely rubbish product... common olympus !!!!!!!!!!

[@NathanVdV]

useless........

[@pankajnjoshi9673]

Please elaborate your experience.

[@tskcthulhu]

useless gadged unless you dont have lcd

[@jerryfriedman4082]

Even with an LCD, if the angle of view is quite small (lets say you had a telephoto lens mounted) acquiring and maintaining your target is no different with an LCD or through the view finder! Imagine the lens hasn't focused yet...What do you see on your LCD? When you get a camera and start shooting, you'll learn so much more and you'll be less of a tool!

[@albutt7132]

These things are great with long lenses. I use also in astro on my telescope. Can’t do without when you have a narrow field of view unless you’re an expert Bif photographer.