EVF (VF-2) on the 240 ... more than adequate and extremely useful.

Keith

Keith

The best camera is one that still works!
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It arrived today from KEH (used) and I've just tried it on the camera and have to say it's not half bad. A little juddery (typicallly) but very clear and bright and an absolute bonus for focusing fast lenses.

In particular my 50mm C Sonnar which I've found to be very difficult wide open on the digi Leica. As we know these things exhibit a lot of focus shift which I've discovered is accentuated by the full frame sensor which appears to have little or no margin for error. I've blown more shots with this lens wide open on the M than even I would have predicted ... a PITA actually! :p

The VF-2 clips on in a second or two and a quick press of the button at the back of the EVF activates it ... pressing the button on the front of the camera just below the shutter release allows you zoom right in for critical focus ... very simple and so effective. Why anyone would complain about the position of this zoom button (and they do) on the front of the 240 is beyond me ... to me it seems idealy placed for the tip of the middle finger when holding the camera with your index finger poised on the shutter release.

All I need now is the adapter I ordered for my Zuikos and I'll be a very happy camper! :)
 
Keith - when focusing you can use the rear scroll wheel to adjust Magnification. The latest firmware activated this function. Also, what I find most useful is by using full manual exposure, I.e. not auto, you will get WYSIWYG through the EVF by adjusting the EV.

Maybe you already knew this.
 
ReeRay said:
Keith - when focusing you can use the rear scroll wheel to adjust Magnification. The latest firmware activated this function. Also, what I find most useful is by using full manual exposure, I.e. not auto, you will get WYSIWYG through the EVF by adjusting the EV.

Maybe you already knew this.
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Thanks for the heads up about using manual exposure with the EVF ... that's excellent.

The camera must have come with the latest firmware because the scroll wheel does control magnification. This 240 really is a potent tool IMO ... it's several cameras in one in reality. :)
 
I found the Olympus version on the Bay and in Canada, so I used that extensively on a recent trip to France. The 75mm Summicron is a PITA to get accurate focus at its close range, especially with the paralax and I don't find the 75mm framelines all that accurate either. The EVF is brilliant. I'm getting magnification when I begin to change focus, not sure if that's a setting, but I like it. I didn't use the front button once during the trip. Thinking of picking up a macro tube and maybe a zoom too, as the Live View/EVF make that possible.
 
I can appreciate that some of the purists aren't too thrilled about a lot of the technollogy present in the 240 ... but not being too much of a purist I'm finding it to be brilliant! :)
 
Keith said:
I can appreciate that some of the purists aren't too thrilled about a lot of the technollogy present in the 240 ... but not being too much of a purist I'm finding it to be brilliant! :)
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I also am far from a purist.

The M (type 240) is appealing to me mostly for its greatly improved responsiveness compared to the M9, but the ability to also be used with my Leica R lenses using Live View and the EVF is another big plus.

I may yet acquire one of the M-P bodies.

G
 
I believe EVF helps a LOT if you are using 50 noctilux or even summilux, no need to mention any longer lenses (75mm, 90mm etc)
 
I use a thumbs-up and that's the only issue with the EVF, have to take that off. But the trade off is so worth it. Might try a thumbie instead.
 
My personal assesment of the EVF on the M240 is that is barely adequate and of limited usefulness. The black out being the worst as it makes it such a slow solution. Another problem is being limited to zoom in only in the center.
I find it only usefull for 90mm (and longer) and only on stationary objects. For anything else I find the ovf the much superior solution.
I have used an evf on the sony nex 5n which was superior.
 
I agree, Keith. I received an Oly version of the VF-2 just yesterday myself and like the M240 itself, the thing is doing its job quite well. From Internet reports, I was expecting a disgustingly, vile EVF view as seen in the last decade. Though I can appreciate mismatched expectations if one bought the VF-2 new with Leica badging.

For me, It's definitely in my bag now so when I haul-out the 90/2 Pre-Asph for a portrait. The VF-2 also might be just the ticket for camera-affected subjects when used in the vertical position in the fashion of a waist-level finder. Not for stealth per se, just for folks I know who reflexively go bug-eyed, stone-faced, and very much unlike themselves when any camera is raised to eye-level.

With my 21mm lens, I was having to bring a viewfinder anyway, so I have just the spot for it and it's not much bigger.

The VF-2 won't be my preferred viewfinder, but fortunately, the M240 comes with something fairly close to that already.
 
A usability tip for maximizing the focusing accuracy of the EVF:

Enable Black & White film simulation mode in the menu. Even while only shooting DNG (not DNG+JPEG) this will make the preview in the EVF black and white. Then enable Blue focus peaking, and automatic focus assistance with 5x magnification.

This is by far the best and most accurate way of focusing with the EVF I find.

Now if only it was possible to move the magnified focus box like on every other digital camera since 2007 (Hello Canon EOS 40D... It could do it in LV mode too!).
 
I'm really looking forward to trying out a couple of my Zuikos when the adapter arrives ... particularly my 50mm f1.2 and I suspect the 85mm f2 will be a very good portrait lens. :)
 
Keith said:
Thanks for the heads up about using manual exposure with the EVF ... that's excellent.

The camera must have come with the latest firmware because the scroll wheel does control magnification. This 240 really is a potent tool IMO ... it's several cameras in one in reality. :)
Click to expand...

The scroll wheel has controlled magnification from day one....:rolleyes:
 
pieter said:
The black out being the worst as it makes it such a slow solution. Another problem is being limited to zoom in only in the center. ...
I have used an evf on the sony nex 5n which was superior.
Click to expand...

Yes the black out is a bit slow, but I work kinda slowly anyway. I do wish you could change to an off center point. And agree the Sony EVF for the 5N is pretty slick, but I found the 5N to be highly disappointing in every other area.
 
segedi said:
Yes the black out is a bit slow, but I work kinda slowly anyway. I do wish you could change to an off center point. And agree the Sony EVF for the 5N is pretty slick, but I found the 5N to be highly disappointing in every other area.
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That blackout surprised but when I thought about it, on the occasions when I'll be using the EVF, it won't really matter. I find the inaccurate frame lines far more annoying. I've read over the years about this issue from various users of the digital M but I'll admit I was surprised by just how far out they are. I tend to be a fairly pedantic framer so on a tripod live view is the only way to go for me and the EFV takes care of the situation for hand held shooting where accuracy matters to me.
 
segedi said:
...I do wish you could change to an off center point....
Click to expand...

The only times I've found this to be very useful have been when shooting with a tripod mounted camera, but I don't tend to do that with a Leica very much. I find my other cameras more suitable for that kind of work most of the time.

G
 
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