In praise of the M240's live view

[Huss]

Using my recently acquired M240, it took me just moments to determine that my ZM 50 Sonnar front focuses slightly at 1.5, while the CV 35 1.2 back focuses slightly at 1.2
Before with my M-E I'd take lots of shots, examine them on the computer, wonder if it was RF errors or user error etc. I use the RF almost exclusively in regular use, but the LV really was handy here. Now I know how to adjust when I shoot normally. And will allow me to use my wide angle lenses w/o the optical hot shoe finders.

Old news to most I'm sure, but cool to me!

 

[Godfrey]

Cool and useful... I have been so jazzed since getting my M-P!

G

 

[Ben Z]

All my lens calibration issues were sorted out when I had the M9, so I'm still looking for a reason I might ever want to re-enable live view.

 

[CameraQuest]

All my lens calibration issues were sorted out when I had the M9, so I'm still looking for a reason I might ever want to re-enable live view.

when you get a new lens, live view makes it very easy to quickly and accurately evaluate its live few focusing compared to RF focusing. Most errors of whatever kind can quickly be spotted.

M240 / M-P is not a feature, its a valuable tool.

Stephen

 

[rscheffler]

I find EVF/live view indispensable during the rare times I knock the rangefinder out of calibration through my own fault. While it's possible to figure out the RF drift and compensate on the fly, with a fast f/1.4 or f/2 lens shot wide open, the EVF provides reassurance that focus will be correct.

If/when Leica can eliminate the awful live view lag after each exposure, it will be an even more useful feature for dynamic situations. As it is now, I primarily use it when I have time and stationary subjects for those instances where I want to be more critical with framing and/or focus.

 

[ferider]

My M240's live view stays switched off. The sensor collects enough dust as is.

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled with the camera. I love the red framelines, and their accuracy. The patch has more contrast and feels more accurate than any of my film Leicas.

I did try live view, and found it impractical due to being forced to focus in the center, and somehow my eyes are not good enough to use focus peaking.

Roland.

 

[Jason Sprenger]

Most of the time it is off but I like it very much when using a 90/2.
Like much more than I thought I would.

 

[Ronald M]

R lenses have Leitax mounts.

Viso lenses go on the iso or Nikon DSLR.

Don`t us narrow focus on M.

Leica could have saved the money.

What they need to fix is the whole dead line if one pixel goes bad. That would be useful.

 

[Keith]

Live view was the final reason I couldn't resist the 240 over the M9. I shoot my C Sonnar almost exclusively with the EVF now and using my Zuikos with an adapter is the icing on the cake. 🙂

 

[Ben Z]

when you get a new lens, live view makes it very easy to quickly and accurately evaluate its live few focusing compared to RF focusing. Most errors of whatever kind can quickly be spotted.

M240 / M-P is not a feature, its a valuable tool.

Stephen

Surely you are right. However the last time I bought a lens was about 10 years ago and at current prices I'm not likely to buy any more. I have the Oly EVF and an R to M and Nikon-F-to-M adapter and did try live view when I first bought the M. I quickly went back to using those lenses on my 5D, where I find focusing and viewing much more to my liking, and there is no lag between shots. I have never had an issue with fast and/or longer lenses on a Leica rangefinder in all the decades I've been using one. I'm not saying there is no justification for live view on the M, or that it isn't a valuable tool for some people. For me it is not a valuable tool, it is a feature, and one I can and do live without.

 

[cookedart]

I like the fact that is has live view, but two things about it limit its usefulness for me personally.

- Clip on viewfinder without a locking mechanism means I only put it on when necessary
- Not nearly as responsive as most mirrorless cameras. Shot-to-shot time as well as turning on or off live view while the card is writing is much slower than I'd like it to be.

That being said being able to focus and frame fast wide angles in the same viewfinder make it generally worth the trouble. I would like the EVF to be built into the viewfinder though (switchable between ovf and evf), and be much more responsive.

 

[jaapv]

I only use Live View on a tripod, when it is quite practical, but contrary to Internet grumps I am quite taken by the EVF for my R lenses ( mostly long. I find the implementation, albeit dated by the period in which the camera was designed ( there was no better solution back then) quite adequate for the purpose - and I have taken the camera on quite some Safari trips. Focus Peaking is good and accurate for long R lenses. Don't forget that this is first and foremost a rangefinder camera and that this is an auxiliary system.
The blackout problem can be mitigated by setting Image Review to "press and ho;d shutter button", making is far less noticeable.