using OVF on the M240?

[taemo]

I noticed that my Voigtlander 21mm VF and Leica VIOOH can easily slide off the M240 that I foresee loosing a VF while out for a walk.
I'm guessing the hot shoe stand is a little bigger on the M240 compared to old RF because of the newer flashes and EVF as these VF fits perfectly on my Hexar RF and M3

21/50 are my most used focal length so I need a 21mm OVF on the M240, will the Leica or Zeiss 21mm VFs fit better on the M240?
the Leica/Olympus VF2 is an option but I don't really want to go EVF unless I have to.

 

[judsonzhao]

I guess any VF with standard hotshoe fits?

Any chance to ask that why you try to avoid EVF? The EVF is really nice. Live DOF, exposure, and accurate angle of view. Take advantage of techs!

 

[jaapv]

I too prefer the EVF over an auxiliary viewfinder. Not only does it offer things like focusing and review, the main thing is that the framing is pixel-perfect exact.

 

[Lss]

I have had a similar problem with a Voigtländer finder on the M8. It actually even came off once while walking down the road. Luckily I noticed it after walking some 100 m or so. I found the viewfinder by a manhole cover perhaps 20 m from where I made the previous exposure and then slung the camera over my shoulder. Just a small scratch on it. After that I had the habit of using some gaffer tape to keep the viewfinder from coming off. Lately, I am back to using it without the tape.

 

[taemo]

I prefer shooting with an optical viewfinder for 50mm and wider, this is one of the main reasons why I sold my Sony A7 and went back to digital Leica in the first place.

When shooting landscape I have no problem using Live View on the M240, but when travelling and shooting on the streets I feel more connected to the surrounding when looking through an optical viewfinder.

The VF2 was on my to buy list for 75mm and 135mm, in fact I just bought an Olympus VF2 from Ebay Japan few minutes after posting this so I might shoot with the 21mm OVF on the Hexar RF and EVF2 on the M240.

I have had a similar problem with a Voigtländer finder on the M8. It actually even came off once while walking down the road. Luckily I noticed it after walking some 100 m or so. I found the viewfinder by a manhole cover perhaps 20 m from where I made the previous exposure and then slung the camera over my shoulder. Just a small scratch on it. After that I had the habit of using some gaffer tape to keep the viewfinder from coming off. Lately, I am back to using it without the tape.

that's one of my biggest fears, my plan was using a black hair band to secure the finder to the bottom of the lens.

 

[Manuel Patino]

I wonder if the little metal "shim" piece has fallen off the shoe of your M240? It happened with mine and my friend had that happen too... It's easy to put it back in if you don't lose it.

Without it, some things will fall right off while others will still have enough tightness to stay (relatively) secure.

 

[Talex]

I had the exact same problem with a Contax 21mm OVF on my M240. Unfortunately, it fell off while I was touring the Catacombs in Paris. I went back to look for but could not find it in the dimly lit corridor.

 

[Godfrey]

I use either the Voigtländer 21/25 OVF or the EVF (Olympus VF-2 is the one I use). They're useful in different circumstances.

My M-P still has the little pad that puts some tension on the OVF shoe ... If you're missing that, get another from Leica. But if you still have it in place, I would just put a small piece of thin tape on the bottom of your OVF shoe to create a snug friction fit. I've had to do that with many cameras ... 🙂

Keeping the hotshoe guard in place when you're not using the hotshoe helps keep the little friction bit in place.

G

 

[Ben Z]

I have an EVF (Olympus version) but I only use it if I'm out with 2 or more lenses that require separate finders, because it saves space and fiddling every time I switch lenses. Otherwise I prefer an OVF hands-down, for me there's just no comparison, an EVF makes me feel like I'm watching the subject on CCTV and takes away from the direct involvement Leica has always been heralded for.

Thus far all my OVF's fit snugly in the hot shoe.

 

[taemo]

I use either the Voigtländer 21/25 OVF or the EVF (Olympus VF-2 is the one I use). They're useful in different circumstances.

My M-P still has the little pad that puts some tension on the OVF shoe ... If you're missing that, get another from Leica. But if you still have it in place, I would just put a small piece of thin tape on the bottom of your OVF shoe to create a snug friction fit. I've had to do that with many cameras ... 🙂

Keeping the hotshoe guard in place when you're not using the hotshoe helps keep the little friction bit in place.

G

G, can you please take a picture of the little pad that you mentioned. I don't think I have it (bought my M240 used).
However, I tried putting a small piece of paper between the hot shoe and external viewfinder to make it tight, might go this route for now.

 

[furcafe]

A small piece of gaffers tape has been my solution, too, w/the CV 21/25 viewfinder on my 240 (same deal w/M9 & M8 before it).

I have had a similar problem with a Voigtländer finder on the M8. It actually even came off once while walking down the road. Luckily I noticed it after walking some 100 m or so. I found the viewfinder by a manhole cover perhaps 20 m from where I made the previous exposure and then slung the camera over my shoulder. Just a small scratch on it. After that I had the habit of using some gaffer tape to keep the viewfinder from coming off. Lately, I am back to using it without the tape.

 

[taemo]

an update, I put in 2 strips of gaffer tape on the M240 and so far it's holding well.
Any of my auxiliary VF fits snugly now and I can still put my EVF-2 no problem either

 

[MCTuomey]

I have had a similar problem with a Voigtländer finder on the M8. It actually even came off once while walking down the road.

+1 my VC 21/25 slipped off my M9 in NOLA a few years, bouncing several times on a banquette. I was lucky to hear the bounce, otherwise I wouldn't have paused and noticed what had happened. The Leica finder I have doesn't slip, either in the M9 or M240.