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EVF for M9

cirke

By cirke
in Leica M9 / M-E

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jaapv

jaapv

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Wow, an idea I have never heard about. But I don't suppose there will be one...

 

The newer finder that came with the Titanium version is pretty cool though, the one with illuminated LED lines... :)

The lines are not LED, they are the same ones you have in your el-cheapo M9 ;) Leica just replaced the illumination window by a little red LED.
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bill

bill

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There are a few mirrors and prisms in the M view/rangefinder.

Now Bill tell us how you really feel.

 

*Sigh*

 

Please read carefully (again).

 

The mirrors, as has already been pointed out, present the framelines and the focussing patch. The view of the scene itself is unadulterated. It has not been passed from mirror to mirror like a game of pass the parcel. It has not been converted into electrons and spewed out again. What I see is what I get. There is a value to that which is clearly lost on some.

 

Similarly, I have a SBOOI on my D-Lux 4. I like direct vision. I use an EVF on my other Panasonic, and have used many SLRS and DSLRs in the past, but I my preference is the Leica M rangefinder.

 

Feel free for your mileage to differ, but don't mess with my pleasure. And PLEASE don't insult my intelligence by telling me I can ignore/turn off bloatware "features" I don't use or want - I will have paid for them in monetary terms and I will pay for them in complexity terms if the thing goes wrong.

 

No.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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luigi bertolotti

luigi bertolotti

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The "M" name comes from the first letter of the German word for "Rangefinder", this is why Luigi says "it will not be a M" - it has nothing to do with religion, no need to get defensive :D

 

Well said, Vieri... simply a matter of product line (M = Messucher=Rangefinder) and not related to my and other's FAITH :)

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pop

pop

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The mirrors, as has already been pointed out, present the framelines and the focussing patch. The view of the scene itself is unadulterated. It has not been passed from mirror to mirror like a game of pass the parcel. .... What I see is what I get.

 

As much as I love the M's finder, not everything is as you say:

 

You are looking through at least one mirror. The scene may not be adulterated, but it is not what you would see by naked eye; it is smaller. Your are looking through a system of lenses which changes what you see and which also has limits glare-wise and so on. You most definitely do not get what you see as there's parallax to reckon with. When using short focal lengths, your field of view in the viewfinder will not exceed the field of view of your lens.

 

It is a very good viewfinder. It's also a very good range finder.Uncluttered it is not. It has framelines. It has a focussing patch. It is close to ideal for some work and for some people. It is not suited very well for some other work.

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ohnri

ohnri

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The CMOS sensor of my D3x does not suffer in comparison to my CCD M9 and the D3x has live view and an optical VF.

 

Adding a live view type option or EVF option would greatly enhance the capabilities of the M system and would not need to interfere with the optical RF.

 

Just as the electronic M9 is far more popular than the all mechanical MP, adding a great deal of additional functionality while mantaining the basic simplicity of the RF would enhance the shooting experience.

 

Frankly, optional live view is a near necessity if you want optimal sharpness even with the latest M lenses.

 

Best,

 

Bill

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XK50

XK50

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I found the Steve Huff quote on his website. It's dated May 11th, 2010:

 

"It just so happened that Stefan Daniel and Steffen Keil from Leica were also guests so I was able to chat with them at length about Leica, the M series, as well as what may be coming soon! ………… Stefan ….. also brought along another interesting item as well and hinted at something new coming for the M line SOON. I did not get the feeling that it was a new camera but maybe more of an add on or “enhancement” for the M9 but he did not spill the beans to me about it. He did give my buddy three guesses but he missed all three………..

 

What Stefan did tell me was that I could SQUASH any rumor of a Leica mirrorless m4/3 camera. He pointed to the M9 and said “We already have a mirrorless camera”…………… He also told me that M4/3 is NOT in the future for Leica as the quality is just not there. I am having a feeling an R lens solution may be on the way but don’t quote me on that."

 

Thinking how this might be implemented, my process led to a mirrorless Visoflex IV, with a VF-2 device (see above) replacing the old OTXBO.

 

Any takers? :)

 

Best wishes,

 

John

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XK50

XK50

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How would a mirrorless Visioflex work?

 

A fixed pellicule (say just 10% silvered) onto a slave sensor (positioned where the visoflex has ground glass, and all sealed).

 

The sensor and the electronic viewfinder (on top) might seem unnecessary but it would provide electronic focus confirmation, (pre-)exposure indication, and - maybe - "constant" brightness amplification, to counteract the just 10% silvering and for when the lens is stopped down (manually). In use, think "R" lenses on (say) a Canon dslr.

 

Further, the fixed pellicule eliminates the need for the old shutter release linkage.

 

Note I should have used inverted commas when describing it as a "visoflex", because the focal distances would not be the same, as the old device.

 

Anyway, just a game for the holiday.

 

Regards,

 

John

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XK50

XK50

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John, I can't see it happening, the cost of the necessary new lenses would mean it would only appeal to a small minority IMHO.

 

Ah but, in this context, this is a solution for the old "R" lenses.

 

(But with a "spacer", it would provide a modern close-up facility for M lenses -and LTM screw, with a further adapter).

 

Just my attempt to square Leica's earlier comments, the current LFI article and comments on Steve Huff's website.

 

Regards,

 

John

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hoppyman

hoppyman

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All of this thread from a single poster who doesn't have any M camera as far as I can tell from posts and has vowed to never buy an M9 because it only has an M viewfinder :eek:

I doubt if anyone's mind will be changed one iota by this thread ;)

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AlanG

AlanG

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Frankly, optional live view is a near necessity if you want optimal sharpness even with the latest M lenses.

 

Best,

 

Bill

 

Yes I think these higher resolution systems (and new ones to come) pretty much require magnified live view for critical focusing under some situations.

 

Of course as stated many times, an EVF on an M type camera will open up the Leica system to a much greater range of lenses and applications. I can't imagine Leica is not looking into various options on this... either an additional live view body, or a live view M rangefinder with a clip on EVF. At one time, the M had various methods of ground glass focusing. Considering anyone who owns a DSLR can clip on an optical viewfinder (few do), I don't see what is so important about wanting to limit the M to using only an optical viewfinder.

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NZDavid

NZDavid

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What this thread really shows is the enormous interest Leica owners have in a modern VF that let's them use excellent Leica glass to it's full potential.

 

Best,

 

Bill

 

No it doesn't. It shows that very many photographers like the M range/viewfinder just the way it is and don't want it tampered with!

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AlanG

AlanG

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No it doesn't. It shows that very many photographers like the M range/viewfinder just the way it is and don't want it tampered with!

 

I think what would be nice is instead of trying to figure out or assume who wants what, why not consider that Leica will need to decide what is best for the future viability of its system. In my opinion, that means expanding its versatility and improving focusing accuracy... however they decide to do it.

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ohnri

ohnri

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I think what would be nice is instead of trying to figure out or assume who wants what, why not consider that Leica will need to decide what is best for the future viability of its system. In my opinion, that means expanding its versatility and improving focusing accuracy... however they decide to do it.

 

No doubt. Leaving the VF as it is will eliminate the possibility of full utilization of M lenses. With so many other companies now making glass and utilizing sensors that are so high quality Leica is at risk for being left in the technological dust once again.

 

They cannot stand on their laurels. It's going to be move forward or die.

 

They will find a way to keep the excellent RF VF while adding some type of live view or EVF functionality. Otherwise, no need to keep pushing the boundaries with their glass or sensors.

 

Best,

 

Bill

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hoppyman

hoppyman

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Well that's ONE interpretation Bill :D

Another might be that some Leica M users are expressing concern that the viewfinder might be changed from its current design. We just don't want an EVF instead.

There may be some future Leica with an EVF and maybe you will be able to also use some current lenses with it; we certainly don't know, but it can not be a Messsucherkamera (by definition).

 

What this thread really shows is the enormous interest Leica owners have in a modern VF that let's them use excellent Leica glass to it's full potential.

 

Best,

 

Bill

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