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New Olympus VF-4 compatible with the Leica M ?


Leicaiste

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I suspect not, even if the electrical interface is the same a change in firmware would be needed. The resolutions are different 1440K / 2360K. Also, the larger VF body may overlap the shutter speed dial.

 

Bob.

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I should think Olympus would have disclosed their VF roadmap to Leica before the VF-2 was adopted. As Olympus has retained the same connector, a firmware fix should suffice to enable the VF-5, I think.

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I suspect not, even if the electrical interface is the same a change in firmware would be needed. The resolutions are different 1440K / 2360K. Also, the larger VF body may overlap the shutter speed dial.

 

Bob.

 

Same footprint as the VF-2

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Yeah, but Leica requests triple price of Olympus.

I bet it will be around 900 USD.

If it turns out to be compatible (after a firmware update) you can get the Olympus version. If it isn’t then there won’t be a Leica version, at any price.

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The 43rumors website states that the vf4 will work on the older olympus bodies with a firmware update. Good news for us if Leica and Olympus had spoken about this and new firmware is in the way for the M.

 

Scott

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The 43rumors website states that the vf4 will work on the older olympus bodies with a firmware update. Good news for us if Leica and Olympus had spoken about this and new firmware is in the way for the M.

 

Scott

 

The alternative viewpoint is that Olympus will discontinue the VF-2 and Leica will not do a firmware upgrade to support the VF-4 - leaving the more expensive Leica branded EVF as the only option.

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It might be worth noting that this Olympus VF-2 viewfinder = Leica EVF-2 viewfinder is not made by Olympus, but Epson. Therefore, there isn't anything that Olympus and Leica would ever cooperate on and there is no roadmap for Olympus to share with Leica.

 

Leica probably just licensed this thing from Epson. Their choice was basically: license or make. Since the Epson finder is probably the only one available for licensing and also a relatively good one (bested only by Sony's OLED type), it isn't the worst choice Leica made.

 

When Olympus introduced the lower spec VF-3 viewfinder it required a firmware upgrade on all Olympus bodies.

 

This is why the VF-3 cannot be used with Leica bodies. The firmware does not support it.

 

Whether the new VF-4 is still an Epson product licensed by Olympus or whether maybe Olympus actually came up with it themselves, needs to be clarified.

 

It is safe to assume that the new VF-4 type viewfinder will require a firmware upgrade.

Consequently, Leica will only prepare a firmware upgrade if they actually sell this viewfinder type under their own brand.

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It might be worth noting that this Olympus VF-2 viewfinder = Leica EVF-2 viewfinder is not made by Olympus, but Epson. Therefore, there isn't anything that Olympus and Leica would ever cooperate on and there is no roadmap for Olympus to share with Leica.

 

Leica probably just licensed this thing from Epson. Their choice was basically: license or make. Since the Epson finder is probably the only one available for licensing and also a relatively good one (bested only by Sony's OLED type), it isn't the worst choice Leica made.

 

When Olympus introduced the lower spec VF-3 viewfinder it required a firmware upgrade on all Olympus bodies.

 

This is why the VF-3 cannot be used with Leica bodies. The firmware does not support it.

 

Whether the new VF-4 is still an Epson product licensed by Olympus or whether maybe Olympus actually came up with it themselves, needs to be clarified.

 

It is safe to assume that the new VF-4 type viewfinder will require a firmware upgrade.

Consequently, Leica will only prepare a firmware upgrade if they actually sell this viewfinder type under their own brand.

 

Epson manufactured an Olympus patented design which is still held by Olympus.

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