Monitor too dim in sunlight when set to Automatic

[gravastar]

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This is a heads up about a problem I've just experienced. I found that when the monitor (rear screen) brightness was set to automatic the display was too dim in sunlight.

 

The cause of the problem was the leather half case I have for the camera covers the ambient light sensor. The sensor aperture is on the back of the camera just under the hot shoe. The official Leica cases for the M (type 240) don't have this problem whereas several 3rd party ones do. If the auto brightness feature is important to you check before you buy.

 

Possible solutions:

 

1. Don't use auto brightness, choose a fixed brightness in the setup menu.

 

2. Punch a small hole in the leather case and insert a shallow section of Lucite/Perspex light pipe. ( Could be done by case mfr.)

 

3. Cut a section out of the leather strip covering the sensor and sew in a strip of tough transparent mylar. ( Could be done by case mfr.)

 

I'll add this to the M FAQ.

 

 

Bob.

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[Jeff S]

4. Don't bother with cases.

 

Jeff

[lucerne]

Yes, and thats why I personally I avoid setting automatic LCD brightness on any camera I use or have owned. IMHO. Its effect misleads when quickly reviewing an image because the apparent brightness will always be changing and can be unrelated to the true brightness of the Raw/Jpeg image. Better to set a fixed/standard brightness plus superimposed histogram for exposure evaluation The rear display is never going to be efficient in sunlight so that's where the eye level viewfinder scores. Isn't that why we expect eye level viewfinders in decent specification bodies and even pay a further hundred dollars or more for diopter correction.

 

Now the next question might be " should future EVF's automatically compensate for poor visibility?" (Low light).

[jaapv]

I don't see the misleading bit. The LCD image is just about the worst tool imaginable to judge exposure with. Reason that camera makers supply histograms.

[farnz]

... Now the next question might be " should future EVF's automatically compensate for poor visibility?" (Low light).

The EVF-2 when used with the Leica M already does unless I've misunderstood your gist.

 

Pete.