Is the EVF a must have if you buy the new M

[jcraf1]

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I have just acquired a nice used EVF2 to go with my new M. I love the functionality it brings to this brilliant photographic tool, but it has me thinking about a philosophical point.

 

Does mounting this large carbuncle, at least on a (my) silver M, where I guess it is possibly more conspicuous, cause the M lose something of its invisibility cloak, looking more like an SLR and a more 'threatening' prospect, for street photographers at least?

 

I'll have to wait and see during my next street photo sojourn in London.

 

There is truly no such thing as a free lunch.

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[lct]

The silver Oly is less conspicuous on silver bodies perhaps.

http://tinyurl.com/n8m7qld

[jcraf1]

The silver Oly is less conspicuous on silver bodies perhaps.

http://tinyurl.com/n8m7qld

 

Yes, I guess so. I went for the EVF2 which despite being used, was still a good bit more than a new Oly VF2. More fool me, I suppose.....a Leica marketing person's dream!!

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

I'll have to wait and see during my next street photo sojourn in London.

 

There is truly no such thing as a free lunch.

Better to stay at home as you will probably get mugged.............

[jcraf1]

Better to stay at home as you will probably get mugged.............

 

No, safe as houses, London.

 

Not so other cities. On Wednesday last whilst on business travel I was in a Northern English City and (completely foolishly, I admit) challenged 2 low life's for lounging on a war memorial whilst taking drugs and drinking beer. Something in me just snapped ( as an ex-military man myself).

 

Anyhow, I'm still here. I had the M in my hand at the time, but no EVF2 mounted, so they obviously didn't notice the camera....

[albireo_double]

Bought the Olympus VF-2 yesterday and I am actually quite pleased with the functionality and ease of use (I don't think it is significantly worse in practical use than the EVF in the OMD which I also have). I expected much worse after reading all the various comments and complaints here and on other forums. Will definitely use it with the 24 mm Elmarit (my favourite lens), and probably with longer R glass, too. Of course not necessary with 35/50 lenses but focusing with the EVF, with 10x magnification, is so accurate that I can envisage using it in many situations also with these "standard" lenses.

[KanzaKruzer]

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I only use my VF-2 with the 21mm and 90mm focal length. I prefer the OVF with the 35mm and 50mm.

 

For $170 it is a no brainer: Olympus® VF-2 Electronic Viewfinder, Black | Staples

[tom0511]

I only use my VF-2 with the 21mm and 90mm focal length. I prefer the OVF with the 35mm and 50mm.

 

For $170 it is a no brainer: Olympus® VF-2 Electronic Viewfinder, Black | Staples

 

Even though I own and use a VF2 for my X-Vario I have not put it on the M so far. For 21mm I use an optical external VF, for the rest the viewfinder/rangefinder in the camera.

Maybe I should give it a try for 21mm. However for some reason I like to keep the M as "analog" as possible. Gives me the most fun when using it. EVF work but I have never really enjoyed using them and often feel disconnected from the subject.

[Rick]

I was just thinking... when Olympus sells out of all of its stock of VF-2 EVFs and it is discontinued, future M240 buyers only way to get a new one will be to buy one from Leica.

 

Maybe, time to buy a spare?

[leicatraveller]

Simple question

Is the EVF a must have if you buy the new M..............personally I think they look ugly but then if it helps in making/taking better pictures then I guess ugly camera is the order of the day:D

 

for me not , also couse manual focus assist its almost impossible to see for me (both on EVF and on back LCD )

[algrove]

I was just thinking... when Olympus sells out of all of its stock of VF-2 EVFs and it is discontinued, future M240 buyers only way to get a new one will be to buy one from Leica.

 

Maybe, time to buy a spare?

 

YES. Staples $169.

[MarkP]

Yes, I guess so. I went for the EVF2 which despite being used, was still a good bit more than a new Oly VF2. More fool me, I suppose.....a Leica marketing person's dream!!

 

Yes I also got the Leica EVF. The black one looks just fine on the Silver M.

[MarkP]

Back to the OP's question,

 

I've recently used the EVF in low light with the 1.0/50 Noctilux, and today with the 3.4/135 APO-Telyt (only at 3.4 and at a variety of distances from minimum to infinity having often struggled to get optimum focus at this aperture).

These are exactly what I bought the EVF for (although I have yet to use my R lenses on it - still waiting for the R-to-M adapter).

I did not miss focus on one photograph !*

 

Is the EVF perfect? No.

Do I really have any major complaints about the EVF in use? No, but the blackout during exposure is annoying and it would be nice for it to be activated by bringing my eye up to it instead of needing to press that stupid button.

Would I use the EVF in preference to the camera's own OVF? No.

Would I use the EVF in preference to my 21mm external OVF? No.

 

Do I think the EVF is a must? No, but in the specific situations described above it's fantastic!