Leica Visoflex (Typ 020) Electronic Viewfinder

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Now the M10 is in the wild. Can anyone comment/review on their experiences using the (not) new Visoflex model?

 

I understand the lag as the shutter closes/opens/closes/opens(?) is much reduced from the M240, and that the EVF inside is also much improved.

Just trying to get a sense as to how practical it is in the field.

 

At USD $545, it is not a cheap accessory but it looks to be made of plastic. Does it come with some kind of case to keep it safe?

 

It's as a device for focus with non-M lenses I'm most interested - R lenses (or other more exotic options.)

As a framing device, I don't mind accessory viewfinders. (I've paid more than this for viewfinders that are just glass! )

 

FWIW I found the M240 'EVF2' to be unsatisfactory for this purpose and found myself preferring to scale focus and guess WRT to framing.

 

Thanks, please feel free to share any pictures of/with the 020 as well.

 

 

[lct]

Another question to M10 users: is there a way to reduce the one second blackout after each shot?

[Tobers]

I've just started to experiment with my M10 and Visoflex. I'm very happy with the resolution and responsiveness. Achieving focus without zooming in is fine, and zooming is easy if you need to.

 

It feels very well made, much more so than the previous Olympus finder. It is plastic, but nice & dense. 

 

There's a little "catch" which secures the hinged eyepiece part in the closed position, better than the EVF2 which didn't have such a thing and kept flapping about when it got brushed against your jacket or whatever. The new one is much better in that regard and stays hinged down.

 

It comes with a small drop in case which is quite a snug fit, with a velcro closing flap. There's also a connector protector which slides on.

[Mike51]

In addition to the comments above, IMHO the Visoflex 020 is a big improvement on the one used for the M240. With my M240 I used the Visflex quite a bit with certain types of shot and always made use of the focus peaking in magnified mode to check precise focus. However, with the Visoflex 020 I'm finding the clarity so good that I've switched off the (red) twinkling focus peaking because I can detect clearly when I've got pin sharp focus on a subject (especially shooting wide open at f1.4). Indeed, I'm now of the view that the focus peaking is a bit of a distraction in terms of getting the focus spot on.

[ghoonk]

How quickly does the 020 acquire a GPS fix? I have the M240 with the multifunction grip and GPS acquisition speed is terrible. If the camera has gone to sleep for 5 minutes, it takes more than a minute to acquire a GPS lock again, which means I end up with no GPS coordinates for my shot.

[jaapv]

Another question to M10 users: is there a way to reduce the one second blackout after each shot?

It is possible that they have the same trick as the M240. Set image review to "press shutter button and hold" and the blackout is replaced by a freeze. Much less annoying.

[lct]

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[...] Set image review to "press shutter button and hold" and the blackout is replaced by a freeze. Much less annoying.

 

Just a pita for me. Replace it by nothing, add a silent shutter and i could try to forget the lack of video perhaps.

[jaapv]

An ache or a pain. There is a difference

[chris_tribble]

My real-world experience with two M 10 bodies + a Visoflex in the following contexts is:

1. Essential with R 80-200 f4
2. Useful, but not essential with 135 Apo-Telyt f3.4
3. ditto with the 21 SEM (though I tend to use it most with this lens)
4. ditto with the 90 Macro Elmar M (great though for low angle shots!)

In terms of the experience (and speaking as someone who lived with the VF2 and the M240), it's a world of difference.  I find it plenty quick enough in use as well as being bright and clear.  It's great as a focusing and framing aid.

 

If you don't have lenses at 21 or wider, don't have lenses longer than 90 (including R or third party) and are not interested in macro, I'm not sure if it's worth getting.  If you do need any of these affordances for your work, the EVF is definitely worth the money.

 

Hope this helps.

[Tailwagger]

It is possible that they have the same trick as the M240. Set image review to "press shutter button and hold" and the blackout is replaced by a freeze. Much less annoying.

Nope. In fact, its a request I added to the firmware thread a while back. The whole idea of a pre-ordained fixed time length review is inane to me. If I want to review the capture in the EVF, then I want to see it for as long or as short as I care to. The view until release is the appropriate solution, and how my 240 is setup. Quite disappointing that this was the one review mode removed form the M10. Even more ridiculous that it was eliminated when one considers that the M240 has the C mode switch and the M10 does not.  

[mirandrew]

Hi, first of all forgive for my poor English. Has anyone occurred with Visoflex II  unexpected turn-off without any reason? My menu options are: Play screen target: Display; LV screen target: EVF; Auto Review Screen Target: display.

Thanks for your help.

Andrea

[mdemeyer]

I had one that did that occasionally - bought used from B&H. Returned and bought a new one. No problems since.

[tobey bilek]

Use live view as it keeps up with camera movement.   New Viso is like all EVF on Leicas in that the refresh rate is too low and the image jumps like a 1920 movie.  I am keeping my old viso 1,2,2A, 3`s.