Which Visoflex to get for my M10R at this point

[yeatts]

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I’ve read the recent threads about the new M11 visoflex that is (or will be pending a firmware update) backwards compatible with the M10.

I just bought my M10R last summer, and wont’ be upgrading to the M11 now or anytime soon. I do love shooting at the hip, which I tend to do blindly. So I’m interested in getting a visoflex.

Which one would you get - the 020 or the 2 (M11 version)?

I’m leaning towards just getting a used 020 but I hear both positive and negative things about it.

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[GFONG]

Wait and try both before making any decision.

For me, I will get the new version as it can be used in future models.

Edited January 28, 2022 by GFONG

[Tailwagger]

IMO, it would come down to two things, form factor and cost. Possibly GPS or no, if you care about such things.  Given the resolution remains the same (and presumably everything else like refresh rate), personally as I own both, I'd go with an 020.  My assumption is that the 020 is dead or soon to be with the V2 replacing it in future. As such it will be getting cheaper and likely any difference in performance won't be noticeable.  I far prefer the lower profile of the V2, but its not worth double the cost or so of a used 020 when we're talking about usage on an M10, IMO. 

[Mikep996]

The ONLY thing the new one seems to do is "appear" a little less clunky,     They both look crappy on an M so you might as well get the one that actually does more!  - the 020!

[SrMi]

The old Visoflex covers part of the shutter-speed dial. As a result, I always had trouble seeing the selected shutter speed. The new Visoflex doesn't.
The new Visoflex is shorter and therefore may fit in a bag when mounted where the old did not fit.

[KateStarr]

I’m in the same boat and am leaning towards getting the 2 because of the form factor and because I expect I’ll get an M11 at some point (likely a P). 

[Mikep996]

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FWIW, I bought the 020 when I bought my used M10 in '20.  I bought it to use with my Leica 21mm.  But although I thought it worked fine, I later quit using it and just utilized the rear screen when the 21 was mounted.  Now I wonder why I thought I needed an EVF since the camera already has one that can be turned on/off as necessary.  

[RexGig0]

Visually, the newer Visoflex, announced with the M11, is more-favorable, to my eye, when looking at it, rather than through it, in the product images I have seen. (I have yet to actually see a live specimen, in the wild.) The older 020 has GPS capability, though in my personal case, my original-model M10 may not allow geo-tagging of images, anyway, if I am correctly recalling the specifications. 

The newest Visoflex is, of course, the more future-proof, and, I have not yet become accustomed to geo-tagging my Leica images, anyway. (My wife and I have started geo-tagging our nature shots, when practicable, as serious “citizen scientists/naturalists,” but, we generally shoot those images with macro or tele lenses on Nikons of Canons, or, iPhones.) 

Notably, I bought one of the Olympus-branded EVFs, that fit the Type 240/246 cameras, which works the same as the more-expensive Leica-branded model, and have not found it to be my cup of tea, though I have not tried it in a wide variety of conditions. (I have M10 and Type 246 cameras.) I understand that the Visoflex 020 is “better,” but I have hesitated to buy a Visoflex 020, until I could verify HOW much better, hands-on, in-person. 

I am wondering whether it would be possible to visit a Leica store, and actually try a demonstrator sample, of the new Visoflex. If the panic-demic subsides, I do plan to travel, this year, to some regions where Leica stores are located. (Houston Camera Exchange, in nearby Houston, Texas, will have demonstrator cameras, but not demonstrator samples of accessories, unless a pre-owned sample is available.)

Edited January 28, 2022 by RexGig0

[Masukami]

I understand (although am not certain) that, although the new visoflex is backward compatible with the m10, it will only display at the same resolution as the old one when used with the M10.

Therefore, there is one important thing to take into account: the M10 resolution will not be 'expanded' to fill the new visoflex screen, so you'll actually see a smaller image than if you were using the using the old one.

Again, please don't take the above as gospel - it is based on a conversation I had with a Leica dealer and I have seen nothing official to confirm this.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 28, 2022 by Masukami

[rramesh]

 

19 minutes ago, RexGig0 said:

The newest Visoflex is, of course, the more future-proof, ..

I am not sure if any electronics gadget is future proof. If Leica introduces an EVF M, the Visoflex is obsolete.

[SrMi]

2 hours ago, rramesh said:

 

I am not sure if any electronics gadget is future proof. If Leica introduces an EVF M, the Visoflex is obsolete.

Maybe not. You could use it as an optional tiltable EVF. 

[Mikep996]

"I am not sure if any electronics gadget is future proof. If Leica introduces an EVF M, the Visoflex is obsolete."

You are right, NO e-gadget is future proof - only mechanical stuff seems to be.   If they release an EVF "M,"  by definition, it's not an M anymore.  Maybe the replacement for the M, the Leica "N" will have the EVF! 😆

[MikeMyers]

Of course, if you enjoy recording GPS information on your images, only the old one does that.  I have the old one, and enjoy it.  I also like the view, and if the new one has a reduced size view, that would be another strike against it.  

People feel the newer version looks better, but for me it's "form follow function".  

The only thing that "bugs" me about the Visoflex, is why am I not using my DSLR instead?

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[CosmoM3]

After the firmware is released to be able to use the VISOFLEX 2 on the M10 generation of cameras, just remember that you will still be using the same resolution of 3.7MP on the M10 vs. full resolution on the new M11. This is the inherent limitation of the M10 with the new VISOFLEX 2.

I'm not sure if it's worth buying the new VISOFLEX if you're using it on the M10 body since you're getting the same resolution as the older VISOFLEX 020.

[Masukami]

1 hour ago, CosmoM3 said:

After the firmware is released to be able to use the VISOFLEX 2 on the M10 generation of cameras, just remember that you will still be using the same resolution of 3.7MP on the M10 vs. full resolution on the new M11. This is the inherent limitation of the M10 with the new VISOFLEX 2.

I'm not sure if it's worth buying the new VISOFLEX if you're using it on the M10 body since you're getting the same resolution as the older VISOFLEX 020.

I think this is only part of the issue. A smaller resolution displayed on a higher resolution monitor will show as a smaller image area. 

[strohscw]

I have the EVF 020 for my M10M and M10R and often have camera crashes (freezing) with them and was not happy with the optical performance of the viewfinder. When I heard that along with the M11 a new EVF was coming that would be compatible with the M10 cameras I was very happy and looking forward to it. Unfortunately, this works on the M10 only with 2.4 MPx and in addition, he also has no GPS.
For me, the only reason to switch to the new EVF would be the slim chance that it would solve the problem with camera crashes. We'll see, but I don't have much hope that Leica, who didn't get a handle on the M10's crashes, will put much energy into firmware development.

[MikeMyers]

I've never had that issue.  What functions do you have turned on?  Is the GPS signal locked in, or is the GPS still searching?

Did you update the M10 firmware yet?

I've never yet had an issue with my EVF 020.  It works as reliably as my dSLR.

[strohscw]

vor 14 Stunden schrieb MikeMyers:

I've never had that issue.  What functions do you have turned on?  Is the GPS signal locked in, or is the GPS still searching?

Did you update the M10 firmware yet?

I've never yet had an issue with my EVF 020.  It works as reliably as my dSLR.

Mike, If you mean me with your questions:
.) I don't use GPS, I use the EVF exclusively for wide angle, telephoto and R lenses.
.) Yes, I always have the latest firmware on my cameras, if only in the hope that this problem will eventually be solved. I have already used the most diverse SD cards, had it once at Leica, there the circuit board was replaced, the EVF was also replaced but the joy was short-lived.
Now my only hope is that the new EVF will bring an improvement, as I believe Leica has the focus on the M11 and will not bother with the old problems of the M10.
On the other hand, I have to say that this problem has not yet been addressed in any firmware update and has never been officially acknowledged as a problem.

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[MikeMyers]

2 hours ago, strohscw said:

........had it once at Leica, there the circuit board was replaced, the EVF was also replaced but the joy was short-lived.

Are you saying you took it to Leica, they did those repairs, and the issue was corrected?  If so, how long did it last until the problem returned?

[strohscw]

vor 28 Minuten schrieb MikeMyers:

Are you saying you took it to Leica, they did those repairs, and the issue was corrected?  If so, how long did it last until the problem returned?

Yes I sent the M10M to Leica and when I got it back 6 weeks later it seemed better for now, but unfortunately it started again. Then I bought an M10R and it also crashes every now and then. And now I read that this also happens with the M11 from time to time. Seems to be a one-system problem. I always hoped that this would eventually be solved via firmware update, but unfortunately they can't seem to get a handle on it.