Curious. Who uses a Visoflex 2... and why?

[Cmurman]

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New owner of M11.  Learning- and enjoying the RF focus experience. I have a VF-2 but have not yet used it.  Am I missing something?

Cheers-     Chris

 

[jakontil]

I have the EVF2 for over a year, rarely used it and still finding an excuse why i can use it for

the LCD is quite good already but for some pinpoint macro which i rarely use might be crucial for others

[Hans-Dieter Gülicher]

I have the old and new one (EVF 2) but in the meantime I prefer the old because he needs not so much electricity and on the other side he delivers clearer details especially on lower distances (M 10-R plus the new APO-Summicron 35 mm). I use it ever.

[M11 for me]

vor 4 Stunden schrieb Hans-Dieter Gülicher:

I have the old and new one (EVF 2) but in the meantime I prefer the old because he needs not so much electricity and on the other side he delivers clearer details especially on lower distances (M 10-R plus the new APO-Summicron 35 mm). I use it ever.

Dear friend: its about Visoflex2 and what we're missing when not using it 😁

I have neither APO nor EVF2. I have a Visoflex2 and use it all the time:

- I like to see the settings

- like to see the histogram

- like to use it with 21mm

- I like to tilt the Visoflex2 in order to look from above.

- But I use the Rangefinder to focus. I do not like the Visoflex2 for that discipline.

And finaly: I would be the type to go most probably for an M12 with built in EVF 🤢

Edited August 12, 2023 by M11 for me

[Nitnaros]

You really need the Visoflex for:

- with any focal length lens: if you want precise framing

- for wider than 28mm lenses: for framing since there are no framelines for wider than 28mm (or you use an optical view finder accessory in the hot shoe, but those are quite inaccurate)

- for longer lenses (I think from 90mm on, since that RF patch is already quite small): for framing, and for accurate focusing via live view

What does not work well, imo, is live view focusing via the Visoflex for wide angle lenses: the range finder is faster and more accurate

Peter

[maxpower]

I had one but sold it because I really never used it outside of some playing around in the beginning, haven't missed it yet not even for my 90mm. It's nice, but I got a rangefinder because I want to use the rangefinder. If I feel like I need to see through the lens I'll just put LiveView on the display, but even that's rare for me.

Having said that, recently I was playing with my Monochrom and IR filters and there the EVF might actually be more useful because of the focus shift and bright sunlight did make the screen a little harder to see. 

[newtoleica]

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I have a couple of things I don’t really use. 
a 90mm Elmarit M and a Visioflex 2. m10-P
I think primarily that I’m more a wide angle person 24 and 35 being my most used focal lengths. I use a 50 a bit for portraits and on the street in Budapest where taking pictures without consent is illegal ( but to be honest a 24 and framing at the edge works better for my style).

I can frame a 24 without using the Visioflex and in the year I have had the 90 I haven’t used it. I have a Laowa 15mm I use once a year for Astro photography but I use the LCD for that. 

Perhaps if I had an M11 I would use it more as the slowness of the LV image taking on the M10 series is impracticable for anything moving, but otherwise the M10-P suits 99% of my needs perfectly and has a nice quiet shutter. 
 

Time to sell the Visioflex and the 90mm I think. 
 

 

[IMAGEPOWER]

It depends...

I have just returned from a photo tour to France, landscape and city, almost no people.

My setup: M11, 21 SEM, 35 Apo, 75 Apo, 135 Apo, 28 Summaron (rarely)

I ended up with the Visoflex 2 always mounted on the camera, but not always using it. For me it is essential if I have to focus with 75mm or longer lenses (135 in that special case). For exact focus I open aperture to max, focus with peaking color blue and then close aperture if necessary. 21mm to 35mm are more reliably focused with the range finder (in my case at least). But nevertheless I sometimes use the Visoflex 2 if I work on the floor (tilt) or with the 21mm for framing

When I go out for photo walks with lenses from 21mm 50mm I usually leave the Visoflex at home.

When I work with a tripod, the Visoflex is usually mounted as well.

Energy consumption of the Visoflex is absolutely no problem with the M11 as the battery lasts and lasts and lasts (no to on my M10-R, however)

I also have the old Visoflex 02 but don't use it any more, not even on my M10 variant bodies.

 

[Cmurman]

Thanks to all for your comments.

CM

[EddieCheddar]

I use the VisoFlex 2 at night. For me, it makes it much easier to get a better idea on my composure and exposure -- at night -- than the LiveView.  Here's a shot I took last night with the help of the VisoFlex. (Also, at night sometimes I don't want the LiveView screen on at all since it's blasts light all around, so I peek into the Viso instead.)

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[dscdsc]

I use it for my close focus FLE v2 lens. I don't like using the rear screen, prefer the evf instead if i need to do frequent close focus.

[ymc226]

I just bought a 2nd one, for my M11 as well as my M11M.  I use it for close focus on the the new 50 Summilux II ASPH, 35 APO, and 35 Summilux FLE II.  I take very close up pictures of subjects such as my pooch, so can much more easily focus on the fine parallel hairs near her eyes with the focus assist function.  

[Segal]

I rarely use it, primarily for close-focus pictures or shooting my youngest kid, so I don't have to lie on the ground.

It is way better than the LCD because it has diopter adjustments, and I can use it without glasses. 

[Gateway77]

Using the 50mm lux wide open - I struggle to get sharp focus without using the Visoflex, so that's useful to me.

[Leica Filmmatic]

I have been debating a viso for a few months, I might just pop into my local Leica store to give it a play.

[scott kirkpatrick]

I've had a VF2 and APO35 glued on to my M11 since I got it.  I use the VF2 to get precise framing and more accurate focusing when it matters (not always).  I use the older VF on an M10-R for the same reasons.  I don't find that I can see well into the shadows of a quite recoverable image with either VF, so is do use the optical viewfinder as well, and rely on it when things are moving about quickly.

[Tailwagger]

When I first came to Leica digital, I shot for a full year with the 240 without the viso.  Since that time, as with Scott, all my Ms have had the viso permanently attached.  There are dozens of reasons to use it or not, most of which relate to the scene, subject material and desired result. AFAIC, the ability to view optically and/or electronic is one of the more compelling aspects of the system. As such, I use and rely on both VFs.

In addition to all the previously mentioned reasons... framing, focusing, exposure verification, waist level shooting, etc... one more obscure advantage the Viso provides relates to more precise composition in situations where RF parallax effects can make aligning multiple elements quite difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. Not an everyday occurrence, but in such cases, using the viso once beats having to chimp half a dozen shots or more. 

[Erato]

I don't use EVF in most of the use cases, some VF2 friendly scenarios to me in the field:

1. Waist/ground level shooting
2. Marco/Close Up shooting
3. Light track shooting
4. While using Polarizer filter
5. Diopter adjustments is a plus when VF2 in place
6. Wide angle lenses, such as 21mm/24mm for landscape photography

Edited August 14, 2023 by Erato

[Jeff S]

On 8/12/2023 at 3:54 PM, EddieCheddar said:

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I think your sensor needs a good cleaning.

Jeff

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[Jeff S]

Back on topic… I’ve never owned or used an EVF with an M, with the RF satisfying my needs, as the pics and prints attest. An SL2 better serves if I want a different shooting experience, including EVF.

Jeff