o2mpx Posted June 20 Share #21 Posted June 20 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) It would seem a viable approach for Leica to retain the heritage of the RF M, is to just improve the visoflex to be on par with current evf’s such as SL3’s for example. If the new visoflex provides the same spec as evf’s from the Sale, which is well received, those who want the classic can stick with the M12-D, but those needing the improved visibility can just add the new spec visoflex. Edited June 20 by o2mpx Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 20 Posted June 20 Hi o2mpx, Take a look here Really would love hybrid viewfinder on D variant. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
JoshuaR Posted June 21 Share #22 Posted June 21 What you describe is actually why I don't own any lenses that focus closer than 0.7m! Why make life complicated? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgh Posted June 21 Share #23 Posted June 21 I never think about using lenses other than staple Leica lenses (regular summicrons) on my M10-D for this reason. Like any M, I think it works best shot at 28,35, 50 etc - and you see what you can do with that limitation. If Leica started messing with the D series in the way listed I think they’d be losing the plot, personally. The limitation is the appeal. If you’re going to circumvent it why not spend less money and get a better tool for the purpose? 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakontil Posted June 21 Share #24 Posted June 21 Ditching the brass in place of aluminum is already too much to swallow for me in D series.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
didier Posted June 21 Share #25 Posted June 21 On 6/19/2025 at 6:00 PM, Tseg said: I bought the M11-D, my first M camera, because of the appeal of removing tech from the photographic act, yet still producing digital images. Now that I am more than 1/2 year into ownership I really have grown to appreciate the benefits of rangefinder focusing, manual mechanical focusing and no lcd on the back to scratch and chimp. I really like the M11-D and it has ended up being more than expected. But I have now also added close focus lenses and a Visoflex 2, which can completely change the dynamic of the M11-D when I want to. I walk around with the Visoflex 2 on my camera more than I care to admit, mainly if a close focus opportunity arises and I don't want to disrupt the flow of the moment going into my bag to get the EVF. I was just watching a Fuji X100V video specific to the functionality of the hybrid viewfinder and, man, would that really optimize the experience I'm having with my D camera. Over course, I would want the OVF view to be a true mechanical patch view, which is the big difference vs. what Fuji offers. I'm sure there is discussion somewhere in these forums why hybrid cannot work with a rangefinder patch, but it really would be next level, as opposed to the polarizing EVF at the expense of OVF. I now have 3 close focus lenses and they are wonderful, but awkward, at the same time. Time for a seamless integration (with no LCD back screen). I continue to not be a fan of the LCD on the back of a camera. For me, adding something in the OVF would disrupt the flow… The -D experience is about getting closer to the analog feel, I don’t see how adding a hybrid viewfinder gets you closer… Please Leica keep the M simple ! 5 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
setuporg Posted June 21 Share #26 Posted June 21 23 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said: Whenever I read posts like these from Mxx-D owners asking for just a little bit more tech for their hair shirt, I am reminded of the prayer of St Augustine: "Lord, give me chastity and continence, but not yet"! 😉 So unchaste incontinence meanwhile?! When I had the M11-D, I got the Visoflex to enjoy my close-focus lenses. The D is already hopelessly compromised with the WiFi, FOTOS, etc. The only true Ds were the Edition 60, which they can try to pry from my cold dead hands eventually, and its successor with lugs. HUDs etc are antithetical to Leica and will never happen. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNK100 Posted June 21 Share #27 Posted June 21 Advertisement (gone after registration) 2 hours ago, didier said: For me, adding something in the OVF would disrupt the flow… The -D experience is about getting closer to the analog feel, I don’t see how adding a hybrid viewfinder gets you closer… Please Leica keep the M simple ! I agree. Adding some sort of evf overlay to a D would be very strange as a D is designed to replicate a film M. This will not happen thank goodness so let's move on I suggest. 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwidad Posted June 21 Share #28 Posted June 21 45 minutes ago, JNK100 said: I agree. Adding some sort of evf overlay to a D would be very strange as a D is designed to replicate a film M. This will not happen thank goodness so let's move on I suggest. EXACTLY.. I don't own a D so I have to pick up my M6 to truly get there and when I do its refreshing realize the skills I constantly check by chimping are still there! If Leica bring out an "M" with a digital OVF or hybrid likeFuji then what's next ? Autofocus M's? Hopefully if they produce such a beast it won't be an M! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted June 21 Share #29 Posted June 21 7 minutes ago, kiwidad said: If Leica bring out an "M" with a digital OVF or hybrid likeFuji then what's next ? Autofocus M's? Hopefully if they produce such a beast it won't be an M! So if it looks like a M, walks like a M and quacks like a M but isn't called a M and doesn't have a 'M' visible on it anywhere, would that be OK? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzajl Posted June 21 Share #30 Posted June 21 There are electric cars now branded Jaguar. As the purists decline in numbers, if Leica wish to survive at all then there will be rangefinder styles cameras with EVFs and Hybrid versions. It’s not a case of if but of when and how. No company can exist only pleasing the old faithful since none of us are immortal. Well, our legacies might live on if we’re lucky but our GAS won’t. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted June 21 Share #31 Posted June 21 1 hour ago, Dazzajl said: [...] As the purists decline in numbers, if Leica wish to survive at all then there will be rangefinder styles cameras with EVFs and Hybrid versions [...] EVFs and hybrids are different things. None is for purists. Hybrid is just a Fuji thing. Thanks no thanks but YMMV 😎 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzajl Posted June 21 Share #32 Posted June 21 13 minutes ago, lct said: EVFs and hybrids are different things Why I mentioned them individually and yes, my mileage always seems to vary. It would get very crowded if we all took the same route Leica will modernise the M line up, they're not going to have a choice. It's going to behard for them as they don't have a history of innovating and there isn't currently anything they can adopt and no one to collaborate with on such things. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted June 21 Share #33 Posted June 21 (edited) It's just that Leica did follow the "modern" route with LV and EVF already. Hybrid is another story. Edited June 21 by lct Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tseg Posted June 21 Author Share #34 Posted June 21 (edited) 3 hours ago, kiwidad said: If Leica bring out an "M" with a digital OVF or hybrid likeFuji then what's next ? Autofocus M's? Hopefully if they produce such a beast it won't be an M! Leica made the 1st move with all their new lenses being “close focus”. And I like being able to close focus, at times. I just really don’t like camera back lcd screens. They get chipped up, you look like you’re taking an iPhone selfie when using… a whole different set of unergonomical ergonomics are used when taking a back screen photo… and the chimping, of course. The Visoflex box looks like a cancerous tumor and putting on and taking off depending on distance to the subject is completely awkward. For better or worse, Leica went there with the majority of their lenses. The end result I would like to see is a toggle in the viewfinder between OVF and EVF… maybe only/automatically activated when passing the close focus “bump” on the focus ring. Let me reiterate, I love rangefinder focusing… it is just not possible currently with close focus lenses at close focus. I’m just seeking a solution how an M camera can optimize the use of my $20K+ USD M close focus lenses. Edited June 21 by Tseg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted June 21 Share #35 Posted June 21 According to Leica, « they had conducted extensive trials of a hybrid system, combining both rangefinder and EVF. However, they had reached the conclusion that the result would be the worst of both worlds and would risk upsetting rangefinder fans. So the project had been shelved. » (link). Apologies if this has been quoted above. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNK100 Posted June 21 Share #36 Posted June 21 38 minutes ago, Dazzajl said: Why I mentioned them individually and yes, my mileage always seems to vary. It would get very crowded if we all took the same route Leica will modernise the M line up, they're not going to have a choice. It's going to behard for them as they don't have a history of innovating and there isn't currently anything they can adopt and no one to collaborate with on such things. Leica don't have a history of innovating? How about inventing 35mm film cameras... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tseg Posted June 21 Author Share #37 Posted June 21 6 minutes ago, lct said: According to Leica, « they had conducted extensive trials of a hybrid system, combining both rangefinder and EVF. However, they had reached the conclusion that the result would be the worst of both worlds and would risk upsetting rangefinder fans. So the project had been shelved. » (link). Apologies if this has been quoted above. Thanks for this… times change, technology change and consumer needs change. The “worst of both worlds” does not really describe what is worse and what the hurdles are. But good to know Leica previously considered it. My original post was just to highlight I would love the functionality of an M rangefinder with Visoflex 2 but with the Visoflex 2 capability through the rangefinder eyepiece. Obviously others would not like it. But I will still use a rangefinder + Visoflex 2 over an EVF or camera with LCD. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tseg Posted June 21 Author Share #38 Posted June 21 I dream in technicolor. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted June 21 Share #39 Posted June 21 18 minutes ago, Tseg said: I dream in technicolor. Or Fujichrome? 😉 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzajl Posted June 21 Share #40 Posted June 21 6 hours ago, JNK100 said: Leica don't have a history of innovating? How about inventing 35mm film cameras... That’s a very fair point and Oskar definitely hit it out of the park on that one. It was over 110 years ago now though and however fabulous that invention was, I don’t think one breakthrough makes for ‘a history of innovation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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