Why do you use Visoflex with M11?

[kiwidad]

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On 10/24/2025 at 10:39 AM, Tailwagger said:

A simple half press on the shutter button gets you back to full view... so zoom never never bothered me much.  

I would agree except when the subject is moving!

[CDodkin]

I use my Visoflex II 100% of the time - even though I find it spoils the design aesthetic of my M11.

I use it for accurate composition, WYSIWYG exposure setting and aperture setting (DOF), accurate focus at all apertures (with auto zoom + peaking), shooting into the sun without causing blindness, and using lens lengths outside of the Leica M standard frame lines. (15mm and 40mm for example).

Focus with fast lenses is now possible wide-open with repeatable accuracy, making full use of the resolution of the camera. Something which was completely hit and miss with the rangefinder once you opened up. And at f/1, it was just a waste of time using the RF.

I also use the overlay 3x3 grid to assist comp, the artificial horizon for level and tilt, and the real-time histogram to judge exposure. I have over-exposure warning ON to show areas of the frame where I am in danger of clipping, allowing me to decide in real time how far to push exposure for the look in frame.

I focus at the aperture I'm using, and find auto zoom + peaking provides plenty of detail as to where the zone of focus falls on the subject.

I also use the EVF for image review in the field, especially useful in bright conditions (although it confuses passers-by who assume you are still shooting!).

I hate how bulky the camera is with the unit attached - hence I'll be moving toe the M EV1 as soon as they are available in the US.

I will miss the tilt option on the Visoflex, which I use a lot to get lower angles when shooting. I may actually keep the M11 and Visoflex for this task. An M EV model with a tilting rear LCD would be a good next step, given the built-in EVF. I guess I could use the M EV1 and just kneel down - but I'm getting to old for that sh!t LOL

Tilted EVF shot, with M11 and Visoflex II - Route 66, Amboy CA.,

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[Alexander108]

vor 28 Minuten schrieb CDodkin:

I use my Visoflex II 100% of the time - even though I find it spoils the design aesthetic of my M11.

I use it for accurate composition, WYSIWYG exposure setting and aperture setting (DOF), accurate focus at all apertures (with auto zoom + peaking), shooting into the sun without causing blindness, and using lens lengths outside of the Leica M standard frame lines. (15mm and 40mm for example).

Focus with fast lenses is now possible wide-open with repeatable accuracy, making full use of the resolution of the camera. Something which was completely hit and miss with the rangefinder once you opened up. And at f/1, it was just a waste of time using the RF.

I also use the overlay 3x3 grid to assist comp, the artificial horizon for level and tilt, and the real-time histogram to judge exposure. I have over-exposure warning ON to show areas of the frame where I am in danger of clipping, allowing me to decide in real time how far to push exposure for the look in frame.

I focus at the aperture I'm using, and find auto zoom + peaking provides plenty of detail as to where the zone of focus falls on the subject.

I also use the EVF for image review in the field, especially useful in bright conditions (although it confuses passers-by who assume you are still shooting!).

I hate how bulky the camera is with the unit attached - hence I'll be moving toe the M EV1 as soon as they are available in the US.

I will miss the tilt option on the Visoflex, which I use a lot to get lower angles when shooting. I may actually keep the M11 and Visoflex for this task. An M EV model with a tilting rear LCD would be a good next step, given the built-in EVF. I guess I could use the M EV1 and just kneel down - but I'm getting to old for that sh!t LOL

Tilted EVF shot, with M11 and Visoflex II - Route 66, Amboy CA.,

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Almost same approach for me. 

[Tailwagger]

On 10/29/2025 at 10:16 PM, kiwidad said:

I would agree except when the subject is moving!

Of course. Thats why I continue to believe in the OVF/EVF combo. Motion means OVF... prefocus or human powered racking focus... you're choice 🙂

Edited October 31 by Tailwagger

[jps1]

I bought a visioflex 2 for my m11 m and I am relatively satisfied with it.

A disadvantage all the same, it is incompatible with a slow goal.

Focusing with my summaron 28mm 5.6 is much preferable with the rangefinder because with the Visoflex 2 no precise focusing to 5.6 is possible.

This is a big disadvantage with the new M EV1 which does not have a rangefinder.

[Derbyshire Man]

1 hour ago, jps1 said:

I bought a visioflex 2 for my m11 m and I am relatively satisfied with it.

A disadvantage all the same, it is incompatible with a slow goal.

Focusing with my summaron 28mm 5.6 is much preferable with the rangefinder because with the Visoflex 2 no precise focusing to 5.6 is possible.

This is a big disadvantage with the new M EV1 which does not have a rangefinder.

I view the EV1 as a photographic tool. If I’m on a mission for landscapes/environmental portraits I’m going to chose one of my M’s. If I’m shooting sport or a fast moving events it’s going to be the R5mk2. If I’m out in the evening but am going to need autofocus (dark/ppl moving/I might have a drink!) it’s going to be Q3 or Fuji Xpro3. If I had an EV1 it would be for my vintage lenses such as summilux v2 pre-asph which focus shifts++ and throws flares. It’s expensive though so for me the utility isn’t quite there as a brand new item, used prices remain to be seen. No one camera is going to do everything. 

Edited November 1 by Derbyshire Man

[DadDadDaddyo]

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2 hours ago, Derbyshire Man said:

No one camera is going to do everything. 

Simply true. It's always, always, about situations, and "situations" includes all kind of factors.

Probably because of how my "eye" evolved over the years, largely between 35 and 90 mm (and sometimes 135), my situations don't typically extend into those in which an electronic viewfinder shines as a positive asset. 

But that's just me and my particular usage patterns. 

For those situations in which an electronic viewfinder is best suited, the Visoflex 2 works well for me, and that's despite the compromises inherent in it being an accessory, an add-on.

Speaking of accessories, it has occurred to me that if an M-EV1 was all I had access to, I'd probably invest in a set of accessory shoe optical finders (or, of course, the Frankenfinder). I'll bet that we'll see discussions of these and similar accessories start to crop up in the M-EV1 forum as things settle in. 

[Eoin]

1 hour ago, DadDadDaddyo said:

Speaking of accessories, it has occurred to me that if an M-EV1 was all I had access to, I'd probably invest in a set of accessory shoe optical finders (or, of course, the Frankenfinder). I'll bet that we'll see discussions of these and similar accessories start to crop up in the M-EV1 forum as things settle in. 

Could you imagine an electronic  OV-Flex 1 that attached to the hot shoe of the M-EV1 to give the “optical rangefinder experience”, electronic frame lines, moving focus patch, I bet it could be done. Then our M-EV1 brethren could enjoy the best of both worlds like us with the Visoflexes. 😜

[DadDadDaddyo]

40 minutes ago, Eoin said:

Could you imagine an electronic  OV-Flex 1 that attached to the hot shoe of the M-EV1 to give the “optical rangefinder experience”, electronic frame lines, moving focus patch, I bet it could be done. Then our M-EV1 brethren could enjoy the best of both worlds like us with the Visoflexes.

I hadn't realized until someone mentioned it over in the M EV1 forum: they said there are no electronic viewfinder contacts in the EV1 accessory shoe. This came up when someone asked about using a Visoflex 2 on the EV1 (maybe for tilting?).

It could be that this lack of viewfinder contacts, if true, would prevent the use of a device such as you've described.

[Stephen.s1]

As a recent convert to EV2 I'm finding that my choices for dimly lit photos (subjects still and moving) have put my first scan keepers to about 90%.  ( I'll never tell what my final keeper ratio actually is)

Who cares what the camera ( m11m & m11p ) looks like when the sun don't shine...    But when it does, off comes EV.

 

[algrove]

On 10/24/2025 at 8:41 AM, SrMi said:

With M-EV1, I have turned off automatic magnification and set the level push to the right to turn the magnification on and off. While I am holding the lens with my left hand, I use the thumb of my left hand to quickly turn magnification on and off.

I wish I could turn on/off magnification and focus peaking at the same time.

So you say SFO  as your home, so how could you have an EV1 let alone even try one in the US until the FCC issue is solved?

[algrove]

On 10/26/2025 at 3:25 PM, SrMi said:

There is no IBIS in Viso2.

Stabilization is not incorporated into Visoflex 2, but it is in the camera (video feed). So, both the EVF and the LCD have video feed stabilization. M-EV1's video feed is also stabilized.

 

Are you sure about this as Leica makes no mention of EV1 focus aids other than focus leaking and magnification?

Kindly find me your source. Thanks.

[SrMi]

8 minutes ago, algrove said:

So you say SFO  as your home, so how could you have an EV1 let alone even try one in the US until the FCC issue is solved?

I wrote before, but it is hidden in the flurry of EV1 posts.  I happened to be in London when M-EV1 was launched, and I also got a book signed by Joel Meyerowitz, who was there for the launch and shooting with M-EV1.

Been posting M-EV1 images in the M-EV1 image threads since the launch.

No, I did not fly to London just for the M-EV1. 🤣

Edited November 1 by SrMi

[SrMi]

7 minutes ago, algrove said:

Are you sure about this as Leica makes no mention of EV1 focus aids other than focus leaking and magnification?

Kindly find me your source. Thanks.

I am the Source! 😁

I see it stabilized in the EVF when magnified. Stabilization is not a focus aid per se, though it helps when using a magnified view.

P.S.: It is also mentioned in the B&H summary of M-EV1 features.

Edited November 1 by SrMi

[algrove]

1 minute ago, SrMi said:

I am the Source! 😁

I see it stabilized in the EVF when magnified. Stabilization is not a focus aid per se, though it helps when using a magnified view.

Thanks.

No one else has mentioned this including my European friends.

Is there a way to compare this experience with say the same lens on an SL3 in order to see how much the SL3 IBIS helps over the EV1 stabilization you mention?

[SrMi]

1 minute ago, algrove said:

Thanks.

No one else has mentioned this including my European friends.

Is there a way to compare this experience with say the same lens on an SL3 in order to see how much the SL3 IBIS helps over the EV1 stabilization you mention?

Check the B&H product page for a mention of live view stabilization. You probably know that, but LV stabilization does not help with camera shake in the recorded images.

I guess it would be straightforward to compare it with IBIS stabilization in SL3.

[Derbyshire Man]

1 hour ago, SrMi said:

I wrote before, but it is hidden in the flurry of EV1 posts.  I happened to be in London when M-EV1 was launched, and I also got a book signed by Joel Meyerowitz, who was there for the launch and shooting with M-EV1.

Been posting M-EV1 images in the M-EV1 image threads since the launch.

No, I did not fly to London just for the M-EV1. 🤣

Damn, where was the signing, I was randomly in London that day too and would have loved it!

[SrMi]

5 minutes ago, Derbyshire Man said:

Damn, where was the signing, I was randomly in London that day too and would have loved it!

Leica Harrods.

[Derbyshire Man]

That’s what I suspected. I was just around the corner! How annoying!

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[CDodkin]

18 hours ago, jps1 said:

I bought a visioflex 2 for my m11 m and I am relatively satisfied with it.

A disadvantage all the same, it is incompatible with a slow goal.

Focusing with my summaron 28mm 5.6 is much preferable with the rangefinder because with the Visoflex 2 no precise focusing to 5.6 is possible.

This is a big disadvantage with the new M EV1 which does not have a rangefinder.

Precise focusing at 5.6 is possible using Auto zoom + Peaking with the Visoflex II