The introduction of Leica's new M EV-1 clicked something in my brain. The realization that I have two EVFs for the M240 cameras and I don't think I used them except to test them when I first got them. The EV-1 inspired me to take another look at "old" tech.

With bucket hat and SPF, long sleeve shirt as 

UV protection. The camera and lens can fend for themselves. 

(image ghosting caused by shooting into double pane glass window).

Sometimes I overlook stuff that turns out to be pretty great. When I first read all the breathless proto-reviews of the Leica EV-1 I was a bit miffed that Leica didn't pay attention to the article I wrote on Michael Johnston's "TheOnlinePhotographer" way, way back in 2009. It was all about EVFs in modern cameras. And why, one day, most cameras used by pros and ardent amateurs would all sport EVFs. The ridicule from the "expert" gallery was priceless and I learned more than I ever wanted to in the comments about the difference between long bows and crossbows and the battle of Agincourt. Some people are just bad at knowing the future with any kind of certainty. Now here we are and just about every professional camera you can lay your hands on has....an EVF. 

But the introduction of the new camera didn't cause me to instantly crave it. In fact my response was the opposite. Not, "Oh Cool !!!" But more: "Here we go again." The buzz about the "new tech" from Leica jogged my memory and reminded me that I had two of the EVFs (re-badged Olympus finders) that Leica offered for the M240 cameras. They aren't the highest res finders but they do a fine job for composition and basic exposure display with those cameras. 

The problem was that I thought at the time it would be a good idea to buy the finders for future use and then life intruded and that intended use got pushed back further and further until .... well, you know how it goes...

So yesterday evening I dug out the EV-2 finders from their cases and I put one on my favorite M240, the gunmetal finished M-E version. Then I added a Carl Zeiss ZM 50mm Planar to the mix, set the camera to shoot Jpegs in black and white and headed downtown to see what I'd been missing. And, in fact, I was missing something. Those finders are great for subjects that don't move fast. In a black and white mode they are especially good. Mostly because you instantly eliminate the color artifacts, etc. 

I have to be honest. The live view process with an EVF in the hotshoe is a much slower way to shoot with that 2019 rangefinder camera. When you start up the camera there is a lag. When you push "live view" there is a lag, and then you have to remember to push the button on the back of the EVF to have the live view image move from the rear LCD to the finder. Once you are there and you push the shutter button the camera has to close the shutter and then re-open it to capture the image. It's time consuming. But if your goal is to have perfect framing, perfect visualization of the effects of aperture (shallow or deep depth of field) and a good emulation of the image the system works well for all stationary situations and most general photography. You just can't be in a hurry. Which I rarely am these days. 

When I came home and ingested the files into Lightroom and the ventured into the Develop module I was absolutely shocked at the detail the camera and the Zeiss lens working together provided. It's just amazing. And if I trusted the viewfinder image I found I got files that didn't blow out the highlights at all. And that's with the camera set to medium high contrast. 

The camera and EVF do everything I want in a daylight, street shooting camera system. I'm glad I resurfaced the two EVFs, each of which cost me less than $200. And even though the base camera the M-E is sourced from is from 2012 the EVF finder (and camera live view) provides focus peaking as well as punch in magnification for fine focusing. 

My belief now is the that Leica EV-1 is a cost cutting product as well as an "open the tent to more average-capable users" sort of product. I can't believe that an M11 or M10 with a dedicated external EVF can be much less practical in day-to-day use... But maybe that's just elitism talking. 

At any rate it was a revealing re-discovery of old tech that works. That's all I've got. 

 

 I always thought of mannequins as being "classy." I was shocked to see one

willing to wear such a raunchy t-shirt. But what was I to expect from

football culture. who would wear this in public?