Leica SL EVF

Chris R-UK · Sep 25, 2017

I was at a wedding on Saturday and the professional photographer was shooting with two Leica SL mirrorless bodies, one with a Leica 24-90mm lens and the other with a 90-280mm - nearly £20,000 of kit hanging round his neck.

I got chatting to him and he let me look through the SL's 4MP EVF. It was just like looking through on OVF. I switched between the SL and my E-M1.2 and the difference in resolution was very noticeable. M4/3 EVF quality still has some way to go to catch up.

Jorginho · Sep 25, 2017

Em1.2 EVF is not that good indeed. Not bad, but it is very responsive.

We have the 3,6 MP GH5 which based on the MP count looks close to the Leica. I have no clue if this is true in reallife too but I guess so.

alcelc · Sep 25, 2017

I suppose it should be a matter of cost.

But happy to know that the technology and hardware is already there and hopeful when the cost will go down, it will be available to the consumer market later.

aliasfox · Sep 25, 2017

I was a little disappointed when I got the chance to look through the Leica SL's viewfinder - not because the SL's EVF isn't positively stunning (it is), but by that time, I had learned that the the E-M1ii was going to retain the same EVF size/resolution as the original E-M1. Not that the E-M1's is bad by any means - it's large, responsive, and reasonably detailed - but it can't hold a match, let alone a candle, to the Leica's.

Edit:

Let me just add, that I had the same impression when I first saw the image from an E-M1 - having seen EVF images from superzooms and camcorders, the E-M1's EVF was a breath of fresh air. I supposed technology just keeps improving.

drj3 · Sep 25, 2017

aliasfox said:
I was a little disappointed when I got the chance to look through the Leica SL's viewfinder - not because the SL's EVF isn't positively stunning (it is), but by that time, I had learned that the the E-M1ii was going to retain the same EVF size/resolution as the original E-M1. Not that the E-M1's is bad by any means - it's large, responsive, and reasonably detailed - but it can't hold a match, let alone a candle, to the Leica's.

Edit:

Let me just add, that I had the same impression when I first saw the image from an E-M1 - having seen EVF images from superzooms and camcorders, the E-M1's EVF was a breath of fresh air. I supposed technology just keeps improving.

The Leica EVF may require considerably more processing and battery power to be as responsive as the one in the E-M1.2. If it does, then I would prefer the one in the E-M1.2, if not, then the Leica EVF would be great.

enossified · Sep 25, 2017

EVF is still the weakest point for mirrorless as far as I'm concerned. I'm used to now it but I don't like it.

lathspell · Sep 25, 2017

Chris R-UK said:
M4/3 EVF quality still has some way to go to catch up.

I'm sure you could get a Leica SL viewfinder in a today's µFT camera if there was anyone ready to pay the price for that.

Advent1sam · Sep 25, 2017

Chris R-UK said:
I was at a wedding on Saturday and the professional photographer was shooting with two Leica SL mirrorless bodies, one with a Leica 24-90mm lens and the other with a 90-280mm - nearly £20,000 of kit hanging round his neck.

He must be built like a barn door to carry all that, yikes!

Chris R-UK said:
I got chatting to him and he let me look through the SL's 4MP EVF. It was just like looking through on OVF. I switched between the SL and my E-M1.2 and the difference in resolution was very noticeable. M4/3 EVF quality still has some way to go to catch up.

GH5 has an evf very close in res and mag to the Leica, I doubt you will notice the difference, plus the contrast and dr of the GH5 is outstanding. The GH5 is the state of the art m43, check it out!

Chris R-UK said:
--
Chris R

aliasfox · Sep 25, 2017

drj3 said:
aliasfox said:

I was a little disappointed when I got the chance to look through the Leica SL's viewfinder - not because the SL's EVF isn't positively stunning (it is), but by that time, I had learned that the the E-M1ii was going to retain the same EVF size/resolution as the original E-M1. Not that the E-M1's is bad by any means - it's large, responsive, and reasonably detailed - but it can't hold a match, let alone a candle, to the Leica's.

Edit:

Let me just add, that I had the same impression when I first saw the image from an E-M1 - having seen EVF images from superzooms and camcorders, the E-M1's EVF was a breath of fresh air. I supposed technology just keeps improving.

Click to expand...

The Leica EVF may require considerably more processing and battery power to be as responsive as the one in the E-M1.2. If it does, then I would prefer the one in the E-M1.2, if not, then the Leica EVF would be great.

Marty4650 · Sep 25, 2017

at least, on the EVF.

I wonder if anyone wants Olympus to catch up with Leica on the $6,300 body only price?

And will Leica ever catch up to Olympus when it comes to IBIS or continuous drive rate?

Astrotripper · Sep 25, 2017

Chris R-UK said:
I got chatting to him and he let me look through the SL's 4MP EVF. It was just like looking through on OVF. I switched between the SL and my E-M1.2 and the difference in resolution was very noticeable. M4/3 EVF quality still has some way to go to catch up.

Remember that the performance goals for both of those are very much different. The EVF E-M1 II is designed for super quick refresh rates and low latency. Bandwidth is finite, so you either get speed or resolution, but not both.

You might want to check out GH5, it has the highest resolution EVF among all MFT cameras.

Skeeterbytes · Sep 25, 2017

I had presumed the M1.2 would adopt the 4+M-dot module as part of the upgrade package and would still like to see the format adopt it as the standard in the future. It will happen but one gets weary of the wait. The bump between E-M5 and E-M1 was notable and definitely a productivity enhancement, this isn't merely aesthetics.

Cheers,

Rick

3dwag · Sep 25, 2017

Astrotripper said:
Chris R-UK said:

I got chatting to him and he let me look through the SL's 4MP EVF. It was just like looking through on OVF. I switched between the SL and my E-M1.2 and the difference in resolution was very noticeable. M4/3 EVF quality still has some way to go to catch up.

Click to expand...

Remember that the performance goals for both of those are very much different. The EVF E-M1 II is designed for super quick refresh rates and low latency. Bandwidth is finite, so you either get speed or resolution, but not both.

You might want to check out GH5, it has the highest resolution EVF among all MFT cameras.

Overall, I preferred the brighter and faster EVF of the EM1ii to the sharper EVF of the GH5 due to many of the conditions I normally work in (including my wearing eyeglasses).

Perhaps it was the (wider?) aspect ratio of thePanasonic EVF, but it is my recollection that size-wise the EM1ii’s EVF shows a slightly larger image of what the sensor sees compared to the GH5?

It is also my impression that the Leica’s EVF assembly with lens is somewhat larger than the EM1ii’s, and perhaps the GH5’s.

I have not seen the Leica in person, and I’ve only seen the others apart from each other at different times, so perhaps someone who has seen all 3 side-by-side can comment?

Advent1sam · Sep 25, 2017

3dwag said:
Astrotripper said:

Chris R-UK said:

I got chatting to him and he let me look through the SL's 4MP EVF. It was just like looking through on OVF. I switched between the SL and my E-M1.2 and the difference in resolution was very noticeable. M4/3 EVF quality still has some way to go to catch up.

Click to expand...

Remember that the performance goals for both of those are very much different. The EVF E-M1 II is designed for super quick refresh rates and low latency. Bandwidth is finite, so you either get speed or resolution, but not both.

You might want to check out GH5, it has the highest resolution EVF among all MFT cameras.

Click to expand...

Overall, I preferred the brighter and faster EVF of the EM1ii to the sharper EVF of the GH5 due to many of the conditions I normally work in (including my wearing eyeglasses).

Perhaps it was the (wider?) aspect ratio of thePanasonic EVF, but it is my recollection that size-wise the EM1ii’s EVF shows a slightly larger image of what the sensor sees compared to the GH5?

It is also my impression that the Leica’s EVF assembly with lens is somewhat larger than the EM1ii’s, and perhaps the GH5’s.

Strange that you prefer the m1 ii evf, compared to the GH5 it feels crude and less accurate (colour cast) but it could be sample variation I suppose. GH5 is really sumptuous with fantastic contrast, unlike the em1 ii.

3dwag said:
I have not seen the Leica in person, and I’ve only seen the others apart from each other at different times, so perhaps someone who has seen all 3 side-by-side can comment?

--
-Dennis W.
Austin, Texas
http://www.pbase.com/3dwag/image/97156660.jpg

Advent1sam · Sep 25, 2017

Marty4650 said:
at least, on the EVF.

I wonder if anyone wants Olympus to catch up with Leica on the $6,300 body only price?

Panasonic has everything the Leica has, apart from the ff sensor, obviously!

Marty4650 said:
And will Leica ever catch up to Olympus when it comes to IBIS or continuous drive rate?

Panasonic has everything and more than Olympus has now, except for maybe extra speed in c-af, the evf, the af joy-stick, ibis-ois combined and excellent af, small af boxes, pin-point af options, the list goes on.

Marty4650 said:
--
Marty
http://www.fluidr.com/photos/marty4650/sets/72157606210120132
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marty4650/sets/72157606210120132/show/
my blog: http://marty4650.blogspot.com/

drj3 · Sep 25, 2017

Advent1sam said:
3dwag said:

Astrotripper said:

Chris R-UK said:

I got chatting to him and he let me look through the SL's 4MP EVF. It was just like looking through on OVF. I switched between the SL and my E-M1.2 and the difference in resolution was very noticeable. M4/3 EVF quality still has some way to go to catch up.

Click to expand...

Remember that the performance goals for both of those are very much different. The EVF E-M1 II is designed for super quick refresh rates and low latency. Bandwidth is finite, so you either get speed or resolution, but not both.

You might want to check out GH5, it has the highest resolution EVF among all MFT cameras.

Click to expand...

Overall, I preferred the brighter and faster EVF of the EM1ii to the sharper EVF of the GH5 due to many of the conditions I normally work in (including my wearing eyeglasses).

Perhaps it was the (wider?) aspect ratio of thePanasonic EVF, but it is my recollection that size-wise the EM1ii’s EVF shows a slightly larger image of what the sensor sees compared to the GH5?

It is also my impression that the Leica’s EVF assembly with lens is somewhat larger than the EM1ii’s, and perhaps the GH5’s.

Click to expand...

Strange that you prefer the m1 ii evf, compared to the GH5 it feels crude and less accurate (colour cast) but it could be sample variation I suppose. GH5 is really sumptuous with fantastic contrast, unlike the em1 ii.

I think the poster was probably referring to this for the GH5 DPR review:

"The GH5 may have a very high quality electronic viewfinder, but when you are shooting at its maximum burst rate, the resolution drops so far as to make it difficult to tell what's in focus at all" at 9fps; whereas the Olympus has no problem with 18fps.

You can choose between resolution and refresh rates with low latency. If I am photographing a flying swallow, I want fast refresh and low latency. If I am photographing single frames I would like higher resolution. Maybe we will eventually get a mirrorless with an EVF that can be switched between higher resolution and low latency with fast refresh.

Advent1sam said:
Advent1sam said:

I have not seen the Leica in person, and I’ve only seen the others apart from each other at different times, so perhaps someone who has seen all 3 side-by-side can comment?

--
-Dennis W.
Austin, Texas
http://www.pbase.com/3dwag/image/97156660.jpg

Click to expand...

--
drj3

peppermonkey · Sep 25, 2017

Chris R-UK said:
I was at a wedding on Saturday and the professional photographer was shooting with two Leica SL mirrorless bodies, one with a Leica 24-90mm lens and the other with a 90-280mm - nearly £20,000 of kit hanging round his neck.

I got chatting to him and he let me look through the SL's 4MP EVF. It was just like looking through on OVF. I switched between the SL and my E-M1.2 and the difference in resolution was very noticeable. M4/3 EVF quality still has some way to go to catch up.

WookieLala · Sep 25, 2017

I tried the SL for a day. Although the EVF is gorgeous I was disappointed it was stuttering badly in low light, making it very hard to compose when there is even the slightest move in the subject.

For those in the same boat, the stuttering reminded me of the Pany GX7 which I used to own. That was my main reason to move on to a different mFT body.

I highly doubt the EM1.2 EVF stutters that much (since the EM1.1 and the EM5.2 do not). A big plus for me even with a lower resolution.

Advent1sam · Sep 25, 2017

drj3 said:
Advent1sam said:

3dwag said:

Astrotripper said:

Chris R-UK said:

I got chatting to him and he let me look through the SL's 4MP EVF. It was just like looking through on OVF. I switched between the SL and my E-M1.2 and the difference in resolution was very noticeable. M4/3 EVF quality still has some way to go to catch up.

Click to expand...

Remember that the performance goals for both of those are very much different. The EVF E-M1 II is designed for super quick refresh rates and low latency. Bandwidth is finite, so you either get speed or resolution, but not both.

You might want to check out GH5, it has the highest resolution EVF among all MFT cameras.

Click to expand...

Overall, I preferred the brighter and faster EVF of the EM1ii to the sharper EVF of the GH5 due to many of the conditions I normally work in (including my wearing eyeglasses).

Perhaps it was the (wider?) aspect ratio of thePanasonic EVF, but it is my recollection that size-wise the EM1ii’s EVF shows a slightly larger image of what the sensor sees compared to the GH5?

It is also my impression that the Leica’s EVF assembly with lens is somewhat larger than the EM1ii’s, and perhaps the GH5’s.

Click to expand...

Strange that you prefer the m1 ii evf, compared to the GH5 it feels crude and less accurate (colour cast) but it could be sample variation I suppose. GH5 is really sumptuous with fantastic contrast, unlike the em1 ii.

Click to expand...

I think the poster was probably referring to this for the GH5 DPR review:

"The GH5 may have a very high quality electronic viewfinder, but when you are shooting at its maximum burst rate, the resolution drops so far as to make it difficult to tell what's in focus at all" at 9fps; whereas the Olympus has no problem with 18fps.

You can choose between resolution and refresh rates with low latency. If I am photographing a flying swallow, I want fast refresh and low latency. If I am photographing single frames I would like higher resolution. Maybe we will eventually get a mirrorless with an EVF that can be switched between higher resolution and low latency with fast refresh.

drj3 said:

drj3 said:

I have not seen the Leica in person, and I’ve only seen the others apart from each other at different times, so perhaps someone who has seen all 3 side-by-side can comment?

--
-Dennis W.
Austin, Texas
http://www.pbase.com/3dwag/image/97156660.jpg

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
drj3

For photography of very fast moving objects, swallows, I don't think evf's are the best choice, I would suggest red dot sight. I would also suggest that you are not that concerned with colour when tracking either, the point is to keep the object tracked. I am not sure what dpr is referring to and I have to say I prefer gh5 evf to em1 ii evf by some distance. I haven't tried to catch swallows

Chris R-UK · Sep 25, 2017

peppermonkey said:
Chris R-UK said:

I was at a wedding on Saturday and the professional photographer was shooting with two Leica SL mirrorless bodies, one with a Leica 24-90mm lens and the other with a 90-280mm - nearly £20,000 of kit hanging round his neck.

I got chatting to him and he let me look through the SL's 4MP EVF. It was just like looking through on OVF. I switched between the SL and my E-M1.2 and the difference in resolution was very noticeable. M4/3 EVF quality still has some way to go to catch up.

Click to expand...

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