Forum Replies Created
Spot size might be OK – more to follow.
Recently returning to waterfall photography. Those are very tricky. I need to capture light from various parts, some quite distant. Spot-metering on the xV is helpful for this, but would be more effective if the spot can be reduced in size, and made circular/elliptical instead of or in addition to rectangular, vertical or horizontal orientation, etc.
Believe this can be done with firmware. If it can, please add this request to the queue.
David, would be great if we can see some feedback from you and/or Leica about this and other requests on this forum, some idea of likelihood of seeing an update anytime soon, etc.
Expect a lot of this forum content will apply to the M-240 as well.
garydmorris;4931 wrote: Actually, this has nothing to do with manual focus. First, you've got to have the EVF (Leica or Olympus) installed. Then, set both of the dials on top of the camera to “A” (or in my case I usually have the speed to A and the f to 8 or 11). Then press and hold the Delete/Focus button until the small box in the center (or wherever you've place the box previously) acquires the four red directional arrows.
On my X2 if the EVF is active the EVF display will show the small box with the red arrows. However, on my XV, the EVF display will become black and the image transferred to the LCD display so that one can move the little box around.
After moving the little box around and then pressing the shutter button to accept the movement, the LCD goes black and the information is now displayed on the EVF.
I noticed this on the XV I tried in the Leica store as well as the XV I bought. I've tried a few X2s and they all work as I've described how mine does; which is different than the XV for the same operation. I like how the X2 works and would like to see a firmware update so the XV works as the X2 does in this situation.
OK now I'm with you.
This is actually my first time using the Delete/Focus function with xVario in auto focus mode. But I'm not seeing any blanking of the LCD when selecting location of autofocus window. My Leica EVF has a little button which serves to transfer the active image from EVF to LCD and back again. That is the only way that I can make one or the other display go blank. Question: was your EVF attachment made by Leica or Olympus?
2nd question: is it possible to focus on the desired element, apply partial shutter pressure, then reframe the shot before taking it? Would that avoid need to relocate focusing window?
Could not reproduce Garydmorris's reported behavior (blanking of manual-focus-assist window when pressing D/F). Could you share more details about how/when this happens? For me, pressing D/F, before or after focusing, works fine, without any blanking of the EVF or LCD display (whichever is in use).
I have S/N 4707874, purchased in Germany in early July, in case that matters.
Only complaint is that the MFA window goes out a bit too soon. Would love to have a setting for lifetime of the MFA window. This would be especially useful when setting range, then moving camera until image is sharp, etc.
Re:/ tipping forward, you're right, that is due to bottom-thickness of carrying case. I guess the tipping is caused by the combination of light body weight + multi-element zoom lens. Bare camera has true-upright support from both the lens and bottom of case, and cannot tip. I keep mine in a custom-made, padded, felt-lined leather container, removing it only for use, etc.
Still getting used to the xVario. Very nice in the hand. Excellent for all kinds of casual and candid shots and in general, also for manually focused close-ups. Still gathering equipment for the latter. Beginning to try it on orchids (my current specialty), and other floral close-ups.
The fixed lens defines this as an alternative to the all-out professional product, but at the same time, it has a lot of important qualities. I'm in process of determining if it will serve my purposes without going to the M-240, which I have on order in case of need.
The electronic viewfinder does away with mechanical mirrors and all the associated overhead, and manual focus assist (MFA) is an excellent focusing aid. This brilliant, new feature first comes to notice when turning the manual focusing ring, but read on.
At a range of about 30 cm there is no difficulty using MFA to refocus on different elements separated by 2 cm in range. Due to the high magnification, there is a degree of noise/jitter in low-contrast areas of the MFA image (even with a tripod), but it does not take long to learn to ignore that. There is no hint of noise in the downloaded, developed image.
MFA shuts down after 3 s., possibly to conserve power(?). It comes right back on after pressing the Delete/Focus (D/F) button. Also, when D/F is pressed, the position of the MFA window is steerable within the limits of the viewfinder, by use of the silver, all-purpose direction pad. Consistent with energy-drain limitations, Leica might consider adding a setting to increase the life of the MFA window.
Leica should add to user's manual: the “steered” MFA position is persistent shot-to-shot. This is very useful when making multiple shots with a tripod. The way to ensure persistence is to set auto power-off (APO) to a longer time, up to max. available (15 min), but of course, when done, user should remember to reset APO to its preferred, shorter value, in order to conserve battery life.
After power-down/up, the MFA position is again at its default (centered) location in the viewfinder screen
Manual p. 137 describes a sub-menu setting for MFA, but this setting was not found.
The self timer (ST) can be set at 2 or 12 s., just as in the M9. However, as the manual states, the setting is not persistent. This means that, for every shot in a series, the direction pad has to be operated 2-3 times to select the function and set the delay time, and then the setting saved by partial shutter pressure (or immediately taking the shot). That sequence is simple enough and can be learned, but (suggestion for Leica) it would be nice to have the option to keep a non-zero ST setting until done with the current shooting sequence.
Still getting used to the xVario. Very nice in the hand. Excellent for all kinds of casual and candid shots and in general, also for manually focused close-ups. Still gathering equipment for the latter. Beginning to try it on orchids (my current specialty), and other floral close-ups.
The fixed lens defines this as an alternative to the all-out professional product, but at the same time, it has a lot of important qualities. I'm in process of determining if it will serve my purposes without going to the M-240, which I have on order in case of need.
The electronic viewfinder does away with mechanical mirrors and all the associated overhead, and manual focus assist (MFA) is an excellent focusing aid. This brilliant, new feature first comes to notice when turning the manual focusing ring, but read on.
At a range of about 30 cm there is no difficulty using MFA to refocus on different elements 2 cm nearer/closer to each other. Due to the high magnification, there is a degree of noise/jitter in low-contrast areas of the MFA image (even with a tripod), but it does not take long to learn to ignore that. There is no hint of noise in the downloaded, developed image.
MFA shuts down after 3 s., possibly to conserve power(?). It comes right back on after pressing the Delete/Focus (D/F) button. Also, when D/F is pressed, the position of the MFA window is steerable within the limits of the viewfinder, by use of the silver, all-purpose direction pad. Consistent with energy-drain limitations, Leica might consider adding a setting to increase the life of the MFA window.
Leica should add to user's manual: the “steered” MFA position is persistent shot-to-shot. This is very useful when making multiple shots with a tripod. The way to ensure persistence is to set auto power-off (APO) to a longer time, up to max. available (15 min), but of course, when done, user should remember to reset APO to its preferred, shorter value, in order to conserve battery life.
After power-down/up, the MFA position is again at its default (centered) location in the viewfinder screen
Manual p. 137 describes a sub-menu setting for MFA, but this setting was not found.
