Fred Miranda wrote:
There is an open-box Leica M11-D at B&H Photo for $500 off right now. It appears to come with the box and everything, just like new.
stgrove wrote:
While you're at it why not ask for formatting of the Sd card as wells internal memory? I know a few who would buy it if it had this simple M11 variant capability.
Fred Miranda wrote:
...ISO 100 still offers slightly higher dynamic range. Personally, I would prefer having ISO 64, ISO 100, and ISO 200 on the back dial, and eliminating ISO 50,000, which I would never use...
Figured out the next best thing: I set the "M" on the M11-D ISO dial to ISO 100. This way I can pivot from "A" to the right for ISO 64 or to the left for ISO 100.
Still makes no sense to me there are not in-between settings on the ISO dial like we have on the shutter speed dial.
highdesertmesa wrote:
For landscape I do switch to manual to force base ISO then only increase it if the shutter speed dips too low. I like that the very next ISO setting on the back ISO dial is ISO 200 since that's the dual gain ISO value on the M11.
So far I'm still liking the M11-D a lot. I'm getting anxious to get the Visoflex 2, though, simply for shooting the close focusing M lenses and for shooting at low angles.
I can't fathom swapping the M10-R BP for this, though. The M11-D with the aluminum and textured black paint feels more like a utilitarian tool compared to the refined brass and gloss black paint of the M10-R BP. Complete opposites in my mind.
A few shots from a quick trip to Texas over the weekend with the D and the Voigtlander 50 f/3.5 APO:...Show more →
On this note, did you end up getting the Visoflex 2? If so, how is the experience?
I only received the camera a couple days ago as B&H was closed all of last week and still getting used to some of the controls, but quite enjoyable to use after setting it up through Leica FOTOs once. I'm considering getting the Visoflex 2 for rangefinder calibration reasons and also for some occasional use with a 90mm and some close focusing lenses.
tr4656 wrote:
On this note, did you end up getting the Visoflex 2? If so, how is the experience?
I only received the camera a couple days ago as B&H was closed all of last week and still getting used to some of the controls, but quite enjoyable to use after setting it up through Leica FOTOs once. I'm considering getting the Visoflex 2 for rangefinder calibration reasons and also for some occasional use with a 90mm and some close focusing lenses.
Yes, I picked up a mint one missing its bottom rubber cover for $550.
It’s not a stellar EVF, but it’s adequate. The hardest thing to get used to is the lack of stabilization when not in magnified view as the image tends to wobble as expected. In magnified view, you do get digital stabilization, which helps quite a bit. To get that, you have to either be using a 6-bit coded lens, or you have to manually choose a lens profile from the camera settings in FOTOS (the camera has to know the focal length to apply the right about of digital stabilization).
For metering, you want to use a simple mode like Center Weighted. With evaluative modes like Highlight Weighted, the EVF can flicker badly because the camera is jumping around between exposures too fast as the camera moves around. On a non-D M11, the workaround is to move exposure preview to half-press of the shutter. But the D doesn’t have options for exposure preview mode, so it’s set to permanent with no way to change it.
It is handy for checking rangefinder calibration with wide aperture lenses. With f/2.8 and smaller lenses, the rangefinder is more accurate provided all is well with the lens.
The actual exposure preview and framing with the EVF is pretty good. If it looks over or underexposed, it usually is, so I rarely use the info display mode that has the blinking highlight overexposure warning or histogram.
Magnification is automatic as you turn the focus ring (zoom level can be changed with rear wheel while magnified), but that stops working on lenses that focus closer than the rangefinder works because it’s engaged by the lens to rangefinder physical connection. So I use a combination of auto zoom and the function button on top to manually zoom. With the Visoflex 2 attached, the function button has two options, and you togggle between them by pushing and holding it for one second and releasing. That switches back and forth between the default Info Profiles to Magnification. When set to Info Profiles, the function button switches between preset and unchangable display modes: focus peaking, info bars, etc. I set my preferred Info Profile (no info showing) and switch it to Magnification and leave it like that.
highdesertmesa wrote:
Figured out the next best thing: I set the "M" on the M11-D ISO dial to ISO 100. This way I can pivot from "A" to the right for ISO 64 or to the left for ISO 100.
Still makes no sense to me there are not in-between settings on the ISO dial like we have on the shutter speed dial.
Thanks for the tip. I've been doing this for my M11 since I read this.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Thanks for the tip. I've been doing this for my M11 since I read this.
Finally a use for that setting The M11-D's ISO wheel goes all the way to 50,000, so I was trying to figure out what to do with the M setting when I read your reply about wishing there was an ISO 100 setting on the M11 dial.
Love it. I have the Leica M11 thumb grip, but I like this IDS lever much better. It's also more secure on the camera since it wraps to the camera from the topside as well as the backside.
I did give it a baking soda and water wash to ensure the toxic chemicals used to blacken the brass were removed. IDS says the chemicals are washed off with water, which I don't think is enough to neutralize them. The baking soda wash does make the brass slightly less black.
I which Leica had left the M10-D lever on the M11-D and made unfolding the arm what turns on the camera or found a way to keep the lever and the on/off switch both around the shutter release dial.
highdesertmesa wrote:
Love it. I have the Leica M11 thumb grip, but I like this IDS lever much better. It's also more secure on the camera since it wraps to the camera from the topside as well as the backside.
I did give it a baking soda and water wash to ensure the toxic chemicals used to blacken the brass were removed. IDS says the chemicals are washed off with water, which I don't think is enough to neutralize them. The baking soda wash does make the brass slightly less black.
I which Leica had left the M10-D lever on the M11-D and made unfolding the arm what turns on the camera or found a way to keep the lever and the on/off switch both around the shutter release dial....Show more →
I wish they would produce a black paint version but IDS said it's not gonna happen. I may get one for my M-D.
Fred Miranda wrote:
I wish they would produce a black paint version but IDS said it's not gonna happen. I may get one for my M-D.
I would think that gloss black lacquer on brass has got to be difficult to do right, much less making it match a given camera like the M10-R Black Paint. Also, it might be too thick of a finish to be used with the moving parts of the arm around the post, requiring masking the different parts and applying two kinds of finish.
highdesertmesa wrote:
I would think that gloss black lacquer on brass has got to be difficult to do right, much less making it match a given camera like the M10-R Black Paint. Also, it might be too thick of a finish to be used with the moving parts of the arm around the post, requiring masking the different parts and applying two kinds of finish.
Fred Miranda wrote:
The one you ordered is the normal 'black'?
The one I got is called "(Dark gray) Aged Brass color". The photos available show the grip in the state you receive it in, which is a varied dark grey/black, and they also show it after being used for a while, which allows the brass to show through. The black does wear off a bit on one's thumb, hence my baking soda bath to be sure any chemicals left on/in the finish were inert. The wash didn't seem to hurt the felt they have installed on the inside of the grip.
If you're also considering one of their baseplate grips, you might want to hold off. They said they'll be coming out with a revised product soon that is much less expensive to produce.
highdesertmesa wrote:
The one I got is called "(Dark gray) Aged Brass color". The photos available show the grip in the state you receive it in, which is a varied dark grey/black, and they also show it after being used for a while, which allows the brass to show through. The black does wear off a bit on one's thumb, hence my baking soda bath to be sure any chemicals left on/in the finish were inert. The wash didn't seem to hurt the felt they have installed on the inside of the grip.
If you're also considering one of their baseplate grips, you might want to hold off. They said they'll be coming out with a revised product soon that is much less expensive to produce....Show more →
Thanks. I'm not sure I understand the role of baking soda here. Are you trying to neutralize the residual acid or chemicals used to blacken the brass to prevent skin irritation?
Fred Miranda wrote:
Thanks. I'm not sure I understand the role of baking soda here. Are you trying to neutralize the residual acid or chemicals used to blacken the brass to prevent skin irritation?
Yes, I read that a mix of baking soda and water is how you neutralize the chemicals. I think the toxicity of the solution used to blacken the brass exceeds simple skin irritation, and my concern is the water wash is insufficient.
I couldn't get confirmation from IDS as to exactly what chemical they use. They said it was non-toxic because their artist who makes them gets it on their hands, but that didn't exactly inspire confidence. I am assuming they used something like what I linked to above and simply are unaware of the dangers.
The surface of the black aged brass grip has a powdery feel to it, and it does leave black on the thumb with use, which is what made me concerned if there were residual chemicals left in the finish. Note the mention of "dust" in the precautions statement from the product linked to above. It's not just the liquid form of the chemicals that are toxic.
After the wash with baking soda and water mix, there was no more power residue on the grip that comes off on my fingers.
