Leica M11 with VisoFlex2 | 1-Year Review | 2024

in this video, I'm gonna share my own experience with the Leica VisoFlex 2, specifically for the Leica M11P, and I'll also touch on how it pairs with the M10. I really wanted to dive into this because I know a lot of you have been curious about it.
Now, I know you've got questions. "Is the VisoFlex any good?" "Should I actually consider buying a VisoFlex for my Leica?" or "Is the VisoFlex better than a traditional rangefinder?" These are all great questions, and I’m here to give you my honest opinions and findings.
First things first, let’s talk about what this video is all about: I’m sharing my personal experiences - the good, the bad, and everything in between about the VisoFlex 2. I’ve been using it in different situations and I've got some thoughts to share. Trust me, it's not all just tech specs and boring details. I’m gonna give you the real deal on how it feels to use this in real-life scenarios.
Also, you’ve gotta check out the street photography part! I was in New York last week, and I took the Leica M11 and the VisoFlex 2 out for a spin. The photos came out pretty awesome, if I do say so myself, and they really show what this setup can do in the hands of someone who loves street photography.
So, is the Leica VisoFlex 2 a good buy? Well, you’ll have to watch until the end to find out my final verdict. Whether you’re a pro photographer or just someone who loves taking great pictures, I think you’ll find this perspective interesting.
Oh, and don't forget to hit like and subscribe if you find this video helpful, or if you just love talking about photography as much as I do. Got any questions or your own experiences with the VisoFlex 2? Drop them in the comments - I love hearing from you guys and I’ll definitely get back to you.

[@GastonShutters]

For some reason one of the main clips did not make it to my final edit but one of the added advantages of the VisoFlex is to be able to focus under 0.7M with some of the newer lenses.

[@jayespinal]

Great video Gaston, I have been on the fence about getting a visoflex but you made some great points. If the ever incorporated an EVF into the M I might have to eat my words on my last camera, lol.

[@GastonShutters]

Hahaha. 😂 yeah and I’ll have to sell a kidney. Thanks for stoping by Jay.

[@k.tanaka8979]

Very nicely done, Gaston. Very accurate and informative. Completely gels with my own experiences with the new Visoflex and M11. I also share your suggestions for future refinement of Leica's EVF integration.

[@GastonShutters]

Great to hear! I have more content coming up so make sure to sub so you don’t miss a bit

[@paulsehstedt6275]

So the VisoFlex2 is sharp in many ways. 😉 I have the old one for my M240/M-P240, and it's in my camera bag 24/7. Mostly used with R-mount lenses. Keep on rolling!

[@GastonShutters]

Agreed. Thanks

[@ianforber]

I thought about getting a visoflex when I bought my M11 but I decided to stay with the pure rangefinder experience to see if I could focus ok. So far it’s been ok. I now have a lens that focuses down to 0.5m but I rarely focus that close and if I do I just use the rear screen. I plan to get a 90mm in the future so I might get a visoflex then. Good to hear your review.

[@GastonShutters]

Glad to hear. Yeah. I don’t use exclusively. But there it have been situations where the VisoFlex saved me. I like the M11 vs SL bodies. So I’m sticking to it

[@stevieraveon]

My friend and I talked about the built-in EVF, it is in the works of some sort, based on other people's info. We joked about the Fuji hybrid OVF, and our conclusion is that... well, it will be a Fuji and not a Leica. I think your note is correct... Leica will have to hold dear the history and meaning of M they have built over the years. They already have the SL, so if EVF only is what someone wants, there is a product line already. As for having an M-styled body, we can wait and see how Leica dances that fine line, without taking away from the potential M customer group.

[@GastonShutters]

Appreciate your feedback and welcome to the channel.

[@weijin8908]

I also joked that if Leica were to make an EVF only M model, then the M mount will be only a brass ring+ 6 bit reader. It’s so stupid.

[@GastonShutters]

Hahaha

[@dierktopp4780]

I am missing a very important argument! I use very wide lenses most of the time, the Leica WATE and down to Voigtlander 10mm. With these lenses you can not use the rangefinder for composing the image. And composing outside on bright lite on the screen is a mess. I had the M246 with the EVF and now got the M11 Mono with the new EVF and I love to shoot with it.

[@GastonShutters]

that is another valuable great point. Even if you wear glasses 28mm is challenging with frame lines. Thanks for your input.

[@nicolasletellier6162]

I would love a camera that like a Q3 but with an L mount (giving you the choice between AF lenses and adapt M lenses). I would jump on that without even thinking. Honestly, I thought about buying an M camera but no EVF, no tilt screen .... that is not for me. I went for the Q3 and it's an amazing camera the only thing I miss on it is the ability to change the lens.

[@GastonShutters]

me too!

[@justinavila1320]

I find the comments interesting - "If I'm using an EVF, I'm gonna bring my A7 or R5" (why carry a whole separate system if you just need an EVF here and there? but to each their own) and "If you use the EVF, maybe the M11 isn't for you, perhaps you should get the SL" (So Gaston said he uses the EVF in certain circumstances not all the time. The M11 is also a very different user experience than the SL system) I also don't get how people think it's an "If or that" "Yes or No" decision. Owning a EVF gives you OPTIONS. I would always rather have the option of having it in tough focusing situations, low light or wide aperture lenses - especially of longer focal lengths. It def opens the camera up also for perhaps more critical work where framing/focusing needs to be more key. Again, options at not a huge size or weight cost. I do agree about the resolution. Not sure how resolution engineering wise would currently work (in terms of size, power draw, stability, and cost - the SL's EVF is higher res, way larger housing - so there might be some tech limitations - but in this area I'm not an expert).

[@GastonShutters]

Also not evf can tilt like this one and I use that feature a lot !

[@justinavila1320]

@@GastonShutters yeah, once you have that feature its hard to not.

[@GastonShutters]

☝️

[@stuntmonkey00]

I used to work in a Leica boutique.... let's just say only dorks bought the Visioflex lol. The truth is, Leica's core audience is elderly, their eyesight is not getting better, and the rangefinder patch is not getting any bigger. Yes, using the rangefinder is unique... it's worse for most people. If Leica really is truly about "nothing gets in the way of shooting" they could have made a dedicated M-body with an integrated EVF, but they won't because it's not really about that, it's just about holding onto history. This is also why so much sales volume shifted from M's to Qs... people say they like the range finder history, but they vote with their dollars and not with their mouths.

[@GastonShutters]

I don’t think the new cameras are holding onto history. They are moving in the right direction to evolve.

[@webersteve1547]

I really like all of their lenses, and your "test" don't do them justice. They are not intended to be "better" than their modern counterparts, but to be an affordable (and new!) alternative to used lenses, which often come with many flaws. Also, they come in black paint, what I really appreciate

[@GastonShutters]

Was this comment meant to be under the VisoFlex video?

[@webersteve1547]

@GastonShutters no, it was intended for the lightlenslab video, don't know why it appeared here

[@GastonShutters]

Hahaha. I was confused :) thanks for coming by though

[@MarcosLopez-oy2zp]

Excellent review… thank you for the info.

[@GastonShutters]

My pleasure!

[@bubbachua]

I really like using my visoflex with the tilt angle and like a waist finder or chest finder? Allows me to take the photo at a lower perspective

[@GastonShutters]

Yes. The lore I use it the more I like it over conventional EVF on cameras that don’t tilt.

[@cryptofacts2009]

Great content like always!

[@GastonShutters]

Thanks 🙏

[@r5photography]

How do I set the “punch in” hack? I want to get as close as the Visoflex will allow. Thank you!

[@GastonShutters]

I configured the top button next to the shutter. Long press it until options to select function appear. Then using the dial title throw the 3-4 stages of magnifications (I have it on the most magnification) hope this helps

[@GastonShutters]

Would we ever see an M with built in or hybrid EVF?

[@mandiworld]

the M12?... Such blasphemy!

[@stewartlogie]

I hope they do. The rangefinder is too restrictive with my eyes and I love shooting manually with an EVF.

[@GastonShutters]

@@mandiworldhahaha. I know !

[@GastonShutters]

@@stewartlogieyeah. I feel that way at times

[@GillesQuennevilleGQ]

Thank you Gaston for sharing you knowledge. I just got a M11. Do you still have some freezing problem with your M11 ? I do have the same freezing problem you had. When I dont use a SD card in mine there is no problem anymore. When I use an SD card , many brands of the best, the problem come back in an unpredictable way. Strange. Any idea when Leica plan to solve this with a new firmware ? Regards.

[@GastonShutters]

I updated to the new firmware. I use Sony tough cards and my issues are gone. Over 2000 images in my last trip to Germany, not a single freeze other than me not having enough warm clothes due to the fact that my wardrobe is limited for living in Miami 😁

[@GillesQuennevilleGQ]

@@GastonShuttersThank you Gaston for the information. Witch Sony Tough card speed ?

[@GillesQuennevilleGQ]

No way Leica will eliminate the most famous historical to of the line viewfinder in M cameras. Thank God they never will.

[@GastonShutters]

277mb Read 150mb Write V60. UHSII

[@GastonShutters]

They won’t. They will just introduce a model variance. But I’ve also heard that they will never make a digital body, they will never have ibis and they will never add a flip screen 😁

[@exist2shootphotography875]

Great video as always. Let’s go out shooting one day around Miami.

[@GastonShutters]

Thanks 🙏 for sure!

[@sc1]

I could never buy a visoflex because how clunky it looks on the M. Just looks like it doesn’t belong. But I want the AP.

[@GastonShutters]

I hear you. Like I said. I wish they would’ve made this more streamlined!

[@SuperMassara]

If you need to focus properly with a Leica M AND use any flash/ trigger..... for example like any portrait photographer .... Compliments to the Visoflex/Leica rangefinder system . Lol

[@GastonShutters]

👍

[@schumif1champ]

I had it and returned it. Was much slower to use then the Range finder. The quality was much better then the one for my m10 but it takes away from the overall experience for me. If I put an EVF on I might as well bring a r5 or a7R.

[@GastonShutters]

I use it for critical focus but most of the time I use the Rangefinder

[@Ashaya]

Leica should have made it the same resolutions as the SL line.

[@GastonShutters]

Agreed

[@thomassteininger6346]

Maybe a M is not the right camera for you?

[@GastonShutters]

Love my M11P

[@thomassteininger6346]

@@GastonShutters I totally agree. I just think if you are using the EVF all the time you miss the rangefinder experience and the EVF of the SL system is far superior to the Visoflex (which I don’t like at all)

[@GastonShutters]

I actually use my rangefinder 90% of the time. My VisoFlex 2 stays in my bag just in case. Most likely during critical focus under 0.7 meters. While I’m looking forward to see what the SL3 will be about, I still consider that body too big for street and the fact that I have to adapt my M lenses doesn’t get me all that excited. I like the M11 the way it is. But I’m not gonna lie, a hybrid viewfinder option would be interesting.

[@elderinmoi1571]

I don’t need nor want a M with an evf. I also don’t need this visoflex as i much prefer a simple setup. As an add on in case you need it ist Fine - Build in no. I am pretty sure wie wont see a Future M with an evf.

[@GastonShutters]

In fact there is a Rumor that not only is possible but Leica is working on one already. The Q3 is almost there. They have the tech. It will happen. There are a lot of people with bad eye sight that would love something like that. I’m one of those.

[@Anatol19066]

Noooo… upcoming new sl3 with m-lenses will be a way better solution than this lego-like extra 750$ additional viewfinder on the top of m11.

[@GastonShutters]

SL3 seems promising. But can’t beat the 💪 vilify of the M11. The EVF on the M11 is optional not necessary. I’ve been using more and more the screen for critical focus and Close focus lenses

[@nerucheung]

Rented the SL2 for a trip, and it felt like a heavy brick, and it's not comfortable using it all day long

[@Anatol19066]

@@nerucheung SL2 is only 300g heavier than M11 - 835g vs 530g, actually with M lenses SL2 is not that bad.

[@GastonShutters]

I prefer smaller cameras and the SL3 feels good. Smaller and lighter. Especially with Sigma DGDN primes

[@jpm74]

🤦‍♂️ Stop this talk about M cameras with EVFs. They can make a better visioflex or make another Q with a zoom or 50mm version or make a smaller SL, but the M can’t have an EVF.

[@GastonShutters]

Like I mentioned in the video