This is an ongoing project which I will add to indefinitely! As I find ideas that work universally or for special applications, I’ll get them listed here. Note that everything here has a story behind it that I have written about. See the links with each one for an in-depth discussion.
The EVF or Electronic Viewfinder Core Settings
- Setting and knowing the brightness level of your EVF is critical in this camera body to ensure you understand your exposure before you press the shutter. Read about my experience here. Other core EVF setting tips will also be in this section.
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Consider setting your EVF brightness to a neutral setting. I use zero adjustment so it isn't darker or brighter. This helps me assess the exposure of the scene through the EVF and get what I expect rather than lighter or darker RAW files. Always check the histogram to be sure!
- Setting the preview mode in the EVF will not only speed up setting the focus and proper exposure, it can enrich the time taking photographs and assist in more keepers. Read about my analysis of all three modes here.
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Consider using the Preview Mode = Permanent over the Half-Shutter Press and Off modes. Permanent means the view through the EVF is the expected image all the time allowing for fine tuning exposure.
Focusing Settings and Tips
Focusing with the EVF is arguably one of the most talked about items related to the Leica EV1. Here are the results of my focusing experiences and the most efficient settings I have found from day-to-day use.
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The most efficient focusing method with Leica M lenses is using the Automatic Zoom. Select the menu item: Capture Assistants > then Focus Aid and set it to Automatic. Then turning a Leica M lens to focus automatically shows the zoomed view.
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To quickly reset the focus point to the center consider using the top custom button. Press the top function button next to the shutter release, and hold it until a menu appears. Then scroll down and select “center view.” Pressing that button now recenters the zoomed view no matter where it is currently positioned.
Info Profiles to Enhance the EVF Experience
- The profiles that setup the information shown in your EVF during capture mode are made for different situations you encounter when making photographs. Using them to make the process faster is important and here are some ways to do that.
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Consider setting the first, or most used, Info Profile to use clipping; it will quickly tell you if you need to adjust the exposure to protect the highlights or shadows. This is an improvement over the guesswork with a rangefinder, even when using highlight-weighted average metering.