I'm not used to write about technical matters and "how to do it yourself" memos, but I've searched lenghthy the web and found nothing about the topic I'm about to develop. Maybe this modest contribution may help one guy somewhere in space and time.
Leica M (typ 240) equiped with its electronic viewfinder (actually an olympus VF-2)
It's about Leica M (typ 240) camera. Since day one in my photographer's life, I am a M user. I love the simplicity it has always been, even If I don't use it in studio or for portraits jobs. But in my everyday life, I always carry it with me from the film era to the digital ages.
In 2012 Leica had the very good idea to develop an accessory giving the ability to see through the lens. Of course it's just an electronic viewfinder (of poor quality, actually) but it broaden the functionality of the whole system. Now, I can wander with this only camera and bring along lenses that doesn't exist for leica M or can't be used with the rangefinder system.
The electronic viewfinder connect itself to the camera with a reserved port and sit on the hot shoe. Which is practical but annoying, because the hot shoe is the only way to trigger a flash with a digital M. Of course I know, there is an accessory that Leica sells which is a special handgrip that brings along gps, pc sync and usb plug. Expensive and making the camera bulky. If you are an early adopter of the M10, that option isn't even in their catalogue...
I wanted to find a simpler and lighter solution. So I though about wiring the mount of the electronic viewfinder to a p/c socket. The efv has electric contacts, in its design but it seems they are not used (a central and a bracket contact point). Untill now.
I folded a tiny piece of metal to allow the contact between the hot shoe and the efv, because, you can't count on the original one. It's not centered on the main contact point.
I didn't have to weld anything. I just glued it. So it's reversible, in any case I would get bored with flash photography (ah ah!). In the end, I'll use a drop of black paint to hide the cable. Almost invisible.
Back view of the olympus VF-2. It is actually the very same piece of electronic that Leica sell as EFV-2. Some variations in the design and an other logo. On the right, the prontor/compur socket I glue on the side.
I: recycled P/C socket.
II: the two cables runs along the mount. I simply use the existing contacts from the evf-2. Central and bracket side (III).
IV: To insure a proper connection with the camera hot shoe, fold a thin piece of metal and use as an end of your wire. It should be positionned on the middle of the plate.