AKW Posted November 27, 2015 Share #1 Posted November 27, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Dear Comrades, I´ve been stalking this forum couple of years now, but never posted anything before. My english might be a bit clumsy, please forgive me. I had a chance to check out the new SL couple of days ago. It was an official first introduction in Helsinki, so there were couple of other interested colleagues as well and only one camera to play with. My questions are about the customising options for focusing: 1) Is it possible to take off the AF from the releaser and use it only via joystick (or some other button with right hand thumb)? I found that metod very useful with my Canon 5Dlll. I use continuous AF and operate it with my thumb when I need to focus. 2) Is it possible to override the AF by turning the helicoid focusing ring? There is no AF/MF selector in the lens, so chancing between AF and MF via menu sounds far too complicated. I´m sorry if these are too obvious questions, but the local Leica-agents could´t answer me since the camera was very new to them as well. Otherwise I was very impressed about the SL. I was quite positive that I will hate the EFV, but I didn´t. I don´t love it either, but I think I could get used to it. This might be a good chance to get rid off the Canon staff and to start using the great R-glass again! ...so I have started to collect my weekly pocket money to a very big bottle! Arto Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 27, 2015 Posted November 27, 2015 Hi AKW, Take a look here SL focusing methods?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wlaidlaw Posted November 27, 2015 Share #2 Posted November 27, 2015 I think (but not 100% sure) that you cannot turn off auto focus on the shutter button, if the camera is in auto focus mode. You can turn off auto focus on the joystick (see page 210 in the English manual). You can also alter the way that the shutter button locks focus and exposure (see page 223 in the English Manual). Turning the focus ring does nothing in auto focus mode but only in manual focus mode i.e there is no override. I am writing out a list of questions and "but that does not seem to work the way the manual says it does" comments to bring up when I have my one hour face to face Leica Akademie session early next month. Wilson Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Walker Posted November 27, 2015 Share #3 Posted November 27, 2015 (edited) The secret to success with any new system is not to go looking for techniques and options like you enjoyed on your previous system. Instead, think about what you want to achieve and then see how the new system can best achieve that. In your case, it sounds like you should set the camera focus system to MF and set the menu options to set AF on the 5-way rocker button for MF. Then, a press of the toggle would get you an initial auto-focus but you could then manual focus with the lens ring. Edited November 27, 2015 by peterbkk 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgktkr Posted November 27, 2015 Share #4 Posted November 27, 2015 After initially working with my SL, I was thinking the manual focus could only be done in MF mode. In AF modes, the zoom's focussing ring seemed to have no effect. But then, by chance, I discovered that you can indeed manually focus without changing any menu settings: half press the shutter release and keep it there while you rotate the focus ring. Note that when the shutter button is half pressed, the grid of AF crosses disappears, which is a good visual indication of whether the release is halfway. Now press down all the way on the shutter release to take the picture. If you don't press all the way, but instead let up on the shutter release, your manual focus point will be lost, because the next time you press the release, you have to go through half-pressed, which will cause the camera to autofocus. ... Turning the focus ring does nothing in auto focus mode but only in manual focus mode i.e there is no override. ... Wilson 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramarren Posted November 27, 2015 Share #5 Posted November 27, 2015 ... manually focus without changing any menu settings: half press the shutter release and keep it there while you rotate the focus ring. ... This is described in the Leica SL instruction manual on page 214 (English): Even if Focus Mode is set to AFs or AFc, you can focus manually at any time, i.e. override the AF setting. The statement is unfortunately too subtle ... "override the AF setting" implies that AF has already been activated, which implies that you're holding the shutter release at the half-press position. I discovered it when playing with the 24-90 lens when it had locked in a tiny bit off my target and I just turned the ring with my finger still on the release button, the way I do with the E-M1 since I usually have it set to AF-S+MF. Seems Leica dispensed with the Olympus' "AF only" options, which I applaud .. they're unnecessary. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgktkr Posted November 27, 2015 Share #6 Posted November 27, 2015 Subtle indeed! How many times have people read that passage and not picked up that meaning? This is described in the Leica SL instruction manual on page 214 (English): Even if Focus Mode is set to AFs or AFc, you can focus manually at any time, i.e. override the AF setting. The statement is unfortunately too subtle ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgktkr Posted November 28, 2015 Share #7 Posted November 28, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi Arto, If I understand things correctly: 1) Yes, with a menu setting you can have the SL initiate an autofocus and hold the position of the focusing element in the lens by pressing and holding the joystick. Then, when you press the shutter release, the camera takes a light reading at half-press and takes the picture at full-press. 2) Already answered: yes, you can override the autofocus by turning the focus ring on the lens (when the camera is in AF mode, but the shutter release has to be half pressed). dgktkr ... 1) Is it possible to take off the AF from the releaser and use it only via joystick (or some other button with right hand thumb)? I found that metod very useful with my Canon 5Dlll. I use continuous AF and operate it with my thumb when I need to focus. 2) Is it possible to override the AF by turning the helicoid focusing ring? There is no AF/MF selector in the lens, so chancing between AF and MF via menu sounds far too complicated. .. Arto Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramarren Posted November 28, 2015 Share #8 Posted November 28, 2015 1) Yes, with a menu setting you can have the SL initiate an autofocus and hold the position of the focusing element in the lens by pressing and holding the joystick. Then, when you press the shutter release, the camera takes a light reading at half-press and takes the picture at full-press. 2) Already answered: yes, you can override the autofocus by turning the focus ring on the lens (when the camera is in AF mode, but the shutter release has to be half pressed). One you're initiated AF by pressing the joystick and a focus setting locks in, you can let go of the joystick. The focus reverts to manual and the setting doesn't change until you turn the focusing ring. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKW Posted November 28, 2015 Author Share #9 Posted November 28, 2015 Many thanks for your replies! I´ll visit the shop again and try the ways you suggest. It sounds that there is some good solutions, maybe not exactly the same one I am used to, but old dog must learn new tricks... Arto Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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