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Error in R lens reporting for 80-200/f4 Vario Elmar-R on SL


wlaidlaw

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Most of the R lens reporting on the images seems to be OK but the 80-200/4 Vario Elmar R is not reporting correctly. If you select this lens in the R lens menu then the lens reports as 0 (zero) mm focal length on the image. It also does not trigger the shutter speed/focal length control in auto ISO in aperture priority. If you select instead say the APO Telyt-R 280/f4, this reports correctly on the image and Auto ISO works as expected. I have not tried to see if the other R zoom lenses also report wrongly or if this is just a sole example. It is another thing to put on my list for my meeting with Leica on the 9th. 

 

 

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True (I see the same), but how can the SL know the focal length when there is no connection with the lens? The only thing the SL knows is that you have an R lens mounted, and that you have told it that the R lens is the 80-200.

I assume this is the same reason why the auto ISO control is not triggered correctly.

I have this lens, but anticipate that the new R-T adapter next year (???) will make the connection more intelligent.

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True (I see the same), but how can the SL know the focal length when there is no connection with the lens? The only thing the SL knows is that you have an R lens mounted, and that you have told it that the R lens is the 80-200.

I assume this is the same reason why the auto ISO control is not triggered correctly.

I have this lens, but anticipate that the new R-T adapter next year (???) will make the connection more intelligent.

Paul,

 

This lens reports as an 80mm/f4 on images on the M240, if you select it from the R lens menu and Auto ISO works as if for an 80mm fixed lens. As I don't have an 80mm/f4 prime, I would know perfectly well what lens it was. 

 

As far as auto ISO on the SL I would expect it to work likewise to the M240, as either an 80mm or maybe more sensibly, as a 140mm i.e half way through the zoom range. That is much better than saying "oh it's a zoom lens, we won't bother with auto ISO or lens info". That is a lazy programmer's  cop out and as far as not reporting any focal length at all, that is just wrong.

 

If they could get it to work on the M240, they can get it to work on the SL. 

 

Wilson

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Most of the R lens reporting on the images seems to be OK but the 80-200/4 Vario Elmar R is not reporting correctly. If you select this lens in the R lens menu then the lens reports as 0 (zero) mm focal length on the image. It also does not trigger the shutter speed/focal length control in auto ISO in aperture priority. If you select instead say the APO Telyt-R 280/f4, this reports correctly on the image and Auto ISO works as expected. I have not tried to see if the other R zoom lenses also report wrongly or if this is just a sole example. It is another thing to put on my list for my meeting with Leica on the 9th. 

 

Wilson, please do bring this up, even though it is a nit.  Leica has had a history throughout the M digital series, of leaving holes in the firmware tables.  Missing data like the maximum lens aperture has been common.  In this case it makes the auto ISO inoperative.

 

scott

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Scott, 

 

I am now up to a page and a half (hand written in my big writing) of mostly minor points other than the flash only working in manual, which for me is major. As long as all these points are fixable in firmware, I don't mind very much, as I would rather have the camera in my hot sticky paws, than wait for it to be perfect.

 

In reality end users always find bugs that inside people don't. This is why Apple has such an active beta software testing community. Apple actually does respond back. I am running OS 10.11.2 Beta 5 at the moment and found a problem on Safari browser. I have had a long list of questions back from Apple after reporting this and a special diagnostic tool to run if it happens again. 

 

Wilson

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My Rom 21-35 zoom doesn't show on the DMR images in Lightroom, either under the histogram, or in the exif column (the "focal length" entry itself disappears).

Same thing with the f4 35-70 zoom, which I no longer have. I think Leica decided that the actual focal length used per image was too difficult to determine, even though I thought that the flash system supposedly used this info. Perhaps the lens doesn't output this at all.

 

So when the new R-adapter L comes out next year, even if it passes ROM data, this will probably be the same issue.

 

John

Edited by jpattison
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Scott, 

 

I am now up to a page and a half (hand written in my big writing) of mostly minor points other than the flash only working in manual, which for me is major. As long as all these points are fixable in firmware, I don't mind very much, as I would rather have the camera in my hot sticky paws, than wait for it to be perfect.

 

In reality end users always find bugs that inside people don't. This is why Apple has such an active beta software testing community. Apple actually does respond back. I am running OS 10.11.2 Beta 5 at the moment and found a problem on Safari browser. I have had a long list of questions back from Apple after reporting this and a special diagnostic tool to run if it happens again. 

 

Wilson

I appreciate your carrying this stuff in careful list form.  I am sure that Leica spots the big things that come up in blog posts (like strange KeyLock side effects, and the position of the focus magnifier), but am less sure that they care about completing all the details in their firmware tables to support less common lenses.

 

scott

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Sounds like a bug in the lens code table. Mention it to them, but also file a bug report. My experience is that bug reports, filed individually per issue found with sufficient information, are the most likely to be noticed and addressed.

 

I've tested nearly all of my R lenses ... I don't have any zooms. All report in the EXIF data correctly. That includes:

 

Elmarit-R 19

Elmarit-R 24

Summicron-R 35

Summilux-R 50

Summicron-R 50

Macro-Elmarit-R 60

Summicron-R 90

Elmarit-R 135

Elmar-R 180

Telyt-R 250

 

I have not yet tested the Elmarit-R 180. 

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My Rom 21-35 zoom doesn't show on the DMR images in Lightroom, either under the histogram, or in the exif column (the "focal length" entry itself disappears).

Same thing with the f4 35-70 zoom, which I no longer have. I think Leica decided that the actual focal length used per image was too difficult to determine, even though I thought that the flash system supposedly used this info. Perhaps the lens doesn't output this at all.

 

So when the new R-adapter L comes out next year, even if it passes ROM data, this will probably be the same issue.

 

John

HI There

The zooms currently use the widest focal length to determine the auto ISO, and the focal length will show up the same way in the exif in LR . . . .unless the code is broken as it appears to be with the 80-200. I've been suggesting that they should use the mid focal length for Auto ISO calculations (seems more sensible), but I don't know if that'll happen . . . . but I'd agree that the actual focal length is unlikely to be shown even with the R adapter - but I'm not sure that's a catastrophe - as long as it sends something sensible for the Auto ISO.

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Jonathan,

 

I too suggested using for example, 140mm for the 80-200 lens, as certainly for auto ISO, this makes sense. Got a distinct sniff of NIH (not invented here) over this. I think when corrected, they will go with the bottom focal length like they use on the M240. 

 

Wilson

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In AutoISO configuration with an adapted zoom, if the lens code reports minimum focal length, it's probably most effective to use 1/2f as the baseline since most of the better zooms are in the 2:1 to 4:1 range. Given the bug in the lens code for the 80-200, I'd set the baseline for 1/160 sec. 

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That is what I normally do, as I don't have very steady hands. If Leica in an extraordinary fit of out of character behaviour, decided that Jonathan's and my suggestion of adopting the median focal length of the zoom to give as the lens focal length on EXIF info (if they really cannot show both ends), also made sense for Auto ISO, then 1/(2x focal length) would be less required. It is all a bit moot as far as I am concerned, as I am about to sell my last R lens, other than the oddity of the Hartblei Tilt-Shift. 

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I think the R to T will read the ROM and whatever information it can provide, including actual focal length, assuming that the ROM is what transmits this and not another transducer. I suspect Auto Aperture is going to be less likely, no matter how desirable it is, as it would need a stepper motor in the adapter to do this, which might take the cost beyond what Leica believe is marketable. 

 

Wilson

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But my R9 DOES know the actual focal length set on my 80-200mm f4.0 Vario Elmar-R as it does adjust the flash accordingly.  So, the information is there, the camera just has to get it and use it!

 

Guy

So does my R8/DMR

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