Question-Vario-Elmarit 24-90mm lens and sports applications

[Jeffry Abt]

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I'm very interested in how the Vario-Elmarit 24-90mm lens is working in the

Dynamic (Tracking) mode in sports applications. At the time of the SL release there was some negativity expressed in a few reviews. 

 Any news from SL users would be helpful!. Is the lens tracking fast enough to keep up with a basketball player as he drives to the basket and you were sitting on the baseline? 

This is a must for me! A 24-90mm lens is just right as far as focal length and half court. But "Tracking" is my concern....college players move around quickly! Is the lens working for you in fast moving applications?

[Jared]

I've been using mine to photograph my daughter's riding lessons, and at 5fps drive rate it can keep up with a horse coming towards me at a canter with about an 80% hit rate at a distance of between 20 and 5 feet. That's probably similar to what you would encounter at a basketball game. However, the horse is certainly much more predictable than a basketball player which may make it easier for the camera to track. Perhaps not--the camera may not care since it is always trying to stay in focus.

 

The camera has no "predictive" capabilities since it has no phase detection points--just contrast. As a result it can't decide how much to shift focus on the lens to be ready for the next shot. It just shifts the focus, checks to see if it's there yet, and shifts focus some more.

 

My understanding is that it makes no attempt to focus between frames at 11fps--just leaves the focus and exposure set to the values determined in the first frame of the series. This contradicts the instruction manual but is consistent with what several reviewers have said. I haven't checked myself since I tend not to shoot at 11fps.

 

I think it's iffy whether you would be happy with it for basketball games. It's certainly not up to the level of a Nikon D4, for example. Not even close. If this is one of your primary uses for the camera as opposed to just a, "wouldn't it be nice if it could also..." then I would look elsewhere. If you are just hoping to add some occasional sports photography to your shooting and you're not being paid to get the shot I'd say give it a whirl.

 

- Jared

[fsprow]

While I had my SL with zoom, I used it at a tennis match. Follow focus on the players was fair at best - well off the performance of my Nikons with AFS lenses.

[Jeffry Abt]

I would truly love to sell my Nikon kit and go completely Leica. But it looks as if I must hold on to the D4 etc. 

I  am disipointed a bit in that the SL is not up to true Pro standards. When one covers a  variety of events  throughout the day and then sports added on top of that, one can not be caring around a camera that is not up to par. Good "Focus Tracking" is critical in my view.

 

One day I'll  probably need to invest in the Nikon D5 but I don't want to!  But there will be no joy in it! 

[Jared]

It's definitely good enough for professional use for event photography, for example, but it's not a sports camera and firmware isn't going to change that. The lens autofocus is fast enough, but without phase detection autofocus it's not going to compete with a D4 for sports.

 

- Jared

[Jeffry Abt]

 If you to work for a small town newspaper, your camera must be both an event camera and a sports camera. Your budget won't allow for a separate camera for sports and one for  events.  Don't get me wrong; I'm a Leica fanboy, but if one is going  to call something a pro camera, that camera must do both! 

[Jared]

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Totally understand. I wouldn't recommend switching from Nikon, then. It's just not capable enough as a sports camera for someone who makes their living from consistent, accurately focused action shots.

 

- Jared

[steppenw0lf]

Hi,

I give it a try even though I'm no sports fotografer.

First I think the 24-90 is probably not ideal for sports, the 90-280 might be much better suited, at least for my taste.

Second I take sports fotos only occasionally. I did not buy the 24-90, so I am actually using manual focus (R 180 or 280, sometimes 100). But even with a AF camera (Nikon D800 or Canon 5Ds) I usually try to prefocus and to deactivate autofocus. I just press the shutter when I think the target is close or running in the right direction and fire away as fast as possible. I think this way the camera reacts much quicker (which is maybe just a subjective impression and not necessarily true).

I learned it that way with the old Leica R and I still do not really like to work with continuous AF. (I usually don't trust it).

Maybe this is not good enough for a professional fotographer. Correction: Probably this is not good enough ...    Certainly ...

But I can get some hits, and I don't mind if not every single shot is a hit. (Actually often most of the shots are for the bin).     You can probably not afford such a low hit rate.

Stephan

 

P.S. When the 90-280 is available, you could rent it for a week or just 1-2 days to give it a try. Regarding the risc of a system change, that's probably affordable.