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This is what I found (Firmware 1.1):

 

Scenario A

- Zoom/Lock-Button: AFL

When I press the back button the camera will AF, I don't have to hold it

When I (half-)-press the shutter, the focus does not change

 

 

- Zoom/Lock-Button: AEL/AFL

When I use the back button the camera will AF and measure exposure

If I want to keep the settings, I have to keep pressing the backbutton otherwise the cam

 

Scenario C:

- Zoom/Lock-Button: AEL

When I use the back button the camera will measure exposure

If I want to keep the setting, I have to keep pressing the backbutton otherwise the camera will re-measure when (half-)pressing the shutter.

Pressing the shutter will AF

 

Everybody is right :)

 

I agree for scenario  C ; it is a great disappointment for me, because I used this with all my Nikon(s) without have to keep pressing button.

Is it possible to hope better in a future update ?

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x

In addition to the problem of having to hold the button down, which introduces camera shake as you move the position of your fingers, there is another problem.   As far as I know, there is no indication in the viewfinder to confirm that exposure is locked.  Canon displays a dot to confirm lock.   

Perhaps AEL and/or AFL is enabled, but how do we know?   If Leica does fix AEL and AFL in a firmware revision, can we have a confirmation indicator please.

 

As always, correct me if I'm wrong please.

Edited by lucerne
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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

Personally I don't give a shit about the exposure lock all I want to do is lock the focus and then recompose and then let the camera decide what the exposure is at the new composition..........the beauty of having the histogram in the viewfinder is, you can dial in +/- exposure with the rear wheel before hitting the shutter release ....Job done :)

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(...) the beauty of having the histogram in the viewfinder is, you can dial in +/- exposure with the rear wheel before hitting the shutter release ....Job done :)

 

You just described an alternate, instant, way of doing expo compensation (aside locking it on a peculiar scene detail): indeed, that's a very strong point of the Q IMHO: that, depending on the context or taste, there are various ways to do the same thing, all very simple.

 

Another that comes to mind is aperture control, either with the left hand, already in place on the lens, or via shifting with the rear wheel.

 

I cannot but remember Apple's apogee time, when similarly the same action could be performed via click, menu, button, and you just used the simplest way depending on what you were doing*.

 

I hadn't got this groovy feeling since then, and that was looong ago.

 

I didn't buy the Q for its user interface (OK, I read the notice before) but this feature is extremely appreciated, definitely.

 

H.

(*) and managed to not guffaw at MSDOS users announcing they got ex-xactly the same result by shift-control-clicking on the upper-left side of the second subpane when in the option dialog

Edited by Herve5
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Personally I don't give a shit about the exposure lock all I want to do is lock the focus and then recompose and then let the camera decide what the exposure is at the new composition..........the beauty of having the histogram in the viewfinder is, you can dial in +/- exposure with the rear wheel before hitting the shutter release ....Job done :)

 

Focused locked with back button.  Recompose.  Works well.  But the histogram disappears when you begin to dial in + or - exposure compensation, and the scale appears, so you need to make the adjustment based on memory and visual judgement of the scene but without the feedback that the histogram should provide.  Are you ok with that?  I think I'll use this technique, - especially for creativity in night scenes.

Edited by lucerne
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...the beauty of having the histogram in the viewfinder is, you can dial in +/- exposure with the rear wheel before hitting the shutter release ....Job done :)

 

 

Except the histogram doesn't change until you confirm the exposure compensation change.   And the histogram doesn't change at all if you are using full manual mode.  Grumble.

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

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Just got my new Q fired up with a newly charged battery............I think its going to take me a while to find the zoom button as it is awkward to find it with the Q Thumbs UP in place :(

in fact everybutiton is hard to find with my big hands but I am sure I will get used to it. Anyway enough talking I need to go out and try it out

Later

 

Neil

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

I've given up on the back button focus lark. For me to be able to use that function I would need to leave the thumbs up off and I ain't doing that as I like it plus it's no big deal using half press

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

I don't use the thumbs up but I've read that some say if they press in on the thumbs up it will flex just enough depress the back button. Have you tried that?

No it's too fare away from it
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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

No it's too fare away from it

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

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I have used back focusing for many years on Canon DSLR's photographing mainly wildlife and especially birds. I feel in that environment it is superior to AF with a half-shutter press. On the Q, I have not found it to be very necessary. I have a Thimbs Up which somewhat guards the button used for back focusing. In general though I've felt very comfortable with the normal AF and a half shutter push. At times I use MF which I think is great on the Q along with focus peaking. I'm not photographing fast moving objects with the Q like I do with the Canon so maybe that's why I've not moved in the BF direction. Anyway my 2 cents.

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Might I ask which thumbs up you are using?  The one I have is shorter than yours and makes using that back button almost impossible in practical real world use. 

 

Neil appears to be using the Thumbs Up version which was specifically designed for the Q.  These can be purchased via some Leica dealers and possibly via the company direct. It has a very narrow shank that doesn't cover the back button.   I am using an older model from my M9 which is both longer and covers the button, but I have explained on other posts that I can press the shank and it makes enough pressure contact on the button to be usable.  

I have the. Button configured to change zoom, not to to focus.    

I know you have already purchased a TU, but do ask yourself if you really need it.  I have better handling of my Q by fitting a leather case that incorporates a one piece metal base and grip.  

Use the search facility to find and read posts on grips and thumbs up.

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

Might I ask which thumbs up you are using?  The one I have is shorter than yours and makes using that back button almost impossible in practical real world use. 

 

I am using the TU that was designed specifically for the Q and I bought it from www.JnK-handworks.com in Korea . They are great to deal with and weather than ordering directly from there website I normally just email them at sejun99<at>naver.com and tell them what I want, they then send you a PayPal invoice and bobs your uncle you get a new thumbs up or case or whatever you decide to buy from them.

I hope this helps

Neil

Edited by jaapv
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I use the TU designed for the Q and have no problems shooting with AFL mapped to the back button, for me I've been doing it for years on my DSLRs and it's very natural. No issues functionally on the Q and TU. 

 

Lots of valid points in the thread, it may not be for everyone.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Interesting thread to read after ploughing through the Q manual and trying out the various permutations on my new Q. At the moment I'm favouring the thumb button set to AEL and the shutter button half-press for AFL.  The FN button is set to cycle through multi-field, centre-weighted and spot metering, so that I can easily change these depending on the scene I'm trying to capture.  If I judge that there is no need to have separate exposure and focus points, a half-press on the shutter button locks both and I can recompose as required.  If I do judge there is a need, then aim at my chosen exposure point, press & hold the thumb button, recompose to lock focus with a half-press then recompose again (if needed) and complete the shot.  

 

Hopefully the gales and heavy rain will cease before tomorrow so that I can get out & about trying the camera for real, rather than sitting indoors pointing it at various things around the house!

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For some time I have had my Q back-button set to AEL; but quite frankly I forget to use to use more often than not. Once you discover the ease accuracy and advantages of manual focusing, I can understand why several users choose that method in preference to using the excellent AF.

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For some time I have had my Q back-button set to AEL; but quite frankly I forget to use to use more often than not. Once you discover the ease accuracy and advantages of manual focusing, I can understand why several users choose that method in preference to using the excellent AF.

 

 

I'm finding myself using manual focus more often than not.   I like that I don't have to wonder if the camera picked the right object to be in focus.  Another thing is that it stops me from wondering what happened to the button on the back when I'm using my M :)

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