Leica SL Firmware v.2.0 answers our wishes

[adamdewilde]

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I presume "the 24mm lens" means the SL24-90 set to 24mm focal length.

 

The SL24-90 is designed for image correction, which is applied both in-camera and in raw converters that have the right version of DNG processing in them (the correction parameters are embedded in the DNG file's metadata for processing at raw conversion time according to the DNG v1.3 or v1.4 specification). With such lenses, it is normal that the listed focal length is for the processed image's angle of view. Lightroom 6.4 and later have the correct camera calibration and the correct image processing algorithms for these raw files. 

 

I haven't seen the behavior you mention at all, where the unprocessed image is visible in the SL viewfinder—not with firmware 1.2, with any of the beta releases that led up to firmware 2.0, nor with firmware 2.0 release—and not in any JPEG or raw file from the SL. If you're not using the current Lightroom (or Adobe Camera Raw) to process the images, then it could be a processing issue ... but that doesn't explain seeing the unprocessed image on the SL's EVF. 

 

Puzzling. 

 

 

Yeah sorry I meant 24mm end of the zoom lens. 

I know why Leica applies both optical and digital corrections (personally I think it's a cop out move to apply digital corrections at their selling price, but whatever).. I just think it's funny that sometimes the EVF gets tricked. It's a bit annoying for framing, though no matter since it happens infrequently. Would anyone like to see samples of what it looks like when the EVF glitches? I don't have the ability to shoot into the EVF (I could I guess) but easier to show you what it looks like by posting an uncorrected file vs corrected file (if anyone is curious). 

 

FYI the crop is kinda severe on the wide end. You must be loosing half an inch all around at 8x10 sizes.. So if you scaled up in print size, you're loosing quite a bit. Probably matters to some, but I don't think I'll be shooting w/the zoom much when the 50Lux is in my hands. Not really a complaint even. Just an observation. 

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[ramarren]

You're not really losing anything ... You are getting a 24mm FoV, the fact that the focal length is a bit shorter to allow for rectilinear correction is of no consequence. I've matched the output of the SL24-90 with my Elmarit-R 24mm and they're as near to identical in FoV as you can get with two radically different lenses. 

 

If anyone wants to see an uncorrected image, all they have to do is open the DNG with VueScan (pro version). VueScan uses the dcraw conversion engine to do raw conversion and that does not support DNG v1.3-1.4 correction processing. 

 

I've not seen any of the issues you mention with my camera. Given that you have a few glitchy things happening on a periodic basis, it might be wise to call Leica and see if they can do an analysis of your camera. It could be a flakey motherboard in that particular camera. 

[turbonetics]

I tried a few times to download the FW 2.0 but when I double click to install, it cannot proceed.

the message says "Safari can’t open the file “601__20_.lfu” because no available application can open it."

Iam using iMac, any Apps that I need to install to be able to install the FW 2.0?

 

Thanks.

[pop]

I tried a few times to download the FW 2.0 but when I double click to install, it cannot proceed.

the message says "Safari can’t open the file “601__20_.lfu” because no available application can open it."

Iam using iMac, any Apps that I need to install to be able to install the FW 2.0?

 

Thanks.

Please read the instructions which you can download as well. You don't double click the file. You just move the file on to your SD card and turn your camera on in a specific way which is also described in the instructions.

[thighslapper]

Oh dear ...... I suggest you download and read the accompanying installation PDF. 

[ramarren]

With fw 2.0, the .flu file is the update binary. You don't double click it on the Mac or Windows system; you copy it to the SL's storage card, put the card in the camera, and run it from the menu in the camera. 

 

Read the installation instructions.    (Yeah, we all say that ...)

[turbonetics]

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Thanks to all.

now charging my battery and hope all works well.

[Albert Andersen]

Leica has published an extensive firmware update for the Leica SL (Type 601). The latest version 2.0 now brings the long-awaited direct exposure compensation in P, T and A mode, an advanced flash compatibility and many more. It is available for download in the Leica Owners’ Area.

• DNG-files can be played back in more details when zoomed in to 100% max (6000x4000).
• Touch AF is improved, AF will be applied by touch up.
• Longer manual shutter speed added (up to 30 min)
• Support for more Leica flash devices improved.
• Improving time code menu options.
• Improving power saving during long exposure shots and Interval shots.
• Flash exp. compensation is added to favorite list and to customized buttons.
• Adding direct exp. Compensation in setup menu, enabling exp. correction via top and rear dials in P, T and A mode.
• The list of M and R-lenses are editable now (can be switched ON and OFF). The name of the lens will be showing in the menu.
• Adding the video rec button to the customized buttons (when Mode-Lock is On).
• Improving image quality in Jpeg-files (extreme yellowish tint in over exposed areas)
• Adding noise reduction settings menu for Jpeg-files (low, medium and high).
• Adding the possibility to change the file name (only first letter).
• Improving AUTO ISO settings, separating video / photo settings, adding minimum ISO setting
• Option to display WLAN password during input.
• Adding focus peaking sensitivity by a menu in setup (low and high)
• Adding Focus peaking icon in LV.
• More letters added to Profile name (max. 10 letters).
• Improving tracking AF.
• Improving AF for horizontal objects.
• Adding more AF-steps in setup menu (1 and 5 steps).
• More UHS-II cards are supported ( Toshiba and Lexar second generation)
• Adding the support of XMP rating for Adobe Software (rated pictures will be shown as rated in Adobe LR and PS).
• Histogram box is transparent, to avoid covering Live view areas.
• Adding a menu for electronic shutter with 1/16000 sec in CAMERA Menu.
• The AF-frame doesn’t disappear in burst shooting (for low speed and medium speed)
• Combining the video format and the resolution in one menu.
• Adding 1 point AF in magnified situation (3x and 6x).
• Improved TTL/HSS mode (flash)
• Renaming of WLAN modes (Host / Client –> Create WLAN / Join WLAN)
• SD card writing errors solved

Firmware Betatest in the Leica Forum

 

The new Firmware was tested by a group of Leica Forum members, who found some issues that Leica could finally solve. Thanks to all the betatesters for helping to improve the firmware!

 

Hi.

From time to time I still have this fail popping up on the screen:

• SD card writing errors
•  
• I have changed card, but writing to card still fails. I have had to switch  the camera off, removed the battery, reinstalled it, switch the camera on, before it was possible to save pictures to the card again.
• Are there others there have faced this problem.
• My Card is SanDisk SDHC Extreme Pro 16 GB. and FW 2.0

[AlanJW]

 

Hi.

From time to time I still have this fail popping up on the screen:

• SD card writing errors
•  
• I have changed card, but writing to card still fails. I have had to switch  the camera off, removed the battery, reinstalled it, switch the camera on, before it was possible to save pictures to the card again.
• Are there others there have faced this problem.
• My Card is SanDisk SDHC Extreme Pro 16 GB. and FW 2.0

 

Not had this at all, either under 2.0 or earlier firmware.   I am using 64G Sandisk and 64G Lexar.   One thing to try is to format the card using SDFormatter (free for download).

[LocalHero1953]

 

Hi.

From time to time I still have this fail popping up on the screen:

• SD card writing errors
•  
• I have changed card, but writing to card still fails. I have had to switch  the camera off, removed the battery, reinstalled it, switch the camera on, before it was possible to save pictures to the card again.
• Are there others there have faced this problem.
• My Card is SanDisk SDHC Extreme Pro 16 GB. and FW 2.0

 

I've not had this at all. You say "still": did it happen before f/w v2?

[Albert Andersen]

Not had this at all, either under 2.0 or earlier firmware.   I am using 64G Sandisk and 64G Lexar.   One thing to try is to format the card using SDFormatter (free for download).

 

It is formatted both in SD formater and in the camera.

[Albert Andersen]

I've not had this at all. You say "still": did it happen before f/w v2?

No, it is only with FW 2.0.

[AlanJW]

Try formatting only in sdfirmatter. You will keep your folder structure that way too Try a new card. If that doesn't work you could have a problem with your camera.

[rafikiphoto]

Try formatting only in sdfirmatter. You will keep your folder structure that way too Try a new card. If that doesn't work you could have a problem with your camera.

 

I see that SDformatter has various options to choose from. What is are the optimum settings we should use?

[pop]

In your case I would use the option which overwrites each sector or block once; I don't know what it's called.

[AlanJW]

In your case I would use the option which overwrites each sector or block once; I don't know what it's called.

@Rafikiphoto:  There is "Quick Format" and "Overwrite Format".   Assuming that quick was ineffective for you, the next step is Overwrite, which takes longer.   Then, I'd put the card directly in the camera without another formatting and see what happens.  I assume you have made sure the contacts are clean on the card.   If you still have a problem, then it is worth trying another card the same way.  If this does not work, you could have a problem with your camera.  I doubt it is FW 2.0, as there have been no reports of new card issues created by 2.0 so that is probably a coincidence.  

[rafikiphoto]

AlanJW: thanks, it is Albert Andersen with the SL problem, in my case the problem wasn't with my SL but with my Fujifilm X-T1. I used SDFormatter on a new card (Full Overwrite) and put it in the Fuji and the camera could not see the card. Out of interest I put that card into my SL which recognised it without problem so I tried again in the Fuji, still not recognised. I put it again in the SL and formatted it there then again into the Fuji which recognised it at last and after formatting I have used it without problems. My question about best settings for SDformatter was in case I wasn't using SDFormatter properly.

[J S H]

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that the 24mm lens is actually more like 21-22mm that is then cropped pretty significantly. Exactly like the issue with the Q.

 

It's fine because for the most part the EVF applies this crop when you're shooting. So you kinda know what you're getting, or don't know what you're missing so to speak. BUT once in a while I'll compose a scene and it'll be using a glitched EVF view somehow. So I'll get the full 21mm-22mm frame with dark corners. I won't really notice but when I go home to load the images, things I didn't want cut off are now cut off. And I'll have to open the DNG with another RAW developer to get my full scene to save said picture. 

 

This hasn't happened to me with the Q that I can recall.. But it happens fairly often (well enough to notice after the fact) with the SL. Anyone else notice this? Obviously you have to use the 24-90 zoom so M/R users would never see/know about this.

Along the lines of what you are seeing, I have discovered a similar problem. I suspect the two issues are connected...

 

There is definitely a glitch in how the SL manages the lens corrections and writes them to the DNG files. I am a cinematographer and I use the SL occasionally for timelapse sequences because it is my most weather resistant camera.

 

If the camera has plenty of time to do everything, it usually produces DNG files with the appropriate lens corrections embedded, which are then visible in LR and everything is as it should be. However, when I try to shoot the sequence as fast as the buffer will allow, I often see DNG files in the sequence without the lens corrections embedded. When this happens, the footage is unusable, as the corrections are quite noticeable, especially on the wide end. Within the confines of LR, there is no way to fix the problem, as the corrections are not being implemented on a level that the user can access. It's possible that some other RAW developer would allow you to disable the corrections, but it obviously can't create them out of thin air, so the problem doesn't have a fix on the user side and will need to be fixed on the firmware side. I have never noticed this behavior by looking through the viewfinder, but it would be hard to discern, unless you were looking very carefully. Either way, there is definitely an issue with the firmware, but it happens so randomly that it may be tough for Leica to diagnose and correct (or they may already know about the issue, but cannot fix it).

 

Attached are 2 successive images from a timelapse sequence that were taken 1 second apart with the 24-90 at 30MM. You can see that the 2nd image is a little wider, maybe 10%. It wouldn't be a huge issue for normal photography, but it is a deal breaker for timelapse cinematography. It goes without saying that my other "professional" cameras don't suffer from this problem. Also, for what it's worth, it happens with the M lenses as well, assuming that the camera knows what lens is attached and that there is a correction profile for the lens.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[thighslapper]

Very odd. I suspect the corrections are from a simple 'look up table' in the firmware dictated by the lens focal length and involve no processing at all ....... and are just written to the appropriate EXIF parameter slots in the DNG. 

That should take a minuscule amount of time and even if you were doing 14/sec bursts and filling the buffer it is hard to see how and why this should happen......

I note that others have reported the lens serial no. no longer appears in EXIF either ...... but that is a constant error .... whereas this is sporadic. 

Would be interesting to see if it vanishes with modest capacity very fast cards wiped and formatted with SD-formatter.

This ...... and previous M series lock-ups are all to my mind highly suspicious of card writing bottlenecks and associated firmware glitches. 

[scott kirkpatrick]

These parameters are complex enough that I could see timing issues arising with fast bursts.  The distortion and LCA corrections are put into 12 opcode parameters, that depend quite sensitively on the lens focal length, since the 24-90 has barrel distortion from 24 until around 50 mm and a smaller amount of pincushion distortion from there to 90 mm.  There are four parameters for each color, and they are not the same...  You won't find them in the EXIF, but in a section for manufacturer's profile that a tool like the Adobe SDK can extract.  It's called "Warp Rectilinear," and that's what it does.

 

So it might be valuable to have another user with the 24-90 verify this and report it if it is a regular occurence.  Of course card speed might be a factor.  And the cards with the fastest specs are not always the fastest in a Leica camera.

 

scott