hdmesa Posted May 30, 2017 Share #1 Posted May 30, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) My other camera is the original Canon 5D, and I use the single center point for focusing just like I do the Q. In darker, low-contrast outdoor scenes, I've always been able to get my 5D to lock focus by picking out the edge of a cloud against the sky (either dark cloud against a light sky or a pink cloud against a blue sky, etc.). However, with the Q, this doesn't seem to work - I keep getting the red square, and I either have to move down and try to focus lock on the horizon edge or switch to manual focus and move it to infinity. Is there something I'm missing? It works fine in good light, but if it's overcast and darker, the Q simply cannot lock on to a contrast-based edge in the sky. Could the issue be the overly-large Q focus square that's trying to lock into a larger area than the specific edge on which I'm placing it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 30, 2017 Posted May 30, 2017 Hi hdmesa, Take a look here Focus Issue. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
lucerne Posted May 30, 2017 Share #2 Posted May 30, 2017 Reduce the size of the square by pressing delete and rotate the thumb dual. Haven't missed a shot yet. I'm in cairo this week with only my Q. I don't miss my 5d. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdmesa Posted May 30, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted May 30, 2017 Awesome! Thank you. I obviously need to spend some time reading the camera documentation. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucerne Posted May 30, 2017 Share #4 Posted May 30, 2017 This feature was an upgrade of firmware so I doubt it is described in the manual. Search our forum for firmware upgrade Q 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdmesa Posted June 3, 2017 Author Share #5 Posted June 3, 2017 Thanks. Unfortunately changing the size of the center focus point has not helped. It still won't autofocus on "flat" white clouds against a blue sky. It will focus on really puffy clouds, but that's it. I've never had a camera not be able to focus on a cloud, particularly if I place the focus point where the cloud meets the contrasting sky. I have to focus on the horizon then recompose every time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted June 3, 2017 Share #6 Posted June 3, 2017 For clouds in the sky as a target, a quick twist of the focus ring and set manually on infinity would be my solution. Welcome to the forum. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marchyman Posted June 3, 2017 Share #7 Posted June 3, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) And that points out an annoying limitation of the Q. A twist of the focus ring to the stop is NOT infinity. You have to look down at the focus ring to see that the infinity sign is on the index. Twisting a little more leaves you with a blurry mess. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macberg Posted June 18, 2017 Share #8 Posted June 18, 2017 (edited) And that points out an annoying limitation of the Q. A twist of the focus ring to the stop is NOT infinity. You have to look down at the focus ring to see that the infinity sign is on the index. Twisting a little more leaves you with a blurry mess. I also noticed that last week when I wanted to focus on the nightly sky manually. I really love my Leica Q but what kind of a design flaw is that? Is there any possible way to manually focus precisely on the far distance? Edited June 18, 2017 by Macberg Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leica Guy Posted June 18, 2017 Share #9 Posted June 18, 2017 (edited) I also noticed that last week when I wanted to focus on the nightly sky manually. I really love my Leica Q but what kind of a design flaw is that? Is there any possible way to manually focus precisely on the far distance? While I also wish that infinity focus was at a hard stop at the limit of the focusing ring, it is a very common way that lenses are designed now. As far as I know all Canon and Nikon lenses are designed exactly the same way. Edited June 18, 2017 by Infiniumguy Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdmesa Posted June 20, 2017 Author Share #10 Posted June 20, 2017 (edited) While I also wish that infinity focus was at a hard stop at the limit of the focusing ring, it is a very common way that lenses are designed now. As far as I know all Canon and Nikon lenses are designed exactly the same way. I think it has to focus past infinity in order for the autofocus to work, and it's how all autofocus lenses are constructed. However, I'm sure Leica could have engineered a hard stop at infinity once the lens is switched into manual mode (similar to the engineering work required for the macro function). Even adding a detent you can feel when it hits infinity would work well. EDIT: Ooooh, this would be a great idea for a firmware update – an electronic confirmation in the viewfinder when infinity focus is reached! It's almost impossible to line it up perfectly by sight when it's nearly dark outside and/or you're getting accosted by bugs. Edited June 20, 2017 by hdmesa 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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