I wonder if I’ve misunderstood the back button focus.

[antigallican]

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On my Leica SL (and on Nikons in the past)back button focus meant the shutter button focus was switched off. But if I Bbf on my q I have to keep the back button pressed, otherwise my shutter button refocuses. Am I making an error here? Is it not possible to stop shutter button focussing?

Edited February 12, 2018 by antigallican

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[nlk10010]

Stipulating to the fact that I no longer have a Q, I recall going over this in the manual and on the camera when I did own it and my distinct recollection is that Leica organized the back button very logically. Specifically, if you assign focus to the BB then the shutter button should NOT focus (only controls exposure), if you assign exposure to the BB then the shutter button should NOT set the exposure (only focuses), and if you assign BOTH to the BB then the shutter button should do NEITHER. So what you're describing as occurring with your Q surprises me, I'll be interested to see what the responses are (academically, of course).

[antigallican]

It surprised me too. I should say I don't usually let the camera control exposure - shutter speed or iris. The only automatic feature I habitually use is autofocus.

Edited February 12, 2018 by antigallican

[Ingo]

Is ist on "AFL" (only) or "AEL/AFL"?

With "AFL" (only) it works as you want it. 

[antigallican]

Thanks Ingo. I'll check that out. I'm so hopeless with menus and the like!

[Leica Guy]

I always use BBF on my Canon cameras, yet I’ve given up on that with the Q. I find it awkward due to the location of the button and I never did get it to work like my Canon where you touch the button and it focuses. You stop touching the button and it’s locked on focus. I also find on the Q is not nearly as important as when I’m using a telephoto on my Canon DSLR. FWIW IMHO.

[antigallican]

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Is ist on "AFL" (only) or "AEL/AFL"?

 

With "AFL" (only) it works as you want it. 

 

Tried this. It works exactly as I want. Thanks

[marchyman]

 I never did get it to work like my Canon where you touch the button and it focuses. You stop touching the button and it’s locked on focus.

 

 

It does that when you sent the focus mode to AFc.   But, because of the way the Q autofocuses you get "focus flicker" as the image goes in and out of focus while the button is pushed.   It is annoying enough that I don't use AFc.   I don't know if you are guaranteed to be in focus when you let go of the button, either.

 

I find I use manual focus more often than not.

[Leica Guy]

It does that when you sent the focus mode to AFc. But, because of the way the Q autofocuses you get "focus flicker" as the image goes in and out of focus while the button is pushed. It is annoying enough that I don't use AFc. I don't know if you are guaranteed to be in focus when you let go of the button, either.

 

I find I use manual focus more often than not.

I’ve accepted the way it works as a quirk of the Q. Not at all a big limitation. I also love manual focusing. The Q is my first Leica and I now have some appreciation for how engaging using an M camera with manual focus lenses would be. Someday I’ll have one of those too. Or maybe a Q2. :-)

[antigallican]

I’ve accepted the way it works as a quirk of the Q. Not at all a big limitation. I also love manual focusing. The Q is my first Leica and I now have some appreciation for how engaging using an M camera with manual focus lenses would be. Someday I’ll have one of those too. Or maybe a Q2. :-)

 

 I've gone the other way - started with M9, which I love. You will too if you like the Q. But there are some things - especially events - which my 60+yr old eyes won't focus an M quickly or reliably enough unless I take an 'f11 and be there' approach, which isn't always what's needed. So I bought the Q. I have to say, it's great! The M is fine and has all sorts of advantages if you have perfect eyesight without glasses or can allow a little bit of time to focus or don't mind f8/f11.

[Leica Guy]

I've gone the other way - started with M9, which I love. You will too if you like the Q. But there are some things - especially events - which my 60+yr old eyes won't focus an M quickly or reliably enough unless I take an 'f11 and be there' approach, which isn't always what's needed. So I bought the Q. I have to say, it's great! The M is fine and has all sorts of advantages if you have perfect eyesight without glasses or can allow a little bit of time to focus or don't mind f8/f11.

I too have to deal with aging eyesight and am thankful for the AF cameras I own. I do however enjoy manual focus on the Q. It begs me to slow down and be more deliberate on my photography. It’s a more engaging method than spray and pray which is so easy to do with AF and high frame rate cameras. We’re lucky to have so many great options today with cameras and lenses.

[bags27]

This is, indeed, an astonishing time to be a photographer. Imagine quality is incredible, and, while I am actually just now getting back into film, I acknowledge that there is no comparison in contrast and dynamic range, etc. between the two media.

 

And I realize that there was never in all history "the good old days"--that's just what we old folks always like to think. But still...I miss the days when you buy a good camera and only worry about getting the best glass, knowing that a camera's main purpose was to maintain a consistent shutter speed and hold the film straight against the back. (And, if in sports photography, to advance the film at the "astounding" rate of 5 frames/second.) All these worries today that, whatever camera you buy, it's dated in 3 years. Hence the angst about whether or not to buy the Q this late in "its product cycle" and the heated discussion over on the M10 board about why Leica has "only" 24M pixels. 

[SonomaBear]

After two years, my Q remains my main camera.  Had I never tried AFL on back button?  It works perfectly for my shooting workflow.

I shoot spot focus most of the time and the selection of spot is awkward (compared to "Nubbins") so back button focus is perfect for recompositions.   

PS: Herr Leica, please update the Q manual!

 

The 28mm 'Lux is just about perfect in real use.

 

The Canon bodies are support systems for "L" glass. {CPS is sending me a mirrorless tomorrow to evaluate as a backup to my FF Canons}

The Rolleiflexes are support systems for their old Zeiss & Schneider glass. -- and my nostalgic love for film images.

I recently tried an old Leica M2 with 50 Summicron -- loved the images, hated the focusing.  Used the SL with 50 'Lux - loved images, did not like big body.

 

IMHO our choice of glass is paramount -- it is the renderer of image to the sensor, all else is secondary.

 

Now, where is the "Q" with either M or L mount?  I'd buy a lot of Leica glass!

Edited February 14, 2018 by SonomaBear

[Tailwagger]

Personally when using AF, I prefer the opposite to the OP.  My back button is set for AEL, which is an option in the menu not mentioned above, and I use the half press to acquire focus. At least for the way I shoot, the exposure is rarely subject to significant changes while composing hence I lock it in early in the process. OTOH, the point of focus point can often change.  Less awkward to reacquire it using the shutter release, IMO.