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SL 90 Autofocus Hunting


hhn360

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I did a fashion shoot today using the SL 90 mm summicron lens for the first time and had a terrible time getting the autofocus to lock on. I was shooting indoors, the scene was backlit (but not heavily so in my opinion), I used the modeling light on my Profoto B1X to provide some light to help it focus yet the autofocus performance was awful. It hunted repeadly, worst than even the 50 SL summilux did originally, making the lens unusable in my mind for moderate baclklit or relatively light low situations. I was wondering if anyone else has had this experience?

 

Hien

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Backlighted scene & low light situation do not help any kind of AF performance of any system.

For cameras with contrast detect AF system, back light & low light can greatly reduce the AF performance more so than Phase detect AF systems.

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Backlighted scene & low light situation do not help any kind of AF performance of any system.

For cameras with contrast detect AF system, back light & low light can greatly reduce the AF performance more so than Phase detect AF systems.

It was 5 pm on an overcast day and we were sufficiently distant from the window that the scene wasn’t heavily backlit; also the lights were on inside the record shop (where I shot my editorial) in addition to the modeling light on the Profoto being turned up to full power. The 24-90 had no problems with that scene. I switched over to the 90 prime in order to do some headshots. In terms of difficultly for autofocusing I would say it’s moderate at most, relative to other real world situations that you would use this lens in.

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Could it be the firmware? Clearly the lens should have been released with appropriate firmware update already available. Perhaps it is in the anticipated update we have been hearing about for the past two weeks. Cheers--lt

Edited by Linford
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It was 5 pm on an overcast day and we were sufficiently distant from the window that the scene wasn’t heavily backlit; also the lights were on inside the record shop (where I shot my editorial) in addition to the modeling light on the Profoto being turned up to full power. The 24-90 had no problems with that scene. I switched over to the 90 prime in order to do some headshots. In terms of difficultly for autofocusing I would say it’s moderate at most, relative to other real world situations that you would use this lens in.

 

Thanks for the additional info. I did made a general statement in my earlier reply. From my own experience using the SL75corn under low light situation, I was pleasently surprised the AF (set to face detect) performed very well & fast for me to fill with OCF. 

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Could it be the firmware? Clearly the lens should have been released with appropriate firmware update already available. Perhaps it is in the anticipated update we have been hearing about for the past two weeks. Cheers--lt

 

Thanks, I will check the firmware.  I am sure I updated to 3.0 (although I saw the newest is now 3.1 - which by the description didn't say anything about improving autofocus on the 90 SL lens).  Regardless, I will update to 3.1 to see if that helps.  

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Thanks for the additional info. I did made a general statement in my earlier reply. From my own experience using the SL75corn under low light situation, I was pleasently surprised the AF (set to face detect) performed very well & fast for me to fill with OCF. 

 

Thanks, I have the 75 mm SL as well and the autofocus on that one is quite fast and reliable from my experience with it.  I was expecting the same from the 90 mm SL and yesterday was the first time I used it in a shoot.  I should have tested it out first, as they always say, instead of waiting to find out on an actual shoot.  

Edited by hhn360
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SL firmware 3.0 is dated last May, so I suspect doesn't cover the 75SL and 90SL

V3.1 is from Feb this year, so I suspect that's the version that should be used.

OTOH, if your SL is recognising the 90SL, I'd expect it to focus well with it.

 

Apologies, I was incorrect when I said I updated to 3.0.  I actually updated to 3.1 to get the improvements with the autofocus for the 50 SL summilux.  

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I'm not disputing your findings but so far, I'm finding the 90 focuses just fine. But I'm only using SAF not CAF. I don't trust the CAF of the SL. The 90 isn't as fast as the 24-90 however I've found it reliable for what I shoot, including outdoor portraits 10 minutes after sunset.

 

This one just before sunset. I love this lens.

 

Gordon

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The SL 50 did a lot of hunting in bad circumstances, when it arrived (more than a year ago).

But since the 3.1 firmware it is completely "healed", all the problems of childhood have been corrected.

So I assume that with the new Summicrons it will be similar and one of the next releases will make it faster, quieter and with a better percentage on target.

 

That is what I like in Leica - that they continually improve their products, even after the sale. (That keeps the customers happy despite some early hickups).

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I'm not disputing your findings but so far, I'm finding the 90 focuses just fine. But I'm only using SAF not CAF. I don't trust the CAF of the SL. The 90 isn't as fast as the 24-90 however I've found it reliable for what I shoot, including outdoor portraits 10 minutes after sunset.

 

This one just before sunset. I love this lens.

 

Gordon

I only shot with it once, indoors in the set up I had described a few posts back. I’m always on single point autofocus. I will try it again on my next fashion shoot which is outdoors.

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The SL 50 did a lot of hunting in bad circumstances, when it arrived (more than a year ago).

But since the 3.1 firmware it is completely "healed", all the problems of childhood have been corrected.

So I assume that with the new Summicrons it will be similar and one of the next releases will make it faster, quieter and with a better percentage on target.

 

That is what I like in Leica - that they continually improve their products, even after the sale. (That keeps the customers happy despite some early hickups).

 

Yes. The update improved the 50's focusing in a noticeable way. My 90 out focuses the 50, even after the update. Not as good as the 24-90. Somewhere in between.

 

Gordon

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Hi All!

I have just updated FW 3.2 for SL 601. The Auto focus of SL 90 f2 in door & day time feel better & faster with new FW, except the subject with very high contrast. I will try to shoot this len indoor tonigh?

Have a nice weekend!

Thanks!

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I'm not disputing your findings but so far, I'm finding the 90 focuses just fine. But I'm only using SAF not CAF. I don't trust the CAF of the SL. The 90 isn't as fast as the 24-90 however I've found it reliable for what I shoot, including outdoor portraits 10 minutes after sunset.

 

This one just before sunset. I love this lens.

 

 

Nice, Gordon! The continuous af was not impressive when I tested it after the release of the SL. After that, with some testing now & then, the single af is part of my default setting on the SL. SAF works fine - and it's trustworthy in all but tricky light/contrast situations - with my use of the SL, at least. For birds/wildlife, I grab a Canikon system with nothing but outstanding CAF.

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I only shot with it once, indoors in the set up I had described a few posts back. I’m always on single point autofocus. I will try it again on my next fashion shoot which is outdoors.

 

I've found 'field' much more reliable. Even a relatively small area of lowish contrast ..... such as clothing .... in low light can cause AF to hunt. 

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