howiebrou Posted October 19, 2018 Share #1 Posted October 19, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have read a few articles saying that the SL 50mm Summilux has a rather slow AF mechanism compared to the zooms and the summicrons. Could one of the owners of the summilux who may also have experience of the zooms and even better the summicrons chime in? I am looking to buy my first SL lens and if i am going to lug around a big lens for AF, i would hope that it has fast AF. Of course i would prefer 1 F1.4 aperture but not if it keeps hunting for focus or is discernibly slower than the summicrons. If the 1.4 really is a bit slow i might instead wait to try the 50mm summicron or go for one of the existing summicrons. Thanks for any comments. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 19, 2018 Posted October 19, 2018 Hi howiebrou, Take a look here SL 50mm 1.4 slow AF compared to summicron?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
ajmarton1 Posted October 19, 2018 Share #2 Posted October 19, 2018 I had the lens and returned it. I missed a lot of shots in India and complained to Leica. They took it back. Very slow and lots of searching for focus in low light. I would test one for 24 hours and see it your self. Bought the SL 75mm and love it. Waiting for the SL 50mm f2. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hteasley Posted October 19, 2018 Share #3 Posted October 19, 2018 It's not fast. But the images are glorious. I'm going to stick with it for a good while as my only lens. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
howiebrou Posted October 19, 2018 Author Share #4 Posted October 19, 2018 3 hours ago, ajmarton1 said: I had the lens and returned it. I missed a lot of shots in India and complained to Leica. They took it back. Very slow and lots of searching for focus in low light. I would test one for 24 hours and see it your self. Bought the SL 75mm and love it. Waiting for the SL 50mm f2. Kind of the info i dreaded hearing. Any idea if the new firmware might have improved things or is it inherently a design limitation? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
howiebrou Posted October 19, 2018 Author Share #5 Posted October 19, 2018 (edited) 2 hours ago, hteasley said: It's not fast. But the images are glorious. I'm going to stick with it for a good while as my only lens. Mind if i ask another question. Knowing what you know now, if you were starting anew, would you plonk for a 50mm summilux or wait and see the summicron? Edited October 19, 2018 by howiebrou Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fedro Posted October 19, 2018 Share #6 Posted October 19, 2018 it is slower than the 75/90, but let's face it none is an AF speed demon, and the Cron can also take time in low light New firmware definitely improved things for the 50, but if you are looking for blazing speed perhaps Sony or CanoNikon is a better bet? Best to rent or borrow first and make up YOUR own mind, it's a lot of money to spend and would not take the plunge based on others' opinion Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
howiebrou Posted October 19, 2018 Author Share #7 Posted October 19, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) 19 minutes ago, Fedro said: it is slower than the 75/90, but let's face it none is an AF speed demon, and the Cron can also take time in low light New firmware definitely improved things for the 50, but if you are looking for blazing speed perhaps Sony or CanoNikon is a better bet? Best to rent or borrow first and make up YOUR own mind, it's a lot of money to spend and would not take the plunge based on others' opinion I'm not a speed demon. In fact I'm taking some time getting used to the Q after having used M lenses only for so long. But if I am going to buy an AF SL lens with all its bulk, it should be worth it in the AF department. My Sony R1X1mkII used to really annoy me with its hunting. I find the Q better. I will certainly try them as you have suggested but it's always good to get feedback from long term uses. A short spin with one can only tell you so much. We need a JD Power survey on cameras! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillstand ist Rückschritt Posted October 19, 2018 Share #8 Posted October 19, 2018 I own the 90mm Summicron and I had a chance to test the 50mm Summilux with the new firmware. It was not for me. Bulky and slow. Definitely two steps down from my 90mm cron. I also feel the crons give the camera a much better balance. And the depth of focus at f2 is amazing. I will wait for the 50mm cron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoySmith Posted October 19, 2018 Share #9 Posted October 19, 2018 I don’t have a SL summicron but have the SL 50 lux and the SL 24-90 VE and the SL 16-35 SVE The AF on the SL 50 is decent but not snappy like the zooms. Like Fedra said the new firmware really sped up the 50’s AF. Some of the older threads commenting on it’s speed were written before the new Firmware. Unless you’re shooting fast moving subjects, the AF is now very good. Since the new firmware I haven’t had problems with “hunting” for focus. A lux gathers twice as much light as a cron, so focusing larger lens elements is a bit slower. I expect the SL 50 cron will be fantastic, smaller and lighter, but half the light, and a still more than a year away. Roy 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
howiebrou Posted October 19, 2018 Author Share #10 Posted October 19, 2018 5 hours ago, Stillstand ist Rückschritt said: I own the 90mm Summicron and I had a chance to test the 50mm Summilux with the new firmware. It was not for me. Bulky and slow. Definitely two steps down from my 90mm cron. I also feel the crons give the camera a much better balance. And the depth of focus at f2 is amazing. I will wait for the 50mm cron. Could you post a photo of a close up with the 90mm wide open? I would be interested to see how small the depth of field can get. Pretty small I would imagine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LD_50 Posted October 19, 2018 Share #11 Posted October 19, 2018 I have the 50 and all three zooms. The 50 is slower than the zooms but poses no issue for what I use it for. It sped up significantly with the FW update. If I am shooting shallow DOF I don’t need high speed so the 50 works great. If I’m shooting at smaller aperture and need higher speed the 24-90 is excellent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillstand ist Rückschritt Posted October 19, 2018 Share #12 Posted October 19, 2018 vor 36 Minuten schrieb howiebrou: Could you post a photo of a close up with the 90mm wide open? I would be interested to see how small the depth of field can get. Pretty small I would imagine. Here we go Happy to send you the DNG by retransfer if I get your Email 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! 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/290659-sl-50mm-14-slow-af-compared-to-summicron/?do=findComment&comment=3615528'>More sharing options...
Chaemono Posted October 19, 2018 Share #13 Posted October 19, 2018 See video for AF speed 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
howiebrou Posted October 19, 2018 Author Share #14 Posted October 19, 2018 1 hour ago, Stillstand ist Rückschritt said: Here we go Happy to send you the DNG by retransfer if I get your Email 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! Lovely. Will send you my email by message. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaemono Posted October 19, 2018 Share #15 Posted October 19, 2018 Don’t you just love it when people share their raw files? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hteasley Posted October 20, 2018 Share #16 Posted October 20, 2018 (edited) 17 hours ago, howiebrou said: Mind if i ask another question. Knowing what you know now, if you were starting anew, would you plonk for a 50mm summilux or wait and see the summicron? Well, I could only afford the 50SL because it was used, and I expect the new Summicron price to be higher than what I paid for the 50SL. So that affects things. Also, the way Leica is talking the new Summicrons up, I would be a little concerned that they might be priced like the 50 APO for the M (meaning, nesr Noctilux level). So those two things (mostly the former) had me jump on the Summilux. Were money no object, I think I'd still go for the Summilux. I'd like a smaller lens, but the Summicrons aren't smaller enough to tempt me. Maybe Sigma will make something interesting... Edited October 20, 2018 by hteasley Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
caissa Posted October 20, 2018 Share #17 Posted October 20, 2018 After the firmware upgrade many agreed that the SL50 is now quite fast and rarely hunting. I have other 50s that are about equal or slower. So I think speed is no problem anymore. But by far the fastest lens is the SL 90-280 . Faster than any prime. You need to try it - rent it. Nobody knows what you are expecting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hteasley Posted October 20, 2018 Share #18 Posted October 20, 2018 3 hours ago, caissa said: After the firmware upgrade many agreed that the SL50 is now quite fast and rarely hunting. I have other 50s that are about equal or slower. So I think speed is no problem anymore. But by far the fastest lens is the SL 90-280 . Faster than any prime. You need to try it - rent it. Nobody knows what you are expecting. i borrowed one from Leica Bellevue, and it's great, but So. Very. Large. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
howiebrou Posted October 20, 2018 Author Share #19 Posted October 20, 2018 14 hours ago, caissa said: After the firmware upgrade many agreed that the SL50 is now quite fast and rarely hunting. I have other 50s that are about equal or slower. So I think speed is no problem anymore. But by far the fastest lens is the SL 90-280 . Faster than any prime. You need to try it - rent it. Nobody knows what you are expecting. Renting is nigh impossible where I am so i need to rely partially on member comments and then a quick trial in the shop.😞 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LD_50 Posted October 20, 2018 Share #20 Posted October 20, 2018 40 minutes ago, howiebrou said: Renting is nigh impossible where I am so i need to rely partially on member comments and then a quick trial in the shop.😞 If you’re in the USA try LensRentals. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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