Silent shutter and banding under LED Lights

[skimmel]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi, don't yet own SL2. I do a lot of theater photography where I have to use silent shutter. Under LED theater lights (especially at low intensity) and using a Sony A7RIV, I get a lot of "banding." This is a well know problem with silent shutter under this type of lighting condition.  Based on taking about 20,000 theater photos, only the A9 seems to be relatively immune to this (not 100%).

Has anyone used the SL2 with silent shutter under these conditions? I know that it has a pretty fast readout (I believe faster than the Sony A7RIV)?  I'm thinking about getting the SL2.

 

Thanks.

Edited September 26, 2020 by skimmel

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[caissa]

The Sony a9 ii has a readout time of 1/150 s and a resolution of 24 MP. The a7R iv  has about 1/30 s and 61 MP.  The SL2 in FF mode 1/60 s and 47 MP, in APS-C mode less than 1/100 s and 20.8 MP.

You could try the SL2 in FF. And if it is too slow try to use APS-C mode.   It depends on the frequency of the led lights, if it works ok. or not. It’s a coincidence and needs a test.

The SL2 will give you probably less banding than the a7R (it has a different sensor, working at different frequencies), but fast moving objects could have a strange shape in fully electronic shutter mode. (as in all cameras with this sort of shutter.

The mechanical shutter of the SL2 is also very quiet, and probably good enough for church or theatre (or courtroom). 

Edited September 26, 2020 by caissa

[LocalHero1953]

I also do quite a lot of stage and (classical) music photography, and sometimes in church, with CL and SL2. I would not use the SL2 mechanical shutter; aside from the latest M shutter and the Q leaf shutter, I haven't come across a Leica mechanical shutter that doesn't attract notice from those nearby in quiet spaces*. I have only recently got the SL2 and have yet to compare its silent shutter performance compared to the SL (which operated at about 1/20-1/30sec).

*Most of my theatre photography** is at dress rehearsals where slight noise is not a problem, and I'm either on the stage with the performers or standing close to them anyway.

** In non-covid times😒

[caissa]

Here you can compare shutter sounds:  https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2019/07/the-shutter-sounds-of-our-most-popular-cameras/. 🧐.  According to them the SL is worst and It does not even speak french. The SL2 is quieter in my ears. And I have used it in a church without causing attention ...    (in normal and in silent mode).  🤧😷🤫

Edited September 26, 2020 by caissa

[BlackDoc]

I´ve shown some pics with the SL-II here 

 

 

[skimmel]

Thank you everyone.  Does anyone know if the readout time with the Q2 is the same as with the SL2?

[caissa]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

It's about 1/30 s.

[skimmel]

2 hours ago, caissa said:

It's about 1/30 s.

Thanks.

[Dr. G]

On 9/25/2020 at 10:15 PM, skimmel said:

Hi, don't yet own SL2. I do a lot of theater photography where I have to use silent shutter. Under LED theater lights (especially at low intensity) and using a Sony A7RIV, I get a lot of "banding." This is a well know problem with silent shutter under this type of lighting condition.  Based on taking about 20,000 theater photos, only the A9 seems to be relatively immune to this (not 100%).

Has anyone used the SL2 with silent shutter under these conditions? I know that it has a pretty fast readout (I believe faster than the Sony A7RIV)?  I'm thinking about getting the SL2.

 

Thanks.

I have the a9ii and the SL2.  The one feature I would love to see as a firmware update in the SL2 is what Sony did in the a9ii.  With the most recent firmware of the a9ii, I can dial in the exact frequency of the refresh rate of the LED lighting in the environment I am working it, and thus completely eliminate banding in any situation.  

[skimmel]

Thanks Dr. G.  Have you shot under typical low-level LED lighting in theaters with the SL2?

[caissa]

2 hours ago, Dr. G said:

I have the a9ii and the SL2.  The one feature I would love to see as a firmware update in the SL2 is what Sony did in the a9ii.  With the most recent firmware of the a9ii, I can dial in the exact frequency of the refresh rate of the LED lighting in the environment I am working it, and thus completely eliminate banding in any situation.  

Unfortunately only works if the LED lighting has a single frequency (is not made up of mixed types with different frequencies). But yes, that would be a nice feature. In which range can you set the frequency ?

Edited September 30, 2020 by caissa