Contrast detect vs phase detect AF

[FlashGordonPhotography]

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AFC on the SL2 isn't crap. It's OK. Set it up and one can get reasonable results. The shooting experience, however, is crap. Simply awful with the viewfinder image fluttering and blurry means you really shoot moving subjects as a matter of faith. That's never going to inspire confidence.

Even though it's not crap, it is still at the absolute bottom of the pack when it comes to tracking in the current camera environment. Sony's and Canons efforts hang on like a dog with lockjaw. And not only are they noticeably better they inspire confidence in use. Something the Leica does not. And the other thing is the other systems offer lenses which are far more useful for sports and BiF. Leica have said they have little interest in anything longer than the 90-280. So it'll be up to Sigma or Panasonic to make those.

Even if they do make something really long then Leica will need Panasonic to change from DFD technology to PDAF on sensor, which my improve CAF but introduce other issues, like banding. That doesn't change the fact that the L mount is not the right choice for most serious sports and birding photographers. The lenses aren't there. And adapting really isn't a solution that's going to work out well unless you really like compromises. If you have a 400DO then just get an R5. I don't get how some buy an SL2 without doing any research. It's below average AFC is well known. There's a dozen threads a month making exactly the same complaint. If you shoot sports or BiF primarily the SL2 is a poor choice. For many other things it's a sensational option.

If you shoot like me then the SL2 is great. I use AFS 98% of the time and it's fabulous. I can get by with the SL2 AFC on the rare occasions I needs it. But if I were to go on a trip (remember those things??) that was wildlife dedicated. I'd take a Canon R5 or a Sony A7R4 (actually I wouldn't take the Sony. Blech!!). Camera and lens costs less than a 90-280. Or for lower resolutions an EM1III and a 100-400. Even my Z7 and 200-500 is better than an SL2 and 100-400 (or 90-280).

Finally, the SL2 AF is actually fantastic! That's the AFS that is. To make a blanket statement that the whole AF system is crap is plain wrong. AFC is weaker than the competitors but the AFS is excellent. minus 6 EV. Very fast. Very accurate. People coming from Sony, where you seem to go straight to AFC see the SL2 as weak. But AFS shooters see it as a strong AF system. Good in low light and really accurate. Good enough that sometimes it's better to try AFS instead of tracking and mash the shutter.

Gordon

[tom0511]

vor 3 Stunden schrieb sillbeers15:

I've mentioned it in my post of the image earlier in the SL2 Images tread that I would have preferred to use MF with a reduced apeture from F4 to F5.6 using prefocus on the branch. However I was tracking the birds while they were flying in on AFC / tracking and I did not have the time to switch over to MF as it was just a short stay before both bee eaters took off.

Yeap. For fast moving subject towards the camera with a bird no longer than 20cm, the SL2 on AFC/tracking had no problem nailing sharp focus on the Stork Billed Kingfisher coming my direction at my eye level as below.

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Stork billed kingfisher in flight - 1010052 by sillbeers15

great image, and certainly AF worked in this case!

[tom0511]

vor 5 Stunden schrieb sillbeers15:

Did you mean you found it hard to lock focus or find difficulty in keeping the focus tracking on the subject frame after frame?

The second. The dog images are with the D500 and I had several occasions where I tried it with the SL2 with a lower success rate.

Edited January 7, 2021 by tom0511

[tom0511]

vor 3 Stunden schrieb sillbeers15:

I shot this with my M240 seven years ago.

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Butterfly-2 by sillbeers15

Certainly possible if the butterfly flies to the point where you hope it will fly. I also took images of butterflies like this with the M. But one needs some  luck to get the shot.

[Michael Markey]

4 hours ago, tom0511 said:

thats a lovely image, but I dont see why you need C-AF for such subject. IMO ciritcal are images, where the subject is moving fast towards you or away, or where the subject changes direction of movement fast.

I think this sort of misunderstanding clouds the issue , at least in part .

Examples given are often not that taxing as far as AF systems are concerned either that or not as actually pin sharp as supposed .

We all have a different opinion as to what constitutes sharp which makes it difficult to reach an agreement as to just what is "acceptable" .

I know I look back over 20 years at shots which I thought were razor sharp but they don`t look so to me  now .

[tom0511]

In the end all that counts is what works for each individual photographer.

If I only had one camera it would be the SL2 because its fast, flexible and offers great image quality.

As long as I can afford the luxury of using different systems I enjoy the C-AF of the D500 for sports and action. It makes the difference between "I hope to catch the moment" to "I am pretty sure to get the moment" for fast action for me.

 

 

[Michael Markey]

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2 hours ago, tom0511 said:

In the end all that counts is what works for each individual photographer.

If I only had one camera it would be the SL2 because its fast, flexible and offers great image quality.

As long as I can afford the luxury of using different systems I enjoy the C-AF of the D500 for sports and action. It makes the difference between "I hope to catch the moment" to "I am pretty sure to get the moment" for fast action for me.

 

 

I take a similar approach using either Canon (5D4 ) or Sony (A7r2) for moderately fast sport (equestrian).

 

[sillbeers15]

3 hours ago, tom0511 said:

Certainly possible if the butterfly flies to the point where you hope it will fly. I also took images of butterflies like this with the M. But one needs some  luck to get the shot.

Butterflies do not hover on same spot like bees do. In my case, it was pure luck.

[TomBC]

does Phase Detect need colors to work? Or can it be adapted to Monochrom?

[SrMi]

5 hours ago, TomBC said:

does Phase Detect need colors to work? Or can it be adapted to Monochrom?

PDAF does not need the Bayer CFA. Yes, PDAF should work with Monochrom.