XMan Posted May 14, 2021 Share #1 Posted May 14, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am interested in upgrading from CL to SL2 for my general photography but want to also be able to shoot motorsport. I am wondering if any users are shooting motorsport and if the auto focus on continuous is up to the task for capturing fast moving subjects. I would be panning approaching cars and using high speed burst for 3 or 4 frames. I believe the SL2S might be better for the motorsport task but the large sensor is the major attraction for the SL2. I currently use the Fuji X system for this type of photography but if I can get similar results with the Leica I could downsize my safe! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 14, 2021 Posted May 14, 2021 Hi XMan, Take a look here SL2 for MotorSport. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Slender Posted May 14, 2021 Share #2 Posted May 14, 2021 It's not very clear yet how improved the SL2-S focus is since last FW... the same improvements should come up for the SL2 as well in July. 🙏 What I do know, however, is that strangely so you can use AF-C up to 6FPS on SL2 ( v 5fps on SL2-S ????). The Dominic Nhar Leica commercial with the 25fps claim doesn't make sense at all since you lock everything (AF-WB-Exposure.... and you downgrade to 12bits from 14bits) up in the first frame. And you get to keep 20MP of imagery on the SL2 when used on APS-C... so a 280x1.5=420mm. Crop it down to 600 and you still have 10MP... which is what you have on SL2-S in APS-C. Also if you shoot motorsport on sunny trackdays in the summer, chances are you can also pre-focus the action on the curb you want to cover and pre-chew a lot of the AF work with forgiving aperture. In a Leica commercial, for what it's worth, a Swiss photographer does "sport" pictures of a wakeboard with the slowest SL lens: 50 1.4.... 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fgcm Posted May 14, 2021 Share #3 Posted May 14, 2021 I do some motorsport shooting. Set the autofocus parameters accordingly. The SL2 is fantastic. when panning to follow cars in the box lane or on the finish line, the standard technique is prefocusing (also with Sony and Canon). take the Monza track: a GT3 on the finish line is close to 300km/h or 90 m/s. Just prefocus. In the pit lane, cars are slower, 60 km/h, but you are on the barrier between the lane and the track, so you are higher then the cars and you are too close. Again, just prefocus. another problem is the background: look around and you see a lot of structures, poles, people, walls which spoil your photos. In other words, you choose where to aim the camera to have a good spot on the track and a nice background, than you wait for cars to pass where you are aiming the camera. Again, prefocusing is the way to go. autofocus is mandatory in the box. Things happen really fast there and the SL2 is fantastic because it’s easy to choose what to focus on. you are closer to the car, but you have to choose if you want to focus the mechanic, the driver, the mirror or something else. And you must be quick or the mechanics kick you in the *** 😉 5 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
XMan Posted May 15, 2021 Author Share #4 Posted May 15, 2021 Many thanks Slender and Fgcm. Good info to consider. I will have to practise pre-focussing, which I used to do, as I have been spoiled by the Fuji system's excellent AF for moving subjects. I will be wary of mechanics that might kick me where it counts! FYI I did get excellent results panning with my CL but the burst was not very effective and I ended up using AFC and just grabbing the one frame in the pan. Slender, do I understand that the SL2 can be set up to mimic APS-C? I am not familiar with the detailed specs. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slender Posted May 15, 2021 Share #5 Posted May 15, 2021 6 hours ago, XMan said: Slender, do I understand that the SL2 can be set up to mimic APS-C? I am not familiar with the detailed specs. You can shoot both SL2 cameras in APS-C mode. It basically crops your image down from FF to APS-C in your EVF. If you shoot in DNG you retain all the original image and an auto-crop applies in Lr. That gives you a 1.5 or 1.6X crop factor on your lenses: So the Leica 90-280 becomes a 420mm at the top-end... or an adapted Canon 400mm becomes a 600mm. Aperture value doesn't change, you just dimish your resolution by 2.25X... (47->20MP on SL2.... 24->10.3MP on SL2s). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
XMan Posted May 15, 2021 Author Share #6 Posted May 15, 2021 Thanks for this. A variant of digital zoom in effect. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kkochheiser Posted May 17, 2021 Share #7 Posted May 17, 2021 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) I've had some success using the SL2 and the 90-280 for motorsports. Typically I use shutter priority around 1/250 or slower to get some blur in the wheels and tires. As others have said, prefocusing will help the AFc pick up the target more quickly when you begin your panning. I use continuous-medium (allows the focus to 'stick' better, in my experience), tracking, either multi-field or spot metering and the "Runner" profile. Mostly, be prepared to experiment and be patient. My Nikon D8xx's and 70-200 2.8 still have a higher "keeper" rate but I enjoy shooting with the SL2 much more! Kent 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! Edited May 17, 2021 by kkochheiser Typos 8 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/320890-sl2-for-motorsport/?do=findComment&comment=4202568'>More sharing options...
cheekz4dayz Posted May 19, 2021 Share #8 Posted May 19, 2021 On 5/17/2021 at 11:33 AM, kkochheiser said: I've had some success using the SL2 and the 90-280 for motorsports. Typically I use shutter priority around 1/250 or slower to get some blur in the wheels and tires. As others have said, prefocusing will help the AFc pick up the target more quickly when you begin your panning. I use continuous-medium (allows the focus to 'stick' better, in my experience), tracking, either multi-field or spot metering and the "Runner" profile. Mostly, be prepared to experiment and be patient. My Nikon D8xx's and 70-200 2.8 still have a higher "keeper" rate but I enjoy shooting with the SL2 much more! Kent 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! Damn I love these pictures! Where was this at, if you don't mind me asking? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ingo Posted May 19, 2021 Share #9 Posted May 19, 2021 (edited) Am 14.5.2021 um 19:42 schrieb Fgcm: I do some motorsport shooting. Set the autofocus parameters accordingly. The SL2 is fantastic. when panning to follow cars in the box lane or on the finish line, the standard technique is prefocusing (also with Sony and Canon). take the Monza track: a GT3 on the finish line is close to 300km/h or 90 m/s. Just prefocus. In the pit lane, cars are slower, 60 km/h, but you are on the barrier between the lane and the track, so you are higher then the cars and you are too close. Again, just prefocus. another problem is the background: look around and you see a lot of structures, poles, people, walls which spoil your photos. In other words, you choose where to aim the camera to have a good spot on the track and a nice background, than you wait for cars to pass where you are aiming the camera. Again, prefocusing is the way to go. autofocus is mandatory in the box. Things happen really fast there and the SL2 is fantastic because it’s easy to choose what to focus on. you are closer to the car, but you have to choose if you want to focus the mechanic, the driver, the mirror or something else. And you must be quick or the mechanics kick you in the *** 😉 Exactly. I have only photographed car racing twice, but have done it exactly as you describe. Prefocus is the key. The photos below are taken with a SL(601) and 90-280. 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! Edited May 19, 2021 by Ingo 9 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/320890-sl2-for-motorsport/?do=findComment&comment=4203465'>More sharing options...
Ingo Posted May 19, 2021 Share #10 Posted May 19, 2021 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! 6 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/320890-sl2-for-motorsport/?do=findComment&comment=4203466'>More sharing options...
Ingo Posted May 19, 2021 Share #11 Posted May 19, 2021 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! 7 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/320890-sl2-for-motorsport/?do=findComment&comment=4203467'>More sharing options...
kkochheiser Posted May 19, 2021 Share #12 Posted May 19, 2021 9 hours ago, cheekz4dayz said: Damn I love these pictures! Where was this at, if you don't mind me asking? Thank you! Road America at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Last year at the IMSA race. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardC Posted May 19, 2021 Share #13 Posted May 19, 2021 7 hours ago, Ingo said: I have only photographed car racing twice, but have done it exactly as you describe. Prefocus is the key. Same here. One problem with pre-focus is when cars go off-track! You need to keep your fingers on the focus ring, and have the muscle memory to know which way to turn. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
XMan Posted May 25, 2021 Author Share #14 Posted May 25, 2021 Sincere thanks for input from 18th May onwards and especially for the images, all great thanks. I ended up buying the SL2S and SL 24-90 lens. There are a few of my locations where this will be long enough. If happy with results I will go for the 90-280. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
frame-it Posted July 17, 2021 Share #15 Posted July 17, 2021 some nice shots here... no leicas though https://youtu.be/riwfILW6LHY 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LBJ2 Posted July 17, 2021 Share #16 Posted July 17, 2021 (edited) On 5/17/2021 at 11:33 AM, kkochheiser said: I've had some success using the SL2 and the 90-280 for motorsports. Typically I use shutter priority around 1/250 or slower to get some blur in the wheels and tires. As others have said, prefocusing will help the AFc pick up the target more quickly when you begin your panning. I use continuous-medium (allows the focus to 'stick' better, in my experience), tracking, either multi-field or spot metering and the "Runner" profile. Mostly, be prepared to experiment and be patient. My Nikon D8xx's and 70-200 2.8 still have a higher "keeper" rate but I enjoy shooting with the SL2 much more! Kent 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! I'd like to set up a profile on the SL2 for motocross. I'm still experimenting with this camera and am yet unfamiliar with what it can and can't do performance wise and the combination of settings. Can you list your specific SL2 settings? Also when you wrote pre focus, I assume you mean the verb and not the pre-focus setting on the SL2? Is there some reference where I can understand the various FPS capabilities in the different modes? And, seems silent shutter can achieve up to 20FPS but no AF? From your comment, I think I understand the below, anything else? Thanks in advance. -AFC -Continuous-medium -Multi-field or spot metering -Runner profile Edited July 17, 2021 by LBJ2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LBJ2 Posted July 17, 2021 Share #17 Posted July 17, 2021 (edited) Today I had a chance to experiment with some of the settings for performance and high speed photography on the SL2. To my shock while shooting in continuous-medium Photo mode, I saw the infamous 4K Battery Power Error. Very unexpected as I thought that was a Video issue only? I did hold down the shutter for a bit longer that I would normally as I wanted to test the buffer, so not sure if that and a combination of rapid battery drain during resulted in the battery power error. The only way out of that message was to turn the camera off, wait a minute then turn on again. I did this off/on procedure a few times but then the restart didn't help any longer after a few attempts, probably due to the rapidly disappearing battery level. Regardless, even with the battery power message, I got all my frames ( dancers) in focus. I experimented with several settings today. But for the above I think I started with the battery about half way and was using AFC, Continuous-medium, Face/Body Detection, Children/Pets AF Profile, and had a fast R300/W299 UHS-II SD card in the slot and the SL 35/2. The error stopped me in my tracks, but even fiddling with off/on in between the error messages, I didn't miss any focus for about 100 photos in total. Edited July 17, 2021 by LBJ2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrp Posted July 17, 2021 Share #18 Posted July 17, 2021 If you are doing it occasionally, then, with good technique you can get great results, as this thread illustrates. If you are doing it for a living, the new Canon and Sony bodies have more recent processors that may improve your hit rate, although not as much as you might think (again as the examples bore illustrate). However, none of the mirrorless systems have an extensive range of more exotic lenses / primes that could be useful if you are doing this for a living, it they are filling the gaps, so it’s just a matter of time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LBJ2 Posted July 17, 2021 Share #19 Posted July 17, 2021 (edited) I've asked this question a few times on various threads. No answers. So maybe I'm the last to know this info. But just in case someone else wants to know the various Frames Per Seconds capabilities of the SL2 in photography mode: "The SL2 "Full-resolution image capture is possible at up to 10 frames per second with the mechanical shutter, and 20 frames per second with the electronic shutter. Continuous AF/AE is supported at up to 6 frames per second." *Multi-shot mode up to 187MP (8 frames internally merged)" https://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/leica-sl2/leica-sl2A.HTM Or "The SL2 can shoot bursts at 20 fps with the electronic shutter and 10 fps with the mechanical shutter, both with AF locked. For continuous focus and exposure, you'll need to drop to 6 fps." https://www.dpreview.com/news/7703764336/the-leica-sl2-is-a-refined-full-frame-camera-with-in-body-stabilization Edited July 17, 2021 by LBJ2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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