Image thread for the Leica Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 ASPH

[dancook]

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happy children

 

L1470074 by dancook1982, on Flickr

[dancook]

also 50mm

 

L1480312 by dancook1982, on Flickr

[FlashGordonPhotography]

Maybe I will have to try the 24-90 and see how it fares, though at f4 in dim lit environments it might struggle like the 90-280 sometimes does.

 

Or just keep a DSLR over my shoulder for emergencies

 

The 24-90 is a bit better than the 90-280 in focus speed and consistency. It's still a CDAF lens so you need to give it a contrast point but it's good down to about EV-2 or 3. It's definitely the fastest focusing SL lens.

 

A few things to try with the 50.

 

* Dump CAF. It doesn't work. It never will with the 50.

* In poor lighting single point works better than field. I don't know why.

* Rear button focus means you can manually get close and fine tune with the AF button. Pre-focusing does help.

* The AF assist slows the focus down a bit in moderate light as the camera waits for the beam to be transmitted. If you use the beam lose the hood.

 

I have a profile for the 50. MF (with back button AF), spot AF, focus beam off.

 

But honestly, I use the 24-90 90% of the time in dim conditions and don't even think about AF issues. But I also have two bodies now so the zoom on one and the 50 on the other.

 

I am NOT saying you need to stick with the SL. It works for me but I want the opposite of a typical DLSR. I come home with a third of the image count of my shooting partner. I will say you need to rent/borrow/steal a 24-90 for a week before you make your final decision.

 

Gordon

 

Gordon

[FlashGordonPhotography]

Yes, but this a new system with only three currently available lenses, and Leica is making very bold claims regarding their speed of operation: 'Leica SL-Lenses focus from infinity to the closest focusing distance with exceptional speed and set reference standards in the professional camera segment.'

 

There appears to be a major disparity between Leica's claims and the reality that people are experiencing. An SL and 50 costs around $13000, and for that extravagant price it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect the advertising blurb to be accurate.

 

Leica aren't making claims about the 50. The marketing is around the 24-90 and it's pretty accurate. When I bought my lens (SL 50) they were very clear that it's built for IQ and focus accuracy, not speed. The AF system moves a bigger group than in the zooms.

 

Think of it like this. Canon makes fast focusing lenses and the leading sports body (1Dx2) based on sales. But they also have the 85L. A big heavy lens with big heavy glass that takes more time to move.

 

The SL50 isn't *that* slow. It's reasonable. Faster than the above mentioned Canon. But you do notice that it's slower than the zooms to focus, especially the 24-90 which is very very quick. If you've been out all day with the 24-90 and than put on the 50 it feels like a glacier but if you've had the 50 on all day you don't really think about it.

 

Like any other product if you try before you by there will be no surprises. There's plenty of information on these forums about the focus speed and the Leica stockists here all seem to have one in stock to try.

 

Gordon

[almoore]

Leica aren't making claims about the 50. The marketing is around the 24-90 and it's pretty accurate.

 

No, the claims regarding focusing speed are made around the camera specifically and the lenses generally:

 

the Leica SL also has the fastest autofocus of all professional cameras - including DSLRs...Leica SL-Lenses focus from infinity to the closest focusing distance with exceptional speed and set reference standards in the professional camera segment

 

When I bought my lens (SL 50) they were very clear that it's built for IQ and focus accuracy, not speed. The AF system moves a bigger group than in the zooms

 

You say that as if it's unheard of for a lens to combine high image quality, accuracy and speed. It's really not.

 

Maybe Leica has a a track record of making fanciful advertising claims for their products - and that's why you're unconcerned - but I'm not aware of that being the case. The attributes of M and Q appear to be described accurately. Call me naive, but when a camera and lens combination has the price of a modest family car I'd expect it to work as advertised.

[dancook]

https://uk.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-SL/Details

 

Capturing the ideal moment is not only essential in sport photography. In combination with the LEICA APO VARIO-ELMARIT-SL 90–280 mm f/2.8–4, the Leica SL has the fastest autofocus of any professional camera – including SLRs. The full travel of the lens, from infinity to its closest focusing distance, takes place in less than 110 milliseconds. 

 

The claim specifically deals with the 90-280mm

[FlashGordonPhotography]

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No, the claims regarding focusing speed are made around the camera specifically and the lenses generally:

 

 

The claims were made when the SL50 wasn't available. It is therefore impossible to attribute those claims to a lens that didn't yet exist.

 

Gordon

[almoore]

The claim specifically deals with the 90-280mm

The claim is made twice in Leica's marketing. First in a general sense, exactly as I quote, and then secondly in relation to the zoom, as you quote.

 

https://en.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-SL

 

https://en.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-SL/Details

Edited May 8, 2017 by almoore

[dancook]

The claim is made twice in Leica's marketing. First in a general sense, exactly as I quote, and then secondly in relation to the zoom, as you quote.

 

https://en.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-SL

 

https://en.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-SL/Details

 

Well I see the arrow on the first as an offer to read more about that, and it details the lens combination on the next page.

 

I wouldn't take any marketing claims at face value

 

Normally I would look for an asterix and fineprint

Edited May 8, 2017 by dancook

[almoore]

The claims were made when the SL50 wasn't available. It is therefore impossible to attribute those claims to a lens that didn't yet exist.

 

This is getting strange. The quote comes from a Leica page adjacent to an image of the SL with 50 Summilux attached:

 

https://uk.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-SL/Lenses

 

It's ok that you don't care about the dubious marketing hype, I'd just rather you didn't suggest I was the one indulging in misrepresentation.

Edited May 8, 2017 by almoore

[geetee1972]

Interesting how they specifically refer to the travel from infinity to closest focus. That simply relates to the speed with which the lens elements move, not the time it takes to acquire focus.

[LocalHero1953]

.............

Call me naive, but when a camera and lens combination has the price of a modest family car I'd expect it to work as advertised.

I can't say that I was misled: I saw the claim by Leica before the SL50 came out, and I have not bought that lens. But I would never accept such a claim without reading the detail or checking the reality in the hand.

TBH, I think everyone here would do the same. I've seen grumbles about the SL50's AF speed ever since the first reviews (so there's been plenty of warning), but no one has said they wouldn't have bought it if the claim hadn't been made. 

So, no, I wouldn't call you naive. I think you're just enjoying a bit of a grumble.

Edited May 8, 2017 by LocalHero1953

[tom0511]

It is what it is. I think the SL is still no the fastest C-AF camera, and it is not the higest resolution DSLR, and its not the smallest full frame camera.

But IMO it is a very very good compromise in a way they got many things right.

First of all an excellent viewfinder and excellent lenses with very usefull range allow very very good IQ.

Also the overall handling of the camera is quite fast. And the flexibility to use all kind of lenses doesnt hurt either (even though I use the original SL lenses 90%)

 

Sometimes it helps to think about the whole package , then its easier to accept some factors which are mayby a little compromised (like the C-AF and AF speed of the 50) I love the lens, it is so sharp, detailed with a clarity but still no clinical look, more a very nice bokeh and transition to the background as well.

[LocalHero1953]

Interesting how they specifically refer to the travel from infinity to closest focus. That simply relates to the speed with which the lens elements move, not the time it takes to acquire focus.

I suspect this is the one and only factual basis for the claim of fastest AF speed. How else is one objectively to measure speed of AF given the range of possible lighting and target conditions, and the degree of accuracy required?

(Having written that, perhaps someone more knowledgeable than me can say if there is a DIN/ISO/BS standard for AF testing).

[geetee1972]

I suspect this is the one and only factual basis for the claim of fastest AF speed. How else is one objectively to measure speed of AF given the range of possible lighting and target conditions, and the degree of accuracy required?

(Having written that, perhaps someone more knowledgeable than me can say if there is a DIN/ISO/BS standard for AF testing).

It wouldn't be hard to establish but probably not a lot of value in doing so.

[tom0511]

maybe longest time from pressing the shutter until the image is taken.

[LocalHero1953]

maybe longest time from pressing the shutter until the image is taken.

What kind of image (contrast, colours.....), and what lighting conditions?

IMO too many variables to consider.

Hence my unwillingness to take Leica's marketing claims too seriously.

 

All I can say is that I find the two SL zooms very fast to focus under my normal shooting conditions: often indoors, AFs, spot focus; tracking is good enough, but not great; I hardly use AFc or field/zone focusing; never used face recognition; never used the 50SL.

Given that most people will have different but similarly limited shooting conditions for their work, they would be naive in the extreme to take a one line statement in a marketing spiel as the basis of a purchasing decision. And I don't think anyone here, including those objecting to the statement, is that naive.

This is a grumble thread about advertising, not about Leica!

Edited May 8, 2017 by LocalHero1953

[Vogelweide]

Leica SL ⎢ Summilux-SL 50/1.4 ⎢f/1.4 ⎢ ISO 50 ⎢1/500 sec.

I'm in love with this lense. 

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Edited May 12, 2017 by Vogelweide

[taosantamonica]

Went into the leica store to try out the 50.  Too big for most of my type of shooting but it did handle and focus quickly and easily….that’s with not using autofocus for a couple of years now though.  Thinking about how it could benefit my photography in positive ways cuz I liked it.

 

 

 

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[Lord Lucan]

Leica SL ⎢ Summilux-SL 50/1.4 ⎢f/1.4 ⎢ ISO 50 ⎢1/500 sec.

 

I'm in love with this lense. 

You should be in love   This image can not be improved.It has reached its limits.