SL2-S Back Button AF with Panasonic and Sigma Lenses

[rarostant]

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I am a new Leica user. I recently purchased an SL2-S body and a 50mm f/2 Summicron lens. I also purchased 2 Panasonic "Pro" lenses (24-70 f/2.8 and 16-35 f/4) and a Sigma DG DN lens (20mm f/1.4), all with autofocus. I'm trying to set up back button autofocus on the SL2-S but can only get it to work with the Leica lens. When I put the other lenses on the camera, I don't get the option for MF. I updated the firmware but that didn't help. Does anyone have experience with this or have any suggestions on to get this to work?

Thank - Richard

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[Boojay]

Just a thought but as the Panasonic lenses have manual focus clutch and sigma lens a switch, does BBF work if you have those set for MF.  Been a while since I had my SL2 so apologies if this is not helping, someone else will jump in.

 

 

[Virob]

BBF doesn’t work on the SL2 with the “Leica certified “Panasonic pro lenses with the manual focus clutch, unfortunately.

Edited May 27, 2023 by Virob

[NickT]

Try setting AF on the lens and MF through the menu of the camera. Then pressing the joy stick to achieve BBF. There is another menu setting to determine which type of AF - S or C that you would like

[rarostant]

Thanks for all the responses. I've tested the BBF on 5 lenses (all AF lenses): 1 Leica, 2 Panasonics, and 2 Sigmas. It appears that @Virob is correct - 

"BBF doesn’t work on the SL2 with the “Leica certified “Panasonic pro lenses with the manual focus clutch, unfortunately."

The Leica lens (50mm Summicron) doesn't have any buttons on the lens. For BBF, you select "MF" in the "Focus Mode" menu in the camera. Apparently, this option is only available with Leica lenses. 

The two AF Sigma lenses (16-35mm and 100-400mm) can be changed to BBF by manually switching the lens to MF using the switch on the lens. 

Unfortunately, the Panasonic Pro L-Mount lenses will not BBF on the SL2-S. I move the AF/MF clutch ring on the lens to engage MF but BBF doesn't work and the "MF" selection in the "Focus Mode" menu is grayed out. 

I wish I had known this before I purchased the 2 Panasonic lenses, which happen to be the lenses I use 90% of the time. I'm wondering if this has ever been brought to the attention of Panasonic or Leica. It seems like this could be fixed in firmware. 

[Sandokan]

22 hours ago, NickT said:

Try setting AF on the lens and MF through the menu of the camera. Then pressing the joy stick to achieve BBF. There is another menu setting to determine which type of AF - S or C that you would like

This works on my SL for the 16-35 Panasonic and the 150-600 Sigma. Will have to try on the 20 & 40mm Sigmas. 

[Virob]

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On 5/28/2023 at 1:37 AM, NickT said:

Try setting AF on the lens and MF through the menu of the camera. Then pressing the joy stick to achieve BBF. There is another menu setting to determine which type of AF - S or C that you would like

 

5 hours ago, Sandokan said:

This works on my SL for the 16-35 Panasonic and the 150-600 Sigma. Will have to try on the 20 & 40mm Sigmas. 

Check again. BBF is when focusing is decoupled from the shutter release and transferred to a separate button on the back of the camera. The purpose is to separate the  release and focusing functions. I think what you have done is added the focus function to the joy stick without deactivating it from the release button.

[Sandokan]

7 hours ago, Virob said:

Check again. BBF is when focusing is decoupled from the shutter release and transferred to a separate button on the back of the camera. The purpose is to separate the  release and focusing functions. I think what you have done is added the focus function to the joy stick without deactivating it from the release button.

I shall check again, but for sure I have disabled (deactivated) it on the release button - I was always annoyed that after selecting my focus point and composing - it would again hunt for focus when I wanted to take the photo. My SL is setup for manual focus. 

[rarostant]

Tried it again and had no luck with the Panasonic lenses. I'm not sure I understood your point. Are you saying there is a way to disengage focusing from the shutter release button on the SL2-S? The only method I've found is to select "MF" in the Focus Mode menu, but it's grayed out when the Panasonic lens is on.

[jaapv]

Doesn’t the lens have an AF/MF switch? 

[NickT]

Looking again at using my Sigma 20mm lens, contrary to what i posted earlier to achieve bbf on my SL2  I set the AF/MF switch on the lens to MF, in which case as you say the menu screen shows MF greyed out. However when I press the joystick the camera autofocuses. On page 4 of the menu under "Customise control" - Joystick I have set AF mode to AF-L and MF mode to AFc. It may be different on the SL2s and Panasonic lenses.

[Virob]

2 hours ago, NickT said:

Looking again at using my Sigma 20mm lens, contrary to what i posted earlier to achieve bbf on my SL2  I set the AF/MF switch on the lens to MF, in which case as you say the menu screen shows MF greyed out. However when I press the joystick the camera autofocuses. On page 4 of the menu under "Customise control" - Joystick I have set AF mode to AF-L and MF mode to AFc. It may be different on the SL2s and Panasonic lenses.

Yes, as mentioned above , this works for Sigma lenses and Panasonic lenses with the AF/MF switch. It does not work with Panasonic lenses with the AF/MF clutch. Specifically the Lumix S pro 16-35, 24-70 and both 70-200 lenses.

[rarostant]

@Virob is correct. For some reason, you cannot use BBF with the Lumix S Pro lenses that have the AF/MF clutch (which is actually a nice feature). I'm not sure why the SL2-S doesn't recognize the AF/MF clutch like it does the AF/MF switch. Decided to return the Lumix lenses and purchase the Leica 24-70. Hoping to find a used Leica 16-35 or get the Sigma 14-24. Thanks again for all the responses. 

[LCM94]

you can back button focus but you have to set the lens on MF. I just had the same issue while watching this video @32:38. That's not a big deal.

 

Edited August 3, 2023 by LCM94

[SrMi]

BBF can be used only in MF mode. However, the clutch physically disables AF motors, so BBF does not work with lenses that have an MF/AF clutch.

[rarostant]

Thanks, @SrMi. After thoroughly testing the 4 lenses I purchased, it was apparent that the more expensive "Pro" lenses with the clutch wouldn't BBF. I wish I had known that before I invested in the Leica/Lumix camera system. Fortunately, I was able to return the 2 Lumix lenses with clutches but I left with a brand new SL2-S and a new S1R that won't meet my photography requirements. 

As a side question to this thread - I plan to sell the two cameras and 2 of the lenses I couldn't return. I thought this might be a good forum to list used gear on but there doesn't appear to be many classified listings. Does anyone have any suggestions for where I might sell this essentially new gear? I tried MPB, KEH, and a local shop but their offers were quite low.