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No depth of field preview on Q3 with AF

MindsEye
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MindsEye

MindsEye

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Hi All,

I got my hands on a Q3 for the first time at the Leica store today and noticed that I couldn't preview depth of field. I had remembered reading this in a review but couldn't remember the workaround. Later I dug up the review which stated that DOF preview only works in manual focus. I was using AF at the time but didn't try it in manual focus.

With my Fuji system I have become accustomed to being able to see depth of field in real time, even while using AF. Looking at some old posts for previous Q models I found mention of being able to preview DOF but they didn't say if that required manual focus. Certainly this would be an easy firmware update for Leica but that doesn't mean it will ever happen.

Those of you out there that actually have Q3s: Can you tell me if this is accurate? Any workarounds or custom function assignments?

For me this is important, so appreciate your input!

Thanks,

Joel

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MindsEye

MindsEye

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8 hours ago, Casey Jefferson said:

Stop down, half press shutter and voila! Dof preview. That's on Q2, Q3 should work the same...

Thanks Casey! Just to confirm, that works on the Q2 when using Auto-Focus?

Because that didn't work on the Q3 when I tried it. Andy Westlake (reviewer) says it only worked for him on Q3 in manual focus. Since posting I found an instruction manual and looked at custom Fn chart and nothing there for depth of field. There is an assignable exposure preview which might work (?)

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Casey Jefferson

Casey Jefferson

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7 hours ago, MindsEye said:

Thanks Casey! Just to confirm, that works on the Q2 when using Auto-Focus?

Because that didn't work on the Q3 when I tried it. Andy Westlake (reviewer) says it only worked for him on Q3 in manual focus. Since posting I found an instruction manual and looked at custom Fn chart and nothing there for depth of field. There is an assignable exposure preview which might work (?)

That works on AF as well as MF. The half press shutter will close the aperture to what the aperture ring set to. Like for instance set to f11 and I can see the sunstar appearing after half press shutter so I can better position the frame to maximize the sunstar.

It should work the same on Q3 and it'll be weird for Leica to change it 😳 

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MindsEye

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1 hour ago, Casey Jefferson said:

That works on AF as well as MF. The half press shutter will close the aperture to what the aperture ring set to. Like for instance set to f11 and I can see the sunstar appearing after half press shutter so I can better position the frame to maximize the sunstar.

It should work the same on Q3 and it'll be weird for Leica to change it 😳 

Weird indeed! When I tried it in the Leica store there was zero difference between f1.7 and f16 with a half press of the shutter (I was in AF.) I actually had to shoot a photo and review it to see the actual depth of field. I didn't try it in MF. The salesman at the Leica store said Q3 doesn't have DOF preview and that sounded wrong to me. I figured he just didn't know about it or how to implement it.  I'm hoping it was an oversight by Leica and that they will fix it with a firmware update. Here's a quote from the review:

"One oddity comes with respect to depth-of-field preview, which is completely unavailable in autofocus mode, as far as I can tell. However it is available all the time in manual focus, with the camera stopping the lens down to the taking aperture when you half-press the shutter button."

Thanks again for your responses!

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NicoX

NicoX

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On 6/2/2023 at 2:42 AM, MindsEye said:

Weird indeed! When I tried it in the Leica store there was zero difference between f1.7 and f16 with a half press of the shutter (I was in AF.) I actually had to shoot a photo and review it to see the actual depth of field. I didn't try it in MF. The salesman at the Leica store said Q3 doesn't have DOF preview and that sounded wrong to me. I figured he just didn't know about it or how to implement it.  I'm hoping it was an oversight by Leica and that they will fix it with a firmware update. Here's a quote from the review:

"One oddity comes with respect to depth-of-field preview, which is completely unavailable in autofocus mode, as far as I can tell. However it is available all the time in manual focus, with the camera stopping the lens down to the taking aperture when you half-press the shutter button."

Thanks again for your responses!

I confirm there's no such preview in AF when half-pressing, sadly.

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MindsEye

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5 hours ago, NicoX said:

I confirm there's no such preview in AF when half-pressing, sadly.

Thanks for confirming. It not only sucks but is puzzling not to include such a basic tool…especially considering it’s on the Q2.

Appreciate you letting us know.

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MindsEye

MindsEye

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Yes. I could also see the focus point change on the Q3 I tried but always wide open regardless of aperture set on lens. 
See NicoX’s post above confirming that there is no DOF preview in AF with half press of shutter button.

I’ll watch the video again when I get a chance and see if he states whether he is in AF and the working aperture.

I’m waiting to hear back from Leica to see if there is some not-so-obvious setting (I’ve looked at the manual) or a planned firmware update.

 Thanks for your post

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LocalHero1953

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15 minutes ago, TimeZlicer said:

Just received my Q3 today

With shutter half pressed, adjusting aperture ring yields blades moving i.e. aperture change on demand, so yes, there is DOF preview (exposure preview too)

 

In AF? That is what the question is about.

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MindsEye

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55 minutes ago, TimeZlicer said:

Yes AF

That's fabulous news! Thanks for posting.

Is this with default settings? A technician at Leica suggested that the PASM or PAS choices would have an effect. To me this implies that DOF preview is tied to exposure preview but he wasn't sure about the DOF working in AF because he didn't have a Q3 to try it.

😎📷🇩🇪

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MindsEye

MindsEye

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Just got a return call from a U.S. Leica tech who also confirmed there is no DOF preview in AF on the Q3. The good news is he is going to bring it up with his contacts in Germany in hopes of a firmware update to fix it. In his opinion, it was an oversight considering the Q2 has it and there is really no logical reason for it to be missing on the Q3.

Fingers crossed.

Happy shooting! -Joel

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jaapv

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Actually, DOF preview is kind of silly and useless. Your DOF will depend on the size of your print (computer screen), viewing distance and crop. What you see in the viewfinder will rarely match the final result.

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MindsEye

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On 6/11/2023 at 8:24 AM, jaapv said:

Actually, DOF preview is kind of silly and useless. Your DOF will depend on the size of your print (computer screen), viewing distance and crop. What you see in the viewfinder will rarely match the final result.

I agree it can be imprecise but I still find it useful in some cases, even when only a rough guide. I think it's individual and situational. In the film age I used Polaroid and Polachrome on my commercial and advertising shoots. It was only an approximate guide to the final shot on film but I learned to "read" the Polaroids.

I've gotten use to having DOF preview on my cameras over the years, with mirrorless being far more useable for me than my old SLRs and DSLRs. I suppose I just use visualization, without thinking about it too much, to make it useful for me- much like seeing in black and white, Polaroids, etc.

Happy shooting!

 

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SrMi

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On 6/11/2023 at 5:24 PM, jaapv said:

Actually, DOF preview is kind of silly and useless. Your DOF will depend on the size of your print (computer screen), viewing distance and crop. What you see in the viewfinder will rarely match the final result.

That is my experience as well!

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jstanton8869

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On 6/11/2023 at 3:54 PM, MindsEye said:

Just got a return call from a U.S. Leica tech who also confirmed there is no DOF preview in AF on the Q3. The good news is he is going to bring it up with his contacts in Germany in hopes of a firmware update to fix it. In his opinion, it was an oversight considering the Q2 has it and there is really no logical reason for it to be missing on the Q3.

Fingers crossed.

Happy shooting! -Joel

That's good to hear.  Just got back from my first proper trip with my Q3 and thought I was going mad.  So frustrating....

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