Questions regarding SL2-S Performance and fine tunning of settings

[Adalva]

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Hi there!

I am a working photographer since 2015 and I have used Fujifilm X-T series of cameras throughout my career. However, after 3 years with an M9 for my personal documentary projects and falling in love with Leica colors along the way, I finally made the jump and bought an SL2-S back in May with a Leica SL 35mm f/2.0. I pair it with a Leica M 50mm Summicron (type IV) and I recently purchased a Lumix 85mm f/1.8 (which is amazing for events and the color rendition is superb).

However, as I adapt to this new system, I have a few questions regarding this new body I am using, so I hope this post will land before the eyes of someone with more experience than me using the SL2-S who will share his/her wisdom with me. Here we go:

- Low-light AF unreliable: Very spotty, not reliable at all. AF assist light doesn’t turn on. Any advice? What combination of AF Mode and AF area mode (field, zone, matrix, point...) works best for low-light action? I shoot a lot of weddings and events on the side, so I worry about missing important dancefloor shots. Any thoughts?
- What would be the best AF set-up for entrance of the bride and groom at the church and dinner (normally moving towards my camera)?
- Is there any liveview mode that changes from landscape to portrait orientation while keeping your focus point in the same point in relation to the sides of the frame? Fujifilm cameras have this function and it is life-changing. Basically if I am shooting in landscape orientation and have my focus point on the upper side of the frame and then switch to portrait orientation, I want my focus point remain on the upper part of the frame while in portrait orientation without having to move the focus point around with the joystick. Is it possible?
- Best way to customize buttons, fav menu and user profiles?
- Double click on the joystick to re-center the focus point in viewfinder? Another function from Fujifilm that makes life so much eassier. Is it available on the SL2-S?
- Is there a way to have the camera switch the focus peaking on automatically when attaching a manual focus lens? 

Basically I need this camera to be functioning at peak AF performance. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

Edited August 30, 2023 by Adalva
adding another question

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[jaapv]

-You can activate the AF assist light in the menu - read the manual
-Face detect
-I don't know
-That  is entirely to your own preferences - there are no two SL users with the same settings.
-Double-tap the LCD
-You can  save this behaviour in a Manual Focus user profile.

 

[algrove]

Make sure you have FW 5.1 installed as it greatly improves AF choices and accuracy at least for me with eye AF.

[Adalva]

13 hours ago, jaapv said:

-You can activate the AF assist light in the menu - read the manual
-Face detect
-I don't know
-That  is entirely to your own preferences - there are no two SL users with the same settings.
-Double-tap the LCD
-You can  save this behaviour in a Manual Focus user profile.

 

Thank you for your input.

I did read the manual, and I know how to activate the function. What I am saying is that the camera decides when to turn it on, instead of doing it with every shot. Any suggestions on this?

Regarding the double tap on the LCD, there is no way to have this exact same thing but on the joystick?

I understand what you are saying, and as a matter of fact I do have a user profile for manual focus. However, I have to manually change the profile. What I was asking is if there is any function to make the camera recognize when you put on a manual focus lens so it automatically activates focus peaking.

Thanks.

[jaapv]

If you use the original Leica M adapter, if needed combined with a M to whatever adapter, it should do so. (Disclaimer I have no SL2S to try it on) Third party adapters have no functionality. 

[frame-it]

17 hours ago, Adalva said:

What would be the best AF set-up for entrance of the bride and groom at the church and dinner (normally moving towards my camera)?

what AF setup would you use on the Fuji????

 

17 hours ago, Adalva said:

Best way to customize buttons,

long press

17 hours ago, Adalva said:

Is there a way to have the camera switch the focus peaking on automatically when attaching a manual focus lens? 

if you have the Leica M-L adapter sure, dunno about other adapters, also make sure its actually on in the menu.

[Adalva]

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25 minutes ago, jaapv said:

If you use the original Leica M adapter, if needed combined with a M to whatever adapter, it should do so. (Disclaimer I have no SL2S to try it on) Third party adapters have no functionality. 

I have the original adapter, but my lens is the type IV, so no 6-bit encoding. I just spoke to a Leica Product Manager here in Spain and told me that unless the lens has encoding, the camera won't detect automatically it has a manual lens attached. I am sending an email to the department that deals with professional photographers to suggest a few improvements for future FW updates, but for now I am basically screwed 😢

[frame-it]

4 minutes ago, Adalva said:

told me that unless the lens has encoding, the camera won't detect automatically it has a manual lens attached.

this is nonsense, who is this product manager?

i use loads of prehistoric lenses all the time and no issues, make sure peaking is actually ON in the menu.

 

 

[Adalva]

12 minutes ago, frame-it said:

this is nonsense, who is this product manager?

i use loads of prehistoric lenses all the time and no issues, make sure peaking is actually ON in the menu.

 

 

I am sorry, but it is true. I just checked. Focus Peaking is ON, but it only shows up if I press FN button to get to a view mode that has all assistants ON and displaying on the screen, but in that mode focus peaking always shows up, even when using autofocus (which then it becomes more of a distraction than a useful aid).

Logic dictates that the camera should always assume that if I am attaching the M-L adapter, the lens will always be manual focus and should automatically display focus peaking without having to manually select the screen mode that has all assistants on. This is such a bummer.

Edited August 31, 2023 by Adalva

[frame-it]

8 minutes ago, Adalva said:

the camera should always assume that if I am attaching the M-L adapter, the lens will always be manual focus and should automatically display focus peaking without having to manually select the screen mode that has all assistants on.

my SL2S works exactly like that

perhaps its a problem with your user profile

[Cobram]

5 minutes ago, frame-it said:

my SL2S works exactly like that

perhaps its a problem with your user profile

Tend to agree. My SL2s is working like frame-it described. 

[Adalva]

46 minutes ago, frame-it said:

my SL2S works exactly like that

perhaps its a problem with your user profile

Interesting, could you share with me what exact settings you have in that profile? And maybe attach a picture of the screen to see it? It would really help me to speed up my process.

[Adalva]

40 minutes ago, Cobram said:

Tend to agree. My SL2s is working like frame-it described. 

Can you share the setting of your profile too?

[frame-it]

13 minutes ago, Adalva said:

Interesting, could you share with me what exact settings you have in that profile? And maybe attach a picture of the screen to see it? It would really help me to speed up my process.

nope, im not sharing my profile

perhaps you need to reset your camera, and make fresh profiles

Check the manual re: focus peaking, it can disappear if you press the fn button while cycling through options or by mistake, cycle though the options and leave it on

 

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/304410-focus-peaking-not-working-on-sl2/?do=findComment&comment=4479645

 

Edited August 31, 2023 by frame-it

[jaapv]

1 hour ago, Adalva said:

I have the original adapter, but my lens is the type IV, so no 6-bit encoding. I just spoke to a Leica Product Manager here in Spain and told me that unless the lens has encoding, the camera won't detect automatically it has a manual lens attached. I am sending an email to the department that deals with professional photographers to suggest a few improvements for future FW updates, but for now I am basically screwed 😢

Fortunately you are not screwed. You can simply code the lens yourself or have a local technician do it for you. Even using a Sharpie will work for a while. 

[jaapv]

1 hour ago, Adalva said:

I am sorry, but it is true. I just checked. Focus Peaking is ON, but it only shows up if I press FN button to get to a view mode that has all assistants ON and displaying on the screen, but in that mode focus peaking always shows up, even when using autofocus (which then it becomes more of a distraction than a useful aid).

Logic dictates that the camera should always assume that if I am attaching the M-L adapter, the lens will always be manual focus and should automatically display focus peaking without having to manually select the screen mode that has all assistants on. This is such a bummer.

Do you select a lens when the menu pops up when you attach it? 

[BernardC]

1 hour ago, Adalva said:

I have the original adapter, but my lens is the type IV, so no 6-bit encoding.

6-bit coding has been available since the M8 came out (late 2006). The fact that your lens isn't coded suggests that it hasn't been professionally serviced during that time.

That's fine for a collector lens that is only used occasionally, but maybe it's time to clean/lubricate those helicoids, and re-calibrate the focus. Leica Service has a fixed-price offer for this,  and any reputable specialist can do the same.

[Photoworks]

20 hours ago, Adalva said:

- Low-light AF unreliable: Very spotty, not reliable at all. AF assist light doesn’t turn on. Any advice? What combination of AF Mode and AF area mode (field, zone, matrix, point...) works best for low-light action? I shoot a lot of weddings and events on the side, so I worry about missing important dancefloor shots. Any thoughts?
- What would be the best AF set-up for entrance of the bride and groom at the church and dinner (normally moving towards my camera)?

You are asking multiple questions here, I have been using SL2 since 2020 and know how the camera works.

The only reliable AF is "AFs". You can use AFc with Facedetect and it works okay in good light situations. The camera has a contrast AF function that needs good light to operate.
If you dim the light to AF is going to hunt and be slow to focus on moving subjects. you may only get 2 frames in focus, be ready, prefocus, and make the shots count.

 

 

20 hours ago, Adalva said:

- Is there any liveview mode that changes from landscape to portrait orientation while keeping your focus point in the same point in relation to the sides of the frame? Fujifilm cameras have this function and it is life-changing. Basically if I am shooting in landscape orientation and have my focus point on the upper side of the frame and then switch to portrait orientation, I want my focus point remain on the upper part of the frame while in portrait orientation without having to move the focus point around with the joystick. Is it possible?

There is an option to assign a secondary AF position from the center, it can be toggled to a position and back to the center, maybe that can work for you.
When I do portraits, I use AFs with face detection and it works very well.

 

20 hours ago, Adalva said:

- Best way to customize buttons, fav menu and user profiles?

i made a video about my settings some time ago, and for the most part all my settings are the same..

 

 

20 hours ago, Adalva said:

- Is there a way to have the camera switch the focus peaking on automatically when attaching a manual focus lens? 

the FN button will page true different option, if you have only 2 screens, it can as simple as on and off.

In my way of shooting I would hate this to come up all the time, it is an assistant and for me used selectively.
I chose the the SL2 for the fantastic viewfinder and many of my M lenses get focused without zooming in to focus or focus assist.
With some lenses like the Noctilux, focus assist is often not visible anyway because of the soft focus, no edges to show means no focus assist color to show.
In any cases I shoot people most of the time for work. and I need to see the faces and eyes. Focus assist is in the way of showing eye expressions.

 

PS with M lenses it is important to select a lens from the menu to activate IBIS

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[Adalva]

3 hours ago, jaapv said:

Do you select a lens when the menu pops up when you attach it? 

No menu pops up when I attach the lens to the camera. I have to manually select the lens, and then cycle through screen modes with the FN button to be able to display focus peaking. The camera has de 5.1 firmware and the adapter the 1.0