Leica SL3 AF

[BernardC]

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3 minutes ago, Simone_DF said:

However, Leica definitely had to adapt it to the SL to account for hardware differences that may have an impact on AF and other software related performance, energy consumption, heat dissipation, etc. 

We are saying the same thing. The basic logic of the code was similar, but it would have needed a re-write to make it compatible with different hardware, function calls, libraries, etc. It's like porting a piece of software from Windows to Mac (or Mac Intel to Mac ARM): it's easy to do in theory, or if you just want to have something "work," but it can get quite complicated if you want the adapted software to be fast and efficient. AF code is a good example of something that has to be fast in order to be useful.

Long story short: the new shared technical architecture should make it easier for Panasonic and Leica to implement each-other's ideas.

[FlashGordonPhotography]

The S5II and SL3 use different sensors. Code needs adapting. Likely around when the S1RII arrives. Part of the L2 alliance and all that.

I'm not seeing (m)any bugs, unlike the M's. Just optimisation and missing features. And since they actually label the animal AF as beta in the menu I'd guess it'll already be underway. Since the AF was by far the biggest criticism of the SL system, I would guess it's a priority in their first pdaf camera.

But as usual we'll get what we're given.

Gordon

p.s. I spent the weekend playing with the SL3 and Sigma 500mm. One of my first goes at photographing small birds. Camera found them just fine. Results were mixed but almost certainly the tool holding the camera was the biggest issue. Next time I'll take up my A1 and A7R5 to compare.

[Chun Chang]

On 4/28/2024 at 8:10 AM, petereprice said:

Interestingly, my Sigma 28-70mm DG DN Contemporary is one of my most consistently accurate AF lenses.  But I generally agree that the Sigma's perform the least consistently, next to maybe the SL APO which I also found to be slow and inconsistent.

With the Sigma I get two, maybe three in focus frames of a person in motion.  With the Leica APO 50 I get eight, sometimes nine in focus.  More importantly the Sigma at times will refuse to lock focus, only hunting.  Very disappointing.