APO Lens AF Performance on the SL3

[MakinMemories]

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10 hours ago, Photoworks said:

aren't you paying more if you have to buy dinner first?

 

 

 

If you don't have to buy dinner first, you certainly don't want to eat the dessert...🤭

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[Geoff C. Bassett]

My 75mm APO is my slowest focusing L mount lens. Image for me is worth it. 

On 3/28/2024 at 5:12 PM, helged said:

It’s also about the focus motors that are being used. Sigma 70-200 f2.8 DG DN has a  f a s t  focus mechanism.

In addition, some lenses have a distance limitation to be set by the user, this setting will also speed the focussing (for the Sigma zoom the focus intervals are less than 3 m, more than 3 m, and the full distanse range).

That sigma focuses crazy fast. I rented one and it is excellent, only lens I've found focuses faster is the Panasonic 50mm 1.4. 

Curious if you have experience with the 85mm for focus speed? I heard it's actually pretty poor.

 

Edited March 31, 2024 by Geoff C. Bassett

[petereprice]

10 hours ago, Geoff C. Bassett said:

 

Curious if you have experience with the 85mm for focus speed? I heard it's actually pretty poor.

 

In my experience with the Sigma 85mm f1.4 it was fast but inconsistent in its accuracy.  One minute it would be hitting and tracking subjects in focus but it suddenly would get thrown off by something in the background and randomly hunt, without an explanation or expectation.  Especially in low light.  

[helged]

10 hours ago, Geoff C. Bassett said:

My 75mm APO is my slowest focusing L mount lens. Image for me is worth it. 

That sigma focuses crazy fast. I rented one and it is excellent, only lens I've found focuses faster is the Panasonic 50mm 1.4. 

Curious if you have experience with the 85mm for focus speed? I heard it's actually pretty poor.

 

I am happy with the focus speed of the 85mm DG DN. Not as super-fast as Sigma 70-200, but close. And yes, the Pana 50mm f1.4 has a reputation of being very fast as well (but for the 50mm I use the SL50Lux, a fav of mine, so I have no experience with the Pana).

[CptSlevin]

So, to sum up this thread, correct me if I am wrong.
APO SL Lenses are really slower in focus than Sigma DG DN 35,50,85 1.4 and etc line?

Because right now I have 35 and 85 and wanted to try APO, but seems like Sigma is just better as they are:
- lighter
- 1.4 vs 2.0
- faster and snappier AF
- are 1/3 or 1/5 of the same Leica APO lens.

Because there were comparisons in IQ and I didn't see any critical differences which could outweigh basic comparison.

[petereprice]

53 minutes ago, CptSlevin said:

So, to sum up this thread, correct me if I am wrong.
APO SL Lenses are really slower in focus than Sigma DG DN 35,50,85 1.4 and etc line?

Because right now I have 35 and 85 and wanted to try APO, but seems like Sigma is just better as they are:
- lighter
- 1.4 vs 2.0
- faster and snappier AF
- are 1/3 or 1/5 of the same Leica APO lens.

Because there were comparisons in IQ and I didn't see any critical differences which could outweigh basic comparison.

I would agree with this based on my testing.  Yes.  Here’s how I would rank the lenses in overall speed and accuracy.

1.  Leica SL ASPH

2.  Panasonic f1.8 S primes

3.  Sigma Contemporary I-Series

4.  Sigma Art Series

5.  Leica SL APO

[Dr. G]

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56 minutes ago, CptSlevin said:

So, to sum up this thread, correct me if I am wrong.
APO SL Lenses are really slower in focus than Sigma DG DN 35,50,85 1.4 and etc line?

Because right now I have 35 and 85 and wanted to try APO, but seems like Sigma is just better as they are:
- lighter
- 1.4 vs 2.0
- faster and snappier AF
- are 1/3 or 1/5 of the same Leica APO lens.

Because there were comparisons in IQ and I didn't see any critical differences which could outweigh basic comparison.

If you can't see the differences in image quality then there is no reason for you to spend more on the APO lenses.

[Photoworks]

53 minutes ago, CptSlevin said:

So, to sum up this thread, correct me if I am wrong.
APO SL Lenses are really slower in focus than Sigma DG DN 35,50,85 1.4 and etc line?

Because right now I have 35 and 85 and wanted to try APO, but seems like Sigma is just better as they are:
- lighter
- 1.4 vs 2.0
- faster and snappier AF
- are 1/3 or 1/5 of the same Leica APO lens.

Because there were comparisons in IQ and I didn't see any critical differences which could outweigh basic comparison.

I can only mention the lenses I use.

I think there are differences in IQ, speed, and performance. 

Sigma 35 1.4 and Sigma 85 1.5, don't have the same IQ of the 35 APO and the 75 APO.

Sigma 1.4 lenses focus at a similar speed, but the AF hit is less in my experience.

1.4 and 2.0 lenses are fundamentally different so a comparison is not appropriate.

I think the APO lenses read a 1/3 stop brighter when both lenses are at 2.0

[Geoff C. Bassett]

5 hours ago, CptSlevin said:

So, to sum up this thread, correct me if I am wrong.
APO SL Lenses are really slower in focus than Sigma DG DN 35,50,85 1.4 and etc line?

Because right now I have 35 and 85 and wanted to try APO, but seems like Sigma is just better as they are:
- lighter
- 1.4 vs 2.0
- faster and snappier AF
- are 1/3 or 1/5 of the same Leica APO lens.

Because there were comparisons in IQ and I didn't see any critical differences which could outweigh basic comparison.

Don't discount the fact that the APO lenses are also smaller in physical size. I can carry them in a small pouch on my belt. 

I use the 75mm APO because of that and it's image quality is unmatched and I find 85mm to tight for a portrait lens.

It's the same reason I'm probably going to buy the Leica 21mm over the Sigma 20mm 1.4, better image quality, better rendering, less distortion on people. 

Can most people see the difference? No. And that's okay. I'm not in this for the best ROI price/performance. If that was the case I would own a Nikon D850 and some older zooms and primes.

If your happy with the sigma and prioritize AF, go for it!

 

Edited April 1, 2024 by Geoff C. Bassett