Leica SL2-S focus and zoom dark flashes when in Cine mode

[IgorBertolucci]

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Hello Everyone,

I am encountering an issue with my Leica SL2-S and all three of the my Leica SL zoom lenses: Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16-35 f/3.5-4.5 ASPH (this is the one used in this video), Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90 f/2.8-4 ASPH, and the APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90-280 f/2.8-4.

When filming in Cine mode, with the aperture wide open, and rack focusing, the aperture randomly closes, slightly, for an instance producing dark flashes in the recording. A faint clicking sound can be heard from inside the lenses, indicating the aperture is closing. This does not appear to happen when switching the camera to Video mode.

The flashing also occurs, much more frequent, when zooming. This happens in both Cine and Video modes and at any aperture, even if the aperture does not change between the wide focal length and the zoomed focal length.
I don't know if this is a bug in the camera firmware, the lens firmware, or a problem specific to this singular camera. I have uploaded a video on YouTube, and am posting this message here, to ask the Leica SL2 community if anyone else has encountered this issue.

Please take a moment to watch the 5 minute video and let me know if your SL2 or SL2-S, with any of the aforementioned zoom lenses, produce the same results.

Thank you for taking the time to see this video and comment.
 

[LEGEND]

Perhaps some kind of interference with focus breathing of the lens when you focus.

But why only in the cine mode and on certain spots?

Possible that is less noticeable when you have little bit closed aperture.
that this effect doesn't stand out so much. 
Try to focus from near to infinity and see what will happened. 
Put some painters paper tape on the lens and mark the spot when it start to flash.
Then turn the focus point manually little bit further, perhaps 1/4 of the turn and
re focus using back AF on the joystick. Turn the manual focus ring and check 
if this problem persist . Try this on different focus distances, focal lengths and
art of focusing, AF / manual... Do this in different combinations. It will take some time 
to check everything but I think that way perhaps you will know more about the problem.

I also have SL2-S and 24-90. This is my only SL lens but I don't do much video.
Still, if I shoot some clips I use Cine mode. I will try to recreate this with my camera setup 
and see if this is also the case... Will report back with the results.

Sorry for my bad english... It is not my native language... 

Nikola

[frame-it]

2 hours ago, IgorBertolucci said:

Hello Everyone,

I am encountering an issue with my Leica SL2-S and all three of the my Leica SL zoom lenses: Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 16-35 f/3.5-4.5 ASPH (this is the one used in this video), Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90 f/2.8-4 ASPH, and the APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90-280 f/2.8-4.

When filming in Cine mode, with the aperture wide open, and rack focusing, the aperture randomly closes, slightly, for an instance producing dark flashes in the recording. A faint clicking sound can be heard from inside the lenses, indicating the aperture is closing. This does not appear to happen when switching the camera to Video mode.

The flashing also occurs, much more frequent, when zooming. This happens in both Cine and Video modes and at any aperture, even if the aperture does not change between the wide focal length and the zoomed focal length.
I don't know if this is a bug in the camera firmware, the lens firmware, or a problem specific to this singular camera. I have uploaded a video on YouTube, and am posting this message here, to ask the Leica SL2 community if anyone else has encountered this issue.

Please take a moment to watch the 5 minute video and let me know if your SL2 or SL2-S, with any of the aforementioned zoom lenses, produce the same results.

Thank you for taking the time to see this video and comment.
 

check with different codecs as well, and is your hand covering the exposure metering sensor while manually changing focus?

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Edited April 13, 2024 by frame-it

[Photoworks]

I just tested the SL2 in CINE mode, 4k and C4K with 24-90

I did not see what you described.

 

[IgorBertolucci]

Thank you all for your comments.

frame-it, to answer your questions: I was rotating the focus ring from the right side of the camera, so was not covering the exposure metering sensor. This occurs in all three codecs MOV, MP4 and RAW (to a Ninja V+), and at all resolutions. Also, it happens even when I have the camera shift focus via the Follow Focus feature, so without touching the focus ring at all.

LEGEND, as written above this happens even without touching the focus ring, letting the camera shift via the Follow Focus feature, and in AF mode. The focus points where it occurs changes from lens to lens. On the 16-35 that is shown in the video, it seems to occur at close focus, but on my 24-90 it happens in many more focus spots throughout the range. I will try to see if I can pin point the exact focus distance where this occurs for each lens.

Photoworks, thank you for testing. It might be something specific to my camera. I will try to visit the Leica Store in SF and see if I can perform this test with one of their cameras.

[LEGEND]

I also performed the test with my SL2-S and 24-90 zoom. 

I used every codec , resolution, sensor size FF and Super35, on different ISO, different focal lengths...
In all kind of combinations... I did't noticed anything like you have with your SL2-S and SL lenses.

The waveform showed no flashes or similar... I think you need to send you Leica camera and lenses
on service. This is not normal behaviour...
I wish you luck with this problem and hope it will get resolved soon...

Nikola

[IgorBertolucci]

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Thank you Nikola for performing the test as well. Just to check, does yours do the flashing during zoom, or does the aperture close gradually as you zoom from wide to telephoto?

I have written to Leica Customer Service and will also get in touch with the Leica Store of San Francisco to get my equipment checked.

Thank you all again.

Igor

 

 

[LEGEND]

1 hour ago, IgorBertolucci said:

Thank you Nikola for performing the test as well. Just to check, does yours do the flashing during zoom, or does the aperture close gradually as you zoom from wide to telephoto?

I have written to Leica Customer Service and will also get in touch with the Leica Store of San Francisco to get my equipment checked.

Thank you all again.

Igor

 

 

Hi,
I just checked, it goes smooth. Only on one spot it seams to make very small jump. It is almost not noticeable but you can see small movement on the waveform.
It doesn't influence the recording in my opinion.  This is somewhere around t3,7 - 40mm, you can hear small sound of aperture moving on this mark.
It is the same noise that you hear when zoom from 90mm to the 24mm.

I have set ASA increment to 1/6 and EV increment to 1/3.
When you look at aperture T stops they move in small steps. t3,2 - t3,3 - t3,4 - t3,5 ...  
I think this is to small to have visible effect on the recording...  You can test it your self. Just need quiet space and little bit of time.

The best way to find out on what focal length this sound appear is to turn on the menu and then zoom in.
Before that set the aperture on t3.2 on 24mm and perform the test.
You will notice the noise of aperture around focal length 39mm - 40mm or t3,7.
I don't know why is that because before and after this there was almost no noise of aperture 
moving. So on my SL2-S and 24-90 there are no flashes or similar during zooming from wide to tele photo.
At least I could't notice any... The best is to look at the waveform and se if it “jumps“ on certain focal lengths.
Move the zoom ring very slow when you do the test and place the camera on the tripod. It is easier that way...

Nikola

Edited April 13, 2024 by LEGEND