SL2 C4K Frustrating Low Battery PROBLEM!

[bpLeica]

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Thank you all for engaging with this problem and your inputs. @photoworks just to confirm, you were getting overheating warnings and NOT insufficient battery for 4k recording?

I'm going to switch lenses and put the PAN70-200 on the SL2-S and native SL lens on the SL2 and see what happens.

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[Photoworks]

3 minutes ago, bpLeica said:

Thank you all for engaging with this problem and your inputs. @photoworks just to confirm, you were getting overheating warnings and NOT insufficient battery for 4k recording?

I'm going to switch lenses and put the PAN70-200 on the SL2-S and native SL lens on the SL2 and see what happens.

Yes Hot day here today

C4K 24fps ALL-I 

 

[stephenmick]

FYI… When I did my test yesterday, it was a hot day here in Portugal, but I did the testing in an air-conditioned room at about 75 degrees. 

[robb]

I had the 4k / continuous shooting warning pop up today on my sl2-s 6.0 firmware set at 6fps shooting stills with my sigma adapted canon 200 f 2

battery had 80% full capacity.  Normally if I am using an adapted lens needing more than 1-2 fps on stills, I add the grip for that second battery and don’t get this warning.  

so I don’t get this warning when shooting stills at faster drive speeds with my apo summicrons on sl2-s

but the adapted lenses (even mf only tilt shift lenses) get the warning at about 80% battery remaining every time…

I get it’s not a Leica lens. But important to know how to work around the problem.  Wonder if sigma L mount lenses have this warning message / drive limitation.

so the sl2 4k video issue is still a problem to solve for me and OP / others.

Robb

 

[stephenmick]

If there’s any other testing I can do that might help, let me know. 

[bpLeica]

Thank you @robb and @stephenmick for your help. Robb's report seems to confirm that the problem arises from using non-native lenses. I will convey to Leica support (which is usually what I do only after my own tests and forum discussions) but suspect that they will take no responsibility for third party lenses.

I'd still be interested to know if there are other SL2 users encountering the same problem that will strengthen engagement with Leica.

[robb]

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One issue is with adapted lenses.

Other issue is with all Leica SL lenses and simply shooting 4k.

will try to experiment more next week with my sl2 cameras and report back.

I’m on the road this week with other cameras getting paid to shoot each day and not work out leica’s bugs… lol

 

[robb]

Keep in mind though that sigma and Panasonic are part of the L mount alliance so I would expect those lenses to work with all the L-mount cameras.  

if the sigma or Panasonic lenses have issues restricting some of the sl2 modes or functions, that should make it into the users manual.

Robb

[Photoworks]

Leica already stated that some 3rd party lenses consume more power.
The same complaints were when people used the Sigma lenses in photography and they could not shoot high-speed busts.

the solution is to use the newer batteries with 20% more capacity, or the dummy battery.

On the Newer SL camera, you will get an error notice on the creed that the power may not be enough for 4K recording or burst shooting.

[BernardC]

I suspect that the L-mount communication protocol includes data about power consumption. Non-native lenses won't have that, so the camera assumes the worse, even if the lens doesn't have AF, like a tilt-shift.

1 hour ago, Photoworks said:

he same complaints were when people used the Sigma lenses in photography and they could not shoot high-speed busts.

There was an issue with Sigma and Lumix lenses which was fixed in firmware. Do people get that error with the latest lens and camera firmware? I assume that lens firmware is important, maybe Sigma and Panasonic didn't calculate power draw the same way (max vs. avg, for instance?).

[robb]

To me the frustrating question… is if you have 80% remaining in the battery…

 

80

 

percent

 

And everything is working fine above that 

why can’t the camera just keep going until it hits like 5% and then I can turn off and add a new battery… treat everything unknown as a MF lens or 24-90 with the stabilizer.  

Why put me in handcuffs?  Let me use the full battery in higher drive modes.  

”im sorry that you have 35 gallons in your gas tank.  We’re putting you on the shoulder now until you add the missing 5 gallons back to continue on your journey…”

Robb

 

[Photoworks]

10 hours ago, BernardC said:

I suspect that the L-mount communication protocol includes data about power consumption. Non-native lenses won't have that, so the camera assumes the worse, even if the lens doesn't have AF, like a tilt-shift.

yes, that is the case.

But in good news, I was shooting video all day in the rain on my SL2, external battery powered the camera via USBC dummy, and the Atomos 7" monitor, 4 hours of recording in segments, no problems, V-Lock battery 99w still half full.

[bpLeica]

Folks I have an update on this issue for whatever it's worth:

I switched lenses, Put the Pan70-200/2.8 on the SL2-S and SL24-90 on the SL2 with all the same settings as above. NO LOW BATTERY ISSUES on the SL2-S! In fact it continued recording non stop until the battery was near 20%.

It seems like the PAN70-200/2.8 is causing some battery issue with the SL2 and NOT the SL2-S. 

I put the PAN back on the SL2 with over 50% battery and the low power message immediately popped up. 

if everyone else agrees, this issue seems to be ripe for sharing with Leica support to verify and rectify. PAN lens has a power issue with SL2.

P.S. All was on Manual focus so no autofocus related issue I suppose. 

[robb]

The sl2-s does not have any problems anymore with Leica lenses.

its the sl2 with the issue on the battery warning at 4k even when using Leica lenses and 80% battery remaining.

so basically.  Skip the sl2 for 4k video needs past 10-15 min even with a full battery or you may be successful using the grip