S3 Focus Help/Advice

[Pieter12]

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1 hour ago, epines said:

The drawback of shooting a row of books from an angle is, if the resulting focus doesn't end up on the spine / book you intended, there's no way to know if it's due to the camera choosing the wrong book (which can definitely happen with the S, when it has multiple similar options in the crosshairs area), or if it's due to the camera's focus being out of alignment. 

Not if you shoot a comparison photo with MF.

[chaliegray]

Hi guys hope you are well, has anyone found the ideal shutter speed for handheld with the S2 007 and a 100 mm lens?

Just shot a campaign hand held as the sensor is beautiful for natural light, seems you have to be 1/750 to get the best focus in MF/back button - anyone else had experience of this combination?

[John McMaster]

I usually find 1/3xfocal length as the minimum for handholding...  I can use my 120mm at 1/500th.....

john

[epines]

All depends on your technique and whether you're able to brace yourself against something. I get sharp results with 1 / 2xfocal length, or 1 / 1.5xfocal length if I can brace myself against something or lean against something. 

Are you holding your elbows against your body when shooting? There are ways to handhold smoothly. 

Edited September 2, 2024 by epines

[Pieter12]

Inhale and hold your breath.

Edited September 2, 2024 by Pieter12

[tom0511]

I would send it to Leica together with the lens you have problems. As others said, the AF is not that accurate.

My 70 and 120 seem better in this regard, and 100 at medium distance the least reliable.

But if the S007 was better, than the S3 should be as good IMO.

 

[davidmknoble]

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It also has to do with the subject movement. Longer the focal length, the higher the shutter speed needs to be for freezing movement.  In Antarctica this past January I quickly moved from 1/1000 to 1/2000 for the 90-280 zoom.  Even handheld with IBIS, I was getting blur in the penguins moving around.  

So, stationery subjects a slower shutter speed may work fine but may not be sufficient for moving subjects.