AF prolems Leica1,4/25 on E-3

[ptomsu]

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Anyone here experience with a Leica 1,4/25 on the E-3 and AF under low light at fully open aperture?

 

I found out it works very unreliable - at least without AF light (camera flash), which is a real NONO if you want to do available light photography without of course any flash :-((

 

I bought this lens especially for low light shots with open aperture !!!

 

Inputs and feedback very welcome!

[rsolomon]

No experience with this but it is disapointing to hear that the lens is not performing as expected.

[wildlightphoto]

It may be that the E-3's AF sensors don't distinguish between f/1.4 and a smaller aperture, and it will focus accurately enough only for a smaller maximum aperture. Does this sound like the problem you're having?

[robsteve]

It is probably too dark for the E-3 AF sensors. The specifications for the E-3 will probably specify the light level at which it can use AF reliably. If it is requiring an AF assist light, it is probably too dark.

 

The only cameras that have any hope of focusing in low light is the 1 series Canon, and even with them it is hit and miss without an AF assist light.

[goodbokeh]

My 25 Summilux focuses in very dark environs with my Digilux 3. I do have the body's own AF assist light engaged so that is likely why but no one has complained :-)

[ptomsu]

Thanks for the replies so far!

 

I also own the Digilux3 nd it of corse focuses with AF light of the Digilux3, but this is red and not as anoying as the AF light of the E-3, which is the built in flash sending several strobe sequences until AF has focused.

 

I must admit that this works properly, but this is NOT how I want to use the 1,4/25, because I want to use it really wihout being noticed. Or could you imagine how great it would look like if I start focusing with that strobo flash during a concert in a dark concert hall or club?

 

So the answer seem to be obviously that I need to use MF under low light conditions?

[marlof]

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I just tested my 25/1.4 on the E3 in a darkened room, where only an object lit by a very dark and diffuse light was to be seen. The E3 in itself could not autofocus the 25, even when it came close, but it kept hunting bit by bit. If you want to focus in that kind of dark rooms, one solution would be to add an external flash to your E3, and use that built in AF assist light. It's also a red beam, just like the E-1 used to have. If you set the E3 to not fire a flash, you do get the AF assist, but no annoying flashlight. In that same darkened place, the 25/1.4 could focus pretty fast with the AF assist light of the FL36.

[ptomsu]

I just tested my 25/1.4 on the E3 in a darkened room, where only an object lit by a very dark and diffuse light was to be seen. The E3 in itself could not autofocus the 25, even when it came close, but it kept hunting bit by bit. If you want to focus in that kind of dark rooms, one solution would be to add an external flash to your E3, and use that built in AF assist light. It's also a red beam, just like the E-1 used to have. If you set the E3 to not fire a flash, you do get the AF assist, but no annoying flashlight. In that same darkened place, the 25/1.4 could focus pretty fast with the AF assist light of the FL36.

 

Thanks,

 

this makes sense at least. So I will need to get the FL36 :-)

 

Not sure if this is the specific of the E-3 or would have other AF DSLRs latest generation similar issues?

[marlof]

Well, I don't know if I'd call it an issue. I haven't found any problems in situations where I would want to take a picture without flash to focus the 25. The room I tested the AF in for you was so dark, that it required a 4 sec exposure at 1.4 (spot metering the lit subject; ISO 160). I can hardly imagine anyone going for that type of shots. As soon as I put on an extra light (spotmetering led to 1/2 sec at 1.4), I could focus without focus assist light as long as there's a contrast line in subject.

[ptomsu]

Well, I don't know if I'd call it an issue. I haven't found any problems in situations where I would want to take a picture without flash to focus the 25. The room I tested the AF in for you was so dark, that it required a 4 sec exposure at 1.4 (spot metering the lit subject; ISO 160). I can hardly imagine anyone going for that type of shots. As soon as I put on an extra light (spotmetering led to 1/2 sec at 1.4), I could focus without focus assist light as long as there's a contrast line in subject.

 

Do you use AF sensitivity Small or Normal ?

[Bob Ross]

Well, I don't know if I'd call it an issue. I haven't found any problems in situations where I would want to take a picture without flash to focus the 25. The room I tested the AF in for you was so dark, that it required a 4 sec exposure at 1.4 (spot metering the lit subject; ISO 160). I can hardly imagine anyone going for that type of shots. As soon as I put on an extra light (spotmetering led to 1/2 sec at 1.4), I could focus without focus assist light as long as there's a contrast line in subject.

The E-3's AF sensitivity specs say -2EV at the low end and at ISO160, 4 sec At 1.4 it may be just beyond the limit. At 1/2sec & 1.4 it is EV 1.5. My hand held meter's dials only go down to EV 1. I have my E-3 set for AF + MF to touch up the focus. I don't know if that would help with the 25/1.4 in the dark:eek:

Bob

[ptomsu]

That seems to be a solution to override with MF, and yes, I am doing that already.

 

Having said this, I never had these problems with my Nikon D2X, and 1,4/85 and their AF i at least 3 year older from design.

 

What I also found myself is that there is AF inconsistency with the E-3. See also discussions here:

 

E-3 backfocus problem - FourThirdsPhoto Forum

 

E3 focus inconsistencies - FourThirdsPhoto Forum

[marlof]

Do you use AF sensitivity Small or Normal ?

 

Small, and often also in diamond pattern (when the main subject is large enough).