vincentpaulgtan Posted February 18 Share #1 Posted February 18 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi SL3 owners! I would like to ask for some recommendations if the SL3 would have fast enough Autofocus for Studio Portrait work for dogs and cats. I've been using Canon R3 which has amazing autofocus but I would like to have higher MP and was thinking to get a Sony A1 but I do own a 24-90 SL (got it as a deal with an old Lumix camera) which I absolutely love. I was thinking this lens would be perfect for my work as I have all the focal length range that I need and also since I shoot at F8 - F11, the 24-90 is perfect. SL3 seems to be the best choice to be able to use this lens but I wonder if the AF system of this combo is fast enough for animals (since they usually have erratic movements etc.) Also from reading around, Animal Eye detect is still in beta. Does anyone know if Leica still have plans to update this feature down the road via firmware? Any input would be very much appreciated! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 18 Posted February 18 Hi vincentpaulgtan, Take a look here LEICA SL3 + 24-90 Animal AF. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
PhotoCruiser Posted February 18 Share #2 Posted February 18 The Leica SL2/SL3 Autofocus is not insufficient, honestly AF is more than good, including animals in studio except they are many or bolting around. The Canon/Nikon Pro camera autofocus is better when a lot confusion in the scene happen and/or objects are moving very fast. i have no idea regarding the animal eye detect, on humans and on the SL2 eye detection worked well when i used it. Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 18 Share #3 Posted February 18 The better camera in that case would be a Panasonic. S5Ii. The latest versions have effective animal/ eye detection. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhotoCruiser Posted February 18 Share #4 Posted February 18 My buddy has a GH5 and it's a great camera but i never tried animal eye detection (if she has it) When i have to decide to buy something i am not sure about i usually rent it for a (few) days to see how it works and if it fit my needs. That would be a good option for OP to verify what camera works best for the conditions he use her in. Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 18 Share #5 Posted February 18 MFT should be good as well, the AF is better than 135 in general, but I have only tried the latest S. With the Sigma 70-200 it focused on wildlife eyes flawlessly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincentpaulgtan Posted February 18 Author Share #6 Posted February 18 Thanks for the replies! Lumix would be nice but I would really prefer if I could use the 24-90 on a high megapixel photo camera. SL2 and S1R have lackluster AF unfortunately so the SL3 is the only other option. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincentpaulgtan Posted February 18 Author Share #7 Posted February 18 Advertisement (gone after registration) I guess Sony A1 or A1 ii makes the most sense in terms of AF (R5 as well but I plan to move away from Canon) but I'm really keen on using the 24-90 and SL3 is very interesting especially if future firmware updates are down the pipeline for AF. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photoworks Posted February 18 Share #8 Posted February 18 40 minutes ago, vincentpaulgtan said: Thanks for the replies! Lumix would be nice but I would really prefer if I could use the 24-90 on a high megapixel photo camera. SL2 and S1R have lackluster AF unfortunately so the SL3 is the only other option. Don't be confused by the new camera specs! Leica is not very forthcoming in the AF performance. I use the SL2 and SL3 in the studio all the time with the 24-90mm AFs"S for single" Face detection on a person work very well; I have not done animals with them. AFs has the same performance on the on the SL2 and SL3 and Sl3s, what almost nobody tells you that in AFs the contrast focusing system. You can see improvements in AFc, the SL3 and SL3s uses phase detect and contrast at the same time, improving the AF speed. It is quite good; it will improve once the firmware is updated. The 24-90 is an older lens and has good glass, but new lenses wike sigma 24-70 II or 28-105 have new motor generation making AF performance better. I am considering 28-105 for my studio work, the usual range for me is 35-100 with other cameras. this lens is sharp, but at 28mm it shows some distortion, some get corrected in processing, but it is already clean at 35mm. SL3s claims 30fs with AFc, but it is with electronic shutter, and the flash in the studio will not fire. Panasonic is coming out in a short time with S1 replacement; it would be good to find out before you buy the new gear. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernd-B Posted February 18 Share #9 Posted February 18 (edited) Just coming back from a photography safari in Botswana's Chobe NP. I have used the Leica SL3-S with the Sigma 5.6/500 DG DN attached and the Leica SL3 with the Leica-SL 2.8/70-200 attached. Both combinations worked really well with the Animal detection (Beta). There is one weakness when the animal is standing in tall grass. I have tested a friend's Canon R3 which had similar issues in such situations. Below you find a bathing elephant being a really hard subject to focus on the eye with the animal detection as it is dark grey with very low contrast. That picture was taken with the SL3 and the SL 2.8/70-200 at f4, ISO 640 and 1/5.000 sec at 132 mm focal length. I cannot comment on the SL 2.8-4.0/24-90 as I don't own it (I switched it some time ago against the SL 2.8/24-70 because I wanted to have a constant 2.8 aperture). The AF of the SL3 is clearly fast enough for wildlife and the SL3-S AF is considerably faster. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited February 18 by Bernd-B 8 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/419343-leica-sl3-24-90-animal-af/?do=findComment&comment=5759568'>More sharing options...
vincentpaulgtan Posted February 19 Author Share #10 Posted February 19 19 hours ago, Photoworks said: Don't be confused by the new camera specs! Leica is not very forthcoming in the AF performance. I use the SL2 and SL3 in the studio all the time with the 24-90mm AFs"S for single" Face detection on a person work very well; I have not done animals with them. AFs has the same performance on the on the SL2 and SL3 and Sl3s, what almost nobody tells you that in AFs the contrast focusing system. You can see improvements in AFc, the SL3 and SL3s uses phase detect and contrast at the same time, improving the AF speed. It is quite good; it will improve once the firmware is updated. The 24-90 is an older lens and has good glass, but new lenses wike sigma 24-70 II or 28-105 have new motor generation making AF performance better. I am considering 28-105 for my studio work, the usual range for me is 35-100 with other cameras. this lens is sharp, but at 28mm it shows some distortion, some get corrected in processing, but it is already clean at 35mm. SL3s claims 30fs with AFc, but it is with electronic shutter, and the flash in the studio will not fire. Panasonic is coming out in a short time with S1 replacement; it would be good to find out before you buy the new gear. Ahh good to hear about Panasonic, best idea to wait for it thank you! So the 24-90 AF motors are slower? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincentpaulgtan Posted February 19 Author Share #11 Posted February 19 17 hours ago, Bernd-B said: Just coming back from a photography safari in Botswana's Chobe NP. I have used the Leica SL3-S with the Sigma 5.6/500 DG DN attached and the Leica SL3 with the Leica-SL 2.8/70-200 attached. Both combinations worked really well with the Animal detection (Beta). There is one weakness when the animal is standing in tall grass. I have tested a friend's Canon R3 which had similar issues in such situations. Below you find a bathing elephant being a really hard subject to focus on the eye with the animal detection as it is dark grey with very low contrast. That picture was taken with the SL3 and the SL 2.8/70-200 at f4, ISO 640 and 1/5.000 sec at 132 mm focal length. I cannot comment on the SL 2.8-4.0/24-90 as I don't own it (I switched it some time ago against the SL 2.8/24-70 because I wanted to have a constant 2.8 aperture). The AF of the SL3 is clearly fast enough for wildlife and the SL3-S AF is considerably faster. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Wow that's a nice shot! I am really now tempted to get an SL3. I don't need sports like AF capabilities, just enough to make portraits of moving animals (not even running animals) as I work with a studio setting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhotoCruiser Posted February 19 Share #12 Posted February 19 The SL3 will do fine and its a excellent camera, pricy but hey, it's a Leica! Go to a Leica Store and hold both models, the SL2 and the SL3, there is a slight difference in size and i found the SL3 fit better my hand. Many say the SL3 AF is better, i feel that the SL2 AF is more than good for normal work and honestly you can get a SL2 and a new Leica lens for what you pay for a SL3 without lens. And that make the SL2 a bargain in this moment if you don't need the few upgrades the SL3 has. Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 19 Share #13 Posted February 19 18 hours ago, Bernd-B said: Just coming back from a photography safari in Botswana's Chobe NP. I have used the Leica SL3-S with the Sigma 5.6/500 DG DN attached and the Leica SL3 with the Leica-SL 2.8/70-200 attached. Both combinations worked really well with the Animal detection (Beta). There is one weakness when the animal is standing in tall grass. I have tested a friend's Canon R3 which had similar issues in such situations. Below you find a bathing elephant being a really hard subject to focus on the eye with the animal detection as it is dark grey with very low contrast. That picture was taken with the SL3 and the SL 2.8/70-200 at f4, ISO 640 and 1/5.000 sec at 132 mm focal length. I cannot comment on the SL 2.8-4.0/24-90 as I don't own it (I switched it some time ago against the SL 2.8/24-70 because I wanted to have a constant 2.8 aperture). The AF of the SL3 is clearly fast enough for wildlife and the SL3-S AF is considerably faster. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! He was asking you to remove yourself 😉 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 19 Share #14 Posted February 19 33 minutes ago, PhotoCruiser said: The SL3 will do fine and its a excellent camera, pricy but hey, it's a Leica! Go to a Leica Store and hold both models, the SL2 and the SL3, there is a slight difference in size and i found the SL3 fit better my hand. Many say the SL3 AF is better, i feel that the SL2 AF is more than good for normal work and honestly you can get a SL2 and a new Leica lens for what you pay for a SL3 without lens. And that make the SL2 a bargain in this moment if you don't need the few upgrades the SL3 has. Chris And do look at the S models as well. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photoworks Posted February 19 Share #15 Posted February 19 11 hours ago, vincentpaulgtan said: Ahh good to hear about Panasonic, best idea to wait for it thank you! So the 24-90 AF motors are slower? Panasonic Lumix S1RII specs (preorder here soon): New 44 MP “high speed” sensor 40fps in electronic shutter 10fps in mechanical shutter 8 stops image stabilization 1.5 second pre-capture Open-Gate Price around $3,500 Announcement: Feb 25, 1-2pm London time I still use the 24-90 all the time, it is good quality and range, and it is ok in speed, but it still has big glass to move which slows down AF speeds Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincentpaulgtan Posted February 20 Author Share #16 Posted February 20 22 hours ago, jaapv said: And do look at the S models as well. ohh that's interesting, I never thought about that. What are your experiences? do they have adequate AF? I also have a Nikon D850 which has very good AF. The AF on DSLR feels different Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhotoCruiser Posted February 20 Share #17 Posted February 20 vor 25 Minuten schrieb vincentpaulgtan: I also have a Nikon D850 which has very good AF. The AF on DSLR feels different I have a D800 and AF is excellent too so why not using your D850 for the animal photography? My D800 gave me a hell of fun photographing above and under the sea's surface and i consider the D800/D850 as one of the best cameras. Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photoworks Posted February 20 Share #18 Posted February 20 23 hours ago, jaapv said: And do look at the S models as well. Wait?!? The Leica S 3, where the last one came out 5 years ago, after years of delay and that is not even on Leica website anymore? anyway, the S lenses are slow in focusing, but the optical quality is very good, the design of the lenses is been reused in Leica cine 65 line Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 20 Share #19 Posted February 20 No the new ones S5Ii and S1ii What S lenses? This is the L alliance. In general many Sigma lenses are faster. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhotoCruiser Posted February 20 Share #20 Posted February 20 vor 22 Minuten schrieb Photoworks: The Leica S 3, where the last one came out 5 years ago, after years of delay and that is not even on Leica website anymore? I understood that Jaapv was writing about the SL2-S SL3-S as i wrote about the Sl2 and SL3 Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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