Animal Detection Firmware 4.0

[Miltz]

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I've spent the last 24hrs using the Q3 43 with firmware 4.0 specifically capturing my dog. I took hundreds on images and I have some great news to share. Leica finally gave us a fantastic result here. These were all multipoint AFs. This firmware makes the camera feel brand new and definitely put it in 2025 performance. The hit rate was almost 100%. Before the update I would get his nose in focus, rarely the eyes. I kept eye detection on and it did a super job. Before, the camera was a nightmare trying to get any usable images, now it feels like I'm using a Sony... lol. I plan to test tracking and action shots soon as well, which before the camera wasn't able to do well at all. 

[JimKnopf]

vor 41 Minuten schrieb Miltz:

I've spent the last 24hrs using the Q3 43 with firmware 4.0 specifically capturing my dog. I took hundreds on images and I have some great news to share. Leica finally gave us a fantastic result here. These were all multipoint AFs. This firmware makes the camera feel brand new and definitely put it in 2025 performance. The hit rate was almost 100%. Before the update I would get his nose in focus, rarely the eyes. I kept eye detection on and it did a super job. Before, the camera was a nightmare trying to get any usable images, now it feels like I'm using a Sony... lol. I plan to test tracking and action shots soon as well, which before the camera wasn't able to do well at all. 

Do you only experience this great autofocus at 43mm or also at larger crop levels?

Edited yesterday at 10:19 AM by JimKnopf

[JimKnopf]

vor 3 Stunden schrieb Miltz:

I've spent the last 24hrs using the Q3 43 with firmware 4.0 specifically capturing my dog. I took hundreds on images and I have some great news to share. Leica finally gave us a fantastic result here. These were all multipoint AFs. This firmware makes the camera feel brand new and definitely put it in 2025 performance. The hit rate was almost 100%. Before the update I would get his nose in focus, rarely the eyes. I kept eye detection on and it did a super job. Before, the camera was a nightmare trying to get any usable images, now it feels like I'm using a Sony... lol. I plan to test tracking and action shots soon as well, which before the camera wasn't able to do well at all. 

And do you notice that the viewfinder slows down and becomes blurry during object recognition and tracking? The display, however, remains smooth.

[Miltz]

I never use the viewfinder for my dog images due to the angles. I also never use crop modes, I don’t like the way Leica does crops. They are the only company that doesn’t zoom in during the crop, so composing is awful. 

[Miltz]

I did some very low light back lit shots tests tonight… the hit rate dropped a lot. Camera struggled to even focus just like in previous firmwares. Leica’s never like this type of setup. A flash or constant light is needed for accurate focus in these conditions. 

Edited 11 hours ago by Miltz

[KarinK_Photo]

I am a wildlife/bird photographer with the SL3 and installed 4.0 recently.

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What am I doing wrong?? Animal eye/face/body mode, field/zone or tracking mode and hardly a crisp image.
I was extremely happy that Leica finally was out of the bèta wildlife mode but regret installing the update sofar!
Is it locking fast to the subject? Yes it is! Are you getting te results you want with your wildlife-, bird photography? Not at all!
I was out shooting the day before 4.0 arrived and was over the moon with the shots I took. At the moment I am utterly disappointed.
Is there anyone who can advise me what I’m doing wrong or with opposite experiences?
Thanks for sharing!