The Summilux-SL 50mm is heavy. Autofocus with the lens is slow. Image quality, according to Leica and many of its users, is reference standard. These are knowns. I live with the former two and enjoy the latter.

Anyone who follows these pages knows I’m not too trusting of autofocus in cameras and lenses. In fact, until recently I had but one AF lens, an ultrawide, in my arsenal. But with some current shooting opportunities that require more decisiveness on the part of the photographer, another AF lens or two seemed to make sense.

Until the first couple of times the 50 ‘lux balked wide open in low light. And missed critical focus a couple of times when using the elusive “spot” focus. And just today, missing critical focus again, this time with “Field” enabled.

Quick to blame the lens since I hadn’t had this problem for a while, it eventually dawned on me that I’d been through this once before. Conversations with LCAP and then with Wetzlar failed to shed any light on exactly what part of the frame is covered by the two AF areas.

Looks like AFC with burst, here I come. Spray and pray, as it’s often said.

Or maybe just put on the old, reliable Mandler favorite, the 80 ‘lux, and pray for my subject’s patience while I get focus right. At least with that option, I have only myself to blame if I miss.

Leica DFD’s the problem, you say? Nope. Canikonympusonic misses, too.

SL2/80mm Summilux-R . . .