More than once on these pages I’ve ranted about the AF area spot-that’s-not-a-spot on the SL2 and SL2-S. Out with the Summilux-SL 50mm this afternoon, I wanted to focus on a narrow strip of paper about 2 inches wide that was hanging from a string. AF balked a couple of times before settling on the farthest area in the background.

I tried it a few more time with similar results. The “spot” just isn’t a spot; it’s multiple points. The bigger problem is that the area delineated by the crosshairs doesn’t appear to contain a focus point at all, at least not one that’s being used in the spot AF area setting.

Switching to the Lumix S 85mm f1.8 and backing up a bit to make the target comparable in size within the frame, spot AF was near-instant and accurate. Moving the single point to a tiny flower, same result. Spot AF was indeed a spot—with this lens.

But with previously-owned SL lenses, the 28, 35, 90, and 90-280, I had the same issue I have with the Summilux-SL. On the Panasonic side, I can’t compare my experience with both 70-200mm lenses because I had an SL 601 when I owned them. I don’t recall having had any AF issue with the 70-300mm.

So why is it that Lumix S glass focuses faster and surer than SL glass on the Leica bodies? I have no idea, but trying to figure things out is a good excuse for adding more Lumix to the arsenal.

SL2/Lumix S 85mm f1.8 . . .