Much depends on your drive mode settings. This technique applies for all a7, a77 and a99 series cameras, and Lock On AF: Flexible Spot feature is available for the a7S, a77ii and a7ii. It was smart enough to focus on the ducks behind the huge fallen tree trunk as they were playing in the lake. I can confirm that use of the remote forces the camera to autofocus, even when Menu > Custom Settings > AF w/shutter > Off. Hi there – I am having exactly the same issue. Have tried using this G lens for shooting gulls gliding over but results are still fuzzy and out of focus. The most notable feature of this iteration of the A7 is the autofocus component. We have loved this functionality ever since Sony implemented it in the a7RII almost three years ago. The camera will autofocus in the same way as wide focus area, but only in the selected zone. It’s linked to the speed at which the camera acquires critical focus, either when the lens has to bridge a big change in focus distance, or when the conditions force the camera to. Best, Wim. You can try it out, but if you’re happy with the results ‘fast’ is giving you, no need to change of course. Especially since you’re working in dimly lit places for weddings and such. This mode is somewhat random, in the sense that it will lock-on to any movement in your image. The built-in Sony SteadyShot system promises to offer about 4.5 stops of stabilization capability which should help reduce the effects of camera sha… With its $1,699 MSRP price tag, the full-frame Sony A7 II offers quite a bit as a digital camera and packs a lot of improvements over the original A7: much better ergonomics (thanks to the bigger and more textured grip), built-in 5-axis image stabilization, faster hybrid AF system, faster start-up time and a few other small tweaks here and there. I have now switched to 70-300 G SSM in the hope of getting results. A low setting is best for slow-moving subjects with predictable movements. Sony hot a home run with this AF system, but it takes some time to learn all the features, and it doesn’t work as well for all scenarios straight out of the box. Although it is hard to say exactly how much the company has impacted DSLR sales, I believe that Sony was one of the main reasons why both Nikon and Canon dropped prices on their D610 and 6D cameras by 30% to around the $1500 mark to stay competitive. bigger. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay (see How to Win at eBay). Cheers. The problem is the autofocus. And here is a detailed comparison of specifications from the four cameras: Aside from the key differences in resolution and related ISO range, pixel and image size, the biggest differentiating factors between the cameras are image stabilization (A7 II), autofocus system + focus points, weight, size and price. It’s currently the best APS-C camera when it comes to AF capabilities and general performance. Hi Ken, thanks! Hi Zas, i would advise you to play around with the CAF settings, see what works for you first. The image quality is outstanding and the AF system is EXTREMELY powerful. Best, Wim. I have been doing sports photography for some time and recently upgraded to an A77ii. Beyond that it’s a matter of finding what focus mode works best for your needs. I never thought of that one. The camera is fantastic by the way! I would definitely set AF drive speed to slow, that way the camera has some more time to reevaluate focus between shots. The extent of subject-tracking duration can be fine-tuned in five steps in AF-C mode. I look forward to trying some of these settings at the matches I shoot this weekend. Understanding Sony’s Autofocus Settings The Sony A7iii was sold out everywhere when it launched, so it’s clear that a bunch of people are jumping ship and switching over to the Sony world. I am finding the AF control very very complicated and still can’t find a good guide on how to use it. Remember that you can always easily switch to different zones using the Multi-controller. The A77 II is a complex camera, the AF features are fantastic, but it’s a steep learning curve. Happy to help Howie. If all else fails, using centre spot focus and tracking the subject yourself (keeping it in the centre of the frame ) is a proven technique of keeping focus. It doesn’t seem to have a tracking capability for that. Both are fantastic cameras but the A77II in my opinion is the BEST in it’s market niche. I just upgraded from the a57 to the 77ii, thinking I would absolutely love it, but am finding the autofocusing issues to be so cumbersome and frustrating! If the A77M2 loses focus on the selected ‘spot’, it will automatically switch to one of these surrounding spots. Sony Alpha a7II is an advanced mirrorless Sony full-frame digital camera with a 23.3-megapixel 35mm sensor and a host of features designed to appeal to professional photographers and photo enthusiasts. Full-Time Servo Focus for video is becoming more popular and allows continuous, silent AF when shooting in movie mode. This is useful for unpredictable subjects that may move at … My first weekend shooting with the 77ii, the majority of shots were out of focus, even on the automatic settings (I got so frustrated I thought I’d go to the “sports mode” setting to see if that was better – nope). It is the world's first full-frame camera with optical five-axis image stabilization, and boasts improvements in both design and autofocus speed. I would not recommend this camera,I am sorry I bought it. Cheers! Setting it to slow means the camera will take a bit more care in getting the focus right, resulting in more and better in-focus images. Yeah the manual isn’t very informative unfortunately. At a recent airshow, shooting at 1/1250 sec and above, using every mode of continuous focus, af speed and duration, around 85% of all photos were fuzzy and the lens would also not focus between 55-90mm if I set it up accurately with af micro adjustment. For subject tracking in action photography, the. This software can recognise and track a subject based on colour and position.The active AF area is illuminated in white upon focus lock as a visual reminder of which point was manually selected. Enjoy your A77 M2! Thanks a lot! Sony Autofocus Modes: AF-A (Automatic AF) Not available on the A7 I series or the A7 mark II model. Maybe the first comment is in moderation and if so you can delete this one. I searched all menu items for that feature, quite hard to find . My issue is that I find what ever you choose what ever mode you are in you seem to fight with the camera they built to much into the focus system to much to remember.From the point when you have to choose the different modes with lenses how hey react.I do no have the time when I shooting .what happened to th good old days a camera body that lasted for 20 years great film great lenses if the digital world can just find a way create cameras that give everyone what they need.I luv the digital age but I feel it’s a rip off the costs are nuts,.I guess I am getting away from the topic.Getting back to the Sony a77mkii its to much built for focus system. Lenses used so far. For the more technical stuff, I browsed through all Sony’s worldwide literature on the A77II, and gathered bits and pieces of info here and there. Just press the shutter to activate it. Hi Howie, no that is a typo, I’ll change it: Drive speed hi is fast, Lo is slow. Im planig to get 77ii or A7s. Yet I got better results with it, by a long shot. Hi Tim, yes there is. These settings are also available in Full HD movie shooting. They help me utilize this fantastic camera to it’s fullest potential though I think the best is yet to come with more experience and practice. You’ll see a white square appear when the camera detects a face, pressing the shutter button will focus on the face. Talking about video – the AF on a77, 99 is almost useless for proper work, like most of video dslr /got to be good light, contrast-isch subject, and f about 5,6 and more…/ so I prefer, and Im happy to pull it manually, but there are moments where good AF would help me – and this is one of the reasons I,d like to try a77mk2 /not to mention all my lenses are alpha mount/, A7s is certainly better than a77II for video but there is lot of “buts” at this moment for me – eventually I might end up there. Different photographers use the same camera in different ways, if this suits you, go for it. Design by Wim Arys Photography. THANKS! The a6400 is latest mirrorless APS-C camera from Sony. You get faster autofocus, more AF points, and eye AF when continuous focusing. Some features like autofocus system might appear a bit stripped on the A7S and A7R, but that’s because Sony considers the former to be aimed at shooting video (where focus is usually controlled manually), while the latter is aimed at shooting non-moving subjects (where focusing speed is either irrelevant or not as important). The A77M2 will lock-on to your subject again when in reappears in the frame when you press the shutter. I’d suggest using though ‘expand flexible spot’, that also uses the surrounding AF points (think of it like a circle of extra AF points surrounding the flexible spot). So what are the key differences between the Sony A7 II and the original A7 and what has changed? That would alleviate the pain of many photographers, as they would be able to choose a camera based on their megapixel and other shooting needs. Sony A-mount lenses include motorized SSM and SAM lenses as well as non-motorized Screw Drive lenses. What if I just want to shoot my dogs running. As you mentioned, there is a learning curve with the AF system… especially coming from the A77. Best, Wim. I wish someone could actually create a guide for the A77ii AF system that shows EACH setting AND what all else needs to be adjust for it to actually work. Thanks so much for writing this. This is my favourite setting for action photography, as it gives you the most control over what the A77 MII is focussing on, switch to other zones by using the Multi-controller, pressing the Multi-controller buttonputs focus on the centre of your frame. Hi thanks for your reply. I’ve been outside in strong sunlight for two hours this morning, shooting high shutter speed with gulls gliding over, and nearly every shot is fuzzy and unusable. Top Sample Images Intro Lenses & Adapters Specifications USA Version Performance Compared Usage Recommendations More Sony A7 Mk II (21.4 oz./605g with battery and card, $898) and 85mm f/1.4 GM. Tip: This in-camera feature is especially useful for shooting fast-moving subjects with a complex background that commonly distract camera AF systems. The Sony A7, being the cheaper model aimed for general use, sports a 24 MP sensor and offers hybrid autofocus, while the A7R with its high resolution 36 MP sensor is targeted at more specific types of photography including landscape, architecture, studio and product photography. Secondly, Face recognition and tracking are 2 different features. Procedure: frame your image so that your subject is in the center, press the Multi-controller to select that is what you want to focus on, and it will follow your subject.Pressing the Multi-controller middle button twice will cancel your selection. One thing I’m not sure of though is what you wrote. I’ve got the original A77 and my A77 ii will be coming later today. Slow mode just takes a tiny bit more care, when approaching focus lock, not to overshoot or miss minor details in certain conditions. Since the official release of these cameras, I had a chance to test both in 2014 as soon as they were available. Also some older lenses may not work as well with the af drive speed set to fast..and as Wim noted, he uses the slow setting here and that may work better with some lenses. Z6ii vs. Z7ii which has better tonal gradation? Ergonomics have been greatly improved thanks to a much larger and more comfortable grip and the shutter release along with some buttons have been changed and moved as well (more on ergonomic changes in the next page of the review). Other than these changes, everything else, including the 24 MP sensor and the image processor are the same. on some zoom lenses that restricts the range of distance the camera will attempt to focus on. That’s why the newest addition to the Sony Alpha series is so conversation-worthy. For birds I am finding an AF track duration of 2 to be good and use expanded flexible spot or expanded center spot most of the time. I by chance found a post on dyxum that outlined much of what I was seeing and I’ve included that below for you. The good news is that you do get used to the features after some time. But, the A7s would be my preferred camera if you’re doing video too. Wish Sony could have added the same on this brilliant camera! It brings interesting improvements to the autofocus system and is positioned at a competitive price in the mid-range segment. As the leading image sensor producer, Sony's unmatched processing and sensor technology can detect your subjects in real time, determine precise eye position, and deliver perfect focus. The idea is when filming sports events like basketball you don’t want to loose focus because some guy stood up and moved in front of the lens. I’d rather have a camera that has mor basic AF functionality, but is easier to use than all these features where you have to dive into the menu system at times when you don’t have the time for it. 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