Selecting the AF Area

AF Area

This section describes AF area operation with [Autofocus: Whole area tracking Servo AF] set to [Off].

  • Select the AF area by pressing the Multi-function button.
  • You can switch [Autofocus: Whole area tracking Servo AF] [On] or [Off] by pressing the Info button.
  • Servo AF for [Single-point Spot AF, subject to detect: none], [Single-point AF, subject to detect: none], [AF point expansion, subject to detect: none], or [AF point expansion (around), subject to detect: none] tracks subjects with [Autofocus: Whole area tracking Servo AF] set to [Off] and [Autofocus: Subject to detect] set to [None].

: Spot AF / : Spot AF

The camera focuses in a narrower area than 1-point AF.

: 1-point AF / : 1-point AF

The camera focuses using a single AF point [].

: Expand AF area: Above, below, left, right / : Expand AF area: Above, below, left, right

Focuses using one AF point [] and the AF area outlined here in blue. Effective for moving subjects, which are difficult to track with 1-point AF.

Focusing on your preferred subject is easier than with Flexible Zone AF.

When Servo AF is used, first you will focus using an AF point [].

: Expand AF area: Around / : Expand AF area: Around

Focuses using one AF point [] and the surrounding AF area outlined here in blue, which makes it easier to focus on moving subjects than with Expand AF area: Vertical/horizontal.

When Servo AF is used, first you will focus using an AF point [].

: Flexible Zone AF 1 (default)

With Flexible Zone AF 1, you can freely set the size of the Zone AF frame [] ().

Uses auto selection AF in Zone AF frames to cover a larger area than Expand AF area, which makes focusing easier than with 1-point AF/Expand AF area and effective for moving subjects.

By default, a square Zone AF frame is set.

Focusing areas are determined not only based on the nearest subject but also based on a variety of other conditions such as faces (of people or animals), vehicles, subject motion, and subject distance.

Pressing the shutter button halfway displays [1-point AF] over AF points in focus.

: Flexible Zone AF 2

With Flexible Zone AF 2, you can freely set the size of the Zone AF frame [] ().

Uses auto selection AF in Zone AF frames to cover a larger area than Expand AF area, which makes focusing easier than with 1-point AF/Expand AF area and effective for moving subjects.

By default, a vertical rectangular Zone AF frame is set.

Focusing areas are determined not only based on the nearest subject but also based on a variety of other conditions such as faces (of people or animals), vehicles, subject motion, and subject distance.

Pressing the shutter button halfway displays [1-point AF] over AF points in focus.

: Flexible Zone AF 3

With Flexible Zone AF 3, you can freely set the size of the Zone AF frame [] ().

Uses auto selection AF in Zone AF frames to cover a larger area than Expand AF area, which makes focusing easier than with 1-point AF/Expand AF area and effective for moving subjects.

By default, a horizontal rectangular Zone AF frame is set.

Focusing areas are determined not only based on the nearest subject but also based on a variety of other conditions such as faces (of people or animals), vehicles, subject motion, and subject distance.

Pressing the shutter button halfway displays [1-point AF] over AF points in focus.

: Whole area AF

Uses auto selection AF in a whole-area AF frame to cover a larger area than Flexible Zone AF, which makes focusing easier than with 1-point AF/Expand AF area/Flexible Zone AF and effective for moving subjects.

Focusing areas are determined not only based on the nearest subject but also based on a variety of other conditions such as faces (of people or animals), vehicles, subject motion, and subject distance.

Pressing the shutter button halfway displays [] over AF points in focus.

Selecting the AF Area

You can select the AF area to suit the shooting conditions or subject.

If you prefer to focus manually, see Manual Focus.

  1. Select [Autofocus: AF area] (, ).

  2. Select the AF area.

    • The screen above is displayed when [Autofocus: Orientation linked AF point] () is set to [Separate AF pts: Area+pt]. Set separate AF areas after choosing vertical and horizontal orientations.

Note

  • To set the AF area, you can also press the AF point selection button and then the Multi-function button.
  • The following descriptions apply to the camera with AF operation set to [Servo AF] (). Once a subject is in focus with [One-Shot AF] (), the AF point turns green.

Whole Area Tracking Servo AF

You can set whether to switch to whole-area subject tracking during Servo AF (while the shutter button is pressed halfway with [Autofocus: AF operation] set to [Servo AF]).

  1. Select [Autofocus: Whole area tracking Servo AF] ().

  2. Select an option.

    • On

      The AF area switches to whole-area AF to track subjects across the entire screen area while the shutter button is pressed halfway.

    • Off

      Subjects are tracked only within AF points when the shutter button is pressed halfway or completely.

Subject to Detect

You can specify conditions for automatic selection of the main subject to track.

Selecting an option other than [None] will display a tracking frame [Tracking frame] for the main subject detected. The tracking frame will move to track subjects that start moving.

You can shoot with the subject's eyes in focus by setting [Autofocus: Eye detection] to an option other than [Disable] ().

  • Auto

    Automatic selection of the main subject to track from any people, animals, or vehicles in the scene.

  • People

    Detects people and prioritizes detection results for people as the main subjects to track.

    Detection targets human faces, heads, or bodies, and tracking frames are shown over any face or head detected.

    When human faces, heads, or bodies cannot be detected, the camera may track other parts of their body.

  • Animals

    Detects animals (dogs, cats, birds, or horses) and people, with animal detection results given priority to determine main subjects to track.

    For animals, the camera attempts to detect faces or bodies, and a tracking frame is shown over any face detected.

    When an animal's face or entire body cannot be detected, the camera may track part of their body.

  • Vehicles

    Detects vehicles (sports cars and motorcycles, aircraft, and trains) and people, with vehicle detection results given priority to determine main subjects to track.

    For vehicles, the camera attempts to detect key details or the entire vehicle (or for trains, the front part), and a tracking frame is shown over any of these details detected.

    When key details or the entire vehicle cannot be detected, the camera may track other parts of the vehicle.

    Press the INFO button to enable or disable Spot detection for key details of vehicles.

  • None

    The camera determines the main subject automatically from how you compose shots, without detecting subjects.

    Tracking frames are not displayed.

Caution

  • The following kinds of subjects may not be detected.

    • Extremely small or large
    • Too bright or dark
    • Partially hidden
    • Difficult to distinguish from the background
    • Obscured by rain, snow, or dust clouds
  • People's posture or the color or shape of what they are wearing may prevent detection. Tracking frames may also appear for subjects other than people.
  • The camera may not detect dogs, cats, birds, or horses, depending on the breed, color, shape, or posture. Tracking frames may also appear for similar-looking animals or non-animal subjects.
  • The camera may not detect two- or four-wheeled vehicles, aircraft, or trains, depending on the type, color, shape, or orientation. Tracking frames may also appear for similar-looking vehicles or subjects that are not vehicles.

Note

  • When pressing the shutter button halfway for subject selection, you can choose the following subjects. In scenes without relevant subjects, the camera tracks other objects regardless of the [Autofocus: Subject to detect] setting.

    • Auto

      People, animals, vehicles

    • People

      People

    • Animals

      Animals, people

    • Vehicles

      Vehicles, people

  • In [Autofocus: Limit subject to detect], you can limit the available detection setting options to your preferred options.
  • If it seems difficult for the camera to detect your preferred subject when you are shooting people, animals, or vehicles with [Auto], it may be easier if you switch to the setting option specifically for that subject.
  • To restrict AF to your specified AF area, set [Autofocus: Whole area tracking Servo AF] to [Off] and [Autofocus: Subject to detect] to [None].

Manually selecting a subject for focus

  1. Check the tracking frame.

    • Aim the camera at the subject. An AF point (or Zone AF frame) appears on the screen if you have set [Autofocus: AF area] to an option other than [Whole area AF]. In this case, aim the AF point over the subject.
    • A tracking frame [Tracking frame] appears over any subjects detected.
    • Tracking frames [Tracking frame] away from AF points are displayed in gray, except in some cases.
    • Once the tracked subject is near an AF point, even if it is outside the AF point, the tracking frame turns white (distinguishing it as an active frame), which enables selection as the main subject.
    • Gray display of tracking frames [Tracking frame] does not apply in movie recording.

  2. Focus and shoot/record.

    • A tracking frame is displayed (in green for One-Shot AF or blue for Servo AF) when you press the shutter button halfway, and the camera beeps (only for One-Shot AF).

      An orange tracking frame indicates that the camera could not focus on subjects.

Note

  • Selecting a subject by touch with [Autofocus: AF area] set to [Whole area AF] changes the tracking frame to [Tracking subject] and locks on to that subject for tracking across the entire screen.
  • To release locked tracking, tap [Subject tracking release].
  • Pressing the shutter button halfway when the AF point does not overlap the tracking frame [Tracking frame] will focus using the AF point.
  • The active [Tracking frame] may cover part of the subject instead of the entire subject.
  • The size of tracking frames varies depending on the subject.
  • Even if you have manually selected an AF area, you can switch the AF area to [Whole area AF] and start AF with subject detection by pressing the button assigned to [AF on detected subject] in [Control customization: Customize buttons for shooting].

Caution

  • In still photo shooting, tapping the screen to focus will focus with [One-Shot AF], regardless of the AF operation setting.
  • If the subject's face is significantly out of focus, face detection will not be possible. Adjust the focus manually () so that the face can be detected, then perform AF.
  • AF may not detect subjects or people's faces at the edges of the screen. Recompose the shot to center the subject or bring the subject closer to the center.

Eye Detection

You can shoot with the eyes of people or animals in focus.

  1. Select [Autofocus: Eye detection] (, ).

  2. Select an option.

    • Disable

      Eye detection is not performed.

    • Auto

      The eye for AF operation is selected automatically after eye detection.

    • Right eye/Left eye

      Gives priority to the selected eye for AF, after eye detection. If the eye on the side with priority is not detected, the other eye is used for AF.

  3. Aim the camera at the subject.

    • A tracking frame is displayed around their eye.
    • To choose an eye to focus on when [Autofocus: AF area] is set to [Whole area AF], either tap the screen or use Multi-controller. As you use Multi-controller, the tracking frame changes again to [Subject tracking adjustment].
    • You can also tap the screen to choose an eye, when [Autofocus: AF area] is set to [Whole area AF] or during tracking in progress.
    • If your selected eye is not detected, an eye to focus on is selected automatically.

  4. Take the picture.

Caution

  • Depending on the subject and shooting conditions, subject eyes may not be detected correctly, or a subject's left or right eye may not be prioritized correctly.
  • Eyes are not detected when [Autofocus: Subject to detect] is set to [None].

Note

  • In [Autofocus: L/R eye detection], you can limit the available detection setting options to your preferred options.

Action Priority

Soccer, volleyball, or basketball players you are shooting can be treated as priority subjects for detection and AF tracking, based on typical movements (actions) in each sport.

Caution

  • Unintended tracking may occur if this feature is used for other sports or general photography.

Note

  • Available under the following conditions.

    • Still photo shooting
    • [Autofocus: Subject to detect]: [People]
    • [Shooting: Shutter mode]: [Electronic Electronic shutter]

  1. Select [Autofocus: Action Priority] ().

  2. Configure [Action Priority].

    • Select [Enable], then press SET.

  3. Select [Sport events].

  4. Select an option.

    • Select a sport, then press SET.

Caution

  • The following kinds of subjects may not be recognized as priority subjects based on their movement.

    • Small subjects
    • Too bright or dark
    • Partially hidden or outside the angle of view
    • Facing away from the camera
    • Difficult to distinguish from the background
    • Obscured by rain, snow, or dust clouds
    • Wearing uniforms that make it difficult to determine their posture
    • Crowded together, in front of/behind each other
    • In scenes where the ball is not visible or only partly visible
    • Greatly out of focus
    • Under flickering light
  • The camera may switch subjects to track players moving similarly to the actions targeted by Action Priority (such feinting a kick in soccer).
  • When several subjects are moving in typical ways at once, Action Priority may cause the camera to switch subjects repeatedly.
  • Action Priority may cause the camera to switch subjects repeatedly when several players are near the ball.
  • The camera may switch to other subjects near a ball, even if they are not moving in typical ways.

Note

  • For details on actions that can be recognized, refer to the AF Setting Guide. ()

  • Operation is as follows with [Autofocus: Action Priority] set to [Enable].

    • Tracking switches to subjects moving in typical ways once they are recognized, even if a different subject was being tracked. However, Action Priority does not switch subjects if you start tracking with touch or button operations.

    • Even with [Autofocus: Register people priority] set to [Enable], the camera prioritizes switching based on Action Priority.

  • You can assign [Enable] or [Off] in [Autofocus: Action Priority] to any button in [Control customization: Customize buttons for shooting] ().
  • With [Autofocus: Whole area tracking Servo AF] set to [Off], the camera only switches subjects within the AF area.

Tracking with a Button

You can press a button assigned to [Start/stop whole area AF tracking] in [Control customization: Customize buttons for shooting] to track subjects with a tracking frame [Tracking subject]. This example is based on assigning the AF start button ().

  1. Check the AF point.

    • The AF point (1) will appear.
    • With Expand AF area: Vertical/horizontal or Expand AF area: Around, adjacent AF points are also displayed.
    • With Flexible Zone AF, the specified Zone AF frame is displayed.

  2. Press the AF start button.

    • The AF point changes to a tracking frame [], which locks on to that subject for tracking and follows the subject within the screen if it moves. To cancel tracking, press the AF start button again.
    • The tracking frame changes to [Subject tracking adjustment] when multiple subjects can be detected, and you can use Multi-controller to choose a subject to focus on.
    • Once tracking begins, the subject is tracked across the entire screen, regardless of the specified AF area.
    • The position of AF areas and points when tracking stops after you press the shutter button halfway or completely corresponds to the position of the tracking frame during tracking. The position of AF areas and points when tracking stops during shooting standby corresponds to the position before tracking.

  3. Take the picture.

Manually Setting AF Points or Zone AF Frames

You can manually set the AF point or Zone AF frame. Here, Flexible Zone AF 1 screens are used as an example.

  1. Check the AF point.

    • The AF point (1) will appear.
    • With Expand AF area: Vertical/horizontal or Expand AF area: Around, adjacent AF points are also displayed.
    • With Flexible Zone AF, the specified Zone AF frame is displayed.

  2. Move the AF point.

    • Use Multi-controller to move the AF point into position for focusing (but note that with some lenses, it may not move to the edge of the screen).
    • You can also focus by tapping a position on the screen.
    • To center the AF point or Zone AF frame, press Multi-controller straight in or tap [Set AF point to center].
    • You can resize Zone AF frames used for Flexible Zone AF ().

  3. Focus and take the picture.

    • Aim the AF point over the subject and press the shutter button halfway.
    • When focus is achieved, the AF point turns blue.
    • If focus is not achieved, the AF point will turn orange.

Caution

  • The camera will keep moving the AF point [] to track subjects when set to Flexible Zone AF and Servo AF, but under some shooting conditions (such as when subjects are small), it may not be possible to track the subject.
  • Focusing may be difficult when using a peripheral AF point. In this case, select an AF point in the center.
  • Tapping the screen to focus will focus with [One-Shot AF], regardless of the AF operation setting.

Note

  • You can set AF areas and AF points when [Autofocus: Orientation linked AF point] is set to [Separate AF pts: Area+pt] ().

Adjusting the Zone AF Frame Size

You can resize the Zone AF frame displayed for Flexible Zone AF 1–3.

  1. Press the AF point selection button during shooting screen display.

  2. Press the Rate button.

  3. Adjust the Zone AF frame size.

    • Use the or dial to adjust the Zone AF frame size, then press .
    • To restore the default setting, press the button.

Registering AF Points (Home Position)

You can register the position of a frequently used AF point. To switch from the current AF point to your registered AF point, you can use a button you assign to recalling the home position on advanced setting screens for [Direct AF point selection], [Metering and AF start], [Switch to registered AF point], or [Register/recall shooting func] in [Control customization: Customize buttons for shooting] ().

  1. Select your preferred AF area.

    • Press the AF point selection button to select an AF area.
    • Move the AF point or Zone AF frame to the position to register.

  2. Register the AF point or Zone AF frame.

    • Hold down the AF point selection button and press the LCD panel info switching/illumination button, or press and hold the LCD panel info switching/illumination button, so that the camera beeps and registers the AF point.
    • The registered AF point blinks in gray.
    • Registration when the camera is set to Whole area AF will register the entire AF area as the home position.

Note

  • To clear registered AF points, hold down the AF point selection button and press the Mode button, or press and hold the Mode button.
  • You can also clear registered AF points by clearing all camera settings.
  • You can register separate home positions for each camera orientation when the orientation-linked AF point setting () is set to [Separate AF pts: Area+pt] or [Separate AF pts: Pt only].
  • Although it has no effect if you attempt to register a home position while a subject is being tracked with a tracking frame, you can clear registered positions at this time.

Magnified View

To check the focus, you can magnify display by approx. 6× or 15× by pressing the Magnify or reduce button (or tapping [Magnify or reduce]).

  • Magnification is centered on the tracking frame when the tracking frame is white (as an active frame) after subject detection.

    Magnification is centered on the AF point (in the center of the screen) when subjects are detected and the tracking frame is gray, or when subjects cannot be detected.

  • Autofocusing is performed in magnified view if you press the shutter button halfway.
  • When set to Servo AF or AI Focus AF, pressing the shutter button halfway in magnified view reverts to the normal view for focusing.

Caution

  • If focusing is difficult in the magnified view, return to the normal view and perform AF.
  • If you perform AF in the normal view and then use the magnified view, accurate focus may not be achieved.
  • AF speed differs between the normal view and magnified view.
  • Preview AF and Movie Servo AF are not available in magnified view.
  • With the magnified view, achieving focus becomes more difficult due to camera shake. Using a tripod is recommended.

AF Shooting Tips

  • Even when focus is achieved, pressing the shutter button halfway will focus again.
  • Image brightness may change before and after autofocusing.
  • Depending on the subject and shooting conditions, it may take longer to focus, or the continuous shooting speed may decrease.
  • If the light source changes as you shoot, the screen may flicker, and focusing may be difficult. In this case, restart the camera and resume shooting with AF under the light source you will use.
  • If focusing is not possible with AF, focus manually ().
  • For subjects at the edge of the screen that are slightly out of focus, try centering the subject (or AF point, or Zone AF frame) to bring them into focus, then recompose the shot before shooting.
  • With certain lenses, it may take more time to achieve focus with autofocus, or accurate focusing may not be achieved.

Shooting Conditions That Make Focusing Difficult

  • Subjects with low contrast, such as a blue sky or flat surfaces in solid colors, or other cases when highlight or shadow details are clipped.
  • Subjects in low light.
  • Stripes and other patterns where there is contrast only in the horizontal direction.
  • Subjects with repetitive patterns (Example: Skyscraper windows, computer keyboards, etc.).
  • Fine lines and subject outlines.
  • Under light sources with constantly changing brightness, colors, or patterns.
  • Night scenes or points of light.
  • The image flickers under fluorescent or LED lighting.
  • Extremely small subjects.
  • Subjects at the edge of the screen.
  • Strongly backlit or reflective subjects (Example: Car with a highly reflective surfaces, etc.).
  • Near and distant subjects covered by an AF point (Example: Animal in a cage, etc.).
  • Subjects that keep moving within the AF point and will not stay still due to camera shake or subject blur.
  • Performing AF when the subject is very far out of focus.
  • Soft focus effect is applied with a soft focus lens.
  • A special effect filter is used.
  • Noise (dots of light, banding, etc.) appears on the screen during AF.

AF Range

The available autofocus range varies depending on the lens used and settings such as aspect ratio, movie recording size, and Movie digital IS.