Selecting the AF Area

AF Area

Camera operation in the AF area is as follows.

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 [1-point AF].

Expand AF area: Expand AF area: Expand AF area

Focuses using one AF point [1-point AF] 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 [1-point AF].

Expand AF area: Around: Expand AF area: Around

Focuses using one AF point [1-point AF] and the surrounding AF area outlined here in blue, which makes it easier to focus on moving subjects than with Expand AF area: Expand AF area.

When Servo AF is used, first you will focus using an AF point [1-point AF].

Flexible Zone AF 1: Flexible Zone AF 1

By default, a square Zone AF frame is set.

Flexible Zone AF 2: Flexible Zone AF 2

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

Flexible Zone AF 3: Flexible Zone AF 3

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

With Flexible Zone AF 1–3, 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.

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: 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 [1-point AF] 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.

Note

  • To set the AF area, you can also press the AF point selection button and then the ISO button.

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.

  • Auto

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

  • People

    Prioritizes the faces or heads of people as the main subjects to track.

    When a person's face or head cannot be detected, the camera attempts to detect and track their torso. If their torso cannot be detected, the camera may track other parts of their body.

  • Animals

    Detects animals (dogs, cats, or birds) and people and prioritizes detection results for animals as the 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 two- or four-wheeled motorsports vehicles and people and prioritizes detection results for vehicles as the main subjects to track.

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

    If 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. Also, the subject's left or right eye may not be prioritized correctly.

    • 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. Frames may also appear for subjects other than people.
  • The camera may not detect dogs, cats, or birds, depending on the breed, color, shape, or posture. Frames may also appear for similar-looking animals or non-animal subjects.
  • The camera may not detect two- or four-wheeled vehicles depending on the type, color, shape, or orientation. Frames may also appear for similar-looking vehicles or subjects that are not vehicles.
  • To avoid having a tracking frame displayed next to unintended subjects when you are shooting people, animals, or vehicles with the camera set to [Auto], change the setting to track your intended subjects.

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 [Subject to detect] setting.

    • Auto, People

      People, animals, vehicles

      (When the subject for detection is set to [People], animals or vehicles can only be selected during Servo AF.)

    • Animals

      Animals, people

    • Vehicles

      Vehicles, people

  • To restrict AF to your specified AF area, set [Whole area tracking Servo AF] to [Off] and [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.

  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 active, white AF frame.
  • For human subjects, the active [Tracking frame] may cover only a part of the face, not the whole face.
  • The size of tracking frames varies depending on the subject.

Caution

  • Tapping the screen to focus when [Preview AF] is set to [Disable] 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.

  3. Aim the camera at the subject.

    • An AF point is displayed around their eye.
    • To choose an eye when [Autofocus: AF area] is set to [Whole area AF], tap the screen.
    • If your selected eye is not detected, an eye to focus on is selected automatically.
    • To choose an eye to focus on if [AF point adjustment] is displayed, with [Autofocus: AF area] set to [Whole area AF], you can use the Left keyRight key keys, depending on the [Eye detection] setting.

  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].

Tracking with the Button

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

  1. Check the tracking frame.

    • A tracking frame appears after you aim the camera at a subject.

      Aim the AF point over the subject if you have selected an option other than [Whole area AF] in [Autofocus: AF area].

    • With Expand AF area: Expand AF area 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 ISO button.

    • The tracking frame changes to [Tracking subject], which locks on to that subject for tracking and follows the subject within the screen if it moves. To cancel tracking, press the ISO button again.
    • To choose a subject to focus on when multiple subjects can be detected, press the AF point selection button to change the tracking frame to [Subject tracking adjustment], then use the Left keyRight key keys.
    • Once tracking begins, the subject is tracked across the entire screen, regardless of the specified AF area.

  3. Take the picture.

Note

  • The position of AF areas and points when tracking stops during shooting standby corresponds to the position before tracking.
  • When tracking stops while the shutter button is pressed halfway or completely, the AF area reverts to the state before tracking, but the AF point is centered in the tracking frame when tracking stops (during [Servo AF]).

Focus Mode

You can set how the camera focuses.

  1. Select [Autofocus: Focus mode].

  2. Select an option.

    • AF

      The camera operates in autofocus mode.

    • MF

      The camera operates in manual focus mode.

Note

  • You can also switch between [AF] and [MF] when the shooting screen is displayed by pressing the Left key key.

Caution

  • [Autofocus: Focus mode] is not displayed under these conditions.

    • When lenses with a focus mode switch are attached
    • When lenses designed exclusively for manual focusing are attached
    • When no lens is attached
  • When set to [MF], AF points are hidden during basic information display, and an MF icon is displayed.

Manually Setting AF Points or Zone AF Frames

You can manually set the AF point or Zone AF frame. Screens such as these are shown when set to Flexible Zone AF 1.

  1. Check the AF point.

    • An AF point (1) is displayed.

  2. Move the AF point.

    • Press the AF point selection button, then use the Cross keys keys 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 move the AF point there.

    • To center the AF point, press the MENU button.

  3. Focus and shoot/record.

    • Aim the AF point over the subject and press the shutter button halfway.
    • Once the subject is in focus, the AF point changes color (to green for One-Shot AF or blue for Servo AF) and the camera beeps (only for One-Shot AF).
    • If focus is not achieved, the AF point will turn orange.

Caution

  • The camera will keep moving the AF point [1-point AF] 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.

Magnified View

To check the focus, you can magnify display by approx. 5× or 10× by tapping [Magnify/Reduce].

Magnification is also possible by pressing the AF point selection button and then the INFO button.

  • 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

  • Subject with low-contrast such as the blue sky, solid-color flat surfaces or 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.