a7sII AF tracking not available
- Thread starter orfeas76
- Start date
ectobuilder
Veteran
I think I've figured it out.
THE ANSWER:
As we know the Sony mirrorless cameras are BOTH photo and video. So some features are photo-only and some are video-only. However some features have duplicate sounding names such as "Lock-On AF".
The "Lock-On AF" that does not work in video is accessed through [FOCUS AREA]->[LOCK-ON AF] (some say [LOCK-ON AF: Flexible Spot M/S/L]). This only works in photo mode.
The "Lock-On AF" that works for video is accessed differently. Under the sub-menu "6" of the "camera settings icon" is [Center - Lock-On AF]. This is the feature that allows ANY Sony mirrorless camera to track an object while in video-mode.
The usability difference is as follows...
VIDEO-ONLY VERSION [Center Lock-On AF]:
1) Always starts in the middle of screen
2) Click object once and the camera will attempt to lock onto the object
3) The size of the focusing square cannot change
PHOTO-ONLY VERSION [Lock-On AF: Flexible Spot M/S/L]:
1) Can start anywhere on the screen
2) Requires the shutter button to be half pressed in order to track an object
3) Size of the focusing square can be toggled between three sizes M (Medium), S (Small), and L (Large).
In both cases the [Focus Mode] needs to be set to [AF-C]. Note that there could be some variation of the above as Sony brings out newer cameras and makes some adjustments.
So there you have it.
I am a big proponent of separating video and photo functions altogether. The way Sony should have designed their interface is once you are in video-mode, all photo-only functions SHOULD completely disappear. This is not the case for most DSLR/Mirrorless bodies. It just makes things super confusing.
Give me a hell yeah if I solved your problem. :love4:
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in a7sII I can't find a way to make that click. The half press shutter button doesn't work, so I have to go to menu6->CenterLockON AF->click->ON->click->OK and it starts tracking which I cannot end !
I assume I have to put it in Custom Button. Again it needs 3 clicks to enable->Yes->OK and then I can't stop it
ectobuilder
Veteran
If you don't want to dig into the menu everytime then yes you need to assign it to a button (doesn't have to be the custom "C" buttons it can even be the center, right, up, down buttons...etc).
Once activated the camera will tell you what to press to cancel (I believe it is the center button).