Archive 2019 · AF Assist options for A7R iii

Langran
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · AF Assist options for A7R iii

I don't want to use the silly little orange light on the camera for various reasons so is there an option for a proper AF assist beam from a speedlight like every Canon/Nikon flash made for the past couple of decades? I bought a Godox v860ii and was gutted to find that Sony appears to not be able to use the AF assist. I shoot in pitch black venues for music and club events. I had to pull out my old 6D because the Sony simply couldn't focus without an AF assist. This just seems like such a ridiculous thing to leave out. It's so vital for my work that if I can't make it work on my A7R iii then I'm going to need a whole canon system still just for those types of events

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EDIT: Can anyone confirm if the Sony flashes can utilise the LED in a similar manner to an AF assist beam at least?

Edited on Mar 11, 2019 at 11:40 AM · View previous versions

Mar 09, 2019 at 11:34 PM

echelonphoto
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · AF Assist options for A7R iii

I go thru this all the time. The mirrorless system just does not work with an IR beam like slr cameras do and any silly led light on camera or flash just does seem ridiculous at an event...so I also carry my old 6d and flash with for these situations. I have also mounted a small led flashlight on my godox 685 with my a7III , which helps somewhat. My ultimate suggestion would be expensive, get an A9...I was fortunate enough to have sony send me one of these for a couple of weeks and they do have amazing af , even in very low light. I also can say the A7III is much better in this regard than the RIII, since I shot with both of these simultaneously during my events, but the A9 is quite amazing.

Mar 10, 2019 at 12:14 PM

Langran
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · AF Assist options for A7R iii

echelonphoto wrote:
I go thru this all the time. The mirrorless system just does not work with an IR beam like slr cameras do and any silly led light on camera or flash just does seem ridiculous at an event...so I also carry my old 6d and flash with for these situations. I have also mounted a small led flashlight on my godox 685 with my a7III , which helps somewhat. My ultimate suggestion would be expensive, get an A9...I was fortunate enough to have sony send me one of these for a couple of weeks and they do have amazing af...Show more →

You've said exactly what I was dreading hearing. I wouldn't even mind if it was just visible light in the same way that the IR beam works. I just can't have a little light permanently on, it would need to link to the shutter/AF on button

Mar 10, 2019 at 02:16 PM

phototiimo
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · AF Assist options for A7R iii

The Godox triggers X1T and XPro (I think) have LED light AF assist on newer Sony cameras, but I'm not sure if those would fulfill your needs or not. I was also disappointed when I learned that this feature wasn't present in any of their on camera flashes.

I've heard they might be working on adding the AF assist feature to their flashes in the future through FW updates, but who knows. Apparently they have to reverse engineer Sony protocols to make the feature compatible, so it's not as easy as you might think. Idk why Sony makes it so difficult.

Mar 11, 2019 at 02:28 AM

Alanu
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · AF Assist options for A7R iii

Godox X1tS emits a red Grid. It’s definItaly helpful than not using the trigger. I put the flash on top of the trigger and use ttl pass through. I still use my canon for hired events due to more reliable red focus assist than my Sony.

Mar 11, 2019 at 07:55 AM

echelonphoto
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · AF Assist options for A7R iii

Someone needs to address a soution to this problem. If the red grid actually works well...why didn't they incorporate it into the flash software..I knoe there is an actual light in place on my 685s...the one on my 685c works fine

Mar 11, 2019 at 09:38 AM

Langran
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · AF Assist options for A7R iii

Alanu wrote:
Godox X1tS emits a red Grid. It’s definItaly helpful than not using the trigger. I put the flash on top of the trigger and use ttl pass through. I still use my canon for hired events due to more reliable red focus assist than my Sony.

That's what is so frustrating. I 'upgraded' to a pair of A7r III's and yet I now have to keep my old canon setup because at some point in the night on a wedding or for the entire event for DJ music events I can't use the Sony.

Mar 11, 2019 at 10:22 AM

Langran
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · AF Assist options for A7R iii

Forgetting about if Sony can see the IR beams for a second, the beams coming from all speed lights that I've ever used is visible... so surely the Sonys can see that and focus on it?

Mar 11, 2019 at 10:23 AM

Alanu
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · AF Assist options for A7R iii

Langran wrote:
That's what is so frustrating. I 'upgraded' to a pair of A7r III's and yet I now have to keep my old canon setup because at some point in the night on a wedding or for the entire event for DJ music events I can't use the Sony.

I've had a lot of conversations about Mirrored vs Mirrorless. In my case I just almost NEVER have AF lock issues using my Canon setup in the worst of times. Mind you I get excellent keeper rate using AF-S and Canon oe flash using red focus assist. I have friends that completely agree with me on this topic.

I can see how some can get very frustrated when Sony with native glass has AF hunt in low light. I'm getting alot better at manual focus using focus peaking. I will honestly say I will still miss those split second moments with Sony if I had to compensate with manual focus. With my Canon setup I can grab a shot with INSTANT wake up of the camera and while my Sony A73 tragically wakes up but by pressing the button it'll be un responsive untill your focus point shows up in the evf/lcd screen.

I simply use Canon now for any hired events. I am struggling with Sony to some degree. I will say if I could let things slide and miss shots here and there I could tolerate Sony for events. I just have zero tolerance in missing pivotal shots due to AF hunt or slow wake up time of the Sony bodies. Using my Fuji or Sony for non critical photography eliminated all the stress now

I just grab my Canon for less stress shooting.

Mar 11, 2019 at 07:02 PM

robby-d
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · AF Assist options for A7R iii

Since I found this via google, others may be here looking for an answer as well. On my A7R iii I have found the Godox X1T-S emits a red-light "grid" that works like a charm, but I constantly forget how to set it up. Here's what you need to do:

Camera settings:
1) The camera must be in AF-S mode.
2) The camera AF Illuminator must be set to "on" / "auto"

X1T-S settings:
3) You need firmware v17 or higher
4) Hold CH/OK until you get into the advanced Fn menu. Set Fn 10 to "01" (on)
5) Make sure the AF Assist switch (on the side, next to the power switch) is on

At this point, I either use remote flash or put a flash into the hotshoe on the X1T-S. I expect any Sony-compatible flash will work, but I can attest it works with the Godox TT350s and TT685s flashes.

It does a pretty good job. It's not perfect because AF-S kinda sucks, but it definitely definitely works. I don't know why they can't turn on these red-light grids in on-camera flashes, I expect it's a limitation imposed by Sony or the 3rd-party manufacturers would've surely done it by now.

Dec 19, 2019 at 12:48 AM


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