Uzay wrote:
I wonder how many A1 users using the AF-on instead of shutter button for focusing and are there any advantages?
I switched from AF_ON to shutter AF back in my A9/A9II days. I see no reason to use AF-ON. I do use my AF-ON and AE-L buttons to modify focus modes (AF-ON engages Tracking for whatever AF mode I'm using as my main mode), AE-L used as a custom recall for perched birds with slower ss, lower iso. So I do some of my shooting holding down the AF-ON just like I used to do for all my shooting with DSLRs.
But my main focus is on my shutter. I switched to this to remove an extra button from engaging focus in order to shoot fast BIF quicker (IMO). Only one button to deal with and I feel Sony has a good enough shutter button to reliably hold it at half press without accidental full press when you don't want to fire.
With Tracking available, and full coverage AF points, the reasoning to do BBF on DSLRs is pretty much gone.
The only reason one could make for using AF-ON and deactivating shutter is to be able to MF when AF is struggling and take the shot without having it refocus. I find that if I use MF to narrow in to a subject in tricky/distracting surroundings that then a Small Flex Spot:Tracking will keep on the subject 95% of the time. You can program a button to do AF-OFF for this rare scenario if needed.
Thank you for the detailed answer, could you advise me any source for A1 BIF settings? Mark Smith uses AF-on Mark Galer uses shutter button
arbitrage wrote:
I switched from AF_ON to shutter AF back in my A9/A9II days. I see no reason to use AF-ON. I do use my AF-ON and AE-L buttons to modify focus modes (AF-ON engages Tracking for whatever AF mode I'm using as my main mode), AE-L used as a custom recall for perched birds with slower ss, lower iso. So I do some of my shooting holding down the AF-ON just like I used to do for all my shooting with DSLRs.
But my main focus is on my shutter. I switched to this to remove an extra button from engaging focus in order to shoot fast BIF quicker (IMO). Only one button to deal with and I feel Sony has a good enough shutter button to reliably hold it at half press without accidental full press when you don't want to fire.
With Tracking available, and full coverage AF points, the reasoning to do BBF on DSLRs is pretty much gone.
The only reason one could make for using AF-ON and deactivating shutter is to be able to MF when AF is struggling and take the shot without having it refocus. I find that if I use MF to narrow in to a subject in tricky/distracting surroundings that then a Small Flex Spot:Tracking will keep on the subject 95% of the time. You can program a button to do AF-OFF for this rare scenario if needed....Show more →
I switched to the shutter button for BIF probably at least a couple years ago based on your method. I still use AF-on for static birds using a custom recall though many times when the bird is clear of busy background I just use the shutter button. I normally don't use tracking at all but your post intrigues me to consider possibly looking into it with the AE-L button since I wouldn't use it much. arbitrage wrote:
I switched from AF_ON to shutter AF back in my A9/A9II days. I see no reason to use AF-ON. I do use my AF-ON and AE-L buttons to modify focus modes (AF-ON engages Tracking for whatever AF mode I'm using as my main mode), AE-L used as a custom recall for perched birds with slower ss, lower iso. So I do some of my shooting holding down the AF-ON just like I used to do for all my shooting with DSLRs.
But my main focus is on my shutter. I switched to this to remove an extra button from engaging focus in order to shoot fast BIF quicker (IMO). Only one button to deal with and I feel Sony has a good enough shutter button to reliably hold it at half press without accidental full press when you don't want to fire.
With Tracking available, and full coverage AF points, the reasoning to do BBF on DSLRs is pretty much gone.
The only reason one could make for using AF-ON and deactivating shutter is to be able to MF when AF is struggling and take the shot without having it refocus. I find that if I use MF to narrow in to a subject in tricky/distracting surroundings that then a Small Flex Spot:Tracking will keep on the subject 95% of the time. You can program a button to do AF-OFF for this rare scenario if needed....Show more →
Uzay wrote:
Thank you for the detailed answer, could you advise me any source for A1 BIF settings? Mark Smith uses AF-on Mark Galer uses shutter button
I wouldn't blindly copy anyone else and their settings without understanding how and why it works for them and how or why it might work or not work for you. You can't argue with Smith and Galer's results, but there might be a more natural way for you. Maybe use one as a starting point and adjust based on field experience. I personally see no need for back button focus. I use those buttons for custom recall holds.
I haven't had time to shoot much in the last couple months but did get these...
High key aerial transfer
Sony ILCE-1
FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
ƒ/4.0 600.0 mm 1/5000 500
Pelican surfing
Sony ILCE-1
FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
ƒ/4.0 600.0 mm 1/4000 500
Sony ILCE-1
FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
ƒ/4.0 600.0 mm 1/5000 500
Sony ILCE-1
FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
ƒ/4.0 600.0 mm 1/8000 500
Sibling rivalry
Sony ILCE-1
FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
ƒ/4.0 600.0 mm 1/8000 500
Sony ILCE-1
FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
ƒ/4.0 600.0 mm 1/3200 1000
Sony ILCE-1
FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
ƒ/4.0 600.0 mm 1/1000 1250
Daisy cutter
Sony ILCE-1
FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
ƒ/4.0 600.0 mm 1/3200 2000
Ugly background on the landing shot, but completely uncropped width wise, just took some off the top to make it 16:9
Sony ILCE-1
FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
ƒ/4.0 600.0 mm 1/3200 2000
Landed on a branch behind the one in the frame and was obscured [/url]
Sony ILCE-1
FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
ƒ/4.0 600.0 mm 1/3200 800
Sony ILCE-1
FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
ƒ/4.0 600.0 mm 1/3200 800
Uzay wrote:
Thank you for the detailed answer, could you advise me any source for A1 BIF settings? Mark Smith uses AF-on Mark Galer uses shutter button
Back-button focusing using the AF-On button was a kludge frequently used to compensate for poor AF systems, but it doesn't really serve much purpose on current Sony cameras with their excellent subject detection and tracking.
It is handy on some other mirrorless systems (Fuji, OM/Panasonic) where AF-On activates AF when the camera is in MF mode.
, here is the first one: Ponte 25 de Abril in Lisbon.
