p.1 #1 · FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro G OSS II + A7RV autofocus performance
I just got my hands on this lens and I really like the images it produces. Love the macro capabilities especially.
However, I'm noticing that AF when mounted on my A7RV is unreliable. Very slow and constantly hunting, especially if not in broad, bright daylight. It's pretty shocking, coming from a Sony G lens, especially when AF on all my other lenses is super snappy (as expected).
I've only noticed one other person mention something similar on Reddit. Has anyone else here used the same combo or noticed similar behavior from this lens on another Sony body?
p.1 #2 · FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro G OSS II + A7RV autofocus performance
I have and use that camera and lens. AF is fast and accurate. I've used the eye-AF on animals in flat pre-sunrise illumination, and single shot (small spot) AF on landscapes in that same kind of illumination, without any problems. It has failed to find focus in such low illumination if it's somewhat hazy or misty, while other cameras I've had (older Canon DSLRs) could find focus in the same circumstances without problems. The Canon DSLRs will fail to find focus in hazy/misty conditions too, but it takes more haze/mist to make them fail.
I think the "problem" I've described isn't really a problem, and is probably due to a completely different AF design in the mirrorless camera. OTOH, needing bright daylight to keep it from hunting for focus sounds like a definite problem that should not be happening.
p.1 #5 · FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro G OSS II + A7RV autofocus performance
I shot an airshow with that set up plus the TC 1.4 and thought it was great. Can't say that I had more than a handful of shot that were out of focus and this was out of thousands of images. Focus was snappy and quick.
p.1 #6 · FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro G OSS II + A7RV autofocus performance
mrdan86 wrote:
Are you using the focus limiter switch?
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shadow9d9 wrote:
Another vote for focus limiter switch.
I have the focus switch set to FULL but have also tried the other two settings (on subjects within the specified ranges) with similar results.
Thanks, everyone for your replies so far. It’s interesting. Also a little discouraging. Makes me fear I could have a bad copy or something got damaged during shipment. Lens was very well packaged and looks pristine.
It was pretty warm to the touch when I unboxed it, which I found odd, but it was a hot day. I’ve never heard of heat damaging the AF mechanism but wonder if fedex keeping it in a hot truck all day could’ve had some effect. Crazy theories now bouncing around in my head.
jeffbuzz wrote:
My 70-200 f4 II is super fast to focus indoors in really low light on both the a7 IV and a9 II. MFD to infinity and back in a fraction of a second.
What focus mode are you using? AF-C or AF-S? AF-S can be a bit slower.
Live view settings effect on? With narrow apertures this will slow down focusing because the lens has to close down the aperture to preview the DoF.
What Aperture Drive in AF mode are you using?
Even with my camera in AF-S, setting effect on and aperture drive silent, the lens still locks focus indoors almost instantly....Show more →
Glad I asked here.
I usually update camera body firmware right away but in my fluster forgot to check the lens firmware :facepalm:
The camera firmware was already on 3.0 but the lens firmware was on 01. Updated lens to v02 and it did make a huge positive difference.
I typically use AF-S but just switched back to AF-C to try it out. I can definitely notice a speed increase. But even in AF-S things are as fast as I expected now. Aperture Drive has always been set to standard. And I do have Live view on. It's good to keep all of these settings and their effects in mind.
