I have not done any customization AF area in my A1II, i just use the usual “wide”, “zone”, and one of the “spot” options. Just wondering if any birders here with the A1II customize the AF area, if you do, under what circumstances do you use them? Good to see the A1 is getting that feature in the new FW update.
I do mainly birds so here's my current setup
With the new firmware I dropped zone , Spot Small and Spot Large
I replaced Spot Large with Spot X large
Spot Small with Spot X-Small
Zone is replaced with C1, C2, and C3
C1: I extend the default to go to the edges: this is mostly for BIF where I don't want the closest objects to be in focus (like the old Zone )
C2: I extend the height a bit to have the focus inside the center of the EVF (best for birds on blue sky)
C3: basically a larger version of X-large (larger birds either perching or in flight)
C2 and C3 could be overlapping but it's better to have 2 for quick access
C3 could easily replace X-Large
Will see how this works in real life, I'll recalibrate accordingly based on experience in the field
So far C1 has been a god send , better than the old zone which tends to focus on objects in front of the bird
(Note: I also use a Dot sight quite often so cannot refocus using the EVF thus needs the most accurate AF framing to help me do the job, mainly with BIF)
deevee wrote:
C1: I extend the default to go to the edges: this is mostly for BIF where I don't want the closest objects to be in focus (like the old Zone )
This sounds awesome, is it with or without tracking? Subject recognition on or off. So many variables.
deevee wrote:
I do mainly birds so here's my current setup
With the new firmware I dropped zone , Spot Small and Spot Large
I replaced Spot Large with Spot X large
Spot Small with Spot X-Small
Zone is replaced with C1, C2, and C3
C1: I extend the default to go to the edges: this is mostly for BIF where I don't want the closest objects to be in focus (like the old Zone )
C2: I extend the height a bit to have the focus inside the center of the EVF (best for birds on blue sky)
C3: basically a larger version of X-large (larger birds either perching or in flight)
C2 and C3 could be overlapping but it's better to have 2 for quick access
C3 could easily replace X-Large
Will see how this works in real life, I'll recalibrate accordingly based on experience in the field
So far C1 has been a god send , better than the old zone which tends to focus on objects in front of the bird
(Note: I also use a Dot sight quite often so cannot refocus using the EVF thus needs the most accurate AF framing to help me do the job, mainly with BIF)
By default i have bird recognition on and also tracking
I have 2 buttons programmed to turn them off just in case
Subject off if bird is too far and eyes are small
Tracking off if i feel AF is sluggish in some situations
Thanks
TimMunsey wrote: deevee wroteC1: I extend the default to go to the edges: this is mostly for BIF where I don't want the closest objects to be in focus (like the old Zone )This sounds awesome, is it with or without tracking? Subject recognition on or off. So many variables.
I've created one that is a bit bigger than the regular Zone and I created one that is a long thin line.
The larger Zone I use for BIF when I feel I don't want the entire sensor but want a little more buffer room to keep the Zone on the bird.
The long skinny one I use with ducks on the water especially when the water is rippled to try and prevent it grabbing near ripples.
I will almost always have Bird subject detection ON. For larger Zone I'd have Tracking Off as I rarely shoot BIF with Tracking On. For the ducks on water I sometimes will have Tracking on but most of the time Tracking off.
I've experimented with a few other shapes like a vertical rectangle for long necked birds like our GBHs.
I still find myself using the more traditional AF areas most of the time but I do like having the custom sizes when they make sense.