Setting up Sony A7IV
p.1 #1Setting up Sony A7IV
I know A7's can be customized in complex ways and there are many videos in the youtube about it. However, I've come up with some ideas how I would want to customize my camera and I'm actually not sure if it is possible with Sony bodies:
1. I would love the have one button solution for changing from AF to MF *and* lock the exposure at the same time. Then hit the button again and it would switch to AF again and unlock the exposure. As far as I can tell, probably not doable with just one button..
2. Another idea that might also be nice is that I would have toggle button for changing aperture between f/2 and f/8. So, hit the button once and the camera will change to f/2. Hit it again and it will change to f/8. Not sure about this either...
Not so critical , but these sort of custom setups might ease up my shooting. I just have feeling that these might not be possible - which is kind of surprising having thought that the Sony bodies are the most customizable bodies out there..
1. I would love the have one button solution for changing from AF to MF *and* lock the exposure at the same time. Then hit the button again and it would switch to AF again and unlock the exposure. As far as I can tell, probably not doable with just one button..
2. Another idea that might also be nice is that I would have toggle button for changing aperture between f/2 and f/8. So, hit the button once and the camera will change to f/2. Hit it again and it will change to f/8. Not sure about this either...
Not so critical , but these sort of custom setups might ease up my shooting. I just have feeling that these might not be possible - which is kind of surprising having thought that the Sony bodies are the most customizable bodies out there..
Jun 10, 2026 at 02:45 PM
p.1 #2Setting up Sony A7IV
Regarding the first question, I think you can configure "AEL w/ Shutter" setting to lock exposure on half-pressing the shutter button, and also enable DMF. The result may actually be even simpler than your proposal: you half-press the shutter button to lock exposure and focus, and then, while holding the button half-pressed, you can refocus manually and recompose. Hope that's helpful.
I'm fairly sure you can't do #2 though.
I'm fairly sure you can't do #2 though.
Jun 10, 2026 at 03:09 PM
p.1 #3Setting up Sony A7IV
old-gregg wrote:
Regarding the first question, I think you can configure "AEL w/ Shutter" setting to lock exposure on half-pressing the shutter button, and also enable DMF. The result may actually be even simpler than your proposal: you half-press the shutter button to lock exposure and focus, and then, while holding the button half-pressed, you can refocus manually and recompose. Hope that's helpful.
Thanks for this idea! Maybe I'll have to test this tomorrow. I'll just add that I'm actually not doing this for recomposing purpose. I want to lock up the focus and exposure to keep them locked no matter what enters into frame. With AF if something enters into the frame, the AF will likely pick it up and mess the original intention. With the exposure, if something enters into the frame and occupies,say over 50% of the frame, the exposure is often messed up. Think of 'a street scene' where people walk in and out of the frame in close proximity, and you get the idea what I'm searching for.
Regarding the first question, I think you can configure "AEL w/ Shutter" setting to lock exposure on half-pressing the shutter button, and also enable DMF. The result may actually be even simpler than your proposal: you half-press the shutter button to lock exposure and focus, and then, while holding the button half-pressed, you can refocus manually and recompose. Hope that's helpful.
Thanks for this idea! Maybe I'll have to test this tomorrow. I'll just add that I'm actually not doing this for recomposing purpose. I want to lock up the focus and exposure to keep them locked no matter what enters into frame. With AF if something enters into the frame, the AF will likely pick it up and mess the original intention. With the exposure, if something enters into the frame and occupies,say over 50% of the frame, the exposure is often messed up. Think of 'a street scene' where people walk in and out of the frame in close proximity, and you get the idea what I'm searching for.
Jun 10, 2026 at 04:11 PM
p.1 #4Setting up Sony A7IV
@Kalainen in this case it's even simpler: AF-S focusing mode shouldn't refocus on something entering the frame, so you wouldn't even need the DMF, simply pressing the shutter button half-pressed and binding AEL to shutter button will do what you need.
Jun 10, 2026 at 05:06 PM
p.1 #5Setting up Sony A7IV
old-gregg wrote:
@Kalainen@ in this case it's even simpler: AF-S focusing mode shouldn't refocus on something entering the frame, so you wouldn't even need the DMF, simply pressing the shutter button half-pressed and binding AEL to shutter button will do what you need.
Gregg, thanks for this! I knew others here would produce different ideas that I had. I'll probably give this a go and experiment with this to see if I find it convenient enough in real shooting situations. Not enjoing giving up AF-C, but this is a good idea to try out.
Another idea that I've had is to change into back button focusing altogether. Then locking the exposure is just under one button press.
But it all comes to together in real shooting situations. What feels convenient and right, and how it transforms into another situations. Thanks for all the suggestions, I really appreciate them!
@Kalainen@ in this case it's even simpler: AF-S focusing mode shouldn't refocus on something entering the frame, so you wouldn't even need the DMF, simply pressing the shutter button half-pressed and binding AEL to shutter button will do what you need.
Gregg, thanks for this! I knew others here would produce different ideas that I had. I'll probably give this a go and experiment with this to see if I find it convenient enough in real shooting situations. Not enjoing giving up AF-C, but this is a good idea to try out.
Another idea that I've had is to change into back button focusing altogether. Then locking the exposure is just under one button press.
But it all comes to together in real shooting situations. What feels convenient and right, and how it transforms into another situations. Thanks for all the suggestions, I really appreciate them!
Jun 11, 2026 at 11:39 AM