Star Focus on Sony
p.2 #1Star Focus on Sony
AGeoJO wrote:
@AGeoJO@@ - Joshua - are you sure it's not available. I thought the A7cr was where had first heard someone talking about it and I found this
https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2370/v1/en/contents/0414H_bright_monitoring.html
Not the best stitch job, but didn't work it too much since I didn't get wide enough, should have done a six pano stitch instead of three to get the top of the MW
https://photos.smugmug.com/Wind-River/i-fBf2SpB/0/LXxCdG5vSPz747bFZtv7GCm5N9gnqj6wCnkrbtF4K/X2/untitled-02270-Pano-X2.jpg....
Could some A7c R owners check yours whether the Bright Monitoring works on yours, please? Thank you!
Only works in MF ...
https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2370/v1/en/contents/0414H_bright_monitoring.html?search=bright%20monitor
[Bright Monitoring] will be automatically canceled in the following situations.
When the camera is turned off.
When the shooting mode is changed from P/A/S/M to a mode that is not P/A/S/M.
When the focus mode is set to other than manual focus.
I think by cancelled they mean if you switch from MF when it's already on. If you try to use it when in AF it displays the incompatible statement.
BTW I don't usually remember to use it when shooting astro, as you commented and asked above, 2x mag is quite sufficient for me to focus though I do usually try to find Venus.
Seabassius wrote
It worked for me on a recent trip. Thank you @Cliff@@ L.@AGeoJO@@ - Joshua - are you sure it's not available. I thought the A7cr was where had first heard someone talking about it and I found this
https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2370/v1/en/contents/0414H_bright_monitoring.html
Not the best stitch job, but didn't work it too much since I didn't get wide enough, should have done a six pano stitch instead of three to get the top of the MW
https://photos.smugmug.com/Wind-River/i-fBf2SpB/0/LXxCdG5vSPz747bFZtv7GCm5N9gnqj6wCnkrbtF4K/X2/untitled-02270-Pano-X2.jpg
Could some A7c R owners check yours whether the Bright Monitoring works on yours, please? Thank you!
Only works in MF ...
https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2370/v1/en/contents/0414H_bright_monitoring.html?search=bright%20monitor
[Bright Monitoring] will be automatically canceled in the following situations.
When the camera is turned off.
When the shooting mode is changed from P/A/S/M to a mode that is not P/A/S/M.
When the focus mode is set to other than manual focus.
I think by cancelled they mean if you switch from MF when it's already on. If you try to use it when in AF it displays the incompatible statement.
BTW I don't usually remember to use it when shooting astro, as you commented and asked above, 2x mag is quite sufficient for me to focus though I do usually try to find Venus.
Sep 13, 2026 at 12:19 PM
p.2 #2Star Focus on Sony
mcbroomf wrote:
@AGeoJO@@@ - Joshua - are you sure it's not available. I thought the A7cr was where had first heard someone talking about it and I found this
https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2370/v1/en/contents/0414H_bright_monitoring.html
Not the best stitch job, but didn't work it too much since I didn't get wide enough, should have done a six pano stitch instead of three to get the top of the MW
https://photos.smugmug.com/Wind-River/i-fBf2SpB/0/LXxCdG5vSPz747bFZtv7GCm5N9gnqj6wCnkrbtF4K/X2/untitled-02270-Pano-X2.jpg....
Could some A7c R owners check yours whether the Bright Monitoring works on yours, please? Thank you!Only works in MF ...
https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2370/v1/en/contents/0414H_bright_monitoring.html?search=bright%20monitor
[Bright Monitoring] will be automatically canceled in the following situations.
When the camera is turned off.
When the shooting mode is changed from P/A/S/M to a mode that is not P/A/S/M.
When the focus mode is set to other than manual focus.
I think by cancelled they mean if you switch from MF when it's already on. If you try to use it when in AF it displays the incompatible statement.
BTW I don't usually remember to use it when shooting astro, as you commented and asked above, 2x mag is quite sufficient for me to focus though I do...Show more →
Thank you very much for looking into that, Mike! The Bright Monitoring option on the A7c R is more finicky to setup and operate than on the A7r VI. At this point, I am more inclined to just rely on a single and better camera for that purpose 😎.
AGeoJO wrote
Seabassius wrote
It worked for me on a recent trip. Thank you @Cliff@@@ L.@AGeoJO@@@ - Joshua - are you sure it's not available. I thought the A7cr was where had first heard someone talking about it and I found this
https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2370/v1/en/contents/0414H_bright_monitoring.html
Not the best stitch job, but didn't work it too much since I didn't get wide enough, should have done a six pano stitch instead of three to get the top of the MW
https://photos.smugmug.com/Wind-River/i-fBf2SpB/0/LXxCdG5vSPz747bFZtv7GCm5N9gnqj6wCnkrbtF4K/X2/untitled-02270-Pano-X2.jpg
Could some A7c R owners check yours whether the Bright Monitoring works on yours, please? Thank you!
https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2370/v1/en/contents/0414H_bright_monitoring.html?search=bright%20monitor
[Bright Monitoring] will be automatically canceled in the following situations.
When the camera is turned off.
When the shooting mode is changed from P/A/S/M to a mode that is not P/A/S/M.
When the focus mode is set to other than manual focus.
I think by cancelled they mean if you switch from MF when it's already on. If you try to use it when in AF it displays the incompatible statement.
BTW I don't usually remember to use it when shooting astro, as you commented and asked above, 2x mag is quite sufficient for me to focus though I do...Show more →
Thank you very much for looking into that, Mike! The Bright Monitoring option on the A7c R is more finicky to setup and operate than on the A7r VI. At this point, I am more inclined to just rely on a single and better camera for that purpose 😎.
Sep 13, 2026 at 04:42 PM
p.2 #3Star Focus on Sony
AGeoJO wrote:
@AGeoJO@@@@ - Joshua - are you sure it's not available. I thought the A7cr was where had first heard someone talking about it and I found this
https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2370/v1/en/contents/0414H_bright_monitoring.html
Not the best stitch job, but didn't work it too much since I didn't get wide enough, should have done a six pano stitch instead of three to get the top of the MW
https://photos.smugmug.com/Wind-River/i-fBf2SpB/0/LXxCdG5vSPz747bFZtv7GCm5N9gnqj6wCnkrbtF4K/X2/untitled-02270-Pano-X2.jpg....
Could some A7c R owners check yours whether the Bright Monitoring works on yours, please? Thank you!Only works in MF ...
https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2370/v1/en/contents/0414H_bright_monitoring.html?search=bright%20monitor
[Bright Monitoring] will be automatically canceled in the following situations.
When the camera is turned off.
When the shooting mode is changed from P/A/S/M to a mode that is not P/A/S/M.
When the focus mode is set to other than manual focus.
I think by cancelled they mean if you switch from MF when it's already on. If you try to use it when in AF it displays the incompatible statement.
BTW I don't usually remember to use it when shooting astro, as you commented and asked above, 2x mag is quite sufficient for me to focus though I do usually try to find Venus.Thank you very much for looking into that, Mike! The Bright Monitoring option on the A7c R is more finicky to setup and operate than on the A7r VI. At this point, I am more inclined to just rely on a single and better camera for that purpose 😎.
I wonder why they are different? More AF capability in the A7R6? If so then little likelihood that the A7CR might match it with a firmware update.
mcbroomf wrote
AGeoJO wrote
Seabassius wrote
It worked for me on a recent trip. Thank you @Cliff@@@@ L.@AGeoJO@@@@ - Joshua - are you sure it's not available. I thought the A7cr was where had first heard someone talking about it and I found this
https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2370/v1/en/contents/0414H_bright_monitoring.html
Not the best stitch job, but didn't work it too much since I didn't get wide enough, should have done a six pano stitch instead of three to get the top of the MW
https://photos.smugmug.com/Wind-River/i-fBf2SpB/0/LXxCdG5vSPz747bFZtv7GCm5N9gnqj6wCnkrbtF4K/X2/untitled-02270-Pano-X2.jpg
Could some A7c R owners check yours whether the Bright Monitoring works on yours, please? Thank you!
https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2370/v1/en/contents/0414H_bright_monitoring.html?search=bright%20monitor
[Bright Monitoring] will be automatically canceled in the following situations.
When the camera is turned off.
When the shooting mode is changed from P/A/S/M to a mode that is not P/A/S/M.
When the focus mode is set to other than manual focus.
I think by cancelled they mean if you switch from MF when it's already on. If you try to use it when in AF it displays the incompatible statement.
BTW I don't usually remember to use it when shooting astro, as you commented and asked above, 2x mag is quite sufficient for me to focus though I do usually try to find Venus.
I wonder why they are different? More AF capability in the A7R6? If so then little likelihood that the A7CR might match it with a firmware update.
Sep 14, 2026 at 02:57 AM
p.2 #4Star Focus on Sony
Bright monitoring on the A7RVI still works with the magnifier and if the intervalometer is set to "on" unlike the A7RIII that I have. I have seen reports that the A7RVI can sometimes auto focus on bright stars. Is that the case?
The Olympus starry sky AF is spot on 95% of the time and "Live Time" very useful for foregrounds at night as can watch the histogram accumulate. These features are wonderful--downside is the sensor is 1/4 the area.
The Olympus starry sky AF is spot on 95% of the time and "Live Time" very useful for foregrounds at night as can watch the histogram accumulate. These features are wonderful--downside is the sensor is 1/4 the area.
Sep 14, 2026 at 03:05 PM