Both of those options are more or less how I?m working. I normally use wide AF tracking, then have a button assigned to switch to Spot S and AF-S in case I want to quickly grab a single frame with a lower ISO and SS while I?m using my BIF preset. This also lets me quickly reset the focus point if the AF is not picking up the bird in the focus plane I want.
My issue is that sometimes the birds I?m trying to capture are against a blue sky with no other features for me to refocus on. Then the 100-400 on the A7RVI will struggle to acquire initial focus even though I know I?m pointed right at it and have it in frame for what should be long enough. I can see the blurry bird in the EVF but the lens won?t grab onto it. I?m now playing with DMF and learning to rock the focus ring manually to try and nudge it the right way, but there?s definitely a bit of a learning curve to getting accurate at this.
Fun challenge, but it was surprising to me that the 70-200GII was so much better in this regard. Just newer generation AF motors in that lens perhaps?
Both of those options are more or less how I’m working. I normally use wide AF tracking, then have a button assigned to switch to Spot S and AF-S in case I want to quickly grab a single frame with a lower ISO and SS while I’m using my BIF preset. This also lets me quickly reset the focus point if the AF is not picking up the bird in the focus plane I want.
My issue is that sometimes the birds I’m trying to capture are against a blue sky with no other features for me to refocus on. Then the 100-400 on the A7RVI will struggle to acquire initial focus even though I know I’m pointed right at it and have it in frame for what should be long enough. I can see the blurry bird in the EVF but the lens won’t grab onto it. I’m now playing with DMF and learning to rock the focus ring manually to try and nudge it the right way, but there’s definitely a bit of a learning curve to getting accurate at this.
Fun challenge, but it was surprising to me that the 70-200GII was so much better in this regard. Just newer generation AF motors in that lens perhaps?
Both of those options are more or less how I’m working. I normally use wide AF tracking, then have a button assigned to switch to Spot S and AF-S in case I want to quickly grab a single frame with a lower ISO and SS while I’m using my BIF preset. This also lets me quickly reset the focus point if the AF is not picking up the bird in the focus plane I want.
My issue is that sometimes the birds I’m trying to capture are against a blue sky with no other features for me to refocus on. Then the 100-400 on the A7RVI will struggle to acquire initial focus even though I know I’m pointed right at it and have it in frame for what should be long enough. I’m now playing with DMF and learning to rock the focus ring manually to try and nudge it the right way, but there’s definitely a bit of a learning curve to getting accurate at this.
Fun challenge, but it was surprising to me that the 70-200GII was so much better in this regard. Just newer generation AF motors in that lens perhaps?
Aug 24, 2026 at 08:55 AM
Previous versions of Tarekith's message #17094412 « Sony A7RVI »
