Choose the AF and AF‑area modes. The AF mode determines how the camera focuses in autofocus mode, the AF‑area mode how the camera selects the focus point for autofocus.

Choosing an AF Mode

Hold the AF‑mode button and rotate the main command dial. The options available vary with camera settings.

Option

Description

AF‑A

[AF mode auto-switch]

The camera uses AF-S when photographing stationary subjects and AF-C when photographing subjects that are in motion.

  • This option is available only during still photography.

AF‑S

[Single AF]

Use with stationary subjects. Focus locks while the shutter-release button is pressed halfway.

AF‑C

[Continuous AF]

For moving subjects. The camera adjusts focus continuously in response to changes in the distance to the subject while the shutter-release button is pressed halfway.

AF‑F

[Full-time AF]

The camera adjusts focus continuously in response to subject movement or changes in composition. When the shutter-release button is pressed halfway, the focus point will turn from red to green and focus will lock.

  • This option is available only during movie recording.

Choosing an AF‑Area Mode

Hold the AF‑mode button and rotate the sub-command dial. The options available vary with the AF mode.

Viewfinder Photography

Option

Description

[Single-point AF]

The camera focuses on a point selected by the user.

  • Use with stationary subjects.

[Dynamic-area AF (9 points)]/
[Dynamic-area AF (21 points)]/
[Dynamic-area AF (51 points)]

The camera focuses on a point selected by the user; if the subject briefly leaves the selected point, the camera will focus based on information from surrounding focus points. This option is available when AF‑A or AF‑C is selected for AF mode.

  • Choose for subjects that move unpredictably. The greater the number of focus points, the wider the area used for focus.

[3D-tracking]

The user selects the focus point; while the shutter-release button is pressed halfway, the camera will track subjects that leave the selected focus point and select new focus points as required. This option is available when AF‑A or AF‑C is selected for AF mode.

  • Use for subjects that are moving erratically from side to side (e.g., tennis players).

[Group-area AF]

The camera focuses using a group of focus points selected by the user. Priority is given to faces detected by the camera, if any.

  • Choose for snapshots, subjects that are in motion, and other subjects that are difficult to photograph using [Single-point AF].

[Auto-area AF]

The camera automatically detects the subject and selects the focus point. If a face is detected, the camera will give priority to the portrait subject.

Live View

Option

Description

3

[Pinpoint AF]

With a focus area smaller than that employed for [Single‑point AF], pinpoint AF is used for pinpoint focus on a selected spot in the frame.

  • It is recommended for shots involving static subjects, such as buildings, in-studio product photography, and close-ups.

  • This option is available only when AF‑S is selected as the AF mode for still photography.

d

[Single-point AF]

The camera focuses on a point selected by the user.

  • Use with stationary subjects.

f

[Wide-area AF (S)]

As for [Single‑point AF], except the camera focuses on a wider area.

  • Choose for snapshots, subjects that are in motion, and other subjects that are difficult to photograph using [Single-point AF].

g

[Wide-area AF (L)]

e

[Dynamic-area AF]

The camera focuses on a point selected by the user. If the subject briefly leaves the selected point, the camera will focus based on information from surrounding focus points.

  • Use for photographs of athletes and other active subjects that are hard to frame using [Single‑point AF].

  • This option is available only when AF‑A or AF‑C is selected as the AF mode for still photography.

h

[Auto-area AF]

The camera automatically detects the subject and selects the focus area.

  • Use on occasions when you don’t have time to select the focus point yourself, for portraits, or for snapshots and other spur-of-the-moment photos.

  • If a portrait subject is detected during live view photography, an amber border indicating the focus point will appear around the subject’s face. If the camera detects the subject’s eyes, the amber border will instead appear around an eye (face/eye-detection AF).

Manual Focus-Point Selection

When an option other than [Auto-area AF] is selected for AF-area mode, you can select the focus point manually. Press the multi selector up, down, left, or right (1342) or diagonally to select the focus point.

Locking Focus-Point Selection

Focus-point selection can be locked by rotating the focus selector lock to the “L” position. Focus-point selection can be re-enabled by rotating the lock to I.