Focus

Focus mode

Choose how the camera focuses.

Choosing a focus mode

  • The focus mode can be selected using the [Focus mode] items in the i menu, photo shooting menu, and video recording menu (Focus mode, Focus mode, Focus mode).
OptionDescription
AF-A[AF mode auto-switch]
  • The camera uses AF-S for stationary subjects, and AF-C for moving subjects.
  • Available only in photo mode.
AF-S[Single AF]
  • Use with stationary subjects. When you press the shutter-release button halfway to focus, the focus point will turn from red to green and focus will lock. If the camera fails to focus, the focus point will flash red and the shutter release will be disabled.
  • At default settings, the shutter can only be released if the camera is able to focus (focus priority).
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.
  • At default settings, the shutter can be released whether or not the subject is in focus (release priority).
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 only available in video mode.
MF[Manual focus]Focus manually (Manual focus). The shutter can be released whether or not the subject is in focus.

Autofocus

  • The camera may be unable to focus if:
    • The subject contains lines parallel to the long edge of the frame
    • The subject lacks contrast
    • The subject in the focus point contains areas of sharply contrasting brightness
    • The focus point includes night-time spot lighting or a neon sign or other light source that changes in brightness
    • Flicker or banding appears under fluorescent, mercury-vapor, sodium-vapor, or similar lighting
    • A cross (star) filter or other special filter is used
    • The subject appears smaller than the focus point
    • The subject is dominated by regular geometric patterns (e.g., blinds or a row of windows in a skyscraper)
    • The subject is moving
  • The monitor may brighten or darken while the camera focuses.
  • The focus point may sometimes be displayed in green when the camera is unable to focus.

Focus position memory

To save the focus position even when the camera is turned off, set [Save focus position] in the setup menu to [On]. However, some time may be required until the camera can be used after turning it on (depending on zoom operation and changes in temperature, the focus position after turning on the camera may change from the position before the camera was turned off).

AF-area mode

Choose how the camera selects the focus point for autofocus.

  • In modes other than [Auto-area AF], [Auto-area AF (people)], and [Auto-area AF (animals)], the focus point can be positioned using the multi selector (Focus-point selection).

Choosing an AF-area mode

OptionDescription
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.
  • Focusing may be slower than with single-point AF.
  • Recommended for shots involving static subjects, such as buildings, in-studio product photography, or close-ups.
  • This option is only available when photo mode is selected and [Single AF] is chosen for [Focus mode].
d[Single-point AF]
  • The camera focuses on a point selected by the user.
  • Use with stationary subjects.
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 only available when photo mode is selected and [AF mode auto-switch] or [Continuous AF] is chosen for focus mode.
f[Wide-area AF (S)]
  • As for single-point AF except that 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.
  • During video recording, wide-area AF can be used for smooth focus when making panning or tilting shots or recording moving subjects.
  • If the selected focus area contains subjects at different distances from the camera, the camera will assign priority to the closest subject.
  • The focus areas for [Wide-area AF (L)] are larger than those for [Wide-area AF (S)].
  • If [Wide-area AF (L-people)] is selected, the camera detects and focuses on human faces or eyes (eye-detection AF/face-detection AF, Detecting faces or eyes of portrait subjects (face/eye-detection AF)).
  • If [Wide-area AF (L-animals)] is selected, the camera detects and focuses on faces or eyes of dogs and cats (animal-detection AF, Focusing on the faces or eyes of animals (animal-detection AF)).
g[Wide-area AF (L)]
1[Wide-area AF (L-people)]
2[Wide-area AF (L-animals)]
h[Auto-area AF]
5[Auto-area AF (people)]
6[Auto-area AF (animals)]

s: The center focus point

A dot appears in the focus point when it is in the center of the frame.

Quick focus-point selection

  • For quicker focus-point selection, choose [Alternating points] for Custom Setting a4 [Focus points used] to use only a quarter of the available focus points. The number of points available for [Pinpoint AF], [Wide-area AF (L)], [Wide-area AF (L-people)], or [Wide-area AF (L-animals)] does not change even if [Alternating points] is selected.
  • You can choose [Select center focus point] for Custom Setting f2 [Custom controls (shooting)] > [OK button] to allow the J button to be used to quickly select the center focus point.

Focus-point selection

The multi selector can be used to choose the focus point when an option other than [Auto-area AF], [Auto-area AF (people)], or [Auto-area AF (animals)] is selected for AF-area mode (AF-area mode).

Detecting faces or eyes of portrait subjects (face/eye-detection AF)

If [Wide-area AF (L-people)] or [Auto-area AF (people)] is selected for [AF-area mode] in the photo shooting menu or video recording menu, the camera detects human faces and eyes (eye-detection AF/face-detection AF).

  • A yellow border indicating the focus point appears around the faces of human subjects detected by the camera. If the camera detects the subject’s eyes, the yellow focus point will instead appear over one or the other of their eyes.
  • If AF-C is selected for focus mode or if AF-A is selected and the camera is using AF-C, the focus point will light yellow when faces or eyes are detected.
  • If AF-S is selected for focus mode or if AF-A is selected and the camera is using AF-S, the focus point will turn green when the camera focuses.
  • If more than one human face or eye is detected when [Auto-area AF (people)] is selected, e and f icons will appear on the focus point. You will be able to position the focus point over a different face or eye by pressing 4 or 2.
  • If the subject looks away after their face is detected, the focus point will move to track their motion.
  • During playback, you can zoom in on the face or eye used for focus by pressing J.

Face/eye-detection AF

Eye and face detection may not perform as expected if:

  • the subject’s face occupies a very large or very small proportion of the frame,
  • the subject’s face is lit too brightly or too poorly,
  • the subject is wearing glasses or sunglasses,
  • the subject’s face or eyes are obscured by hair or other objects, or
  • the subject moves excessively during shooting.

Focusing on the faces or eyes of animals (animal-detection AF)

If [Wide-area AF (L-animals)] or [Auto-area AF (animals)] is selected for [AF-area mode] in the photo shooting menu or video recording menu, the camera detects the faces and eyes of dogs and cats (animal-detection AF).

  • When the camera detects a face of a dog or cat, a yellow border indicating the focus point will appear around the subject’s face. If the camera detects the subject’s eyes, the yellow focus point will instead appear over one or the other of their eyes.
  • If AF-C is selected for focus mode or if AF-A is selected and the camera is using AF-C, the focus point will light yellow when faces or eyes are detected.
  • If AF-S is selected for focus mode or if AF-A is selected and the camera is using AF-S, the focus point will turn green when the camera focuses.
  • If [Auto-area AF (animals)] is selected and more than one portrait subject or more than one eye is detected, e and f icons will appear on the focus point. You will be able to position the focus point over a different face or eye by pressing 4 or 2.
  • During playback, you can zoom in on the face or eye used for focus by pressing J.

Animal-detection AF

  • Animal face- and eye-detection may not perform as expected if:
    • the subject’s face occupies a very large or very small proportion of the frame,
    • the subject’s face is lit too brightly or too poorly,
    • the subject’s face or eyes are obscured by fur or other objects,
    • the subject’s eyes are similar in color to the rest of their face, or
    • the subject moves excessively during shooting.
  • Depending on shooting conditions, the camera may fail to detect the faces or eyes of some breeds when [Wide-area AF (L-animals)] or [Auto-area AF (animals)] is enabled. Alternatively, the camera may display a border around subjects that are not the faces or eyes of dogs or cats.
  • The light from the AF-assist illuminator may adversely affect the eyes of some animals; select [Off] for Custom Setting a11 [Built-in AF-assist illuminator].

Subject-tracking AF

When [Auto-area AF], [Auto-area AF (people)], or [Auto-area AF (animals)] is selected for AF-area mode, the camera can track the subject in the selected focus point.

  • Press J to enable focus tracking; the focus point will change to a targeting reticle.
  • Position the reticle over the target and press J again to start tracking; the focus point will track the selected subject as it moves through the frame. To end tracking and select the center focus point, press J again. In photo mode, if subject tracking was initiated in focus mode AF-C or AF-A by pressing the shutter-release button halfway, the camera will track the subject only while the shutter-release button is pressed; releasing the shutter-release button ends tracking and restores the focus point selected before tracking started.
  • To exit subject-tracking mode, press the W (Q) button.

Subject tracking

The camera may be unable to track subjects if they:

  • are similar in color or brightness to the background,
  • change visibly in size, color, or brightness,
  • are too large or too small,
  • are too dark or too bright,
  • move quickly, or
  • leave the frame or are obscured by other objects.

The touch shutter

Touch the display to focus on the selected point. The shutter will be released when you lift your finger from the display.

Tap the icon shown in the illustration to choose the operation performed by tapping the display.

OptionDescription
W[Touch shutter/touch AF]
  • Touch the display to focus on the selected point and lift your finger to release the shutter. If [Wide-area AF (L-people)], [Wide-area AF (L-animals)], [Auto-area AF (people)], or [Auto-area AF (animals)] is selected for AF-area mode and the camera detects human faces or eyes or the faces or eyes of dogs or cats, the camera will focus on the face or eye* closest to the selected point.
  • Available only in photo mode.
V[Touch AF]
  • Touch the display to focus on the selected point. Lifting your finger from the display does not release the shutter.
  • If [Auto-area AF], [Auto-area AF (people)], or [Auto-area AF (animals)] is selected for AF-area mode, the camera will track the selected subject as it moves through the frame. To switch to a different subject, tap it in the display. If the camera detects human faces or eyes or the faces or eyes of dogs or cats, the camera will focus on and track the face or eye* closest to the selected point.
X[Off]Touch shutter disabled.
f[Position focus point]
  • Touch the display to position the focus point. The camera will not focus and lifting your finger from the display will not release the shutter.
  • If [Auto-area AF], [Auto-area AF (people)], or [Auto-area AF (animals)] is selected for AF-area mode, the camera will track the selected subject as it moves through the frame. To switch to a different subject, tap it in the display. If the camera detects human faces or eyes or the faces or eyes of dogs or cats, the camera will track the face or eye* closest to the selected point.
  1. When choosing an eye using touch controls, note that the camera may not focus on the eye on the side you intend. Use the multi selector to choose the desired eye.

Taking pictures using touch shooting options

  • Touch controls cannot be used for manual focus.
  • The shutter-release button can be used to take pictures when the W icon is displayed.
  • Touch controls cannot be used to take photographs during video recording.
  • Even if the camera is set to a continuous release mode, touch controls can be used only to take one picture at a time. Use the shutter-release button for burst photography.
  • In self-timer mode, focus locks on the selected subject when you touch the monitor and the shutter is released about 10 seconds after you lift your finger from the display. If the number of shots selected is greater than 1, the remaining shots will be taken in a single burst.

Manual focus

Manual focus is available in manual focus mode. Use manual focus when, for example, autofocus does not produce the desired results.

  • Position the focus point over your subject and rotate the focus or control ring until the subject is in focus.
  • For greater precision, press the X button to zoom in on the view through the lens.
  • The focus indicator (I) in the shooting display can be used to confirm whether the subject in the selected focus point is in focus (electronic rangefinding). The focus point will also light green when the subject is in focus.
    1Focus distance indicator
    2Focus indicator
    Focus indicatorDescription

    (steady)    		The subject is in focus.

    (steady)    		The focus point is in front of the subject.

    (steady)    		The focus point is behind the subject.

    (flashes)    		The camera is unable to focus.
  • When using manual focus with subjects not suited to autofocus, note that the in-focus indicator (I) may be displayed when the subject is not in focus. Zoom in on the view through the lens and check focus. Use of a tripod is recommended when the camera is having trouble focusing.

Lenses with focus-mode selection

Manual focus mode can be chosen using focus-mode selection controls on the lens (where available).

The focal plane mark and flange-back distance

Focus distance is measured from the focal plane mark (E) on the camera body, which shows the position of the focal plane inside the camera (q). Use this mark when measuring the distance to your subject for manual focus or macro photography. The distance between the focal plane and the lens mounting flange is known as the “flange-back distance” (w). On this camera, the flange-back distance is 16 mm (0.63 in.).

Focus peaking

  • If an option other than [Off] is selected for Custom Setting d9 [Focus peaking], objects that are in focus will be indicated by colored outlines that appear when focus is adjusted manually (focus peaking).
  • Note that focus peaking may not be displayed if the camera is unable to detect outlines. Check focus in the shooting display.