For explanations on the options for AF, please refer to the next lessons. This is a quick guide to how I recommend you use AF for stills.
We’ll divide this into two parts:
- The quick and easy method for beginners
- For pros looking to shoot action or sports
The quick and easy method for beginners
| AF STILLS FOR BEGINNERS | |||
| Menu No. | Setting | Options | Which to pick |
| A2 | Drive Mode | Single/Continuous Hi/Continuous Lo | Depends |
| A3 | Focus Mode | AF-S, AF-C, DMF, MF | AF-S or AF-C if you want to track a subject |
| A3 | Focus Area | Wide, Zone, Center, Flexible Spot (L,M,S) Expand Flexible Spot | Flexible Spot M or Expand Flexible Spot |
| Lock on AF Flexible Spot (with all the above options) | Same as above, if you want to track | ||
| A4 | Focus Settings | Move Focus Area and choose between them | Customize to one of the buttons |
| A4 | AF Illuminator | On/Off | On |
| A6 | Center Lock-on AF | On/Off | Off |
| A6 | Smile/Face Detect. | Off/Registered Face/ Face On/Smiley | Face Detection On |
| B1 | MF Assist | On/Off | Off |
| B3 | AF Area Auto Clear | On/Off | Off |
| B3 | Pre-AF | On/Off | On |
| B3 | Zoom Setting | Optical, ClearImage Zoom, Digital | ClearImage Zoom |
| B3 | Eye-Start AF | On/Off | Off^ |
| B4 | Priority Set in AF-S | AF/Release/Balanced | Release |
| B4 | Priority Set in AF-C | AF/Release/Balanced | Release |
| B4 | AF w/ shutter | On/Off | On |
| B5 | Face Registration | Registered/Organize/Delete | Ignore |
| B6 | AF Micro Adj. | Setting/amount/Clear | Off^ |
^Only works if you have Sony A-mount lenses with the compatible adapter.
For pros looking to shoot action or sports
Warning: I am not a professional sports photographer by any stretch, so you might ultimately find better ways to do the same thing. Use this only as a starting point.
| AF STILLS FOR SPORTS/ACTION | |||
| Menu No. | Setting | Options | Which to pick |
| A2 | Drive Mode | Single/Continuous Hi/Continuous Lo | Continuous Hi |
| A3 | Focus Mode | AF-S, AF-C, DMF, MF | AF-C |
| A3 | Focus Area | Wide, Zone, Center, Flexible Spot (L,M,S) Expand Flexible Spot | Ignore |
| Lock on AF Flexible Spot (with all the above options) | Lock on AF Expand Flexible Spot or Zone* | ||
| A4 | Focus Settings | Move Focus Area and choose between them | Customize to one of the buttons |
| A4 | AF Illuminator | On/Off | On |
| A6 | Center Lock-on AF | On/Off | Off |
| A6 | Smile/Face Detect. | Off/Registered Face/ Face On/Smiley | Face Detection On |
| B1 | MF Assist | On/Off | Off |
| B3 | AF Area Auto Clear | On/Off | Off |
| B3 | Pre-AF | On/Off | On |
| B3 | Zoom Setting | Optical, ClearImage Zoom, Digital | ClearImage Zoom or Optical |
| B3 | Eye-Start AF | On/Off | Off^ |
| B4 | Priority Set in AF-S | AF/Release/Balanced | Release |
| B4 | Priority Set in AF-C | AF/Release/Balanced | Release |
| B4 | AF w/ shutter | On/Off | On |
| B5 | Face Registration | Registered/Organize/Delete | Ignore |
| B6 | AF Micro Adj. | Setting/amount/Clear | Off^ |
*This totally depends on the type of action/sport you are shooting, and how well you can anticipate action. This takes years to master.
^Only works if you have Sony A-mount lenses with the compatible adapter.
