Customizing AF

In the Custom Settings Menu’s Autofocus sub-menu you can change many autofocus options, such as…

a1 AF-C priority selection

With’ Focus’ selected, the camera will not let you shoot until it has a subject in focus. ‘Release’ means you can shoot an image even if it is not in focus and is usually the best setting for this mode.

a2 AF-S priority selection

Determines whether the shutter can be fired without achieving focus in AF-S mode. We advise setting this to ‘Focus’.

a3 Focus Tracking with lock-on

The Default mode is 3, which is fine for most subjects. If you would like the camera to hold a subject in focus for longer and ignore objects that pass between you and the subject, then set it to 5. If you want your camera to jump very quickly from subject to subject as you refocus then set this to 1.

a4 Focus points used

‘ALL’ allows you to move your focus point to every selectable point within the frame. ‘1/2 every other point’ halves the number of points you can select from. This means you can move around your focus points quicker, but potentially reduces your focus options and accuracy.

a5 Store points by orientation

If set to ‘Yes’, this will maintain the focus point position when you move the camera from horizontal to vertical or vice versa.

a6 AF activation

Use this to set up back-button focusing. ’Shutter/af-on’ enables both the shutter and the AF-ON button to focus, while ‘AF-ON’ means that only the AF-ON button will focus.

When light passes through the micro-lenses, it splits into a pair of images. The distance between these images is calculated, allowing the camera to send exact details to the lens on where to focus.

Contrast-detection AF is used in Live View on DSLRS. It relies on software algorithms that look at the image for edge detail and contrast. The area under the focus point(s) is analysed and the data sent to the lens to rapidly change focus from the foreground to background until the subject is in focus. Phase-detection AF is much faster than contrast-detection AF.

Mirrorless cameras have the AF sensor built into the imaging sensor. The image and focusing data from the sensor is sent to the electronic viewfinder (or rear display) enabling fast phase-detection AF for both stills and video. This design also allows mirrorless cameras to have many more AF points than a DSLR, and they can be spread across the entire sensor area.

Having a large number of focus points is only one part of a good focus system. The type of AF points is also crucial. There are three types of AF points: vertical, horizontal and cross type. A greater number of cross-type sensors results in a faster, more accurate autofocus system.

a7 Limit Af-area mode selection

Limits the focus modes that are displayed when scrolling through the focusing menu. Use the multi-selector to select which modes to display.

a8 Focus point wrap-around

Set ‘Wrap’ to let your AF point wrap around the focus area and appear on the opposite side. The same occurs with up and down movement.

a9 Focus point options

‘Manual focus mode’ determines if the active focus point illuminates in manual focus mode. ‘Dynamic-area AF assist’ gives options for how focus points are displayed using dynamic focusing modes.

a10 Low-light AF

Specific to Z-series cameras, enables more accurate focusing when using single point AF in low light. Suggested setting is ON.

a11 Built-in Af-assist illuminator

Activates the illuminator to light up subjects in low-light environments, helping the camera achieve focus lock.

Note: Menu is from a Z 7II, not all cameras will have every feature listed