Sony A1 focus issues

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CodyMazur said:
There were about 300 hundred photos where absolutely nothing was in focus. I'm very familiar with the camera and with what could cause something to appear soft. I live and shoot in South Texas where heat distortion and temperature differences are an everyday issue to work around. The second I took it off the water and shot a plant, or a leaf, or a cactus, there were no issues. It's when I shot something in the water that I came into some issues that I've never experienced with this camera before
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That is for sure atmospherics where air right above the water surface is warmed faster than the water. I actually think after seeing your examples it was more than likely atmospherics over the sand than the water but at that distance and shooting downhill it is a classic case of atmospherics.

This is totally different than what the OP was discussing back in Feb. He was seeing AF lost on rippled/contrasty water which is always a problem. In your example the water seems smooth enough that I wouldn't expect general AF issues to be the reason.
 
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arbitrage said:
That is for sure atmospherics where air right above the water surface is warmed faster than the water. I actually think after seeing your examples it was more than likely atmospherics over the sand than the water but at that distance and shooting downhill it is a classic case of atmospherics.

This is totally different than what the OP was discussing back in Feb. He was seeing AF lost on rippled/contrasty water which is always a problem. In your example the water seems smooth enough that I wouldn't expect general AF issues to be the reason.
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I think it’s pretty safe to assume at this point that Sony is not going to update the firmware on the A1. I really would like to see them at very minimum try to tweak the focus system, add firmware via card, and have the ability of full-time DMF like A7RV has. When you use the cameras together especially from the DMF aspect, it can get a bit confusing at times. I realize I purchased the camera, the way it is other than the diminished focus capabilities of the latest firmware, but adding a couple minor features such as the ones I mentioned seems the least they could do at this point. I thoroughly like this Sony system, but I think they’re pretty abysmal with firmware updates or at least that’s my experience so far.
 
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One other thing I forgot to add is, the A7RV does not drop focus near water like the A1or at least that has been my experience. Any camera will drop focus near water from the reflections and such at times but it has been my experience this newer camera fares better than the one in that situation.
 
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sh1209 said:
One other thing I forgot to add is, the A7RV does not drop focus near water like the A1or at least that has been my experience. Any camera will drop focus near water from the reflections and such at times but it has been my experience this newer camera fares better than the one in that situation.
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Oddly, my z9 didn't drop focus but focused on the eye of the various pipers (and other shorebirds) in the reflections, so I'm not sure if that's what you mean, or if your camera actually just refuses to focus (again, I don't use Sony, so don't have enough experience to have noticed patterns like that)
 
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Cameron T said:
Oddly, my z9 didn't drop focus but focused on the eye of the various pipers (and other shorebirds) in the reflections, so I'm not sure if that's what you mean, or if your camera actually just refuses to focus (again, I don't use Sony, so don't have enough experience to have noticed patterns like that)
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Yeah, I have also had instances where the camera would focus on the reflection with Nikon and Sony. It will just totally drop focus, and will not re acquire until I pull away, then engage again. Just as arbitrage stated above, this is an issue for many cameras, and I think mirrorless in general, but it seems to have gotten worse after version 1.20 firmware. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s just aggravating especially when the camera was better with a previous firmware version.
 
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sh1209 said:
One other thing I forgot to add is, the A7RV does not drop focus near water like the A1or at least that has been my experience. Any camera will drop focus near water from the reflections and such at times but it has been my experience this newer camera fares better than the one in that situation.
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When I had the A7RV for 2 weeks I also felt like it did better at staying off the water and keeping with the bird as it entered the water than the A1. This was mostly testing on diving osprey into somewhat windblown water. I'm not sure exactly how big of a difference it is but I did get that impression of it being improved.
 
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arbitrage said:
When I had the A7RV for 2 weeks I also felt like it did better at staying off the water and keeping with the bird as it entered the water than the A1. This was mostly testing on diving osprey into somewhat windblown water. I'm not sure exactly how big of a difference it is but I did get that impression of it being improved.
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That's been my experience as well and hopefully they don't screw it up with a firmware update 🤣
 
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Stephen Berger said:
FWIW I'd say 75% of my bird pics are over water... often while mist lifting from the surface and I've not encountered this at all, with any of the firmware versions (I'm currently up to date).
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Not sure what to say but all I can tell you for sure as my cameras changed after that firmware and if you’re ever near anyone that has an A7RV try it out if you want to see some good tracking. I’m assuming they will put the new AI technology in the next generation of A1.
 
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sh1209 said:
Not sure what to say but all I can tell you for sure as my cameras changed after that firmware and if you’re ever near anyone that has an A7RV try it out if you want to see some good tracking. I’m assuming they will put the new AI technology in the next generation of A1.
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Oh I don’t doubt it. I wonder 2 things. If different bodies potentially react differently to the updates and/or since I skipped 1.30 and 1.31, going straight from the 1.2’s to 1.32, if that makes any difference.
 
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Stephen Berger said:
Oh I don’t doubt it. I wonder 2 things. If different bodies potentially react differently to the updates and/or since I skipped 1.30 and 1.31, going straight from the 1.2’s to 1.32, if that makes any difference.
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It's definitely possible or I've thought some deep in the menu setting could have changed but have never been able to sort it out. The bodies both had version 1.20 when I bought them new and I wish I would have left them that way lol. It did improve a bit with 1.32 or it seemed to.
 
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CodyMazur said:
Wonder if there will ever be a 2.0 update?

Unless the 2.0 update is the A1 Mk. II lol
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I think they really should make some sort of gesture as in firmware and perhaps add a couple items from the A7RV such as firmware via card, full time DMF and focus stacking. This could all be implemented with software.
 
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sh1209 said:
Has anyone noticed whenever a bird gets near water that you lose focus with the Sony A1? I don’t know whether this is something to do with the last firmware update, because it never did it in the past. I have two bodies so I tried them both with two different lenses and the result was the same. I would imagine 80% of the time for instance, when I was shooting Eagles when I got near the water, it would lose focus. I tried several different focus modes, and strangely enough whenever I put the 1.4 teleconverter on it seemed to improve, which makes absolutely no sense.
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Anyone ever resolve this issue? It still continues to happen to me. It’s very frustrating considering the cost of the system. Any updates?
 
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Bill G. said:
Anyone ever resolve this issue? It still continues to happen to me. It’s very frustrating considering the cost of the system. Any updates?
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Not that I’m aware of and there’s been the fabled firmware update now for a year and a half. I’ll be honest with you, I’ve lost a lot of faith in Sony because they are absolutely abysmal with firmware updates. They’ve not made a single improvement and these $6500 cameras in over a year, which is frustrating. I would like to see two or three of the features implemented from the A7RV but I suppose it’s not going to happen. I mean something as simple as even adding full-time, direct manual. Focus would be very welcome. Even the firmware via card would be nice.
 
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sh1209 said:
Not that I’m aware of and there’s been the fabled firmware update now for a year and a half. I’ll be honest with you, I’ve lost a lot of faith in Sony because they are absolutely abysmal with firm wire updates. They’ve not made a single improvement and these $6500 cameras in over a year, which is frustrating I would like to see two or three of the features implemented from the A7RV but I suppose it’s not going to happen. I mean something as simple as even adding full-time, direct manual. Focus would be very welcome.
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Ugh! I feel like the camera is absolutely useless in these scenarios. Taking these type of pictures was the majority of the reason I bought the system in the first place. Thanks for the update - much appreciated.
 
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Bill G. said:
Ugh! I feel like the camera is absolutely useless in these scenarios. Taking these type of pictures was the majority of the reason I bought the system in the first place. Thanks for the update - much appreciated.
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I have found, turning the responsiveness level all the way down to one or two seems to help which should be the opposite, but it does seem to help from what I’ve seen so far
 
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So lets see what happens after the new fw update , isn't it supposed to be this month or next ?
A1 is still a great camera just annoying IMO fw1.30 messed with the AF regards consistency for action , fw1.32 helped but I still don't think its as solid as fw1.2 . Anyway fingers crossed
 
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LTK said:
So lets see what happens after the new fw update , isn't it supposed to be this month or next ?
A1 is still a great camera just annoying IMO fw1.30 messed with the AF regards consistency for action , fw1.32 helped but I still don't think its as solid as fw1.2 . Anyway fingers crossed
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I agree, 1.2 was much better in a few ways. I’ve given up hope of getting a firmware update but I sure hope you’re right.
 
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PhD69 said:
It seems unlikely that Sony will give up releasing new firmware for the A1 after making the official announcement just a few months ago.
After that, what will be the content? That’s another open question.
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I really hope you’re right and hopefully they’ll add a couple useful features in the process. I’d be happy with firmware via card, full time DMF and focus bracketing.
 
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