Howard
Well-known member
Custom Key setting, Rear 2 / 2 centre button
Sony a1...Everything about the a1 thread...
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Custom Key setting, Rear 2 / 2 centre button
FB101
Well-known member
‘After spending a few days tracking Ospreys in flight I can see the merits of your set-up. The tracking mode seems to lag AF acquisition just a bit compared to non-tracking, especially over busy backgrounds or backlit. On a 30 fps burst, it may just be the first 2 or 3 shots that are not tack sharp with tracking but sometimes it does matter. I especially had a hard time with tracking when trying to acquire focus on an osprey struggling to lift off from the water after a dive. whereas non tracking seems to do it faster (but sometimes it latched on water droplets, so it’s a trade off).
‘I also noticed, just like you did, that when you start non tracking and then activate tracking, the A1 find the eyes even more easily.
‘I don’t know if I will have a chance to test your set up during this trip but I see the logic.
Wrogu
Active member
On a9 I am not liking tracking. Somehow it moves from head to torso. I tend to stick to small spot and place it more or less where I like it to. Ofc changes of movemnt direction are pain. For Bif wide or zone is my way to go. The only and main issue I have is lack of ability to move zone around with joystick with function recall hold and no being able to change shutter speed too.
Is A1 tracking more sticky to head than a9? It has eye AF too ofc, which is great.
Is A1 tracking more sticky to head than a9? It has eye AF too ofc, which is great.
LTK
Well-known member
I get Reynards in my fingers not as bad in my thumb so thought I'd try BBF , must admit I was struggling so went back to half shutter press , I sometimes miss shots when I can't feel the shutter button.
I usually have restricted focus flex spot S, Expand flex spot , wide and zone for half shutter .
Reg AF Area + AF-ON (Zone tracking) set to AF-ON
I usually have restricted focus flex spot S, Expand flex spot , wide and zone for half shutter .
Reg AF Area + AF-ON (Zone tracking) set to AF-ON
LTK
Well-known member
Has anybody compared the settings in Aperture drive in AF with the A1 ? I noticed Mark Smith has silent mode to ON so this option is greyed out . Some people have been using it set to focus priority but reported it to be missing shots especially BIF (most of those had the 200-600 )
I mainly shoot wide open with the 200-600 , I normally use standard in this setting but after trying focus priority noticed I was also getting more slightly OOF shots for BIF . I wouldn't have thought it would make a difference shooting wide open , not sure if there's any difference with something like the 600mm f4 GM.
I've recently updated the FW to the latest so not had chance to try it again yet to see if its made any difference, the weathers been quite poor in the UK
I mainly shoot wide open with the 200-600 , I normally use standard in this setting but after trying focus priority noticed I was also getting more slightly OOF shots for BIF . I wouldn't have thought it would make a difference shooting wide open , not sure if there's any difference with something like the 600mm f4 GM.
I've recently updated the FW to the latest so not had chance to try it again yet to see if its made any difference, the weathers been quite poor in the UK
lablover27
Well-known member
Interesting question. Mine is set to standard as well but heard focus priority makes it a little quicker. Mark Galer just posted a new video on this as well on YouTube. I never knew about it until I watched that video. If I remember correctly being in silent mode sets it to standard Because focus priority is supposed a bit louder.
Ill be interested in your results. I may try it as well today indoors as the weather here is also bad.
LTK
Well-known member
I've definitely been getting less tack sharp shots of BIF when using focus priority , interesting I've now been using silent mode on and changed the EVF to Hi+ and this seems to be giving me the best results to date for BIF .
I was photographing Peregrines the other day in poor light , this ones at 1/1250 ISO10000 and although certainly not great the shots wasn't bad given the conditions.
_LTK0407 by leon kirkbride, on Flickr
lablover27
Well-known member
Thanks for the follow up. I’m going to make the same changes as well and give it a go.I've definitely been getting less tack sharp shots of BIF when using focus priority , interesting I've now been using silent mode on and changed the EVF to Hi+ and this seems to be giving me the best results to date for BIF .
I was photographing Peregrines the other day in poor light , this ones at 1/1250 ISO10000 and although certainly not great the shots wasn't bad given the conditions.
lablover27
Well-known member
Over 1/1000 off! Wow. I may try that. I usually turn it off now at 1/2000. I’ve never turned it off before last week. Last week I turned it off and got better results
I leave it on as I hardly use it on a tripod but will adjust it to 2 or 3 depending on the subject. Using it this week shooting ospreys at 1/4000 I had it off as it would make zero difference. At times I had forgotten to turn back off and even in mode 1 at 1/4000 shooting ospreys it was still sharp. Moral of the story I haven’t seen it negatively impact image quality. The 500PF that was a different story as Steve has reported.
lablover27
Well-known member
Join the club. I’d love to see Steve do a detailed e book on the Sony A1 like he did for the Nikon. I’d pay good money for that. I will say the more I use it the better my photos getI will be honest I don't totally understand the relationship between an OSS lens and IBIS but like I said I haven't noticed any problems from shake.
But then again maybe I just don't know enough about it.
I would as well.
Sorry that was a confusing response. I leave in 1 and if odd subjects I’ll use 2 or 3. Example shooting erratic subjects like a humming bird I’ll use 2. I’ll use 3 when I like a little stabilization when hand holding to stay composed on a subject easier but don’t need the full stabilization for slow shutter speeds. Example yesterday I was shooting the 600GM and my spouse was using an a1 with 200-600 at a gorgeous owl yesterday but in a unique tree and we both used setting 1. I was 1/30th and getting tack sharp eyes with the 600. ISO was around 1k. I ended up grappling my tripod and gimbal to ensure I nailed it but didn’t see any different quality on a tripod and OSS off. I personally believe it works very well and don’t see any negative impact to the image using the OSS.
lablover27
Well-known member
On a side note. I’ve been reading all kind of comparisons about Nikon and Sony af accuracy. Here you will find a absolutely horrid image because the rapid fire shooting I was doing. But anyway, I was culling images and almost deleted it until I looked close and thought “damn, that af stuck to that bird”. Not tack sharp but what amazed me is how it could of easily grabbed the tree in the whole process As opposed to sticking to the raptor
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It really is amazing isn’t it. There has been a lot of comparison and frankly they all have their moments but over all I still see Sony as a notch above in stickiness. I’ve been in Florida shooting since Saturday and between the two of us both with a1’s we have shot over 10k images. I haven’t seen one failure of the camera from not following a subject when crossing behind trees, grass or a busy background. I can’t ask for anything more.
I was shooting spoon bills Monday and they kept hopping and flying 30-80 yards and getting behind thick foliage and at one point the camera tracked it behind the bushes and you could see just a little pink and it was still locked on. I didn’t believe it, fired a couple frames and yup it actually stayed locked onto the smallest part of the bird you could see. Pretty impressive and honestly more performance than I’d need.
lablover27
Well-known member
I have to add a negative here. Something I ran into and someone else I know ran into was when using say bird eye af and it sticks to the eye and the bird flys away the focus point is stuck where the bird last was. And won’t refocus even if recomposing and re activate bbf. Turn camera off and back on all normal again. Happened twice last weekend. Note. It’s was around 18 deg outside.
lablover27
Well-known member
Glad to know I’m not the only one.
lablover27
Well-known member
Oh crap, I just added the grip as well. Hmmmmmm. Again, it happened once in a 5 hour trekking day. Not earth shattering but still concerning. Not sure if we have a way to report to Sony. Btw, Sony. Your new a7iv has bird eye tracking in video and your flash ship a1 doesnt Get on the ball
Hmmm I haven’t had this happen. Do you have the most current firmware?
lablover27
Well-known member
Yes sir.
sid_19911991
Well-known member
I've definitely been getting less tack sharp shots of BIF when using focus priority , interesting I've now been using silent mode on and changed the EVF to Hi+ and this seems to be giving me the best results to date for BIF .
I was photographing Peregrines the other day in poor light , this ones at 1/1250 ISO10000 and although certainly not great the shots wasn't bad given the conditions.
Z9 user here! For me, this pic is pretty good considering the ISO.
Rectory Photography
Well-known member
This is a good question. I have just bought an A1 again (i did have one briefly a few months ago) after using an R5 long term.....both very different in terms of af...... Sometimes the Sony does well and other times seems to find it hard to aquire focus and stay latched on...Incredible image quality when in focus but less 'secure' than the R5.. I also appreciate the extra reach and internal zoom of the 200-600... I'm currently using "wide" non tracking and "expanded spot" Tracking on two seperate back buttons, both proving useful, but the sensitivity is something i'm experimenting with. Locked on "1" does not always seem particularly sticky, and i'm wondering if the constant searching of those more 'erratic' settings.. number '5' for example may actually provide better results.... i'm still working that out. Shooting small birds at close range....
It's somewhat comforting that I'm not the only one who's bought the A1 twice.
Rectory Photography
Well-known member
No, don't worry....and i'm glad my re-purchase has been reassuring
I really liked the R5, especially the AF, but rolling shutter issues and a dissapointment in the RF600mm f4 lens which i found very soft, lead me to rethink...again. I'm sure much of my trouble with perfecting the Sony af is down to experience and time in the field....i for one am looking forward to Steves imminent set-up guide for further pointers.