No I haven’t tried that.
Sony A1 focus issues
- Thread starter sh1209
- Start date
If you would like to post, you'll need to register. Note that if you have a BCG store account, you'll need a new, separate account here (we keep the two sites separate for security purposes).
I’m not exactly sure if you can go backwards with the firmware , but I will check into that as well
LTK
Well-known member
I thought it was mainly with 200-600 lenses but I’ve heard a couple with the primes mentioned it too . I know this camera really well now , I often push it regards poor conditions photographing fast BIF so notice things if they’re off .
With fw1.20 I could just rely on this setup , after fw1.30 and fw1.31 I felt consistency dropped btw I tried initialising the camera , it did help but it’s still not as good as fw1.20 imho
I've never had a reason to try it with any camera, so I guess I'm just assuming it is possible. As you say, research it well before risking anything.
BlackRockArt
Well-known member
RikWriter
Well-known member
I haven't tried any photos with birds flying over water since I got the camera. The opportunity hasn't presented itself. Closest thing I have is a pelicans but they're standing in the water.
Unfortunately I’ve deleted them but if I go back out I’ll keep a few
arbitrage
Well-known member
Trick is to not use Tracking around water. Use Wide or Zone...they may grab contrasty water but they will correct themselves quickly....If in a Tracking AF mode and it grabs contrasty water it will never let go till you refocus.
I only use Tracking AF modes for perched birds....never for BIF. Regular old Wide and Zone 100% of the time.
I use Tracking Sensitivity of 1. Always have for all my Sony cameras.
I only use Tracking AF modes for perched birds....never for BIF. Regular old Wide and Zone 100% of the time.
I use Tracking Sensitivity of 1. Always have for all my Sony cameras.
arbitrage
Well-known member
I also feel that there has been a regression in AF hit rate with the latest FW....not sure when it started but based on other's comments seems like on 1.3 onwards.
Hopping the Feb FW is not just SAR clickbait and it makes some positive changes.
Hopping the Feb FW is not just SAR clickbait and it makes some positive changes.
I hope you’re right because there’s definitely something different now.
Bill G.
Active member
I too have had issues with the latest firmware update. Since I only have the 200-600 lens thought it was that combo but now I am thinking there is a larger issue based on these posts.
It’s the same on my 200-600 and 600mm. I hope they do release the rumored firmware update this month and really hope by some chance they’ll implement focus bracketing
CodyMazur
New member
Was wondering if anybody had come up with a solution to this issue! I experienced the same thing today for the first time. I'm running firmware version 1.32. I was taking photos this morning of about 200 Snowy Egrets over a somewhat large pond. I couldn't believe that almost every single photo was out of focus. I had no idea what was going on. I thought there was some kind of mechanical issue with either my lens or my A1. I then immediately went home to further inspect the camera. I shot some photos in my backyard of Hummingbirds and they came out absolutely gorgeous as the A1 usually does. I drove back to the pond, same exact issue. Nothing is in focus when I'm shooting a bird in the water. I normally use tracking zone, but Is switched to small (no tracking) to try to get a pinpoint AF area and still nothing. It's extremely frustrating
I have never had this issue and shoot around water all the time.
Cameron T
Well-known member
temp differences causing softness is an option, and the one that most people get bit by. There's "out of focus" but something is in focus, and "everything is soft".
It still does it on mine as well and I have found no fix for it.
Last edited:
CodyMazur
New member
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
Cameron T
Well-known member
given that I don't shoot with sony, I can't troubleshoot exact problems, but it seems odd that it freaks out when there's water in the frame. Are you shooting in an auto mode, or some sort of single point (or similar, I'm not familiar with all the types)?
Try manually focusing on something over the water. If that (and everything) is still soft then it isn't a focus issue but atmospheric issue. Personally the only issues I've had shooting over the water is atmospheric with any of my cameras (including the A1). I get how if you are using a multi-point focusing mode how it could grab the water but not single point.. and even then something would be in focus, just not what you want.
Last edited:
Post a sample?
I can tell you for sure having owned the A1 for nearly two years, that firmware 1.31 did introduce some focus issues. I have had numerous occasions that whenever a bird in flight get within two feet of the water the camera just completely drops focus and is very evident within the viewfinder. I haven’t noticed it as much on stationary subjects but in flight is another story. It will even do it on subjects as large as an eagle or pelican. I did not notice this issue on firmware 1.20.
CodyMazur
New member
So here's the photo that best captures what was happening. Easy shot, small focus point (not tracking) over the Sandpiper. Took 26 photos with AF held down and not a single one was better than this. This was happening while trying to get BIF shots of the Egrets taking off and landing in the water as well. Will post some more photos when I get out of the office
Settings for this photo are as followed:
Sony A1 & 200-600
1250 ISO
f/6.3
1/5000 sec (shot high to rule out any type of motion blur)
600mm
SS is off. I almost never shoot with SS on.
Taken at about 8:30 this morning
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
CodyMazur
New member
I did not try manual focusing over the birds. I definitely should have, but I did not. I posted a photo of what was happening across a couple hundred photos. Nothing in focus at all, not even the water under the birds. The entire time there was the green AF square indicating the camera engaging the AF. Not even 10 minutes after this I shot some gorgeous hummingbird photos, sharp as the A1 normally always is. It was just happening when I was shooting over water.