Selecting the focus point.

[Paul7of8]

I recently migrated to the Sony platform from Nikon.  We (my wife and I) have an A7RII and an A6300.  There is a feature on the A6300 that does not appear to exist on the A7RII.  I'm thinking the feature really doesn't exist, but I thought I would post here just to make sure that I have no overlooked an A7RII menu option that will give me the same functionality as the A6300.  So...

 

On the A6300 the center button is more of a toggle.  In one mode you can freely move the focus point around using the multi-selector, immediately focus and shoot -- the camera remains in that mode.  So, even though I hit the shutter button, focused, and took a picture -- I can still move the focus point without having to again press the center button.

 

On the A7RII I can press the center button and then use the multi-selector to move the focus point around.  I can immediately press the shutter button, focus, and shoot.  However, if I want to move the focus point I have to press the center button again to enter the mode that allows me to change the placement of the focus point.

 

I prefer the behavior of the A6300 as that mirrors the behavior of Nikon (it feels more like home).  I know that it is not a very big issue and that I will eventually adjust, but it is a feature that would make the platform transition just a little easier.

 

If there is no way to make the A7RII behave like the A6300, then I'll just hope they bring the functionality in a future firmware update.

 

I apologize if this didn't make sense -- I did my best. 

[Golem]

I understand what you're describing. It's great

that the 6300 maintains ability to "steer" the AF

point without having to reactivating that ability

each time you want to "steer" it. I'm still rather

accustomed to that ability, from Canon SLRs,

and I have not found any way to activate it on

my A7-II or A6000, so I'd expect the same for 

the A7R-II. 

  

Acoarst you'll get used to it but I doubt you'll

ever like it. I don't think it's a personal quirk of

yours, to desire that Canon/Nikon/A6300 AF

feature for your other cameras. I feel same as

you, and I expect others will chime in here to

say the same. Sony never does anything right

the 1st time around, and too often not the 2nd

time either. Be glad they finally came to their

senses about this for the A6300, and expect it

on most future models.

   

FWIW, I never use the 3-step procedure that's

required to "steer" the AF point to adjust for a

particular shot. It's actually faster to just MF it.

I use the 3-step to place the AF point so that

it's favorable for the nature of a day's work, or

a situation ... but I leave it in one place for the

duration of that situation.

 

My default "walk about" setting in good light is

2 or 3 clicks higher than dead center. YMMV.

In poor light I switch to dead center. Because

I use those two settings so often, I find I rather

use them nearly all the time cuz I'm so used to

them. IOW I seldom actually bother relocating

the AF point even for situations that endure for  

an hour or more.  

   

  

#################################### 

   

  

A possibly major reason I'm OK about leaving

the AF point in the same place almost all the

time is that I always, Always, ALWAYS rely on

Back Button AF when I use AF. My personal

default focus mode is MF, so I don't choose a

camera for its AF abilities anywho.

 

 

I think I may be a typical Sony user, cuz size,

lens adaptability and full time live view are so

important to me that I willingly tolerate Sony's

cluelessness about how photographers really

use the stuff. I enjoy the stuff they don't screw

up, and simply don't use the screwed up stuff.

If size, lens adaptability and full time live view

are not overwhelming priorities for you, you'll

prolly give up on Sony. Sad but real.

[Paul7of8]

I understand what you're describing. It's great

that the 6300 maintains ability to "steer" the AF

point without having to reactivating that ability

each time you want to "steer" it. I'm still rather

accustomed to that ability, from Canon SLRs,

and I have not found any way to activate it on

my A7-II or A6000, so I'd expect the same for 

the A7R-II. 

  

Acoarst you'll get used to it but I doubt you'll

ever like it. I don't think it's a personal quirk of

yours, to desire that Canon/Nikon/A6300 AF

feature for your other cameras. I feel same as

you, and I expect others will chime in here to

say the same. Sony never does anything right

the 1st time around, and too often not the 2nd

time either. Be glad they finally came to their

senses about this for the A6300, and expect it

on most future models.

   

FWIW, I never use the 3-step procedure that's

required to "steer" the AF point to adjust for a

particular shot. It's actually faster to just MF it.

I use the 3-step to place the AF point so that

it's favorable for the nature of a day's work, or

a situation ... but I leave it in one place for the

duration of that situation.

 

My default "walk about" setting in good light is

2 or 3 clicks higher than dead center. YMMV.

In poor light I switch to dead center. Because

I use those two settings so often, I find I rather

use them nearly all the time cuz I'm so used to

them. IOW I seldom actually bother relocating

the AF point even for situations that endure for  

an hour or more.  

   

  

#################################### 

   

  

A possibly major reason I'm OK about leaving

the AF point in the same place almost all the

time is that I always, Always, ALWAYS rely on

Back Button AF when I use AF. My personal

default focus mode is MF, so I don't choose a

camera for its AF abilities anywho.

 

 

I think I may be a typical Sony user, cuz size,

lens adaptability and full time live view are so

important to me that I willingly tolerate Sony's

cluelessness about how photographers really

use the stuff. I enjoy the stuff they don't screw

up, and simply don't use the screwed up stuff.

If size, lens adaptability and full time live view

are not overwhelming priorities for you, you'll

prolly give up on Sony. Sad but real.

 

Thank you, Golem, for the extensive reply.  It is nice to know that I haven't overlooked a setting.

 

I actually had not considered just focusing manually, but I can certainly see that as an option now.  With focus magnification and focus peaking, you can probably focus pretty quickly and petty accurately.  I may experiment with that.

 

I may be naive, but I'm going to keep hoping that Sony brings that A6300-style focus "steering" to the A7RII in a future firmware update.