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Sony A7MK II.md

##Best practice for battery conservation

  • Turn Airplane mode on: Menu>Wireless>Airplane Mode>On/Off
  • Disable the after-shot review and use only the viewfinder
  • set short sleep timeouts like 1 or 2 minutes.
  • keep EVF / LCD brightness to minimum.

##Back Button Focusing

###Method 1

  • AEL button: AF On
  • AEL w/ shutter: Off*
  • Pre-AF: Off*
  • AF w/ shutter: Off*
  • Lock-On AF: Off (though some people might want this )
  • Focus Area: Wide (because I chose Focus Mode: AF-A. If I were to choose Focus Mode: AF-S I'd probably go with Focus Area: flexible Large/Medium)
  • Focus Mode: AF-A (the beauty of this setting is the camera will start tracking if the subject moves but if it is a stationary target it will lock focus and allow you to recompose)

###Method 2

Here are two more ways to get something like BBF. I prefer the AF/MF Toggle so I can instantly see the focus peaking.

  1. AF/MF Toggle or Hold One of the options for customizable options is AF/MF Toggle, or the similar AF/MF Hold. When pressed, this will deactivate autofocus and switch to manual focus. If you have focus peaking activated, the focus peaking will show what is in focus. With this option, you can autofocus on your desired target, press this button to switch to manual (thus locking the focus unless you adjust it further), and you can recompose without changing the focus.

  2. Center button in Wide or Center AF mode. One of the options for AF Areas is a single AF point in the middle of the screen (Center AF). This is for people who like to use the focus and recompose method. In the Center AF mode, half-pressing the shutter works just the same way as regular AF-C. However, in Center AF or in Wide AF mode (where the camera selects the AF point anywhere), you can press the middle button of the directional pad, which will cause the camera to focus on the target under the AF point and lock. As long as you hold the center AF point, the camera will not change focus even though you are in AF-C. Therefore it is like being able to instantly use either AF-C or AF-S any time.

###Method 3

There is actually no need to relocate this to the AEL button (in case people want to use the AEL button for it's intended purpose). The center button is AFAIK set to auto focus as standard. If not, go to the custom key settings, and set your center button to "Standard"... It's a weird name for the function, but it does what you set the AEL button to do in this case...

###Method 4

http://sonyalphanex.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/sony-nex-7-rear-button-focus.html

Here's a way to autofocus using the rear AF/MF button instead of the shutter button. You can then separate focus from locking exposure with the shutter button half press. This will also prevent the lens from prefocusing when in AF or DMF mode.

  • Setting up the NEX-7 to use AF/MF Rear Button Focus.
  • Set the camera to Manual Focus, Figure 2.
  • Set the AF/MF Control to HOLD, Figure 3.
  • Set the AF/MF Button to AF/MF Control, Figure 1.
  • Set the Function Button to Focus Settings, this will let us control the focus point via Flexible Spot. You can also use Center focus point then Recompose. The camera must be in MF or DMF mode to use Focus Settings.
Put AF onto the rear button, let the lens chase focus by pushing that button and immediately take that finger off the rear button when focus seems to be first - nearly, maybe - reached, DO not let it hunt, take the finger off before it has a chance! Then micro-adjust on the lens if needed.

Works in a fraction of a sec and like a charm.

###Method 5

http://community.sony.com/t5/Alpha-SLT-DSLR-Cameras/A7r-back-focus-with-Canon-lenses/td-p/278083

Rishi Oswal (Rishio) found this in the Manual (which I did not read) Page 180 on the A7r PDF

AF w/ shutter (still image)

Selects whether to focus automatically when you press the shutter button halfway down. Select [Off] to adjust the focus and the exposure separately.

Here is what I found works really well with both FE lens ... and lens on Adapters , even Manual Focus lens. What I have found is the A7r makes Manual Focusing VERY Easy and FAST. and Accurate.

  • Set up the AF/MF button to "AF/MF Control Hold" ... this will be your Back button AF
  • Set C1 button to "Focus Settings" ... this is your Zoom button
  • Also set MF Asst. to ON ... this lets you Zoom in when you move the Focus ring on FE lens in DMF mode.
  • put the camera to MF mode and use AF/MF button to autofocus. You can move the AF point as well. When the AF locks release the AF/MF button and you immediately see peaking.

At this point you have a tremendous amount of control and flexibility

  • Benefit at this point is you have Focus Peaking , and the equivalent of DMF, because you have MF.

  • And you can still move the AF point with a OK center push (if your Center button is config to Standard)

  • And the Half Press is DEAD , this prevents any Half Press from messing up what you have already done.

  • you can SEE the Focus Peaking on your Plane of Focus ... so when you move the camera back and forth you can see the Focus Peaking CHANGE. (fyi: your focus peaking is still there but might not be strong enough ... imho it is a bit of a bug , if you saw a Bunch of peaking at full screen it should not disappear zoomed in. (or require you to have peaking set a High)

  • When you use FE lens , there is something COOL that happens when you turn "MF ASST" - ON. When you turn the Focus Ring it zooms in automatically AND shows you Focus DISTANCE ! ... I have "Focus Magnif. Time to - NO LIMIT. That lets me take my time AND I go back to Full View with a simple half shutter tap of the shutter button. (and it does NOT re-AF)

Not just for Street shooters, Nikon Sports shooters ... just think about MACRO Shooters on a Slider. You will find that when you get used to this set up ... you can go thru the steps VERY FAST

###Method 6

http://tourist-of-light.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/sony-alpha-a7r-and-a7-tips-of-day.html

(A) Sony ALPHA TIP # 07: TIP: Back Button to AF , and then ZOOM to Manual Focus ... Best set up

  • Set up the AF/MF button to "AF/MF Control Hold"
  • Set C1 button to "Focus Settings"
  • put the camera to MF mode and use AF/MF button to autofocus. You can move the AF point as well. When the AF locks release the AF/MF button and you immediately see peaking.
  • Doubleclick the c1 ... (you can also click once , and move the Magnify box to where you want it) and you are in magnified mode, focus has not been changed and you do not need to half-hold the shutter.
  • Check the focus, fine tune Focus using the Focus ring if needed, and fire away.

This also works with the LAEA4 ... so my guess is it will work with ANY Adapter and Lens. Benefit is it kills the Half press AF that could mess up what you are doing. :)

(B) Change Focus mode to MF (Manual Focus)

Sony ALPHA TIP # 88: BACK FOCUS BUTTON TIP:

Custom Button 2 = Focus Mode (C2) *

  • C2 (if default) should bring up "FOCUS MODE" = change THAT to MF "Manual Focus" Mode.
  • Custom Key Settings = AF/MF Button= AF/MF Control Hold ... other things I would SET
  • Center Button = Standard 4) Custom Button 1 = Focus Magnifier (C1)
  • Custom Button 2 = Focus Mode (C2) *
  • on a separate section change AF w/shutter= OFF , this is So you don't get AF on a Half Shutter , or get "kicked out" of zoom mode when Manual Focus by accident
  • I also SET Focus Magnif. TIME = NO LIMIT , because when I want to kick out of Focus Magnification I can always push the AF/MF button (if I shut down the AF w/shutter=OFF) OR half press (if AF w/shutter=ON) ...

Yes, I have put this on other TIPS , but it might have got lost , or this might be a bit more clear instructions :smileyhappy:

Even when I flip back to my normal DMF "Focus Mode" some of those button settings still come in handy. Seems like a lot to take in , but when you start using it , you will see why I configure as I do. More so IF you use the C1 to quickly ZOOM IN. (once you get used to using it , you can ZOOM in Fast , Move your ZOOM in point, and ZOOM in at different Levels)

[TOC]

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