AWESOME Video Autofocus Trick for SONY Cameras (a7 III, a7R III, & a9 Settings)

[@NotJustBikes]

This is a 3 year old video, but it is _exactly_ what I needed. I just recently replaced my GH5 with the Sony a7s iii. I do mostly street videography for my channel, but the problem is that the autofocus would catch a passing cyclist and focus on them instead of the street, leaving the street out of focus until the cyclist passed. This now gives me the perfect balance of auto focus while also locking on to the subject. Thanks!

[@panicgames]

no, This is a 5 year old video, but it is exactly what I needed.

[@goinhigher]

Just make sure that your lens is set to autofocus and the camera to manual focus. If you set the lens to manual focus, this trick won’t work. Took me a solid hour to figure this out as I had the lens in manual focus. Thanks for the amazing tip Gerald! This truly is a lifesaver.

[@coadybrown6125]

I’ve been shooting sony for a couple years now, this is an incredibly simple tip that never crossed my mind. This is a huge help

[@geraldundone]

Great! I'm glad. Thanks for saying so. Cheers!

[@vidvoodoo]

Gerald Undone LOL 😂

[@royrodriguez4779]

Completely agree!! That just made my life a bit easier

[@JasmineApple]

This is perfect! Exactly what I was looking for! With funky eyesight, I honestly don't trust myself to get manual focus right. But I hate filming in AF, a bird flies into the shot, or a car drives by, or a breeze stirs the bokeh, foreground trees, and the focus starts shifting. This is exactly what I need to get the focus right & locked in!! Thank you!!

[@dinbali]

It didn't work for me at first but it works now. If you have problems as well then here is what I did: 1. On Custom Keys (Tab 2, Page 8) for stills, set the AF-ON button to ''AF ON''. In stills mode I have the AEL button set to ''Eye AF'' for back button focus, so I leave that. 2. On Custom Keys for video, I have everything on ''Follow Custom'' except the AEL button (Page 3) which I set to AF/MF Control Hold. 3. Now I go into video Mode and switch to Manual Focus 4. When I press and hold down the AEL button now, it will switch to Auto Focus mode for as long as I hold the AEL button. While I am holding that button, I can half press the shutter button and it will work as in Geralds video. I don't know what I did wrong at first, but this is how it should be set up.

[@1lifeonearth]

Bro I have been stressing so hard about this issue, so simple on my old nikon d750 but i couldnt get it to work no matter what I did with the new sony a7iii. I was super sad and depressed about it, trying to figure it out for days. no one on any forum online or any video anywhere addresses this except for you here. I can't understand why no one else is talking about this or cares, back button focus during video is so incredibly useful and important. THANK YOU!!!

[@cwehden]

Very very useful, I set manual focus for live stream and have spent 15 mins focusing then zooming with peak and making it perfectly focused now it takes 2 seconds, THANK YOU!

[@geraldundone]

Glad to hear it. Thanks for the comment! Cheers!

[@austinbivens]

@@geraldundone I had the GH5 for a year and LOVED the manual focus with the back button to put a video into focus. I now have the Sony a6600 and can not get this to work. I watched this video and couldn't get it to work. Any suggestions for the 6600? I can't find any KZbin videos for it and this manual focus hack.

[@patmat.]

All those focus controls have mushroomed into hundreds of ways to focus. Thanks for extracting a practical one and explaining it simply 👍👍👍

[@corneliuganea]

2nd video in two days which directly helps me with my A7III. legend

[@therealdante]

Two years later and this is still a great trick. Works well on Sony APS-Cs as well (just tried on my a6100). Thanks!

[@simpleserpent1337]

A little remark: if your lens have AF/MF toggle then you need to switch it on AF on the lens, and then switch focus mode to MF in camera settings. That way it will work just like in this vid! And if you switch to MF on lens and AF in settings, it will work opposite way. So it will change to MF while you hold the button and then return to AF. It also useful to correct AF.

[@Jordz711]

Thanks for this comment. The tip wasn't working and your comment cleared it up for me. Cheers!

[@simpleserpent1337]

@@Jordz711 Cheers!

[@drAndreLinoge]

@@Jordz711 Same here! Thx for the helpful comment and G.U. for the video in the first place.

[@npinder2002]

Dude you just saved me from insanity. Coming into shooting video from doing sports stills for years, the sony AF is sooo brilliant but only really works for what I do with this setup, so that it works like I use it for stills. THAAAANK YOU!!!! Amazing. Been messing with this for weeks and not getting it quite right until now.

[@AndreNygen]

At work, we switched from the GH5S to the A7III and I was shocked when I went into the video focus and saw the AF-S was grayed out. It absolutely didn't make sense especially when we now know from your video that the function is technically there, Sony just didn't implement it.... Your tip is making my life at lot easier. Thank you.

[@youareawesome8]

just saw your comment now. I just post a easier way to do this. just my earlier post.

[@charlieross-BRM]

Absolutely right I wasn't using it for anything anyway. The guides just don't explain properly what the button labels mean or when you would want to, or not want to apply those buttons. This is why there will always be a place for people like Gerald who have the impetus and the patience to sort them out and share the know-how.

[@lucasblanc11]

I like having it on toggle, that way I can always have it in auto focus (since I usually use a gimbal) and can just press it once and it stays in manual. Great tip!

[@bobceffo]

Your tip is also good!

[@curiousart42]

Incredibly useful. This is the hallmark of valuable content: is it still relevant years later? Yes. Thanks for the great content.

[@rjkral]

Gerald you've undone it again! Awesome! 👍👍

[@EduardoAgustin88]

This video was a lifesaver! Shooting people that are sitting with expressive hand gestures, the camera tended to wanna focus on their hands, especially if they moved closer towards the lens. This method lets me keep the focus back on their faces where it needs to very easily. (and have a use for the AEL button!) Thanks! Liked and subscribed!

[@kkaradactyl]

I needed this desperately!!! I'm doing underwater filming school and I would have these awesome shots only to get ruined by the stupid AF and unfortunately once the camera is in the housing I can't change the manual focus because I don't have a focus ring for my lens for the underwater housing. UGGGG. Hopefully tomorrow's dive will be an alllll new experience. Thank you soooo much for taking the tine to think outside the Sony Box!!!

[@diablopocket]

I had that problem with my Sony Zv-e10... but on Zv-e10 if in manual focus, I've found if you press the shutter button it will focus and lock, same as your button configuration. Congratulations, great to know and difficult to find.

[@bcrphoto7]

This video really helped me with my Sony. Now that I'm back with canon, I was having the same problem. I had this video bookmarked. Of course the menus are different, but because of your video I KNEW WHAT I was looking for. So now I can toggle focus when shooting video. THANKS A BUNCH.

[@GerrysDiy]

Thanks Gerald. My a6400 was driving me nuts for video. Had stopped using it but found your video and am all smiles again. Legend !!! Cheers Gerry👍👍

[@alit2693]

This was a very helpful video for me because Gerald really takes time to explain in detail. Newbies really need someone to hold their hand and explain in detail hands-on and not just throw out some terms.

[@millzmcbangy4413]

a year and a half later and im just finding this gem of info. You are the man!!!

[@GingerOnWheels]

Just came across this video now, its still relevant. The best part is, you sound like a smarter Dane Cook.

[@ForeverDansky]

Amazing trick, thanks so much for sharing!! :)

[@jimbean532]

Who else but you would ever have figured this out? Brilliant! 🙏

[@alit2693]

This tip has helped me a lot. My AEL button is permanently set as recommended. Thank you Gerald.

[@latifqureshi9821]

Absolutely brilliant. You've just solved the biggest problem I've had with my A7iii. Thank you so much for this brilliant tutorial.

[@Ronbc000]

Both my GH5 bodies have AF priority from the AE/AF lock button in manual focus mode. The Sony A7 mk3 is set with custom key to AF-ON button from tab2 > Page 8/9 Custom Operation1 > Custom Key (Video Icon) > Video Custom Key Page 3 > AF-On Button set to AF/MF Control Hold. So same result as GH5, AF punch in when in manual focus. Cheers.

[@geraldundone]

I was going to do it that way, but the only thing I didn't like was you couldn't use AF-ON to get a focus lock indication anymore. So, I figured I'd use both. AF-ON for AF Lock, and AEL for AF/MF Control Hold.

[@Ronbc000]

Nice one, Gerald. At least we both have it sorted!

[@timixify]

There is one important recommendation from my side: Custom key for Video is working only when your shoot mode (dial on the top is set to Movie). I prefer to shoot video in M mode, where I can set everything myself according to the situation. So, to enable autofocus temporarily in M mode, you need to select Custom key for Still image mode. In fact, if you just setup Custom buttons configuration in the same way - to AF/MF Control Hold - both for Video and for Stills you will get desired effect in both. Regards, Timur

[@AaronGodderis]

Why would you shoot on manual? If you set your video mode to manual exposure it gives you exactly the same thing. All it does is add a starting point for video (for example always to start with 30fps 60 shutter), reconigure the UI for video and allows you to make specific changes to custom buttons for video. The important recommendation here is: dont shoot in photo modes.

[@krishaskin944]

Excellent tip!!! Easy to follow instructions. Love the picture in picture.

[@geraldundone]

Thanks, Kris! I'm glad. Thanks for the feedback. Cheers! 😃

[@VinnieCamilleriMusic]

I'm starting to use man focus and this is exactly what I needed thanks so much!

[@cinegenies4651]

Great trick I've been looking for, for month. As a former Panasonic user like you, I'm feeling bad with that strange Sony continuous AF that never stops and can ruin your shots in video mode. Thanks a lot Gerald !!

[@mirkonobili8677]

...same problem from Lumix G7 to SONYA73...now fix it.Thank you so much!

[@THEHIITCOMPANY]

Will these settings work on the A7sii?

[@perseusarkouda]

I came here thinking OK, let's see another video for something I probably already know. I couldn't be more wrong. It's so simple but yet genius solution!

[@dfiefoeproductions]

Agree, this is something I have been looking for for 2 years, and although I love the a7riii, I could not belive it did not have this - thank you

[@caseybachmeyer]

absolute top..thank you man..i am a canonshooter eos 5d mark 4 and bought the a6400 with the crane m2 for a little cityscape video. i am in venice now and with this tip from you i am ready to go :-) thanx a lot

[@kalpanaa5605]

Amazing! My Sony Alpha was not focusing and I came across your video It tried the AEL button and it seemed to fix what I was looking for ... Thank u so much !!!

[@denispetrov650]

That’s cool man! Very helpful! More videos like that for Sony pls

[@WaitintheWings]

You're a hero!

[@shandeer1]

great trick I was trying to do the same on my a6400 but didn't know how now I did it it works just fine you are the man

[@geraldundone]

Awesome! Glad to hear it. Thanks for the comment.

[@cristiat]

Some time between this video and the present day videos, Gerald got his teeth done... Nice job!

[@MagnumOpus7774]

OMG! Finally someone (you) explained this and also how to set it up!!!! Thank you!!!!!

[@algmedias6088]

Hey Gerald, I'm using your tip in 2020, but I have an issue. When I'm using MF and using this setting, when I hold the AEL button, nothing happen. Then when I'm no longer holding it, it switches from MF to AFC. And then when I push again now it seems to switch to MF as long as I hold it. It's like it is only one way : like always in AFC, and when I hold AEL button it's temporary in MF (as you explain at the end of your video) But can't be in MF and hold for AFC (like in the beginning of your video), It switches to AFC automatically an then allow MF when holding. What do you think ? Sony update or something wrong with my settings.. Thx man

[@algmedias6088]

Actually it's exactly like FOCUS HOLD function, but you're able to change focus manually

[@ListoVamos]

I have the same issue here! I can get it done... Gerald Undone :(

[@glendevitt3945]

I just wandered to this video trying to fix a problem I had with shooting a dance video. I was shooting with my a7r3 in continuous focus mode and using the touch screen to select which dancer I would track. If that dancer left the view in the framing of the shot, the focus would "wander" back and find "something" to focus on. A few times it was the bleachers behind the dancers, or a large logo at center court. The footage was unusable until the autofocus found a new dancer in the frame. I'm shooting 4k video with auto ISO, 24fps, f/9.0 and 1/50th shutter speed. (I later sped up the shutter speed a little to make the dance moves a little crisper). Using the AEL button to pull sharp focus "automatically" and releasing it to be back in manual focus, I now never lose footage. Thanks for this tip.

[@fefinopfeffer2340]

This works also well for the Sony A6600 instead of the AEL button (it doesn’t have it) I used C2 - thanks again for this amazing video

[@robertch5896]

even after two years I can learn something new - great tip

[@TheBigFalcon]

My a73 is doing this backwards. I set the ael button to af/mf hold, however when I press the button it switches to manual focus when i release the button it stays on autofocus. It does this even when I start on manual focus. Helppp

[@86Sheephead]

Mine is doing the same. Did you find a solution?

[@ekstremjegeren3806]

Did anyone find a solution for this? I'm having the same issue.

[@maxrainwater]

This is so clever!!! Will definitely practice this technique!

[@victorhlucas]

thanks - also coming from GH4 I was missing this feature. Now I have my A9 and A6500 this way for photo and video. thumbs up

[@therealdanthomas]

FINALLY I have a solution to this, it's been a nightmare trying to get A7RIII camera focussed on me and staying there when shooting my head to camera stuff. Brilliant tip, thanks :D

[@geraldundone]

Awesome, Dan! Happy it helps. Thanks for saying so. Cheers.

[@rebeccageorge4662]

this is brilliant! Thanks so much. I'm just getting started in videography after years in photography. So helpful and clearly explained!

[@boudewijnj.m.kegels5198]

On the Canon XL1 lens is a special button called ‘Push AF’ for that sole purpose- came in handy since its continuous AF is quite unreliable and slow.

[@guillaumepolere]

I tried it on my A7 III and it doesn't work : when in MF mode, it switches the camera back to AF-C then the next button presses switch it to MF while the button is being held down. Exactly the opposite of what it's supposed to do...

[@zakkforchilli]

me too!! ever figure this out??

[@TheRDanny]

you have to set the default focus to mf to work like in this video. If the default focus is af-c it works the other way around.

[@olivertruswell]

@@zakkforchilli What Daniel said. It didn't work for me initially. But when I went into the actual menu and switched to MF, suddenly it allowed me to jump to AF and then automatically jump back to MF. Don't know why, but it works.

[@TheCptncrunchify]

Zakk Forchilli switch to super35

[@olivertruswell]

@@TheCptncrunchify I don't think Super35 has anything to do with it

[@RonVelvet]

Is there a way to do this when trying to focus on yourself? I do so with the app for my Panasonic G7, but I don’t see the option with the Imaging Edge app for my Sony A7Riii so I have to resort to recording myself on autofocus which sucks cuz I move around and stuff 😞

[@jeeptds]

i missed the tap&drag focusing on my Canon 80D, now this trick does it for me on my A7III. awesome, thank you so much!

[@cybrunel1016]

I tried this on my a7 and it works. Brilliant. Thanks for sharing. Thumbs.

[@primaballerina84]

Very very good tip! Thank you 💯💯💯🤜🏻🤛🏻

[@fugitivephilo]

Brilliant. Thank you. Was going nuts with precisely this issue today. The only PITA is that I had AEL assigned to Centre Lock on AF. Now I need to ditch another button and reassign. Kind of ridiculous as the way the GH5 works would allow for more button presets!

[@mimoreque1805]

Had I seen this video 1 week ago..... Awesome, thanks so much Gerald.

[@Gothamplay01]

Great video thank you very much , the way I'm doing this is a set af-on : af / am toggle , then it's just simple for switching between af and am

[@coloradovideochannel]

Felix Arias ... and that lets you keep AEL alive too, just be sure AF/MF lens switch is set to AF (if your lens has that switch)

[@GalZiv]

I jumped here to say that this tip you gave here I use it all the time = amazing

[@BIMLounge]

Watching this in 2021 and just applied it to the A7c. Actually you can use it in photo mode as well. Very fast way to use focus peaking and magnification on the fly. Thanks!

[@rananapier8424]

Glad I found this, extremely useful thing to know when filming yourself especially. So there's no hunting or loss of focus.

[@Vegas702]

This is great thanks Bro! I gotta tell my brother about this, he was telling me about this the other day, and I said no you can’t do this!! You the man....

[@geraldundone]

Ha. Nice! I'm glad. 😃 Cheers!

[@korgscrew2000]

Perfect timing! I've started using a gimbal and the autofocus isn't great in all situations. I was having to switch to stills mode to use AFS then switch back to movie mode. This is perfect and is exactly like having AFS in movie mode!

[@geraldundone]

Awesome! That's a great application for it. I'm glad I could help. Cheers! 😃👍

[@allenfelix7382]

Really this is one, i am searching all over KZbin.. helps me a lot!! Thank u so much for ur tip 👍😊

[@shubhambhagat399]

Thank you so much dude ...! It's amazing trick ❤️❤️❤️❤️love it ...just subscribed 🤟

[@klorofill9632]

try using C3 for focus hold, that way your right thump will be free to make other adjustment of even click the record button.

[@bcrphoto7]

Big time help ,Sony a7lll, when I was for example filming and focused on a bird on a branch, then when it flys off & out of frame the focus would change to the background, drove me crazy. Now with your great tip focus does not change.

[@PaulCoboPhoto]

Brilliant, I needed this! I shoot continuous all the time, but there are times I just want manual. Thank you Gerald!

[@jettlifeweddings]

I prefer AF/MF Ctrl Toggle with video but that's because my camera is mostly on a gimbal. It's nice to leave the camera in autofocus but only have to press one button to switch to manual without having to switch to MF mode, which I now have no reason to use. But this is definitely great for tripod filming!

[@robertadams3666]

Very helpful, changed my A7III, love it

[@HeyThisIsAndrew]

It took me a few watches to fully understand this but I love it! Set my A7iii up to use it this way it will help so much

[@natasha7773]

THANNK YOU I cannot tell you how much I value this video and information. Thank you endlessly!!!!!!!!♥️♥️🍀🌱🧚🦋🥲

[@robertaperrone1594]

Hi dear, do you have an idea about the reason that this amazing trick doesn't work on my sony a7III? maybe there is something that I have to setup in the focus mode? thanks

[@ChristianGalt]

Currently picking my jaw off the ground.😧😱 I’ve totally been missing this feature on my old Panasonic Lumix, THANK YOU!! Now I just need to find a way to add a flip-screen to my A7S.... :)

[@MoreOfNuke]

Geralddddd I have a question. I’m shooting a video and I want to show something off on the camera while filming but it won’t go in focus 😭 what can I do?

[@kyleroberts6507]

Can you set it up so pulling the focus is used by the touch screen? I feel a lot of camera shaking will happen by having to hold a button on the camera.

[@63MacGuy]

Great video. I use mine on Toggle. So once it locks on to something I want that isn’t moving. I’ll press to go to manual so it stays in focus

[@MoviesSam]

This is extremely helpful. I just started using an a7riii for shooting sports video. What do you think is the best method for shooting team sports (lacrosse) with many players moving fast ? Does Sony AF-C work for that ?

[@MultiAmruth]

Recently shot a project on sony a7iii and i was wondering where the setting might be for it... didn't had it set so had to shoot in manual at times....Nikons mirrorless has af-f and af-c for the video and later one basically does the same when ever you press af button it goes on the continuous af when the button is pressed.... (nikon user) great to see finally someone figured it out....

[@towanda62]

Awesome! Really helpful!

[@matjazonline]

What about 'spot focus' that focuses on the point and then switches to manual focus until you cancel it and then it goes back to continuous. Have a nice day😉

[@teddyarago]

That’s why i subscribed👏👏👏

[@blackrock.studio]

Hi Gerald, there’s also another way to do it on the Sony a7iii without having to set any button as AF focus hold.

[@FrankPenalver]

This was very helpful. I was wondering what autofocus settings do most people use for filming cinematic b roll on the a7iii? What do you find most helpful. I usually have a box in the middle to focus everything on, but is there a better system that works for you?

[@awakenedmind9553]

this is great advice! Will be using this :) thanks Gerald!!

[@TheNanofiber]

Well you can achieve the same with the AF/MF toggle. Switch to AFC, get focus, tap toggle it goes to MF and holds whatever focus you just got from AFC but you just tap it once and don't have to hold it.

[@derrickvision9547]

@2:10 you say it doesn’t matter what section you set this up in (photo, video, or playback modes), because you make them rollover for all 3. How do I make them roll over for all three?

[@anushanruban]

Great vid. When I have mine on movie mode, MF, and use the settings and press AEL, it shifts to auto focus and doesn’t go back to manual..🧐

[@2010SLP]

Anushan Ruban I just realized what was happening. It will switch back to AF-C if you previously set your camera to manual focus using an AF/MF toggle button. If you first set your manual focus by going into the various focus options and setting it there, it will work properly and return to MF when you release the button. Annoying, but it definitely seems to be due to toggling MF.

[@anushanruban]

@@2010SLP Yeah, I Noticed that as well. 😊

[@FirstPersonNewf]

Works for A6400 as well just the page #'s are different. Thanks!

[@renatopico7282]

Informative video question Gerald is this work in fully manual 3rd party lens or native lens only?

[@mohammedashiqsafarullah8549]

Awesome trick mate. Subscribed ✌

[@Fremen02]

That is brilliant. I really like that! Definitely a good idea. thanks for this video.

[@EzeyFilmz]

Thanks for the video. I use this as well for the analog stick button. How does this differ from AF-S ?

[@ColeDeRuse]

Wow bro. I need to watch this a few more times to fully grasp it lol but I’m gonna set it up. Thank you

[@geraldundone]

Cheers, mate. Sorry if it was a little confusing the way I explained it. 😃

[@ColeDeRuse]

Gerald Undone I don’t think it’s confusing I just want to make sure I do it correctly lol. I listened though initially while driving home and was like “okay I need to listen through again” lol

[@waynelast1685]

Good trick. But can you still use this trick viewing from an external monitor?

[@daveshiers8677]

Excellent trick, do you know any way to perform this with a remote device (button) other than a smart phone?

[@daveshiers8677]

"Quickly switch from autofocus (AF-C) to MF using the AEL button." Is it possible to assign the shutter button instead of the AEL? Then perhaps a standard remote shutter release could be used for your " AWESOME Video Autofocus Trick for SONY Cameras"