Fast Low-Light AF when using Sony Alpha Cameras

If you have ever experienced problems focussing in very low ambient light when using your Sony Alpha camera this movie tutorial may just have the answers you are looking for.
I will share the essential information you need to ensure you can quickly focus in very low light.
This movie explains why AF-S behaves very differently to AF-C and why switching the Live View Display to OFF may make a difference. I also discuss how to focus in dark conditions when using Flash.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The AF of the FE 85mm F/1.4 GM performs really well at the wider apertures and if you have updated the firmware of your camera and can remember to switch the Live View Setting to OFF you will be able to focus using the f/2 as the focussing aperture.
Mark Galer is a Sony Global Imaging Ambassador.
Mark's supporting website for free learning content is www.markgaler.com
DONATE to support content creation: www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr...

[@allend6137]

These videos should ship with every Sony camera.. This guy knows his stuff. Hopefully the Sony money truck is visiting him often 🤑

[@kimberleycasey3862]

Had to watch it 4 times to check I undertstood it all properly there is so much info there! Another excellent video.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tamasdemjen4242]

There was a firmware update that fixed the issue with the 85mm GM aperture not opening up while focusing. As long as Live View Display is OFF, the lens now opens up all the way to f/2 in both AFS and AFC. That's not fully open, but much better than it used to be originally. This fix was celebrated by the community when it came out for the a7rII, and the newer cameras never even had this issue. But you do have to make sure Live View Display is OFF, otherwise the iris does stay closed while focusing.

[@catho6785]

Thank you so much- these tips are game changers..... I’ve always shot in AF-C, and I had no idea about live display affecting focus too!

[@ryantothmisc]

Cath O same

[@mattvasphoto]

Thanks Mark, absolutely helped me clear up a few low light focus problems that I’ve had since my change to Alpha cameras.

[@scottabergermd]

Mark, as usual, you took a complex subject and “illuminated” it in ways, few other teachers on the planet could ever have done. (Pun intended, with illuminated)...thank you for being such an amazing resource for these complex and very new cameras. I will tell you now, I am anxiously awaiting your course on how to use the new 5.0 firmware, then 6.0 firmware for the Sony A9. Cheers, my friend.

[@preshit6853]

Mark, Thank you so much for this video. It is really helpful. Just recently, I returned from a bird photography shoot at Bosque del Apache, NM and my a6300 was struggling to focus on cranes in AF-C mode in low light. I wish I could know these tricks that time to get more out of my camera. Great video once again for Sony mirrorless shooters. Thank you.

[@Cheryl407]

Thank you, very helpful. I normally shoot outdoors, natural light but occasionally have an indoor low light situation and I was essentially lost. This was a great help, I will use my new knowledge for New Year’s Day party shoot.

[@marcinharkot266]

Fantastic tutorials Mark!!! Just bought an A7riii and your videos help me a lot to fully understand and customize my gear. Cheers

[@hendrairawan3573]

Hi Mark, I already add 55mm f1.8...on my A7iii. For daily photoshoot..street, portrait, family portrait. Thanks for always inspired me..indeed.🙏

[@volkenand1]

Best tutorials I have seen. Thank you for your excellent work, Mark!

[@MarttiSuomivuori]

Another nugget of gold, this video. Thank you.

[@sjsphotog]

EXCELLENT video tutorial Mark. I had NO idea about several of these items about the Sony aperture breathing to help the AF lock on. Great tips. Now I will need to see if this applies to all my lenses. I wonder if this also happens on the Sigma lenses (probably not?). Keep up the fantastic series of videos. You do SO SO much for the Sony alpha community. Its no wonder Sony chose you to be an ambassador.

[@masterstonesettermagnussva7636]

Thank you soo much for straightening that out and you do it in a great way! I just made the switch from Nikon to Sony and you make the transition easier!

[@Mirrah001]

The high aperture (I.e: high F stop) AF issue mystery resolved!! Thanks!!

[@jettubby17]

Thanks Mark this helped TREMENDOUSLY with my A7RIV in the studio. Lower light caused the focus to "hunt" back and forth. I will use AF-S from now on in low light! Kudos brother!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

No Worries - subscribe to the channel to ensure you are not missing any new content that is being released.

[@chuckmccollim]

Thanks Mark for such a great explanation to these systems.

[@clintm7589]

Learned a few things about my A7III by watching this. Thanks!

[@georgebarrientos8826]

Outstanding Video... thank you for this. It did address several issues I've suffered with in the past.

[@mikaelschulin4315]

Your videos are soo good! Thanks again Mark!

[@philbaumgaertner2275]

Wow. Been shooting a7rII since 2015, understood some things but not a lot of the relationships. I think the use of the image sensor as the exposure sensor is the number 1 thing that is most difficult for DSLR users to transition to. The fact that lenses differ from each other on how the camera body uses them. But the shifting of live view settings to get the most light for focusing was something i wasn't using. Thanks very much!!!!

[@BorderTownGaming]

Learned my first valuable lessons after coming to mirrorless Sony systems from Nikon DSLRs >_< I was doing some low light photos last night and struggled to focus on moving objects in AF-C at 5.6 . I struggled really bad. putting this into practice will help. Thanks sooo much! I will try some of these tips tonight.

[@pergunnareriksson]

Good grief! As a basic photographer using Sony since 2016 I had no idea about this low light focus "problem". Liovong in a part of the world that is more or less bereft of light nine months of the year, using your info I'll probably get a whole lot more photos in focus going forward. Thank you!

[@aquarioamico6604]

Thanks, Mark. Another excellent video.

[@ottawamountainman]

I was under the impression that in AFC there is a somewhat complex (read perplexing) algorithm at play which depends on the lens used, ambient light, aperture selected and amount of refocusing needed (change in focusing distance). By playing with these factors at studio-style F stops (like F8 or smaller) i can « force » my a7r3 to momentarily open the aperture fairly wide to refocus. But as you stated in the video this is less robust than in AFS. The other work around in studio is using strobes with powerful modelling lights. I tested the focusing accuracy of the Sony FE 50 1.4 (a problem lens in dimly lit studios) at smaller aperture settings using a Godox 400 Pro with modelling light only set to proportional vs a strobe with no modelling light. Needless to say the difference in image sharpness was night and day (pun intended). Great video btw!

[@commane21]

Brilliant. Just so helpful. Thank you for this.

[@town3]

You make a great teacher Mark great work.

[@geribrn6453]

wow. i didn't know this at all. i got frustrated one with a night photoshoot coz i'm always in AF-C. very helpful. thanks!

[@tedmanasa907]

Geri Brn Same! I always stay in AF-C. Now I know better. Thank you Mark!

[@JamesBillingsPhotography]

Same, going to try out AF-S tonight to see how well it works

[@ryantothmisc]

Most helpful video on KZbin. Thank you!!!

[@ViccoGallo]

perfect information, perfect presentation, thank you!!

[@HairyScaryMark]

Thanks. That's a really useful video. I didn't know about the AF-illuminator working with A6500 (and maybe some other cameras) and some of the Sony flashes have a focus-assist LED. I also didn't understand the differences in how AF-S and AF-C acquire focus.

[@alekzandr2153]

Wish I watched this video before last weekends shoot. I was struggling to get auto focus with strobes and the live display would have been great to turn off. Next time! Thanks Mark.

[@quahful]

Thanks for sharing your information -very helpful

[@makingsmokesince76]

Really helpful. Thanks Mark.

[@ErethilClaw]

Thanks! keep spreading knowledge!

[@youknowwho9247]

This is one of those tips that are absolutely essential.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Thanks for the positive feedback

[@gabbah79]

Great technical explanation!

[@robinpascall400]

Another great video thanks for sharing.

[@TurboEncabulat0r]

Incredibly helpful, thankyou.

[@xenonsens]

Very interesting! Thank you!

[@cb299y]

I’ve always wondered why my A6x00 cameras sometimes seem so sluggish to autofocus with my fancy Sony/Zeiss 16-70 f4 zoom (at the time pretty much the only upgrade from the lousy kit zoom). And now I know - it doesn’t open up focusing! Grrr, but also yay to at least know! Looks like I need to make a change! Another great MG video.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

There are several good standard zooms around now for the A6xxx series cameras. Sony's 16-55 F/2.8 G is very very sharp but does not have OSS so is best suited to A6500 and A6600 owners.

[@KennethDillard]

Unfortunately, I have to stay in AF-C since I am mostly shooting dancers at their local events in the evening. Still, I love this video as it reminded me to check my AF illuminator setting to see if that could help. And just in general, this is a great video to better understand concepts behind the Sony camera system. Another well done video, Mark. Thank you immensely!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

So long as you are shooting with a wide aperture AF-C is fine 👍

[@KennethDillard]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills - I am fortunate that most of my lenses drop down to 2.8 or 1.8, save for on 4.0.

[@inwardlens]

Thank you for that, Mark. I knew a lot of that, but did not realize about the limitation on the 85mm f1.4. I had a very frustrating time shooting headshots in studio with that lens at f8 just a few weeks ago!

[@ottawamountainman]

Use a strobe with a good modelling light (like Godox 400 or 600 PRO - NOT THE NON-PRO) and your problems will vanish.

[@inwardlens]

ottawamountainman for that particular assignment I brought the Profoto B1. You’re right, the modeling lamp on that strobe is not amazingly bright, with my Canon DSLR bodies I didn’t even bother with the modeling lights for focusing sometimes - it’s totally different with the e-mount on that front.

[@amyridall8607]

Thanks so much. This just helped solve the problems that I was noticing.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Let me know if you need any of the points clarified 😀

[@escarameiaf]

Really helpful. Thank you.

[@jafradelgado]

Thank you so much! great video

[@reboot7507]

Thanks a lot. Didn't have a clue about this Wise monk of Alpha community.

[@PatrickReuterPhotography]

Tank you very much Mark for this very helpful video!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Glad it was helpful!

[@davidgonzalez9113]

awesome as always !!

[@josschaefer]

Great tips on this video

[@leechappelow2757]

Great info. Thanks

[@jeebs9439]

Thankyou for the lovely tips :D Quick question, when shooting wildlife i have often wondered whether i will have more success focusing with a higher shutter speed and high iso or with a lower shutter speed and lower iso? (assuming that the shutter speed is fast enough to freeze the action appropriately offcourse) (or is there no difference as the light is equivalent?)

[@deanjones2525]

This is great information. However, this should be standard information provided to every Sony camera shooter. You should talk to Sony to incorporate a link to this video in their user manuals.

[@meynardmacol]

very helpful tips! than you so much!

[@isabelladavis1363]

very useful thank you so much!

[@markshirley01]

Thanks very useful information. I'm looking to move from my DSLR to a mirrorless camera mainly for video features. I was set on a Z6 but once I heard about the lowlight AF problems I've switched to looking at Sony. I'll be honest I'm not 100% happy about doing that but I think it's the right system going forward.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

The focus tracking of the A7lll in Continuous AF is much superior that the new Nikon and Canon Full Frame cameras. The eye-AF, dual card slot and bigger battery are also some of the many advantages of the Sony.

[@davidwamback9000]

I made the switch to Sony while waiting for Canon to go mirrorless, with the realization that Canon would remain a generation or two behind Sony for a few years. Sony's head start will be hard to surpass, so I went directly to the A7R3 & 16-35 f2.8 GM and haven't looked back. Now using other Canon L lenses with it and considering which other Sony lenses to buy. 85 1.8, 50 1.4 Zeiss, Voigtlander APO Lanthar 1:1 Macro on the wish list.

[@nocommentnoname1111]

Excellent!

[@carloscarlitos4010]

Very very useful thanks a million

[@foveacreative]

Excellent, thank you.

[@OniSamurai_86]

Amazing information Mark. On a side note, my Tamron lenses do the opening aperture stuff in AFC mode too.

[@joshs7642]

I just bought the Tamron 17-28 and 28-75. It would have taken me ages to figure that out. Thanks for the tip!

[@joshs7642]

Actually I just tested it and that does not seem to be the case for me. At very small apertures it will open up a tiny bit in AF-c, but not nearly as wide as in AF-S.

[@OniSamurai_86]

@@joshs7642 Good info mate! Thanks for sharing too

[@jinkim917]

wow that was some great advice.

[@jbx907]

Cool tip thanks

[@tylemcorp1]

Huge help thank you

[@sandramcleod3192]

You are so good ! Would have to take a weeks vacation with you !

[@kumardoctor3583]

hi brilliant as usual too good

[@jameswilliams5982]

Spot on

[@peterjackson2632]

Thanks for the great video Mark. As a Nikon mirrorless shooter I suspect most of the AF-S and AF-C characteristics of the Sony’s apply to the Nikon’s. I just wish Nikon would provide such useful videos.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

You are probably correct. Sony don't ask me to make these videos. They are above and beyond what Sony expect me to do as an Ambassador (basically hashtag Sony when I post and speak 6 times a year at Sony events).

[@WDCallahan]

Did anyone else read the title a different way? This camera is fast AF! 😆

[@melissapriddy3739]

W.D. Callahan lolol

[@SimpleGuyTai]

Mark Galer is woke af lol.

[@nambuck5583]

I have been enjoying your videos. I have learned a lot about my a7r3. Is it possible that you make a video and share your knowledge about how to shoot a group of people? Like a single line, doubles and so on.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I start with dialling in my portrait settings (outlined in my Portait movie) and then stop the aperture down to f/8

[@foodgraphic2159]

Simply great! 👏

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Glad you like it!

[@IanWilkinson]

Another very useful video - I hadn't considered the Live View Disp Set option until now. Thanks, Mark. If using back button focus, would it be sensible to _always_ select Release, rather than Balanced Emphasis, as the priority for both AF-S and AF-C?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Depends if you value capturing the decisive moment or images that only have ultra sharp focus.

[@lattesweden]

Good video Mark and it is the same findings as I have done. I shot low light club events. My biggest problem is stopped down group portraits with flash. AF-S works but is (too) slow. AF-C is useless when stopped down (but works fantastic wide open even with Eye-AF) in these environments so singe person portraits are super easy to get. But the group ones not. The HVL-F45RM I have as well, and it has the LED as you mention, but people don't really like to get it in their eyes. I have dimmed mine down with some layers of printer paper in front if it, but it is still too bright for people that have their eyes tuned in for a dark club. Can you please relay to Sony that we need a low light AF mode that focuses wide open no matter what the shooting aperture is set at. And they can do it in both AF-S and AF-C with PDAF only, we don't need the CDAF fine tuning and we don't care about the potential focus shift, the DOF at f5.6 or 8 will cover all that. And that the EVF will flicker and the aperture will rattle when going back and forth between focusing and taking mode, that we can live with as well, just as long as we can focus with ease. This is my biggest problem actually with using Sony. At times I wonder if I should bring a cheap Canon DSRL just for the group portraits... Thanks!

[@alexanderivanoff]

Very useful as always, Mark! Moved recently to A7R3 from Canon, I noticed the Sony flash system isn't as good as the Canon's, although I expected to see the same great TTL implementation as we know it from Minolta, which works perfectly for events where you put the body in fully manual mode, but keep the flash in TTL. One question - I've the Sony HVL-F60RM, but I never managed to make its LEDs to work as AF assist light on the A7R3 - do you've an idea whether this flash has built in AF assist, or the LEDs are intended to be used only for video as constant light? I also wonder whether Sony implemented any IR AF assist as Canon does in their bodies, or it is just the annoying orange lamp? You know, having the eye-poking AF assist light in front of the subjects is a guarantee for super-annoying pictures. :) Keep up the good work!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1730/v1/en/contents/TP0001612154.html

[@JeniaFabisuk]

Thank you for the amazing tutorial as always! What is the NR technique or software do you apply for these images if I may ask?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

ЖЕНЯ & ЯНА - I use Lightroom. Sometimes I will brush additional noise reduction into the smooth bokeh areas rather than apply a strong setting globally.

[@JeniaFabisuk]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Many thanks!

[@DPJonesNovaScotian]

Thanks again.

[@jmmott1424]

If I could give you more thumbs up for this video, I would. Thank you for this info. Excellent!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Thanks for the positive feedback - Hopefully you have subscribed as I aim to make this the most comprehensive resource for Alpha shooters.

[@alanautah]

Thanks Mark for this interesting video, thumbs up. Still a question, do you have to set something special for the hvl-f45rm flash so that the LED will function as AF-light? greetings from Belgium !

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

It should just work automatically. There are just two options for the LED as AF Light on the HVL and that is low or high.

[@coloradovideochannel]

Very helpful Mark! So is the takeaway for video shooters to shoot wide open in A-mode under very low light? Seems like that's stating the obvious, but I've got plenty of blurry clips where I was chasing little kids around at a dimly lit birthday party.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

It is probably worth checking out my Focus Masterclass movie to ensure you are using the optimum AF settings.

[@eelcodewal5573]

Dear Mark, Again an interesting tutorial. Do you also have the ideal settings for the A 6000? Thanks and best regards, Eelco de Wal

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

you will find a movie on the A6300 settings which is pretty close to the A6000

[@shubhamkr8]

thank you

[@caimac]

Thanks you.

[@MakeFilmsOrDie]

AWESOME

[@basembarakat]

Mark thank you very much for this valuable information. I alway turn off Live view Display when shooting in low wedding reception light! However I shoot roughly close to f2.8 / 3.2 wide. But do I understand correctly that the lens is stoped down during my shooting and Live view effect are electronically simulated when turned off? I originally assumed that turning off the live view display will restore the DSLR behavior!!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

With live view Off - the lens is only stopped down while Focus is acquired (your finger remains half- pressed on the shutter release). A Mirrorless Camera will never full emulate a DSLR as the EVF will gain up so the view does not appear dark (a Mirrorless advantage)

[@qianbingtsai4011]

Great tutorial！ Mark, I have a spin-off question, how did you make a photo with ISO high to 80,000 look so clear?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I outline my approach to post producing high ISO images in my 2-Hour Post-Production Masterclass video

[@GiNodrog]

Brilliant tip than k you.

[@frankwolff2903]

Mark, Very interesting info on lenses that stay open when focusing (55 f1.8) and some that don't(85 f1.4). Is the ability to stay open a firmware issue that could be applied to a lens or is it a permanent mechanical/hardware feature built into the lens? Regarding the lenses that will focus wide open before closing for shutter: Is there a limit to the f stop or does the lens stay open for the entire f stop range? Can you recommend any other lenses that focus wide open?. Are you familiar with any third party lenses ( Sigma & Tamron) and how they act when focusing? I currently have Fuji XT2 and the zooms (10-24-, 16-55, 50-140) all stop down during the entire process of focusing AF-S and AF-C. Thanks again, FW

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

It's very rare that I find a lens that doesn't open up to find focus when in AF-S. I came across the 55 Macro that also behaviour es like the 85 f/1.4. The workaround of course is just to switch Live view off when using these lenses in low light with the aperture stopped down. I don't imagine it is an oversight by Sony so would fully expect that this remains the expected behaviour for these few lenses.

[@PeopleVoicesForObama]

Hi Mark. I take tango dancing picture at night clubs. The subject is moving very fast and my 7ARII had hard time focusing sometimes. I just upgrade to A7R3. Hopefully this will help. Any tips for me? Manually focusing my lens would allow me to take the pictures faster once the subjust is within range of focus but I will miss a lots of shots. Automatic focus is slow and searching sometimes.

[@ThePhotofit]

Thanks so much for the tutorial and tips. I’ve experienced very long lag periods from when the shutter button is pressed to when the flash fires. I wonder if choosing to shoot in either of the ‘fill’ or ‘rear’ options makes a difference to reducing this delay? Also, would manually setting the flash power be faster than relying on TTL? Thanks once again.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

What brand of flash are you using?

[@ThePhotofit]

Mark Galer's Alpha Creative Skills Hi Mark. I am using a Nissin i700

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I have no delay on my Sony flash - perhaps you could reach out to a Nissi Ambassador.

[@Eoffice24]

Dear Mark, my A7R III also "breathes open" in AF-C with the 55mm 1.8, but it does it much later (with less light) than in AF-S. Seems that AF-C works better in lower light until it has to open up.

[@greggregory2554]

Oh! That's why it wouldn't find focus. Thank you so much. Need to use af-s in certain situations.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Glad it was helpful!

[@HectorPastor]

Thanks thanks thanks!! 😉

[@mrraghan73]

Good information. in low light 24-105/F4 can use it ? i feel F4 not like F1.8 or F2.8.. So how i can use this lens Sony FE24-105/F4 with sony A7R2 body in low light ? Thanks

[@robertcheong5744]

Mark, can you please do a video on the new firmware update in regards to Aperture Drive in AF please. How does this new function work in relation to this video you just put out?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I believe Aperture Drive is a new feature that is available for the FE 400 F/2.8 GM which has a programmable ring that can be used to snap into APS-C mode or move focus. I programmed the ring to snap into APS-C Mode.

[@desertbornproductions]

Great Video. I still get a lot of noise in my event photography pics from iso 1600 and up. How are you getting such little noise on your pics at these ultra high iso's? Thanks

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Watch my Lightroom Masterclass for more insight into this topic.

[@SLuelmo]

Awesome video! I wonder if light metering mode could also affect how camera focus in dim light…

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Unlikely

[@adamyuman8987]

Thanks for this video. My Sony A73 paired with the Sony Zeiss 55mm at F1.8 can't focus in my dark nightclub shoots very well no matter I do but my new Sony A6600 can. My question is, which of the newer full frame Sonys would be mostly likely to perform as well as my A6600 for complex low light nightclub shooting? A7rIV or A9II ? Or even the new A7C? I assume its the processor that makes the difference. I love the A6600 paired with the fast 17-55 G lens focus motors. Now I want to replicate this miracle in full frame. Any suggestions which to buy? If I could find any information on this subject elsewhere I would not ask here but its scare. Thanks in advance for any advise.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

The new A7C has a one stop advantage over the A7lll for focusing in low light. Sony release low light AF specifications. It usually appears as a number such as -3 or -4. -4 is superior to -3. Check the specs of any camera you are considering purchasing from this is importing your workflow.

[@alexpopov]

Just tested a few sony and Sigma EF lenses and they open up even when focussing in AF-C, depending on how much light they are seeing. AF-S opens up the aperture every time

[@enajixlive]

You are so grate

[@catho6785]

Just wondering - one of your first images is shot at ISO 80000, and still looks pretty good. Do you do noise reduction in Lightroom alone, or other tools? I recently shot a wedding on my A7RII at ISO 10000 (dark inside church, 105mm, and couldn't drop shutter speed below 1/125 (reciprocal rule), but had waaaaaay more noise than in the image you took.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I just used Lightroom - I apply a global noise reduction of only 15-20 but apply localised noise reduction (via an adjustment brush) in the smooth out of focus areas of +80

[@catho6785]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Thanks so much for the response - I'll try and do the same. Your videos are amazing - you could honestly charge a fair amount for your content. It is to the point, but expands on things well - and you cover off so many areas. Sony are luck to have you as an ambassador. Thank you!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Thanks for the positive feedback- I decided last year to shift from paid content to donations. There are enough grateful photographers out there to keep me creating new content 😀

[@checkeredflagfilms]

Hi Mark, do any of these tips apply when shooting video?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

No - not really.