The ONLY VIDEO You Need to MASTER SONY AUTOFOCUS!

[@cranemon]

I would just add that in continuous AF mode, you can very quickly get a centre spot focus by pressing the centre button in the circular dial. Extremely useful when continuous AF is not locking on to the correct subject, and you don’t have time to dig through the focus menu to change it.

[@JasonVong]

Ah I forgot that was default! I always changed my center button to something else. Good tip for vanilla settings!

[@BenSussmanpro]

Thanks. I used DMF only once - to shoot a cat which was behind a chain-linked fence. AF would only focus on the fence, even small-frame spot focus. DMF let me tweak the focus slightly to capture my subject perfectly.

[@natepotter6911]

One more thing for your viewers to know: if you're having trouble getting focus in low light in AF-C mode, try switching to AF-S. In AF-S, the camera very quickly fully opens the aperture to allow as much light as possible, thereby potentially improving AF performance quite a bit. Oh, and DMF mode is AWESOME, allows you to auto-focus, then tweak manually.

[@ItzSlushie]

Pretty sure AFS will also use the red led to help light a bit infront of the camera does it not?

[@natepotter6911]

@@ItzSlushie how did you draw that from what I said? I didn't mention anything about the focus assist lamp, I'm talking about what happens with the aperture...

[@CC3GROUNDZERO]

@@ItzSlushie The AF illuminator is independent from AF mode, it will work (if switched on) with AF-S, AF-C and AF-A. Only caveat with AF-C and AF-A is that the illuminator will not work when your subject is moving.

[@ItzSlushie]

@@CC3GROUNDZERO ahhh okay

[@WhatThePheel]

Isn't this only for automatic shooters?

[@panhandlejake6200]

DMF: Direct Manual Focus. Helps make manual focusing a little faster.

[@5x9dev]

And yes, I do use this mode quite a bit for underwater photography and dry side for glossy objects.

[@trevourlance27]

also helpful for 3rd party lenses that do not acquire very good focus .. i noticed i use dmf more often when i have rokinon, viltox, and meike lenses. otherwise af-c for G lenses, sigma, and tamron

[@sh8736]

Agree it is useful for wildlife photography. Let’s say there is a small bird in amongst reeds bobbing in and out, autofocus gets the leaves but it’s not quite birds as it’s not there long enough. A quick tweak of dmf is faster than switching to mf . However on the new 300mm if dmf was on and I was holding the lens by the focus ring it would not focus! Lens needs s longer foot for me

[@sh8736]

Would have liked a bit form detail on the horizontal vertical settings. I have it turned off as if I’m locked on a subject I don’t want it to move focus spot if I go vertical. Is fine on the A74 and A7R5, however on A93 seems to move the focus to the bottom of the screen which is really irritating! Have thought it could be the touch screen focus and maybe my nose is touching the screen but I have the same nose when using each camera body so don’t understand this one! 😂

[@HouseOwl]

DynamicMF

[@DutchDiederik]

DMF stands for Direct Manual Focus. It is essentially AF with MF control enabled, meaning focus can be manually adjusted after the camera did its autofocus thing. It's meant for macro or portrait photography where precise focus is required. A best-of-both-worlds kind of thing.

[@ivonned32]

Thanks soooooo much for this info.!🙏🏾👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽💪🏽👊🏽

[@ameleh61]

In the manual it says that the switch on the lens overrides this setting. I broke a lens by moving the focus ring when I wasn't supposed to, so I'm very wary of this. So I'm confused. What am I missing?

[@DutchDiederik]

@@ameleh61 the switch on the lens is to enable or disable autofocus. If it is set to MF, autofocus in any kind of way does not work, including in DMF-mode. Which lens did you break? I've never heard that before. The focus ring on modern Sony lenses are all "drive by wire" as far as I know, meaning it's a sensor that tells the focus motor what to do, not physically connected to the lens elements, making it impossible to do damage. I could be wrong, of course, or the lens that you used in particular worked in a different way.

[@ameleh61]

@@DutchDiederik it was a canon 100 mm macro. I had the switch set to auto focus, and turned the focus ring anyway. I guess I’m not sure that is what broke it, but it spun around and would not focus at all anymore. I never forced it. But now I’ve set my new Sony a7rv so DMF is on all the time, a surprising and very welcome feature.

[@DutchDiederik]

@@ameleh61 the older Canon and Tamron lenses I owned before switching to mirrorless Sony gear had their focus rings directly connected to the lens elements and thus also the motor. You probably broke the teeth off a cog of the mechanism inside the lens when you turned it manually, or broke something inside the little motor. I don’t know if all modern lenses are “drive by wire,” but the Sony 85mm /f1.8 and 16-35GM I own both work that way. Much more fool-proof. The A7RV is a dream camera of mine. I have the 3rd generation and I love it. The autofocus on the new Sony cameras is so damn impressive. Lower res RAW files is also a fantastic, practical feature. How good is it?

[@grafiki92]

wanted to take the time to recognize the amazing value that you bring to the community. As a self taught photo enthusiast it has been challenging and overwhelming to learn about the photo theory as well as the Sony tech. but the format that you present as well as your enthusiasm really keeps bringing me back to learn more and more. Thanks for all your hard work and commitment to your passion :)

[@soapa4279]

lmao I nearly died at that dope ass mother focus area

[@ylberazizaj]

same here hahahahahaha

[@rodeanphotos]

@@ylberazizaj I'm still laughing even now lmao

[@Tokyo_Arcade]

this was amazing, i legit lol'd

[@pabloyamamoto]

Me too!... this is my first Jason Vong video, it was totally unexpected.. 😂

[@RyanPerrella]

3:10 DMF is one of my favorite features of Sony cameras, it was selectable on its own dial on the RX1, i like it for identifying and capturing a target, then i can fine tune it. DMF can now always be on via a switch on some Sony G lenses, cool feature for those that like manual control for fine tuning an autofocused subject without any button or menu hunting, just twist focus. Works well with peaking.

[@RAILFANinSOUTHAFRICA]

My favourite too - using it a lot for wildlife to peak the focus

[@sagardigitallab]

@2.45m - From Sony website - Direct manual focus (DMF) : You can make fine adjustments manually after performing auto focusing, letting you focus on a subject more quickly than when using the manual focus from the beginning. This is convenient in situations such as macro shooting.

[@shreyas7801]

No, in the video, he said it's 'Dope-ass Mother FocusArea'

[@AWAShowme]

​@shreyas7801 I like that definition better! There's no doubt he already knew what it meant, and this is a smart way to solicit engagement! Either way he's a DAMF 😂

[@TVe200]

I have DMF on one of my tele lenses. For bird photos I always use AF-C. When af struggles for small birds into trees it is excellent to fine adjust with the MF ring.

[@RyanPerrella]

8:18 THANK YOU for describing what this feature i always saw in my menu’s actually meant, it sounds pretty cool if say in landscape you always shoot cars and focus wide, but when you just rotate the camera, that itself alters the focus subject for something shot vertically like a human.

[@michaelmiller8173]

Love, love, LOVE this video! So incredibly helpful. Thank you! Maybe you could do a similar one on metering modes?

[@Olexanderko]

I was using DMF since Olympus. This is very useful in case Macro or night photography. OR a lot of same object where camera don't know which one you like to picture

[@stinkothestooleater4490]

Super helpful. I purchased an a6100 to get back into photography after a 2 year hiatus, and cannot seem to get anything into focus. I had always just used manual focus on my school provided canon, but my kit lens doesn't have a manual focus ring, so now I know what I need to do!

[@GAGPalia]

I was a Big DMF .... Shooter when I used NEX-6. Also it is Direct Manual Focus

[@AdrianaBellani]

I have an old Sony a55 DSLR. This video is extremely helpful to know great features that are built in this camera. Thank you.

[@Sinevibes]

Thanks!

[@JasonVong]

Thank you so much!!!

[@ErnestStevenson-bo3nk]

Dude! I'm so happy that one of your videos popped up as recommended for me. I shot with Canon for 30 years and just switched to Sony a little over a year ago. I've already learned a ton from you on how Sony cameras operate in just a couple of videos. Thank you so much!

[@JasonVong]

Happy to hear! Which Sony did you end up picking up?

[@ErnestStevenson-bo3nk]

@@JasonVong A7Riv

[@Penka-ju4li]

The same. I am so confused with such a big difference in focusing... I like everything on sony but focusing....

[@jose2g]

How do you record your camera screen ?

[@-archingk-k364]

I use back button focus with "af-c/tracking/center area". so that I can try different framing with single center area focus, just like the MF, or keep pressing the back button to lock the subject on focus and take multiple shots. All it takes only a button and a period of time to get used to the shutter no longer related to focus.

[@jacooobWT]

I just got myself the Sony 18-105 F4 today and looked to instruction. DMF stands for direct manual focus

[@Stefan328]

DMF, Direct Manual Focus is ideal for macro. This with back button focus only to use the shutter button to leave the zoomed area - reframe and take the picture 😊

[@zaceusa4101]

Awesome. I’m trying to decide between the fx6 and fx3. Thanks for your story

[@kucekto]

Great video! Perfect timing when I just got a new sony camera. Your tutorials are always very helpful ( got me buying and setting up the A7III back in 2018 )

[@JerryWoo96]

Af-c and tracking spot with shutter af-on brings a new meaning to point and shoot. Saves alot of time without needing to use the thumbstick or dpad to select focus area.

[@CGphotoOp]

DMF = direct manual focus It’s the only thing I use for nature shots. It magnifies when moving the focus ring so I can micro focus .

[@edwuano7]

was not expecting the tip on the AF illuminator, but im so glad i watched this video. i hate that damn light!

[@habiburkhan6547]

Great vido for me as a beginners. I love watching your VDOs. Could you please advise me, what should be my best settings to capture my family picture during Fall along with capture the gorgeous color of the Fall too ? please.

[@Hobbies4Hire]

Great job on the video Jason! Thanks for making it.

[@laidback-luc]

dude your videos are so insanely helpful and informative. thank you for your hard work and energy!

[@VJF536]

I use DMF as my go to. I shoot in a wooded area quite often. I have missed too many shots because my camera grabbed a tree, leaf, rock, or anything we else. With DMF I could correct it immediately without spooking the critter I want a photo of. There may be a better method that I haven't found, but this works for me.

[@martinweber3859]

If I use focus stacking, I use DMF, to autofocus my flower for example and then change the focus a little bit towards the camera before automatically shooting the rest.

[@quangtrinh7119]

This channel is a gem! Thank you Jason!

[@MylesInfocus]

Lock On AF & Tracking has been such a game changer for me. No idea it was a thing until I stumbled on it while test driving my 70-200mm GM II.

[@TheLetsboogiedown]

Very well presented tutorial! One can see that a lot of hard work went into this 💯👍🏽

[@stevenwaldstein2249]

Jason, thank you for another great video with instructions. Always enjoy content and Sony is my most used camera of choice. I own many of their cameras so this was a helpful refresher. Take care.

[@Superjeanmarc]

Awesome video... Does anyone knows if when having several subjects in frame, there a way to switch from a subject to another, to say to the camera on which subject to focus on?

[@keving7773]

My 1 regret about DMF is that I did not start using it earlier. Heck is fantastic for macro, with pretty much the same capabilities as AFS. So is more functionality, not less. Give it a try for a little while, if you to like it go back

[@stevengoossen6019]

I have been so confused about what setting. Thanks for your help. 😊

[@nachiketpargaonkar8646]

Love your way of presenting! Another amazing video!

[@samtang1995st]

Hello, I really like the photography tutorial videos you made. I hope you make more related videos, such as how to adjust metering and white balance.

[@Itsadam_r]

As a new sony user this was very helpful, thanks!

[@dennisschullerjr1720]

When you broke character after talking about DMF, " Dope Ass MoFo" you had me in stitches 🤣 Thanks for showing a little bit of your true self in these videos. It's why I have watched your videos for years and will continue to do so. Cheers Jason!

[@chitung2277]

Dmf, to let camera try to focus first, then user can fine tune afterwards

[@ContentTalker-nc5hi]

3:08 I believe DMF is nothing but Digital Manual Focus, as you've mentioned already that all it does is, you may be able to focus manually on your screen. Do you think, my explanation might be correct?

[@JoshConnectMedia]

My Sony Guy !!! Champion !! DMF could easily be Dynamic Manual focus. where you add some dynamism to your manual focus thereby making manual focus clear and day. My two cents.

[@FredMinimal]

great guide, amazing technology. love the eye-AF/Face detect if you have one clear subject. Unfortunately the 5D/1D Autofocus points accessed by wheels and the joystick are quicker to operate than the slow sony spot field (S,M,L). Switching from the very left to the very right or any other way feels slow on Sony. touchscreen operation is too flimsy while holding the camera to your eye.

[@clintjohnalog8916]

Hi Jason, I love all your content about the Sony environment and it helped me improve my shooting significantly. I have an A7ll and I hope you will make a tutorial tips and tricks for video and photo about. Maybe due to A7ll's lacking feature the reason why almost no one talks about it.

[@Androgenies]

This is very helpful indeed. Thank you, Mr. Jason Vong!

[@ivonned32]

Your videos are so helpful. Now I feel like my camera is doing what I want it to do! Thanks so much!🙏🏾👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@ajeethkumar9155]

Hey Jason.. New sony user, what is the "Focus Cancel" message shown on screen at 4:18 in the video. I get that sometimes on screen and when it appears I have difficulty focussing on a subject. Waiting for your reply..

[@mattm7426]

When assigned to a button, pressing it will stop the autofocus temporarily. This lets you maintain your current focus without accidentally triggering the autofocus system. It’s helpful in situations where you don’t want the focus to shift, such as when you’ve already locked onto a subject and want to recompose

[@lindakantes873]

Yup! sometimes DMF with focus peaking! to lazy to use manual lol ... great video BTW

[@anthonypepito6833]

I can not find the Face & Eye AF anywhere in the menu like you shown in the video. What mode should I be in? I was in Manual mode.

[@brianrudolph3594]

Thank you for an awesome video! Extremely informative and helpful to my photography learning! Thank you!

[@azizisarif]

DMF is best option... determine where subject camera focus..use peaking, will be indicate...

[@grigoryvidishev1810]

Thank you for the video. What focus mode I should use when I do focus bracketing on the camera and on the lens?

[@fifteenalpha]

Finally switching from a Canon M50 to Sony. Would recommend the A7c over the A7iii? Photography centric hobbyist, I’m only considering the A7c is for the improved AF (tracking).

[@ianstiehl1994]

Im a fie hard DMF guy if Im shooting slow or still things. I really like being able to fine tune my focus as much as possible -- especially with zoom lenses

[@tasteOfLife_ca]

Hi, what's gear that hold screen in 5:32 ? thanks!

[@ssdigitalssuresh9697]

sir your video make me so much knowledge to expand my photography...iam new to sony...which focus point is better to take school group photos...please

[@Greece360]

Im a Nikon Z7ii & Z6ii user for my professional work however I use the Sony A6700 with a Sony 11mm f1.8 for all my vlogging and food reviews. What focus setting do you think would work best for someone close to the camera eating and showing close ups of the food while lowering the food after showing it requiring focus on me immediately? Thank you

[@blitzstormer]

Thank you for the great video! I recently purchased the Sony A6700 and your videos are very helpful!!

[@massart09]

Hi, thanks for the video. If you were drawing and wanted to make a video, which mode would you choose to use? On a table or on a canvas, indoors. Sony ZV e10, kitlens.

[@Ron_Havusha]

first i put a like then i watch video thanks so much for the content and helping the newbie here how to shoot on Sony :)

[@JasonVong]

Appreciate that! 🥰

[@HughWalker]

Great tutorial Jason

[@gilbertpc805]

Where is Frame/Eye Frame Display on the a6700? Also what’s the best setting to get everyone in a group photo focused?

[@DIRTBIKEMEDIA_DBM]

Hi Jason , thanks for the video , hope you can answer this question as I cannot find any information on it maybe because it’s a silly question, does the auto focus work best with low or high aperture I have a Sony 70-200 f2.8 and I’m not sure on the focus at 2.8 or say 11 ect Thank you

[@ColdCoffeePhotography]

how do you get rid of that damn sel. focus point on/off msg as seen at 6:42 please Jason?

[@adventures.less.traveled]

Cant tell you how much this helped me! Thank you!!

[@sikemosa]

Didn't know you could use your phone as an external screen, sick! Great video

[@MoviesSam]

Jason - love your videos. Big fan! I would have hoped to see something on back button focusing on the Sony.

[@wadehoagland9188]

Thanks Jason curious what would you use for a group shot, let me add on a stage with led theatrical lighting seems like its really hit and miss, I go into manual focus even then it seems substandard. any experience in this environment. Thanks up front

[@podiatanapraia]

Excellent video! Surprised you didn't mention back button auto focus, tho...

[@Vicky-il5yv]

What's that? Could you please explain?

[@podiatanapraia]

@@Vicky-il5yv sure! A lot of photographers (myself included) like to have an autofocus button that's separate from the shutter button. That allows us, for instance, to autofocus once on a subject, and then press the shutter button several times without reactivating the autofocus. It's called back button autofocus and pretty much any modern camera allows you to configure one of your buttons to be a dedicated autofocus button.

[@pcrate20]

good video, what type of phone holder are you using and how to connected it to your camera?.. thank you

[@inquisitvem6723]

Really appreciate you showing tips instead camera reviews that other photogs do all the time…I would suggest show a real pic and problems with it, then correction in settings.

[@minimalchannel06]

Which monitor are you using in this video that is mounted on top of the camera?

[@stevpenimanuelrumengan6754]

tanks alot 🙏, MR.Jason ...soo helpfull, from Bali island with love..❤

[@danimac2028]

Hey Jason when you switch from auto to manual after locking the focus in auto, do you keep the shutter pressed? So you when the focus is taken you press the manual button and then you take the picture?

[@EngineFD223]

I have a few questions on this topic that maybe you can answer on the Sony A7III. If for instance I have AF set to Wide focus area and am taking a group photo. I get Dark Grey boxes around each subjects face, and a light grey box on a single subject, and that is the subject that the camera will focus on and try to use Eye-AF on. Is there a way for me to cycle between those faces with the dark grey boxes around them in order to make them the primary subject? Or is the only way to change my focus area to something else like Flexible Spot or Lock-on AF? Also, when on Lock-on AF: Flexible Spot, when it puts that tracking box on the subject, where is it actually focusing? Just on a random spot on the subjects body that the box is around?

[@mattm7426]

The focus zone can be visualized as a three-dimensional box or wall that runs perpendicular to the lens. Anything within this box will appear in focus, not just the precise point where the autofocus locks in.

[@jordanking7711]

DMF stands for Direct Manual Focus. Hope that helps Jason 🙂

[@zal88]

i have the sony a7iii what would be best focus settings for catching thunderstorms and and severe weather? along with the focus sensitivity?

[@azirulbahrom5438]

What about group photo? Which focus setting is the best? i want every one in focus

[@Penka-ju4li]

This was what I was hope to find here as well. Or in the crowded space how to focus.

[@mbenjamin292]

You are by far the most gifted individual = photographer on this planet. Do you ever sell a photograph to a person?😊

[@rongdoimau]

Could you explain the situation when face/eye autofocus fight with focus area? Like when I had Center fix or Spot in the middle of the frame, face/eye autofocus on, my human subject was on the side of the frame, I found they’re fighting each other. Where technically the camera would give priority? How to avoid this situation? Thank you

[@kdschathuranga47]

Great. Need focus tricks for videography

[@tsunarun]

Great review thank you ☺️ Jason do you think the zv E10 ii have a great autofocus for video. Thanks

[@Flavourful_Plates]

Hello, thank you for sharing. Please help me with this: I'm currently using the Sony Alpha 6700, but I’m not sure why I can’t use the touch screen to focus, no matter what I change in the focus mode. I have AF-C and Medium in the Spot Focus Area set already. My screen always shows "Sel. Focus Point On/Off." I’m not sure what it means or if it’s affecting the touch focus function

[@djluciusbe]

Hi what setting should you use for shooting video's , autofocus cotinuous ? Thanks for advice

[@RPSartre01]

Super, I am more confident with my a6600. Thanks a lot, brother!

[@paolo.oribiana]

Im turning green with envy on this one Jason! Funny that a fuji xh2s is watching a sony af video. I feel that if you just turn on the camera straight from the box and just record the video - it will get a focused video shot right off the bat. vs fuji = struggle is real.

[@taithanhthoi]

Can you help me. I want autofocus product showcase of Sony A6400. I just wonder if i choose Continue Autofocus On or Off / and Center Focus Wide or Spot better. Thanks for your advice

[@paulfairchild8942]

Very helpful video! Thanks Jason!

[@allaboutsk]

What settings would someone reccomend when using AF for doing macros, like flowers and etc, I noticed mine were either blurry or a bit out of focus.

[@DCMedien]

I programmed the left/right eye select to the lens button, so i can quickly change it while focusing on the model

[@JasonVong]

That’s a great shortcut to have!

[@marclabro]

nice tuto. Personnally, on a7rv, after having tried af/mf on afon, i came back to back button focus on afon which gives af-s for composition and af-c when needed. I set MF on lens button to take animals through fences... I am using spot focus area most of the time and quickly switch to wide with eye detection. coming from a7iv, big disapointment a7rv doesn't allow to quickly force eye detetcion in wide mode while we are in spot focus area. I set this function on lens button on a7iv. a bug of a7rv soft ?

[@markone637]

Hi Jason, all about AF (Sony a7) explained Mark Galer. He is a Sony ambasador and of course on YT is only small example. Full tutorial (I think it’s about 1,5h) is when you subscribe his channel on some platform (I don’t remember the name) Regards - you making a great job 👏

[@vincentlibrojo7830]

12:43 how do you get this on the A7C ii?

[@harrygold621]

As always - great video Jason. A question, occasionally I get a purple autofocus box - what's that mean? Thanks

[@robertmcmanus4646]

I think it means you're too close to the subject for the lens to focus

[@JasonVong]

Hey Harry! That means the camera did not get focus 😭

[@andyb204]

Dubious Manual Focus -> technical definition: I knew I needed manual focus, but I have sweat in my eyes and my wife is shouting "hurry up", so I tried auto-focus but it just didn't work and I ended up taking twice as long as I would have to take the shot if I'd just used manual focus to start with. My subject was still out of focus (sweat in my eyes). This is a lesson I won't learn next time.

[@danmyname]

Just what I need to know, cheers bro.

[@xFreyelis]

Back Button Auto-focus gives best of both worlds as a Single Auto-Focus & Continuous Auto-Focus, in just 1 Button.