Sony A7 Mark II, A7RII and A7SII Tips

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Several tips for better battery life and user experience with the Sony A7 Mark II, A7RII and A7SII series cameras! Take a moment to watch and learn how to make your battery life last longer and have a less frustrating experience with your Sony a7 series camera.
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[@davidstage907]

I know this is an older post. I just bought the A7ii. This video for me was the simplest explaination of how to set up back button focus. Thanks for solving my frustration!

[@photorectoby]

Glad I could help!

[@TomatenDK]

@@photorectoby Im getting no focus at all after assigning back botton to focus like the video shows :( I did disable the shutter botton first ofc. Might just go back to shutter botton focus if I dont find a fix :(

[@TomatenDK]

Edit : forgot to switch to manual focus - DOH ! Thanks :)

[@jerryozoemena9055]

Just got the a7sii, so this is really helpful too

[@chesadjanelle778]

I've had this camera for a month and it's freaking amazing!!

[@DanteBellin]

Just wanna say thank you. Your reviews and tipps are very helpful and the way you articulate is very symphatic to me.

[@pancakelens75]

Still have and love my A7rii. Almost sold it to upgrade to A7rIV but decided instead to spend less and pick up the 24mm 1.4 GM and I’m SO glad I did!

[@Dadbros420]

This video is extremely helpful, thank you. I just bought an a7ii coming from Nikon and I’ve got soooo much to learn about its capabilities.

[@AniketRajPhotographySpring]

you are awesome! 18 months with my a7s and I finally get it the way I wanted it... thanks to you!

[@viaduckvideo]

This is the best explanation of A7 focus settings I have found on youtube. Thank you!

[@danpiso4900]

I just got myself a second hand a7ii. Im so happy as I believe in 2023 this is still a great camera and will be aid for my photography journey. Such a solid camera and still great full frame option without breaking the bank.

[@JionniCastillo]

Today i got my very first full frame camera that is the Sony a7ii. After watching a lot of your videos about the Sony alpha lineup, you convinced me and I decided to get mine with the 28-70mm kit included. Can't wait to use it to my trip to Munich, Germany!

[@b1odin39]

I just bought this camera, it still amazing how good this one if after its release in 2014!

[@antistiolabeo8950]

It's truly a great camera. I bought it in 2015 and am still using it every day for macro work and other genres. Just broke 250k shutter actuations wall about 2 weeks ago and it neve skipped I beat. Sincerely recommended if you can't or simply won't afford some of the later models.

[@zneyvan]

Thank you for making this video, i'm going to buy this camera for my 1st full frame camera.

[@Pogomix]

This saved my ass. That Pre AF made me think my Metabones adapter was buggered. Thank you SO much! Loving that back button focus too.

[@photorectoby]

Excellent!

[@vicchandler6963]

Q

[@Dmolina3715]

Just got my a7ii and you solved a good amount of my annoyances with this video. Thanks!

[@silvioalessi]

I did it as described in this video and now I have a new A7II - Thank you for sharing this video !!!

[@drlau9]

Hi I have the older A7r Mk 1 and agree with you on these points, I've added a few more power saving settings for the camera; - Powersave time to 10 sec (Start up from sleep is faster than cold start from switch) - Screen off assigned to down button key - Although the backlight is on, pixels stay black. - Monitor Brightness set to Manual and lowest possible as the View Finder can be used under any light conditions - Display Quality set to standard as I cannot see much of a difference between the two. Hope this is of help to anybody.

[@grotesquesd]

+Derek Lau You sir, is awesome!

[@drlau9]

+Mo ntag (Mocityle) Thanks I do try to be :)

[@nicoh848]

I’d be curious to know if setting the screen brightness lower actually helps: the view finder uses more battery (not sure why), so if you used to use the monitor, and now saw that tip, you might be better off just using your monitor, but I’m just spitballing

[@doctormarazanvose4373]

just buy another spare battery and save yourself the hassle and worry.

[@drlau9]

@@doctormarazanvose4373 This is very true, I’ve gone the expensive way and got the A7R4 now. Films likes a dream, sadly it’s met beer and the thumb wheel is sticky.

[@nlspots]

The battery and pre AF tips really helped me

[@LA-pz1qe]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge of this wonderful camera. You literally answered every question I had about the settings that was not pleasing. New subscriber! Can’t wait to learn more!

[@annewong2715]

best tips I have found yet. Definitely will try the back button focusing.

[@giangvu7902]

Center button to move focusing point is a great tip! Thanks!

[@misterkoolworld7664]

Great video, been looking for tips on my A7ii setup..Thanks!

[@kateparova4727]

the best video to understand everything about the focus! thank you!

[@Mashot]

Thank you for the precious information and tips you are sharing. Great content and clarity in your explanation!

[@Andrewxs83]

exactly what I was looking!! Thank you!

[@VipulDK]

Using the center button of the wheel for focus is brilliant! I have asked how to do this to so many people and no one knew...until now!

[@victorcarmelo8606]

I use C1 and the AF and Shutter wheels for moving the flexible spot.

[@pinoymysteryman]

This is very informative. I am getting my first Sony A7ii. Thank you so much.

[@DanielM1224]

Just got mine today :) thank you for video!!!

[@earthnativa]

This was very helpful, thanks for sharing.

[@Lucky72er]

Great video and very helpful tips! Thank you!

[@edgarrincon3481]

Great tutorial on focus for beginners like me!

[@scottjamison7010]

i rarely comment on youtube videos but this one is extremely informative. thank you, great job.

[@jimmysgameclips]

Thankyou! You've saved me some headaches :)

[@srt8speed]

Thanks for the tips, loving the A7 ll !!

[@iSabier]

I really appreciate this review. Thanks for sharing. I'm slowly warming up to Sony cameras.

[@JOJOROB55]

Great Tips have switched my A7mk2 to these. Cheers Rob

[@nomaddave]

Awesome. So helpful. Thanks.

[@interstink]

Love your sony a7 videos! Very informative!!

[@amandaevans518]

Thank you! I have so much better focus control over my Sony. Yay!

[@efeberkylmaz3070]

awesome video, thanks a lot.

[@itsme-gi6gd]

WOW, love this video. thanks AMIGO.

[@studiovitta]

perfect tips specially with af central button !!

[@ghoward54]

Hey Tony thanks for the heads up on the Sony A7. I just purchased a Sony A711+28-70 from Amazon black Friday sale here in UK for £769, average price £1200 just for a walk about camera

[@joshelias8472]

Thank for this video! Very helpful for the focus situation. I have a quick question: what is the best app I can use for transferring images to my iPhone?

[@robertgottenbos9703]

Thanks for the tips!

[@lindenwatson846]

Very explanations thanks.

[@douglasbey2852]

Nice video, these tips are very helpful as I plan to make this my next camera. I use BB focus all the time on my D610, again many thanks for passing this on.

[@deganni2688]

good info - thanks for sharing

[@southvizions]

awesome man, thank you.

[@JohnRobertsTV]

Great tips, thanks and I'm using them now, but I had to set Focus Area to Zone (was at default value of Wide) or I just got an error dialog when I assigned the center button to Focus Settings. I agree with pretty much everything you said about the A7II (which is what I'm using).

[@chuck90504]

I suggest the center button be "Standard". Focus settings needs to activate movement, so you miss one step of movement. When using standard, it moves right away. Secondly, when using wide area, with Standard, it allows you to lock on AF, which is handy, kind of like two modes in one.

[@spardamustdie47]

Agreed with you, changing to "Standard" is much better for me, thanks for the tips!

[@JasonSputnik]

Very good tips, thanks!

[@shaymeir1]

Great video. Thank you Toby

[@AlanRappa]

Great tips, thanks!

[@MohammadAssad88]

Great tips thanks a million from Kuwait

[@geuskoeman721]

Thanks a. Lot tony,was helpfull

[@SocyQueen2012]

great video. Thanks!

[@BagusSumanjaya]

thanks a lot for the tips

[@jayal-awar6601]

Excellent thank you

[@polievets1]

Great video ,make sense tips Thanks!

[@cybrunel1016]

Yep same here, saved me from insanity.Thank you, very helpful.

[@MrTupeloFlash]

Great help .. thanks ... is it possible to add a custom button for a ‘ focus’ spot or a ‘ zone’ ?

[@ac3photography]

2020 Still A Great Help

[@danielthomas7747]

As usual you make really nice review. I just move from the G9 to this camera....

[@ace4mma]

Thank you Toby!

[@NMalteC]

Do you have any tip for using the "back button" for both AEL and AF? I find myself using the AE lock more often than the AF lock (for which I can always focus and recompose). I use spot metering most of the time.

[@isadoracarneiro1669]

Hey! I was wondering how we can avoid having noise, shotting in low light with A7S2. I do Birth still images and I’m having a hard time with getting them clear. It is not always that we cross into a room that has lights on, sometimes there are none. Thank u!

[@selimturkarsivi]

Awesome. Thanks a lot for the tips.

[@kamilhusna94]

Hi, great video and i would love to follow what you said, but I dont have the Flexible Spot:M option. I have only 3 focus area option. Help

[@gashnirg3119]

Thank you !

[@StuWright]

thanks for this,i havnt had my a7 for long, do you have any tips on taking sunsets with the a7 please ?

[@Arctis34]

great video! love this channel

[@kathyrobinson1975]

Amazing!!! Thank you so much:)

[@charruaporelmundo]

Thank you , very useful, I actually got the primes first (55 and 35), would you recomend that lens are you holding for,..."standard" casual shoting?

[@hasmyrifani7485]

thank you so much sir , i would like to thanks to you ... and i applied most all your tips ... but i would like ask you one thing , do i need to turn off all thing relation with af setting for manual lens ?

[@jstringe]

Brilliant. Really useful

[@hndb1993]

If i may give you 1 tip, turn off "LiveViewDisplay" It will help to find the right focussing spot in darker area's. And to increase batterylife change Finder/Monitor to Manuel, it will save a lot off battery

[@70mjc]

That Sony Guy manual***

[@looku4883]

I rarely use the rear monitor on my Sony A7 Mk1 unless I record on Gimball. The viewfinder of the A7 is very good and if you configure it in the menu we can save a lot of battery, besides that when we unhook the eye from the viewfinder it turns off, and turn on again when we touch our eye to the eyepiece. This can be very useful also when we do timelapse. I bought sony batteries (NP-F980 8700mAh 7.4V) with mains adapter and solved this problem. With this battery the camera can operate between 8 to 12 hours without recharging!

[@TypicalJacques]

@@70mjc shush

[@karographixphotography7811]

great tips! have you done any for the NEX7?

[@Tr4bant]

Would the SEL24-70 Zeiss be a good choice for this camera too?

[@parveezsaligh9248]

timeless advice !

[@roysteraero]

Dude loved the tips! Super helpful

[@photorectoby]

Really glad you found that helpful! Thanks!

[@NighthunterNyx]

You can turn the wheel when in focus settings to change the size of the focus area.

[@izusia946]

Is there any option to turn it off? I don't want to change the size of the focus area when turning the wheel - during choicing the focus point. I mean, that it's easy to turn the wheel instead of clicking and choicing the focus point.

[@oines9650]

Hi !Thank you for your explications. I would like to know how to activate the AF-C mode on the back button focus. What is the difference between the AEL and AF/MF button please? thank ou !

[@raysaalik]

Best info - Cheers

[@jackcox3265]

Thanks for your informative videos. One question. Is the Sony a7ii equipped with high speed sysc? If so, how do you turn it on? Trying to image hummingbirds using short duration flash.

[@chauie]

Is there a difference between setting your center button to "standard" rather than "focus settings"?

[@lee-nus]

Which lens would you suggest for portrait for this camera A7ii

[@msningy4933]

Which lens would you recommend for street photography? My 55mm lens sometimes doesn’t work great for the object that is too close.

[@khondker2008]

great tips. Does crop sensor lens works in Sony a7r Mark 2?

[@TomZolyomiFilmproduktion]

not only the sony-home-lenses are stabilized, nearly everyone with af are supported. even my sigma that's adapted from an A-mount does a great job for AF and stabilizing

[@musoforhire]

Big fan of the channel, thanks Toby! Here's an issue I encountered when using the 'Bracket Pro' app: when attempting to use back button focusing in Bracket Pro on A7ii, upon hitting back button the app gives error 'Function Disabled'. Am I correct in assuming this app does not support back button focusing? I guess it's not a big deal - the apps seem like they're aimed more at the consumer market rather than professional users. It's an interesting detail though. Cheers.

[@frankmuller9942]

Great Video!

[@exploregadgets]

great video :) which lens would you suggest for videos keeping autofocus in mind for sony A7II?

[@photorectoby]

That 16 to 70 f/4 is fantastic

[@bmadran]

PhotoRec Toby isn't it a crop sensor lens. more suited to a6000?

[@CliffLoehr]

Barış Madran Bans, Sony makes two 35mm lenses... The "SEL35F18" for APS-C sensors and the "Sonnar T* FE 35mm F2.8" which is for full frame cameras.

[@hflips]

Check out the 24mm-70mm f4 Sony Zeiss. It goes on sale for 600 or 700. If you pick it up used maybe 450-500. Great lens!

[@edwindatoc1000]

awesome thanks

[@albertzhang154]

how do you lock down on the exposure readout if you use back button focus?

[@giuvilas1]

Any way to setup the aps-c on/off in the custom settings? I can't find it in the list..it would be handy..

[@adriengonzales1914]

I'm going o try the back button focus tip but why do you call it a Mark ii when that is not part of the product name?

[@bactran3714]

Hi Toby: I watch your video Sony A7 Mark II, A7RII and A7SII Tips. I like it. Thanks. You also mentioned the power bank to charge the battery. My question is any power bank (usually for the smartphone with out put 1A, 2.4A) OK to use or with specific power bank. And charging with 2.4A, is it too strong that can break A7M2? Thank you. Photorec.tv

[@andrewdewar8159]

Isnt focus settings already defaulted to custon button 2 so you could choose your focus area from C2 ? I think its default C1 let you choose your white balance, C 2 is focus settings, C3 is focus type like continuous/single shot/manual/Direct manual. So you have a lot of key settings at finger tips. Rightt key of control wheel is ISO so if you use manual you have all the exposure controls right there, front dial is aaperture, rear is shutter speed, iso right there on the control wheel right key.

[@DaveMcIroy]

Is there a way to select a focus point? Not focus area. These areas are HUGE. What good are a couple of hundred focus points if I can't select them? On my 50D I had a small spot in the middle and that thing had 9 focus points.

[@Paolo_Pino]

on my X100F if I use a similar mode to the flexible spot, if I click in the center the joystick, the focus spot/area returns on the center of the frame. Since on my A7R2 there isn't the joystick, is there a way to quickly return the focus point to the center of the frame?

[@MidsierramusingBlogspot]

Thanks