Focus Area

Selects the focusing area. Use this function when it is difficult to focus properly in the auto focus mode.

  1. MENU → (Camera Settings1) → [Focus Area] → desired setting.

Menu item details

Wide :
Focuses on a subject covering the whole range of the screen automatically. When you press the shutter button halfway down in the still image shooting mode, a green frame is displayed around the area that is in focus.
Zone :
Select a zone on the monitor on which to focus, and the product will automatically select a focus area.
Center :
Focuses automatically on a subject in the center of the image. Use together with the focus-lock function to create the composition you want.
Flexible Spot :
Allows you to move the focusing frame to a desired point on the screen and focus on an extremely small subject in a narrow area.
Expand Flexible Spot :
If the product cannot focus on a single selected point, it uses focus points around the flexible spot as a secondary priority area for focusing.
Lock-on AF :
When the shutter button is pressed and held halfway down, the product tracks the subject within the selected autofocus area. This setting is available only when the [Focus Mode] is set to [Continuous AF]. Point the cursor at [Lock-on AF] on the [Focus Area] setting screen, and then select the desired area to start tracking using the left/right sides of the control wheel. You can also move the tracking start area to the desired point by designating the area as a zone, flexible spot or expand flexible spot.


Examples of the focusing frame display

The focusing frame differs as follows depending on the shooting mode.

When focusing with the phase detection AF or contrast AF

When focusing with the phase detection AF

  • When you attach an A-mount lens with a Mount Adaptor (LA-EA1 or LA-EA3) (sold separately) and [AF System] is set to [Phase Detection AF], the focusing frame for “When focusing with the phase detection AF” may be displayed.

When focus is achieved automatically based on the whole range of the monitor

  • When you use a zoom function other than the optical zoom, the [Focus Area] setting is disabled and the focusing frame is shown by the dotted line. The AF operates with priority on and around the center area.

To move the focus area

  • You can move the focus area in [Flexible Spot], [Expand Flexible Spot], or [Zone] by operating the multi-selector. If you assign [Focus Standard] to the center of the multi-selector beforehand, you can move the focusing frame back to the center of the monitor by pressing the center of the multi-selector.
  • You can move the focusing frame quickly by touching and dragging it on the monitor. Set [Touch Operation] to [On] beforehand.

Hint

  • In the default settings, [Focus Area] is assigned to the C2 button.

Note

  • [Focus Area] is locked to [Wide] in the following situations:
    • [Intelligent Auto]
  • The focus area may not light up during continuous shooting or when the shutter button is pressed all the way down at once.
  • When the mode dial is set to (Movie) or or during movie shooting, [Lock-on AF] cannot be selected as the [Focus Area].
Go to Page Top