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.
Tracking:
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 [Tracking] 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.


When focusing on a larger area

When focusing on a smaller area

  • When [Focus Area] is set to [Wide] or [Zone], the focusing frame may switch between “When focusing on a larger area” and “When focusing on a smaller area” depending on the subject or situation.
  • When you attach an A-mount lens with a Mount Adaptor (LA-EA1, LA-EA3 or LA-EA5) (sold separately), the focusing frame for “When focusing on a smaller area” 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], [Zone], [Tracking: Flexible Spot], [Tracking: Expand Flexible Spot] or [Tracking: 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], and set [Func. of Touch Operation] to [Touch Focus] beforehand.


To track the subject temporarily (Tracking On)

You can temporarily change the setting for [Focus Area] to [Tracking] while you press and hold down the custom key to which you have assigned [Tracking On] in advance. The [Focus Area] setting before you activated [Tracking On] will switch to the equivalent [Tracking] setting.

For example:

[Focus Area] before you activate [Tracking On] [Focus Area] while [Tracking On] is active
[Wide] [Tracking: Wide]
[Flexible Spot: S] [Tracking: Flexible Spot S]
[Expand Flexible Spot] [Tracking: Expand Flexible Spot]

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, [Tracking] cannot be selected as the [Focus Area].
  • When [Subject Detection] for [Face/Eye AF Set.] is set to [Animal], [Tracking] cannot be selected as the [Focus Area].
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