Focusing on human eyes

The camera can automatically recognize faces and eyes and focus on the eyes.

The following explanation is for cases where the recognition target is human. The faces of up to 8 subjects can be recognized.

There are two methods of focusing on eyes, with some differences between their specifications. Select the appropriate method according to your purpose.

Item [Subject Recog in AF] function [Subject Recognition AF] via a custom key
Characteristics The camera will recognize faces/eyes with greater priority. The camera will recognize faces/eyes exclusively.
Advance preparation
  • Select [Subject Recog in AF] → [On].
  • Select [Recognition Target] → [Human].
 Assign [Subject Recognition AF] to the desired key using [Custom Key/Dial Set.] or [Custom Key/Dial Set.].
How to focus Press the shutter button halfway down.*1 Press the key to which you have assigned the [Subject Recognition AF] function.*2
Function details
  • When the camera recognizes a face or eye inside or around the designated [Focus Area], it focuses on the face or eye with greater priority.
  • If the camera does not recognize any faces or eyes inside or around the designated [Focus Area], it will focus on another subject.
  • The camera focuses exclusively on faces or eyes anywhere on the screen, regardless of the setting for [Focus Area].
  • The camera will not automatically focus on another subject if no face or eye is recognized anywhere on the screen.
Focus mode Follows the setting designated with [Focus Mode] Follows the setting designated with [Focus Mode]
Focus area Follows the setting designated with [Focus Area] The focus area temporarily becomes the entire screen, regardless of the setting for [Focus Area].


*1 This operation is for focusing when shooting still images. When shooting movies, the camera will focus on recognized faces or eyes, even if you do not press the shutter button.

*2 Regardless of whether [Subject Recog in AF] is set to [On] or [Off], if you have assigned [Subject Recognition AF] to a custom key, you can use [Subject Recognition AF] while you are pressing that custom key.


[Subject Recognition AF] by custom key

This function can be used by assigning [Subject Recognition AF] to a custom key. The camera can focus on eyes as long as you are pressing the key. This is useful when you want to temporarily perform auto-focusing anywhere on the entire screen regardless of the setting for [Focus Area].

If the camera does not recognize any faces or eyes, auto-focusing will not be performed.

  1. MENU → (Setup) → [Operation Customize] → [Custom Key/Dial Set.] or [Custom Key/Dial Set.] → desired key, then assign the [Subject Recognition AF] function to the key.
  2. MENU → (Focus) → [Subject Recognition] → [Recognition Target] → [Human].
  3. Point the camera at the face of a human, and press the key to which you have assigned the [Subject Recognition AF] function.

    To shoot a still image, press the shutter button while pressing the key.

To focus on the eyes of an animal or a bird

Before shooting, set [Recognition Target] to [Animal] or [Bird] according to the subject.

Hint

  • Setting [Sbj Recog Frm Disp.] or [Sbj Recog Frm Disp.] to [On] makes it easier to check the detection status of faces or eyes.

Note

  • It may be difficult to focus on eyes in the following situations:
    • When the person is wearing sunglasses.
    • When the front hair covers the person’s eyes.
    • In low-light or back-lit conditions.
    • When the eyes are closed.
    • When the subject is in the shade.
    • When the subject is out of focus.
    • When the subject is moving too much

    There are also other situations in which it may not be possible to focus on the eyes.

  • When the camera cannot focus on human eyes, it will recognize and focus on a face instead. The camera cannot focus on eyes when no human faces are recognized.
  • The camera may not recognize faces at all or may accidentally recognize other objects as faces under some conditions.
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