What is the autofocus (AF points) of a camera? Better cameras by AF points
We are going to answer a question: What is the autofocus of a camera? And we are going to explain some of the AF options present in most DSLR (Digital Reflex) cameras.
We are also going to buy the autofocus of a DSLR camera versus an EVIL (CSC) camera. And then we are going to tell you which cameras are the best if we take into account their quantity and quality of AF points.
What is autofocus? Explanation of the AF options of a camera
The best cameras by quality price in 2020: DSLR and EVIL cameras (CSC)
You will be able to do more things with them and take pictures that you had not even considered with a model with fewer AF points.
You will be able to follow subjects that go at high speed
You can let the camera choose for you the type of AF points to use to improve the image
You can choose the best AF points for the shot yourself (some AF points are more sensitive than others)
You can select a certain group of AF points that suits you to correctly compose your photo or you can simply select a single AF point.
In short, you will be able to improve the quality of your photographs if you learn to use the correct type of AF points for each type of shot (landscapes, portraits, sports scenes, photos of many people).
Digital cameras typically have three autofocus modes (AF or autofocus): single shot, continuous, and automatic. Different manufacturers use different names for these modes, but they all work the same way.
As the name suggests, the single-shot AF mode is designed for those times when we only want the camera to focus once. We press the shutter button halfway to activate the autofocus and once the camera locks, we have our focus. It is the perfect choice when you are dealing with static subjects.
The continuous AF mode is a good choice for shooting moving subjects. In this case, the camera will continuously adjust the focus to keep track of the action.
The automatic AF mode switches between single-shot and continuous, depending on whether the camera detects motion or not.
Like all automatic options, the camera can do things wrong. You can focus on something specific in the foreground or background, rather than what we want. In some situations, the lens is centered correctly, but if light levels are low, or there is no detail that the camera can detect, then it will not focus at all.
Manual focus allows you to correct these problems. It also allows you to lock focus at a certain distance.
The camera doesn't focus in the right place
AF puntos
Digital SLR cameras have a series of AF points that can be seen in the viewfinder. The camera uses these AF points to detect contrasting lines and actuate the focus mechanism.
If all AF points are active, then the camera decides where to focus. This is where things can go wrong. It is much better to choose the AF point that corresponds to what we want to photograph.
Inevitably some lenses are designed to focus faster than others, but choosing the correct autofocus mode, setting a single AF point, and working with good brightness will make a difference in the speed at which any lens focuses.
More advanced cameras allow you to adjust the sensitivity of the autofocus system at the expense of precision.
We are also going to buy the autofocus of a DSLR camera versus an EVIL (CSC) camera. And then we are going to tell you which cameras are the best if we take into account their quantity and quality of AF points.
What is autofocus? Explanation of the AF options of a camera
The best cameras by quality price in 2020: DSLR and EVIL cameras (CSC)
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What is the advantage of a camera having many AF points?
You will be able to do more things with them and take pictures that you had not even considered with a model with fewer AF points.
You will be able to follow subjects that go at high speed
You can let the camera choose for you the type of AF points to use to improve the image
You can choose the best AF points for the shot yourself (some AF points are more sensitive than others)
You can select a certain group of AF points that suits you to correctly compose your photo or you can simply select a single AF point.
In short, you will be able to improve the quality of your photographs if you learn to use the correct type of AF points for each type of shot (landscapes, portraits, sports scenes, photos of many people).
What is autofocus? Explanation of the AF options of a camera
Digital cameras typically have three autofocus modes (AF or autofocus): single shot, continuous, and automatic. Different manufacturers use different names for these modes, but they all work the same way.
As the name suggests, the single-shot AF mode is designed for those times when we only want the camera to focus once. We press the shutter button halfway to activate the autofocus and once the camera locks, we have our focus. It is the perfect choice when you are dealing with static subjects.
The continuous AF mode is a good choice for shooting moving subjects. In this case, the camera will continuously adjust the focus to keep track of the action.
The automatic AF mode switches between single-shot and continuous, depending on whether the camera detects motion or not.
How the autofocus of your camera works
Like all automatic options, the camera can do things wrong. You can focus on something specific in the foreground or background, rather than what we want. In some situations, the lens is centered correctly, but if light levels are low, or there is no detail that the camera can detect, then it will not focus at all.
Manual focus allows you to correct these problems. It also allows you to lock focus at a certain distance.
The camera doesn't focus in the right place
AF puntos
Digital SLR cameras have a series of AF points that can be seen in the viewfinder. The camera uses these AF points to detect contrasting lines and actuate the focus mechanism.
If all AF points are active, then the camera decides where to focus. This is where things can go wrong. It is much better to choose the AF point that corresponds to what we want to photograph.
How to focus faster
Inevitably some lenses are designed to focus faster than others, but choosing the correct autofocus mode, setting a single AF point, and working with good brightness will make a difference in the speed at which any lens focuses.
More advanced cameras allow you to adjust the sensitivity of the autofocus system at the expense of precision.
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However, to deliver the image on the rear display, the mirror has to be blocked, that is, the AF module is not exposed to light. Instead, the camera has to measure the level of contrast on the sensor itself. This is a slower process.
The AF mode determines how a camera focuses, but the AF area dictates where the camera focuses. Basic SLRs offer two options: either all active points or just a single point is active.
More advanced cameras offer options to reduce the total number of AF points available to speed up focusing, or to allow small groups of AF points to be selected manually.
It's not just the number of AF points on a camera that makes a difference in focusing speed and accuracy - it also depends on the type of AF point.
The basic types only measure contrast or lines on one plane - either horizontal or vertical - while the more advanced "cross-hair" AF points use a combination of both.
Dual cross-hair AF points also detect diagonal contrast for greater precision.
Even though a camera can contain a mix of all of these AF points, the best performance is only unlocked at larger apertures such as f / 2.8 and f / 5.6.
DLSR Autofocus camera vs CSC Autofocus camera
DSLR Cameras - Used to be better before, but not so much now. They are better for tracking fast subjects, but they fail in Live View.
CSC cameras: Live View AF performance is very good when using the LCD screen, while newer models can have excellent AF performance when using the EVF (not the case with older models).
The viewfinder AF system is really efficient when using the viewfinder on DSLRs, not so much with the LCD screen. On the other hand, in CSC, having a contrast AF system, they do not have this problem. It will depend a lot on how you use your camera (viewfinder or Live View on the LCD screen).
The Sony a7 III is a 24 MP full-frame camera that incorporates many of the features and enhancements found in the a7R III. The main ones are a BSI sensor, along with the larger capacity battery, AF joystick, and the company's impressive EyeAF function. Its 693-point AF system offers 93% coverage. It has continuous shooting up to 10 fps with a mechanical shutter, and 5-axis stabilization on the body.
It can record 4K / 24p video and offers S-Log2 and S-Log3 gamma. The new battery lasts up to 710 shots per charge. It uses the same 2.36 million dot OLED viewfinder as its predecessor. The viewfinder is complemented by an articulating 3 ″ 921k-dot LCD screen.
Why is my camera focusing very slowly in Live View mode?
While most of the light reflected by an SLR mirror bounces back towards the viewfinder, some of it passes through it to a secondary mirror. This reflects light to a dedicated AF module.However, to deliver the image on the rear display, the mirror has to be blocked, that is, the AF module is not exposed to light. Instead, the camera has to measure the level of contrast on the sensor itself. This is a slower process.
The AF mode determines how a camera focuses, but the AF area dictates where the camera focuses. Basic SLRs offer two options: either all active points or just a single point is active.
More advanced cameras offer options to reduce the total number of AF points available to speed up focusing, or to allow small groups of AF points to be selected manually.
It's not just the number of AF points on a camera that makes a difference in focusing speed and accuracy - it also depends on the type of AF point.
The basic types only measure contrast or lines on one plane - either horizontal or vertical - while the more advanced "cross-hair" AF points use a combination of both.
Dual cross-hair AF points also detect diagonal contrast for greater precision.
Even though a camera can contain a mix of all of these AF points, the best performance is only unlocked at larger apertures such as f / 2.8 and f / 5.6.
DLSR Autofocus camera vs CSC Autofocus camera
DSLR Cameras - Used to be better before, but not so much now. They are better for tracking fast subjects, but they fail in Live View.
CSC cameras: Live View AF performance is very good when using the LCD screen, while newer models can have excellent AF performance when using the EVF (not the case with older models).
The viewfinder AF system is really efficient when using the viewfinder on DSLRs, not so much with the LCD screen. On the other hand, in CSC, having a contrast AF system, they do not have this problem. It will depend a lot on how you use your camera (viewfinder or Live View on the LCD screen).
Which cameras are the best if we consider their quantity and quality of AF points?
With 693 phase-detection AF system and 425 contrast AF pointsThe Sony a7 III is a 24 MP full-frame camera that incorporates many of the features and enhancements found in the a7R III. The main ones are a BSI sensor, along with the larger capacity battery, AF joystick, and the company's impressive EyeAF function. Its 693-point AF system offers 93% coverage. It has continuous shooting up to 10 fps with a mechanical shutter, and 5-axis stabilization on the body.
It can record 4K / 24p video and offers S-Log2 and S-Log3 gamma. The new battery lasts up to 710 shots per charge. It uses the same 2.36 million dot OLED viewfinder as its predecessor. The viewfinder is complemented by an articulating 3 ″ 921k-dot LCD screen.
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