The Amazing Sony A1/A7/A9/APS-C & Anything else welcome Mega Thread!

How can a lens cause front focus? Surely the camera is responsible for focus duties (as I used to be when manual focusing)? The lens focus mechanism will be driven by the camera based on the results it is seeing from its focus system. Which in the case of mirrorless is the sensor. The camera decides it has hit focus, and provides a focus lock confirmation to the user. It is this process that is breaking down, maybe a firmware update required somewhere to improve either communication between lens and body or to update the AF algorithm? I'm just a layman, so see it in those terms :D
Phase detect AF is very complex and is not just a case of bringing two images together, distance, movement and other things are all measured and fed into the processor. I don’t profess to understand it completely but I would guess any miscommunication along the way can cause focus errors.
 
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Phase detect AF is very complex and is not just a case of bringing two images together, distance, movement and other things are all measured and fed into the processor. I don’t profess to understand it completely but I would guess any miscommunication along the way can cause focus errors.

Yeah I agree, but seeing as the lens is basically sending light and an image optically, it is the camera that is deciding if things are in focus or not.

Communication comes into its own when you are talking about things going back and forward to get the image into focus, and poor communication there is going to make the process difficult especially in C-AF/tracking situations. When it is single point AF surely things are much simpler? Poor communication could cause AF hunting, but to be out of focus? I'm not convinced as it's the camera that gives the green light?

All this technical jiggery pokery is just doing the same as me using manual focus. I move the focus one way, oops too far, I move it the other, oops too far again, I move back again slower, then back again, then 'green light' eventually! At no point in this process is the lens deciding if it's in focus or not.
 
Yeah I agree, but seeing as the lens is basically sending light and an image optically, it is the camera that is deciding if things are in focus or not.

Communication comes into its own when you are talking about things going back and forward to get the image into focus, and poor communication there is going to make the process difficult especially in C-AF/tracking situations. When it is single point AF surely things are much simpler? Poor communication could cause AF hunting, but to be out of focus? I'm not convinced as it's the camera that gives the green light?

All this technical jiggery pokery is just doing the same as me using manual focus. I move the focus one way, oops too far, I move it the other, oops too far again, I move back again slower, then back again, then 'green light' eventually! At no point in this process is the lens deciding if it's in focus or not.

You're wrong, because the dock is making the adjustments to the AF of the lens... It was night and day with the Samyang and dock adjustments... not once were the camera settings changed.
 
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No I'm not, you're adding a compensation to your lens due to the camera system not identifying the correct in focus target.

I misinterpreted your post then, yes, the lens requires the compensation to match what the camera sees as in focus.
 
Raymond how are you finding the Sony system ? I can't wait to get these 3 art lenses. Miss the 1.4 I had before !

I wouldn’t call it a system as I’ve only have 1 body 1 lens and no flash. The camera is great, has its quirks, some I can work around, some can’t but I’m loving it. It’s probably the best camera I’ve ever had, even taking into account the time vs tech at the time of purchase.
 
No I'm not, you're adding a compensation to your lens due to the camera system not identifying the correct in focus target.

The lens doesn't decide focus, the camera does.
I don't know the answer for sure but I would say it has to be the camera/lens combo and the communication between the two, otherwise if you had a specific camera that front focussed on one lens by your rationale then all lenses would front focus would they not? The fact that different lenses show different front/back focus issues on the same camera suggest to me that the lens does play a part (somehow) to the final focus.
 
I don't know the answer for sure but I would say it has to be the camera/lens combo and the communication between the two, otherwise if you had a specific camera that front focussed on one lens by your rationale then all lenses would front focus would they not? The fact that different lenses show different front/back focus issues on the same camera suggest to me that the lens does play a part (somehow) to the final focus.

This is what I am trying to understand, whether it is my gammy eye or the camera CPU, ultimately you are looking at the image to determine if it is in focus. When it is, you give the green light. On Fuji I have never seen any problems, on Canon I have spent many an hour getting to know MFA (easier now with FoCal).

On a DSLR with mechanical components such as the mirror and focus array it kind of makes sense that you may have to allow for lens/body combinations. Again though on a DSLR, using live view (so on sensor AF?) has always been spot on. This concept of having to deal with mfa/focus inconsistencies is not something I want to be dealing with on mirrorless :(
 
No I'm not, you're adding a compensation to your lens due to the camera system not identifying the correct in focus target.

The lens doesn't decide focus, the camera does.

You're making a lot of assumptions about a system none of us properly understand on a technical level.

If as you say it's down to the camera alone then we should find that every lens has roughly the same AF accuracy just a variation in how quickly they do so based on their design but we know that's not the case.
 
You're making a lot of assumptions about a system none of us properly understand on a technical level.

If as you say it's down to the camera alone then we should find that every lens has roughly the same AF accuracy just a variation in how quickly they do so based on their design but we know that's not the case.

I haven't made any assumptions to be honest, if you can point out where a lens is responsible for AF then great but I've never seen that in any spec for a lens to be honest? I've explained how the image 'sensor' be it the human eye or CPU determines if the image is sharp and in focus, then gives the green light. Something is squiffy here as the CPU thinks it is in perfect focus, as the lens is providing an image from which the AF accuracy is determined, the processing has to be at fault? If manually focusing the lens still results in front focus, then I could concede that I have even less of an idea what's going on than I do now! :D
 
Calvin's also proven this too with the 85mm. Wilkinsons have now replaced his A7iii but this is also front focussing with the Sony 85mm so it's not looking more likely that it's the lens that's causing the issue rather than the camera as it would be unlikely to have two lemon cameras.
Yep, I received a replacement A7III body on Wednesday and testing with the Sony 85mm f1.8 again showed front focussing of about an inch from a distance of approx 5ft at a 45 degree angle. I can clearly see it in the evf/screen. This is confirmed in magnified view. However, if i half press the shutter in magnified view, then the focus shifts back and snaps properly into place! Following a phone call to Wilkinson's on Thursday afternoon, it was agreed that I send the lens back to them for testing/possible replacement. I sent it back that same afternoon. I will update as and when.
 
So today was the day of the local camera shop's (Cambrian Photography) open day so along I went, looking forward to coming home with a zoom lens for the Sony.
First I tried the Tamron 28-75, that felt like it was designed for e-mount, being light and compact, and lovely to use.
Then I tried the Sony 24-105 f4. This was considerably chunkier and heavier, but still very nice to use.
So it was decision time - then I found out that both are still only available on pre-order (the Tamron rep said they had issued a statement and apology re another delay but expect to fulfil back-orders in six to eight weeks!!
I pre-ordered the Tamron, but still not sure I have made the right choice - any opinions out there from people who have used or own either lens??
 
I haven't made any assumptions to be honest, if you can point out where a lens is responsible for AF then great but I've never seen that in any spec for a lens to be honest? I've explained how the image 'sensor' be it the human eye or CPU determines if the image is sharp and in focus, then gives the green light. Something is squiffy here as the CPU thinks it is in perfect focus, as the lens is providing an image from which the AF accuracy is determined, the processing has to be at fault? If manually focusing the lens still results in front focus, then I could concede that I have even less of an idea what's going on than I do now! :D
Being able to manual focus a lens accurately has no bearing on whether the lens or camera or both contribute to autofocus accuracy and tolerance tbh.

Do you agree that different lenses have different front/back focus problems on the same body? If so how do you explain this if it is only the camera that is responsible for the final focus, it just doesn’t make sense?

There are complicated algorithms that dictate where the focus should be. Could it not be the case that the camera ‘knows’ where focus should be, sends this info to the lens and then the lens doesn’t action this command correctly? This sounds pretty plausible to me.

Also, if lenses weren’t co-responsible for AF accuracy why do Sigma and Tamron have docks to allow you to fine tune the AF accuracy of the lens?

I can’t say for sure how obviously, but logic tells me from this info that the lens is at least in some way responsible for AF accuracy (y)
 
Being able to manual focus a lens accurately has no bearing on whether the lens or camera or both contribute to autofocus accuracy and tolerance tbh.

Do you agree that different lenses have different front/back focus problems on the same body? If so how do you explain this if it is only the camera that is responsible for the final focus, it just doesn’t make sense?

There are complicated algorithms that dictate where the focus should be. Could it not be the case that the camera ‘knows’ where focus should be, sends this info to the lens and then the lens doesn’t action this command correctly? This sounds pretty plausible to me.

Also, if lenses weren’t co-responsible for AF accuracy why do Sigma and Tamron have docks to allow you to fine tune the AF accuracy of the lens?

I can’t say for sure how obviously, but logic tells me from this info that the lens is at least in some way responsible for AF accuracy (y)

If you can manually focus a lens and it works, there isn't a physical problem with the lens. It means the lens is sharp and accurate. Once you start using AF it is driven by the camera, and the technical computational ability of the camera to determine if the subject is in focus. The camera controls the movement of the AF mechanism in the lens, it moves this mechanism until the camera thinks the image is in focus. The rules around how the camera decides the image is in focus is the crux of the issue as far as I can see?

I don't agree that any lens should be out on a mirrorless body, the tech should be preventing that if used properly. MFA on a DSLR, yes we know it happens but manual or live view AF have always been the accurate constant control that hit 100% every time.

I would love to know how a camera body knows where focus should be and tells the lens what to do, it needs to take the scene/AF point into account, focal length, aperture, subject etc. The lens feeds the camera information, the camera body makes the decision. This is based around me thinking that the end focus result is all based around the image and best focus of the highlighted area under the AF point, as you would manually... If the camera doesn't do this, then there will always be problems.

You may be right though, the camera may use prediction rather than verification, and the algorithm it uses just doesn't work for all lenses? That kinda makes sense to me. So possibly this is the root of the issue?

Edit: If the camera, in the pursuit of speed takes stock of the situation and decides the lens needs to move 'x' number of clicks and the scene will be in focus rather than actually verifying it is in focus, then yes if the translation of clicks to the lens is out for some reason, it's all going to end badly :D You'd think in single AF it would take it's time and make sure, having inconsistencies if C-AF I'd expect as that is generally about prediction. I wonder if pre-AF plays any part?

I've never seen this behaviour with Fuji, or Canon where using live view is the control that you set the MFA by when using software like FoCal.

Edit: Full disclosure, I'm about ten pints of Scrumpy Jack in, so this may all make no sense at all :D
 
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I pre-ordered the Tamron, but still not sure I have made the right choice - any opinions out there from people who have used or own either lens??

A little optimistic given that the Tamron has just come out and I'm not sure anyone posting here has one yet.

The reports seem very positive though, if there's no glaring flaw and you can live without the extra range then the Tamron seems a far more sensible choice at half the price.
 
I haven't made any assumptions to be honest, if you can point out where a lens is responsible for AF then great but I've never seen that in any spec for a lens to be honest? I've explained how the image 'sensor' be it the human eye or CPU determines if the image is sharp and in focus, then gives the green light. Something is squiffy here as the CPU thinks it is in perfect focus, as the lens is providing an image from which the AF accuracy is determined, the processing has to be at fault? If manually focusing the lens still results in front focus, then I could concede that I have even less of an idea what's going on than I do now! :D

You've made several, you're assuming the camera and lens work a specific way but if that were correct then it shouldn't be possible to have front or back focusing occurring.

Another example for you, the AF on my FE 90mm is worse than my other lenses, if your assumption about the camera doing everything were correct then that shouldn't be possible.
 
You've made several, you're assuming the camera and lens work a specific way but if that were correct then it shouldn't be possible to have front or back focusing occurring.

Another example for you, the AF on my FE 90mm is worse than my other lenses, if your assumption about the camera doing everything were correct then that shouldn't be possible.

Sorry, I didn't realise that it was an assumption that the camera body determines whether AF has been secured or not whilst controlling the lens. It's how all AF cameras I have ever used have worked, sorry I assume they have worked. Must be some other non AF acquisition related way that they work then. :D

I am interested in how you think they work, purely in a functional layman's way.

The AF performance, with regards to speed and operation in low light can obviously be down to a lens as that is where the AF motors are and the lens is responsible for transmitting the light/image that the camera uses to determine focus. It's easy to see how this might result in no focus, or missed focus but consistent front focus? Not sure about that myself.

None of the mirrorless systems or even non mirrorless systems using live view have ever shown anything but 100% accuracy in single shot AF with good light. Not needing MFA with mirrorless is a headline feature, that and WYSIWYG is pretty much the main reason I like mirrorless.
 
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If you can manually focus a lens and it works, there isn't a physical problem with the lens. It means the lens is sharp and accurate. Once you start using AF it is driven by the camera, and the technical computational ability of the camera to determine if the subject is in focus. The camera controls the movement of the AF mechanism in the lens, it moves this mechanism until the camera thinks the image is in focus. The rules around how the camera decides the image is in focus is the crux of the issue as far as I can see?

I don't agree that any lens should be out on a mirrorless body, the tech should be preventing that if used properly. MFA on a DSLR, yes we know it happens but manual or live view AF have always been the accurate constant control that hit 100% every time.

I would love to know how a camera body knows where focus should be and tells the lens what to do, it needs to take the scene/AF point into account, focal length, aperture, subject etc. The lens feeds the camera information, the camera body makes the decision. This is based around me thinking that the end focus result is all based around the image and best focus of the highlighted area under the AF point, as you would manually... If the camera doesn't do this, then there will always be problems.

You may be right though, the camera may use prediction rather than verification, and the algorithm it uses just doesn't work for all lenses? That kinda makes sense to me. So possibly this is the root of the issue?

Edit: If the camera, in the pursuit of speed takes stock of the situation and decides the lens needs to move 'x' number of clicks and the scene will be in focus rather than actually verifying it is in focus, then yes if the translation of clicks to the lens is out for some reason, it's all going to end badly :D You'd think in single AF it would take it's time and make sure, having inconsistencies if C-AF I'd expect as that is generally about prediction. I wonder if pre-AF plays any part?

I've never seen this behaviour with Fuji, or Canon where using live view is the control that you set the MFA by when using software like FoCal.

Edit: Full disclosure, I'm about ten pints of Scrumpy Jack in, so this may all make no sense at all :D
I agree that the camera decides where the focus should be, but as I mentioned earlier maybe certain lenses do not action this command correctly? So maybe the camera says to the lens right you need to focus at 3.25m yet the lens focuses at 3.22m? If a camera can correctly focus properly with one lens it doesn’t therefore make sense that it can’t with another one. I also have lenses that have the same front focus errors on the three different bodies I’ve used it on, how do you explain that? Why do sigma and Tamron allow you to change the focussing of the lens via a dock.

I’m not saying I’m right, but can you understand why I believe the lens may also be responsible for the final focus? Don’t forget mirrorless now use complicated phase detect systems and (in theory) are now prone to similar focus errors to DSLR.
 
So the E mount art lenses are out and still no reviews on them or mentions anywhere. Anyone here received theirs yet? I'll have mine on Tuesday, would love to see a review or users thoughts
 
I agree that the camera decides where the focus should be, but as I mentioned earlier maybe certain lenses do not action this command correctly? So maybe the camera says to the lens right you need to focus at 3.25m yet the lens focuses at 3.22m? If a camera can correctly focus properly with one lens it doesn’t therefore make sense that it can’t with another one. I also have lenses that have the same front focus errors on the three different bodies I’ve used it on, how do you explain that? Why do sigma and Tamron allow you to change the focussing of the lens via a dock.

I’m not saying I’m right, but can you understand why I believe the lens may also be responsible for the final focus? Don’t forget mirrorless now use complicated phase detect systems and (in theory) are now prone to similar focus errors to DSLR.

I just don't get the logic of the camera focusing by distance when it's using either contrast detect or pdaf methods? Pdaf is fast and potentially on it's own could cause the issue as it detects front/back focus and tells the lens how far to move in order to bring it into focus. However I was under the impression that contrast detect was used to fine tune the AF at the end? Perhaps this isn't the case with Sony though, or at least the A7III? Is it possible to force the camera to use contrast detect at all?

I don't know about Tamron, but Sigma have been producing the dock for a number of years for DSLR and it would make sense that the functionality would be the same.
 
So the E mount art lenses are out and still no reviews on them or mentions anywhere. Anyone here received theirs yet? I'll have mine on Tuesday, would love to see a review or users thoughts

Yeah, Im surprised by this, unless UK/US are getting stock first so there aren't any in the wold. Sigma hasn't given them to testers yet which is a bit odd.
 
Yeah, Im surprised by this, unless UK/US are getting stock first so there aren't any in the wold. Sigma hasn't given them to testers yet which is a bit odd.

I've alot of work this month. I'm praying they're alright haha
 
Hi folks, looking for some ideas re a problem with my A7rii...

I'd been having problems with the Auto function that switches viewing from momitor to evf automatically. Due to this, I selected either EVF or Monitor in the menu when shooting. Now, when I switch on the camera, I get no image either on the monitor or EVF. The camera seems to work fine, it makes all the right noises when I press the shutter or shoot a video, and takes pictures of whatever the camera is pointing at. I'm not sure which was selected last time I used the camera, but I am assuming either the EVF or the monitor has packed up, with the faulty display selected.

I can't find anything online about how to do a hard reset. I'm assuming a hard reset would reset the monitor/evf selection to Auto. Does anyone have any ideas? For the moment, the camera is effectively bricked.
 
Sorry, I didn't realise that it was an assumption that the camera body determines whether AF has been secured or not whilst controlling the lens. It's how all AF cameras I have ever used have worked, sorry I assume they have worked. Must be some other non AF acquisition related way that they work then. :D

You keep saying this yet still not knowing how it actually works, don't misunderstand I am not claiming to, I'm simply saying we don't have enough information.

I am interested in how you think they work, purely in a functional layman's way.

I don't know, why waste time assuming how it should work?

The AF performance, with regards to speed and operation in low light can obviously be down to a lens as that is where the AF motors are and the lens is responsible for transmitting the light/image that the camera uses to determine focus. It's easy to see how this might result in no focus, or missed focus but consistent front focus? Not sure about that myself.

Yes but we don't know how the two communicate. If it's as described and the camera does everything and just reads focus from the sensor then it shouldn't be possible to get front/back focus should it?

None of the mirrorless systems or even non mirrorless systems using live view have ever shown anything but 100% accuracy in single shot AF with good light. Not needing MFA with mirrorless is a headline feature, that and WYSIWYG is pretty much the main reason I like mirrorless.

Certainly.
 
You keep saying this yet still not knowing how it actually works, don't misunderstand I am not claiming to, I'm simply saying we don't have enough information.



I don't know, why waste time assuming how it should work?



Yes but we don't know how the two communicate. If it's as described and the camera does everything and just reads focus from the sensor then it shouldn't be possible to get front/back focus should it?



Certainly.

There are plenty of sources to read up on how pdaf/cdaf work and are employed, but you are right in that I am assuming Sony do the same. They don't appear to document how their implementation works. That is what I am questioning though, at a basic level a DSLR uses cdaf in live view and whilst slow is very accurate. The cdaf process is pretty straight forward and pdaf improves on this speed wise.

Found quite an interesting blog (also talks about the 35mm f1.4 copy variation) here:

https://blog.kasson.com/category/a7riii/

On page 2 there is an AF accuracy summary which mentions the focus shift on a number of lenses. Maybe this process might be part of the problem? I dunno, we'll see how things pan out.
 
There are plenty of sources to read up on how pdaf/cdaf work and are employed, but you are right in that I am assuming Sony do the same. They don't appear to document how their implementation works. That is what I am questioning though, at a basic level a DSLR uses cdaf in live view and whilst slow is very accurate. The cdaf process is pretty straight forward and pdaf improves on this speed wise.

Found quite an interesting blog (also talks about the 35mm f1.4 copy variation) here:

https://blog.kasson.com/category/a7riii/

On page 2 there is an AF accuracy summary which mentions the focus shift on a number of lenses. Maybe this process might be part of the problem? I dunno, we'll see how things pan out.

Wasn't focus shift with the Samyang 35 1.4, it was at all distances. I could fine tune the AF using the dock so I could force a huge front or rear focus which nobody thought was possible with mirrorless. Tolerances just like DSLR lenses it seems, maybe more so with 3rd party because the QC isnt as good and they dont have all of Sonys AF algorithms figured out yet.
 
Wasn't focus shift with the Samyang 35 1.4, it was at all distances. I could fine tune the AF using the dock so I could force a huge front or rear focus which nobody thought was possible with mirrorless. Tolerances just like DSLR lenses it seems, maybe more so with 3rd party because the QC isnt as good and they dont have all of Sonys AF algorithms figured out yet.

Yeah, I don't think it would be focus shift to be honest. As when shooting wide open it wouldn't be a factor.

That's the thing though, as you mention DSLR it's completely different in that context. You can have a whole bunch of lenses that need MFA, and the way you work through that process? You use live view with on sensor AF as it's accurate and consistent (at least in my experience with Canon, haven't used MFA with Nikon). Basically no matter the MFA setting, using live view to focus on a DSLR still hits every time. You've proved with your testing there is a disconnect in this process with Sony somewhere as you can force front/back focus. I might test this with my Sigma lens on Canon (use the dock to see if I can make it front/back focus even when using live view).

Were your AF problems the same whatever the distance? (Edit: sorry, you already said that!) At least if that's the case any MFA fix would at least be easy to apply.
 
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Yeah, I don't think it would be focus shift to be honest. As when shooting wide open it wouldn't be a factor.

That's the thing though, as you mention DSLR it's completely different in that context. You can have a whole bunch of lenses that need MFA, and the way you work through that process? You use live view with on sensor AF as it's accurate and consistent (at least in my experience with Canon, haven't used MFA with Nikon).

Were your AF problems the same whatever the distance? (Edit: sorry, you already said that!) At least if that's the case any MFA fix would at least be easy to apply.

Yup, the MA fix is very easy via dock, set from +4 to -4, click of the mouse, its just the testing that takes a little time but at least its not between +20 and -20!
 
@jj_glos Heres an example, 3 clicks difference....

My custom adjust was -3 (left), right is at 0. Night and day difference. This was one of hundreds of shots at various distances. Focus on left hand side branch.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/87090421@N02/40575895340/sizes/o/

Yeah you've basically proved that the lens can be made to front/back focus, so I'll shut up now :D I think it's a worrying development but at least with Samsung, Tamron and Sigma it looks like you can fix it. I wonder how Sony will address it?
 
Yeah you've basically proved that the lens can be made to front/back focus, so I'll shut up now :D I think it's a worrying development but at least with Samsung, Tamron and Sigma it looks like you can fix it. I wonder how Sony will address it?

Tamron and Sigma dont have FE docks afaik, Samyang only so far, I think the others will follow. Its not great but fixable, I dont mind spending time on a lens if its spot on when tuned.
 
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Tamron and Sigma dont have FE docks afaik, Samyang only so far, I think the others will follow. Its not great but fixable, I dont mind spending time on a lens if its spot on when tuned.

Ah right, are the Sony fit docks available just in A mount at the moment then? (Edit: quick Google and it looks like that is the case). Yeah, if it's a one time fix I can live with that.
 
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I just don't get the logic of the camera focusing by distance when it's using either contrast detect or pdaf methods? Pdaf is fast and potentially on it's own could cause the issue as it detects front/back focus and tells the lens how far to move in order to bring it into focus. However I was under the impression that contrast detect was used to fine tune the AF at the end? Perhaps this isn't the case with Sony though, or at least the A7III? Is it possible to force the camera to use contrast detect at all?

I don't know about Tamron, but Sigma have been producing the dock for a number of years for DSLR and it would make sense that the functionality would be the same.
My understanding is that PDAF uses distances and movement as well as a way to help with tracking motion, it uses complicated software to 'predict' where the next shot should be. It's not simply a case of bringing two images together (although this is part of the process). I thought that Sony finished off with contrast detect too but my recent reading suggests that it's purely PDAF on the latest bodies which is what allows it to be as fast as DSLR, contrast detect still can't track as fast as PDAF. In AF-S it may well still be finished off with contrast detect, I don't know.
 
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