a7 IV: Autofocus, set up right — Camera Select

Sony · a7 IV · Free lesson

Autofocus, set up right

How do you make the a7 IV’s autofocus hold onto your subject instead of hunting?

camerasdecoded.com/camera-select/sony/a7-iv/autofocus

The answer — share this

AF-C, Tracking: Zone as your home area, Eye AF on for people — and Tracking Sensitivity at 1 when one subject must not be stolen by the crowd.

Focus Mode: Continuous AF · Focus Area: Tracking: Zone · Face/Eye Prior. in AF: On · Face/Eye Subject: Human · AF Tracking Sensitivity: 1 (events) / 3 (general)

Cameras Decoded — Camera Select

Step 1

Tracking needs Continuous AF

Dial / Focus Mode→Continuous AF

Every Tracking focus area only works in Continuous AF. In Single AF the Tracking options are not even offered. Set AF-C first; it is the stills mode this camera’s tracking was built around.

Step 2

Make Tracking: Zone your home area

MENU→Focus→Focus Area→Focus Area

Wide sees the whole frame and guesses. Spot is one point you must keep on the subject yourself. Tracking: Zone is the working middle: you place a zone on your subject, the camera locks on and follows it across the frame — including onto the eye when Face/Eye AF is on.

The three areas that matter

Zone (dashed) is where you point the camera. Spot (amber) is one exact point — portraits on a tripod, macro. Eye AF (white) is what tracking grabs when a face is in the frame.

Step 3

Shorten the list with Focus Area Limit

MENU→Focus→Focus Area→Focus Area Limit

Uncheck every area you never use. The Focus Area list is how you switch under pressure — a list of three you know beats a list of ten you scroll. Keep: Tracking: Zone, Zone, Spot: M.

Step 4

Turn on Eye AF and pick your subject

MENU→Focus→Face/Eye AF

Face/Eye Prior. in AF stays On (its default). Face/Eye Subject chooses Human, Animal, or Bird — the camera’s recognition is trained per subject, so tell it the truth. Right/Left Eye Select lets you pin the near eye for portraits.

Know this: eye switching does not work with Bird subjects, and for animals and birds, frame the whole head — eye detection needs it in frame.

Step 5

Set how stubborn tracking is

MENU→Focus→AF/MF→AF Tracking Sensitivity

This is the setting most a7 IV owners never find. 1 (Locked on) keeps focus on your subject when people cross in front of it — weddings, events, one speaker at a podium. 5 (Responsive) jumps to whatever moves — sports, kids, chaos. 3 is the factory middle. Match it to the job, not your mood.

Try it now

Set Tracking Sensitivity to 1, pick one person, and have someone walk between you and them. Focus should stay put. Then set 5 and repeat — feel the difference you just bought.