Here’s how the Nikon Z7 Eye-AF compares to the Sony A7RIII Eye-AF
Mar 4, 2019
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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Although Newsshooter might’ve been the first to see Nikon’s Eye AF in action at this year’s CP+ 2019, DPReview actually took along a Sony A7RIII with them to see how well Nikon’s new Eye AF, coming in a firmware update for the Nikon Z6 and Z7 mirrorless cameras, really compares side-by-side. At least under the environmental conditions set by Nikon on their stand.
While this was a fairly non-scientific demonstration on Nikon’s stand at the show, and while they weren’t allowed to actually put cards in the cameras on the stand and take footage away with them, this comparison shows that Nikon’s Eye AF does indeed seem to be able to keep up just fine with Sony’s Eye AF. At least, for the most part.
The Sony A7RIII definitely looks like it handles eyes at a distance a little better than the Nikon Z7, however, when it did have a lock, the Nikon seemed to want to hold onto the eye for much longer once it became obscured – in this case, by the subject’s hand.
Of course, the firmware isn’t coming out for a couple of months yet, so Nikon has time to tweak it. It will be interesting to see how much, or even if, the firmware improves at all between now and the final release when it comes to Eye AF. But it looks like they might not have screwed it up, after all.
[via DPReview]
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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4 responses to “Here’s how the Nikon Z7 Eye-AF compares to the Sony A7RIII Eye-AF”
Imagine that… one company makes the sensors for both of the cameras! Their name rhymes with “bony”
Sony may manufacture it but it was designed by Nikon. Sort of how Foxconn manufacturers the iPhone but Apple designs it. Or how Apple designs all their IC chips but a third party does the fabrication. Or how the piano was designed ages ago and is built by hundreds of manufacturers. Or how a recipe is in a book and you just cook it (not create it). In a nutshell your point is about as valid as… Well it’s not valid…
Damn.. That shaking made me cry a lot!
Btw, sony’s eye af is still the best, more regular, more precious and more fast. Good job for Nikon to their try.
While I was a beloved Nikon user for almost 2 decades, Sony has lept ahead in so many ways,eye focus just one area. Let’s compare eye focus after both firmware updates roll out. Sonys may be the nail in the coffen with true AI and eye grabs all the time.