Sony has released Software Version 3.0 which brings a few interesting features to the a7R III and the a7 III. First, the previously announced real-time Animal Eye AF is now available. Next, Sony added the interval shooting for timelapse. And last but not least, the Real-time eye AF performance has been enhanced in the latest firmware update.
The “CANIKON” is the world’s first autofocus Canon-to-Nikon adapter
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If you want to use a Canon EF lens on a Nikon Z camera, with autofocus – it’s about to become possible. Kipon has announced the world’s first Canon-to-Nikon adapter that lets you use EF-mount lenses with Nikon Z cameras without losing the autofocus function.
Back Button Focus – What it is and why you might want to use it
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Yes, we’re bringing up back button focus. This is one of those things that regularly seems to split the camera owning public. One side swears by it, the other side can’t stand it or just doesn’t see the point. But, like many things in photography, it’s just another way of doing something. In this case, focusing your lens.
In this video, photographer Pierre Lambert looks at what back button focus is, and when it might be beneficial to use it. He also looks at when it may be more beneficial to do things the old fashioned way with a half press of the shutter.
Contrast detection autofocus doesn’t suck as much as you think and here’s why
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New cameras get a lot of hassle over their autofocus systems. Either it doesn’t have Eye AF, or it isn’t dual pixel or it’s not phase detection. But what do all of these things mean? And I don’t just mean what are the technical differences, but how and why does this matter in the real world? And to whom does it matter?
That’s what this video from Gerald Undone covers, in probably the most unbiased way I’ve ever seen. Autofocus technology is evolving rapidly, and he covers just about all of it. He explains how they work, the pros and cons of each, when the system your camera uses matters and when it probably doesn’t.
The Fringer adapters nail focus every time on the Fuji X-T3, even at 11fps with a 600mm lens
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The AF features of Fujifilm X-T3 are pretty impressive, judging from the tests so far. But it doesn’t only work well with native lenses: the X-T3 nails focus even with a 600mm lens paired with a Fringer adapter. In this video from Fringer, check out how well the Fujifilm XT-3 performs even with a non-native, adapted telephoto lens.
How far Sony’s autofocus system has evolved in just the past four years
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It’s pretty crazy just how quickly mirrorless technology has evolved, especially from Sony. They went from being a somewhat small player in the world of photography to pretty much the dominating force in the mirrorless world, and driving sales away from DSLRs.
But just how far has Sony come in those short few years since the original A7 series? In this video, Dave Dugdale picks up his old Sony A7S and compares it to his current model Sony A7RIII to find out!
GH5 autofocus finally looks fixed with the new 2.3 firmware – maybe
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Despite being the rather good video-focused camera that it is, the Panasonic GH5 has been plagued with one big problem. Autofocus. While serious video professionals may say “Bah, who needs autofocus for video?!?!”, plenty of people still want good video AF performance. Many vloggers, for example, shoot with the GH5 and rely on the autofocus to keep up with constant movement in front of the camera.
But has the new 2.3 firmware finally solved the problem of the GH5’s autofocus? Well, Carl Yates at ProAV wanted to find out. So he took a pair of Panasonic GH5 cameras with identical Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 lenses, one running the older 2.2 firmware and the other with the new 2.3 firmware to test them side-by-side.
Contrast vs Phase Detection autofocus – What it means and why it matters.
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Often, we hear much talk about the advantages and disadvantages of phase detection vs contrast-based autofocus systems. But not everybody knows what that means or why it matters. I had a rough idea, but I didn’t really understand it myself until I watched this video from photographer David Flores for B&H. In it, David explains how each of the two systems work, when it’s best to use one or the other, and how various camera AF systems work today using one or a combination of both methods.
Here’s how to nail focus every time even at f/1.4
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Getting precise and sharp focus at f/1.4 isn’t always an easy task, even with autofocus. In this video, Manny Ortiz shares some techniques that help him nail focus every time. He mainly shoots portraits, and he shares with you three tips that will help you get sharp and consistent focus.
How zone focusing will help you to get better street photography
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Zone focusing is a term that often seems to confuse people. But if you don’t know what it is, then it’s quite easy to understand why. It’s a common technique for a lot of subjects, and particularly for street photography. I often use it myself because it means I can just raise my camera, take the shot and know it’s in focus where it needs to be.
This video from photographer David Coleman explains exactly what zone focusing is, with several ways to implement it in your shoot workflow. Once mastered, it can be a fantastic way to let you shoot with confidence on the street, just knowing that your subject is in focus.
