A70 autofocus?

[Sundance]

Was just playing with my dad's brand new A70 and in auto mode the camera seems to lock on to several different places at once (shown by several green boxes in the LCD when the shutter release is half-pressed).

Is this just the camera trying to focus on the nearest subject in auto mode? I was surprised to see several focus boxes appear as I am used to using just one to focus on the main subject of the frame (I am a G3 user).

Any explanations greatly appreciated as I couldn't find the answer easily in the manual in the brief time I had to look at it!

Thanks!

[cheewooi]

Try to disable the AIAF on the menu. If the camera is in auto mode, the AIAF mode is enabled automatically, there's no way to disable the AiAf in auto mode. You can try the P (Programmable) mode or any manual setting such as M (manual), Av (arpeture priority) and Tv (shutter priority). Even the creative mode also can have the AIAF disabled. By disabling the AIAF, there's only one square bracket in the center of the LCD screen, therefore the focus is always in the center. There's no need to worried on focus on wrong object. IMHO, is better to disable the AIAF bcoz most of the time the AIAF doesn't focus on the object we wanted to.

Hope that help!

[stduc]

Not having my A70 with me I can't check, but if memory serves, you get two autofucus options (set in menu).
Option 1 it optimises focus for the scene and then puts boxes on the screen to show you what is in focus - i.e. what it selected.
Option 2 (as it were) tells it to always focus on the central object.
Somethings is nagging at the back of what passes for my brain however saying these boxes show which bits of the scene it has optimimised the exposure for? Dunno - Anyone else care top comment?

[cA70]

I do beleive that studc is right from my mem.

Looking at my camera (5 mins later) theres settings AiAF which i think means 'put the moving green box on' which is anoying and i never use it. I focous on the subjust that i want and not what the camera think's i want, then moving into shot with the button still half pressed.

And the other might be of topic is the AF

[stduc]

I tend to have focus assist beam on by default as it seems to do no harm. Not that it seems to do a lot of good either! But I do have the multifocus set to central only and I also have exposure set to centre weighted. Having said that, I try to remember to turn off the assist beam if I don't want anyone to know I'm taking pictures - as it's a bit of a giveaway!!!

[Sundance]

Thanks everyone

I will have a play with the camera today and see how we get on.

[cA70]

stduc wrote:
I try to remember to turn off the assist beam if I don't want anyone to know I'm taking pictures - as it's a bit of a giveaway!!!


MR SNEAKY!!!!!
why would u care if people know? Isn't it a bit ovious with a camera to your head?