RPCrowe wrote in post #18812513
I did have some problems nailing focus on the eyes when shooting with the Canon 6D Mark-2 and the 85mm f/1.4 or even the 85mm f/1.8 lenses when I was shooting wide open. I could not place a focus point on an eye in portraits because the 6D2 focus system is inherited from the crop sensor 80D and the focus point array is jammed into the center of the image. Focus and recomposing, using the camera's eye level viewfinder, is chancy at best when shooting with the razor thin DOF produced by the long lenses and wide apertures.
However when I used face detection AF with the 6D2, it nailed the eyes in focus virtually every time.
on SmugmugThe problem with 6D2 Face Detect is that it cannot be used with the eye-level viewfinder and must be used with Live View which presents its own problem because I have problems viewing the LCD for live view in bright sunny conditions. I did add a Swivi Viewfinder to the 6D2 which facilitates focusing but, which makes the camera rather unwieldy...My Sony A6500 as Face Detect and Eye AF which can be viewed using the eye level electronic viewfinder. It is great in nailing the focus in most any light level...
IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug.com …i-7X8mXxh-X3.jpg&lb=1&s=A
on Smugmug
The one caveat about Eye AF on the Sony Mirrorless Cameras is that function is not available with all lenses, especially with some non-Sony lenses adapted to the Sony cameras.
Face Detect worked with my A6500, Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens and Sigma MC-11 adapter but, Eye-AF was chancy at best...
IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug.com …0181028_7529.jpg&lb=1&s=A
on Smugmug
Some lenses such as the Sony 85mm f/1.8 have a "focus lock" button on the lens barrel which can be reprogrammed to turn on Eye AF.
However, with the new Sony A6400 and with the updated firmware for the A9, A7iii and A7Riii, the Eye-AF will be continuous and will not need to be turned on individually as you need to do with the present firmware.
Thanks for the insight. I've had the same experience with my 70d, the focus and recompose issues, less than ideal focus point clustering, etc. I've read reviews of Eye-AF with the EF 85 1.8. If it's not satisfactory, I'll spring for the Sony 85, which thankfully, is one of the more affordable Sony lenses.