AF-ON button continues to try focusing after finger liftoff

Greybeard2017 wrote:

sshapiro wrote:

TheHiko17 wrote:

sshapiro wrote:

I must not understand the problem. I have tested this on three cameras (X-H2s, X-T3, and an X-E4) and none of them continue to try to focus after I stop pressing the AFL button (X-T3), AEL/AFL (X-E4), or AF On button (X-H2s).

On each of these systems I have configured the following:

• X-T3, Configured AFL button to perform the AF On function
• XE4, Configured AEL/AFL button to perform the AF On function
• X-H2s, Configured AF On button to perform the AF On function
• Disabled Shutter AF for both AF-S and AF-C
• Set AE/AF Lock Mode to P instead of S (not sure if this is matters)

All the cameras work in a similar way. Here is an example using the X-E4.

When I press the configured button in AF-S mode:

When I can get focus, I see a green box and a green circle under the AF-S text on the screen. After I stop pressing the configured button, the green box and green circle disappear and the system stops trying to focus.

When I can't get focus, I see a red box and a blinking white circle under the AF-S text on the screen (lower left corner). After I stop pressing the AFL button, the red box and white circle disappear and the system stops trying to focus.

When I press the configured button in AF-C mode:

When I can get focus, I see a green box and a green circle in parenthesis replaces the AF-C text on the screen (lower left corner). After I stop pressing the configured button, the green box and green circle disappear and the system stops trying to focus.

When I can't get focus, I see a white box and empty parenthesis replace the AF-C text on the screen (lower left corner). After I stop pressing the configured button, the white box and empty parenthesis disappear and the system stops trying to focus.

Sorry my initial explanation might not have been clear enough. Are you lifting your finger off while the camera is in the process of trying to focus? From what you wrote it sounds like your'e not releasing the AF-ON function button until after it's done trying.

So in both AF-S and AF-C scenarios above for when you can't get focus, try just tapping the button, not keeping it pressed. You should see the camera continue to attempt focusing. In comparison, when using the shutter button, the camera will immediately cease to focus when you lift your finger off.

I just tried it on my X-T3 using both AF-S and AF-C. The camera stops trying to focus as soon a I release the AFL button (via a tap, not a long held press). It seems to work just like when I press and release the shutter button (when it is configured to get focus). Maybe this is related to having another function enabled or not enabled.

Try it in low light in a situation where the camera would not be in focus - for example focus on something at a distance and then focus on something close up - that is where the difference is most obvious.

I just tried this. I set my X-T3 to ISO 800 and the exposure was 5 stops underexposed. The focus system worked as I described before on both near and far objects using AF-S and AF-C. I tested with the newer XF 27mm attached.