Does PDAF work on Sigma 60mm 2.8 DN A?

[Mister Roboto]

I've read before that PDAF doesn't work on Sigma lenses.

I have my NEX-6 setup this way...

- Single-shot AF enabled

- PDAF Area ON

- Autofocus Area Multi

- AF/MF Select AF

When I half-press the shutter, it will lit up different points on the grid so PDAF works or not? TIA

 

[jackalopemaui]

I'm wondering this too because I'm considering replacing my A77 with an A6000 and some Sigma lenses for portraits... If the 60mm doesn't work with PDAF, tracking, etc, that's a bummer!

 

[dquangt]

I've read before that PDAF doesn't work on Sigma lenses.

I have my NEX-6 setup this way...

- Single-shot AF enabled

- PDAF Area ON

- Autofocus Area Multi

- AF/MF Select AF

When I half-press the shutter, it will lit up different points on the grid so PDAF works or not? TIA

only in the center area.

 

[Mister Roboto]

I've read before that PDAF doesn't work on Sigma lenses.

I have my NEX-6 setup this way...

• Single-shot AF enabled
• PDAF Area ON
• Autofocus Area Multi
• AF/MF Select AF

When I half-press the shutter, it will lit up different points on the grid so PDAF works or not? TIA

only in the center area.

How do you it's the center area only? As I have said sime point on the grid are working depending on the proximity of the subject.

 

[audiobomber]

I've read before that PDAF doesn't work on Sigma lenses.

I have my NEX-6 setup this way...

• Single-shot AF enabled
• PDAF Area ON
• Autofocus Area Multi
• AF/MF Select AF

When I half-press the shutter, it will lit up different points on the grid so PDAF works or not? TIA

only in the center area.

How do you it's the center area only? As I have said sime point on the grid are working depending on the proximity of the subject.

With the a6000, PDAF is only active in AF-A and AF-C modes. I don't know how the NEX6 works, but I assume it's the same.

Green focus indicators light up in the Center zone while in AF-C mode, so it appears the Sigma lenses can use PDAF in a limited way. When you select Wide or Zone Focus, the camera will only use the Center zone. To track a moving subject, focus needs to be able to follow the subject when it moves out of the center zone, therefore the Sigma lenses do not support tracking.

 

[Mister Roboto]

I've read before that PDAF doesn't work on Sigma lenses.

I have my NEX-6 setup this way...

• Single-shot AF enabled
• PDAF Area ON
• Autofocus Area Multi
• AF/MF Select AF

When I half-press the shutter, it will lit up different points on the grid so PDAF works or not? TIA

only in the center area.

How do you it's the center area only? As I have said sime point on the grid are working depending on the proximity of the subject.

With the a6000, PDAF is only active in AF-A and AF-C modes. I don't know how the NEX6 works, but I assume it's the same.

Green focus indicators light up in the Center zone while in AF-C mode, so it appears the Sigma lenses can use PDAF in a limited way.

Yes center zone is fine.

When you select Wide or Zone Focus, the camera will only use the Center zone. To track a moving subject, focus needs to be able to follow the subject when it moves out of the center zone,

When in MultiArea focus mode, it focuses everywhere on the grid so PDAF is working?

therefore the Sigma lenses do not support tracking.

--
Dan

 

[AndreasPson]

I got a6000 and sigma 60mm art. My experience is that is focuses shower than sonylenses and the focus areas doesnt move around in af-c. Dont really know what this tells you though

 

[audiobomber]

With the a6000, PDAF is only active in AF-A and AF-C modes.

When you select Wide or Zone Focus, the camera will only use the Center zone. To track a moving subject, focus needs to be able to follow the subject when it moves out of the center zone, therefore the Sigma lenses do not support tracking.

When in MultiArea focus mode, it focuses everywhere on the grid so PDAF is working?

As I mentioned, I don't know the NEX6. but I assume you are in AF-S mode? If so, what you are seeing are CDAF focus points. PDAF is only active in AF-C mode.

 

[Mister Roboto]

I got a6000 and sigma 60mm art. My experience is that is focuses shower than sonylenses and the focus areas doesnt move around in af-c. Dont really know what this tells you though

 

[Mister Roboto]

With the a6000, PDAF is only active in AF-A and AF-C modes.

When you select Wide or Zone Focus, the camera will only use the Center zone. To track a moving subject, focus needs to be able to follow the subject when it moves out of the center zone, therefore the Sigma lenses do not support tracking.

When in MultiArea focus mode, it focuses everywhere on the grid so PDAF is working?

As I mentioned, I don't know the NEX6. but I assume you are in AF-S mode? If so, what you are seeing are CDAF focus points. PDAF is only active in AF-C mode.

 

[audiobomber]

With the a6000, PDAF is only active in AF-A and AF-C modes.

When you select Wide or Zone Focus, the camera will only use the Center zone. To track a moving subject, focus needs to be able to follow the subject when it moves out of the center zone, therefore the Sigma lenses do not support tracking.

When in MultiArea focus mode, it focuses everywhere on the grid so PDAF is working?

As I mentioned, I don't know the NEX6. but I assume you are in AF-S mode? If so, what you are seeing are CDAF focus points. PDAF is only active in AF-C mode.

--
Dan

I am not seeing points turning green on AF-C even with SELP1650.

Once again, I don't know the NEX6. Maybe you need a firmware update? In AF-C mode, with wide zone focus, the a6000 will focus on a subject pretty much anywhere on the screen, and track it if Lock On AF is selected.

One thing I am curious also is, the camera will focus automatically without pressing the shutter even on AF-S mode.

That is called Pre-AF, an annoying and useless feature for my style of shooting. I disabled it the first day I had the camera.

--
Dan

 

[Foxbat121]

NEX-6 and A6000 work very differently in AF. NEX-6 is the 1st gen PDAF and are very limited in functionality.

(1) IIRC, Nex-6 only has limited number of PDAF sensors in the central zone. So, for PDAF to work, it needs to be in the center area anyway.

(2) In A6000, when you use AF-C, there will be many small boxes jump around for focus points. When Sigma lens is used, the focus area is limited to a small zone in the center. NEX-6 doesn't have this feature. So there is no way to tell easily if PDAF is working or not.

It is also a myth that in AF-S, A6000 doesn't use PDAF. It does but just like NEX-6, there is no way to tell easily.

I think one way to tell is try shoot and see if lens hunt when there is enough light. For CDAF, it must hunt back and forth, however slight it is to determine the focus. When PDAF is used, it should focus to the subject immediately.

 

[Mister Roboto]

NEX-6 and A6000 work very differently in AF. NEX-6 is the 1st gen PDAF and are very limited in functionality.

I guess the only difference is more PDAF points (179 vs 99)

(1) IIRC, Nex-6 only has limited number of PDAF sensors in the central zone. So, for PDAF to work, it needs to be in the center area anyway.

(2) In A6000, when you use AF-C, there will be many small boxes jump around for focus points. When Sigma lens is used, the focus area is limited to a small zone in the center. NEX-6 doesn't have this feature. So there is no way to tell easily if PDAF is working or not.

Exactly as I have described in my previous posts. Even with SELP1650, there is no indication that PDAF is working on AF-C mode because no PDAF point on the whole square grid is being lit.

It is also a myth that in AF-S, A6000 doesn't use PDAF. It does but just like NEX-6, there is no way to tell easily.

I was surprised to have read that PDAF only works on AF-C so I thought it would be useless.

I think one way to tell is try shoot and see if lens hunt when there is enough light. For CDAF, it must hunt back and forth, however slight it is to determine the focus. When PDAF is used, it should focus to the subject immediately.

I will do more testing on Sigma 60mm to see how to tell if PDAF works on AF-C but as far as I can tell, it is focuses on any point of the whole grid albeit a little slower than with SELP1650. But on AF-S, I think PDAF works with both lenses on any part of the grid.

 

[Foxbat121]

NEX-6 and A6000 work very differently in AF. NEX-6 is the 1st gen PDAF and are very limited in functionality.

I guess the only difference is more PDAF points (179 vs 99)

No, there is much more than that. A6000 is the first camera that offers super fast AF and tracking that other E-mount cameras , including all the A7, before it don't. The whole AF algorithm has been re-worked and new processor is used to help it.

(1) IIRC, Nex-6 only has limited number of PDAF sensors in the central zone. So, for PDAF to work, it needs to be in the center area anyway.

(2) In A6000, when you use AF-C, there will be many small boxes jump around for focus points. When Sigma lens is used, the focus area is limited to a small zone in the center. NEX-6 doesn't have this feature. So there is no way to tell easily if PDAF is working or not.

Exactly as I have described in my previous posts. Even with SELP1650, there is no indication that PDAF is working on AF-C mode because no PDAF point on the whole square grid is being lit.

No, you have not seen what A6000 PDAF boxes looks like in AF-C. It is nothing like the regular AF points you saw. NEX-6 doesn't show that.

 

[Mister Roboto]

NEX-6 and A6000 work very differently in AF. NEX-6 is the 1st gen PDAF and are very limited in functionality.

I guess the only difference is more PDAF points (179 vs 99)

No, there is much more than that. A6000 is the first camera that offers super fast AF and tracking that other E-mount cameras , including all the A7, before it don't. The whole AF algorithm has been re-worked and new processor is used to help it.

(1) IIRC, Nex-6 only has limited number of PDAF sensors in the central zone. So, for PDAF to work, it needs to be in the center area anyway.

(2) In A6000, when you use AF-C, there will be many small boxes jump around for focus points. When Sigma lens is used, the focus area is limited to a small zone in the center. NEX-6 doesn't have this feature. So there is no way to tell easily if PDAF is working or not.

Exactly as I have described in my previous posts. Even with SELP1650, there is no indication that PDAF is working on AF-C mode because no PDAF point on the whole square grid is being lit.

No, you have not seen what A6000 PDAF boxes looks like in AF-C. It is nothing like the regular AF points you saw. NEX-6 doesn't show that.

Well NEX-6 has the PDAF grid right? So in AF-S some of the grid points are lit up when PDAF is working.

 

[dquangt]

NEX-6 and A6000 work very differently in AF. NEX-6 is the 1st gen PDAF and are very limited in functionality.

I guess the only difference is more PDAF points (179 vs 99)

No, there is much more than that. A6000 is the first camera that offers super fast AF and tracking that other E-mount cameras , including all the A7, before it don't. The whole AF algorithm has been re-worked and new processor is used to help it.

(1) IIRC, Nex-6 only has limited number of PDAF sensors in the central zone. So, for PDAF to work, it needs to be in the center area anyway.

(2) In A6000, when you use AF-C, there will be many small boxes jump around for focus points. When Sigma lens is used, the focus area is limited to a small zone in the center. NEX-6 doesn't have this feature. So there is no way to tell easily if PDAF is working or not.

Exactly as I have described in my previous posts. Even with SELP1650, there is no indication that PDAF is working on AF-C mode because no PDAF point on the whole square grid is being lit.

No, you have not seen what A6000 PDAF boxes looks like in AF-C. It is nothing like the regular AF points you saw. NEX-6 doesn't show that.

Well NEX-6 has the PDAF grid right? So in AF-S some of the grid points are lit up when PDAF is working.

that's just a regular focus grid. i don't think that designates that its pdaf, just that you have focus.