How to focus & expose, then recompose

[ArtAlt]

Ok probably this is just confusion on my part, but I think I understand the entire a6000 menu system (ha!) and still can't figure out how to do this:

I want want to be able to point at an object, push down the shutter halfway to focus and expose on that subject, then recompose the shot while retaining that original point for focus and exposure.

Somehow no matter what I do, the camera just keeps adjusting the exposure and focus when I recompose, even though I am holding down the shutter half way.

I bet there is a simple answer that I am over looking. Care to clue me in? Thanks!

ps: I would rather not have to move the focal / exposure point every time I shoot a scene. I want to be able to do the traditional focus & expose lock at a point by pushing shutter halfway down.

 

[viperkeeper]

I use tracking w/shutter. I forget how to turn on/off exposure with shutter but I use movable spot focus on it's smallest area either in center or on rule of thirds half press shutter and recompose.

 

[jalywol]

Try setting the focus settings to AF-S and also in the menu, turn Lock-on AF OFF. See if that helps.

-J

 

[jimhughes]

It's not just you, I've been frustrated by the same thing. I tried a few things, but none of the menu options seemed to work and I gave up. It seems like cameras are increasingly optimized for shooting sports and kids, and I find that aggravating.

 

[Diablorini]

You could setup the camera for back button focusing, that will surely provide you the behavior you are after.

On my A77m2 I have a memory setting for normal operation and one for back button focusing.

Not the same camera, I know, but as I recall the menu system of the A6000 you should the very same option available.

 

[ArtAlt]

Try setting the focus settings to AF-S and also in the menu, turn Lock-on AF OFF. See if that helps.

-J

This works. Turning AF lock off (the opposite of what I would expect) and choosing a focus setting that uses CDAF rather than PDAF seems to work. Thanks!

 

[jimhughes]

So - I turn AF-Lock "off" so I can lock the focus. Makes perfect sense - on Bizarro-World!

What is/are CDAF/PDAF?

 

[Scott770]

Maybe I misunderstand the question, but aren't there two easy ways to accomplish this? First, focus and expose and then push the button you set to lock exposure. It will retain the exposure you wanted and if you keep the shutter pressed halfway your focus will also stay locked. That exposure will actually stay as is until you push the exposure lock button again. The other option is to set up the camera so that a half press of the shutter locks both the focus and exposure. That is a simple setting to set up. Or did I misunderstand?

 

[jalywol]

Maybe I misunderstand the question, but aren't there two easy ways to accomplish this? First, focus and expose and then push the button you set to lock exposure. It will retain the exposure you wanted and if you keep the shutter pressed halfway your focus will also stay locked. That exposure will actually stay as is until you push the exposure lock button again. The other option is to set up the camera so that a half press of the shutter locks both the focus and exposure. That is a simple setting to set up. Or did I misunderstand?

The OP was trying to set up the camera for half press locking both focus and exposure, but out of the box it will not lock focus, but keeps adjusting as you move the camera. Turning off lock-on AF makes it behave the way you expect it to.

-J

 

[ArtAlt]

Maybe I misunderstand the question, but aren't there two easy ways to accomplish this? First, focus and expose and then push the button you set to lock exposure. It will retain the exposure you wanted and if you keep the shutter pressed halfway your focus will also stay locked. That exposure will actually stay as is until you push the exposure lock button again. The other option is to set up the camera so that a half press of the shutter locks both the focus and exposure. That is a simple setting to set up. Or did I misunderstand?

The OP was trying to set up the camera for half press locking both focus and exposure, but out of the box it will not lock focus, but keeps adjusting as you move the camera. Turning off lock-on AF makes it behave the way you expect it to.

-J

Yes correct. I never thought to turn off lock-on autofocus because that sounds backward. I WANTS the focus and exposure to both lock on half shutter. (This used to be normal SLR behavior in my experience.)

 

[Marky12]

Maybe I misunderstand the question, but aren't there two easy ways to accomplish this? First, focus and expose and then push the button you set to lock exposure. It will retain the exposure you wanted and if you keep the shutter pressed halfway your focus will also stay locked. That exposure will actually stay as is until you push the exposure lock button again. The other option is to set up the camera so that a half press of the shutter locks both the focus and exposure. That is a simple setting to set up. Or did I misunderstand?

The OP was trying to set up the camera for half press locking both focus and exposure, but out of the box it will not lock focus, but keeps adjusting as you move the camera. Turning off lock-on AF makes it behave the way you expect it to.

-J

Yes correct. I never thought to turn off lock-on autofocus because that sounds backward. I WANTS the focus and exposure to both lock on half shutter. (This used to be normal SLR behavior in my experience.)

Could it be preautofocus is turned on?

 

[jimhughes]

The problem is really Sony's terminology. "Lock-on" Autofocus does the "locking" itself - to a moving subject. If you want to do the "locking" with the shutter button you turn that feature off. I never want to lock on a moving subject, so I've just turned it off and will forget about it.

 

[ArtAlt]

The problem is really Sony's terminology. "Lock-on" Autofocus does the "locking" itself - to a moving subject. If you want to do the "locking" with the shutter button you turn that feature off. I never want to lock on a moving subject, so I've just turned it off and will forget about it.

Yes I never considered that interpretation of that menu item.

 

[Scott770]

Yes, it is a weird terminology aspect of Sony. The good thing is that it is easy to change the settings on the a6000 to do what the OP wants to do. Thanks.

 

[zackiedawg]

Ok probably this is just confusion on my part, but I think I understand the entire a6000 menu system (ha!) and still can't figure out how to do this:

I want want to be able to point at an object, push down the shutter halfway to focus and expose on that subject, then recompose the shot while retaining that original point for focus and exposure.

I'm late to your thread - but there IS a menu setting for this...I haven't noticed anyone else pointing it out yet, so if I'm understanding what you want, this mode should do the trick:

If you want to point at an object, half-press the shutter, and have the focus AND the exposure BOTH lock in place so you are free to recompose, then go into your camera settings menu, find the control called 'AEL w/shutter', turn it on. That will tie the exposure lock to the half-press, along with the focus.

 

[nandbytes]

Ok probably this is just confusion on my part, but I think I understand the entire a6000 menu system (ha!) and still can't figure out how to do this:

I want want to be able to point at an object, push down the shutter halfway to focus and expose on that subject, then recompose the shot while retaining that original point for focus and exposure.

I'm late to your thread - but there IS a menu setting for this...I haven't noticed anyone else pointing it out yet, so if I'm understanding what you want, this mode should do the trick:

If you want to point at an object, half-press the shutter, and have the focus AND the exposure BOTH lock in place so you are free to recompose, then go into your camera settings menu, find the control called 'AEL w/shutter', turn it on. That will tie the exposure lock to the half-press, along with the focus.

--
Justin
galleries: www.pbase.com/zackiedawg

This is the right answer I think. I don't know about A6000 but my cameras have always had the AEL button which I have set to toggle instead of hold which helps in quickly locking my exposure and then recompose.

edit: just looked at the pictures of A6000, looks like it too has an AEL button. Its there for a reason

--
Focus on what you have, not on what you don't.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nandbytes/

 

[ArtAlt]

I'm late to your thread - but there IS a menu setting for this...I haven't noticed anyone else pointing it out yet, so if I'm understanding what you want, this mode should do the trick:

If you want to point at an object, half-press the shutter, and have the focus AND the exposure BOTH lock in place so you are free to recompose, then go into your camera settings menu, find the control called 'AEL w/shutter', turn it on. That will tie the exposure lock to the half-press, along with the focus.

 

[ykphuah]

I'm late to your thread - but there IS a menu setting for this...I haven't noticed anyone else pointing it out yet, so if I'm understanding what you want, this mode should do the trick:

If you want to point at an object, half-press the shutter, and have the focus AND the exposure BOTH lock in place so you are free to recompose, then go into your camera settings menu, find the control called 'AEL w/shutter', turn it on. That will tie the exposure lock to the half-press, along with the focus.

This should be the answer, works on my A5100 as well! Mine is aways set to AUTO. Tried "NO" and the exposure changes when I half press and recompose.

Thanks for pointing this out though, I have always thought AEL w/shutter means with shutter full press for Continuous Drive Mode, rereading the manual again:

Auto (default setting): Fixes the exposure after adjusting the focus automatically when you press the shutter button halfway down when [Focus Mode] is set to [Single-shot AF]. When [Focus Mode] is set to [Automatic AF], and the product determines that the subject is moving, or you shoot burst images, the fixed exposure is cancelled.

On: Fixes the exposure when you press the shutter button halfway down.

Off: Does not fix the exposure when you press the shutter button halfway down. Use this mode when you want to adjust focus and exposure separately.

 

[ykphuah]

It seems to be particularly important for this camera that were have a community to share ideas. Seems like the Sony engineers are running way ahead of their communications staff.

Yeah, this is particularly annoying, I asked Sony Support about the Lock-On AF and they kept explainng to me the difference between Center and Wide, twice over the phone and once in email. I have learned more from this forum that from Sony's support!

 

[zackiedawg]

This should be the answer, works on my A5100 as well! Mine is aways set to AUTO. Tried "NO" and the exposure changes when I half press and recompose.

Thanks for pointing this out though, I have always thought AEL w/shutter means with shutter full press for Continuous Drive Mode,

You're welcome. I missed this thread as I hadn't been online when posted, and this morning I noted this and one other thread both asking a very similar question - and none of the replies seemed to point out this function.

Personally I turn this function to 'off' on my cameras, as I set my AEL button to toggle exposure lock, and prefer to set the two separately, just because I'm used to doing that from many years ago with my DSLRs. But since Sony manuals are pretty poor, obviously a lot of A6000 owners and other e-mount camera owners don't even realize this function setting exists.