Sony ZV-1 Self timer and focus?

[Akinnfenwa]

Hi,

My first time using a proper camera. I was trying to shoot some self-portraits but all photo's are unsharp.

I found out that it is because the camera focuses when I press shutter button and when I'm in the field, it focuses not on me. It doesn't refocus, also not when I do interval shooting.

How do I fix this?

Is there no way to let it focus each time when it shoots a new photo?? Or after 3 seconds from the self timer?

 

[tke918]

How about using your smartphone as a remote. Install the imaging edge mobile app and control your camera from the app.

 

[sybersitizen]

I found out that it is because the camera focuses when I press shutter button and when I'm in the field, it focuses not on me. It doesn't refocus, also not when I do interval shooting.

Yes, Sony cameras like to autofocus at the moment the shutter release is pressed and don't refocus for the moment of exposure after the self-timer count. It's annoying.

How do I fix this?

You can't. You have to take a different approach.

Is there no way to let it focus each time when it shoots a new photo??

As mentioned above, you can trigger the release remotely instead of using the self-timer.

Another option is to use the Smile Shutter feature.

Or after 3 seconds from the self timer?

No.

 

[Dak on cam]

Hi,

My first time using a proper camera. I was trying to shoot some self-portraits but all photo's are unsharp.

I found out that it is because the camera focuses when I press shutter button and when I'm in the field, it focuses not on me. It doesn't refocus, also not when I do interval shooting.

How do I fix this?

Is there no way to let it focus each time when it shoots a new photo?? Or after 3 seconds from the self timer?

That's classic Sony behavior. You'd expect a "self-timer" to be useful for taking photographs of yourself, wouldn't you? Sony disagrees, and has done so for decades. On Panasonic, in contrast, prefocusing with half-press shutter in self-timer mode will retain the focus like Sony does, but pressing the shutter fully immediately will cause the camera to focus after the self-timer has run off.

Any clever combination of other features (like multiple shots or continuous focus mode) that would appear to provide a way to get around this problem is consistently being sabotaged by Sony. The manual states that all those will not work without bothering to mention a rationale (to be fair: mentioning a rationale is not common for any decision by any manufacturer).

Buy a remote trigger (or use equivalent features) and forget about the self-timer.

 

[Digital Nigel]

Hi,

My first time using a proper camera. I was trying to shoot some self-portraits but all photo's are unsharp.

I found out that it is because the camera focuses when I press shutter button and when I'm in the field, it focuses not on me. It doesn't refocus, also not when I do interval shooting.

How do I fix this?

Is there no way to let it focus each time when it shoots a new photo?? Or after 3 seconds from the self timer?

That's classic Sony behavior. You'd expect a "self-timer" to be useful for taking photographs of yourself, wouldn't you? Sony disagrees, and has done so for decades. On Panasonic, in contrast, prefocusing with half-press shutter in self-timer mode will retain the focus like Sony does, but pressing the shutter fully immediately will cause the camera to focus after the self-timer has run off.

Any clever combination of other features (like multiple shots or continuous focus mode) that would appear to provide a way to get around this problem is consistently being sabotaged by Sony. The manual states that all those will not work without bothering to mention a rationale (to be fair: mentioning a rationale is not common for any decision by any manufacturer).

Buy a remote trigger (or use equivalent features) and forget about the self-timer.

Certainly, for selfies, it's much better to use a remote app on a phone or tablet. You can see exactly what it's focusing on and review shots, all without touching the camera.



It's still worth using a delay timer in both the app and the camera, so you can be looking at the camera, not the phone, when the shutter firrs.

 

[Dak on cam]

Hi,

My first time using a proper camera. I was trying to shoot some self-portraits but all photo's are unsharp.

I found out that it is because the camera focuses when I press shutter button and when I'm in the field, it focuses not on me. It doesn't refocus, also not when I do interval shooting.

How do I fix this?

Is there no way to let it focus each time when it shoots a new photo?? Or after 3 seconds from the self timer?

That's classic Sony behavior. You'd expect a "self-timer" to be useful for taking photographs of yourself, wouldn't you? Sony disagrees, and has done so for decades. On Panasonic, in contrast, prefocusing with half-press shutter in self-timer mode will retain the focus like Sony does, but pressing the shutter fully immediately will cause the camera to focus after the self-timer has run off.

Any clever combination of other features (like multiple shots or continuous focus mode) that would appear to provide a way to get around this problem is consistently being sabotaged by Sony. The manual states that all those will not work without bothering to mention a rationale (to be fair: mentioning a rationale is not common for any decision by any manufacturer).

Buy a remote trigger (or use equivalent features) and forget about the self-timer.

Certainly, for selfies, it's much better to use a remote app on a phone or tablet. You can see exactly what it's focusing on and review shots, all without touching the camera.

It's still worth using a delay timer in both the app and the camera, so you can be looking at the camera, not the phone, when the shutter firrs.

Also gives you the time to stuff that tablet into your pocket to avoid looking like a tool of our time.

 

[Digital Nigel]

Hi,

My first time using a proper camera. I was trying to shoot some self-portraits but all photo's are unsharp.

I found out that it is because the camera focuses when I press shutter button and when I'm in the field, it focuses not on me. It doesn't refocus, also not when I do interval shooting.

How do I fix this?

Is there no way to let it focus each time when it shoots a new photo?? Or after 3 seconds from the self timer?

That's classic Sony behavior. You'd expect a "self-timer" to be useful for taking photographs of yourself, wouldn't you? Sony disagrees, and has done so for decades. On Panasonic, in contrast, prefocusing with half-press shutter in self-timer mode will retain the focus like Sony does, but pressing the shutter fully immediately will cause the camera to focus after the self-timer has run off.

Any clever combination of other features (like multiple shots or continuous focus mode) that would appear to provide a way to get around this problem is consistently being sabotaged by Sony. The manual states that all those will not work without bothering to mention a rationale (to be fair: mentioning a rationale is not common for any decision by any manufacturer).

Buy a remote trigger (or use equivalent features) and forget about the self-timer.

Certainly, for selfies, it's much better to use a remote app on a phone or tablet. You can see exactly what it's focusing on and review shots, all without touching the camera.

It's still worth using a delay timer in both the app and the camera, so you can be looking at the camera, not the phone, when the shutter firrs.

Also gives you the time to stuff that tablet into your pocket to avoid looking like a tool of our time.

Yes, though a phone is the more likely choice. Of course, by keeping the phone in shot, you can demonstrate that you weren't using it to take the selfie!

 

[Dak on cam]

Hi,

My first time using a proper camera. I was trying to shoot some self-portraits but all photo's are unsharp.

I found out that it is because the camera focuses when I press shutter button and when I'm in the field, it focuses not on me. It doesn't refocus, also not when I do interval shooting.

How do I fix this?

Is there no way to let it focus each time when it shoots a new photo?? Or after 3 seconds from the self timer?

That's classic Sony behavior. You'd expect a "self-timer" to be useful for taking photographs of yourself, wouldn't you? Sony disagrees, and has done so for decades. On Panasonic, in contrast, prefocusing with half-press shutter in self-timer mode will retain the focus like Sony does, but pressing the shutter fully immediately will cause the camera to focus after the self-timer has run off.

Any clever combination of other features (like multiple shots or continuous focus mode) that would appear to provide a way to get around this problem is consistently being sabotaged by Sony. The manual states that all those will not work without bothering to mention a rationale (to be fair: mentioning a rationale is not common for any decision by any manufacturer).

Buy a remote trigger (or use equivalent features) and forget about the self-timer.

Certainly, for selfies, it's much better to use a remote app on a phone or tablet. You can see exactly what it's focusing on and review shots, all without touching the camera.

It's still worth using a delay timer in both the app and the camera, so you can be looking at the camera, not the phone, when the shutter firrs.

Also gives you the time to stuff that tablet into your pocket to avoid looking like a tool of our time.

Yes, though a phone is the more likely choice. Of course, by keeping the phone in shot, you can demonstrate that you weren't using it to take the selfie!

You are right in that I lag behind the times in my visions. The reality these days likely would be more like

"Siri, take that shot! And I don't want yet another crotch closeup pointing out where I stuck the phone."

 

[tbcass]

Hi,

My first time using a proper camera. I was trying to shoot some self-portraits but all photo's are unsharp.

I found out that it is because the camera focuses when I press shutter button and when I'm in the field, it focuses not on me. It doesn't refocus, also not when I do interval shooting.

How do I fix this?

Is there no way to let it focus each time when it shoots a new photo?? Or after 3 seconds from the self timer?

Try pre auto focus mode where the camera constantly adjusts focus until the shutter is released. I never have used this AF mode but it's worth a try.

 

[Dak on cam]

Hi,

My first time using a proper camera. I was trying to shoot some self-portraits but all photo's are unsharp.

I found out that it is because the camera focuses when I press shutter button and when I'm in the field, it focuses not on me. It doesn't refocus, also not when I do interval shooting.

How do I fix this?

Is there no way to let it focus each time when it shoots a new photo?? Or after 3 seconds from the self timer?

Try pre auto focus mode where the camera constantly adjusts focus until the shutter is released. I never have used this AF mode but it's worth a try.

Maybe Sony got a clue after all these years?

But even the ZV-1 manual states both:

"Use the 5-second/10-second self-timer when you are going to be in the picture,"

as well as

"

• Adjust the focus and shoot the image.The self-timer lamp flashes, a beep sounds, and a picture is taken after the designated number of seconds have elapsed.

"

which does not fit well together. Maybe it's merely a copy&paste from older manuals and this camera indeed is different... But I doubt it.

And pre-focus is not described as working before the shutter is released but before the shutter button is pressed:

"The product automatically adjusts focus before you press the shutter button halfway down. During focusing operations, the screen may shake."

But maybe you are lucky.