XT-4 autofocus advice please

I use an X-T2, but I’d do the same with any camera (and with almost any subject) - AF-S single point, box on the subject, full-press the shutter button. If the subject is just too tiny, I would just flip to M mode and focus manually with max magnification.

I'd always be in AF-C for wildlife. I work on the assumption that if it can move, it does move and with a telephoto, depth of field can be very fine. Also, this would facilitate using the AF-C custom settings to adjust sensitivity.
If this is not for you, then a work around would be to grab focus off the perch then refocus on the bird. It's probably more likely to find the subject.

I have the same problem with my X‐H1 sometimes.  It seems as if the camera decides that you don't really want to focus on a relatively low contrast blob (green bird) and goes for the background instead.  Prefocus on something in the same area and hope it then gets tempted by the sublect you want.  Alan suggested the branch for example.

Shadwellal wrote:

Thanks both of you. Clearly no magic solution that I'm missing then - I suppose it makes the successful shots that bit more rewarding!

My X-T3 setup BIF is reported to work well with the X-T4. It includes custom AF-C settings as Alan suggested.

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1594539/0

Morris

To be honest, the photo of the green bird does not look too good. It is much softer than I would actually expect. I see that the image resolution is strongly reduced. Is it a heavy crop, or did you reduce IQ in any way before posting, or what happened?

The AF system will always go for contrast. If there is not much contrast in the subject, and if there is at the same time some contrasty background w/in the focus box, there is a high risk that the system will focus on the background. Choose your focus box size carefully.

My general advice is similar to Erik's. If the subject is not moving fast, use AF-S. Use an appropriate box size, not smaller than necessary. Press the shutter button fully through. Make sure to have focus priority, not release priority. Turn AF + MF off. This is my way. I have virtually no OOF shots with my X-T4 (and X-T20).

Regards,

Martin

Green on green is challenging. You can always try MF with image zoom on the EVF to double check.

The bird looks like the background so it’s not surprising it missed it. I would have focused on the branch at its feet, shot, and then refocused on the bird since it would have been close to in focus. Also, angling the camera like 15-30 deg still helps acquire focus when it wont otherwise.

Ah I understand now the second photo is a heavy crop of a second attempt of the same scene.

Of course I had similar subjects already.

For me: clearly a case for MF.

Regards,

Martin

Which lens were you using? Something with more reach will give you greater detail on the subject to find contrast to focus on.