A6700 Touch to track & custom buttons

[David Rez]

Hi all,

Has someone found a way to initiate tracking (without focusing) using the menu/buttons instead of touching the screen? My elderly A6000 could do that, can't figure out how to do that with the A6700 without using the touch screen,

Second question, any custom button setup recommendations? I shoot mostly landscapes and wildlife in M mode. The setup I customized so far:

Front dial - exposure compensation

Top dial - aperture

rear dial - shutter speed

C1 - choose object recognition

C2 - Focus area

Rec button - Focus mode

AF-ON - serves for back button focusing

center dial button - standard focus (center)

button dial button - object recognition on/off

C3 - touch on/off

all other buttons are set to default

 

[withoutid]

Hi all,

Has someone found a way to initiate tracking (without focusing) using the menu/buttons instead of touching the screen? My elderly A6000 could do that, can't figure out how to do that with the A6700 without using the touch screen,

I guess you can turn it on by going to the menu -->AF/MF --> pre-AF: ON, focus mode: AF-C. Press the AF-ON button to show the green box.

 

[ARSPR]

Hi all,

Has someone found a way to initiate tracking (without focusing) using the menu/buttons instead of touching the screen? My elderly A6000 could do that, can't figure out how to do that with the A6700 without using the touch screen,

Nope. And that was something I also wanted... I would really like AF-On button as a "Start Focus and Track Toggle". But the only option I've found is to keep tracking while the button is held down which is not useful for me at all...

The only workaround I've found is through Touch Pad as you have also said.

Second question, any custom button setup recommendations? I shoot mostly landscapes and wildlife in M mode. The setup I customized so far:

Front dial - exposure compensation

Top dial - aperture

rear dial - shutter speed

C1 - choose object recognition

C2 - Focus area

Rec button - Focus mode

AF-ON - serves for back button focusing

center dial button - standard focus (center)

button dial button - object recognition on/off

C3 - touch on/off

all other buttons are set to default

I posted and explained my button and dial configuration in this thread (in case you want to check it):

6700. My stills buttons/dials/other configuration. Which is yours?

Hi, after just over a month using my new 6700 I think I've nailed down the configuration I like for the way I take pictures. I'm going to post it here explaining why I do what I do. More over I'd like to hear (well, to read) your own opinion/settings in case I decide to change my assignments...

www.dpreview.com

--
flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/148574373@N05/

 

[ray_burnimage]

On my Sonys I only use 2 focussing modes, wide area and tracking expand flexible spot.

wide area is assigned to half shutter press and using the recall custom hold I’ve assigned tracking expand flexible spot to af on button. This overrides the shutter half press when I press af on.

So I have both modes at my fingers without ever taking my eye from EVF

 

[Emka]

Last week I came up with the exact same setting as the perfect combination, too. It makes it so easy to quickly switch between the modes or to pick the right person out of a crowd of people. Can only recommend it!

 

[ray_burnimage]

Last week I came up with the exact same setting as the perfect combination, too. It makes it so easy to quickly switch between the modes or to pick the right person out of a crowd of people. Can only recommend it!

I think it’s the best customisation feature on Sony cameras, yet not widely known about!

 

[CarmeloB]

• To me the Real Time Eye Detect and Tracking AF is a game changer on this camera. This is the way I’ve configured my A6700 so I have quick access to all the focus modes/areas that I use frequently.
• First, I customized the AF On button to Tracking and AF ON. I normally leave the camera on AFS and Focus Area Wide. The touchscreen/touchpad is enabled and function is set to touch focus. Full Time DMF is On. I also set the AF in Focus Mag to On.
• When I want the camera to make the decisions for me, I either half press the shutter and it focus on the nearest object closest to the center of the frame. If I want the camera to track that object I press and hold the AF ON button and it will track most likely the nearest object closest to the center of the frame. This is my set it and forget it mode as the camera makes all the decisions.
• If I want to focus on a specific object or point, I just touch it on the screen or if my eye is on the EVF, I use the touchpad. I can either press the AF On button and it will track that object or half press the shutter and it will focus on that object. It’s the easiest way for me to select focus without changing the focus area or focus mode and have the ability to either lock focus or activate tracking to take advantage of Real Time AF Tracking at will.
• I programmed the record button on the top of the camera to Focus Magnifier (Auto Magnifier is OFF) and the C2 button to Focus Area. Peaking is ON. Since I am on AFS, I can just activate the focus magnifier and can touch up focus manually using Full-Time DMF with the focus ring with the aid of peaking and the focus magnifier. In focus magnifier, I can also see a little crosshairs that I can move around with my D-Pad or Touch Screen and half press the shutter to activate AF. This allows me to set the focus point very precisely to a specific point in magnified view. I can do all this without fussing with the focus area or focus mode.
• If needed, I can change the Focus Area to spot or flexible spot using the C1 button and either lock focus with a half press or track focus by pressing the AF On button after I have selected my desired focus point. Again this is only if needed or wanted, most of the time I just use touch focus to select my focus point.
• The C1 button on the side is set to AEL toggle, the left button on the d-pad is set to drive mode, the right button on the d-pad is set to ISO and the down button on the d-pad is set to AWB, the center button is set to Focus Standard and C3 Focus Mode.
• My front dial is configured for adjust aperture or shutter speed in Av and Sv mode with the rear dial set to exposure compensation in P A or S mode. In Manual mode, the front dial is set to adjust Shutter Speed, rear dial is set to adjust Aperture and the back dial is set to adjust ISO. When in P A or S mode, the back dial is set to move the focus point left to right as I find this useful when using the touch pad as it is much easier for me to move the focus point up or down but not always easiest to move it left to right with the touchpad.
• On the function menu, I programmed these functions in Photo Mode: Zebra On/Off, Peaking On/Off, ISO Min Shutter Speed, Touch Func in Shooting, Steady Shot On/Off, Silent Mode On/Off, Recognition Target Select, Subject Recognition in AF On/Off, Exposure Comp, File Format, Metering Mode, Creative Look.
• On the function menu, in video mode removed some photo centric controls and added these instead: Audio Rec Level, Focus Map, Picture Profile and Zebra Level. In video mode, AF on is set to Tracking on Toggle and C1 button is set to Zoom.
• While the touch screen is more responsive and useful than my A9, I do miss the AF joystick and more custom buttons and dials on the full frame body.
• When I’m not using Manual Mode, I prefer to set it to Av, Auto ISO with ISO min shutter speed set appropriately to depending on my lens, lighting condition or intent.
• Maybe I’m a bit spoiled with my A9 but the A6700 can still do action capably with 11fps and the buffer is sufficiently large and clears fast. Especially when paired with my Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 and 10-18mm f2.8 makes for a light and compact package for travel and hiking. I can even just use my Sigma 100-400mm for birding and it gives me a longer reach with the APSC crop factor with a lens that fits inside my smallish camera backpack. I tend to mostly shoot photos but I fully intend to explore the video features of this hybrid camera. I’m a happy camper to have the option of taking this more compact kit when I want to travel light.