A7II Focus Setting Question

[simp1yamazn]

I have a question about the focusing settings on my A7ii. I have my A7II, Canon 16-35 f2.8 with fotodiox pro AF adapter, and sony 28-70mm oss. With the Canon lens using flexible spot, when focus locks, I get the little green boxes showing what's in focus when using AF-S and the boxes fluttering around whatever is in focus with AF-C.

However, with the Sony 28-70, with flexible spot, the box that indicates what spot I've selected flashes to green when focus locks. Little green boxes never show up.

I've double checked that phase detect is selcted for both lenses, tried in daylight to make sure I'm not below the EV threashold for PDAF, the spot is always within the phase detect area. What am I missing?

 

[Camley]

I have a question about the focusing settings on my A7ii. I have my A7II, Canon 16-35 f2.8 with fotodiox pro AF adapter, and sony 28-70mm oss. With the Canon lens using flexible spot, when focus locks, I get the little green boxes showing what's in focus when using AF-S and the boxes fluttering around whatever is in focus with AF-C.

That is what you should see.

However, with the Sony 28-70, with flexible spot, the box that indicates what spot I've selected flashes to green when focus locks. Little green boxes never show up.

To lock focus, you must have the Focus Mode set to AF-S so you see a green box flash at that point. In AF-C you will see dancing small PDAF squares as long as you are not using "Lock-on" AF focus modes, or you have set Center Lock-on AF to ON with, for example, flex spot focus modes.

It's best, unless you need AF for movies, to always leave Camera menu, item 7, "Center Lock-on AF" set to the OFF position. Then, if you want tracking, use the Lock-on AF modes in the Focus Area settings.

I've double checked that phase detect is selcted for both lenses, tried in daylight to make sure I'm not below the EV threashold for PDAF, the spot is always within the phase detect area. What am I missing?

You cannot select PDAF only (or CDAF only) for a Sony lens. The camera makes that selection. The menu item (Custom menu, item 7, "AF System") only applies to third party lenses.

I found it necessary to read the User Guide and watch a few videos showing how best to use AF on the a7II.

 

[SQLGuy]

I think what happens with adapted AF lenses is that only OSPDAF is available, so the camera shows you the actual PDAF spot nearest to the selected flexible spot location. With native lenses, flexible spot uses CDAF, so there are many more possible spots that can be selected, and the actual selected area is used, and shown.