Does the OM-3 have object tracking AF?

[mcantsin]

The headline says it all: The OM-3 has several subject tracking AF-C modes, such as face and animal recognition. But is it also possible to set the focus point on an arbitrary object or point on the display and have the AF-C track it?

 

[ahaslett]

Yes, you have to select either tracking or subject detection.

Non-subject tracking is about as good as the Sony A7Riv, which was the top in 2019. I'm not sure current non-stacked Sony bodies are that much better.

In Sony World, the A1's and A9iii are top at tracking.

My impression is that OM1 mk ii human subject detection is slightly better than my A7CR. It dependson context.

A

 

[Sam Bennett]

The headline says it all: The OM-3 has several subject tracking AF-C modes, such as face and animal recognition. But is it also possible to set the focus point on an arbitrary object or point on the display and have the AF-C track it?

Yes, but you don't do this through the "Subject Detection" system, it is a completely different C-AF option - you have to have "Subject Detection" in the "Off" setting and then choose "C-AF + Tr".

Tracking apparently has been improved (I don't use it regularly), but it's still a bit awkward to use, IMO. It should be just another option in "Subject Detection" - call it "Target" or whatever.

 

[ahaslett]

The headline says it all: The OM-3 has several subject tracking AF-C modes, such as face and animal recognition. But is it also possible to set the focus point on an arbitrary object or point on the display and have the AF-C track it?

Yes, but you don't do this through the "Subject Detection" system, it is a completely different C-AF option - you have to have "Subject Detection" in the "Off" setting and then choose "C-AF + Tr".

Tracking apparently has been improved (I don't use it regularly), but it's still a bit awkward to use, IMO. It should be just another option in "Subject Detection" - call it "Target" or whatever.

 

[Sam Bennett]

The headline says it all: The OM-3 has several subject tracking AF-C modes, such as face and animal recognition. But is it also possible to set the focus point on an arbitrary object or point on the display and have the AF-C track it?

Yes, but you don't do this through the "Subject Detection" system, it is a completely different C-AF option - you have to have "Subject Detection" in the "Off" setting and then choose "C-AF + Tr".

Tracking apparently has been improved (I don't use it regularly), but it's still a bit awkward to use, IMO. It should be just another option in "Subject Detection" - call it "Target" or whatever.

With Sony it's integrated. Subject tracking only works if tracking is on. It tracks whatever you lock AF on. Lock a bus and it tracks that. Lock a leg and it will work its way to an eye if it can. Lock the number on a T-shirt and it gets confused.

Yep, sounds like a better approach.

This is something the PetaPixel (and formerly DPReview) guys have been calling out for a while. I personally don't care that much since I'm so often photographing people or pets, but I can see how this would drive you crazy if you're photographing "objects" more often.

When I'm doing food photography, I scrap "tracking" and either use All Area or Single Area if it's having trouble picking up the particular thing I'm focusing on. In that case, using the D-pad to fine tune where the AF point is to get the composition I want is fine.

 

[Skeeterbytes]

The headline says it all: The OM-3 has several subject tracking AF-C modes, such as face and animal recognition. But is it also possible to set the focus point on an arbitrary object or point on the display and have the AF-C track it?

Yes, but you don't do this through the "Subject Detection" system, it is a completely different C-AF option - you have to have "Subject Detection" in the "Off" setting and then choose "C-AF + Tr".

Tracking apparently has been improved (I don't use it regularly), but it's still a bit awkward to use, IMO. It should be just another option in "Subject Detection" - call it "Target" or whatever.

It does work within a limited set of parameters in my experience. e.g., The little white box can follow your dog/kid across a big field with no clutter in the frame, from edge to edge.

All I can suggest is test and see, and don't be shy about dialing in more/less sensitivity as conditions warrant.

Cheers,

Rick

 

[Regor250]

The headline says it all: The OM-3 has several subject tracking AF-C modes, such as face and animal recognition. But is it also possible to set the focus point on an arbitrary object or point on the display and have the AF-C track it?

Yes, but you don't do this through the "Subject Detection" system, it is a completely different C-AF option - you have to have "Subject Detection" in the "Off" setting and then choose "C-AF + Tr".

Tracking apparently has been improved (I don't use it regularly), but it's still a bit awkward to use, IMO. It should be just another option in "Subject Detection" - call it "Target" or whatever.

CAF+Tr kind of works if you pan or the target moves slowly. Not very "sticky" I find.

--
Roger

 

[Sam Bennett]

The headline says it all: The OM-3 has several subject tracking AF-C modes, such as face and animal recognition. But is it also possible to set the focus point on an arbitrary object or point on the display and have the AF-C track it?

Yes, but you don't do this through the "Subject Detection" system, it is a completely different C-AF option - you have to have "Subject Detection" in the "Off" setting and then choose "C-AF + Tr".

Tracking apparently has been improved (I don't use it regularly), but it's still a bit awkward to use, IMO. It should be just another option in "Subject Detection" - call it "Target" or whatever.

CAF+Tr kind of works if you pan or the target moves slowly. Not very "sticky" I find.

Yep. I used it extensively on my E-M1 and E-M1 Mark III's - for hundreds of thousands of photos over the years. It can work in the right situation, but you typically have to make sure you've got enough DoF to hide focusing inaccuracies. I had to use it while documenting hardcourt bike polo because Face Detect and C-AF didn't really work with Helmets/Face Cages. The OM-1 Mark II fixed that problem, and I never looked back!

 

[Bast Hotep]

When I'm doing food photography, I scrap "tracking" and either use All Area or Single Area if it's having trouble picking up the particular thing I'm focusing on.

I believe it's only birds of prey (and other predators) that use tracking for food! :-D