Sony ?9 User manual

AF Setup Quick Guide

Introduction
This Quick Guide provides a number of sample AF setups
that can help make the most of the advanced AF capabilities
offered by the α9 in a variety of situations.
• The settings given may not be suitable for all photographic
situations.
• The content of this guide applies to camera software
version 1.01.
• Specifications listed in this Quick Guide may change
without notice in accordance with future updates and
improvements.
• Photographs are provided to illustrate the situations
described in this guide, not to serve as sample a9 images.
Refer to the camera owner’s manual or information provided on relevant
Sony websites for operating details and specifications.
Product page: http://www.sony.net/ilce-9
Help guide: http://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1650/v1/h_zz/
Contents
Frequently used focus controls p.4
Main focus settings p.6
Menu structure p.10
Recommended settings for events and subjects pp.11-28
Recommended settings by scene type pp.29-35
Silent shutter p.42
FTP file transfer p.43
Custom settings pp.36-42
Customizing the button settings p.36
Recall Custom Setting During Hold pp.37-38
My Menu p.39
Customizing the Fn (Function) button p.40
Customizing the Eye AF p.41
2 3

Top Rear
MENU button
Camera Settings /
Network / Playback /
Setup / My Menu
AF On button
Focus without pressing
the shutter button
halfway down.
Mode dial
Intelligent Auto / P (Program Auto) / A (Aperture Priority)
/ S (Shutter Priority) / M (Manual Exposure) / 1/2/3
(Memory recall) / Movie / S&Q (Slow&Quick Motion)
Multi-selector
Move the focus area by pressing the multi-
selector up / down / left / right.
Upper: Drive mode dial
Single Shooting / Hi, Mid, Lo Cont.
Shooting / Self-timer / Bracket
Lower: Focus mode dial
AF-S / AF-C / DMF / MF
Frequently used focus controls
4 5

The recommended focus setups described on pages 11 through
35 include the following focus settings.
Selects the focus area.
Focus Area
Custom key (Shoot.) (My Menu)
Assignable to
Assignable to
Procedure MENU button - [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1) -
[Focus Area]
Determines whether the shutter will release if the subject is not
in focus when continuous AF is activated and the subject is in
motion.
Priority Set in AF-C
(My Menu)
Procedure MENU button - [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1) -
[Priority Set in AF-C]
Use this setting to select the focus mode that best suits the
subject and subject motion.
Focus Mode
Procedure Rotate the Focus Mode dial
Available
Settings
AF-S (Single-shot AF) / AF-C (Continuous
AF) / DMF (Direct Manual Focus) / MF
(Manual Focus)
Available
Settings
Wide / Zone / Center / Flexible Spot: S, M,
L / Expand Flexible Spot / Lock-on AF
Available
Settings AF / Release / Balanced Emphasis
Fn
Main focus settings
6 7

Available
Settings
5 (Responsive) / 4 / 3 (Standard) / 2 / 1
(Locked on)
Selects the AF tracking sensitivity that applies when the subject
goes out of focus while shooting still images.
AF Tracking Sensitivity AF area and subject motion
Procedure MENU button - [ ] 5 / 13 (AF2) -
[AF Track Sens]
Select a narrow AF area mode for subjects that move slowly or
predictably. A wide AF area is recommended for subjects that
move rapidly and/or unpredictably.
(My Menu)
Available
Settings Off / AF Point Only / AF Point + AF Area
Determines whether the focus area and position of the focusing
frame will be adjusted according to match horizontal/vertical
camera orientation.
Match focus area to camera orientation
Procedure MENU button - [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1) -
[Swt. V/H AF Area]
(My Menu)
Fast
Slow
Predictable Unpredictable
Subject Motion
Subject
Predictability Expand
Flexible
Spot
Flexible
Spot M
Flexible
Spot L Zone
Flexible
Spot L
Wide
Flexible
Spot S
Assignable to
Assignable to
Main focus settings
8 9

AF Menu Index
AF settings can be accessed via the following three display
pages.
• MENU button - [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
• MENU button - [ ] 5 / 13 (AF2)
• MENU button - [ ] 6 / 13 (AF3)
Refer to the following webpage for conditions that may apply during continuous shooting:
http://www.sony.net/cont/ilce9/
Ball games 1-4 pp.12-15
Athletics / Track and field p.16
Winter sports 1-4 pp.17-20
Motor sports 1-2 pp.21-22
Water sports p.23
Other sports 1-2 pp.24-25
Non-sport categories 1-3 pp.26-28
Menu structure Recommended settings for events and subjects
10 11

Item Recommended settings Use
Focus Mode AF-C Focus Mode Dial
Focus Area
[1st recommendation]
Flexible Spot M
[2nd recommendation]
Expand Flexible Spot
[ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
Priority Set in AF-C Balanced Emphasis [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
AF track Sens. 4 *[ ] 5 / 13 (AF2)
Swt. V/H AF Area AF point only [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
Item Recommended settings Use
Focus Mode AF-C Focus Mode Dial
Focus Area
[1st recommendation]
Flexible Spot M*
[2nd recommendation]
Expand Flexible Spot**
[ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
Priority Set in AF-C Balanced Emphasis [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
AF track Sens. 3 (Standard) [ ] 5 / 13 (AF2)
Swt. V/H AF Area AF point only [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
Ball games 2
Basketball, Tennis, VolleyballSoccer / Football, Futsal, Handball
Ball games 1
*Covers a wide range of situations.
** Recommended for pinpoint focus on a selected player.
*Set AF sensitivity to 4 in situations where the ball is frequently passed between players.
Recommended settings for events and subjects
12 13

Item Recommended settings Use
Focus Mode AF-C Focus Mode Dial
Focus Area
[1st recommendation]
Expand Flexible Spot*
[2nd recommendation]
Flexible Spot M**
[ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
Priority Set in AF-C Balanced Emphasis [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
AF track Sens. 3 (Standard) [ ] 5 / 13 (AF2)
Swt. V/H AF Area AF point only [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
Item Recommended settings Use
Focus Mode AF-C Focus Mode Dial
Focus Area
[1st recommendation]
Expand Flexible Spot
[2nd recommendation]
Flexible Spot M
[ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
Priority Set in AF-C Balanced Emphasis [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
AF track Sens. 2 *[ ] 5 / 13 (AF2)
Swt. V/H AF Area AF point only [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
Rugby American football
Ball games 3 Ball games 4
*Set sensitivity to 2 for stable tracking when players are colliding and moving chaotically. *Covers a wide range of situations.
** Recommended for pinpoint focus on a selected player in a group.
Recommended settings for events and subjects
14 15

Item Recommended settings Use
Focus Mode AF-C Focus Mode Dial
Focus Area
[1st recommendation]
Flexible Spot M*
[2nd recommendation]
Expand Flexible Spot**
[ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
Priority Set in AF-C Balanced Emphasis [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
AF track Sens. 3 (Standard) [ ] 5 / 13 (AF2)
Swt. V/H AF Area AF point only [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
Item Recommended settings Use
Focus Mode AF-C Focus Mode Dial
Focus Area
[1st recommendation]
Flexible Spot M*
[2nd recommendation]
Expand Flexible Spot**
[ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
Priority Set in AF-C Balanced Emphasis [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
AF track Sens. 3 (Standard) [ ] 5 / 13 (AF2)
Swt. V/H AF Area AF point only [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
Sprints (100m~), Hurdles, Javelin, Shot put, Long jump,
Triple jump, High jump, Pole vault, Marathon
Athletics / Track and field
Alpine skiing (near a gate, jump), Mogul, Snowboarding
(Half-pipe slalom), Ski jumping (front, side), Biathlon,
Short-track speed skating, Bobsleigh
Winter sports 1
*For stable tracking.
** Recommended for pinpoint focus on a distant player or a player in a group.
*For stable tracking.
** Recommended for pinpoint focus on a selected player.
Recommended settings for events and subjects
16 17

Item Recommended settings Use
Focus Mode AF-C Focus Mode Dial
Focus Area
[1st recommendation]
Flexible Spot M*
[2nd recommendation]
Zone **
[ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
Priority Set in AF-C Balanced Emphasis [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
AF track Sens. 3 (Standard) [ ] 5 / 13 (AF2)
Swt. V/H AF Area AF point only [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
Item Recommended settings Use
Focus Mode AF-C Focus Mode Dial
Focus Area
[1st recommendation]
Flexible Spot M
[2nd recommendation]
Expand Flexible Spot
[ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
Priority Set in AF-C Balanced Emphasis [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
AF track Sens. 4 *[ ] 5 / 13 (AF2)
Swt. V/H AF Area AF point only [ ] 4 / 13 (AF1)
Winter sports 3
Ice hockeySpeed skating, Figure skating (Singles, Pairs)
Winter sports 2
*Set AF sensitivity to 4 when the puck is frequently being passed between players. *To focus on a specific player.
** This can make framing easier when the subject is close.
Recommended settings for events and subjects
18 19