Sony Support

Article ID : 00060034 / Last Modified : 06/03/2021

Does the camera continuously adjust the focus while in Continuous Shooting or Speed Priority Continuous focus mode?

    IMPORTANT: This article applies only to specific products and/or operating systems. Check Applicable Products and Categories for details.

    The camera can continue to adjust the focus during Continuous Shooting if you set the autofocus mode to AF-A or AF-C. However, there are limitations depending on the camera and lens used. Check the table below for these limitations.

    Note: Update the camera, lens or mount adapter to the latest software (firmware) version.

    Model Name Autofocus Mode Setting Fast Hybrid AF with Compatible Lens Fast Hybrid AF with Non- Compatible Lens Mount Adapter using LA-EA3, A-EA5 Mount Adapter using LA-EA4
    ILCE-1 AF-C YES *15 YES *2 YES *16 NO

     

    Model Name Autofocus Mode Setting Fast Hybrid AF with Compatible Lens Fast Hybrid AF with Non- Compatible Lens Mount Adapter with LA-EA1 Mount Adapter with LA-EA3/EA5 Mount Adapter with LA-EA2/EA4
    ILME-FX3 AF-C YES *13 YES *2 YES *2 YES *2 NO
    ILCE-9 AF-C YES *10 YES *2 YES *2 YES *14 YES *2
    ILCE-9M2 AF-C YES *10 YES *2 YES *2 YES *14 YES *2
    ILCE-7RM2 AF-A or AF-C YES *1 YES *2 YES *3 YES *3 YES *2
    ILCE-7RM3 AF-A or AF-C YES *1 YES *2 YES *3 YES *3 YES *2
    ILCE-7M3 AF-A or AF-C YES *1 YES *2 YES *3 YES *3 YES *2
    ILCE-7M3A AF-A or AF-C YES *1 YES *2 YES *3 YES *3 YES *2
    ILCE-7M2 AF-C YES *1 YES *2 YES *3*8 YES *3*8 YES *2
    ILCE-7 AF-C YES *4 YES *5 NO NO YES *5
    ILCE-5100 AF-A or AF-C YES *6 YES *2 NO NO YES *2
    ILCE-6000 AF-A or AF-C YES *6 YES *2 NO NO YES *2
    ILCE-6300 AF-A or AF-C YES *9 YES *2 YES *3 YES *3 YES *2
    ILCE-6500 AF-A or AF-C YES *9 YES *2 YES *3 YES *3 YES *2
    NEX-5R AF-C YES *7 YES *5 NO NO YES *5
    NEX-5T AF-C YES *7 YES *5 NO NO YES *5
    NEX-6 AF-C YES *7 YES *5 NO NO YES *5

     

    Model Name Autofocus Mode Setting Fast Hybrid AF with Compatible Lens Fast Hybrid AF with Non-Compatible Lens Mount Adapter with LA-EA1/EA2/EA4 Mount Adapter with LA-EA3/EA5
    ILCE-6600 AF-A or AF-C YES *13 YES *2 YES *2 YES *6
    ILCE-7RM4 AF-A or AF-C YES *13 YES *2 YES *2 YES *6
    ILCE-7RM4A AF-A or AF-C YES *13 YES *2 YES *2 YES *6

     

    Model Name Autofocus Mode Setting Fast Hybrid AF with Compatible Lens Fast Hybrid AF with Non-Compatible Lens Mount Adapter with LA-EA1/EA2/EA3/EA4
    ILCE-6100 AF-A or AF-C YES *13 YES *2 YES *2
    ILCE-6400 AF-A or AF-C YES *13 YES *2 YES *2
    ILCE-7C AF-A or AF-C YES *13 YES *2 YES *2

     

    Model Name Autofocus Mode Setting Contrast AF Mount Adapter with LA-EA1, LA-EA3 Mount Adapter with LA-EA2/EA4
    ILCE-7SM2 AF-C YES *5 NO YES *5
    ILCE-7S AF-C YES *5 NO YES *5
    ILCE-7R AF-C YES *5 NO YES *5
    ILCE-5000 AF-C YES *5 NO YES *5
    ILCE-3500 AF-C YES *5 NO YES *5
    ILCE-3000 AF-C YES *5 NO YES *5
    NEX-7 AF-C YES *5 NO YES *5
    NEX-3N AF-C YES *5 NO YES *5
    NEX-F3 AF-C YES *5 NO YES *5
    NEX-C3 AF-C YES *5 NO YES *5*11
    NEX-5 AF-C YES *5 NO YES *5*12
    NEX-3 AF-C YES *5 NO YES *5*12

     

    Model Name Autofocus Mode Setting Compatibility
    DSC-RX10M4 AF-A or AF-C YES *1
    DSC-RX100M5 AF-A or AF-C YES *1
    DSC-RX100M5A AF-A or AF-C YES *1
    DSC-RX100M6 AF-A or AF-C YES *1
    DSC-RX100M7 AF-A or AF-C YES *1
    ZV-1 AF-A or AF-C YES *1

    Conditions and limitations (*)

    Refer to the conditions below to determine how the camera operates using the above-mentioned lenses on Autofocus mode.

    1. Can't track AF while on Continuous Shooting:
      • If the subject is outside the range of the phase-detection AF sensor.
      • If you shoot in a dark environment.
      • If you shoot with no subject contrast such as blue skies or a white wall.
      • If the aperture value is more than F8.
        • For ILCE-7M3, if the aperture value is larger than F11.
    2. This is only compatible with Continuous Shooting Lo.
    3. Compatible with Continuous Shooting Lo with AF System set to Phase-detection AF.
    4. Can't track AF in Speed Priority Continuous Shooting:
      • If the subject is outside the range of the phase-detection AF sensor.
      • If you shoot in a dark environment.
      • If you shoot with no subject contrast such as blue skies or a white wall.
      • If the aperture value is more than F8.
    5. This is only compatible with Continuous Shooting and the camera can't focus when on Speed Priority mode.
    6. Can't track AF when shooting in a dark environment. The camera won't focus on Mid/Hi Cont. Shooting:
      • If the subject is outside the range of the phase-detection AF sensor.
      • If the aperture value is more than F11.
      • If the system software of LA-EA3 is Ver.01.

        Note: To resolve this, set Cont. Shooting to Lo.

    7. Can't track AF while on Speed Priority Continuous Shooting:
      • If the subject is outside the range of the phase-detection AF sensor.
      • If you shoot in a dark environment.
      • If the aperture value is more than F6.3.
    8. Software Ver. 2.0 or higher is required.
    9. Can't track AF when shooting in a dark environment. The camera won't focus on Mid/Hi/Hi+ Cont. Shooting:
      • If the subject is outside the range of the phase-detection AF sensor.
      • If the aperture value is more than F11.
      • If the system software of LA-EA3 is Ver.01.

        Note: To resolve this, set Cont. Shooting to Lo.

    10. Can't track AF when shooting in a dark environment. The camera won't focus:
      • If the subject is outside the range of the phase-detection AF sensor.
      • If the aperture value is more than F16.

        Note: To resolve this, use a Software Ver. 3.0 or higher and attach an SEL400F28GM.

    11. Software Ver. 02 or higher is required.
    12. Software Ver. 05 or higher is required.
    13. The camera may not be able to maintain focus on a subject using AF during continuous shooting in the following situations:
      • If the subject is outside of the phase-detection AF sensor area.
      • If you shoot in dark surroundings.
      • If the contrast of the subject is low, such as a blue sky or a white wall.
      • If the aperture value is greater than F11.
    14. Can't track AF when shooting in a dark environment. The following situations prevent AF function in Mid/Hi Cont. Shooting. Set Cont. Shooting to Lo.
      • If the subject is outside of the phase-detection AF sensor area.
      • If the aperture value is more than F16.
      • If the LA-EA3 mount adapter system software is Ver.01
    15. When the contrast of the subject is low, such as a blue sky or a white wall
    16. The camera may not be able to maintain focus on a subject using AF during continuous shooting in the following situations:
      • When the subject is outside of the phase detection AF sensor area
      • When shooting in dark surroundings
      • When the contrast of the subject is low, such as a blue sky or a white wall
      • When the aperture value is greater than F22
    17. AF cannot be tracked when shooting in a dark environment. You will not be able to continue to focus in Hi+ / Hi / Mid in the following cases. In this case, set to Lo.
      • If the subject is outside the range of the phase-detection AF sensor
      • When the F-value is greater than F22
      • When the system software of LA-EA3 is Ver.01
      • When the contrast of the subject is low, such as a blue sky or a white wall