Glad it was helpful!

Glad I could help!

Very true. He has made free ebooks for us to understand every setting of every model, which incluces examples. Such an amazing work.

I am not sure why the apps disappeared as Sony made no statement. I suggested to Sony back in April last year that statements would be useful. Sometimes the answer people don't want to hear is better than no answer at all. I understand that some would like touch menus, but personally I would not use a touch menu system if it was implemented, as it would be slower than how I currently change functions with the camera at my eye (using the custom keys and front and rear dials).

I am mostly in Tracking and I have AF Area assigned to C2 so I don't think I need to assign it to a Custom button.

You don't need to touch the icon - you simply touch your subject (wherever it appears on the screen)

On some of the later models you can assign the menu key to always go to My Menu

Mark Galer's Alpha Creative Skills thank you. Forgot to mention that I own a A7iii. There, I am not able to find it. My firmware is up to date.

You will see an icon on the monitor that you can tap and it will cycle between Touch Operation Off, Touch Focus and Touch Tracking. For 99% of the time I leave it on Touch Tracking. Touch Focus is useful when you need to pull focus between two points when shooting movies.

Yes

I am not sure I expressed I had a favourite for all situations as I modify workflows (especially AF area and minimum shutter speed) to suit the subject being photographed. I mostly use AF Wide with touch tracking enabled when shooting movies, but my stills sports workflow, when using the Finder, has to change with the model of camera I am using and the type of action. I provide individuals with in-depth support for their workflows via my Patreon site.

With touch operation set to on you need to check the menu called Function of Touch Operation and then you can choose Touch Focus or Touch Tracking. I personally wouldn't bother with BBF. It doesn't provide you with any additional AF performance and actually prevents you from using some of the other touch AF features.

The ability to touch and follow a subject is the same but the term AF Tracking (Sony sometimes refers to this as Real Time AF Tracking) was introduced in 2019. It appeared first on the A6400, was then backdated to the A9 and then released on all subsequent new cameras. The AF areas called Lock-on AF disappeared with these newer models and was replaced with the newer AF Tracking AF Areas. The performance of this newer tracking was improved with additional AF algorithms including Texture.

Mark Galer's Alpha Creative Skills Thank you Mark for this detailed explanation 👍... I’ve learned so much from your experience🥰

These features are for movies and stills. On an A7III Sony calls the feature that I used it identify and follow a moving subject automatically as Center Lock-On AF. This was replaced on the A7RIV, A9 and all new A6xxx cameras with AF Tracking. This is more reliable than the older Center Lock-on AF as additional algorithms were added so the camera is more likely to stay with the subject it recognises as being different from the background. Sony have also added Eye AF into the Tracking algorithms for movies in the latest models.

Mark Galer's Alpha Creative Skills Thanks Mark. Looking forward for our next session for members. I got a 200-600 Sony lens but didn’t have too much time to enjoy it yet. Works grate for the moon capturing though.

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Exactly the information i was looking for, thank you.

I use a range of cameras - this is not a movie about a specific Alpha.

Mark Galer's Alpha Creative Skills THANKS, I guess what I’m trying to get it is what camera is it that has these touch functions you are demonstrating in the video? Thank you

I have not had the opportunity to review the A7Slll yet.

Multiselector and half press the shutter release or AF-On button

The Touch tracking using the EVF only works on the A9ll and A7RlV- you have to use the monitor on the A6400 and A6600

Yes, he can do that. He can do much more. He is much more senior to us in this field, he is playing digital since the first DSLR in the world.

As I am following the two motorcycles approaching the hairpin bend the camera is not panning too quickly (due to the distance of the bikes) I have several seconds just to slide my thumb from the first motorcycle to the second - this could also typically done by using the Multi-selector. Without good Tracking many sports photographers would be expected to keep a small focus point on the subject at all times, by either moving the focus point while panning or keeping the subject in exactly the same place in the frame while panning. The A9 cameras are more than capable of picking up the bikes mid corner and photographing them takes no panning skills as the camera is hardly moving when the bikes are at the apex of the hairpin bend. As this is a hairpin I would expect the bikes to be travelling far slower than the average speed on the circuit which is 160-180kph.

This is not normal behaviour if you are not touching the screen and I can’t think of any menu setting that would cause this. Sony would most likely advise that you try resetting your camera in the menus and if this does not resolve the problem sending it back to Sony for servicing.

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Dear Mark. Thank you ever so much for your speedy reply - much appreciated. Yes, indeed, that is what I have started off - getting the camere set to its factory defaults but no luck unfortunately. I will definitely have Sony take a look at it at their local repair centre, and we will know more about it. Should you have any additional ideas that might resolve the issue it will be always welcome in the meantime :) Cheers Mark again.

Touch Tracking was introduced after the A7III. The A7III uses the older Center Lock-on AF which is accessed from the Focus menus.

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Thank you

Touch Tracking arrived in 2019. The A7lll is a 2018 camera.

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Except A9 is from 2017 and has touch tracking function. I can understand Sony, it was added to A9 via upgrade because A9 is/was a flagship. But it was not added to A7III as it is “entry” level camera ;-)

I have 400+ page manuals for all the recent Sony cameras except the A7SIII and the when the camera is set up, following my recommendations, the camera is far less intimidating as I show you to operate the camera and completely avoid the main camera menus.

@@AlphaCreativeSkills that is good to know the manual encompasses recent Sony’s . What is the minimum amount of months to be a premium member?

Just one month - there is no commitment to stay but my extensive collection of educational resources, seminars and Q&A forums tend to keep people subscribed.

If you look carefully at the slides when I talk about this feature I state that it is not available on all Alpha models. It started appearing on cameras released in 2019 when Lock-on AF was replaced with the superior tracking algorithms of the new Real Time AF Tracking. It appears on the A7C, A7RIV, A9II and A1 cameras and will undoubtedly be present on the A7IV when it is released. I can provided further assistance and guidance on www.patreon.com/markgaler

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Thank you very much for your reply, my camera is a Sony’s A7III. The funny thing is that I was doing the Touch Screen Tracking. If touched the LCD screen on a face, there was a small white line square on that Pearson face, and if he or she move the white square would follow, I have been using this function and it was working great, but now I can't get it to work. The touch screen works but it does not track a moving object. The funny thing is that on the Focus Area it is GREYED OUT the spot focus and I have no idea how can I get light up, so I can use it if I choose Today I couldn’t do it, and I spent the whole morning on a chat with Sony Support and finally they asked me to reset the camera to the factory settings, what I didn’t do. Later on, I turned On the Center lock-on AF and apparently seams that is working, at least it looks like it was before. I didn’t have time to make a real test, but I will try to do it tomorrow Thank again for your reply Orlando

You were poorly advised by Sony - Center Lock on AF is the technique I recommend as outlined in my video tutorial on the subject.

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Thank you, and you are absolutely right, I felt that for every question they have to search for the reply. The good information and inspiration I got from you, and I am happy that I found your video, where all all needed was right there. I still have one question: On my A7III the "Lock-on AF Expand Flexible Spot" is Greyed out in all Shooting Modes, Manual, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Program Auto. If I choose Lock-on AF Expand Flexible Spot focus, it will appear on the screen saying: This operation or setting not available as follows: Shutter Mode. Than, it name whatever shooter mode is set on the Camera. Do you know why this is happening? Thank you in advance. Orlando

Go to the Community tab in KZfaq for access to the member only forums and member only seminars. For additional support including eBooks I would advise switching to my Patreon Support service Patreon.com/markgaler

In post production or in camera?

In camera

I can’t replicate what you are seeing so I can only think your camera is set up very differently to mine.

Mark Galer's Alpha Creative Skills I did find out what makes the picture black initially then brighten it up after couple of seconds; it is the DRO/Auto HDR option, when OFF, the photo remains unchanged, when DRO is selected then somehow the photo is based based on levels or AUTO selected. I could not select HDR. I have no idea what this option is for? When should I select these options?

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hNlheKhzl5vNpGw.html - Note that this section of the video states that it is not supported by most Alpha models.

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Aaaah that makes sense

😀

Sounds like you need to book your camera in for a service.

It's on 2019 and later cameras. Your camera has lock on AF and not AF Tracking features.

@@AlphaCreativeSkills thanks Mark, learned a lot from your channel! just made the upgrade from A7 to A7RIII weeks ago - like it a lot - despite it seems I helped Sony to clear up pre 2019 inventories :-)

Monitor and Finder are the terms Sony use in the camera manual.

Neither of which makes sense, lol. I started with Sony back in 2013, with the a7r, so I'm not new to the platform, I also own an a9. I used to be a electronics tech and a PC network admin, plus I shot video for a living at one point, so I'm well up on modern technology. At any rate, I gave up on this video when he started confusing EVF with the rear LCD, so take it however you want. Thanks for your hard work on the rest of the videos, appreciate it. This is the first one where he didn't make things clear.