Does autofocus work in Continuous Shooting or Speed Priority Continuous focus modes?

When autofocus is set to AF-A or AF-C, you may be able to adjust focus in Continuous Shooting mode. However, restrictions may apply depending on the camera and lens. Read this article for more information.

Note: Before starting, update the camera, lens, or mount adapter to the latest version of the system software (firmware) available.

Availability of autofocus in continuous shooting (1)

Availability of autofocus in continuous shooting (2)

Availability of autofocus in continuous shooting (3)

Notes

• *1 AF may not be tracked while in Continuous Shooting mode in the following cases:
  • If the subject is outside the range of the phase-detection AF sensor.
  • When shooting in a dark environment.
  • When shooting with no subject contrast, such as blue skies or a white wall.
  • If the aperture value is more than F8 or if, for the ILCE-7M3, the aperture value is larger than F11.
• *2 Only compatible with Continuous Shooting Lo.
• *3 Only compatible with Continuous Shooting Lo.
  • Note: You need to set Phase-detection AF for the AF system in the custom menu.
• *4 AF may not be tracked in Speed Priority Continuous Shooting mode in the following cases:
  • If the subject is outside the range of the Phase-detection AF sensor.
  • When shooting in a dark environment.
  • When shooting with no subject contrast, such as blue skies or a white wall.
  • If the aperture value is more than F8.
• *5 Only compatible with Continuous Shooting mode. (You will not be able to continue to focus in Speed Priority Continuous Shooting mode.)
• *6 AF may not track when shooting subjects with poor contrast, such as blue skies or a white wall, or in a dark environment. You will not be able to continue to focus with the Mid / Hi setting in the following cases. In these cases, select the Lo setting.
  • If the subject is outside the range of the Phase-detection AF sensor.
  • If the aperture value is more than F11.
  • When the system software of the LA-EA3 is Ver.01.
• *7 AF cannot be tracked in Speed Priority Continuous Shooting mode in the following cases:
  • If the subject is outside the range of the Phase-detection AF sensor.
  • When shooting in a dark environment.
  • If the aperture value is more than F6.3.
• *8 Software Ver.2.0 or later is required.
• *9 AF may not track when shooting subjects with poor contrast, such as blue skies or a white wall, or in a dark environment. You will not be able to continue to focus with the Mid /Hi / Hi+ setting in the following cases. In these cases, select the Lo setting.
  • If the subject is outside the range of the Phase-detection AF sensor.
  • If the aperture value is more than F11.
  • When the system software of the LA-EA3 is Ver.01.
• *10 AF may not be tracked when shooting in a dark environment. You will not be able to continue to focus in the following cases:
  • If the subject is outside the range of the Phase-detection AF sensor.
  • If the aperture value is more than F16.
• *11 Software Ver.02 or later is required.
• *12 Software Ver.05 or later is required.
• *13 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 F11.
• *14 AF may not track when shooting subjects with poor contrast, such as blue skies or a white wall, or in a dark environment. You will not be able to continue to focus with the Mid / Hi setting in the following cases. In these cases, select the Lo setting.
  • If the subject is outside the range of the Phase-detection AF sensor.
  • When the F-value is greater than F16.
  • When the system software of the LA-EA3 is Ver.01.
  • When the contrast of the subject is low, such as a blue sky or a white wall.
• *15 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, the focus is fixed at the position determined during the first shot, if continuous shooting is set to Continuous Shooting: Hi+ / Continuous Shooting: Hi / Continuous Shooting: Mid.
• *16 AF may not be tracked when shooting subjects with low contrast, such as blue skies or a white wall, or 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.
  • When the subject is outside of the Phase-detection AF sensor area.
  • When the F-value is greater than F22.
  • When the system software of the LA-EA3 is Ver.01.
• *17 AF may not be tracked when shooting subjects with low contrast, such as blue skies or a white wall, or in a dark environment. You will be able to continue to focus in only Lo (Shutter Type: Mechanical Shutter) in the following cases.
  • When the subject is outside of the Phase-detection AF sensor area.
  • When the F-value is greater than F22.
  • When the system software of the LA-EA3 is Ver.01.
• *18 AF may not be tracked while in Continuous Shooting mode in the following cases:
  • 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 Aperture Drive in AF is set to Standard or Silent Priority and the F-value is greater than F22.
  • When Aperture Drive in AF is set to Focus Priority, the F-value is greater than F22, and the continuous shooting speed is 120 images/s or 60 images/s.
• *19 AF may not be tracked while in Continuous Shooting mode in the following cases:
  • 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 system software of the LA-EA3 is Ver.01.
  • With continuous shooting set to Hi+ / Hi and Single-shot AF / DMF / Manual Focus selected, the first shot determines the focus. When the camera is set to Continuous AF, you can perform continuous shooting with AF tracking at a maximum speed of 10 images/s.
• *20 AF may not be tracked while in Continuous Shooting mode in the following cases:
  • 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, the focus is fixed at the position determined during the first shot.