Is OSPDAF ever used in AF-S?

My understanding is Fast Hybrid AF will use PDAF initially and then use contrast-detect for final step. At least some cameras seem to do a small contrast detect wobble during AF-C.

DC motors are slow for contrast-detect hunt.

The A7RII has the AF System menu option that allows switching between contrast-detect and phase-detect for the LA-EA1/3/5. There's no Fast Hybrid support for A-mount lenses. I believe the A7RII will switch to contrast-detect if the maximum aperture is less than f8 or in movie mode. Recent camera models have gotten rid of all contrast-detect for A-mount.

I use AF-S most of the time except if I am shooting action. Some people claim to use AF-C all the time. The Samyang lenses often lock just out of focus in AF-S to the side that they start focusing from. Like the stepper motor is one step off. Sony lenses always seem to be spot on. I had some AF-S issues with the FE 85 F1.8 on the A7III, but it wasn't an accuracy issue.

My Samyang 24mm F2.8 has very little breathing. It is one of least breathing primes. Its breathing is mostly just a change in distortion.


Edited by QuietOC - 29 December 2021 at 12:00

I keep updating Samyang firmware but haven't found any changes from those updates so far.

Sony hasn't stated anywhere that there is phase-detect only AF for any E-mount camera except when using the A-mount adapters. Sony has had contrast-detect only AF-C. The cameras without phase-detect sensors have AF-C.

FWIW: I've hearing about sales on the Sigma 45mm F2.8 Contemporary down to $250. It is still my favorite normal prime, and it also has very little breathing. People do report AF issues with it too. It has a good amount of under corrected spherical aberration.

Edited by QuietOC - 29 December 2021 at 14:20

Oh, and the A6000 does not do PDAF with the adapters. Unfortunately.

Miranda F wrote: Or does everyone else with an E-mount camera just leave it set in AF-C and ignore the problem with AF-S?

I was never very annoyed with the "defocus-focus" behaviour of my A7rii, at least it was accurate. Then I purchased the Tamron 28-75 which front focuses most of the time at 75mm and only at 75mm on that camera (AF-C or AF-S does not matter). The Sony 90G will not AF lock at all if the object aimed at is within a meter with the a7rii (I think I need educating on why something being photographed is called a "subject" since in the English language the subject is usually the doer, i.e photographer I would think :) )

Since I also acquired a used A9 I've kept the A7rii in MF. It's stellar with manual focus lenses, newer as well as older. (The mentioned lenses have zero AF issues with the A9).

The A9 is set to AF-C, I see no reason to use AF-S.

Edited by Kilkry - 29 December 2021 at 15:06

QuietOC wrote: Kilkry wrote: The Sony 90G will not AF lock at all if the object aimed at is within a meter with the a7rii Interesting. Some E-mount lenses don't allow AF at their minimal focus distance, but I don't think that is true for that lens. The effective aperture gets smaller at closer focus, and the phase detect of the A7RII only works up to f8, but contrast-detect should continue working. https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1520/v1/en/contents/TP0001087184.html

Yes it tries, and it isn't always that it cannot seem to lock but pretty often still, and if the AF limiter isn't set it takes time to go through the entire range, back and forth. It doesn't happen if what it is aimed at is further off but it could be something with the aperture and distance I guess. So usage now is with MF and a tripod when it isn't windy, else with the A9.

Samyang lenses require their dock for firmware updates. I don't think the lens has any influence on the camera's AF choices other than reporting it's focal length, aperture, and focus position. Maybe it sends some info about its motor?

Edited by QuietOC - 29 December 2021 at 21:21

I use the dock fairly often. I had two of them for awhile. Elite bundles them with lenses at their Rokinon webstore. I already said I have never detected a change after an update. It might help if they published more specifics about what was being changed. The issues I have noticed have not been fixed so far.