2. Z 50 Online Manual
3. Basic Settings
4. Focus

Focus can be adjusted automatically, manually, or using touch controls. How the camera focuses is governed by your choice of focus mode and AF-area mode.

• Choosing a Focus Mode
• AF-Area Mode
• The Touch Shutter
• Manual Focus

Choosing a Focus Mode

The focus mode controls how the camera focuses. The focus mode can be selected using the Focus mode items in the i menu and the photo and movie shooting menus (0 Focus Mode, Focus Mode, Focus Mode).

At default settings, the focus mode can also be selected by holding the Fn2 button and rotating the main command dial (0 The Function Buttons (Fn1 and Fn2)).

Option		Description
AF-A	AF mode auto-switch	The camera uses AF-S for stationary subjects, AF-C for subjects that are in motion. AF mode auto-switch is available only in photo mode.
AF-S	Single AF	For stationary subjects. Press the shutter-release button halfway to focus. If the camera is able to focus, the focus point will turn from red to green; focus will lock while the shutter-release button is pressed halfway. If the camera fails to focus, the focus point will flash red and the shutter release will be disabled.
AF-C	Continuous AF	For moving subjects. The camera focuses continuously while the shutter-release button is pressed halfway; if the subject moves, the camera will predict the final distance to the subject and adjust focus as necessary. At default settings, the shutter can only be released if the subject is in focus (focus priority), but this can be changed to allow the shutter to be released at any time (release priority) using Custom Setting a1 (AF-C priority selection).
AF-F	Full-time AF	The camera adjusts focus continuously in response to subject movement or changes in composition. When the shutter-release button is pressed halfway, the focus point will turn from red to green and focus will lock. This option is only available in movie mode.
MF	Manual focus	Focus manually (0 Manual Focus). The shutter can be released whether or not the subject is in focus.

AF-Area Mode

The focus point can be positioned using the multi selector. AF-area mode controls how the camera selects the focus-point for autofocus. The default setting is Auto-area AF, but other options can be selected using the AF-area mode items in the i menu and the photo and movie shooting menus (0 AF-Area Mode, AF-Area Mode, AF-Area Mode).

At default settings, AF-area mode can also be selected by holding the Fn2 button and rotating the sub-command dial (0 The Function Buttons (Fn1 and Fn2)).

Option		Description
3	Pinpoint AF	Recommended for shots involving static subjects, such as buildings, in-studio product photography, or close-ups. Pinpoint AF is used for pinpoint focus on a selected spot in the frame. This option is only available when photo mode is selected and Single AF is chosen for Focus mode. Focusing may be slower than with single-point AF.
d	Single-point AF	The camera focuses on a point selected by the user. Use with stationary subjects.
e	Dynamic-area AF	The camera focuses on a point selected by the user. If the subject briefly leaves the selected point, the camera will focus based on information from surrounding focus points. Use for photographs of athletes and other active subjects that are hard to frame using single-point AF. This option is only available when photo mode is selected and AF mode auto-switch or Continuous AF is chosen for Focus mode.
f	Wide-area AF (S)	As for Single-point AF, except the camera focuses on a wider area, the focus areas for Wide-area AF (L) being larger than those for Wide-area AF (S). Use for snapshots or photos of moving subjects that are hard to frame using single-point AF, or in movie mode for smooth focus during panning and tilting shots or when filming moving subjects. If the selected focus area contains subjects at different distances from the camera, the camera will assign priority to the closest subject.
g	Wide-area AF (L)
h	Auto-area AF	The camera automatically detects the subject and selects the focus area. Use on occasions when you don’t have time to select the focus point yourself, for portraits, or for snapshots and other spur-of-the-moment photos. A yellow border indicating the focus point appears around the faces of human subjects detected by the camera. If eyes are detected, the yellow focus point will instead appear over one or the other of their eyes (face/eye-detection AF). This frees you to concentrate on framing and your subject’s expression while photographing active portrait subjects (0 Face/Eye-Detection AF). If Animal detection on is selected for Custom Setting a2 (Auto-area AF face/eye detection), a yellow focus point will appear over the faces of dogs or cats detected by the camera. If eyes are detected, the yellow focus point will instead appear over one or the other of their eyes (0Animal-Detection AF). Subject tracking (0 Subject Tracking) can be initiated by pressing the J button. Custom Setting f2 (Custom controls (shooting)) or g2 (Custom controls) can be used to configure the Fn1 or Fn2 button to start subject-tracking AF (0f2: Custom Controls (Shooting), g2: Custom Controls). Subject-tracking AF can also be assigned to the lens Fn or Fn2 button using Custom Setting f2 (Custom controls (shooting)).

Face/Eye-Detection AF

When photographing portrait subjects with Auto-area AF, use Custom Setting a2 (Auto-area AF face/eye detection) to choose whether the camera detects both faces and eyes (face/eye-detection AF) or only faces (face-detection AF) of human portrait subjects.

Focus point

• If Face and eye detection on is selected and a human face is detected, a yellow border indicating the focus point will appear around the subject’s face. If the camera detects the subject’s eyes, the yellow focus point will instead appear over one or the other of their eyes. Face and eye detection on is enabled at all times in b (auto) mode.
• Faces detected when Face detection on is selected are similarly indicated by a yellow focus point.
• If AF-C is selected for focus mode, or if the camera is shooting using AF-C when AF-A is selected for focus mode, the focus point will light yellow when faces or eyes are detected.
• If AF-S is selected for focus mode, or if the camera is shooting using AF-S when AF-A is selected for focus mode, the focus point will turn green when the camera focuses.
• If more than one human face or eye is detected, e and f icons will appear on the focus point. You will be able to position the focus point over a different face or eye by pressing 4 or 2.
• If the subject looks away after their face is detected, the focus point will move to track their motion.
• During playback, you can zoom in on the face or eye used for focus by pressing J.

Animal-Detection AF

In modes other than b, the camera will detect the faces and eyes of dogs and cats (animal-detection AF) when Animal detection on is selected for Custom Setting a2 (Auto-area AF face/eye detection). Animal detection on is enabled at all times in f (pet portrait) mode.

Focus point

• When the camera detects a face of a dog or cat, a yellow border indicating the focus point will appear around the subject’s face. If the camera detects the subject’s eyes, the yellow focus point will instead appear over one or the other of their eyes.
• If AF-C is selected for focus mode, or if the camera is shooting using AF-C when AF-A is selected for focus mode, the focus point will light yellow when faces or eyes are detected.
• If AF-S is selected for focus mode, or if the camera is shooting using AF-S when AF-A is selected for focus mode, the focus point will turn green when the camera focuses.
• If more than one face or eye of a dog or cat is detected, e and f icons will appear on the focus point. You will be able to position the focus point over a different face or eye by pressing 4 or 2.
• During playback, you can zoom in on the face or eye used for focus by pressing J.

Subject Tracking

When Auto-area AF is selected for AF-area mode, the camera can track the subject in the selected focus point.

• Press J to enable focus tracking; the focus point will change to a targeting reticle.
• Position the reticle over the target and press J again to start tracking; the focus point will track the selected subject as it moves through the frame. To end tracking and select the center focus point, press J again. Note that if you press the shutter-release button halfway to start tracking during still photography when AF-C or AF-A is selected for focus mode, the camera will track the subject only while the shutter-release button is pressed halfway; when the button is released, tracking will end and the focus point in effect before tracking started will be restored.
• To exit subject-tracking mode, press the W button.

The Touch Shutter

Touch controls can be used to focus and release the shutter. Touch the display to focus and lift your finger to release the shutter.

Tap the icon shown in the illustration to choose the operation performed by tapping the display in shooting mode. Choose from the following options:

W	Touch the display to focus on the selected point and lift your finger to release the shutter. If an option other than Off is selected for Custom Setting a2 (Auto-area AF face/eye detection) and the camera detects human faces or eyes or the faces or eyes of dogs or cats, the camera will focus on the face or eye * closest to the selected point. Available only in photo mode.
V	Touch the display to focus on the selected point. Lifting your finger from the display does not release the shutter. If auto-area AF is selected for AF-area mode, the camera will track the selected subject as it moves through the frame. To switch to a different subject, tap it in the display. If an option other than Off is selected for Custom Setting a2 (Auto-area AF face/eye detection) and the camera detects human faces or eyes or the faces or eyes of dogs or cats, the camera will focus on and track the face or eye * closest to the selected point.
X	Touch shutter disabled.

When choosing an eye using touch controls, note that the camera may not focus on the eye on the side you intend. Use the multi selector to choose the desired eye.

Manual Focus

Manual focus can be used when autofocus does not produce the desired results. Position the focus point over your subject and rotate the focus or control ring until the subject is in focus.

For greater precision, tap the X button to zoom in on the view through the lens.

When the subject is in focus, the focus point will light green and the in-focus indicator (I) will appear in the display (electronic rangefinding).

In-focus indicator			Description
I			Subject in focus.
F			Focus point is between camera and subject.
		H	Focus point is behind subject.
F		H	Camera unable to determine whether subject is in focus.
(flashes)

When using manual focus with subjects not suited to autofocus, note that the in-focus indicator (I) may be displayed when the subject is not in focus. Zoom in on the view through the lens and check focus. Use of a tripod is recommended when the camera is having trouble focusing.