I don't mean tracking AF. I mean the generalized matrix of focus points across the EVF/LCD screen. I've rarely seen it "choose" the best focus point so I avoid it.

On 2023-10-27, RichA <rander3128@gmail.com> wrote:
> I don't mean tracking AF. I mean the generalized matrix of focus points across the EVF/LCD screen. I've rarely seen it "choose" the best focus point so I avoid it.

If we're talking about the equivalient of 3D area focus on Nikon DSLRs,
I would only use it for flocks of birds or a bird in flight. Obviously,
such a feature will be more advanced on a mirrorless camera (or a modern
DSLR with live view) as it has the entire image to work with rather than
the exposure matrix but you're ultimately letting the camera make a
decision for you and only experimentation will determine whether it is
reliable for your needs. It sounds that, in your case, it isn't.

I find that with a single focus point in continuous focus, I can get the
exact focus that I need, the point being that I am in control as I know
better than the camera.

On Friday, 27 October 2023 at 02:47:23 UTC+1, RichA wrote:
> I don't mean tracking AF. I mean the generalized matrix of focus points across the EVF/LCD screen. I've rarely seen it "choose" the best focus point so I avoid it.

I can't really see under what circumstances I'd use it. I'm not even sure I have it. (canon EOS M6 MKII )

Am 27.10.2023 um 03:47 schrieb RichA:
> I don't mean tracking AF. I mean the generalized matrix of focus points across the EVF/LCD screen. I've rarely seen it "choose" the best focus point so I avoid it.

It's supposed to work well with cameras with object recognition ("AI")
AF. I've seen posts of people reporting that the camera reliably zeroed
in for instance on the eyes of birds even with very busy backgrounds.

Useful when things happen very fast and you don't have the time to
manually select the focus point.
--
Alfred Molon

Olympus 4/3 and micro 4/3 cameras forum at
https://groups.io/g/myolympus
https://myolympus.org/ photo sharing site

On Friday, 27 October 2023 at 12:55:30 UTC-4, Alfred Molon wrote:
> Am 27.10.2023 um 03:47 schrieb RichA:
> > I don't mean tracking AF. I mean the generalized matrix of focus points across the EVF/LCD screen. I've rarely seen it "choose" the best focus point so I avoid it.
> It's supposed to work well with cameras with object recognition ("AI")
> AF. I've seen posts of people reporting that the camera reliably zeroed
> in for instance on the eyes of birds even with very busy backgrounds.
>
> Useful when things happen very fast and you don't have the time to
> manually select the focus point.
> --
> Alfred Molon

True. I wonder at what point we declare the camera as the photographer?

On Saturday, 28 October 2023 at 00:38:12 UTC+1, RichA wrote:
> On Friday, 27 October 2023 at 12:55:30 UTC-4, Alfred Molon wrote:
> > Am 27.10.2023 um 03:47 schrieb RichA:
> > > I don't mean tracking AF. I mean the generalized matrix of focus points across the EVF/LCD screen. I've rarely seen it "choose" the best focus point so I avoid it.
> > It's supposed to work well with cameras with object recognition ("AI")
> > AF. I've seen posts of people reporting that the camera reliably zeroed
> > in for instance on the eyes of birds even with very busy backgrounds.
> >
> > Useful when things happen very fast and you don't have the time to
> > manually select the focus point.
> > --
> > Alfred Molon
> True. I wonder at what point we declare the camera as the photographer?

when we can program a camera to take a photo of a specific subject,
without actually aiming at it, not sure we are there yet.
But things like the james web telescope can be set to record events even if the photographer
isn't there or manually chooses the subject.
Such as telling a camera to go out and take a picture of a cat, a dog a car etc.. and it comes back
with those photos taken.

Am 28.10.2023 um 01:57 schrieb Whisky-dave:
> On Saturday, 28 October 2023 at 00:38:12 UTC+1, RichA wrote:
>> On Friday, 27 October 2023 at 12:55:30 UTC-4, Alfred Molon wrote:
>>> Am 27.10.2023 um 03:47 schrieb RichA:
>>>> I don't mean tracking AF. I mean the generalized matrix of focus points across the EVF/LCD screen. I've rarely seen it "choose" the best focus point so I avoid it.
>>> It's supposed to work well with cameras with object recognition ("AI")
>>> AF. I've seen posts of people reporting that the camera reliably zeroed
>>> in for instance on the eyes of birds even with very busy backgrounds.
>>>
>>> Useful when things happen very fast and you don't have the time to
>>> manually select the focus point.
>>> --
>>> Alfred Molon
>> True. I wonder at what point we declare the camera as the photographer?
>
> when we can program a camera to take a photo of a specific subject,
> without actually aiming at it, not sure we are there yet.
> But things like the james web telescope can be set to record events even if the photographer
> isn't there or manually chooses the subject.
> Such as telling a camera to go out and take a picture of a cat, a dog a car etc.. and it comes back
> with those photos taken.

This bird AF is just something which helps get the bird in focus, such
as automated metering helps to get the exposure correct.

You still have to point the camera towards the bird - there is no robot
doing that for you.
And you have to set up the camera properly (ISO, metering, JPEG settings
etc.) and decide when to press the button.
--
Alfred Molon

Olympus 4/3 and micro 4/3 cameras forum at
https://groups.io/g/myolympus
https://myolympus.org/ photo sharing site

On 28/10/2023 12:57 pm, Whisky-dave wrote:
> On Saturday, 28 October 2023 at 00:38:12 UTC+1, RichA wrote:
>> On Friday, 27 October 2023 at 12:55:30 UTC-4, Alfred Molon wrote:
>>> Am 27.10.2023 um 03:47 schrieb RichA:
>>>> I don't mean tracking AF. I mean the generalized matrix of focus points across the EVF/LCD screen. I've rarely seen it "choose" the best focus point so I avoid it.
>>> It's supposed to work well with cameras with object recognition ("AI")
>>> AF. I've seen posts of people reporting that the camera reliably zeroed
>>> in for instance on the eyes of birds even with very busy backgrounds.
>>>
>>> Useful when things happen very fast and you don't have the time to
>>> manually select the focus point.
>>> --
>>> Alfred Molon
>> True. I wonder at what point we declare the camera as the photographer?
>
> when we can program a camera to take a photo of a specific subject,
> without actually aiming at it, not sure we are there yet.
> But things like the james web telescope can be set to record events even if the photographer
> isn't there or manually chooses the subject.
> Such as telling a camera to go out and take a picture of a cat, a dog a car etc.. and it comes back
> with those photos taken.

No need for it to go out and take the pix. Could simply generate them !

geoff

On Saturday, 28 October 2023 at 09:54:58 UTC+1, Alfred Molon wrote:
> Am 28.10.2023 um 01:57 schrieb Whisky-dave:
> > On Saturday, 28 October 2023 at 00:38:12 UTC+1, RichA wrote:
> >> On Friday, 27 October 2023 at 12:55:30 UTC-4, Alfred Molon wrote:
> >>> Am 27.10.2023 um 03:47 schrieb RichA:
> >>>> I don't mean tracking AF. I mean the generalized matrix of focus points across the EVF/LCD screen. I've rarely seen it "choose" the best focus point so I avoid it.
> >>> It's supposed to work well with cameras with object recognition ("AI")
> >>> AF. I've seen posts of people reporting that the camera reliably zeroed
> >>> in for instance on the eyes of birds even with very busy backgrounds.
> >>>
> >>> Useful when things happen very fast and you don't have the time to
> >>> manually select the focus point.
> >>> --
> >>> Alfred Molon
> >> True. I wonder at what point we declare the camera as the photographer?
> >
> > when we can program a camera to take a photo of a specific subject,
> > without actually aiming at it, not sure we are there yet.
> > But things like the james web telescope can be set to record events even if the photographer
> > isn't there or manually chooses the subject.
> > Such as telling a camera to go out and take a picture of a cat, a dog a car etc.. and it comes back
> > with those photos taken.
> This bird AF is just something which helps get the bird in focus, such
> as automated metering helps to get the exposure correct.
>
> You still have to point the camera towards the bird - there is no robot
> doing that for you.
> And you have to set up the camera properly (ISO, metering, JPEG settings
> etc.) and decide when to press the button.

Yep that's what I was confirming.
But you can get some cameras like the JWT and others to take pictures for you,
by setting parameters.

> --
> Alfred Molon
>
> Olympus 4/3 and micro 4/3 cameras forum at
> https://groups.io/g/myolympus
> https://myolympus.org/ photo sharing site

On Sunday, 29 October 2023 at 08:39:51 UTC, geoff wrote:
> On 28/10/2023 12:57 pm, Whisky-dave wrote:
> > On Saturday, 28 October 2023 at 00:38:12 UTC+1, RichA wrote:
> >> On Friday, 27 October 2023 at 12:55:30 UTC-4, Alfred Molon wrote:
> >>> Am 27.10.2023 um 03:47 schrieb RichA:
> >>>> I don't mean tracking AF. I mean the generalized matrix of focus points across the EVF/LCD screen. I've rarely seen it "choose" the best focus point so I avoid it.
> >>> It's supposed to work well with cameras with object recognition ("AI")
> >>> AF. I've seen posts of people reporting that the camera reliably zeroed
> >>> in for instance on the eyes of birds even with very busy backgrounds.
> >>>
> >>> Useful when things happen very fast and you don't have the time to
> >>> manually select the focus point.
> >>> --
> >>> Alfred Molon
> >> True. I wonder at what point we declare the camera as the photographer?
> >
> > when we can program a camera to take a photo of a specific subject,
> > without actually aiming at it, not sure we are there yet.
> > But things like the james web telescope can be set to record events even if the photographer
> > isn't there or manually chooses the subject.
> > Such as telling a camera to go out and take a picture of a cat, a dog a car etc.. and it comes back
> > with those photos taken.
> No need for it to go out and take the pix. Could simply generate them !

Yep, that's AI but before that we had artists .

>
> geoff