Nex-7: how do you set your focus and metering?

[-kk-]

I have the nex-7 now for about a week or so. In general, I really like the feel and of the camera and what it does. What does frustrate me sometimes is picking out a focus spot (or how hard it can be), and also metering for the scene at the same time. I had the focus set to multi for awhile and that was a nightmare trying to get the point that you want.

I now have the camera setup to centre/spot focus, and multi metering. This way I can do like like I do on the MP. I will point the spot at the focus point and reframe before pulling the trigger.

Im curious if this is frustrating for anyone else, and how you deal with it?

Cheers,
Kelvin

 

[bwcolor]

I'm finding some of the same frustration with regards to focusing. On my X100, I set the focus area to a very small rectangle and could precisely determine the sampled area either off center, or using the center and recomposing. The rectangles in the Sony are huge. When shooting my kids at moderate apertures in good light, I like the face recognition. Perhaps, the most critical focusing is done manually with focus peaking and magnification. I've gotten much faster with this through practice.
Exposure... I use spot and EV dial when I want to think and multi with EV -0.3-0.7 when I don't want to think. In other words I have more overexposure that I like. I also tend to use fill flash, but a bit toned down with heavy back-lighting. As you can deduce from my comments, I'm mostly pointing the lens at people.

 

[Ken Ford]

Mine is usually in aperture priority mode and I make heavy use of the exposure compensation (right top tri-nav) with the histogram in my EVF view. I always use multi metering.

Focus - when I'm using legacy MF glass it's easy, I have focus assist set to the AF/AE lock button; when I have native E mount lenses mounted, I leave the camera in MF and change the setup for the same button to use it as AF start. It then works like how I use AF on my DSLRs - it focuses as long as I hold the button, and stops when I release. In either case I use the central AF spot, focus and recompose, but I have been known to fart around with multispot and the movable single point modes, too.

 

[ravid905]

I use the Flexible Spot focus setting because it appears to be a smaller focusing area than the centre spot (which didn't focus quite where I wanted it to), and you can also move it around if desired. I came to this pretty quickly as my previous AF camera (Maxxum 9), only had three focus spots to begin with; I would focus with the centre and recompose. I also have the button near the shutter release set to allow me to change any AF setting in just a couple of presses. Oh, and it is also set to DMF focus, so that I can change the focus if I am not happy with the cameras choice of the main subject.😉

And I also use spot metering on the camera, just because that is what I have always used on my cameras.

 

[rogue_designer]

Since I use 90% manual focus lenses, I have the Edge Peaking display set, as a my only focus aid (which is brilliant, and very quick).

Meter is center weighted, though I am finding it trends towards slight under-exposure, and I may adjust it.

When I do use an auto-focus lens, I just use the center focus spot.

 

[Manuphoto]

I use either Multi-segment or spot depending on conditions. I've found Sony's metering to be extremely reliable, more than my old Nikons (which where very good!).

As for focusing, I use AF lens with center AF point (focus then recompose). I activate focus peaking for streets, even with AF. So I can prefocus on something and wait until my subjects glows to take the shot. Call it modern days hyperfocal 😛