Sony a7 IV close distance (head portraits) Eye-AF issue + comparison to the a7R III (how it should be)
Many users including some professional photographers noticed that their a7 IV Eye-AF does not focus properly from close distances (like head portraits).
I know many will say that they have no problems. I was also one of these "not affected" users. But the camera later did show me I was wrong.
As you can at these samples, there is definitely an issue with the focus.
Even the a7R III can do much better with the same conditions, same lens, same settings etc.
Photo 1: Screenshot of the Imaging Edge Viewer preview to see the focus frame that is on the pupil
Photo 2: Full size crop of the same picture as Photo 1, out of camera JPG, that is showing the focus is on the eye brows
Photo 3: a7R III - Exactly the same conditions - see the difference?
Here is a video where you can see that issue compared to how the a7C actually performs:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAPC31wD7eQ&t=4s
The a7 IV sometimes is showing this front focus issue randomly. If it appears, you have 75-90% shots like that.
The a7R III hits the pupil at 99% of the shots, even if it is way darker.
As the manual spot AF of the a7 IV seems to hit the eye, it's most likely not a sensor but a firmware issue.
I've also noticed complete failures of the eye detection from around 2m as well. It was weird because the conditions have been perfect and nothing disturbing was in the face.
There is also a still growing Facebook group with affected users.
www.facebook.com/groups/sonya7m4eyeafissues
And here is an Instagram group as well: www.instagram.com/sonya7iveyeafissue/
Some of them could reproduce the issue at their dealer where they've bought the camera and also Sony confirmed to some of them already, that the issue is known and they are investigating.
If you are affected, just open a support case with Sony and keep in mind that you must have reproduced the issue with an original Sony lens, because Sony isn't supporting issues while third party lenses have been used. You must send in RAWs later.
Also keep in mind that this issue is constantly only producing front focus, not back focus.
Keep in mind to set the right eye detection mode (human, animals, birds) and Focus Priority must have been set to "AF".
You must use a lens with aperture F1.2/2.4/1.8 and you also must be close enough to fill the frame with the head.
This problem will not show up from further distances like portraits from the waist or full body portraits!
If you are affected with a third party lens, you can also report in the comments or join the Facebook group.
They can also help you finding out if it might be due to a wrong setting or if you are really affected.
Sony a7 IV close distance (head portraits) Eye-AF issue + comparison to the a7R III (how it should be)
Many users including some professional photographers noticed that their a7 IV Eye-AF does not focus properly from close distances (like head portraits).
I know many will say that they have no problems. I was also one of these "not affected" users. But the camera later did show me I was wrong.
As you can at these samples, there is definitely an issue with the focus.
Even the a7R III can do much better with the same conditions, same lens, same settings etc.
Photo 1: Screenshot of the Imaging Edge Viewer preview to see the focus frame that is on the pupil
Photo 2: Full size crop of the same picture as Photo 1, out of camera JPG, that is showing the focus is on the eye brows
Photo 3: a7R III - Exactly the same conditions - see the difference?
Here is a video where you can see that issue compared to how the a7C actually performs:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAPC31wD7eQ&t=4s
The a7 IV sometimes is showing this front focus issue randomly. If it appears, you have 75-90% shots like that.
The a7R III hits the pupil at 99% of the shots, even if it is way darker.
As the manual spot AF of the a7 IV seems to hit the eye, it's most likely not a sensor but a firmware issue.
I've also noticed complete failures of the eye detection from around 2m as well. It was weird because the conditions have been perfect and nothing disturbing was in the face.
There is also a still growing Facebook group with affected users.
www.facebook.com/groups/sonya7m4eyeafissues
And here is an Instagram group as well: www.instagram.com/sonya7iveyeafissue/
Some of them could reproduce the issue at their dealer where they've bought the camera and also Sony confirmed to some of them already, that the issue is known and they are investigating.
If you are affected, just open a support case with Sony and keep in mind that you must have reproduced the issue with an original Sony lens, because Sony isn't supporting issues while third party lenses have been used. You must send in RAWs later.
Also keep in mind that this issue is constantly only producing front focus, not back focus.
Keep in mind to set the right eye detection mode (human, animals, birds) and Focus Priority must have been set to "AF".
You must use a lens with aperture F1.2/2.4/1.8 and you also must be close enough to fill the frame with the head.
This problem will not show up from further distances like portraits from the waist or full body portraits!
If you are affected with a third party lens, you can also report in the comments or join the Facebook group.
They can also help you finding out if it might be due to a wrong setting or if you are really affected.