Printable Step-by-Step Guide: Back-Button Focus on My Sony A7 IV

Licensed in Alabama and Florida

Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

Guided by the Gulf. Grounded by Integrity — Meredith Folger Amon, Gulf Coast Expert Real Estate Advisor
Guided by the Gulf. Grounded by Integrity.

This is my simple, print-and-keep guide for setting up and using back-button focus on the Sony A7 IV. I keep these steps handy any time I’m shooting live musicians or low-light scenes around Ono Island.

Part A: One-Time Setup (takes about 3 minutes)

Step 1: Turn off autofocus on the shutter button

  1. Press MENU.
  2. Go to the AF/MF tab (purple).
  3. Select AF w/ Shutter.
  4. Set it to OFF.

Result: The shutter button will only take the photo, not re-focus.

Step 2: Make AF-ON your autofocus button

  1. Press MENU.
  2. Go to Setup (yellow tab).
  3. Choose Operation Customize.
  4. Select Custom Key/Dial Set.
  5. Pick Still (or Still/Movie if you want it in both modes).
  6. Select the AF-ON button from the diagram.
  7. Assign it to AF On.

Result: AF-ON now controls focusing with your thumb.

Step 3 (optional): Add a Focus Hold button

This is optional, but helpful for stage lighting shifts.

  1. Stay in Custom Key/Dial Set.
  2. Select a spare button you like (AEL, C1, or C2).
  3. Assign it to Focus Hold.

Result: You can freeze focus instantly when needed.

Part B: How I Use It While Shooting

Step 4: Start in the right AF mode

  1. Set focus mode to AF-C (continuous autofocus).
  2. Set AF Area to Wide Tracking or Zone Tracking.
  3. Turn Face/Eye Priority to ON.

Step 5: Focus with your thumb

  1. Place your thumb on AF-ON.
  2. Press and hold AF-ON to focus.
  3. Keep holding AF-ON while the musician moves.

Result: The camera tracks focus only when you tell it to.

Step 6: Shoot with the shutter

  1. While holding AF-ON, press the shutter to take photos.
  2. The camera continues to track focus as long as your thumb stays on AF-ON.

Step 7: Lock focus when you want consistency

  1. Press AF-ON to focus.
  2. Release AF-ON to lock that focus distance.
  3. Recompose if needed.
  4. Press the shutter for multiple frames without re-focusing.

Result: No focus-hunting on mic stands or bright background lights.

Contact Meredith Amon Gulf Coast Realtor

Part C: Quick Fixes When Something Feels Off

Step 8: If everything is soft

  • Check that you are actually pressing AF-ON.
  • Remember: your thumb is now the autofocus.

Step 9: If focus keeps jumping to the background

  • Switch AF Area from Wide to Zone.
  • Aim the zone over the performer’s face or torso.

Step 10: If focus looks right but the image is still blurry

  • That is usually motion blur, not focus.
  • Increase shutter speed first (I typically start around 1/250 for live music).
  • Then raise ISO as needed.

Part D: My Simple “Stage Preset” Starting Point

  • Focus Mode: AF-C
  • AF Area: Wide Tracking or Zone Tracking
  • Face/Eye Priority: On
  • Shutter Speed: ~1/250 (faster if the stage is energetic)
  • Aperture: as open as your lens allows while keeping enough depth
  • ISO: raise confidently to protect sharpness

Print Note

If you print only one page, print this guide and keep it in your camera bag. Once the habit clicks, back-button focus feels as natural as breathing, and it is the easiest way I know to increase sharp keeper shots in real-world lighting.

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on

Tags

Email Send a link to post via Email

Leave A Comment

e.g. yourwebsitename.com
Please note that your email address is kept private upon posting.