Sony Tracking 4.0 Firmware update: Real Time Recognition AF+

[MMP]

Sony quietly dropped their new Tracking 4.0 firmware for the A1ii and A9iii sometime this past week, and I had a chance to put it through its paces with a couple of U10 Premier soccer games over the weekend (as well as some non-sports low-light face tracking for Halloween night.) For the games, I used the A1ii with the 70-200GM and the 200-600G, alongside an R5ii with the 70-200 2.8L. Both of these cameras are easily capable of getting the job done regardless of what firmware is running. Previously, I've come to my own conclusion that when Sony is locked on, I am going to get a near 100% hit rate, while Canon is going to be in the 95-97% range. On the other hand, the R5ii always seemed to have a slight advantage with continuously tracking a target face through traffic and distractions.

The short version of my experience this weekend with Sony's 4.0 firmware? The Canon R5 II did great as expected, but my keeper rate definitely leaned toward the A1ii this time around. This Sony update feels like a solid step forward in AF performance.

If you've become at all familiar with the tracking characteristics prior to the update, I think you will notice the improvement. The AF stuck with my subject through some pretty chaotic midfield moments, even when kids crossed directly in front and blocked the player I was tracking. In some cases, only a small portion of the players head or body remained visible, but the AI still "knew" that portion belonged to the originally tracked subject. Prior to this update, the camera would have jumped to the next closest face in the AF box, and then sometimes would have jumped back to the original subject when they became visible, although that jump back was highly unpredictable. I typically would have to take my finger off the half-shutter press and restart AF once the player's face became visible again. That was most often not the case with the new 4.0 firmware.

Sony may have nudged its way into the top spot for AF stickiness while somehow maintaining it's near 100% hit rate. It's pretty amazing how far technology has come over the last 10-15years. With the inclusion of AI, I have a feeling we are going to see impressive jumps in AF features. It's a great time to be a photographer!

I don't believe we have many Sony shooters here (if any?), but if anyone else has had the chance to install and test the 4.0 firmware, let us know what you think.

Firmware download page for A1ii - https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/e-mount-body-ilce-1-series/ilce-1m2/software/00349486
Firmware download page for A9iii - https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/e-mount-body-ilce-9-series/ilce-9m3/software/00341218

Other functions added include support for Preset Focus, ability to set Recognition Target to Auto (was already present on A1ii), addition of FL2 and FL3 Film Look creative Profiles, improved bounce flash metering, and a few other small additions that can be found on the firmware download pages.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

I don't believe we have many Sony shooters here (if any?), but if anyone else has had the chance to install and test the 4.0 firmware, let us know what you think.

We came from POTN and that for many years was a Canon only forum. It still shows. I know @sidknee is a Sony shooter but I haven't seen him in a while.

 

[MMP]

We came from POTN and that for many years was a Canon only forum. It still shows. I know @sidknee is a Sony shooter but I haven't seen him in a while.

Yes! I do remember the forum being called "Canon Photography on the Net", and then seemingly, I signed on one day and it just wasn't anymore.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Yes! I do remember the forum being called "Canon Photography on the Net", and then seemingly, I signed on one day and it just wasn't anymore.

That switch happened in 2014 when Pekka moved POTN from vBulletin to his own AMASS. The forum had Sony and Nikon shooters before that but they had a thread is all. When Pekka moved to AMASS they all got their own forums and POTN stopped being a Canon forum, but it very much continued to be a Canon centric forum. And that is still reflected in us and in the other forum.

 

[StephenM]

I use a Sony a7r2 but not with AF lenses.

My wife took the leap into mirrorless with the a7r, then the a7r2 and now the a7r3. I gained her cast offs to use. I actually took the manual focus route deliberately after the original a7r missed focus on a group shot which I would have managed manually. There were also memories of Sue missing erupting geysers in Iceland because the prefocused camera locked when the water appeared until it refocused. This wasn't a mirrorless, by the way. So I did start with a distrust.

I may revisit if this have improved so much.

As my main camera is actually a Canham, that makes me almost Canon - most people hear the name as that

 

[MMP]

I use a Sony a7r2 but not with AF lenses.

My wife took the leap into mirrorless with the a7r, then the a7r2 and now the a7r3. I gained her cast offs to use. I actually took the manual focus route deliberately after the original a7r missed focus on a group shot which I would have managed manually. There were also memories of Sue missing erupting geysers in Iceland because the prefocused camera locked when the water appeared until it refocused. This wasn't a mirrorless, by the way. So I did start with a distrust.

I may revisit if this have improved so much.

As my main camera is actually a Canham, that makes me almost Canon - most people hear the name as that

In my general opinion, Sony AF had always been superior to Canon up until the EOS R which introduced eye-detect AF. It worked, but once it got to the R5, Canon had really caught up. The R5ii seemed to surpass everything from Sony except the A9iii. I think this 4.0 firmware puts Sony back on top.

Again, all of these options are excellent and suitable for all but the most demanding or critical tracking tasks. At this point in the tech, I don't think it would be wise to switch systems for the purposes of AF. The more compelling argument to switch would be if you are interested in exploring 3rd party lenses/vintage lenses, or the physical size/weight advantages of Sony.