Switching the level of defocus in the background

The [Background Defocus] function is useful in cases where you want both the subject and the background to be in clear focus, or if you want the background defocused.

You can change the level of defocus in the background simply by pressing the button while shooting still images or movies.

Here we describe the procedure for using the [Background Defocus] function to change the level of defocus in the background while automatically focusing on a subject when shooting movies.

Setting the camera

  1. Still/Movie/S&Q switch

    Select movie shooting mode using the Still/Movie/S&Q switch.

  2. [Shoot Mode]

    MENU → (Shooting) → [Shooting Mode] → [Shoot Mode] → desired shooting mode.
    When shooting a movie automatically with the camera, (Intelligent Auto) is convenient.

  3. [Focus Mode]

    MENU → (Focus) → [AF/MF] → [Focus Mode] → [Continuous AF].

  4. [Subject Recog in AF]

    MENU → (Focus) → [Subject Recognition] → [Subject Recog in AF] → [On].

  5. [Recognition Target]

    MENU → (Focus) → [Subject Recognition] → [Recognition Target] → [Human].

  6. [Sbj Recog Frm Disp.]

    MENU → (Focus) → [Subject Recognition] → [Sbj Recog Frm Disp.] → [On]

Related camera help guide

Guide to using the camera

This section describes the shooting steps if you have set [Shoot Mode] to (Intelligent Auto) when shooting a movie.

Shooting instructions

  1. Setting the position where you want to focus

    The following is the procedure for setting [ Focus Area] to [Wide].
    MENU → (Focus) → [Focus Area] → [Focus Area] → [Wide].

  2. Checking the focus

    When a face or eye is recognized and autofocusing is possible, a white recognition frame appears around the face or eye.

    Illustration of appearance of white recognition frame on eye

    The eye is detected and autofocus is enabled.

  3. Changing the level of defocus in the background

    Illustration of background in clear focusYou can switch the level of defocus in the background ("Defocus"/"Clear") each time you press the (Background Defocus) button.
    You can set the amount of background defocus when (Defocus) is indicated using [Defocus Level Set].
    MENU → (Shooting) → [Shooting Option] → [Defocus Level Set] → adjust the level of defocus by moving the slider using the control wheel and then select [OK].

    Illustration of background in clear focus

    [Background Defocus] mode: (Clear)

    Hint

    • The aperture value becomes locked and the icon (Defocus) or (Clear) is indicated instead of the aperture value in the [Background Defocus] mode.
    • When [Cinematic Vlog Set.] is set to [On], black bars are added at the top and bottom of the image, and the frame rate is locked to 24 fps. You can easily shoot cinematic images.
    • You can set the direction of sound pickup when using the built-in microphone. Select your desired setting using [Microphone Directivity].

  4. Shooting movies

    Press the MOVIE button to start recording.

    While recording a movie, the level of defocus in the background (Defocus/Clear) changes each time you press the Custom Key to which you have assigned [Background Defocus].

    Press the MOVIE button again to stop recording.

Related camera help guide