Automatic subject recognition, or not?
Saturday 23 August 2025, 14:41 by Nando Harmsen | 2,317 views | 8 commentsThis article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.
Most mirrorless cameras offer the option to recognise various subjects. This makes it easy to focus on the right subject straight away. Automatic recognition is not always the right choice.
Recently, I was given the Sony A1 mark II for my photography trip to Iceland. This camera offers a large number of autofocus settings, including subject recognition. Most mirrorless cameras have this nowadays.
Depending on the camera you have, you can often choose between people, animals, birds, insects and various vehicles. There may also be a combination of several subjects, such as birds and animals together.
Sometimes you also have the option of letting the camera make the choice. That seems like a very useful function, because you never have to change the setting.
Although automatic selection can be very useful in many situations, it also has drawbacks. Automatic selection, or a combination of, for example, animals and birds, gives you flexibility, but also uncertainty. What if there are different subjects in one image?
Suppose you choose the combination of animals and birds, and you photograph a seal with a bird also in the frame. What will the camera choose in that case? The bird or the seal?
Suppose you choose automatic subject selection, and you photograph a dog with its owner. What will the camera choose then? Will the camera focus on the dog or the owner? What if vehicle recognition is also one of the options and there is a car in the frame as well?
In situations with several types of subjects, the camera can make the wrong choice. It is then important to limit the subject recognition options. Choose birds or animals. Do not choose the combination. Choose people or animals, and not the automatic mode.
Usually, the subject that is largest in the frame and closest will be chosen. However, don't leave it to chance. But that is no guarantee. If you have the choice and you are photographing a particular subject, choose it.
That does not mean you cannot use the automatic mode or the animals and birds combination. It does mean that you should think carefully about which setting you choose, so that you know how the camera will respond.
How do you use subject recognition on your camera? Are you selective, or do you often leave it to the camera itself? Let us know in a comment below this article.
About the author
Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.
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8 comments
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Donald Willemsen wrote on Saturday 23 August 2025 at 16:38 | replyVoor zover mij bekend speelt dat probleem minder bij de mirrorless camera's van Canon. Dat blijkt ook wel uit de voorbeeldfoto's in het artikel. Uit eigen ervaring met de Canon Eos R7 weet ik dat deze camera wel mensen, dieren en voertuigen kan detecteren, maar dat de camera niet zelf automatisch een keuze maakt. Je moet de camera instellen op 'mensen' of 'dieren' of voertuigen of 'geen'. Staat 'onderwerp volgen' ingesteld dan zal de camera het onderwerp volgen waar je het focuspunt op ingesteld hebt. Of dat nu een cola likje of wat anders is, maakt niet uit. Heb je scherpgesteld op het colablikje en je verplaatst dat, dan zal de camera dat blikje volgen en scherp in beeld houden.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet. -
Nando
wrote on Monday 25 August 2025 at 09:24
| reply
Dat de EOS R7 geen automatische objectherkenning heeft, betekent niet dat dit voor alle Canon camera's geldt.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet.
ook Canon heeft automatische objectherkenning, net als elk ander merk (inmiddels). -
Donald Willemsen wrote on Monday 25 August 2025 at 11:42 | reply
Nando, ik denk dat je me verkeerd hebt begrepen. Natuurlijk kan de R7 automatisch herkennen, maar dan moet die functie wel aan staan. De R7 zal dieren automatisch herkennen als de functie herkening van dieren is ingesteld. Op dat moment zal de camera niet overgaan naar mensen al kan de camera dat ook herkennen. Heb je echter enkel oog herkenning aan staan en verder niets specifiek mens of dier, dan zal de camera kiezen voor het oog dat 'm als eerste herkent en meestal is dat het oog dat het dichtstbij is.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet.
Dus wanneer je voertuigherkenning niet hebt ingesteld, zal de camera die niet automatisch kiezen en op scherpstellen, ook al kan de camera voertuigen herkennen. -
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Donald Willemsen wrote on Monday 25 August 2025 at 13:55 | reply
Nee Nando, dat doe ik niet. De camera zal doen wat jij instelt en volgen wat jij wilt dat 'm moet volgen. In het geval van oog herkenning zal de camera in eerste instantie het eerste oog pakken wat 'm tegenkomt, maar jij als fotograaf bepaalt nog altijd welk oog de camera moet volgen. De camera kiest niks wat je niet zelf hebt ingesteld.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet.
Nogmaals, als je enkel oog herkenning hebt ingesteld, dan zal de camera op het eerste oog scherpstellen dat 'm tegenkomt en dat is het oog wat het dichtstbij is. Heel logisch ook. Maar jij bepaalt op welke oog de camera scherp moet stellen. De camera doet wat jij zegt dat 'm moet doen. Hij doet niets automatisch. Die camera is een computer en een computer doet enkel dat wat je van hem vraagt om te doen en niets anders. -
Lauran wrote on Tuesday 26 August 2025 at 12:26 | replyVergeet al dat automatische gedoe en ga weer gewoon echt fotograferen.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet. -
Nando
wrote on Tuesday 26 August 2025 at 16:54
| reply
Mocht je er zo over denken, dan ook altijd handmatig belichting instellen, geen automatisch transport, geen autowitbalans, geen autofocus...
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet.
Een zinloze reactie, als je het mij vraagt. De moderne techniek is er om te helpen, en ik durf te wedden dat jij er ook veelvuldig gebruik van maakt. -
Donald Willemsen wrote on Tuesday 26 August 2025 at 12:59 | reply
Lauran , je hebt gelijk
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet.
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