The Preset-Focus Trick — a short blog post (pros, cons, example cameras)

By Ed Scholz — on “the decisive moment” and mechanical readiness

Photography’s “decisive moment” is partly skill, partly timing, partly luck — and partly equipment choices that let you be ready without being fake. One technical shortcut people use is preset focus (sometimes “Preset Focus/Zoom”): register a focus distance (and optionally a zoom position) to a button, then recall it instantly when something enters that distance. Below I run through what that feature actually buys you, the tradeoffs, example Sony bodies that have it, and a deep dive on the most economical Sony that offers the feature.

What preset focus actually does (short)

You can register up to several focus-distance/zoom combinations to custom buttons; later a single press jumps the lens to that saved focus distance (and zoom) so the camera is instantly “pre-ready” for subjects at predictable spots. This is great for: repeatable street spots, wildlife perches, doorways, or a favored puddle-hop distance. (Sony Help Guide)

Pros

Speed + predictability: jump instantly to a ready focus without hunting. Good when subjects repeatedly pass through the same plane. (Sony Help Guide)
Repeatable setups: register multiple distances (many cameras allow several slots) for different spots/angles and recall them on the fly. (Sony Help Guide)
Cleaner composition workflow: you can keep AF for other subjects while still having a “pre-set” distance available for decisive moments. (Sony Help Guide)

Cons / limits

Lens & model dependence: many Sony bodies only allow preset recall with the same lens attached; changing lens or adding a teleconverter usually invalidates the saved distances. Also, not every model (especially cheaper APS-C bodies) includes the feature. (Sony Help Guide)
Can’t recall while shutter half-pressed: on many Sony bodies the preset cannot be recalled when the shutter is half-depressed — so you must recall before engaging the shutter. That affects some reactive shooting styles. (Sony Help Guide)
Precision vs reality: saved focus is a distance, not an autofocus smart prediction — moving subjects that don’t sit in the exact plane will be out of focus. It’s best for predictable paths or when you combine it with a forgiving aperture/zone focus. (Sony Help Guide)
Startup/compatibility quirks: some cameras restore saved focus on power up, others don’t; some add delay to startup if memory restore is enabled. Check the manual. (Sony Imaging Support)

Example Sony cameras (who has it)

Sony a1 / a1 II — professional bodies with Preset Focus/Zoom functions. (pro: powerful; con: very expensive). (Backcountry Gallery Photography Forums)
Sony a7S III (ILCE-7SM3) — includes Preset Focus/Zoom; very capable for hybrid stills/video. (Sony Help Guide)
Sony RX0 / RX0 II (DSC-RX0 / DSC-RX0M2) — ultra-compact models that include a Preset Focus or Preset Focus/Zoom option in their menus (the RX0 series exposes a “Preset Focus” function). These are dramatically less expensive than full-frame Alphas while still providing the feature in a small package. (Sony Help Guide)
Cinema / pro cam lines (FX-series, etc.) — also implement presets for focus/zoom as a standard pro tool. (Sony Help Guide)

Many mainstream Sony mirrorless bodies (a6000 series, a6400, a7 III, etc.) offer excellent AF tools, focus magnifier, back-button focus and memory recall of camera settings, but do not always include the explicit “Preset Focus/Zoom” distance-registration workflow found on the pro/Cine and some compact models — check the help guide for each model. (Sony Help Guide)

The most economical Sony with the feature — Sony DSC-RX0 II (why it’s the budget pick for preset focus)

Why I picked the RX0 II: among Sony models that explicitly document a “Preset Focus” or “Preset Focus/Zoom” menu option, the RX0 family (RX0 and RX0 II) is the most affordable new Sony that officially includes a preset focus mode. It’s a tiny, rugged 1.0-type sensor camera that exposes a Preset Focus menu and a “Preset Focus/Zoom” style workflow in its help/manual. Retail pricing (Canada) for the RX0 II has been around CAD $1,200–1,300 new (official Sony/retailer listings). That is far cheaper than full-frame bodies that implement the same recall function. (Sony Help Guide)

What you get (RX0 II)

Preset Focus menu — you can set the camera to a Preset Focus mode that locks focus for subjects ~1 m or more (menu label: Preset Focus). There’s also guidance for dealing with nearer distances via a NEAR mode. This works for video and quick still workflows where you want a ready zone. (Sony Help Guide)
Tiny, rugged form factor — pocketable, waterproof/shockproof; good for hidden or street setups where discretion matters. (Vistek)
Limitations to expect
- It’s a fixed (non-interchangeable) lens camera — preset focus is simple but less flexible than a zoom+focus combo on pro bodies. (Sony Help Guide)
- Image control and depth of field are constrained by sensor size and lens specs, so for shallow-DOF “perfect background blur” looks you won’t match a large-sensor mirrorless system.
- The RX0 II’s preset is oriented toward video/compact workflows — if you want multiple zoom+distance combinations tied to different lenses, pro Alpha bodies are functionally richer. (Sony Help Guide)

How to use it (practical tips)

Decide your zone — measure or eyeball the distance where decisive moments usually occur (e.g., 2.0 m from where you stand). Register the preset at that distance. (Sony Help Guide)
Use a forgiving aperture — choose f/5.6–f/8 if you want a wider depth of field so small distance variations stay acceptably sharp. Zone focus + preset is strongest when combined with aperture discipline.
Combine with pre-composition — align your frame so the anticipated action crosses the preset plane naturally (doorways, benches, curbs). Then recall the preset as needed — it’ll snap the focus to the plane you registered. (Sony Help Guide)
Practice the timing — since many Sony presets cannot be recalled while the shutter is half-pressed, learn to recall before breathing on the shutter or map the control to a lens/button you can press quickly. (Sony Help Guide)

Alternatives if you don’t want to buy an RX0 II

Back-button focus + MF with peaking: set AF to a back button and use manual focus with focus peaking/magnifier to “pre-set” distances; this works on many midrange Sonys even if they don’t have preset distance memory. It’s slower but extremely flexible. (Sony Help Guide)
Memory Recall (MR) slots: many Alphas let you save complete camera setups to MR1/MR2 (exposure/AF area/etc.). It’s not the same as a focus distance preset, but it’s useful for swapping between street and tracking setups fast. (Sony Imaging Support)

Quick recommendation

If your focus is purely having an inexpensive Sony body with an official preset-focus function (distance registration + recall), the Sony DSC-RX0 II is the most economical new Sony that documents a dedicated Preset Focus option in its manual and Sony help pages and is widely available at roughly CAD $1,200–1,300 from Canadian retailers. If you want interchangeable lenses and a deeper, pro-grade implementation, you’ll be looking at the a1 level or pro cinema bodies — but those cost many times more. (Sony Help Guide)

Sources / further reading

Sony help: Preset Focus/Zoom (ILCE / pro guides). (Sony Help Guide)
Sony help: Preset Focus (DSC-RX0 / RX0 II manual pages). (Sony Help Guide)
Retailer pricing (Canada) for RX0 II (Sony store, Henry’s, Vistek, London Drugs). (Sony Electronics)
Practical notes on focus workflows (focus magnifier, back-button focus) for Sony mirrorless. (Sony Help Guide)

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Photography with Joe