A7 IV Autofocus (Patreon)

I would normally shoot at sporting events using my A1 but, after a number of conversations surrounding A7IV AF performance on various forums, I covered this Triathlon exclusively with the A7IV and four lenses. These were the:

• FE 50mm F1.2 GM
• FE 135mm F1.8 GM
• FE 100-400 F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• FE 200-600 F5.6-6.3 G OSS

The 50mm and 135 primes were used to shoot the portraits + the swimmers exiting the water. These lenses were used with the apertures primarily wide open so any focusing errors would be immediately apparent.
The bicycles coming towards the camera at racing speeds would highlight any focusing errors with the AF Tracking.

I can report that the focusing of the A7IV is excellent and rarely misses a shot when the correct settings are used. The Eye AF works well and ensures the eyes, eye lashes and eyebrows are all recorded pin sharp and this even engages when the athletes are wearing goggles or sun visors.
If you hear of focusing errors because the Sony focuses on the eyelashes instead of the iris, all I can say is that you really want the iris, eyelashes and eyebrow of the leading eye all record pin sharp. If someone is so close that they can separate the depth of field between these elements they are shooting Macro and not a portrait. With Macro we stop down to f/11 and don't shoot with an f/1.2 lens wide open.