α7 IV vs α7C II

Autofocus points are the discrete locations on the sensor where the AF system can lock focus. Modern mirrorless bodies report point counts ranging from a few hundred to several thousand.

Why the count alone can mislead

Coverage area and detection type matter more than raw count:

• A 425-point system covering 100% of the frame outperforms a 1,053-point system covering only the center 60%.
• Hybrid phase-detect + contrast AF is faster than contrast-only with twice as many points.

What to compare

• Coverage area (% of frame).
• AF detection mode count (eye-AF for humans, animals, birds, vehicles).
• Low-light AF rating (EV value — lower is better, -6 EV is excellent).
• Continuous AF tracking frame rate.

In comparisons

For sports and wildlife, prioritize bodies with subject-recognition AF (eye-detection for the relevant subject) over raw point count.