Having a camera with a wealth of AF points is a must-have feature for any photographer aiming to capture fast-moving action. Sport and wildlife photographers, in particular, need AF points across the frame to accurately track subjects which may be moving in unpredictable patterns.
So which cameras have the most AF points? We’ve tested all the cameras in this guide and have picked our favourites based not only on which cameras have the most AF points but which also offer superb AF performance.
Now, before you start shouting, ‘Where’s the Sony RX…,’ for now we’re focusing on interchangeable lens cameras. We’ll update this post later to account for fixed-lens cameras. But before we begin any discussion about which cameras have the most AF points, lets first answer a couple of burning questions we often get asked…
What’s the difference between phase detection and contrast AF points?
The short answer you need to know is that contrast detection AF is more accurate than phase detection, but much slower. Because of this, it’s largely best suited for landscape and portrait photographers – in other words, non-moving subjects.
Don’t get us wrong: when we say contrast AF is more accurate, that’s not to say phase detection isn’t accurate. It is!
Contrast AF analyses the pixels directly on your camera’s sensor to determine when your subject is in focus. This is a longer process, but it’s more accurate in low light.
Phase detection AF creates pairs of images based on the light coming in through your lens. It analyses these to ascertain the focus and is much faster than contrast AF. As such, phase detection AF is beneficial to wildlife and sports photographers who rely on their subject tracking and continuous AF modes.
Which camera has the most autofocus points?
The following cameras lead the pack in terms of having the most AF points. For a deeper dive into the many different camera types and features available, check out our range of camera buying guides.
