LIVE AIR 4 SMART（Test）

If you are using a Sony Alpha or FX series camera with a traditional locking E-mount, you can add SMART FUSION to enable functions such as Focus Lock and other autofocus-related features. The actual autofocus tracking performance depends on the camera’s own autofocus capabilities.

SMART FUSION is a Sony camera integration system designed specifically for LIVE AIR 4 SMART, enabling communication between the LIVE AIR 4 SMART LiDAR motor and Sony cameras.

It is designed to apply Sony’s built-in focusing functions to native E-mount manual focus lenses, or PL cinema lenses mounted via an E-to-PL adapter, enabling autofocus control that feels closer to a native lens experience.

If you are not using a Sony camera, SMART FUSION is currently not supported. You will need to use the LiDAR autofocus function built into the motor itself.

Currently, the LiDAR autofocus feature does not support focus locking. The motor can independently perform calibration and autofocus operations without requiring interaction with other components or applications. It operates in a manner similar to both area autofocus and narrow (spot) autofocus modes, automatically measuring distance and focusing on either the nearest or farthest object detected within the LiDAR’s scanning range.

If you need to track complex scenes and require precise focus on specific, overlapping objects, you can enable the long-range LiDAR narrow autofocus mode separately.

If your shooting scenario involves multiple objects in the foreground and background, and you need to switch focus between them without changing the composition, we recommend switching to manual control mode for better control.

Best Value for Solo Shooters

If you're looking for the most cost-effective solution, the PD-BTMP-SPM kit is a great choice. This kit includes only the LiDAR motor, which is capable of handling all autofocus setup and operations independently—no controller needed. It’s perfect for users who prefer simple, streamlined setups without compromising on performance.

Most Popular Choice Among Solo Shooters

For solo shooters who want both autofocus and manual control, the PDL-AFX-SPM kit is the most popular option. It comes with a LiDAR motor and a compact wireless control wheel. In addition to autofocus, you can manually control focus wirelessly using the handwheel. This makes the setup extremely flexible and adaptable to a wide range of shooting scenarios.

It’s also compatible with the Live Air 4 Smart wireless lens control system. Depending on your needs, you can even use the controller to manage zoom functions.

All-In-One Professional Setup for Solo and Team Use

If you're looking for a comprehensive and professional solution that supports both solo and team shooting, the PDL-AFX-RA-SPM kit is ideal. It builds on the PDL-AFX-SP by adding the REMOTE AIR RIG, which upgrades the small control wheel to a full-size handwheel. This setup covers virtually every shooting need—manual or autofocus, solo or crew-based—delivering top-tier control and versatility.

Already Own a Controller? Flexible Add-On Option

If you already own the PDL-TC-AFX mini wireless controller or have previously purchased any kit from Live Air 2S or newer, you can simply buy the PD-BTMP-SP LiDAR motor as a standalone upgrade. It supports Bluetooth pairing with older Bluetooth motors, allowing you to integrate it seamlessly into your existing setup.

28° is the scanning angle of the close-range LiDAR, which essentially defines the autofocus area. If you've used the LIVE AIR 3 SMART before, this will feel familiar. The scanning distance of this LiDAR is up to 4 meters.

To support autofocus even under strong outdoor sunlight, we’ve added a narrow 4° long-range LiDAR. However, since the scanning area is quite narrow when both the camera and subject are moving, we worked hard to offer a user-adjustable module that expands the 4° angle to 16°.

This means you can maintain reliable autofocus even while shooting moving subjects. Depending on your shooting scenario, you can freely combine 4°+28° or 16°+28° for autofocus — helping you shoot with higher efficiency and greater creativity.

Outdoor Bright Daylight - ≤100,000 lx :

- 4° LiDAR Max 10M,     16° LiDAR MAX 6.5M,  28° LiDAR MAX 2M. 

Outdoor Normal Daylight - ≤ 10,000 lx :

- 4° LiDAR Max 17.5M,  16° LiDAR MAX 9M,     28° LiDAR MAX 3M. 

Outdoor Overcast - ≤ 5,000 lx : 

- 4° LiDAR Max 20M,     16° LiDAR MAX 12M,   28° LiDAR MAX 3M. 

Outdoor Nighttime - ≤ 200 lx :

- 4° LiDAR Max 50M,     16° LiDAR MAX 15M,   28° LiDAR MAX 5M. 

Indoor - ≤ 200 lx :  

- 4° LiDAR Max 50M,     16° LiDAR MAX 15M,   28° LiDAR MAX 5M. 

Note: The above LiDAR distance measurement data was obtained under different lighting environments in an open scene, with a 70-meter unobstructed straight-line distance, using a person as the focus reference for measurement.

For the 4° LiDAR, its maximum scanning distance is 50 meters (requiring precise calibration of the lens and LiDAR axial alignment).

Yes, you can still use the autofocus function even when a matte box is attached. There are two possible methods to achieve this:
1. Raise the LiDAR motor as much as possible and find a suitable mounting position to ensure the matte box does not block the LiDAR.
(This method is commonly shared by experienced users, but it requires some DIY skills.)
2. Use the master-slave mode of the new LiDAR motor. Set the new LiDAR motor to master mode—in this mode, the device functions solely as a rangefinder, activating only the LiDAR distance measurement and control features while disabling the motor drive. You can then mount it in a position where it won’t be blocked by the matte box and adjust the angle accordingly.
Connect it to and control a separate Bluetooth motor such as: PD-BTMP, PD-BTMP-N, PD-BTMP-S, PD-BTMP-SP, PD-BTMP-SPM.

The autofocus feature supports most conventional cinema lenses with built-in hard stops. It does not currently support non-hard stop DSLR lenses or certain macro lenses with non-linear progressive magnification.
Electronically controlled lenses with no hard stop focus, if there is a depth of field scale on the focus ring that indicates the focus position, autofocus can still be used. The prerequisite is to manually calibrate the effective focus range of a lens. using the manual lens calibration function, based on the depth of field scale. Additionally, during calibration, it is important to note that SLR lenses with a depth of field scale actually have a very subtle limit that can be surpassed. We can manually calibrate the lens travel based on this subtle limit. Afterwards, autofocus MARK points can be set.

Yes, the motor has three speed settings: fast, medium, and slow. You can cycle through the autofocus speed settings by short-pressing the motor button 5 times. It is recommended to use the medium speed for normal autofocus. If you need faster autofocus, you can set it to fast. If you prefer a smoother transition during the autofocus process, you can use the slow speed.

Each motor can save data for up to 5 lenses. Before calibrating a lens, select the channel color to save the autofocus data for that lens. Double-click the motor button to cycle through 5 channels (red, yellow, green, blue, white). You can use labels to record which lens corresponds to each channel. After restarting the motor, simply set it to the corresponding color channel and perform automatic/manual lens calibration to extract the calibration data for that lens and enable autofocus mode. There is no need to recalibrate, and changing the device will not affect the saved data.

The LIVE AIR 4 SMART is primarily focused on a comprehensive upgrade of the motor. The new LiDAR motor features a longer scanning range, faster autofocus speed, and more autofocus modes for users to choose from. Other aspects, such as the controller, related accessories, settings, and operation methods, remain the same.
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