Let's hope that that stays true. Nikon Z6ii/Z7ii-buyers were basically promised that autofocus would close the gap to Canon / Sony via firmware upgrades. They communicated that that's why they added an extra image processor. But those upgrades never really came through. They didn't even add 3d-tracking which had been available on the D850 years earlier. Nikon made consumers pay quite a premium over their first generation mirrorless cameras for that autofocus promise 😩
@@amicx1001 I didn't said that they promised, I said "I knew". They released a lot of firmware updates for the Z9 before the Z8 meaning that they have an active team of people working on firmware improvement, I was sure that Z8 would be supported the same as this camera was even more important than the Z9. It was a bet on my side for sure but everything was showing that nikon was going this way.
I updated my z8 the other day and then went out and tested it. I can see a big improvement in the auto focus. In the past, some camera brands would have saved these features to put in their next body and made you buy that camera instead of updating the firmware. Nikon has been doing a great job in giving us new features and keeping us happy. I'm still waiting on another firmware update for my z6 II. That may not happen until the z6 III comes out.
Nice vid Jan. I tested it out this afternoon and took about 3,000 pics with firmware 2.0 on my Z8 and 180-600. What impressed me was even reviewing on the back LCD zoomed in you could see the consistency in bursts of the eye catchlight being 100% sharp and minimal in every shot with the orbital ring in amazing detail time & again. Before with the previous firmware and AF the first shot in the burst was generally not ideal and the 2nd or 3rd the best, but now they are all great spot-on perfect can't get better, as is the feather detail. You needed a bit of skill and persistence to get it right now anybody will be able to get great results. This is impressive, thank-you Nikon, but now I have too many keepers to go through and will have to alter my technique to shorter bursts concentrating on capturing the perfect pose of the bird. Need to test AF on more advanced BIF tomorrow, maybe welcome swallows with my other Z8 and 600pf with TC1.4, then auto capture, pixel shift ... Next-Level Autofocus?- hell Yeah!!! Go Nikon well done, cheers ... Geoff A.
Got it loaded, can't wait to try out your new settings. I think your new settings along with using Cycle AF-area Mode may really be the settings I have been looking for.
I've been super impressed so far. I shoot a lot of birds against desert plants with very complex backgrounds (and often partially obscured by complex foregrounds). Before this update I couldn't get good detection/tracking unless the subject filled the frame. This update really extended the range where I can get good focus performance, and it made a big difference in low light. Most importantly it tracks really well as birds hop around or fly out of the sticks/thorns/etc. I'm really happy with this update.
Just few minutes ago, I finally bought a bundlepack of your prosets and after my final two exams tomorrow, I will hopefully catch up with my editing, I'm few months behind (lol)...So excited to use the prosets! Keep up the good work Jan. Cheers from Czech Republic.
Great video! I updated to 2.0 yesterday but cannot go out and try it out yet due to pickleball injury putting me in a cast for the next while. I can't wait!
Hi, thanks a lot for this video ! That Z8 becomes even more seriously tempting ! I'm still attached to the RAW pro capture of my OM-1, but in the end, I don't use it as much as I thought I would, so maybe I won't miss it, especially with the gain in video capabilities the Z8 would grant.
Jan, fantastic detailed test, that helps me a lot to make the right buy decision. Perfect. great support. We will stay in touch. Best regards Michael from Germany
I bought a Canon R6. As soon as the Mark II came out, all firmware updates completely stopped (apart from bug fixes and support for new lenses). My advice to people starting out - go with Nikon if you want to future-proof your camera better.
They don't upgrade their older cameras either though do they? Like the z6/ii? Or z7. Why would any company really improve an older camera when they have a newer version they are trying to sell? Z8 is Nikon's most important camera really. And this update was needed to make it on par/slightly better potentially than a 4 year old canon R5s AF capabilities. I'm not trying to have an argument at all, but I see it as, big updates only happen when they are needed. And improvements definitely stop when new models arrive.
Thanks for the setting tips bro, just tried the new firmware on red capped robin, double barred finch, eastern yellow robin and Rufus whistler and it felt amazing to use the new bird AF!! It feels like a brand new camera. Do not regret buying my z8 at all. Even though I wish it still had three dials😅
Thanks a lot Jan just installed the update on my Z8 but yet to test it.Your inputs with regard to the improved auto area AF option are important considering that that's the area where even my Sony A74 had an edge over the Z8 in so far as precise detection of the birds (small size target) is concerned.
I’ve been a Canon shooter since Day 1. I love my R5, but if Canon doesn’t deliver with the R5 Mk II, I just might jump to the Z8. It just keeps getting better. Nice job Nikon. Canon????
Since the R6 mark II came out, there have been no firmware updates for the R6 (apart from bug fixes and support for new lenses). I expect the same will happen with the R5 later this year.
The pressure is on Canon and if they don’t deliver a camera as good as the Z8, it’s difficult to see why they would stay. I sold my Canon gear for a Z8 a year ago and am glad I did.
Great banded Lapwing pics Jan. We have them at a local turf farm - they are so small and very difficult to get close to with anything less than 800mm focal length.
Interesting about your button setup. What I find works for me is I keep AF-ON as normal, I have my AF area set to full, and then I have my Fn1 button set to "Recall shooting functions (hold)" with it set to small area AF mode. That way I can use Fn1 to switch between full area AF and small area AF, and use the AF-ON button as normal. I have the lens function button set to AF-ON + 3D tracking, although it sounds like I might not need to use it very often now :)
Today I was interested in pushing the limits on my 180-600z using my z8 and a 2x z tel converter ,with Dx mode on Interestingly I found auto focus jumping around . This I think was a natural occurrence four birds lined up .considering the reach . The tip I found that changed the quality results may help you when you need a foucs correction fast. In setting I leave turned on foucs peeking . When your not sure of the foucing . So the oyster catcher is captured I used the auto foucs to get there about and touching the manual ring foucs peeking give me the help I needed .considering the distance at 600 mm the two times converter then Popping it into DX mode the 180-600 give me a good result. Foucs peeking when using a tripod or monopod can get me better results .The iso was at 200 the birds had parked themself on to a floating peer . So I wounded if you may find it worth while touch the manual foucs ring for sharpness ? I was pleased with the capture the red eyes are clean clear and I could make out the shells on the floor of the peer . I do find you very helpful and so thanks a million.
Jan if your where starting again. Would you go canon or Nikon? Great video as always. I don’t know whether to go for a r5 or. Z8, it’s wildlife photography, I mainly do
Thanks so much for this video Jan ! The part where you said "the autofocus doesn't seem to like Herons and egrets" I agree with. In fact, it does not seem to like ANY long-necked birds and tends to shift focus to the necks instead of the eye. And all this time I thought I was one doing something wrong !! 😃
Great news and thanks for the excellent detailed testing I will now feel great about getting the Z8 my old Canon lenses still work well on the R7 but I'm looking forward to Nikon's excellent lenses moving to Z. Anything Canon in the UK is just too expensive and I want a stacked sensor for birds.
I'm excited about this update for my z8... by the way, the Fringer adapter for Canon EF to Nikon Z works amazingly well, including for super telephotos. It's just as fast as running the Canon lenses natively on my old R5 or SLRs.
Did it improve AF on the human eye? Was issue when AF focuses on eye leashes resolved? I have this issue on my Zf on 85mm at 1.8 on 20-30% of pictures depending on face type and brightness of the eye.
6:35 regarding selecting the right detection mode, how good is the auto setting? Is it usable enough to generally leave the subject detection on auto, and only change it in tricky situations or when specifically setting out to shoot a particular subject?
Another great video. Thank you for the update info. I know you touched on it briefly but how do you feel about the Z8 (and lens lineup) now compared to your Canon R5 now? If you were starting from scratch and money was no object, is the new Z8 AF firmware compelling enough that you would choose a Z8 + 600PF or 600 F4 TC over your Canon R5 or a Canon R3? You mentioned the Z8 now has the best video AF. Is it significantly better than the Canon R5? I find that my R5 really struggles with AF in video and in slow motion video. I'm thinking about adding a Nikon Z8 and maybe a 600PF to my kit to start and seeing how it compares, then deciding if it's worth the switch. I do love my R5 + RF 100-500mm overall and I have the RF 200-800mm on order, but I also encounter many frustrations like the poor video AF, limited reach with the 100-500mm and it's annoying TC functionality, both lenses are also slower than whats available from Sony and Nikon (600mm f6.3). If you were starting over with money being no object what system and lenses do you think you would get?
It’s hard to look past Nikon for wildlife these days for sure. Just like you I’d miss the 100-500, so I’d probably use two systems. I find the eye tracking for birds to be far superior on the Z8 compared to the R5. Stills AF is pretty similar after this update. The real question a is, how much better will R1 and R5 II be?
It’s definitely good now, but it would be an uphill battle to be the best I think. There’s some Canon and Sony powerhouses that may want that title, too And the Z9 may want to have a word too
Hi Jan, a very well presented and informative video as always. You may be one of a very few people who can answer the following question from your own experience photographing birds. I am a long term Canon user but thinking of downsizing my gear. My options are to stay with Canon and go with the R5, 100-500 + 1.4 extender - or Nikon Z8, Z 600 6.3 + 1.4 extender. For me feather detail is everything :-) (and why I still mainly use the 600 F4 II). I would expect that the Nikon option above would resolve more detail, but what have you found from your own direct experience - as you are one of the few people using both these set-ups? Hope you can help!
Wonderful review! Thanks for this, I've been on the fence about whether to purchase the Z8 and this certainly pushes things more in its favour. (I'm currently on Z7II and its AF drives me insane but I was worried the Z8 wouldn't be enough of an upgrade to spend the money, but it sounds like the new firmware def solidifies it as a mega upgrade)
@@user-ul9id4to9t I know, but after hearing how many issues even the Z8 had, I didn't see the immediate point in upgrading considering that it is a very expensive investment and I heard lots of stories about the Z8 struggling in many situations as well. Though I'd say it is far from useless, if you know how to use it, you can make it work. It is a pitty though that Nikon hasn't bothered to try to improve a $3000 body that is still for sale now. For a lot of users that's already near the most they are willing to spend. It is a bit silly that you need to buy a flagship level body to get decent focus performance. Sony and Canon's mid tier bodies don't suck like that.
Thanks for a great update and review, I enjoyed it. I have one question on your configuration. Looking at your menu at 5:26 in the video, it seems you have your configuration of your focus buttons set to a focus area, plus AF-On. Do you have any separate focus area assigned to your shutter button? I have been going back and forth between back button focus and assigning a focus mode to the shutter button itself, but with the new "Cycle AF-area mode" option, I might consider using that on either F1 or Display button, cycling through my preferred focus options (2 or 3 of them) and using BBAF. Have you played with that already?
It means to always focus on an area you expect your subject to appear on even before it shows up, so that when it shows up the camera can “see” it easily
I can’t open the file on my mac laptop, to do the update. I’m in Brazil, so I can’t do anything until I get home in a couple of weeks. I’d love to try out the bird tracking while I’m here.
Autocapture is something I very much want to see in Canon cameras. During summer and fall I set up camera traps in my garden at night and not having to bother with IR and PIR triggers and all the cabling would be a big improvement.
Is there a chance that we will see Nikon Z50 with Nikon Z 180-600 or 100-400 on your channel? It's hard to find such a list on YT. There are z6, z7, z8 etc. It would be nice if someone showed that you can also take good photos with such a set. Your photos are great and I wonder how good photos you could take with the Nikon Z50. Regards
Great video as per usual Jan. Thank you. Could you please explain what button you use to assign your spot metering 'base autofocusing mode'? You mention you assign your back button AF-On button as Auto-area AF and the display button as 3D tracking. But what about the spot meter mode? Keep up the good work.
The question is : does this new firmware update brick compatibility with Sigma Art or Tamron DSLR lenses when using the FTZ2 ? This already happens before
Hi, I’m shooting with Fujifilm gfx100s but it’s not good for all types of photography which I like (Portrait, Landscape, Still-life). It’s heavy and bulky with gf lenses to carry around, and slow for sports and wildlife if sometimes I like to experience it! But it seems Z8 is all in one camera. The only matter important to me is if I switch to Z8, with 14bit and 45mp, could I achieve the same high images quality (detailing, colour rendering, and deep dynamic range) by gfx100s with 16bit and 102mp? Thank you.
Hi Jan, always great info and presentation! I am thinking of switching from R5/100-500 to Z8/600pf for better action and flight bird shots. Does that make sense, or is the A1/200-600 a better combo for those? Thanks!
No doubt that this firmware update is a huge improvement. Coming from Sony (A7R3) to the Nikon Z8, one feature that I used a LOT and would like to see in a future Firmware update is to have the capability to use "Zebra Stripes" in stills photography.
I you want to get an update like that on the OM Systems OM-1 you have to buy a complete new camera, making the old one obsolete. Makes me regret having left Nikon. But maybe in future I will return...
Super Video! Wie hast du die Einstellung angepasst- AF- ON bleibt bei 3d, DISP ist jetzt AF anstatt von wide area c1 und FN1 bleibt bei Single shot? Viele Grüße
Jan, I want to be clear about what you're suggesting for the settings on the Z8 firmware update. Which button have you chosen for spot focusing? Are you handing off from your spot focusing to the Auto area focus on the AF button? You mentioned prefocusing - wasn't clear what you meant by that - using the spot focus? Can you clarify this? Thanks.
Pre focus basically just means to anticipate an area the bird will show up and focus on that distance already before the bird shows up, so when it shows up, it’s almost in focus already
Sold my Z9 after disappointing results for BIF while it sound’s improved I come away from this video not convinced it has been totally improved, fantastic camera for most users but still lagging in comparison with some other brands, especially bird eye and flight, but must admit it is getting there.
@@ShoebSaiyad I already had the Canon EF 500mm f/4L ll so went with the Canon R5 picked up a used R3 at a good price, before that I had Nikon gear including the Z7 etc, couldn’t afford any of the Z primes like the S 600mm f4, affordable good glass will always be a big factor deciding systems, Sony primes are also expensive as with the other systems
Jan if you could do an episode on the R7 Canon just like what you did here for the Z8 Nikon it would be really nice there Jan , I have had so many issues with my R7 been the Canon A dozen times and they still can't get it right .
@@jan_wegener Jan I did not see those 2 videos , On the videos you posted did they correct any of the problems that they R7 has with tracking because this has been horrible .
@@jan_wegener Jan My patience is over with this R7 . I am now back to using the 7D Mk II . As far as I an concerned Jan the only place for the R7 is in the trash barrel .
If you are using adapted 150-600mm third party zooms with the R7, that's probably the reason for the awful af performance. Those lenses aren't very good with mirrorless.
Yes, the R7 is very good but Canon hasn't added or improved one thing with firmware updates. Even the R and RP had updates improving AF. Why Canon has neglected its flagship APS-C camera is beyond me.
Jan, do you have a worksheet of your Nikon Z9 and Z8 setup? I have enjoyed your reviews on Nikon, and its camera lenses. I’ll be heading for South Georgia Island and the Falkland Islands soon, as well as back to Svalbard to photograph polar bears, arctic fox, birds, etc.
It didn’t do anything, I guess it happens in Queensland summer. I actually took it out and it wasn’t even hot, much cooler than putting it in a card reader for instance
"Nikon has been the only brand basically that has been consistently updating and significantly improving their cameras through firmware updates." Not so. Kaizen has been practiced by Fujifilm for many, many years and set the example that Nikon is now following. Having said that, it is a good thing and should be adopted by other camera manufacturers as well.
Can you please whisper into Nikon's ear and make them update their Firmware for the Z7 as well? Pretty please. The current (FW3.6) subject tracking is hideous. Many thanks.
@@codebunnies that may well be, but I also shoot Canon and Olympus, and I can say for certain that both the Canon R6 and R7, and the Olympus OMD-M1 MK3, and the newer OM-1 far outrun the Z7 (and the Z6) in the tracking department. And all of these are $1000 less than the Z7.
@@codebunnies not buying it... the D500 and the D850 both have excellent autofocus, and they both run with single EXCEED 5 processors. If anything the EXCEED 6 should outperform the D500 and D850. There is something else at work (or not at work). Maybe strategic reasons to push people towards the Z8 and the Z9....
I bought a Z8 just because I knew it would be supported and improved, nikon is just awesome with firmware updates. thanks for the great tips!
Great to hear!
Let's hope that that stays true. Nikon Z6ii/Z7ii-buyers were basically promised that autofocus would close the gap to Canon / Sony via firmware upgrades. They communicated that that's why they added an extra image processor. But those upgrades never really came through. They didn't even add 3d-tracking which had been available on the D850 years earlier. Nikon made consumers pay quite a premium over their first generation mirrorless cameras for that autofocus promise 😩
@@hendrickziegler8487Source?
@@amicx1001 I didn't said that they promised, I said "I knew". They released a lot of firmware updates for the Z9 before the Z8 meaning that they have an active team of people working on firmware improvement, I was sure that Z8 would be supported the same as this camera was even more important than the Z9. It was a bet on my side for sure but everything was showing that nikon was going this way.
@@clfeuillet sorry for confusion, I wasn't referring to you at all.
I updated my z8 the other day and then went out and tested it. I can see a big improvement in the auto focus. In the past, some camera brands would have saved these features to put in their next body and made you buy that camera instead of updating the firmware. Nikon has been doing a great job in giving us new features and keeping us happy. I'm still waiting on another firmware update for my z6 II. That may not happen until the z6 III comes out.
Jan, vielen Dank für deine tollen Videos! Die Z8 macht einfach Spaß und jetzt noch mehr!
Nice vid Jan. I tested it out this afternoon and took about 3,000 pics with firmware 2.0 on my Z8 and 180-600. What impressed me was even reviewing on the back LCD zoomed in you could see the consistency in bursts of the eye catchlight being 100% sharp and minimal in every shot with the orbital ring in amazing detail time & again. Before with the previous firmware and AF the first shot in the burst was generally not ideal and the 2nd or 3rd the best, but now they are all great spot-on perfect can't get better, as is the feather detail. You needed a bit of skill and persistence to get it right now anybody will be able to get great results. This is impressive, thank-you Nikon, but now I have too many keepers to go through and will have to alter my technique to shorter bursts concentrating on capturing the perfect pose of the bird. Need to test AF on more advanced BIF tomorrow, maybe welcome swallows with my other Z8 and 600pf with TC1.4, then auto capture, pixel shift ... Next-Level Autofocus?- hell Yeah!!! Go Nikon well done, cheers ... Geoff A.
Thanks for sharing!
Don't alter your technique, just be more picky with the pose and your keeper rate will go right down again^^
How is the 600 PF vs 180-600? Which do you use more?
The Bird AF is great I’ve been using on the Z9 now to update my Z 8, also Auto Capture is great too!
It has been a dramatic improvement for sure
@@user-mf5bb5zz5z Sadly still only in Jpeg.
Great Video Jan .. Thanks for sharing your findings ❤
Great!!
A much awaited update.
Thanks for the presentation.
Thanks for watching!
Nice one Jan, I often thought of selling my Canon gear and going with the Nikon because of their more affordable prime lenses.
Glad you liked it
Got it loaded, can't wait to try out your new settings. I think your new settings along with using Cycle AF-area Mode may really be the settings I have been looking for.
I've been super impressed so far. I shoot a lot of birds against desert plants with very complex backgrounds (and often partially obscured by complex foregrounds). Before this update I couldn't get good detection/tracking unless the subject filled the frame. This update really extended the range where I can get good focus performance, and it made a big difference in low light. Most importantly it tracks really well as birds hop around or fly out of the sticks/thorns/etc. I'm really happy with this update.
Thanks for sharing
Really enjoyed your video, Jan. Very balanced and unbiased.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Just few minutes ago, I finally bought a bundlepack of your prosets and after my final two exams tomorrow, I will hopefully catch up with my editing, I'm few months behind (lol)...So excited to use the prosets! Keep up the good work Jan.
Cheers from Czech Republic.
Great, I hope you will enjoy them!
Great video! I updated to 2.0 yesterday but cannot go out and try it out yet due to pickleball injury putting me in a cast for the next while. I can't wait!
Hi, thanks a lot for this video ! That Z8 becomes even more seriously tempting ! I'm still attached to the RAW pro capture of my OM-1, but in the end, I don't use it as much as I thought I would, so maybe I won't miss it, especially with the gain in video capabilities the Z8 would grant.
Hi Jan :) Thank you for another amazing upload. Cheers from Montreal, Canada 🍁 🍁
Glad you enjoyed it!
Jan, fantastic detailed test, that helps me a lot to make the right buy decision. Perfect. great support. We will stay in touch. Best regards Michael from Germany
Klingt gut! 👌
Very good and useful information. Thank You for that!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I bought a Canon R6. As soon as the Mark II came out, all firmware updates completely stopped (apart from bug fixes and support for new lenses).
My advice to people starting out - go with Nikon if you want to future-proof your camera better.
They don't upgrade their older cameras either though do they? Like the z6/ii? Or z7. Why would any company really improve an older camera when they have a newer version they are trying to sell?
Z8 is Nikon's most important camera really. And this update was needed to make it on par/slightly better potentially than a 4 year old canon R5s AF capabilities.
I'm not trying to have an argument at all, but I see it as, big updates only happen when they are needed. And improvements definitely stop when new models arrive.
Thanks for the setting tips bro, just tried the new firmware on red capped robin, double barred finch, eastern yellow robin and Rufus whistler and it felt amazing to use the new bird AF!!
It feels like a brand new camera.
Do not regret buying my z8 at all. Even though I wish it still had three dials😅
I love the idea that you can program a button to cycle through the focus modes. I use this all of the time.
You are the best! 👏👏
Thanks a lot Jan just installed the update on my Z8 but yet to test it.Your inputs with regard to the improved auto area AF option are important considering that that's the area where even my Sony A74 had an edge over the Z8 in so far as precise detection of the birds (small size target) is concerned.
I’ve been a Canon shooter since Day 1. I love my R5, but if Canon doesn’t deliver with the R5 Mk II, I just might jump to the Z8. It just keeps getting better. Nice job Nikon. Canon????
Since the R6 mark II came out, there have been no firmware updates for the R6 (apart from bug fixes and support for new lenses). I expect the same will happen with the R5 later this year.
I’d expect the R5 II to make a fair jump
The pressure is on Canon and if they don’t deliver a camera as good as the Z8, it’s difficult to see why they would stay. I sold my Canon gear for a Z8 a year ago and am glad I did.
Great banded Lapwing pics Jan. We have them at a local turf farm - they are so small and very difficult to get close to with anything less than 800mm focal length.
Thank you Jan!!
Welcome!
Thanks Jan! Super helpful. I’m considering the Z9 or Z8, is either better at video AF tracking or with each camera’s most current firmware the same?
Good story Jan. I noticed that a compleet black starling (Merel in Dutch) had difficulty on focussing on the eye but the bird itself was sharp.
Interesting about your button setup. What I find works for me is I keep AF-ON as normal, I have my AF area set to full, and then I have my Fn1 button set to "Recall shooting functions (hold)" with it set to small area AF mode. That way I can use Fn1 to switch between full area AF and small area AF, and use the AF-ON button as normal. I have the lens function button set to AF-ON + 3D tracking, although it sounds like I might not need to use it very often now :)
Z8 and Zf for me as well, amazing combo. Z8 is the best all around camera on the market today IMO.
Today I was interested in pushing the limits on my 180-600z using my z8 and a 2x z tel converter ,with Dx mode on Interestingly I found auto focus jumping around . This I think was a natural occurrence four birds lined up .considering the reach . The tip I found that changed the quality results may help you when you need a foucs correction fast. In setting I leave turned on foucs peeking . When your not sure of the foucing . So the oyster catcher is captured I used the auto foucs to get there about and touching the manual ring foucs peeking give me the help I needed .considering the distance at 600 mm the two times converter then Popping it into DX mode the 180-600 give me a good result. Foucs peeking when using a tripod or monopod can get me better results .The iso was at 200 the birds had parked themself on to a floating peer . So I wounded if you may find it worth while touch the manual foucs ring for sharpness ? I was pleased with the capture the red eyes are clean clear and I could make out the shells on the floor of the peer . I do find you very helpful and so thanks a million.
Good video Jan! Good on Nikon to be customer focused and keep on improving their cameraS. I am still waiting for the major R5 (rumoured) update …lol
Yeah….about that lol
Jan if your where starting again. Would you go canon or Nikon? Great video as always. I don’t know whether to go for a r5 or. Z8, it’s wildlife photography, I mainly do
Thanks so much for this video Jan ! The part where you said "the autofocus doesn't seem to like Herons and egrets" I agree with. In fact, it does not seem to like ANY long-necked birds and tends to shift focus to the necks instead of the eye. And all this time I thought I was one doing something wrong !! 😃
Thanks for sharing!
@@codebunnies Thank you. Will give that a try.
@@codebunnies thanks for sharing. Sounds much easier to use spot AF
@@codebunnies are you using a long horizontal or tall vertical?
Great news and thanks for the excellent detailed testing I will now feel great about getting the Z8 my old Canon lenses still work well on the R7 but I'm looking forward to Nikon's excellent lenses moving to Z. Anything Canon in the UK is just too expensive and I want a stacked sensor for birds.
I'm excited about this update for my z8... by the way, the Fringer adapter for Canon EF to Nikon Z works amazingly well, including for super telephotos. It's just as fast as running the Canon lenses natively on my old R5 or SLRs.
@@theclifbar wow thanks a lot! that's good to know as I love my 300mm F2.8LIS.
Since updating to fw 2.00, I've set the fn.2 button to cycle through 3 different modes (single point, 3d and large area).
Did it improve AF on the human eye?
Was issue when AF focuses on eye leashes resolved?
I have this issue on my Zf on 85mm at 1.8 on 20-30% of pictures depending on face type and brightness of the eye.
Great!
Thanks!
Thank you!
Great video, very helpful. You mention spot auto focus, where is this setting in the menu? Thanks!
I believe the Nikon wording for that would be "Single Point" autofocus.
5:58 I'm still rocking the D800, but this autofocus feature just blows me away. This feature along would help me so much!
6:35 regarding selecting the right detection mode, how good is the auto setting? Is it usable enough to generally leave the subject detection on auto, and only change it in tricky situations or when specifically setting out to shoot a particular subject?
Greetings. Does your setup guide on your website for the Z8 explain these auto focus settings that you mentioned in this video?
Jan the 🐐
Decent review by an expert ...
🙂
Is the auto focus now for focusing while running or walking people better than r5
Sick letter 47
Another great video. Thank you for the update info. I know you touched on it briefly but how do you feel about the Z8 (and lens lineup) now compared to your Canon R5 now? If you were starting from scratch and money was no object, is the new Z8 AF firmware compelling enough that you would choose a Z8 + 600PF or 600 F4 TC over your Canon R5 or a Canon R3? You mentioned the Z8 now has the best video AF. Is it significantly better than the Canon R5? I find that my R5 really struggles with AF in video and in slow motion video. I'm thinking about adding a Nikon Z8 and maybe a 600PF to my kit to start and seeing how it compares, then deciding if it's worth the switch. I do love my R5 + RF 100-500mm overall and I have the RF 200-800mm on order, but I also encounter many frustrations like the poor video AF, limited reach with the 100-500mm and it's annoying TC functionality, both lenses are also slower than whats available from Sony and Nikon (600mm f6.3). If you were starting over with money being no object what system and lenses do you think you would get?
It’s hard to look past Nikon for wildlife these days for sure.
Just like you I’d miss the 100-500, so I’d probably use two systems.
I find the eye tracking for birds to be far superior on the Z8 compared to the R5.
Stills AF is pretty similar after this update.
The real question a is, how much better will R1 and R5 II be?
Thank you, is the Z8 the best action and bird autofocus camera for photography?
It’s definitely good now, but it would be an uphill battle to be the best I think. There’s some Canon and Sony powerhouses that may want that title, too
And the Z9 may want to have a word too
Hi Jan, a very well presented and informative video as always. You may be one of a very few people who can answer the following question from your own experience photographing birds. I am a long term Canon user but thinking of downsizing my gear. My options are to stay with Canon and go with the R5, 100-500 + 1.4 extender - or Nikon Z8, Z 600 6.3 + 1.4 extender. For me feather detail is everything :-) (and why I still mainly use the 600 F4 II). I would expect that the Nikon option above would resolve more detail, but what have you found from your own direct experience - as you are one of the few people using both these set-ups? Hope you can help!
The 100-500 is great, but in that case the Nikon combo will feel a lot more like a “real” prime lenses, especially with TCs
I hope the Nikon Z f receives a new firmware update soon too. 🤞
Wonderful review! Thanks for this, I've been on the fence about whether to purchase the Z8 and this certainly pushes things more in its favour. (I'm currently on Z7II and its AF drives me insane but I was worried the Z8 wouldn't be enough of an upgrade to spend the money, but it sounds like the new firmware def solidifies it as a mega upgrade)
The Z7II sucks compared to the Z8, I consider the Z7II to be useless for wildlife photography.
@@user-ul9id4to9t I know, but after hearing how many issues even the Z8 had, I didn't see the immediate point in upgrading considering that it is a very expensive investment and I heard lots of stories about the Z8 struggling in many situations as well.
Though I'd say it is far from useless, if you know how to use it, you can make it work. It is a pitty though that Nikon hasn't bothered to try to improve a $3000 body that is still for sale now. For a lot of users that's already near the most they are willing to spend. It is a bit silly that you need to buy a flagship level body to get decent focus performance. Sony and Canon's mid tier bodies don't suck like that.
Thanks for a great update and review, I enjoyed it.
I have one question on your configuration. Looking at your menu at 5:26 in the video, it seems you have your configuration of your focus buttons set to a focus area, plus AF-On. Do you have any separate focus area assigned to your shutter button?
I have been going back and forth between back button focus and assigning a focus mode to the shutter button itself, but with the new "Cycle AF-area mode" option, I might consider using that on either F1 or Display button, cycling through my preferred focus options (2 or 3 of them) and using BBAF.
Have you played with that already?
Just made a separate video about the new set up
ruclips.net/video/m2gXiEx8_9Q/видео.html
I suspect the egret focus issue is due to some machine learned algorithm that is off .. hopefully Nikon can correct this is future firmware update
Hi Jan, Thank you for the informative video on the autofocus and new firmware.
Can you explain what you mean by prefocus when in AF autofocus. Thanks
It means to always focus on an area you expect your subject to appear on even before it shows up, so that when it shows up the camera can “see” it easily
Thank you
Such beautiful birds where your at , here in Midwest us it's not that colorful
I can’t open the file on my mac laptop, to do the update. I’m in Brazil, so I can’t do anything until I get home in a couple of weeks. I’d love to try out the bird tracking while I’m here.
The Z8 with perhaps another fine tune of AF tracking, could become a competitor with the A7 series.
Just a general question. I'm wondering what peoples experience with generic batteries is, such as the Newer ones?
Autocapture is something I very much want to see in Canon cameras. During summer and fall I set up camera traps in my garden at night and not having to bother with IR and PIR triggers and all the cabling would be a big improvement.
Yes that would be very helpful
Great video. 👍
Now they need to apply this af to a more affordable body.
I agree!!
Is there a chance that we will see Nikon Z50 with Nikon Z 180-600 or 100-400 on your channel? It's hard to find such a list on YT. There are z6, z7, z8 etc. It would be nice if someone showed that you can also take good photos with such a set. Your photos are great and I wonder how good photos you could take with the Nikon Z50. Regards
Great video as per usual Jan. Thank you. Could you please explain what button you use to assign your spot metering 'base autofocusing mode'? You mention you assign your back button AF-On button as Auto-area AF and the display button as 3D tracking. But what about the spot meter mode? Keep up the good work.
Spot autofocus, so a small single point. Not spot metering
Sorry, I meant spot autofocus. What button do you assign that to? @@jan_wegener
@@jojamo6421 the top front button
And as my base AF
@@jan_wegener Thanks!
The question is : does this new firmware update brick compatibility with Sigma Art or Tamron DSLR lenses when using the FTZ2 ? This already happens before
Thanks, Jan. Do you think the 180-600's AF in subject acquisition/ tracking is as good as the fixed focus 600/6.3?
It's good, but a bit slower I'd say
Hi, I’m shooting with Fujifilm gfx100s but it’s not good for all types of photography which I like (Portrait, Landscape, Still-life). It’s heavy and bulky with gf lenses to carry around, and slow for sports and wildlife if sometimes I like to experience it! But it seems Z8 is all in one camera. The only matter important to me is if I switch to Z8, with 14bit and 45mp, could I achieve the same high images quality (detailing, colour rendering, and deep dynamic range) by gfx100s with 16bit and 102mp? Thank you.
Do you know if Nikon included the eye detection in manual focus that they have in the ZF? It could be great for portrait with manual lenses
No
Hi Jan, always great info and presentation! I am thinking of switching from R5/100-500 to Z8/600pf for better action and flight bird shots. Does that make sense, or is the A1/200-600 a better combo for those? Thanks!
Personally I would prefer the Nikon combo out of those two
@@jan_wegener Thank you Jan, appreciate it!
I've tested all 3 options and hands down the Nikon combo for me. I'd even prefer it with the 180-600 over the other two combos
@@TomTollenaar Thank you Tom!
what do you prefer about the 180-600mm over the other combos?
No doubt that this firmware update is a huge improvement.
Coming from Sony (A7R3) to the Nikon Z8, one feature that I used a LOT and would like to see in a future Firmware update is to have the capability to use "Zebra Stripes" in stills photography.
Yes that would be great
Now we all waiting for Z6iii and hopefully all these new AF algorithms will be baked in.
Fingers crossed
I you want to get an update like that on the OM Systems OM-1 you have to buy a complete new camera, making the old one obsolete. Makes me regret having left Nikon. But maybe in future I will return...
Super Video!
Wie hast du die Einstellung angepasst- AF- ON bleibt bei 3d, DISP ist jetzt AF anstatt von wide area c1 und FN1 bleibt bei Single shot? Viele Grüße
Ich mach vielleicht noch ein video.
3D (disp) AF -ON (af ) und fn1 single point apot AF
Jan, I want to be clear about what you're suggesting for the settings on the Z8 firmware update. Which button have you chosen for spot focusing? Are you handing off from your spot focusing to the Auto area focus on the AF button? You mentioned prefocusing - wasn't clear what you meant by that - using the spot focus? Can you clarify this? Thanks.
FN1. No I don’t hand off. I usually prefocus with spot and then just press auto area af button
11:40 funny enough, I have very similar problem with my om-1, it just wont focus on the eye of egyptian geese
A lot more difference than what om system is doing with the om1II lol
Well, you got a whole new camera instead of a FW update 🙈😆😂
I'm sure the other manufacturers are noticing. Good on Nikon. Hey, Sony?
Yes, hopefully they will
Plz z8 Slow motion settings
Can you please elaborate a bit more on how you use exactly prefocus? Do you mean single point manual prefocus? Or auto prefocus?
Pre focus basically just means to anticipate an area the bird will show up and focus on that distance already before the bird shows up, so when it shows up, it’s almost in focus already
Jan, why did you get a hot card message on the monitor screen at about 13:35?
Cause it was hot outside I presume
Sold my Z9 after disappointing results for BIF while it sound’s improved I come away from this video not convinced it has been totally improved, fantastic camera for most users but still lagging in comparison with some other brands, especially bird eye and flight, but must admit it is getting there.
Which camera system did you go for instead of Z9.
@@ShoebSaiyad I already had the Canon EF 500mm f/4L ll so went with the Canon R5 picked up a used R3 at a good price, before that I had Nikon gear including the Z7 etc, couldn’t afford any of the Z primes like the S 600mm f4, affordable good glass will always be a big factor deciding systems, Sony primes are also expensive as with the other systems
If you’re happy with the R5/3 you’d be just as happy or more with the current state of Z9.
Looks fantastic , but as a Canon shooter I'm disappointed that there hasn't been a firmware upgrade for the R5 with similar improvements
The best autofocus l have used is R6ii so how does it compare to new Z8 firmware autofocus?
I think R6 II is the best AF I have used to date as well
Magst du nochmal komplett erklären, wie deine Autofokus Einstellungen nach dem Firmware Update sind? Viele Grüße
A-11 is just magical in my Z9 but I don't have a Z8 yet. My Z7II needs to be traded in...
Great to hear. Now we wait and see what the 7 III brings along
Could you please explain how you assign the buttons to the 3 different autofocus styles u use. Thanks so much ❤
Hello, I am neither a Nikon nor a Canon member, which one do you recommend, the Nikon Z8 or the Canon R5II?
It depends on what you photograph and which lenses you want to use. Nikon has very strong lens options for wildlife
Jan if you could do an episode on the R7 Canon just like what you did here for the Z8 Nikon it would be really nice there Jan , I have had so many issues with my R7 been the Canon A dozen times and they still can't get it right .
I did two videos on it. Did you see those?
@@jan_wegener Jan I did not see those 2 videos , On the videos you posted did they correct any of the problems that they R7 has with tracking because this has been horrible .
@@garymeredith2441 no, the tracking is what it is at this stage I think
@@jan_wegener Jan My patience is over with this R7 .
I am now back to using the 7D Mk II .
As far as I an concerned Jan the only place for the R7 is in the trash barrel .
If you are using adapted 150-600mm third party zooms with the R7, that's probably the reason for the awful af performance. Those lenses aren't very good with mirrorless.
Can R5 find the eye of the bird automatically? I always target the center of camera towards the animal.
It can
@@jan_wegener I am using eye af with back button but I couldn't a way to do this.
Have they improved also AF accuracy for humans or is this update purely just birds related?
The major change is the detection modes. I would think AF will have been tweaked overall as well, but I am not 100% sure
Would be nice if Canon would update their firmware (r5 in particular). Take off the restrictions.
That would be nice indeed but
Does the bird detection just recognize birds? Would this setting also work on lizards or snakes in vegetation?
On the animal settings
I wish Canon would something similar with the R7
Yes, the R7 is very good but Canon hasn't added or improved one thing with firmware updates. Even the R and RP had updates improving AF. Why Canon has neglected its flagship APS-C camera is beyond me.
I have thrown Sony out! and bought a Z8 and Z9 with Nikkor Z 600/4 TC and no regrets whatsoever!
Live Eagle 86
Jan, do you have a worksheet of your Nikon Z9 and Z8 setup? I have enjoyed your reviews on Nikon, and its camera lenses. I’ll be heading for South Georgia Island and the Falkland Islands soon, as well as back to Svalbard to photograph polar bears, arctic fox, birds, etc.
That hot card warning while shooting video gave me Z8 PTSD.
It didn’t do anything, I guess it happens in Queensland summer. I actually took it out and it wasn’t even hot, much cooler than putting it in a card reader for instance
With the Z9 for some reason the normal animal mode still works better for egrets and herons. Seems like a bug.
Still needs more work. I shot yesterday with the Z8, 180-600 with 1,4 teleconverter and it still struggles to find focus and keep focused.
A slowish zoom with a teleconverter is always a dhl an eye for any AF system
So everyone needs a ten thousand dollar lens to use new firmware?@@jan_wegener
So, everyone has to buy a ten thousand dollar lens to have the auto focus work correctly.@@jan_wegener
So, everyone has to buy a ten thousand dollar lens to get the auto focus to work correctly.@@jan_wegener
So, everyone has to buy a ten thousand dollar lens for the auto focus to work right.@@jan_wegener
"Nikon has been the only brand basically that has been consistently updating and significantly improving their cameras through firmware updates."
Not so. Kaizen has been practiced by Fujifilm for many, many years and set the example that Nikon is now following. Having said that, it is a good thing and should be adopted by other camera manufacturers as well.
Can you please whisper into Nikon's ear and make them update their Firmware for the Z7 as well? Pretty please. The current (FW3.6) subject tracking is hideous. Many thanks.
that may require load screaming or more ;)
@@codebunnies that may well be, but I also shoot Canon and Olympus, and I can say for certain that both the Canon R6 and R7, and the Olympus OMD-M1 MK3, and the newer OM-1 far outrun the Z7 (and the Z6) in the tracking department. And all of these are $1000 less than the Z7.
@@codebunnies I would not say the price is irrelevant. Not for me. You get what you pay for. Or maybe not even that.
@@codebunnies it just makes the camera overpriced compared to the competition
@@codebunnies not buying it... the D500 and the D850 both have excellent autofocus, and they both run with single EXCEED 5 processors. If anything the EXCEED 6 should outperform the D500 and D850. There is something else at work (or not at work). Maybe strategic reasons to push people towards the Z8 and the Z9....