Hey everyone, Just a follow up on my last NIKON ZF video I posted yesterday and how I set up the autofocus. I use a duel autofocus mode which is really convenient to have face tracking and 3D tracking on two different buttons. The Nikon ZF autofocus system is a real beast! ***Shout out to the YT channel "Straight out of camera" for showing me this***
Million thanks! You have helped me tons in the past with practical user advice for real life situations and this one is no exception. Set up my new Z6iii accordingly and love this tweak. 👍
Problem with this setting is that auto area is more reliable than 3D tracking . When auto area hits it hits for good but 3D can hit and at the point you click the shutter is off . I assigned the auto area to the shutter as main af style and wide area small or large to the back button ,that’s way more reliable than the 3D .
One small correction. When activated alone, the 3D targeting only goes to the center of the screen if you were in Auto-Area AF. If you were using one of the Wide-area AF modes, it goes to the center of the targeting box.
Thanks for this suggestion. However, i just tried this setup and the AF-ON button does NOT override face tracking, contrary to what is stated in the video. I now have 2 buttons that do essentially the same thing, except potentially use different area modes, which seems of little interest to me. Or am I missing something? (I hope I am) Also, you mention a previous video about AF setup on Zf, but it does not seem to exist anymore (?) And I cannot find any videos at all on the "straight out of camera" channel you refer to either.... 😮
Thanks for these, but unfortunately, this will not work on Nikon ZF. Camera will always find an eye/face even if it is outside the box. There is no option in ZF to disable the subject detection in 3D Tracking.
I'm also having trouble getting this to work. On the z6ii you can set up OK to activate the tracking box when in auto area and that works exactly as you describe 3D tracking to work here - it disables eye detection allowing you to pin the tracking box on something else, albeit with the need to dismiss the tracking box in a rather annoying way. However with the ZF, if subject tracking is on, it seems to override 3D tracking in ALL circumstances, including auto area. Pushing the back button does make 3D tracking appear, but it ignores the center point and pins itself on whatever eye or object was being tracked by auto area. If there really is a way to get 3D tracking to ignore eyes and faces when the back button is pressed, I'd love to know, but I'm dumbfounded by this video. Are you really able to get 3D tracking to override eyes? I'm missing something/
I have the front function button set up for 3d tracking as I am a back button focuser but the Zf is flawed with this. If there is a face anywhere near the box the face is grabbed. I even tested it on my mesh pool fence and the focus moved to one of the round ends of mesh as it thought it was an eye. The Z8, and I suppose the Z9, have the right setting for this. It is the "Recall Shooting Functions" where you select 3d tracking and turn off "Subject Detection" and it works exactly like the "Subject Tracking" on the older Z models but more accurate. It stays locked on to whatever you select and will ignore faces.
@@timgimbert3073 I found a work around: you can keep the FN pressed and go to "single point mode" that you can move around and it does work without the AF faces recognition. FN: mode area AF, Af single point (so without af-on) you can then keep pressing the focus shooting button while moving around with the pad
@dariodusio I have tried that but it is still cumbersome and only is a problem on the Zf and now Z6iii. I am spoilt by the simplicity on all other models.
Ok. I did exactly as you’ve done, yet I cannot assign a different AF (tracking 3D) to the back button (AEL/ AFL). Despite it being on 3D tracking, it’s not actually working. I feel like I have something else set somewhere on the menu that’s preventing me from separating the functions of the shutter button and AEL/ AFL 🙈 help!
Hi I think you may have AF-L (lock) on which disables the shutter focus from focusing. You get “back focus” AF-L button 3D tracking “by the back door” via separately assigning a custom function to the AF-L button as described. Hope that helps.
Hiya, great tip, well almost ... when you say it's a way to override the face detect using 3D tracking on BBF e.g. at time when you want the subject blurry etc (as you say) or even to focus on another item other than faces how exactly do you do this? I ask because I thought subject detection is a global setting and it will look for the eye even in 3D tracking if it's on. The only disapointment of the Zf and Z6III for that matter is the lack of recall shooting function IMO
Hello ! Thanks for sharing about the Nikon Zf. Juste one question : how to change the shutter function to enable face tracking when pressed halfway ? Thank you very much.
I have never been a "back button focuser". I use a small single point initiated with the front shutter. And then when I press AF ON with my thumb the focus method goes to wide for when there are more people and I don't have time to joystick my small focus point into place. This seems better than what I am doing.
I'm configuring the back button focus button like this on my Z9, too. I've never been a BB focus user, so this puts an otherwise ignored button of mine to use. Thanks to you and Strait out of Camera!
I had this setup as well, except.. even while holding down 3D autofocus via AE-L, eye-auto focus still takes priority. Am I doing something wrong? The only way to really switch between 3D and face tracking is to disable face tracking it seems. If there is an object I want to focus on with 3D tracking, but a face is in the scene.. it will stake focus on the eye and not the object.
Yes unfortunately the ZF doesn't have the recall functions that the Z8 does. Every once in a while ill have to pull focus manually but its great that the peaking kicks in automatically
@@TheMonochromeMemoirsthen what is the purpose of the dual setup? If the AF-ON button does not override the face tracking used by the shutter release button, both buttons essentially do the same thing, no? Maybe one uses one type of area mode and the other uses another, but that would be just about all, no? If my understanding is correct, then this whole exercise would be of little effect, and I 'd most probably prefer the shutter release button not to activate AF at all.... or did I miss something?
@@brusselssprout1when it is set up correctly, the half shutter press will try to identify head or eyes of the subject. If you are using something like Wide-Area AF (L) or (S), you will lose focus target if the subject goes outside the focus box. Overriding with 3D-tracking will pick up the focus point and follow it anywhere in the frame.
@@kentjoosten8149 yes, as long as you are actually trying to focus on a face present in the frame. If you are trying to focus on an object while the camera sees faces within the frame, you will have to manually switch off face/eye tracking. It is not a rare situation (think indoor photography or city scapes). The video promises that the dual button setup allows overriding of eye AF by switching to plain 3D tracking. In a single step That is not the case. It does however allow to override auto-area if it goes a bit bonkers or wide-area if face is lost, as you very correctly point out. Can come in handy but not quite the same level of usefulness I think (why not just stay on 3D tracking as default?).
Will, this is awesome bro! This is an excellent auto focus set up. Thank you Will and thanks to the YT channel “straight out of camera” for this very helpful info.
Did you buy adapters for all your lenses? You know you can buy one and just leave it on the body ... right? Edit: Oh thank christ it was just the bokeh
Awesome, well,it would be if I was not a left eye shooter, to reach the af on button face/nose is kind of in the way, why oh why did the designers opt to put the button so dam far away from normal thumb placement. Lot to like about the zf but operationally and ergonomically it’s a bit of a mismatch disaster to work with for any length of time or at speed 😢
I have set this up, and am pretty excited about it, but must be doing something wrong? I can’t get the BB 3D part to ignore faces when they’re present. Anyone have a clue there? Thanks!
I have the Z8 set up so the front FN button activates the 3D box, like it better that way. I would set the ZF up like that too if it had more than one front FN button because I always need one for the full focus mode selection. Sometimes I switch between af-c and af-s and I like to avoid going into the menus while im shooting as much as possible
Thanks for that answer. I could not figure out why the 3D tracking kept initiating way off center. With this setup, I may never change focus mode, like I was doing before.
Hey everyone,
Just a follow up on my last NIKON ZF video I posted yesterday and how I set up the autofocus. I use a duel autofocus mode which is really convenient to have face tracking and 3D tracking on two different buttons. The Nikon ZF autofocus system is a real beast! ***Shout out to the YT channel "Straight out of camera" for showing me this***
Million thanks! You have helped me tons in the past with practical user advice for real life situations and this one is no exception. Set up my new Z6iii accordingly and love this tweak. 👍
Hey mate how on earth are you getting this to work. 3D tracking still picks up the face and I’ve found no way to turn it off?? Thanks man!!
Problem with this setting is that auto area is more reliable than 3D tracking . When auto area hits it hits for good but 3D can hit and at the point you click the shutter is off .
I assigned the auto area to the shutter as main af style and wide area small or large to the back button ,that’s way more reliable than the 3D .
One small correction. When activated alone, the 3D targeting only goes to the center of the screen if you were in Auto-Area AF. If you were using one of the Wide-area AF modes, it goes to the center of the targeting box.
I was going to ask this. Thanks.
Thanks for this suggestion. However, i just tried this setup and the AF-ON button does NOT override face tracking, contrary to what is stated in the video. I now have 2 buttons that do essentially the same thing, except potentially use different area modes, which seems of little interest to me. Or am I missing something? (I hope I am) Also, you mention a previous video about AF setup on Zf, but it does not seem to exist anymore (?) And I cannot find any videos at all on the "straight out of camera" channel you refer to either.... 😮
I just found this video and am having the same issue unfortunately, did you ever find a workaround?
@@albertramirez687 nope, just have to transit through the "i" menu. Not dramatic, just a small extra step, but a missed opportunity for the Zf.
Thanks for these, but unfortunately, this will not work on Nikon ZF. Camera will always find an eye/face even if it is outside the box. There is no option in ZF to disable the subject detection in 3D Tracking.
I'm also having trouble getting this to work. On the z6ii you can set up OK to activate the tracking box when in auto area and that works exactly as you describe 3D tracking to work here - it disables eye detection allowing you to pin the tracking box on something else, albeit with the need to dismiss the tracking box in a rather annoying way. However with the ZF, if subject tracking is on, it seems to override 3D tracking in ALL circumstances, including auto area. Pushing the back button does make 3D tracking appear, but it ignores the center point and pins itself on whatever eye or object was being tracked by auto area. If there really is a way to get 3D tracking to ignore eyes and faces when the back button is pressed, I'd love to know, but I'm dumbfounded by this video. Are you really able to get 3D tracking to override eyes? I'm missing something/
I have the front function button set up for 3d tracking as I am a back button focuser but the Zf is flawed with this. If there is a face anywhere near the box the face is grabbed. I even tested it on my mesh pool fence and the focus moved to one of the round ends of mesh as it thought it was an eye.
The Z8, and I suppose the Z9, have the right setting for this. It is the "Recall Shooting Functions" where you select 3d tracking and turn off "Subject Detection" and it works exactly like the "Subject Tracking" on the older Z models but more accurate. It stays locked on to whatever you select and will ignore faces.
same problem. So no any workaround with ZF?
@@dariodusio not that I know of. The new Z6iii has the same problem.
@@timgimbert3073 I found a work around: you can keep the FN pressed and go to "single point mode" that you can move around and it does work without the AF faces recognition.
FN: mode area AF, Af single point
(so without af-on)
you can then keep pressing the focus shooting button while moving around with the pad
@dariodusio I have tried that but it is still cumbersome and only is a problem on the Zf and now Z6iii. I am spoilt by the simplicity on all other models.
Ok. I did exactly as you’ve done, yet I cannot assign a different AF (tracking 3D) to the back button (AEL/ AFL). Despite it being on 3D tracking, it’s not actually working. I feel like I have something else set somewhere on the menu that’s preventing me from separating the functions of the shutter button and AEL/ AFL 🙈 help!
Hi I think you may have AF-L (lock) on which disables the shutter focus from focusing. You get “back focus” AF-L button 3D tracking “by the back door” via separately assigning a custom function to the AF-L button as described. Hope that helps.
I just got my Zf, having trouble setting up auto focus on the shutter like what you have in the video. How do I do that? Thanks
Great video, thanks. What are the settings for your main shutter button, please? Wide?
Hiya, great tip, well almost ... when you say it's a way to override the face detect using 3D tracking on BBF e.g. at time when you want the subject blurry etc (as you say) or even to focus on another item other than faces how exactly do you do this? I ask because I thought subject detection is a global setting and it will look for the eye even in 3D tracking if it's on.
The only disapointment of the Zf and Z6III for that matter is the lack of recall shooting function IMO
Hello ! Thanks for sharing about the Nikon Zf. Juste one question : how to change the shutter function to enable face tracking when pressed halfway ? Thank you very much.
How do you set the NikonZF to pre AF? The XT5 nadir in a menu option. I can’t find it anywhere with the ZF manual options?
How do you set the NikonZF to pre AF? The XT5 has it in a menu option. I can’t find it anywhere with the ZF manual options?
I have never been a "back button focuser". I use a small single point initiated with the front shutter. And then when I press AF ON with my thumb the focus method goes to wide for when there are more people and I don't have time to joystick my small focus point into place. This seems better than what I am doing.
Dude definitely try it! Kind of negates the need for a joystick
First. Bam. Tim.
Always!!
yo guys, that dont work on zf u can off eyes detection with 3d tracking u can use single point on AF-on button
Hello. Do you have a link to that channel? Thanks for this video.
Tried this and nothing working like yours, where is the other video you mentioned ?
How to assign shutter button to face tracking?
Ooh target box tip is a good idea 👏🏻
I also turn off all subject tracking with the 3D override, good for when tracking gets confused
Hi, can you clarify how you turn off subject tracking with the 3D override? I can't figure out how to do that in settings. Thank you!
Very helpful! This ZF looks awesome. It would be an upgrade from my Z6ii, but so would the Z8. lol
I'm configuring the back button focus button like this on my Z9, too. I've never been a BB focus user, so this puts an otherwise ignored button of mine to use. Thanks to you and Strait out of Camera!
Thanks for the info. I had been stymied as how to get the tracking box in the center. This fixed it.😊
That’s awesome, great tip, thanks!
It does not work correctly when subject detection is ON. It will automatically change to a subject no matter what you are pointing at
If you’ve got subject detection on, that’s what it’s supposed to do.
@@kentjoosten8149 only in auto area modes, not single point. That's the normal behavior with af lenses
Nice one, both the method and acknowledging your source! Btw enjoying the “silver screen” experience
Thanks for watching my friend!
I had this setup as well, except.. even while holding down 3D autofocus via AE-L, eye-auto focus still takes priority. Am I doing something wrong? The only way to really switch between 3D and face tracking is to disable face tracking it seems. If there is an object I want to focus on with 3D tracking, but a face is in the scene.. it will stake focus on the eye and not the object.
Yes unfortunately the ZF doesn't have the recall functions that the Z8 does. Every once in a while ill have to pull focus manually but its great that the peaking kicks in automatically
@@TheMonochromeMemoirsthen what is the purpose of the dual setup? If the AF-ON button does not override the face tracking used by the shutter release button, both buttons essentially do the same thing, no? Maybe one uses one type of area mode and the other uses another, but that would be just about all, no? If my understanding is correct, then this whole exercise would be of little effect, and I 'd most probably prefer the shutter release button not to activate AF at all.... or did I miss something?
@@brusselssprout1when it is set up correctly, the half shutter press will try to identify head or eyes of the subject. If you are using something like Wide-Area AF (L) or (S), you will lose focus target if the subject goes outside the focus box. Overriding with 3D-tracking will pick up the focus point and follow it anywhere in the frame.
@@kentjoosten8149 yes, as long as you are actually trying to focus on a face present in the frame. If you are trying to focus on an object while the camera sees faces within the frame, you will have to manually switch off face/eye tracking. It is not a rare situation (think indoor photography or city scapes). The video promises that the dual button setup allows overriding of eye AF by switching to plain 3D tracking. In a single step That is not the case. It does however allow to override auto-area if it goes a bit bonkers or wide-area if face is lost, as you very correctly point out. Can come in handy but not quite the same level of usefulness I think (why not just stay on 3D tracking as default?).
@@brusselssprout1
Does this also work in video
Your my hero! I was wonder yesterday what did I done wrong, and I choosed the one above the AF-area + AF-On so thanks again!
🤝🤝🤝
Will, this is awesome bro! This is an excellent auto focus set up. Thank you Will and thanks to the YT channel “straight out of camera” for this very helpful info.
My man!
Thanks for the short and helpful video. Quick questions: Do you find the 3d tracking box to be a bit jumpy and erratic?
Did you buy adapters for all your lenses? You know you can buy one and just leave it on the body ... right?
Edit: Oh thank christ it was just the bokeh
Does not work on my ZF. I can't get this Cross in the middle of the display or the finder.
Do you think this camera could be used for weddings as a primary camera?
Awesome, well,it would be if I was not a left eye shooter, to reach the af on button face/nose is kind of in the way, why oh why did the designers opt to put the button so dam far away from normal thumb placement. Lot to like about the zf but operationally and ergonomically it’s a bit of a mismatch disaster to work with for any length of time or at speed 😢
Thank you so much! Exactly what I was looking for!
Target box on lcd, but not on evf. Please help. Thanks
cool!
Good stuff...thanks for sharing.
How do I select deeptone on the monochrome setting
thank you 😊 great video
I have set this up, and am pretty excited about it, but must be doing something wrong? I can’t get the BB 3D part to ignore faces when they’re present. Anyone have a clue there? Thanks!
that not real i, 3d with eyes all time if u dont turn eyes detections in meny
e come blocchi l'esposizione?
this has been so usefull thanks!
Does this work on the Z6ii?
Where is the other video
Great info...thanks for sharing.
Great video. Thanks for sharing. Going to try with my Z8.
Glad it helped!
Thanks!
Great tips as usual. But how about spelling it « dual » 😀
Hahah thank you! That was an oversight
This is amazing. I still use 2 Z6's for weddings, but this ZF looks so good!
It’s incredible man. 100% worth every penny!
Thank you SO much for making this video.
Thanks so much for watching!
Thanks for the hint! It will be very useful.
Glad it helped!!
Nice! I need to test it on my Z8. Have you?
I have the Z8 set up so the front FN button activates the 3D box, like it better that way. I would set the ZF up like that too if it had more than one front FN button because I always need one for the full focus mode selection. Sometimes I switch between af-c and af-s and I like to avoid going into the menus while im shooting as much as possible
Which lenses are you using for your weddings these days?
I just got the 24-70 2.8s so im going to be using that on the last 5 weddings of the year then the 50 1.8 as a second on the ZF..
@@TheMonochromeMemoirsnothing longer then 50?
Thanks for this tip. This works on the Z8 also and I am assuming the Z9.
Yes it does!
@@TheMonochromeMemoirs how do you get the subject detection to disable when hit 3D tracking? The tracking won’t override the detection on my Z8.
My don’t go straight to the middle. Please help
Put the camera in single point AF mode then move the box to the middle. Then you can switch back to 3D tracking
Thanks for that answer. I could not figure out why the 3D tracking kept initiating way off center. With this setup, I may never change focus mode, like I was doing before.
Shoutout heard, thx dude!
Thanks for the great tip!
Awesome!
🤝🤝
Interesting but I don't use that technique. I use a different one....but thanks for sharing 😊
Thanks for watching my friend
Which is?...
Doesn't that cross hair go to the center always?
Is this possible with Z7ii ?