Approaching The Scene 298: Z9 FW5.0 & Z8 FW2.0 Action AF Settings Update (Bank B)
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- Опубликовано: 20 июл 2024
- (LINKS BELOW): I’ve been having a blast with the newest firmware on both the Z8 & Z9. In this video I’ll show you exactly how I use my hybrid handoff autofocus for action shooting like birds in flight in tandem with recall shooting function hold (RSFH) for situations where auto subject detection is suboptimal. We’ll go through using these methods including when to tap or hold which button in various scenarios. Next I’ll show you have I’ve tweaked my Bank B action control settings layout set all this up and to best take advantage of the latest firmware updates. A lot of people have asked if I’m using the new “cycle AF area mode” control button setting. The answer is no. With the settings I show in this video, I have no need to use the slower cycle area mode method.
Z8 FW 2.0 video: • Approaching The Scene ...
Advanced action culling video: • Approaching the Scene ...
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LINKED TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Intro to ATS 298
00:50 The latest firmware for the Z8 & Z9 are really exciting.
01:30 How I use hybrid handoff AF tracking to capture action
03:01 Demo Bank A 3D + Recall Shooting Func Hold (RSFH) for action
04:30 Bank B’s Dedicated Hybrid Handoff AF + RSFH for Dynamic
07:21 RSFH for Dynamic AF for subject detection errors
09:20 Fn1 & Fn2 in Bank B action settings
10:27 Cool new in camera culling functionality
12:46 How I setup my camera for hybrid handoff and RSFH (Bank B)
18:10 Settings summary 
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With the advancement of features in the Z9 and Z8, it shows us users just how much we lack in knowledge in using all these amazing features? 20 years ago during DSLR days, all these auto capture, pixel shift etc were just a dream. Nikon is really on a roll now
Hudson, thank you so much for this update! Cannot wait to try out your recommended settings. Mike
Thank you for another great and useful tutorial, Hudson. I have the z8 and I'm delighted with it. And your tutorials only add to my amazement of it with such powerful customization options. Thank you.
Nikon Z9 and Z8 are the best cameras ever made, full stop. The customization is incredible and there is basically nothing that can't be captured. I programmed my lens button on one of the shooting banks to switch between Aperture mode and Manual mode so I can do panning (for aviation photography) and keep shooting fast when needed. Everything can be switched on the fly, and the 3 custom buttons on the Z9 makes the difference when quickly having to switch focus mode.
It is just liberating to see what's possible.
Superb update and as I’m in South Africa right now, and on safari tomorrow, great timing! Thanks Hudson
Have fun Patrick! I need to get back to Africa. Maybe the Egypt eclipse will pull me in 2027...
Hudson, thank you for the timely video, 20,160 minutes till I get to your Costa Rico Workshop!!! Updated my z9 and z8 based on your suggestions, looking to try your in-camera culling technique when I shoot 10,000's of images at the workshop. The zoom face priority using the command dial in the playback mode will be super handy.....Thank you for the great info!
Thanks Hudson perfect timing for the Costa Rica work shop. This shooting method will increase the number of keepers! See you soon!
Can't wait man!
I so appreciate how configurable these mirrorless bodies are, almost endless options. Cycle AF Mode and continued tracking improvements have significantly changed my original Z8 setup. Great tips / thanks!
Yeah I feel no need for cycle area mode with RSFH on a front fn button flipping the back button AF between wide area and dynamic with a press, either of which hand the acquired subject off to framewide 3D with a hold of the lens button. Can't imagine needing more or cycling to get there. ;)
Thank you 🙏
Very good
Help me a lot
I am amateur with a z9, a 24-120, 50mm 1.8
105mm 2.8 macro
100-400 4.5 5.6
Your video teach me a lot
Hello, I hope you see this! As it is a late comment. I use both Z8 & Z9, now with the two updates v2.01 - v5.0, I’m surprised you haven’t used the new “cycle AF mode” control button. This one addition has made my focus experience, so much better. It is so versatile and quick. On the Z8 it also helps with the lack of buttons. What do you think? Finally, to really make these bodies super versatile would be subject recognition assigned to a button……. Love the channel TonyH
I have ZERO use for that. It takes uncessesary time. For knockaround work (Bank A) I'm not in a rush and use RSFH to access 3D at 20FPS a fast shutter and wide open lens with the touch of my FN3 button in case action pops up unexpectedly. For dedicated action and Wildlife (Bank B) I changed things up in Costa Rica a couple of weeks ago. I now use Wide Area on the back button, with hybrid handoff to 3D with subject detection on the lens Fn2 button. The Display button is Auto Area for birds in flight and Fn3 switches me to 3D with no subject detection on the back button via RSFH for subjects that fool the subject detection. Touch Fn3 again and I'm back to wide area. I can't think of anything else I could possibly need and I needn't cycle through any modes to get these. They're all a single press and fire. What I would LOVE to cycle is subject detection mode between people, animals and birds though... That would be useful. ;-)
Thanks for great update on this setup. I will have to rethink my setup options. Noticed that the eyecup looks like the Zemlin Photo eyecup. I got an original one that failed due to rubber cup construction but Zemlin sent me a replacement make of silicon and is the 'cat meow'. Now a solid unit. I didn't like the Hoodman as I didn't like to have to manually rotate it when I wanted to rotate the camera for vertical shooting. I also wear glasses and the Hoodman just didn't work for me. I would like to see setup tips for birds in bushes. I use one of the lens function buttons on the z 100-400mm to switch to single point focus, 20 FPS, bird detect. and the rotating ring set for exposure compensation adjustment. It works for me but there may be a better way and would like to hear a better suggestion.
It's in this video. When subject detection fails use dynamic via rescall shooting functions hold. It's much improved by firmware and allows you to choose the point location manually, but has the ability to track with surrounding points unlike single point.
Excellent video for the Z9 & Z8! For those of us that haven't been able to transition to one of those two cameras and are still using the Z7II, can you suggest a similar setup for photographing birds, including the best tracking methods? Thank you for your videos ..... they really help me learn more about these mirrorless cameras!
Unchanged from last August. ruclips.net/video/tVKChEnkjR8/видео.html
I'm unlikely to update that as I sold the Z6ii when I bought my beloved ZF. I doubt there'll be a reason to update it though.
Absolutely loved this video, quite helpful indeed. Can i ask where you purchased your eye piece for the Z9?
It's zemlin's and you'll love it.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto thank you, the one that comes stock on the Z9 is very cheap, this looks like a great option.
Hudson, Thanks as always for these refinements. I have been happily using the hybrid focus on my Z9 since you introduced the concept. I never moved away from wide area on the shutter button. Why go back to AF on?
I often prefer to shoot without involving focus. I prefer backbutton for focus whenever possible. I used it for a very short period of time before switching 3d to the lens buttons and AF back where it belongs on the AF-On button. ;) That's me though. You can do it your way too.
Great tips! Thank you!
Who makes that eye cup?
Zemlin.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thank you!
I own the Z9 for 2 years love it! but recently it let me down a bit...
The Af tracking for most subjects is great , Eye AF still needs some improvements compared to others as it seems ( by what I see in reviews here on youtube)
I used the 135 Plena , granted it was at 1.8 because that's the point of this lense , I was about 13 -15 ft. away from the model.
And I got mostly Eyebrow / Eyelash AF rather than Actual Eye AF (pupil).
Any advice? tried on forums but I was mainly blaimed for improper technique and I was advised to use pin point AF like a DSLR... which defeats the point of a good Eye AF system.
Pinpoint AF??? What? That makes zero sense. Hmmm, I have zero issues nailing eyes with the Plena, the 105 1.4, the 85 1.2 or the 400 2.8 TC . It nails eyes of birds in flight even with the old 105 1.4 on the FTZ. You can see that from the owl photos in the intro reel here. If you are having issues with it missing eyes with backfocus or front focus, I'd say Nikon should look at it. I personally have shot a lot of Canons, Sony's, Fujis and Leicas and I don't think the Z9 is behind ANY of them at all in eye detect AF. All the brands rock at this including Nikon. You should have zero issues nailing the eye with the correct subject detection chosen (people, animial or bird), a fast enough shutter speed and use of 3D, Auto Area or Wide Area (any of the sizes of that mode).
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thanks! I was on Wide - L people detect and a lot were focused on Eyebows or eyelashes still.
Annnoying. Ohh and also Af- finetune again like DSLR... I contact Nikon see what they say.
Around 4:11 minute of this video, you mention that you "tap that Function button" (Fn 3) and the frame rate goes from Single frame to 20fps. Do you actually change Bank? I've set my Z9 for Fn1 to change Bank but I also have to turn the rear dial to change Bank and have to use the left hand dial on top of Z9 to change frame rate. What am I doing wrong please?
Frame rate is not in the banks sadly. In my full setup video for bank A, I detail this. It's using recall shooting functions hold on the fn button.
A
I used to use WIDE-L and 3D on my Z8, but now mostly use Auto-Area AF after FW2.0 (after watching a video that said this is the best with FW2.0). Do you use Auto-Area AF as well? Just considering if I should go back to WIDE-L and 3D. Different RUclipsrs recommend different setups.
I much prefer the precision and control wide area with handoff to 3d affords me. Auto area can yield great results, but it gives you less control to select the subject important to you instead of the one closest to the camera. You're letting the machine decide. I used it a lot with the Z50, z6, 7, & 6ii because you didn't have 3d to hand off to, only the lies reliable subject tracking override mode. Now that we do have precise 3D... I'll not use auto except for videos of myself where I'm the only subject :)
I firmly believe you're better served practicing and being proficient with the most advanced subject acquisition modes on the camera that allow you to remain in control of the decision making. In my opinion that's wide area (or some other sized area box) with hybrid handoff to 3d framewide tracking.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thank you, I will try this.
Hudson your the tops❤
Can custom setting created on a Z9 be imported to a Z8 or vice versa? Failing that is there a utility to do that? Have a Z9 and will likely rent a Z8 for a project but would like to avoid having to enter everything. Nikon CSR says no, but I got the impression he didn't even think about it, just said "It's a different camera". Thank you anyone.
No and no. :( they're often wrong, but not this time.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thanks! Appreciate it & your great videos ( p.s. the utility should exist and should be easy to do)
It's funny. They have different firmware update cycles that differ and the menu structure and order gets off. E1 in one might be E2 on the other. Also the different physical control layouts necessitate different menu items. I don't disagree with you, but don't hold your breath. ;)
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Agreed. But ... code for an entire word processor can be ported from an Intel chip and MS OS to an Apple chip and OS. Nikon could get an CS intern to do this :) Thanks
No no, my point isn't that it's hard, it's that they'll never do it.
This is how I set up my cameras ( z8 and 9). Using the 100-400, the L-Fn= Dynamic- small AF and the L-Fn2=3D/AF-ON. On my 600mm TC VR S, the front four buttons=3D/AF-ON and the back button=Dynamic- small AF. I deactivated the record button(red). I re-programed the buttons so I can record a video by pushing the shutter button after switching the photo to video. I use the cycle AF points on the red button. "On the fly," I can cycle through different AF points from a tiny point to wide-angle box and use the hybrid method to do 3D tracking. Now, I am waiting for Nikon to come up with "Cycle Subjects," so we can change subjects in a quick manner.
I don't see any need to burn a button cycling AF areas when you can instantly grab the one you want on the fly the way you and I have both done using AF-on+area as well as recall shooting functions hold, but differences of opinion make the world more interesting. I just can't see using more than wide area, 3D or dynamic small in my action bank and those are all easily accessible with a single button touch with no cycling. I'm also not a fan of fn1 for AF area with my big lenses. It's not in a good handholding position and with the new big lenses I never need to use a monopod or tripod any more. They're so handholdable. ;)
@@HudsonHenryPhoto We can agree that we can disagree on how to customize our cameras as we are all different.
I do agree that the L-Fn(the back one) on the 600mm TC VR S is in a bad position. I cannot hand hold the lens and push that button. I do not think anybody can do it unless they are Superman. The un-labeled, four buttons up front; I can use them while hand holding. The only time I can use the L-Fn(back) button is when I have the 600mm on a monopod. I only use the monopod at a motorcycle race. Happy Shooting!
@@roberthigaki2282 yeah, same with my 800 and 400 TC. Fn1 on those lenses, like the dedicated AF mode side button on the 8 & 9, are a big miss for me. They should have put them further forward. Even the 100-400 S puts fn2 in the right spot as opposed to fn1. It's really not a button I use with any of these lenses.
I don't think I've used them on a monopod or tripod in the past 12 months once. :) That's one of the reasons I prefer the 400TC to the 600TC. I can handhold it all day long that's the long Z glass revolution.
The customizabity of the system to Taylor fit each photographer's preference is fabulous. I don't get the desire to cycle through options when I can grab what I want in one touch but to each their own. :)
How do you program buttons when you’re holding the camera in portrait orientation? Some of my lenses only have buttons on the side and they’re hard to access when the camera is flipped 90 degrees
Most long nikon lenses you'd use for action have 4 fn2 buttons (every 90 degrees) out where you'd hold them for that purpose. Shorter lenses like the 24-120, I've learned to use either my thumb or index finger depending on the orientation.
With the Z8 your grip does not change so button assignments on the front (fn1 & 2) work in either orientation. With the Z9 fn3 is easy to hit from either orientation for me (third finger normal, index finger portrait). That's why I program it to use RSF hold to flip to dynamic if subject detection is problematic.