Nikon Z9 Autofocus FIXED??? Firmware 2.1 TESTED!

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Here are the firmware release notes that we're testing:

Autofocus is now better at tracking small subjects.
Autofocus now produces more accurate results with human portrait subjects detected via eye/face-detection AF with [Continuous AF] selected for [Focus mode].

Note that we're NOT testing the reduced flicker mode created by providing fine adjustments to the shutter speed - this is technology we've tested in the Sony a9 and Sony a1 and it's helpful and straightforward.
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IMPORTANT* People Do Not Be Fooled this is incorrect and very deceiving (in this video between 7.18-7.20) Tony tried to show that WIDE AREA-L was selected however in the sample videos that followed he used AUTO-AREA AF instead and labelled it as wide/Auto-Area on the video clips (which does not exist). All this to try and disprove comments by photographers using the Z9 (As mentioned here 6.40 - 7.18).
No professional photographer is going to use AUTO AREA in those scenes. Tony again failed to demonstrate the use of Wide area-L or wide area-S, its very unfortunate that after having the camera he is still not able to use it correctly. The Z9 is a very capable camera, I would say that my hit rate is about 9/10 in focus for BIF.

Photographersforyou
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The only person I trust is Steve Perry, Backcountry gallery, as he thoroughly tests the gear and truly has an impartial view as he is an educator. He's actually a wildlife photographer, so i can relate to his videos.

natures-nomads
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Those examples of it losing the flying birds seems just like my R5. And, like your comments about sometimes preferring a D850, I have kept hold of my 7D2 for the same reason. Between this and my experiences with Fuji and Sony as well, mirrorless in general seems all-or-nothing. When they work they work better than any SLR ever before, but when something doesn't work it _totally_ fails worse than any SLR and takes much longer to correct. My R5's thousands of AF points track great when it can get the initial lock, but if it misses right out of the gate it never recovers. My 7D2's single center dual-cross-type point may not be able to track left, right, up and down, but it tracks front-to-back flawlessly and I can take care of the panning with my own arms. I really feel mirrorless is still a decade away from being an actual, full replacement for SLR without compromise.

aceflibble
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I have visited this channel quite a few times in the last few years and in my opinion it encourages obsessive pixel peeping. We all appreciate good cameras and good optics but it is disturbing to see so little emphasis on anything other than the forensic examination of images. Taking a great photo does not depend upon the latest, and fastest glass. Nikon have been astounding the world with photographs taken on their cameras for quite a while. I have been taking photographs for over 50 years on Rolleiflex, Canon, Fuji and Nikon equipment and I believe that we are all spoiled for choice at this point in time no matter what brand of camera we use.

Colms
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I will try to teach you how to use the autofocus modes for wildlive:

1. Set in the Photo Shooting Menu "Focus mode" to AF-C
2. Set "AF-Area mode" to "Auto-area AF"
3. Set "AF subject detection options" to "Animal"
4. Set "f2" (Custom Controls Shooting) eg FN1-Button to "Recall shooting functions (hold)" with "AF-Area mode" to "3D" and "AF subject detection options" to "OFF" (!!!!)
5. Set "f2" (Custom Controls Shooting) eg FN2-Button to "AF-Area mode" "Single Point AF"

Z9 will detect the animal after pressing AF-ON-Button, as soon as it is in focus press FN1.
The Z9 will now track perfect, using the pattern instead of AI.
If subject detection in "Auto-area AF" fails, you can help the z9 by press and hold FN2 and press AF-ON-Button so you can focus directly to your subject. Release FN2 and track with 3D by pressing FN1
This will not work with Firmware 2.0, only with 2.1 because of a bug that forces the Z9 to use "subject detection" although it was set to "OFF". The key is really to disable "subject detection" in "3D", because the Z9 is often distracted by other structures (room for improvement by Nikon). This will not happen if "subject detection" is set to "OFF", then the Z9 Sticks to the pattern.

Kudos for this knowledge belongs to Gunther Wegner
* additional hints:
Set "a6" (AF activation) to "OFF".
Set "f2" (Custom Controls Shooting) "OK-Button" to "Reset"

Press and hold the AF-ON Button also all the time after the Z9 was able to focus the animal, even if you press FN1 to switch between the focus modes. If you release the AF-ON-Button, the Z9 will try to find a new Focus Point, thats what you normally not want to have. Only if the Z9 can't find the subject. Then press FN2 and OK to center the Focus Point and focus in the old way.

F-Pfiff
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Interesting and informative. I shoot birds with the Z9 and I am quite happy with the autofocus. If the bird is just a tiny shape in the viewfinder I couldn’t care less if t it isn’t being tracked because they are lousy pictures anyway. I have tons of Nikon glass so even if the Sony or Canon are a tiny bit better I cannot justify spending )30K plus to replace what I currently have.

petertindall
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HI tony, great review. I have had exactly the same issue with birds in flight, but I have resolved the issue so the camera keeps locked onto the bird 95% of the time. I am using a Z9 with the 500mm PF lens. I tried all of the settings with the same results until i altered the metering. Wide - area AF (s), Continuous AF, Animal, Center - weighted-metering. Center weighted displays a circle in your viewfinder and as long as you keep the subject's eye inside the circle, the camera stays locked on perfectly. If the camera starts hunting like in your video, I have set my front top button to single point focus, 1 tap and the autofocus takes back over straight away.

andrewjarwick
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I like to know limitations before buying, so thank you. I think the reason you cop so much criticism is you focus on the flaws. I've watched a LOT of Z9 stuff on YouTube lately, as I have a refundable $300 deposit on a Z9, while the camera shop waits for stock. Mark Smith, and some others like Jan Wegener, took out Z9s and experienced the same issues you raise. However, most of their videos show stunning results while photographing and filming with the Z9, then disadvantages & work-arounds at the end. I think Mark is a Sony shooter & Jan uses Canon. Watching their videos make me think: 'this camera is amazing' (with limitations), whereas yours left me thinking, 'It seems pretty bad, should I be buying this thing'? If I owned a Z9 and had achieved excellent results I'd probably be jumping to its defense as well. Please note, I'm not having a go at you. I've noticed all the criticism seems to upset you, and I've been trying to work out why people react so strongly.

duncanwallace
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I think you did a balanced review. I am a former Canon shooter who switched to Sony in 2018, but would desire a historic brand like Nikon to complete. If I had a Nikon system, I would get a Z9 and enjoy using my equipment to get images. Ultimately the crown moves back and forth and is more than about one camera body.

donwhite
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Works as advertised for me, This new update made it even better. Seems like user error

EricSnydereasphotography
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I updated my Z9 and the first thing I did was got out of my SUV and shot 17 straight shots of a Green Heron flying between the boat ramps and away . 16 were dead sharp. I later actually got some Barn Swallow shots. 3d has never worked for me. Wide angle with animal eye detection is my go to and it’s absolutely amazing.

Chopperbob
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The value of critical thinking and considering more than one person's testing and experience cannot be understated.

craig
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If the Z9 is still not as good as the A1 or the R5 then why is the Z9 so hot and so difficult to get. The demand is insane. At my camera store Sony users are trading in their Sony gear for a Z9 and A1 which were so hard to get are sitting on the shelves. Maybe the $1500 price difference including the Sony grip has something to do with it. "Eye lash detection? Thats a new one.

Photojouralist
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How was it possible to do photography before eye detection? ;)

pwolkowicki
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Thanks for all the info. I have been a bird photographer since 1997 and a professional ornithologist since lots earlier. The way to judge the Z9 on bird tracking is totally wrong. No serious bird photographer would try to capture any bird flying away as you filmed it... At least I would never bother since I know the results would be awful.

randallortegachaves
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I'm not sure I've ever used a perfect camera. The A1 with the right glass is close but still there are minor issues at time . The Z9 is a great camera. The A1 is a great camera. The R5 is a great camera. My main issue with the Z9 is at least for everyone I talk to in my orbit is that it's the best camera they can't get because it's rarely in stock.

rmclark
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Entertaining. For direct comparison, might have been better to say what focal length of the Nikon Z 70-200 mm f/2.8 was used and the image you chose from Canon cropped identically to see if it too was soft on the iris and was in profile not head on.

joshuahorner
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Ironically, I was getting better results using the D850 group autofocus set to my AF-on and then single or 9 set to my shutter button. Once you have the target in focus, depending on depth of field, you can either take the shot or narrow in to the eye. With the Z9 it’s just all over the place. Also I’m not running the auto focus motors in my super tele lenses constantly, constantly, constantly. The Z9 never shuts off. It’s a beta software that isn’t really there yet.

Tap-a-roo
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Can you set one of the custom buttons on the z9 to "AF on + single point" like you can on the d850 ?

texaswelderman
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People think that when you suggest a camera is not as good as some competitors in some aspects that you saying it’s a bad camera.
The Z9 looks to be an incredible camera that, like every other manufacturer, has room for improvement.

regreg