Approaching The Scene 306: Nikon Z8 & Z9 New Action Autofocus Setup + Download My Settings

(LINKS BELOW): Here, I showcase recent changes I’ve made to my Z8 and Z9 controls, with an emphasis on action autofocus settings. These changes come from the combination of Nikon’s firmware advancements and my experience firing tens of thousands of frames in complex jungle shooting scenarios. With a view through my lens, I’ll point out ways to adapt autofocus modes on the fly with single-button-press switching when dealing with quickly changing complex subjects and scenes. Finally, I’ll walk through recent Costa Rica workshop images that highlight the types of shooting scenarios that each mode is best suited to capture.

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I invite all of you to join Rick, David, Darren and me for our next free live Office Hours session. Leave us a question for the discussion when you sign up.

Thanks to everyone for the great questions you are sending in. Keep them coming either in the comments below or by emailing me directly. I hope to see you in the next Office Hours session.

Stay safe and healthy.

LINKED TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Intro to ATS 30
01:00 These changes come from field experience in Costa Rica
02:25 Why I’m sharing my settings files & how to use them
03:50 Which of my settings have changed and why?
05:52 Through the lens AF settings demo
07:55 Setting Auto-Area to a button press
10:05 3D without detection when subject detection fails
12:21 Remapping the display to another button
13:17 The i-Menu is critical to me
16:11 Photo examples of when to use these settings
25:11 My older Z camera settings have not changed (z6/7/50/etc)
25:55 What about the Zf?
26:55 What about cycle AF on a button?
27:45 How you can download my settings files
28:40 Join our next free Office Hours

[toddleech]

you have become my go to guy on everything with the nikon Z9, you offer the best tutorials out there, so thank you for that

[johnthomas]

Thank you so much for this and all of your videos. You've gone above and beyond by enabling us to download your settings.

[sblitzer]

I appreciate you making both Z9 & Z8 settings files available.

[jimfair]

Hudson-thank you for the great explanation on your z8 & z9 settings, I have included them into my shooting and my keeper rate keeps getting better.

[davelindey]

Outstanding demonstration method Hudson. So very helpful in putting this all together. These new Nikon offerings are such complex machines and can be customized to be so intelligent. I’m shooting sports and auto sports more frequently than wildlife in action lately so may have to adapt a few of your concepts. Again great resource. Thanks so much

[johnmccaffery]

Some great points, Hudson, I especially like the one about reprogramming the BKT in action! Never thought about not needing that for action, DUH. Thanks, Mac

[rodrigogregoriodelasheras]

Thank you for sharing this information on Z9, it has change how I look and take photos, love how you analyze the bottom in the Z9, it has changed how I work on the field, I take sports and this setting has change my work.

[MarkNiles]

Another wonderful, concise, informative narrative on the Z8/9. Thank you!

[dlarge]

Thanks Hudson for sharing the download file for Z8. Awesome! - Dalynne

[bobbarnes]

Great video as usual @HudsonHenryPhoto. Thank you for sharing your settings file! Just a note for those downloading the settings file, in addition to adding your copyright info back after using Hudson's settings file ALSO CHECK THE TIME ZONE AND MAKE SURE IT'S CORRECT FOR YOUR LOCATION. I just took some shots and realized I missed double checking that.😁

[Creeper]

Love these detailed walkthroughs. Some would say I may have, uh, overbought vs my skill level in the Z8, but your videos have smoothed the learning curve considerably.

[randyhergenrether]

This also applies to those (Z8) air show enthusiasts too. I recently shot the US Air Force Academy graduation in Colorado Springs, CO, with the Thunderbird's fly-over air show. There is a Z8 airplane detection mode too.

[musiqueetmontagne]

Some great shots from Costa Rica, beautiful...The problem I have with my Z8 is using the top buttons on the left, WB, Bracketing etc while hand holding a long, heavy lens. I don't want to make a habit of putting that amount of stress on the mount... I also use WC-1 with the smallest box, like a single point but it uses bird, eye detect etc..useful for putting the focus point directly on an eye/bird or whatever quickly, in the trees for example..

[debramercaldo]

Thank you for all this information. So very helpful!

[KristofMachiels]

Thanks again Hudson for the excellent explanation. It’s always usable and I have learned a lot with your great explanation of your videos.

[michaelmccarter]

Thanks! I don’t even have my z8 yet (targeting end of the year) but I so appreciate your detailed approach and sharing wisdom.

[michaelcibula]

Hey Hudson, this is a super helpful video. Thank you! I have a question about your Action settings lens button mapping. I’m using the 28-400 zoom without any function buttons. Is there an equivalent shortcut in your settings to do the hybrid 3d tracking handoff with a button press on the body? Or would I need to customize one of the buttons to do that? If so, any suggestions on which you’d overwrite?

[seandavis]

Great video and thanks for sharing your knowledge !

[davidarcherimages]

That bird that we photographed was a Northern Jacana. I also have a hard time remembering the names of some of those birds we aren't used to seeing. This last Costa Rica trip was the best of my four trips there (so far). Of course, we will try to surpass it next year!

[woobiedad]

Hudson great videos. I’ve just gotten my Z8 and your settings videos have been very enlightening. I tried to follow the link to your settings file but the page isn’t there. I’d love to try my camera out either way these settings. Is there somewhere else I can access?