5 Amazing Tips For Better Face And Eye Detection!

While subject detection (or face/eye detection) in our modern mirrorless cameras is often jaw-droppingly good, learning a few techniques for getting the most from it can take it to the next level.

In this video, I'll share five techniques you can use the next time you're out that will instantly improve your success with subject detection. These universal tips apply to pretty much any mirrorless camera that uses subject detection.

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[simon_dentremont]

Great content as usual Steve. To a new wildlife photography Youtuber, you’ve set a high bar for me to aspire to. Great job.

[juliodumbobk]

this is by far the best photography channel in youtube. I have all your books and still watch all your videos.

[kathleeneveritt]

Great video, I get fed up with folks complaining about eye detection not working they forget that you still have to use your skill as a photographer to nail the shot

[OkwyUgonweze]

For this very reason I assigned different af modes to different buttons, and do apply as the situation demands.
Great video Steve.

[darrenmctee]

Excellent info as always! Too many people expect Subject and Eye AF to be a miracle system that should always work, and are disappointed when it "fails" yet it's doing exactly what the AF is designed to do. Realistic expectations combined with full understanding of the cameras AF capabilities is definitely a major key to success. This video defines those keys to success VERY well! I feel I "work" my mirrorless AF system harder than I ever did on a DSLR by frequently "pumping" back and forth between subject/eye detection and single point AF when difficult situations arise. Dual Back Button focus makes this very fast and easy vs actually turning off Subject/Eye AF on my Canon bodies. Keep the great info coming!

[ianslingsby]

Wise words. I photograph diving Kingfishers a lot, the shapes they make on the dive and especially when they emerge from the water prove really difficult for my R5 to track using subject detection so I go for an AF area.

[paulmorrall]

That was one of the best videos on this subject I’ve ever seen 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[kennetht]

Thanks again for all your help. Great show as usual!

[kilik]

Another great video Steve, i love that you are pushing out a lot of video’s lately, keep it up!

[leonardbertaux]

Love the African Bee Eater, was fortunate enough to shoot one this past year, sadly I didn’t have a long enough lenses. 1:13

[juju]

Awesome. Look forward to your tips on Video shooting sometime in the future..😊

[SkylarkFields]

I have just got a camera with subject detect and was getting problems with it not working the way I expected it to - your demonstrations and advice have covered everything that was going wrong and will help me to get it right in future! Great video, thank you. And I loved seeing your domestic cats, they look gorgeous. The big wild cats/cubs images are stunning too.

[mzeeshanch]

Short, to the point and just amazing TIPS... Your advice always helps in improving something related to my photographic technique...

[lee-annecarpenter]

It’s wonderful from time time to just have this sort of content be reiterated. It’s so easy to get disillusioned when you see pro shots and wonder what you’re doing wrong. I have the canon r6 and rf 100-500 and often eye tracking won’t work. These tips are just what I needed to be reminded of. Thank you Steve!

[Strodav]

Excellent video Steve. When I first got the Z9, I was disappointed in the animal eye AF system and was reverting back to the same settings I have on my D850 / D500 asking myself why did I buy this camera? As I learned the limitations of the technology and got better at using it, I started to appreciate it more. The best tip you have in your video is to go to single point focus when AF is not giving consistent results. The AF system has gotten better with new firmware releases, but I wish Nikon would publish more about the limitations of the technology. It's comforting to know the Sony A1 and Z9 have similar AF eye tracking limitations, i.e., it's the technology, not necessarily the brand.

[brianlemke]

Great tips, Steve.

OM1 user here. Also, former and current Nikon, excluding the pricey Z9. The detection and tracking on this camera is phenomenal with more than 1, 000 AF points on a M43 sensor half the size of Full frame. I started using it with various area modes and using the joystick to refine composition; but quickly came to realize the camera just doesn’t need the help. Switched to full area mode and haven’t looked back, except in circumstances where the subject is partly obscured or contrast is compromised - ie. heavy fog. I barely ever use the joystick any more for birds and wildlife.

As an aside, even with the Z9 and all it’s updates, Nikon needs to up its game. Less than 500 AF points on the Z9 sensor - and less than 300 on the first and second gen Zs - is not enough for subject detection and tracking to be fully consistent. That’s why I switched to Oly for my birds and wildlife - OM1 + 150-400 4.5 TC pro lens - while keeping my Nikons for slow and stationary stuff - and my terrific 20-200 range of Z mount lenses.

Steve, I know you’re being brand agnostic these days but I think tips on M43 would be great. Obviously, there are some compromises to work around for M43 physics but the sheer weight saving, versatility and computational features make it a great system in its own right.

Cheers and happy new year.

[barryfrost]

Great tips Steve. Provided new insights I hadn’t thought of.

[mitchellmysliwiecphotography]

Thanks for the walk through! I appreciate your style of presenting what is needed in a understandable manner. Plus your example shots aren't too shabby either ;)

[csc-photo]

Super duper helpful video! It’s always a good day when you release new content 🤗 Thank you sir!

[alecstewart]

Excellent as always. As someone who is new to mirrorless and subject detect I have been trying out different scenarios and this video reinforces some of my feelings on using the system. Its great to know that I seem to be heading in the right direction. Thank you for your excellent advice.