Thanks for the informative video! I had similarly positive results with the new firmware however I did experience the same thing to the swan at 2:23 where the focus box appeared on the subject's head but the subject remained out of focus the entire time. Interestingly, mine was a great blue heron in some reeds, so a similar environment.
Yeah, that happened with me a few times the same day. Each time, I think the subject was behind something - so it detects the shape but is unsure where to focus. That's usually when I reach for the focus ring!
I believe Steve Perry mentioned that. He thinks this behavior has to do with shooting long-neck birds in the new AF mode and recommended using the old general animal mode instead
I use large area wide when shooting birds in flight, I noticed that on a few video reviews, yours included that you are using auto area--is this a better combination.
I personally use Auto Area as well. But, it's definitely not faster than wide or others. The reason why I use Auto Area is when the subject is substantially outside the selected focus area, you lose track. For me, the slight reduction in speed is offset by being more flexible with the composition. Which you use is a compromise and not necessarily a universally best solution.
Great video! The Auto Area AF mode is where it's at with Bird SD mode. 3D needs some more tweaks for this Bird SD mode. It also could be just a limitation to the 3D algorithm and Auto may just always be the best AF mode for the Bird SD mode. Will need to wait for the next FW update that improves this Bird SD mode. If Nikon looks to do so specifically. The issue I see where you mention it's not magic I see the bird is way to far out to crazy distances, so that part I feel is expected and the same of any of the other brands like the Sony a! and Canon R5/3
That's awesome that you could get your photography channel off the ground. I had over 900 survival and primitive technology videos on UA-cam. I was also very interested in photography. I started another channel, and it never did anything, so I pulled all the videos. I figure if nothing happens in 4 years, it's time to pull the plug. At least my books do well.
It's possible. I had been having trouble with WAL and also with WC-1 which I had customized to be slightly smaller. Recently, Auto-Area had been giving the best general result. I do plan to try WAL again soon to see if it has improved.
Thanks! And yes, that's a Atomos Ninja V capturing the output. Next time I'll try to remember to turn off the annoying histogram for recording purposes.
That has to be the best test ever of a firmware. I have the Z9 and the Z8 and can't wait to see the difference shooting birds here in SW Florida. I was happy with the older firmware but knew the difference in AF from shooting both Sony and Canon as well. I was pretty successful using Wide Large with Animal detect with the old firmware. This looks to be head a shoulders over the last version. I suspect that any day now Sony will be releasing a new high end camera with AF like a machine gun!
Thanks. I wanted to show as realistically as I could the performance I got without cherry-picking only the favorable moments or the unfavorable, to make some point. I try to be agenda-free as much as I can.
Anyone that was familiar with the old firmware after watching this, especially if they were bird shooters it’s quite obvious the significant difference!
I do real world evaluations, shooting as I would shoot - unless I perform a specific test for a specific purpose. I'm afraid you don't understand the specs and performance of the Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S lens, and I don't think you understand what DX does and does not do.
@@KnightsandWeekendshehe. I’m well aware of all that. So you were shooting at 840 and 1200 equivalent and they were still small in frame? You must’ve been pretty far away! That’s the not ideal I was talking about.
@@hautehussey Understood and agree - but it was the conditions I had and many folks have from time to time so I thought it was a good extreme test. I can see - even in these less than ideal circumstances - the improvements, but also that the system cannot be expected to compensate for such circumstances most of the time. This was what I was really showing.
I am from Costa Rica and although we have many of those species and tested myself with similar results. I am starting to produce a similar video about birds in the rainforest. I have been capturing wildlife for more than 25 years but I never made a video like this. Any advise?? I am going next week to photograph Resplendent Quetzals on several nesting sites and other iconic birds. My gear is z9 and 600 mm f4 among others. I appreciate all help. Muchas Gracias Randall Ortega Chaves
Best advice I can give is to try to produce a video that you'd enjoy watching. Be highly self-critical and try to avoid including too much "extra" footage just because you're proud you got it. I struggle with that constantly!!
Some of those shots look like the would be incredibly difficult for any camera detection system. I doubt the A1 would be able to detect those ducks in the mud. Not even I could make them out. :D I use large area AF then when a subject is found, I keep it tracked using 3D Tracking+AF On using a custom button assignment. Works like a charm, even on 4.01. Cannot wait to try out the new AF.
That used to be my go-to method, but lately I have found 3D to be missing a lot of hits. My limited testing so far with 4.10 doesn't really show much improvement there - but much improved in Auto Area. Next outing I will try Wide Area and Custom Area.
If you could…stop…with the…dramatic pauses…your videos…would be…more interesting. Seriously, just speak normally. There is no Oscar category for UA-cam presenters.
Nice, I can't wait to see this on the Z8.
What makes you think that will happen?
What makes you think it won't?@@19Photographer76
Indeed they could as well not add it
Love watching your tests even though I rarely photograph birds in flight. Thanks for taking the time to make the video and to share it.
Thanks for watching!
Great video David. I was anxious to see your take on it. :)
Thanks!
Thanks for the informative video! I had similarly positive results with the new firmware however I did experience the same thing to the swan at 2:23 where the focus box appeared on the subject's head but the subject remained out of focus the entire time. Interestingly, mine was a great blue heron in some reeds, so a similar environment.
Yeah, that happened with me a few times the same day. Each time, I think the subject was behind something - so it detects the shape but is unsure where to focus. That's usually when I reach for the focus ring!
I believe Steve Perry mentioned that. He thinks this behavior has to do with shooting long-neck birds in the new AF mode and recommended using the old general animal mode instead
Just used it today, I found it to be a noticeable improvement at hanging onto birds in flight and sticking to the eye when they’re big enough
No doubt, it is a substantial improvement!
I use large area wide when shooting birds in flight, I noticed that on a few video reviews, yours included that you are using auto area--is this a better combination.
I personally use Auto Area as well. But, it's definitely not faster than wide or others. The reason why I use Auto Area is when the subject is substantially outside the selected focus area, you lose track. For me, the slight reduction in speed is offset by being more flexible with the composition. Which you use is a compromise and not necessarily a universally best solution.
Well said. There is no 'one size fits all' solution, which is why there are choices. I'm always changing mine to see if I have the best for the day!
Great video! The Auto Area AF mode is where it's at with Bird SD mode. 3D needs some more tweaks for this Bird SD mode. It also could be just a limitation to the 3D algorithm and Auto may just always be the best AF mode for the Bird SD mode. Will need to wait for the next FW update that improves this Bird SD mode. If Nikon looks to do so specifically.
The issue I see where you mention it's not magic I see the bird is way to far out to crazy distances, so that part I feel is expected and the same of any of the other brands like the Sony a! and Canon R5/3
3D wasn’t designed for how people are trying to use it!
That's awesome that you could get your photography channel off the ground. I had over 900 survival and primitive technology videos on UA-cam. I was also very interested in photography. I started another channel, and it never did anything, so I pulled all the videos. I figure if nothing happens in 4 years, it's time to pull the plug. At least my books do well.
It's not easy. I haven't added new content here in far too long, but hoping to turn that around soon.
Thank you for the real world test. I have also noticed an improvement ! What do you use to record the EVF?
Atomos Ninja V. Next time I'll try to remember to remove the histogram for recording - it is a bit obnoxious.
I think bird auto focus with wide are large mode could give better result.
It's possible. I had been having trouble with WAL and also with WC-1 which I had customized to be slightly smaller. Recently, Auto-Area had been giving the best general result. I do plan to try WAL again soon to see if it has improved.
Good, objective review! Great video of the focus spots moving. Do you have an external recording monitor to catch that action (e.g. Atomos)?
Thanks! And yes, that's a Atomos Ninja V capturing the output. Next time I'll try to remember to turn off the annoying histogram for recording purposes.
That has to be the best test ever of a firmware. I have the Z9 and the Z8 and can't wait to see the difference shooting birds here in SW Florida. I was happy with the older firmware but knew the difference in AF from shooting both Sony and Canon as well. I was pretty successful using Wide Large with Animal detect with the old firmware. This looks to be head a shoulders over the last version. I suspect that any day now Sony will be releasing a new high end camera with AF like a machine gun!
Thanks. I wanted to show as realistically as I could the performance I got without cherry-picking only the favorable moments or the unfavorable, to make some point. I try to be agenda-free as much as I can.
Anyone that was familiar with the old firmware after watching this, especially if they were bird shooters it’s quite obvious the significant difference!
What are you shooting with? W a TC at 5.6 or f8 and at DX? That’s not an ideal case to show AF performance!
I do real world evaluations, shooting as I would shoot - unless I perform a specific test for a specific purpose. I'm afraid you don't understand the specs and performance of the Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S lens, and I don't think you understand what DX does and does not do.
@@KnightsandWeekendshehe. I’m well aware of all that. So you were shooting at 840 and 1200 equivalent and they were still small in frame? You must’ve been pretty far away! That’s the not ideal I was talking about.
@@hautehussey Understood and agree - but it was the conditions I had and many folks have from time to time so I thought it was a good extreme test. I can see - even in these less than ideal circumstances - the improvements, but also that the system cannot be expected to compensate for such circumstances most of the time. This was what I was really showing.
I noticed 3D with bird subject detection works very well for birds in flight.
Although I have not yet tried the Auto Area.
Interesting - thanks for noting your observation. 3D with Bird seems "iffy" with me so far - but I need to give it another good try.
Good info
I am from Costa Rica and although we have many of those species and tested myself with similar results. I am starting to produce a similar video about birds in the rainforest. I have been capturing wildlife for more than 25 years but I never made a video like this. Any advise?? I am going next week to photograph Resplendent Quetzals on several nesting sites and other iconic birds. My gear is z9 and 600 mm f4 among others. I appreciate all help. Muchas Gracias Randall Ortega Chaves
Best advice I can give is to try to produce a video that you'd enjoy watching. Be highly self-critical and try to avoid including too much "extra" footage just because you're proud you got it. I struggle with that constantly!!
Some of those shots look like the would be incredibly difficult for any camera detection system. I doubt the A1 would be able to detect those ducks in the mud.
Not even I could make them out. :D
I use large area AF then when a subject is found, I keep it tracked using 3D Tracking+AF On using a custom button assignment. Works like a charm, even on 4.01. Cannot wait to try out the new AF.
That used to be my go-to method, but lately I have found 3D to be missing a lot of hits. My limited testing so far with 4.10 doesn't really show much improvement there - but much improved in Auto Area. Next outing I will try Wide Area and Custom Area.
@@KnightsandWeekends wide area should be interesting. Thanks.
@@KnightsandWeekendsI see your point here , but the Auto Area is the whole screen, which in some cases isn't hitting the exact bird you're after .
Thank you for this upload!!
Don't shoot Nikon but so glad to see them riding high
A rising tide lifts all boats - as they say. Technical advancements spread quickly between the major brands - so we all win!
If you could…stop…with the…dramatic pauses…your videos…would be…more interesting. Seriously, just speak normally. There is no Oscar category for UA-cam presenters.
Real sorry that your life didn't turn out the way you'd hoped.
what's wrong with you dude?