This is one of the best tips I have found on UA-cam. I reprogrammed my z8 and z9. Not only can you change subject detection; you can also change shutter speed, exposure compensation, release mode, etc on the fly. Thank you!
I bet that works great. Coming from canon, I am still getting used to buttons on the front of the camera as part of work flow. I have my fn 1 set to cycle through focus modes (new z8 update that is awesome and I’ll do a video on that ) and fn2 to dx crop. I love how customizable the Nikons are.
Great discovery Matthew. Very helpful in the field. Expect few more tips in future. Please suggest for speedy small & big flying bird what autofocus mode do you use with success
I can do a video on this if I get time, but for small birds without a busy background, auto AF is actually very very good. I use 3D tracking or a custom small subject detect box for other situations. I always have dual bbf with a separate single point AF for overrides when needed.
Great idea. I too have programmed some other custom functions. I might suggest how to save these custom setting to the memory cards ( i save mine custom settings to both cards on my Z9) so if at some later point I loose my custom function settings I can reload them from my memory cards. Note that reformatting a card will wipe away the file. One reason to have these custom settings on both camera memory card. And as a total backup I keep a copy of my latest setting on my laptop.
Hi Matthew. Another very informative and useful video. Thank you. I have set my Z8 up like yours and it works well. However, I noticed there is no option to do this in video mode. Or am I missing something?
I already have recall configured for birds in flight, so it increases the shutter speed, adds +1 exposure conpensation for shooting into the sky and makes sure the lowest f stop is selected and auto-ISO. I don't want to lose that. I set the subject detection to the first item in My Menu because it is a stand alone option there. In the i menu you have to of course find AF and then toggle down to subject detection and then use the command wheel. I put spot focus on Fn2 so as long as I hold it I am in spot focus. Sometimes I set recall shooting for blurs, like for barrel racers at the rodeo. Fast shutter speed for rounding the barrel and I hit my recall button (DISP) to put it into slow shutter speed for panning blur as they race for the finish. Steve Perry says animal detection detects birds way better than bird detection detects animals. So better to be caught in animal detection if you don't have time to switch.
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That’s a great tip!😊
Thanks my dude. Big fan of your channel. 👊
Thank you Matthew that just what I have been looking for
This is one of the best tips I have found on UA-cam. I reprogrammed my z8 and z9. Not only can you change subject detection; you can also change shutter speed, exposure compensation, release mode, etc on the fly.
Thank you!
Thanks for commenting. So glad it was helpful.
Super helpful, thank you, just set it up, even though I'm shooting birds mostly I often come across other wildlife, this is great
Awesome. Thanks for the comment!
On the Nikon Z9, I use my Custom Function 1 button to switch between bird and animal AF settings. Works very well!
I bet that works great. Coming from canon, I am still getting used to buttons on the front of the camera as part of work flow. I have my fn 1 set to cycle through focus modes (new z8 update that is awesome and I’ll do a video on that ) and fn2 to dx crop. I love how customizable the Nikons are.
Thanks, Matthew that works brilliantly.
Right on! Happy to help
Great discovery Matthew. Very helpful in the field. Expect few more tips in future. Please suggest for speedy small & big flying bird what autofocus mode do you use with success
I can do a video on this if I get time, but for small birds without a busy background, auto AF is actually very very good. I use 3D tracking or a custom small subject detect box for other situations. I always have dual bbf with a separate single point AF for overrides when needed.
Thanks.. it's very helpful.❤🎉
Thanks mate.. this is very useful...❤
Great idea. I too have programmed some other custom functions. I might suggest how to save these custom setting to the memory cards ( i save mine custom settings to both cards on my Z9) so if at some later point I loose my custom function settings I can reload them from my memory cards. Note that reformatting a card will wipe away the file. One reason to have these custom settings on both camera memory card. And as a total backup I keep a copy of my latest setting on my laptop.
Hi Matthew. Another very informative and useful video. Thank you. I have set my Z8 up like yours and it works well. However, I noticed there is no option to do this in video mode. Or am I missing something?
I also use the F2 button to switch between FX and DX crop.
I do exactly the same thing. I know it’s just cropping, but I appreciate seeing the product in the viewfinder.
Thankyou. Very useful
I changed the settings as you show but it doesn’t work.
Happy to help, but I need more information on what’s happening. What happens now after you’ve changed the settings?
Its set up the same exact way as you but when I press the joystick in nothing happens. I will play with it a bit more and report back.
Suggestin please: how about showing which buttons and how "I programmed to switch" but how please
Happy to help. Can you be more specific about what you are looking for?
I already have recall configured for birds in flight, so it increases the shutter speed, adds +1 exposure conpensation for shooting into the sky and makes sure the lowest f stop is selected and auto-ISO. I don't want to lose that. I set the subject detection to the first item in My Menu because it is a stand alone option there. In the i menu you have to of course find AF and then toggle down to subject detection and then use the command wheel. I put spot focus on Fn2 so as long as I hold it I am in spot focus. Sometimes I set recall shooting for blurs, like for barrel racers at the rodeo. Fast shutter speed for rounding the barrel and I hit my recall button (DISP) to put it into slow shutter speed for panning blur as they race for the finish. Steve Perry says animal detection detects birds way better than bird detection detects animals. So better to be caught in animal detection if you don't have time to switch.
Same here. I like this set up.
A new camera and lens with every new video. Next time I am expecting a Sony a9 III with 300mm 2.8. :)
Haha, I wish! Well, maybe Sony can send one my way. ;-)