So appreciate you continuing to add content and inform about the original Z bodies. I still own the Z7 and Z6 and have been very happy with them and am still learning how to get the most out of them. Thanks!!!
Hi Hudson....I am and have always been a huge supporter of your work and the knowledge you bring to your community.I am an active and long time Canon user and as such I have little interest in the workings of and technical information pertaining to Nikon camera products. I am sure that your many Nikon users are grateful for the product knowledge you provide on many of your Approaching There Scene episodes. Unfortunately those of us in other photo communities do not have the same benefit from your knowledge and wonderful teaching ability, when it comes to our individual product choices. Keep up your great work but realize that there are a number of us in the community with a different gear focus.
I do realize that. If you had any idea how much I've been badgered to do these. :-) Thanks for the reminder though. Hopefully you can sift through and some of the Nikonish or Leicaish videos still have good stuff for non-Nikon faithful. There's always a linked out table of contents in the full video description. ;-)
This is helpful. I got the little Z50 for Christmas and come from shooting film with manual focus lenses, so these autofocus menus are foreign to me. This summer I went whale watching in the San Juans with my brothers and crammed the autofocus menu the night before! Got a nice shot of a humpback with Mt Baker in the distance. Never really felt comfortable with it though and missed a few good shots of sea birds on the trip. Will definitely watch this again. Thank you!
Hey Hudson, thanks for going back in time a little bit and covering auto focus on the early Z cameras. I shared a link to this with both of my sons, who now have one of these cameras. For me, the key point you made and I want to highlight to successfully use auto focus on the Z cameras is understanding the importance of how large the subject is in the frame determines the best way to use the auto focus. I originally got quite frustrated with it because the subject was too small so tracking and eye capture never seemed to work as well as it should. Like everything in photography it also takes practice - great video, thanks for continuing to provide great content on the entire Nikon Z line up.
Thanks for the update. As always a great video! I just came back from a Game at Yankee Stadium and took my Z50 and Z50-250 DX lens. I was in the cheap seats and was playing with both subject tracking modes you mentioned. I was not sure which one would work better but I experienced everything you talked about in this video. I am also impressed by how much better my Z50 has gotten since the firmware update.I used to use it to shoot my daughter's soccer games and felt it was good but not great. And have not used it for action in a while. I think it's gotten good enough to use for action now at least it's better than before. Good luck and have a great trip. Thanks again.
Thanks for giving some attention to the lower rung cameras. The toggling between the different focus modes using the custom function assignment is very useful. It’s good to know what the limitations of the AF are and how to use the different modes as necessary to overcome the limitations.
Thanks. This was a good refresher for me plus somehow I now understand your use of Auto Area L w/ people and Wide Area L. I got in the habit of almost always using subject tracking. And probably shouldn’t now. Side note, been using my Z8 pretty much full time for a few months now. Was surprised how small the Z6II felt when I picked it up just now. 😂. many thanks - Tim
Thanks! I getting too old to go to one of your very active workshops but I appreciate all of the info that you publish and present on videos. Still valid for my slower, easier photography outings.
I don't foresee much AF firmware improvement in any of the Z6 or Z7 variants. You got all the firmware improvements from the original Z6 baked into that mid-cycle refresh in the Z6ii. The processor and sensor are about where they can get with those bodies. The real progress will be with the next gen. Now that said, with practice using auto area, wide area and subject tracking override you can get great results. You just have to practice a ton and work harder at it than you do with the Z8 and Z9. You can't get their new modes without the stacked sensor and new processing engine in their hardware. Next week you'll get a similar video to this looking through the Z9 to see the difference.
Hudson, do you have a video explaining your computer monitor setup and how you divide out Lightroom for an effective workflow? Keep up the great work, immensely helpful!!
Great video and glad to see your views on the Z6 etc . I loved the Z6 and after the D7100 & D7500 I found focussing fast action not to be a problem. Thank you! I like to use U3 as its the nearest to the M ... ie quicker to get
I have a Z50 and have already taken one or two good pictures. But on the last vacation I had to realize that when photographing trains sometimes the front of the train is a bit out of focus. I will now try your tip, whether this also works for trains. So that the front of the train is also in focus. The problem with the Fn2 button is that you have to be extremely fast with activate and to catch the right position (front) on the train. Sometimes there is only one second left. Especially when a train is traveling at more than 100mph.
You push fn2 long in advance to activate subject tracking, then use it just like any other af point when the train comes. Fn2 just activates the subject tracking point. AF-on uses it to lock focus.
Hi Hudson ... in sunlight yes ... the thing is in indoor lighting (think of an event) Z6 Auto AF is almost unusable because it jumps around all over the place including way off to the side where it might find something closer. If you enable eye detect you "might" get the eyes of the person you want, but if you bring up the tracking box you loose eye detect, and the box struggles in the low light as well. I'm talking about "average" indoor lighting, the tracking box tracks pretty well but focus accuracy is poor ... Add flash and you are really in never never land IMHO. I have a Z8 as well and 3D AF works really well ... but guess what ... it struggles in subdued light where my D750 never did ... in truth if I had to go shoot a wedding right now (I've done a few) I'd probably take the 750.
Not my experience at all. I used the z6ii at night in Cuba indoors and out constantly to great effect, including street shooting at night. ua-cam.com/video/gXvDK852wew/v-deo.htmlsi=pxyXoCoKbWFSznev Left the Z9 at home. I find it excellent in low light with eyes or any contrast detail. But then I've been using the system for many years now since the z6 originally launched. I have had just about every dslr from the d70 to the 850 and every Z from the 6 to the 9 and I'll take a Z in low light every time. No question.
I struggle in low light as well, but I think my expectations are too high. Chasing a toddler around indoors is as challenging as any BIF shooting I've done. I now want the crisp, sharp eye, where I was happy with the face in the past. I have also noticed that the photos are a lot sharper when you get them to post than they appear on the LCD. Could just be my older eyes. I use the same focusing concept, but I have the record button set to allow me to change the focus modes. A function button that would allow you to set a second release mode would be cool. Looking forward to your Z8/9 video. Any low light tricks would be appreciated.
Thank you for this helpful video. I have the Z8 and want a second camera body. The Z6ii looks like a great camera and more budget friendly but I have always been concerned with the MPs. Maybe it's a nonissue.
Great video... just what I have been looking for. Also... you have any other suggestions for a loop. The Luma Loops are not available.. and appear to out for a long time
It goes, close subject priority in Auto Area, but you can adjust the locking time as CSC mentions. That's another use case for Area modes with subject detection or Subject Tracking over-ride without as I showcase here. Also next week's video on the Z8/Z9 will showcase how the next generations of camera do away with this issue. The new version of 3D area in those cameras is perfect for identifying an individual and tracking faces and eyes in a frame full of subjects.
The Z6 doesn't really have the separate auto area animal subject tracking. It seems to be a general tracking that can be set for both human and animal eyes.
It's in the menu structure instead of the area mode selections. You get tracking, then in the autofocus custom settings you have to pick animal or human.
So appreciate you continuing to add content and inform about the original Z bodies. I still own the Z7 and Z6 and have been very happy with them and am still learning how to get the most out of them. Thanks!!!
Hi Hudson....I am and have always been a huge supporter of your work and the knowledge you bring to your community.I am an active and long time Canon user and as such I have little interest in the workings of and technical information pertaining to Nikon camera products. I am sure that your many Nikon users are grateful for the product knowledge you provide on many of your Approaching There Scene episodes. Unfortunately those of us in other photo communities do not have the same benefit from your knowledge and wonderful teaching ability, when it comes to our individual product choices. Keep up your great work but realize that there are a number of us in the community with a different gear focus.
I do realize that. If you had any idea how much I've been badgered to do these. :-) Thanks for the reminder though. Hopefully you can sift through and some of the Nikonish or Leicaish videos still have good stuff for non-Nikon faithful. There's always a linked out table of contents in the full video description. ;-)
This is helpful. I got the little Z50 for Christmas and come from shooting film with manual focus lenses, so these autofocus menus are foreign to me. This summer I went whale watching in the San Juans with my brothers and crammed the autofocus menu the night before! Got a nice shot of a humpback with Mt Baker in the distance. Never really felt comfortable with it though and missed a few good shots of sea birds on the trip. Will definitely watch this again. Thank you!
Hey Hudson, thanks for going back in time a little bit and covering auto focus on the early Z cameras. I shared a link to this with both of my sons, who now have one of these cameras.
For me, the key point you made and I want to highlight to successfully use auto focus on the Z cameras is understanding the importance of how large the subject is in the frame determines the best way to use the auto focus. I originally got quite frustrated with it because the subject was too small so tracking and eye capture never seemed to work as well as it should. Like everything in photography it also takes practice - great video, thanks for continuing to provide great content on the entire Nikon Z line up.
Thanks for the update. As always a great video! I just came back from a Game at Yankee Stadium and took my Z50 and Z50-250 DX lens. I was in the cheap seats and was playing with both subject tracking modes you mentioned. I was not sure which one would work better but I experienced everything you talked about in this video. I am also impressed by how much better my Z50 has gotten since the firmware update.I used to use it to shoot my daughter's soccer games and felt it was good but not great. And have not used it for action in a while. I think it's gotten good enough to use for action now at least it's better than before. Good luck and have a great trip. Thanks again.
Thanks for giving some attention to the lower rung cameras. The toggling between the different focus modes using the custom function assignment is very useful. It’s good to know what the limitations of the AF are and how to use the different modes as necessary to overcome the limitations.
Thanks. This was a good refresher for me plus somehow I now understand your use of Auto Area L w/ people and Wide Area L. I got in the habit of almost always using subject tracking. And probably shouldn’t now. Side note, been using my Z8 pretty much full time for a few months now. Was surprised how small the Z6II felt when I picked it up just now. 😂. many thanks - Tim
Thanks! I getting too old to go to one of your very active workshops but I appreciate all of the info that you publish and present on videos. Still valid for my slower, easier photography outings.
Great video. Great direct review that cuts through the noise.
Thanks for video. I own almost 3 years the Z6ii and still struggling with action AF, hopefully soon firmware update to solve this problem.
I don't foresee much AF firmware improvement in any of the Z6 or Z7 variants. You got all the firmware improvements from the original Z6 baked into that mid-cycle refresh in the Z6ii. The processor and sensor are about where they can get with those bodies. The real progress will be with the next gen.
Now that said, with practice using auto area, wide area and subject tracking override you can get great results. You just have to practice a ton and work harder at it than you do with the Z8 and Z9. You can't get their new modes without the stacked sensor and new processing engine in their hardware. Next week you'll get a similar video to this looking through the Z9 to see the difference.
Hudson, do you have a video explaining your computer monitor setup and how you divide out Lightroom for an effective workflow? Keep up the great work, immensely helpful!!
No but that's a great topic. Thanks!
Great video and glad to see your views on the Z6 etc . I loved the Z6 and after the D7100 & D7500 I found focussing fast action not to be a problem. Thank you! I like to use U3 as its the nearest to the M ... ie quicker to get
Enjoyed and I am learning a lot! Thanks for Sharing!
I have a Z50 and have already taken one or two good pictures. But on the last vacation I had to realize that when photographing trains sometimes the front of the train is a bit out of focus. I will now try your tip, whether this also works for trains. So that the front of the train is also in focus. The problem with the Fn2 button is that you have to be extremely fast with activate and to catch the right position (front) on the train. Sometimes there is only one second left. Especially when a train is traveling at more than 100mph.
You push fn2 long in advance to activate subject tracking, then use it just like any other af point when the train comes. Fn2 just activates the subject tracking point. AF-on uses it to lock focus.
This is really helpful. Thank you.
Thanks for the video. Excellent tutorial.
Hi Hudson ... in sunlight yes ... the thing is in indoor lighting (think of an event) Z6 Auto AF is almost unusable because it jumps around all over the place including way off to the side where it might find something closer. If you enable eye detect you "might" get the eyes of the person you want, but if you bring up the tracking box you loose eye detect, and the box struggles in the low light as well. I'm talking about "average" indoor lighting, the tracking box tracks pretty well but focus accuracy is poor ... Add flash and you are really in never never land IMHO.
I have a Z8 as well and 3D AF works really well ... but guess what ... it struggles in subdued light where my D750 never did ... in truth if I had to go shoot a wedding right now (I've done a few) I'd probably take the 750.
Not my experience at all. I used the z6ii at night in Cuba indoors and out constantly to great effect, including street shooting at night. ua-cam.com/video/gXvDK852wew/v-deo.htmlsi=pxyXoCoKbWFSznev Left the Z9 at home. I find it excellent in low light with eyes or any contrast detail. But then I've been using the system for many years now since the z6 originally launched. I have had just about every dslr from the d70 to the 850 and every Z from the 6 to the 9 and I'll take a Z in low light every time. No question.
I struggle in low light as well, but I think my expectations are too high. Chasing a toddler around indoors is as challenging as any BIF shooting I've done. I now want the crisp, sharp eye, where I was happy with the face in the past. I have also noticed that the photos are a lot sharper when you get them to post than they appear on the LCD. Could just be my older eyes. I use the same focusing concept, but I have the record button set to allow me to change the focus modes. A function button that would allow you to set a second release mode would be cool. Looking forward to your Z8/9 video. Any low light tricks would be appreciated.
Thank you for this helpful video. I have the Z8 and want a second camera body. The Z6ii looks like a great camera and more budget friendly but I have always been concerned with the MPs. Maybe it's a nonissue.
With SuperResolution in LR Classic. It's really a non-issue. :-)
@@HudsonHenryPhoto thank you. Tremendous help. ❤️
Great video... just what I have been
looking for. Also... you have any other suggestions for a loop. The Luma Loops are not available.. and appear to out for a long time
I really don't. I'd say to email them and get in line. They're a small company but no one compares to what they are producing.
Thanks
@@HudsonHenryPhoto
What about for sports like football or basketball when you have many players and your subject goes in and out behind other players?
Custom Setting Menu > A3 Focus tracking with lock-on
Set this to 4 or 5 (more delayed)
It goes, close subject priority in Auto Area, but you can adjust the locking time as CSC mentions. That's another use case for Area modes with subject detection or Subject Tracking over-ride without as I showcase here. Also next week's video on the Z8/Z9 will showcase how the next generations of camera do away with this issue. The new version of 3D area in those cameras is perfect for identifying an individual and tracking faces and eyes in a frame full of subjects.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto I'm hoping the z6 III and z7 III will have the same focusing system as the z8 and z9. I don't want screen blackout either.
I'd count on the 3D, but they may leave the dual video channel processing (aka no blackout) to the action specific bodies.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto I don't think they will have stacked sensors for their price point. I may have to save up and buy the z8.
Thanks for this ❤👍🏽👍🏽
The Z6 doesn't really have the separate auto area animal subject tracking. It seems to be a general tracking that can be set for both human and animal eyes.
It's in the menu structure instead of the area mode selections. You get tracking, then in the autofocus custom settings you have to pick animal or human.
Trade my z9 for a z6ii and a z20 mm f/1.8 lens plus some extra cash. I have yet to be disappointed with the performance of the z6ii.
very wise and prudent!