Feedback on Auto Capture

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GinaLola

GinaLola

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I've been playing around with Auto Capture on both my Z8 and Z9 for the last few days and getting mixed results. I've watched a couple of set-up guides on You Tube (including Steve's), but I'm still not getting the best results with my subjects (birds) being in focus. My ultimate goal would be to use it for shorebird photography so I'm practicing in my backyard for now, using it around my birdbaths and a bluebird nestbox. Some of the birds are sharp and in focus, especially when they're sitting still, but the flight shots, as they arrive and leave the birdbath/box, are pretty blurry. I've used shutter speeds up to 1/3200. I've tried various AFC settings, all with bird detect, as well as Subject Detection, Motion, and a combination of both, with mixed results. I'm just wondering if anyone has dialed in on a winning combo with Auto Capture, or what your impressions are overall. Thanks.
 
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GinaLola said:
I've been playing around with Auto Capture on both my Z8 and Z9 for the last few days and getting mixed results. I've watched a couple of set-up guides on You Tube (including Steve's), but I'm still not getting the best results with my subjects (birds) being in focus. My ultimate goal would be to use it for shorebird photography so I'm practicing in my backyard for now, using it around my birdbaths and a bluebird nestbox. Some of the birds are sharp and in focus, especially when they're sitting still, but the flight shots, as they arrive and leave the birdbath/box, are pretty blurry. I've used shutter speeds up to 1/3200. I've tried various AFC settings, all with bird detect, as well as Subject Detection, Motion, and a combination of both, with mixed results. I'm just wondering if anyone has dialed in on a winning combo with Auto Capture, or what your impressions are overall. Thanks.
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No comments on this thread makes me wonder how many people have tried the Auto Capture feature. Yes? No?
 
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Tried it once and it worked for me for birds walking on the ground.

Not tried it with in flight shots, I wonder if the a3 settings has an impact for stills and g6 / g7 for video?

If you haven't already I would check out Ricci's videos on YouTube on Auto Capture.

Also worth checking if the lens focus limiter button helps.
 
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Ad Astra said:
Tried it once and it worked for me for birds walking on the ground.

Not tried it with in flight shots, I wonder if the a3 settings has an impact for stills and g6 / g7 for video?

If you haven't already I would check out Ricci's videos on YouTube on Auto Capture.

Also worth checking if the lens focus limiter button helps.
Click to expand...

Good reply. Still so many hoops to jump and very likely ending with disappointment. I'm passing on that, for now.
 
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GinaLola said:
I've been playing around with Auto Capture on both my Z8 and Z9 for the last few days and getting mixed results. I've watched a couple of set-up guides on You Tube (including Steve's), but I'm still not getting the best results with my subjects (birds) being in focus. My ultimate goal would be to use it for shorebird photography so I'm practicing in my backyard for now, using it around my birdbaths and a bluebird nestbox. Some of the birds are sharp and in focus, especially when they're sitting still, but the flight shots, as they arrive and leave the birdbath/box, are pretty blurry. I've used shutter speeds up to 1/3200. I've tried various AFC settings, all with bird detect, as well as Subject Detection, Motion, and a combination of both, with mixed results. I'm just wondering if anyone has dialed in on a winning combo with Auto Capture, or what your impressions are overall. Thanks.
Click to expand...
I have been trying it on bluebird nest boxes with the same results as you. I followed the instructions from Nikon but they seem geared more towards sports than birds.
 
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Hi
If it is a Z8 there is a problem with using auto capture and manual focus. The Z8 will not instigate auto capture if the switch on the lens is moved to "manual". If you leave the lens switch on A/M but change the camera setting to manual focus, autocapture will detect but will use whatever non manual autofocus mode you last used.
I reported this to Nikon and they tried it out on their Z8 and confirmed that is what is happening. They are now looking for a fix.
I hope this helps anyone who has spent hours trying to get auto capture with manual focus to work on a Z8. (I also have a Z9 and autocapture with manual focus works fine on that)
Have a good day
John
 
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Thank you, it was the Z8 n most cases, so good to know. I've used it with my Z9 a couple of times but will experiment more now that I know this. I was able to get this shot at the birdbath.
 

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Auto capture is very intricate and nuanced and takes practice. It also will not have a perfect hit rate - it's a remote system and they can only do so much. I like to use it with the Subject Detection criteria most of the time, seldom anything else. (Although, I don't use it all that often). It can work, it's just not going to be perfect, at least in my experience.
 
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Hi
I have had further feedback from Nikon today. They have done tests on the Z9 and Z8 with identical settings and confirm that the Z8 is not acting as intented. The manual focus in auto capture is not working.
I will update when they come back to me with their plan of action.
John
 
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Used it a couple of times. Very disappointed. Maybe I have not read enough about it. More importantly I do not want to use it as I think it takes the fun away from photography. Would like to work hard and get good pictures 😀
 
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Auto Capture is useful in situations where the only option is to use triggers to activate the shutter and one can pre-focus the camera and use a lens and aperture to maximize depth of field. I have used remote triggers and a complete setup is not cheap. Nice to have this added with the Z9 camera at no additional cost and requiring only an investment of my time.
 
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