fcotterill
Well-known member
Focus Persistence holds & transfers the active point of Autofocus - such that it is inherited between AFmodes - so one can switch AF mode without losing the subject. First, this feature automatically detects and focuses on the subject, and hands off the acquired, active focus to a different AF mode.
Its advantage is not only to avoid manually repositioning the cursor, but more importantly it avoids losing focus of moving subjects (critical to capture the proverbial Moment). This technique has come to be called the AF HandOff [Edited Link to Recent Thread]
Basically, leveraging Focus Persistence is a case of 'toggling' between the camera's automatic AF modes almost instantly..... The feature works by enabling inheritance - in a split-second - of the active AF point position despite switching between AFmodes.
It allows switching from an 'automatic' to a 'manual' AF mode.... from the widest expanse of the AF cursor space on a focal subject OR locking on to subject with a tightly delimited mode (eg Wide or Custom Area). Also switching to 3D Tracking or Auto to track a moving subject from a Wide Area mode (only if subject detection is enabled). Long story short, Focus Persistence allows switching AF modes on the subject without losing persistent focus.
This feature helps use improve what Thom Hogan describes as 'focus decision making on demand' with customized Fn buttons.
Nikon's Mark Cruz explains how Focus Persistence works in this video [43:00], although IMHO he doesn't go far enough in covering the full scope of what it enables - particularly in how the instant-inheritance of Focus Persistence maintains precision in switching Custom Area modes with 3D or AutoAF. Sports and Wildlife Photographers can use the Hand Off from a tighter/restricted Group AF mode (including C1 or C2) out to full screen (3D or AutoAF)
Nikon first released Focus Persistence over 2 years ago. This was somewhat under the radar due to the pandemic co-timing and the new camera being a DSLR (not a MILC). Focus Persistence was just one of the less conspicuous new features in the Flagship D6, and migrated into the Z9.
It's possible many a D6 owner forgets this feature exists, after setting a13 to Auto. Focus Persistence just works, and very well IME. Ironically, most of the youtube 'reviewers' and forum threads seem to have been more obsessed as to whether the D6 was really a D5s. So few, if any, appear to have tested the camera and highlighted the usefulness of Focus Persistence, among its other significant improvements Nikon released in the D6.
The D6 AF system is an utterly different entity, compared to the D5 AF. I have found it's taken me a few months of experience to full appreciate the differences, and what the feature empowers (and the Nikon Manual is more than vague). Focus Persistence was one of the minor features - together with 7 new Custom settings - introduced to optimize and leverage the advanced AF engine in the D6 - along with eye and face recognition, much improved 3D Tracking, and of course the D6 launched Nikon's Custom Area modes (Z9 precursor!) and much more under the hood [the appended table gives some insight in D6 Sports AF Tips/Guide ].
Nikon seems to have cloned the core of the algorithm underlying this feature into the Z9 (Custom : a7). It also works by fixing the location of the AF cursor even if focus modes are switched. Hence, as with the D6, the primary aim is to help sports photographers grab firm focus on a challenging subject (typically moving fast/appearing suddenly); then once locked on, the Z9's AF tracks the subject thereafter using AutoAF or 3D Tracking. Thom Hogan reported some preliminary findings using Focus Persistence, in a December 2021 Blogpost: photographing African wildlife. And we discussed the feature in a Z9 thread here, back in January.
IME as with the D6, I find a big advantage with the Z9 is that setting a7=Auto does indeed underpin almost instant switching between focus modes: eg. from 3D Tracking (or AutoAF) to a smaller focus area if the camera-driven AF is struggling (eg with the proverbial bird in the bush) OR going the opposite way by transferring the focus from a narrow Custom Area AF to 3D. So this feature is a boon for birds and mammals in scrub, or moving through trees etc. Thus, with my preferred AF modes mapped to Fn buttons (as AFMode+AFOn).... and the Z9 in BBAF, Focus Persistence has worked seamlessly in all the FW versions - switching to and fro between AF Modes.
Its advantage is not only to avoid manually repositioning the cursor, but more importantly it avoids losing focus of moving subjects (critical to capture the proverbial Moment). This technique has come to be called the AF HandOff [Edited Link to Recent Thread]
Basically, leveraging Focus Persistence is a case of 'toggling' between the camera's automatic AF modes almost instantly..... The feature works by enabling inheritance - in a split-second - of the active AF point position despite switching between AFmodes.
It allows switching from an 'automatic' to a 'manual' AF mode.... from the widest expanse of the AF cursor space on a focal subject OR locking on to subject with a tightly delimited mode (eg Wide or Custom Area). Also switching to 3D Tracking or Auto to track a moving subject from a Wide Area mode (only if subject detection is enabled). Long story short, Focus Persistence allows switching AF modes on the subject without losing persistent focus.
This feature helps use improve what Thom Hogan describes as 'focus decision making on demand' with customized Fn buttons.
Nikon's Mark Cruz explains how Focus Persistence works in this video [43:00], although IMHO he doesn't go far enough in covering the full scope of what it enables - particularly in how the instant-inheritance of Focus Persistence maintains precision in switching Custom Area modes with 3D or AutoAF. Sports and Wildlife Photographers can use the Hand Off from a tighter/restricted Group AF mode (including C1 or C2) out to full screen (3D or AutoAF)
Nikon first released Focus Persistence over 2 years ago. This was somewhat under the radar due to the pandemic co-timing and the new camera being a DSLR (not a MILC). Focus Persistence was just one of the less conspicuous new features in the Flagship D6, and migrated into the Z9.
It's possible many a D6 owner forgets this feature exists, after setting a13 to Auto. Focus Persistence just works, and very well IME. Ironically, most of the youtube 'reviewers' and forum threads seem to have been more obsessed as to whether the D6 was really a D5s. So few, if any, appear to have tested the camera and highlighted the usefulness of Focus Persistence, among its other significant improvements Nikon released in the D6.
The D6 AF system is an utterly different entity, compared to the D5 AF. I have found it's taken me a few months of experience to full appreciate the differences, and what the feature empowers (and the Nikon Manual is more than vague). Focus Persistence was one of the minor features - together with 7 new Custom settings - introduced to optimize and leverage the advanced AF engine in the D6 - along with eye and face recognition, much improved 3D Tracking, and of course the D6 launched Nikon's Custom Area modes (Z9 precursor!) and much more under the hood [the appended table gives some insight in D6 Sports AF Tips/Guide ].
Nikon seems to have cloned the core of the algorithm underlying this feature into the Z9 (Custom : a7). It also works by fixing the location of the AF cursor even if focus modes are switched. Hence, as with the D6, the primary aim is to help sports photographers grab firm focus on a challenging subject (typically moving fast/appearing suddenly); then once locked on, the Z9's AF tracks the subject thereafter using AutoAF or 3D Tracking. Thom Hogan reported some preliminary findings using Focus Persistence, in a December 2021 Blogpost: photographing African wildlife. And we discussed the feature in a Z9 thread here, back in January.
IME as with the D6, I find a big advantage with the Z9 is that setting a7=Auto does indeed underpin almost instant switching between focus modes: eg. from 3D Tracking (or AutoAF) to a smaller focus area if the camera-driven AF is struggling (eg with the proverbial bird in the bush) OR going the opposite way by transferring the focus from a narrow Custom Area AF to 3D. So this feature is a boon for birds and mammals in scrub, or moving through trees etc. Thus, with my preferred AF modes mapped to Fn buttons (as AFMode+AFOn).... and the Z9 in BBAF, Focus Persistence has worked seamlessly in all the FW versions - switching to and fro between AF Modes.
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