Nikon D5 and D6 users: Like for BIF?

[padrepaul]

For the most part D850 BIF settings are the same with a D5/D6. The D5 does introduce some unusually shaped and handy Group AF Areas useful for things like panning with horizontally flying birds. The D6 takes that a step further and allows you to customize two Group AF Areas which can also be very handy for certain BIF situations. Here's a look at the customizable Group Areas supported by the D


That's taken from this Nikon page which has more discussion on D5/D6 AF settings: https://nps.nikonimaging.com/technical_solutions/d6_tips/af-area_mode/index.htm#auto-area_af

Other than the new Group Areas I used the same AF settings with my D850 and D5.

Thank you, I think I'll probably set it up for 5x5 for birds in flght and single point for perched birds and leave those locked in to toggle back and forth.

 

[fcotterill]

Further to expert advice above from honourable members....

I second the Nikon Technical Guide for the sports pro audience, and Nikon published a similar manual for the D5/D500 some years ago.

Thanks to shared advice on this forum, and others, for most conditions for wildlife with D5 (including birds when hiking) I assign primary AF mode to AFON, usually Group AF or Dynamic ie BBAF; Single+AFOn (Fn1), AEHold (Pv), d9 (Center Focus-Tracking button), and Lens_AF (to Group HL) on each of my telephotos. (Lens_Fn is either Group or Auto mode on D850).

With all these options, this mode of setup Lens-Fn is uey another unique feature of the D6 (also Triumvirate of D5, D500, D850) helps quickly grab focus on moving subjects that appear unexpectedly.

Last but not least, Fn2 is set to Recall-Shooting settings on my D5 to help capture unexpected action :- 1/3000, Spot-metering, AutoISO, AF enabled (to kick in the current BBAF setting). This option works well if a subject such as a bird sitting for its portrait takes off suddenly, and you have optimized exposure in full Manual ISO etc! And often African mammals such as duiker, kudu and impala will stand locked tight staring ears forward at a suspected predator and then suddenly leap....

Although opinions vary, I has paid off to experiment and setup the shooting banks to switch between sets of settings - thread about these here and also check out Brad Hill's recent blog post on the improved Recall Shooting Functions in the D6.

 

[Steve]

Thanks again Steve, question for you and any other D850 users do you like to move to the D850 for when light is better and photographing smaller perched birds like warblers, or tend to shoot with the D6 all day? I was used to the 7D II and 800 for years and it worked fine and I still had plenty of detail, just not sure if less megapixels is an issue as with warblers even at 800mm there is some minor cropping, but not much, again more like 20% perhaps at most as the bird needs breathing room and you want to see the environment around the bird too itself.

Yes, I do. When I have good light and don't really need the high frame rate, I usually grab the D850. My last trip to Africa I used the D850 almost exclusively and the D5 (at the time) only came out in low light or when I needed a second body. However, in places like Costa Rica it's the opposite. So, it really depends on the situation and which I think will work better - there's never a single, perfect solution.

 

[padrepaul]

Yes, I do. When I have good light and don't really need the high frame rate, I usually grab the D850. My last trip to Africa I used the D850 almost exclusively and the D5 (at the time) only came out in low light or when I needed a second body. However, in places like Costa Rica it's the opposite. So, it really depends on the situation and which I think will work better - there's never a single, perfect solution.

Hi Steve, thanks so much for your help and to the others who replied.

As I said my dillema is simply going with what I have, the D850 with grip and D500 as a backup for wildlife, or getting the D6 to replace that D500 knowing the Z9 is coming out. There is so much hype around that. I do know however I will not be buying any Z glass at all, so using an adaptor for my lenses. So if the 800 5.6 long lens would work flawlessly I'd get that; if however there were any issues at all that would be a problem. It's a tough call, but I know I'd certainly lose money. Decisions, decisions.

 

[DRwyoming]

Hi Steve, thanks so much for your help and to the others who replied.

As I said my dillema is simply going with what I have, the D850 with grip and D500 as a backup for wildlife, or getting the D6 to replace that D500 knowing the Z9 is coming out. There is so much hype around that. I do know however I will not be buying any Z glass at all, so using an adaptor for my lenses. So if the 800 5.6 long lens would work flawlessly I'd get that; if however there were any issues at all that would be a problem. It's a tough call, but I know I'd certainly lose money. Decisions, decisions.

Seems to me having the 800mm f/5.6 makes the choice even easier and leans the decision towards getting a D6. No doubt the lens delivers full performance with the D6 now and into the future. When the Z9 becomes available to the masses you could rent one and if it does all you need then upgrade. If the Z9 + 800mm performance falls short of your expectations you can continue to use it with what's arguably the best low light/action DSLR ever produced.

 

[padrepaul]

Seems to me having the 800mm f/5.6 makes the choice even easier and leans the decision towards getting a D6. No doubt the lens delivers full performance with the D6 now and into the future. When the Z9 becomes available to the masses you could rent one and if it does all you need then upgrade. If the Z9 + 800mm performance falls short of your expectations you can continue to use it with what's arguably the best low light/action DSLR ever produced.

Yes, I'm so deeply torn here - as I said what I know for sure is I'll be getting no Z glass at all in the future for as far as I can see as I love my F glass. I'll also be using my D850 for years because it is awesome with those big files. For me it comes down to not wanting regret when the Z9 is announced and it's a birder's dream with animal or bird eye tracking, plus the 40MP. So actually I'm leaning a little toward waiting (but that could change). I'll be doing a big Yellowstone trip and will have the 850 on my landscape lenses, and the 500 on my 800mm lens. It can surely handle moose, bear, and birds in flight well. My thought process was whether or not to trade in the D500 or sell it and the FX glass, get the D6 body, and then possibly sell that once the Z9 is out. But that would also cost me $1000. I do know that if the Z9 isn't avaialble by December when light is lousier that I'd like to have it for owl photography. So it's a lot to process. I have good gear and glass, just do not regret for being too impatient.

 

[Charles Loy]

Your comment: Yellowstone trip and will have the 850 on my landscape lenses, and the 500 on my 800mm lens.

Gee-whiz - I'd have a heck of a time keeping a flying bird within the viewfinder with such a tight field of view.

 

[padrepaul]

Your comment: Yellowstone trip and will have the 850 on my landscape lenses, and the 500 on my 800mm lens.

Gee-whiz - I'd have a heck of a time keeping a flying bird within the viewfinder with such a tight field of view.

Yep, it is a touch tight, which is why I'll move to the Z9. Gotten a lot of advice on the D6 too but I'm a little concerned about getting it, having it for a few months and then trading it in at a hit just to get the Z9 when the D500 is a dandy wildlife camera. Lots to think about.

 

[DRwyoming]

I do know that if the Z9 isn't avaialble by December when light is lousier that I'd like to have it for owl photography.

I doubt anyone other than NPS shooters will have a Z9 in their hands by December. I'd love to be wrong about that but I know an awful lot of folks that got on pre-order lists as soon as the camera was announced but even they don't expect to have one in their hands until 2022.