Nikon Z system AF "discovery" (Expeed 7 based cameras)

[JanH]

Please note that I put "discovery" between quotation marks. It is actually the recognition of my own slowness - but I thought I would share it anyhow and also ask for your feedback.

I generally set my Z8 up according to Steve's recommendations. When FW 2 came out that meant cycling through AF modes with the video button - which I love. I also set up an AF mode on Fn2 for quick access. If I recall correctly Steve recommended (at least then) AF full frame for the purpose of hybrid hand off. I have sometimes also used Fn2 for a passive single point to quickly focus and recompose or to set an approximate distance when the AF/subject recognition system struggles with the scene.

Setting up my new Z50II (for travel & backup) as much possible as my Z8, I programmed Fn2 for Full Frame AF mode and cycle through Wide Large, Custom 1 as single point with subject detection, 3D, and Full frame using the video button.

The Z50II has fewer programmable buttons than the Z8 and so I experimented a bit with different settings.

It was only now - about a year since FW2 - that I realized that you also can cycle through your AF settings with the video button while having the AF engaged with BBF. In other words, in two quick clicks I can move from Wide Large to 3D and to Full Frame AF in three clicks while the camera keeps the subject locked in these different AF modes. You should even be able to switch between just two AF modes with the video button by further limiting AF modes.

At this point my assumption is that I have just been slow recognizing what others have known for a long time, and that Nikon has engineered the Z8 even better than I thought. I am also thinking I may use Fn2 for some other function than an AF mode on the Z50II and perhaps even on my Z8.

At the same time I am a bit puzzled that some still seem to recommend programming another button (Fn2 or the display button) for hybrid AF hand off next to cycling through AF modes. Am I missing something? Isn't it just as quick to cycle through a few AF modes with the video button? Or does hybrid AF through Fn2 still give an advantage?

Any insights you have will be appreciated. Jan

 

[Cameron T]

As discussed in various topics, cycling doesn't actual guarantee the focus point will stay the same. The hand-off does.

 

[DRwyoming]

Please note that I put "discovery" between quotation marks. It is actually the recognition of my own slowness - but I thought I would share it anyhow and also ask for your feedback.

I generally set my Z8 up according to Steve's recommendations. When FW 2 came out that meant cycling through AF modes with the video button - which I love. I also set up an AF mode on Fn2 for quick access. If I recall correctly Steve recommended (at least then) AF full frame for the purpose of hybrid hand off. I have sometimes also used Fn2 for a passive single point to quickly focus and recompose or to set an approximate distance when the AF/subject recognition system struggles with the scene.

Setting up my new Z50II (for travel & backup) as much possible as my Z8, I programmed Fn2 for Full Frame AF mode and cycle through Wide Large, Custom 1 as single point with subject detection, 3D, and Full frame using the video button.

The Z50II has fewer programmable buttons than the Z8 and so I experimented a bit with different settings.

It was only now - about a year since FW2 - that I realized that you also can cycle through your AF settings with the video button while having the AF engaged with BBF. In other words, in two quick clicks I can move from Wide Large to 3D and to Full Frame AF in three clicks while the camera keeps the subject locked in these different AF modes. You should even be able to switch between just two AF modes with the video button by further limiting AF modes.

At this point my assumption is that I have just been slow recognizing what others have known for a long time, and that Nikon has engineered the Z8 even better than I thought. I am also thinking I may use Fn2 for some other function than an AF mode on the Z50II and perhaps even on my Z8.

At the same time I am a bit puzzled that some still seem to recommend programming another button (Fn2 or the display button) for hybrid AF hand off next to cycling through AF modes. Am I missing something? Isn't it just as quick to cycle through a few AF modes with the video button? Or does hybrid AF through Fn2 still give an advantage?

Any insights you have will be appreciated. Jan

Some thoughts:

- I also use the video button to cycle through AF Area modes and find that very convenient.

- There's a difference between a seamless handover that transfers state information from one AF Area mode to another and just selecting a new AF Area mode and having the camera start from scratch in terms of AF tracking and if enabled, subject and eye detection. There are lot's of ways to set up the camera to select a new AF Area mode but not all of those methods support seamless handover or IOW, transfer of current tracking and SD state to the new AF Area mode. In many cases we might not even notice the difference if the new mode is very quick to pick up and track the subject including SD if enabled. But in tricky AF cases where there's potential foreground or background clutter or other subjects with their own eyes to detect having true seamless handover with full state transfer generally works better.

 

[JanH]

As discussed in various topics, cycling doesn't actual guarantee the focus point will stay the same. The hand-off does.

Thanks for your feedback. I haven't had much time to be on the forum lately, so I am sorry if this post is redundant . For me it was a new realization only last week.

To go back to your response with a question: the focus point can change as you cycle even while AF is engaged through BBF? I haven't seen it in my experiments, but I haven't been out taking photos in nature yet due to the weather.

 

[JanH]

Some thoughts:

- I also use the video button to cycle through AF Area modes and find that very convenient.

- There's a difference between a seamless handover that transfers state information from one AF Area mode to another and just selecting a new AF Area mode and having the camera start from scratch in terms of AF tracking and if enabled, subject and eye detection. There are lot's of ways to set up the camera to select a new AF Area mode but not all of those methods support seamless handover or IOW, transfer of current tracking and SD state to the new AF Area mode. In many cases we might not even notice the difference if the new mode is very quick to pick up and track the subject including SD if enabled. But in tricky AF cases where there's potential foreground or background clutter or other subjects with their own eyes to detect having true seamless handover with full state transfer generally works better.

Thank you - that is very helpful and also jives with Cameron's feedback. I understand that the camera does actually stop and re-engage between modes when cycling. I will continue to reserve Fn2 for hand off.

 

[ButlerKid]

Master Nikon AF Handoffs on Z8, Z9, and Z6iii for Jaw-Dropping Action Shots! - Backcountry Gallery

In this video, we’re diving deep into AF Handoffs with the Nikon Z8, Z9, and Z6iii—and this concept will likely apply to future Nikon mirrorless models too. There’s a ton of confusion out there between normal AF overrides and AF overrides that include a handoff and this video will clear the...

backcountrygallery.com

Here is the thread on Hand Offs.....and quite a few comments by Steve

Master Nikon AF Handoffs on Z8, Z9, and Z6iii

In this video, we’re diving deep into AF Handoffs with the Nikon Z8, Z9, and Z6iii—and this concept will likely apply to future Nikon mirrorless models too. There's a ton of confusion out there between normal AF overrides and AF overrides that include a handoff and this video will clear the...

bcgforums.com

 

[JanH]

Thanks so much Karen. I will catch up. I am very grateful to Steve for his very helpful instructions in videos etc.

Steve's video also answered my final question: can you also return the hand-off after cycling to another AF mode while AF locked through Fn2, for instance from Wide-Large to AF to 3D.

Steve video says no, a hand-off is a one-time affair!

This explains to me while some people still advocate having more hand off options with dedicated programmable buttons (I will stick with one: Auto-AF on Fn2 for wildlife per Steve - and with 3D for street because that mode can be re-engaded more selectively if the AF lock is lost somehow).

Thanks again, Jan

 

[Cameron T]

Thanks for your feedback. I haven't had much time to be on the forum lately, so I am sorry if this post is redundant . For me it was a new realization only last week.

To go back to your response with a question: the focus point can change as you cycle even while AF is engaged through BBF? I haven't seen it in my experiments, but I haven't been out taking photos in nature yet due to the weather.

Yes. It's not highly likely unless you have multiple subjects in the af modes, or if a mode loses subject detection, etc, but the hand off guarantees it'll stick. Anything else comes with other possibilities. You're probably testing this in easy conditions. Doing it in harder conditions would show the failure points