htom
New member
Is there any difference in behavior and precision between the Single Point AF area and a 1x1 size custom box (configured for C1 or C2) when subject detection is turned off for the custom AF area? Thanks in advance!
Nikon Z8 Af Area modes Single point vs Custom Area
- Thread starter htom
- Start date
If you would like to post, you'll need to register. Note that if you have a BCG store account, you'll need a new, separate account here (we keep the two sites separate for security purposes).
mathjak107
Active member
the old school single point will not use any of the new features like subject detection , if you turn it off you are left with the old single point
htom
New member
Thanks, that is my understanding as well. However, if I take this a step further, the custom area prioritizes the closest object when acquiring focus (according to Nikon), which is why I’m asking the question.
mathjak107
Active member
i think though that with the 1x1 the subject area would be the same as single point af .. the difference being the custom box with subject detection will prioritize the closest subject .
i don’t see a difference once you turn off subject detection and use the same area box size
i don’t see a difference once you turn off subject detection and use the same area box size
htom
New member
Thanks! It might be because the 1x1 size is too small, and with SD turned off, it essentially restricts the custom area focus algorithm, causing it to behave similarly to single-point AF. As we increase the custom box size, it starts to function more like the older Group AF area found on DSLRs.
mathjak107
Active member
I use the 1x1 box with subject detection and it works well as it does what it should do
It Is like single point af on steroids
It Is like single point af on steroids
htom
New member
Me too. However, there are situations where I need 100% accuracy, so switching to single-point focus gives me peace of mind. My main AF area is the 1x1 custom with Subject Detection enabled, and I use the single point programmed onto Fn1 as AF-area + AF On. Now, I'll adjust my current setup to use RSF (hold) with Subject Detection off, programmed to the joystick center press, and assign 3D to Fn1.
fcotterill
Well-known member
I have not used Single Point on the Z9 for 2+ years.... since Nikon added the custom area modes (FW 2.0, April 2022), with the bonus of the 1*1 option.
It's rare that I need to turn off Subject Detection, so don't need single point. The C1/C2 1*1 option should, if anything, have better Closest Subject Priority; well, at least from what little is known about the innards of the AF modes outside of Nikon's R&D laboratories.
It's rare that I need to turn off Subject Detection, so don't need single point. The C1/C2 1*1 option should, if anything, have better Closest Subject Priority; well, at least from what little is known about the innards of the AF modes outside of Nikon's R&D laboratories.
The biggest differences I see between a custom C1/C2 1x1 area and Single Point relate to Subject Detection but even with SD disabled Single Point really won't move beyond the confines of that area but the larger area modes including C1/C2 can stray a bit beyond the displayed box. They can stray quite a bit beyond the box outlines when SD is enabled but as they support automated area modes where the camera attempts to detect and track a subject they're not as confined as an actual Single Point area.
Like some of the others I keep Single Point as one of my AF Area options for tricky subjects that confuse subject detection as a quick way to disable SD. It's pretty rare with modern Z8/Z9 firmware but there are still some subjects like Pika and Nutria with their large round ears that can fool eye detection and in cases like that I just press a button to switch to Single Point and by doing so implicitly turn off SD in the process.
Like some of the others I keep Single Point as one of my AF Area options for tricky subjects that confuse subject detection as a quick way to disable SD. It's pretty rare with modern Z8/Z9 firmware but there are still some subjects like Pika and Nutria with their large round ears that can fool eye detection and in cases like that I just press a button to switch to Single Point and by doing so implicitly turn off SD in the process.
htom
New member
Thanks for the input Dave, much appreciated! Similarly, I've used the single point as backup for tricky situations when the SD picked something else than the subject eye.
ajrmd
Well-known member
Clearly there is some kind of logic which the camera uses to determine searching beyond the confines of the selected custom area. How it prioritizes this or how far beyond the custom area hasn't been readily characterized. I can say that when I use the custom 1x1, I don't recall the AF searching much beyond it though I haven't tested it in circumstances such as elephants, hippos, etc. where traditional wide areas fail. In my limited experience with a custom 1x1 on subjects such as Sandhill Cranes where the WA tends to want to jump to the body, I haven't witnessed that occurring with the custom 1x1 box.
One aspect of this that has not been mentioned is the emphasis on Nearest Subject Priority for various Wide modes including C1/C2 etc. Wide modes will focus on the nearest target in the focus box - and this may be a leaf, blade of grass, or twig. Single - like Dynamic modes - does not incorporate Nearest Subject so it is a little more likely to pick up the background if focus is missed. Given the small AF box with both approaches, it won't make much difference, but in general I find the Wide modes pretty good at picking up the nearest target in a group or when there are alternatives.
As far as going beyond the borders of the AF box, subject detection prioritizes the subject, subject's head, and then the eye in that order. If the AF box is on the subject with subject detection active, the camera will normally pick up the head and eye of that subject. So you could focus on the chest of a baseball player, and it would pick up the head and eye even if outside the AF box by a small distance. I find this works best when the subject is slightly larger than the AF box, so it would not be suitable for close ups that fill the frame.
As far as going beyond the borders of the AF box, subject detection prioritizes the subject, subject's head, and then the eye in that order. If the AF box is on the subject with subject detection active, the camera will normally pick up the head and eye of that subject. So you could focus on the chest of a baseball player, and it would pick up the head and eye even if outside the AF box by a small distance. I find this works best when the subject is slightly larger than the AF box, so it would not be suitable for close ups that fill the frame.