I wish they would but it seems like staggered feature releases are the rule. The problem is, it's an ergonomic hassle with one camera set a particular way and the other set a different way due to a different set of options.
Nikon Z8 Firmware 2.0 Released
- Thread starter MartyD
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Rich and others,
As positive as it might be for us users to have both systems in sync might be, to the extent that the differences in the two bodies allow, I would be very surprised if that ever happens. I don't know for a fact that there are separate teams working on the various camera models, but I'd be VERY surprised if there weren't. In fact there may very likely be a team devoted purely to improving/evolving the core Subject Detection algorithms and training that will be shared among models at all levels.
To synchronize releases would likely either delay the release of one team's progress or put undue pressure to make a deadline on another team...not good, in either case. That said, and I said this previously, not sure if here, I fully expect the Z9 and Z8 to share a common feature set to the extent that the hardware and form factor (buttons, etc.) allows. Were Nikon going to cripple the Z8 in some software respects with regards to the Z9, I believe they would have done that from the start...and they clearly did not.
The idea of worrying about cannibalizing your own product line is a largely a short-sighted approach...if you don't cannibalize it, your competitors certainly will...at every opportunity.
Cheers!
Probably not to the point where they'll release both at or about the same time. But I do think there will be more commonalities than differences. The Cycle AF is a nifty new feature most everyone have embraced on the Z8 and my Z9 will be programmed the same but for now it's missing this feature on the Z9. I do expect them to add it to the Z9 (along with Pixel Shift) but it looks like we'll have to ride thru these ergonomic differences for at least awhile longer....Fortunately the Z8/Z9 differences appear to be narrowing..
ajrmd
Well-known member
Yes, I migrated away from BBAF for a variety of reasons, namely to facilitate and increase in the number of AF modes available for handoff, though it does still offer some utility. The new FW update has improved the AF so that I'm switching modes much less and BBAF becomes a possibility again.I am finding the same, new fw releases (especially big ones like this) mean re-thinking button assignments.
For the past two decades I have been a BBAF believer; however, last year someone on this forum introduced me to a new way of shooting (or maybe an old way with a new twist) and that was using the shutter button to engage AF and take the shot but utilizing the back button for 3D handoff (what I'm calling BB3D). This has yielded a higher "keeper" rate for my style of shooting as I had not realized how "delayed" I could be in pressing BBAF to wake up AF, but my index finger is much quicker at being at the ready with half shutter presses. Anyway, Steve recommended Cycle AF to the the Video button (which I had not used yet (for custom control) but realized during still photography this button isn't used at all so it makes sense to take advantage of it); however, right now my center joystick (sub-selector) is set for Recall Shooting Function (RSF) Subject Detect (SD) On/Off toggle, but now with Cycle AF and how I am using BB3D it frees up my thumb a bit more and since I'm using the joystick for AF box position anyway I think it makes sense that I switch the behavior of center joystick with video button and allow my center joystick to be my cycle AF and the video button will now be my SD on/off toggle.
The beauty of these custom controls is we can each setup our cameras to meet our individual needs. At the end of the day it's about what is most intuitive for us, but what can work against us is building muscle memory for certain layouts and when a fw update comes and you decide to change your layout now you have to re-train that muscle memory.
Yes, I think this is one of the most highly sought after updates going through this thread.
I think we're all in the same boat
I agree, that is what impressed me with Nikon when I got my Z6, even after the Z6 II was released Nikon continued to do fw updates for the older Z6 which I greatly appreciated, in a world where many electronics companies are trying to force users to buy new equipment, it's refreshing that Nikon is still supporting older products. Hopefully this future proofs the Z8 for quite some time...
of course, but within the physical limits (difference) it would be nice to have the same set of FW
Nikon might say, like adobe did when they introduced the subscription model, that it would take too much effort to introduce multiple firmware updates at the same time. They like to vet each before moving on.
agree
John Navitsky
Well-known member
and it probably eases the burden on their support staff. i'm sure every time they release a new fw they get X number of fw related calls into tech support
Thank you Nikon for releasing it in February, not in June
You're right. Any communication has metrics for the impact on support staff. January is probably out because of new owners learning to use cameras they got for Christmas. Just look at the number of posts here related to the firmware update, installation issues, questions about using particular functions, etc.
Anjin San
Well-known member
My suggestion is for an option to make them sticky like user modes on other models…or leave them as not sticky as the banks currently operate. Then all of us can set them up the way we want.
Anjin San
Well-known member
I agree…style is everything when watching videos or reading guides or whatever. Steve's at the top of my list but Thom and Hudson Henry are not far behind…they emphasize different things and write and speak with a different voice and nothing wrong with that IMO. Granger and Fro turn me off completely…but I know others who race about them…so it's all in what voice one likes better.
Anjin San
Well-known member
Depends on whether they have 2 FW teams or not…if so then probably won't see them synced…if only 1 then we might see them but there's something to be said for getting faster overall updates if they don't try to sync the changes to both bodies.
Anjin San
Well-known member
I've actually reenabled Af on the shutter button to allow handoff from whatever is selected there to 3D and AF ON on the AF on button using Hudson Henry's (and others) hybrid technique. Now I just need to get out and see if I like it…but with the new cycle AF areas on the Video button and limiting the choices I can use Auto Area or Wide S/L to grab the subject and then track in 3D with the rear button. I find tracking in 3D much simpler on me than trying to move the AF box around.
Added….but…based on Steve’s note on auto Area working as well as 3D but not defaulting to a small area if it loses subject I’m going to shift AF On to Auto Area and AF On and cycle other options for rea on the shutter. I’m not sure I won’t confuse myself though…so who knows. And setup this way I don’t know what I will do with Fn1, Fn2 will remain bracketing burst for landscapes I think.
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fpoet
New member
I used to BBAF on the D850, however now on the Z8, especially with one-button AF area cycling, I find it much more useful to assign specific AF modes to the back AF-ON and shutter (with AF activated) buttons, aiming for minimal finger movement. For now, my main/preferred AF modes are Wide L, Wide C1 (larger) and 3D. So thumb on AF-ON button for Wide L and index on shutter button for Wide C1 or 3D cycled with Fn2. Covers most situations. Pretty simple and fast.
I'm confused by people talking about using both the back button and the shutter button. Wouldn't assigning the shutter button override your back button choice everytime you go to take a shot and make the back button pointless?
fpoet
New member
If for example you have an AF area mode + AF-ON programmed to the back button, pressing it will activate the AF area mode chosen AND autofocus. If you keep your thumb on it when you press the shutter button, the shutter button only acts as a release.
So it's basically the opposite, it's the AF area mode active on the shutter that is overriden.
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ajrmd
Well-known member
Well, it depends on how you configure your shutter button. Go to CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU (the pencil) > a Focus > a6 AF activation and you'll have two choices,
Shutter/AF-ON (default) or AF-ON only. If you leave it on the first choice (default), then the shutter button acts as to initiate AF (with 1/2 press) along with activating the shutter (with a full press). The AF-On button on the back is, by default active as well. One can go into CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU > f Controls > f2 Custom controls (shooting) and assign the AF-On button to initiate AF +- a unique AF mode (3D, AA, etc.) My understanding is that the AF-On button overrides the shutter button in the camera's logic, or in other words if one initiates AF with a 1/2 press of the shutter button with the AF enabled and then presses the AF-On button that the camera switches the AF mode to that assigned to the AF-On button. It was one way to provide AF "handoff" with a base AF mode assigned to the shutter button and then a secondary AF mode to the AF-On.
If one initiates AF with the AF-on button (with an assigned AF mode) and holds it while pressing the shutter button 1/2 way (with the shutter configured Shutter/AF-ON), the AF-on button's AF mode remains in use. At least, that's how it works on my camera and I used to have it configured this way so that I could take advantage of having multiple AF modes and effect AF "handoff" without using up all of my assigned buttons.
With the new FW improvements, the need to handoff has lessened and one can decide for themselves how they prefer to initiate and maintain AF. There are some advantages/disadvantages to BBAF and it really depends on the user. Some users prefer the control that BBAF provides and it allows one to achieve AF at a certain point, and then leave it there while taking multiple shots (panoramas, static subject, etc.). Other users, myself included seem to go back and forth depending on the circumstances.
With the way that Steve suggests configuring the AF, namely with AA assigned to the Fn-1 button, using the AF-On to the default AF mode (AF-On), and then assigning the AF Cycle to the record button, it allows the user to assign a base AF to the system which would be activated by the AF-On (say Wide S, for example) and then handoff to AA when the Fn-1 was pressed. Alternatively, if one wanted just AA, the user could toggle the base AF mode to AA and then pressing the AF-On would result in AA mode AF without the need for handoff. Hopefully, some of this makes sense?
Bennvdm
Active member
I use BBAF and fire short bursts at 20fps when runner starts jumping to clear each hurdle etc. With shutter button af, it will be difficult to fire short bursts and and only release shutter to half way to keep af active with half press. With BBAF you keep AF engaged the whole time.
I do not think I have the dexterity to only release to half press from full press. If subject distance stays the same, it will still track if in focus when released fully and the re-engage with half press, but most of the time in my shooting cases the distance will differ so tracking might need to be re-acquired.
Lots of comments nowadays that bbaf no longer needed with mirrorless, but how do you get past the above,entioned issue or is re-acquisition fast enough to not notice.
I do not think I have the dexterity to only release to half press from full press. If subject distance stays the same, it will still track if in focus when released fully and the re-engage with half press, but most of the time in my shooting cases the distance will differ so tracking might need to be re-acquired.
Lots of comments nowadays that bbaf no longer needed with mirrorless, but how do you get past the above,entioned issue or is re-acquisition fast enough to not notice.
fpoet
New member
Yes, actually, any button (Fn1, Fn2, etc.) on which you program an AF area mode will override whatever AF area is active on the shutter button.
If you program only an AF Area (without AF-ON) on the button, pressing it activates the AF Area, then half-pressing the shutter activates AF.
If you program an AF Area with AF-ON on the button, pressing it activates both the AF Area and AF; then the shutter only acts to release.
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And to expound on this a bit more....none of the Override modes (be it AF Area Mode or AF Area Mode + AF On) can be used to initiate focus handoff. Focus handoff must start form the base AF mode (ie, the mode selected by the Focus mode/Area Mode button on the left side of the camera). Any button programed for "AF ON" invokes the base camera AF mode and can be used to initiate focus handoff to any of the override modes.
fcotterill
Well-known member
Here is the definitive discussion of Hybrid Focus method, whether BBAF or Shutter AF
bcgforums.com
Nikon Z9/8 Hybrid Handover Question
I want to confirm this. (in Ver. 3.10) BBF will ONLY override/hand over from the shutter button. When pressing any FN buttons set to a different AF Area mode or AF Area mode + AF ON, Pressing BBF or half-press shutter will NOT override the FN button. In other words, the way to hand it over is...
bcgforums.com
thelordofthelight
Well-known member
Another minor FW update expected
nikonrumors.com
New minor Nikon Z8 firmware update coming soon - Nikon Rumors
I was told that Nikon will release a new minor Nikon Z8 firmware update soon (version 2.01?) with an improved high ISO performance and some other minor fixes for the latest version 2.0. Related posts: Major Nikon Z8 firmware update version 2.00 released
nikonrumors.com
Saw that too, odd for it to come out so quick when we waited so long for 2.0, I wonder if 2.0 introduced some issues with high ISO that this is correcting... either way good that Nikon addressing these. My Z8 is in right now for the eyelet replacement (I waited until a lull in activity which is right now) hopefully I'll get it back later this week.Another minor FW update expected
New minor Nikon Z8 firmware update coming soon - Nikon Rumors
I was told that Nikon will release a new minor Nikon Z8 firmware update soon (version 2.01?) with an improved high ISO performance and some other minor fixes for the latest version 2.0. Related posts: Major Nikon Z8 firmware update version 2.00 released
How can they possibly improve ISO? Better Noise Reduction?! In RAW?
I’m curious
I’m curious