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I'm not Steve either and got only the poor neglected z9 so can't play with this feature yet
, But I think for fast action its still faster to keep multiple buttons assigned to individual af modes. in my case I would use the shutter in Auto area, bbaf-on in 3D fn1 in wide-L, fn-2 in single point (without subject detection) and cycle/toggle using the rec video button between Auto, w-c1 , w-c2.I knew I forgot some instances, and the exposure comp is supper important so thanks for highlight it.
I tried it quickly yesterday thinking it might be great for macro photographs and found several limitations. the main one being that the subject has to be absolutely static. There can be no movement in the subject at all, which means a tripod is absolutely required. Also, the Nikon Studio software is required to combine the photos. Unlike other auto-aligning software (photoshop, Helicon), there isn’t an aligning process performed when the images are combined. I could be wrong about that one but I assume that is why it is necessary for the subject to be completely static. After many shots, I could never get a photo that was as sharp as a single shot at f16. Another limitation is the file format created by Nikon Studio. It’s a NEFX file. Although it can presently be read by Lightroom and Photoshop, it doesn’t appear as a 180mp shot. Going to try to combine in PS today to see if it display correctly.
I don’t consider pixel shift to be a gimmick. It’s a useful tool for landscape and architecture photography.
You must use NX Studio to combine the sequential pixel shift files into one image. Lightroom and Photoshop will not do that.
Thanks. You save me a little time today!
… why can’t they put that little light green focus ball and arrow (<o>) thingy in the lower left of the viewfinder? Duh….Nikon makes an $8K manual focus Z lens (58mm NOCT) and this would be a helpful aid for older “F” lenses as well. The DSLRs have it.Issue with shooting 60-100m running / hurdles you only have about 3-4 seconds where athletes are in good range for 70-200. I normally sit next to the finish line, so with 70-200, auto area also subject detects spectators next to the track - metal barriers 2m from track on each side to keep off running area.
Nikon’s Technical Guide to Pixel Shift Shooting on the Z8 notes that the current versions of Adobe Camera Raw (and presumably the Lightroom Develop module) and Capture One will work with .nefx files. So once you have combined the pixel shift shooting set in NX Studio, it sounds like you can edit the resulting .nefx file in ACR/Photoshop and Capture One. I have not tried this yet.
I tried yesterday and found the file information in Lightroom to be incorrect. It also displayed the image in a strange cropped version, at over 100%, which couldnt be changed to normal. I'll give it another shot today. Certainly could be user error.
To clarify, only NX Studio can combine the sequential pixel shift images into the combined image. Once that’s done, any raw image editor can be used with the combined image.
The manual focus implementation on the Zf is amazing, including subject detection. For example, if you’re photographing a person, it put a box on the eye, you have the ability to switch eyes, and the box turn from red to green when you achieve focus. If you zoom in, in zooms immediately to the eye to check focus. I think adding this to the other cameras would be a nice feature and may solve the concern you have.With all the new bells and whistles to further confuse us…
I expect this will be coming in future Z8/Z9 firmware updates.
If I understand the Nikon Technical Guide, you can export the combined image from NX Studio as a .nefx file, a jpeg or a tiff. Any image editor should work with the jpeg or tiff. But Nikon notes that, at least of now, only Adobe and Capture One support the .nefx file format. See page 35 of the Technical Guide.
Yes, there's still value in it. Although cycling can switch AF modes quickly, technically it can't do a handoff (where the camera transfers the AF point it's currently using to the new AF area). It might seem like it can because for many targets it's really quick to catch back on or it goes for the same thing, but in testing I can tell you with confidence that it's not doing a handoff when you cycle.
I think that there may be some confusion. If I understand what you're saying, you're correct, but so is Karen
Well thank the pope - I need that video !
For those on this side of the pond or willing to take on the time difference, Ricci Chera (Ricci talks on Youtube), official trainer for Nikon Uk, presents a live zoom mastering Z8/Z9 AF 3 hour course for 30GBP and ability to ask him questions throughout.
Yeah I am trying this too (putting Animal/Bird on recall hold, which before I had as Subject Detection on/off.) Still not sure if this is better in the field, as you point out it can easily revert by a variety of means, and no doubt I will not notice until it's too late
But I may try it for awhile. On safari I am usually mostly on animal but bird opportunities come up often. When local, or on a birding trip, it is likely I'd just leave it on birds. Sure hope this can be cycled in the future or switched with a single button press. (A future wish is that the DX flashing would be in color, at least, or somehow more noticeable.) 
Yes !I think that there may be some confusion. If I understand what you're saying, you're correct, but so is Karen
You can't handoff from one AF area to another by cycling, but any AF area you pick by using cycling is exactly the same as had you picked that base AF area any other way. So, 3D works like 3D and can handoff to other AF areas no matter how it was first selected - with the push and turn or via cycling.
I think Karen was interpreting what you were saying as you can use cycling to handoff the current AF point to the next AF area in the cycle and it doesn't work that way. (It can sometimes look like it does because the camera is so quick, but it doesn't).
