Nikon Z9 firmware 4.0 Auto Capture

[agrumpyoldsod]

Comments on Auto Capture Workflow: Read both the Firmware update and Auto capture manuals as explained below. Corrections/additions welcomed.

The Nikon AC guide says it AC can be used for stills and videos. The Nikon AC guide says to start AC from the Photo Shooting Menu. It does not limit this step to videos or stills. The AC guide says to start AC by pressing the video record button. I am assuming this applies to both videos and still images. Nowhere in the AC Guide does it state to use the Video Recording Menu to start AC for videos.

How do you determine if Auto Capture will take still images or video images?

After setting up the camera to shoot or record your scene the way you wish - including the Af-Mode and all the settings you wish (file and video type/format/fps etc.....) set Auto-Capture (AC) up in EITHER the Shooting Menu or Video Menu "as appropriate" AND Start it from there.

In EVERY CASE once all your AC settings are done and you have pressed the i-button for the last time you end up commenting the AC run by pressing the Video Record Button. You press this button again to stop the AC run.

 

[fcotterill]

Judged from the relationships between subject size and magnification, 16m with 800mm is the ideal distance for a pheasant sized bird to fill the FX frame, but 60-100mm lens will probably be optimal for small flying passerines.

I just tried Auto Capture with the 800 6.3 and discovered as you point out, the minimum focus with the 800 in auto capture is 16m. I was hoping to use this for birds in flight but that distance makes Auto Capture useless for smaller birds in flight.

 

[Dave Douglass]

I've installed the 4.0 firmware upgrade and I'm keen on setting up some extended shooting setups but, so far, I'm having no luck. I'm using my f mount telephoto (with a mounting adapter) with no luck. It won't let me designate the distances. It will let me set it up and hit "Start" but when something shows up it does not wake up and start shooting. Nikon says it may not work with f mount lenses. Sigh. Has anybody had success with Auto Capture using an f mount lens? Lastly, would a Z mount lens of another brand than Nikon work?

 

[John Navitsky]

distance is a z mount only feature. you should still be able to use it with subject detection, movement

 

[Dave Douglass]

Thanks John, but that didn't work either.

 

[Whiskeyman]

Hi arbitrage,
Thanks very much for your thoughtful reply. Your words are very helpful to me as I work through the buyer's remorse part of this whole process. Thankfully, I actually do really like the R5 and the RF100-500 L lens that I bought to go with it. The combo is doing all that I hoped it would do and I'm very pleased with the results. I know there will always be gear with better specs and more features available and able to do some things better than the gear one recently bought, but that's the nature of the game. And yes, the Z8 would have been ideal for me, but now that I've got the R5 I'm determined to get the very best from it that I can.
Thanks again,
Rudy

There doesn't sound like there's much to be remorseful about there. If it's working out for you, get the most out of the R5 that you can.

 

[Anjin San]

A couple of questions:
Is the Z9 the first camera to get this feature?
How long can it be left alone?
Will it be coming to the Z8?
It is incredibly useful for me, if it is coming to the Z8 it will be an easy purchase.

I think it’s the first. Will work until the power runs out. Probably, unless they decide to use it to differentiate the Z8 a bit but since it and the Z9 ar so similar I’m guessing the feature set will mostly match.

 

[raptor photo]

Opps, file not inserted in above.View attachment 63528

Great shot! It's easy to see how much the auto capture helped in this case. It tracks the bird throughout the frame right? Even if it comes in closer.

 

[Patrick M]

I look ask myself “do I need this, and is it the right tool”? I did want an animal tracker…in fact very much like the one Morten parked his z9 next to in his video.
i‘d certainly not use the z9 for this, so I just think of it as a gimmick. Maybe a pro would … but it’s so dependent on such a variety of factors, that to me it’s simply not a discussion point.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09J1CJ5RD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[joe43]

After setting up the camera to shoot or record your scene the way you wish - including the Af-Mode and all the settings you wish (file and video type/format/fps etc.....) set Auto-Capture (AC) up in EITHER the Shooting Menu or Video Menu "as appropriate" AND Start it from there.

In EVERY CASE once all your AC settings are done and you have pressed the i-button for the last time you end up commenting the AC run by pressing the Video Record Button. You press this button again to stop the AC run.

Thanks, Andy

 

[Dagny]

Question: When enabling auto capture by motion and subject detection, does it AND or OR these conditions?
OK, a geeky question so I will explain to the non-engineers out there. If they are AND'ed, both conditions must be true - motion detected and a subject detected. If they are OR'd, either will cause the camera to take a photo. Clear as mud?

 

[Dave Douglass]

I have successfully downloaded firmware 4.0 into my Z9 and I am anxious to try to capture an osprey doing a power dive in a small pond, start to finish. It's been frequenting this pond lately. It's stocked with koi and goldfish. The pond is about 20 x 30 yards in size. I plan to tripod up about 30-40 yards away at close to water level. I will be using my 200-500 lens with the camera at 1/3200th, f 8.0. What AC settings would you recommend for this plan? I'm thinking of cropping the frame to start seeing the (hopeful) power dive's last 10-15 feet and horizontally framed to increase the chances of getting action of getting it taking off after the hit in an unpredictable direction.

 

[Marion Anstis]

I downloaded 4.0, read the manual and cannot get the Auto Capture to work. Here is what happens: Auto Capture shows up in the Photo Shooting Menu, clicking on that and clicking on the "start" with the "OK" button the camera goes into recording. The problem is I cannot get to the Auto Capture menu to change the parameters.

Any thoughts or solutions?

Tom

Hi Tom, I had the same problem, and I found the solution is you first need to select a Preset then select Start....

 

[Marion Anstis]

I downloaded 4.0, read the manual and cannot get the Auto Capture to work. Here is what happens: Auto Capture shows up in the Photo Shooting Menu, clicking on that and clicking on the "start" with the "OK" button the camera goes into recording. The problem is I cannot get to the Auto Capture menu to change the parameters.

Any thoughts or solutions?

Tom

See my previous reply, which I didn't think had posted!

 

[Garfield]

Question: When enabling auto capture by motion and subject detection, does it AND or OR these conditions?
OK, a geeky question so I will explain to the non-engineers out there. If they are AND'ed, both conditions must be true - motion detected and a subject detected. If they are OR'd, either will cause the camera to take a photo. Clear as mud?

Based on the youtube vids I've watched, the answer is 'AND'.

 

[uday592]

I am trying to use auto capture with Z9 and 600mm tc lens. The distance area ia greyed out and shows 30-60m. Is the distance fixed based on lens focal length.

 

[Larry]

Based on the youtube vids I've watched, the answer is 'AND'.

I made a mistake and the result shows it was definitely AND.

 

[Asafser]

- extended manual for the Auto Capture is available ( obviously it is more detailed than the FW 4 manual …)

https://download.nikonimglib.com/archive5/tNErM00mD0yv06nxlUy05UzPgY92/Z9_TG_AC_(En)01.pdf

- according to the guide, the distance criteria’s near/far limits have a focal lengths multiplier :
Minimum Near limit : x20 the focal length factor -> 800mm lens will be: 800x20=16000mm=16m
Maximum Far limit : 35mm and less lenses -> x150 ; 35mm and above lenses -> x200 factor

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[Garfield]

For my use shooting smaller birds/butterflies etc, the near distances are too long to be practical. I'm also finding subject recognition to be very much hit and miss, so I'll have to focus on movement.

 

[mslmdr]

Check your monitor mode button. Ran into the same issue and found out the Auto Capture settings were only displayed in the viewfinder.

-Greg

Edit... see you already found a solution.

Thanks for the solution! I spent much of yesterday trying to find the problem. Didn't see a troubleshooting solution until reading this post.

 

[ninog]

I've installed the 4.0 firmware upgrade and I'm keen on setting up some extended shooting setups but, so far, I'm having no luck. I'm using my f mount telephoto (with a mounting adapter) with no luck. It won't let me designate the distances. It will let me set it up and hit "Start" but when something shows up it does not wake up and start shooting. Nikon says it may not work with f mount lenses. Sigh. Has anybody had success with Auto Capture using an f mount lens? Lastly, would a Z mount lens of another brand than Nikon work?

70 200 F2.8 VR I F mount lens.. old, but works with Auto Capture on Z9.

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[Skye.prf]

I have a real success with pictures… unable to use the video… the message tells my that it can do it with the actual setup… no idea what! Any clues? Thanks

 

[Skye.prf]

I have a real success with pictures… unable to use the video… the message tells my that it can do it with the actual setup… no idea what! Any clues? Thanks

Just found it... never realized that there are 2 items in the menus... one for picture... one for video!!! :(

 

[fcotterill]

Fyi, sharing this recent video in this primary AutoCapture thread :
by Nikon Europe featuring a passionate and talented wildlife photographer using the remote cameras to capture unique photos of badgers

 

[Marion Anstis]

70 200 F2.8 VR I F mount lens.. old, but works with Auto Capture on Z9.View attachment 64888View attachment 64889

Wonderful captures!!