Nikon Z9 vs Sony A1 - Wildlife Shootout!

[Wes Peterson]

It's weird - I have a terrible time getting subscribers. Most channels get them faster - often WAY faster - than I do, I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong (it's frustrating TBH). Fortunately, my videos tend to get passed around and they get decent views, so it works.

The people that subscribe to your youtube channel know your value and are looking to be informed.... the people who sub to those other youtubers are looking for cheap entertainment.

I have NEVER heard anyone say a bad word about you in the wildlife photography community. The same cant be said for the tubers with more subs.

 

[RichF]

At this point I simply work to strike a balance between over the top and the title I would like to use

How about "Don't WASTE your money on the WRONG Camera - Nikon Z 9 vs Sony A1 wildlife shoot out"?

 

[thelordofthelight]

I'm trying to do more compelling titles for the videos (I makes a huge difference), but I think the problem is so many are so over the top. How many are all caps all the time with crazy subjects they never actually talk about? It's problematic, because I think it's a race to the bottom. However, if the title isn't at least a little compelling, views go in the toilet. I used to be able to do titles like "Understanding Histograms In Photography" and that was enough. If I tried a title like that now, I'd be lucky to break 5000 views in a week. For that same video, I'd have to say something like "STOP BLOWING YOUR EXPOSURE! UNLOCK THIS HIDDEN EXPOSURE HACK!" if I wanted to really pull them in.

I think using some nice catchy title is perfectly fine. In fact it's fun as it really draws people to 'click' a video. I don't think that falls into the 'clickbait' category. Latter is when the title is catchy but completely misleading or is baseless and factually incorrect. Ultimately 'clicks' turn into 'susbcribe' if the content is authentic and objective.

 

[Steve]

How about "Don't WASTE your money on the WRONG Camera - Nikon Z 9 vs Sony A1 wildlife shoot out"?

That's the idea

 

[HotGates]

Nope. Although, as a RAW shooter, Nikon doesn't for me, either

I think we'll see RAW support for pre-capture in both cameras in the MK2 versions for sure. I'd be shocked if we didn't.

Steve Canon has Pre-Capture in RAW.

 

[Steve]

Steve Canon has Pre-Capture in RAW.

Very cool. Now I wish I would have kept 'em

I think it's turning into a must-have level feature, so hopefully everyone will add it soon (RAW of course )

 

[JoelKlein]

@Steve So far Nikon got you the 800pf and you got that Hippo shot…
Your Vids are perfect, you attract the real people who will appreciate your advice. Please don’t change.

As far as getting more subs, I was thinking of an idea that might work. Create another playlist of a new category of videos. Does would be more entertaining oriented while also being very informative. Host a live stream about a topic, a lens, etc, where you say your point in more story telling manner, while chatterers can ask questions.

I vote for the Steve’s signature lens. Z 560mm f/6.3
Talk about it, tell some stories, maybe bring on a guest host, etc.
its entertaining, and informative.

My 2 cents..

 

[Steve]

@Steve So far Nikon got you the 800pf and you got that Hippo shot…
Your Vids are perfect, you attract the real people who will appreciate your advice. Please don’t change.

As far as getting more subs, I was thinking of an idea that might work. Create another playlist of a new category of videos. Does would be more entertaining oriented while also being very informative. Host a live stream about a topic, a lens, etc, where you say your point in more story telling manner, while chatterers can ask questions.

I vote for the Steve’s signature lens. Z 560mm f/6.3
Talk about it, tell some stories, maybe bring on a guest host, etc.
its entertaining, and informative.

My 2 cents..

Limited time makes it tough - although I am entertaining the wide of more short-form videos (reels, ticktoks, YT Shorts). I do like the idea of live streams - I'v done them in the past, maybe it's time to revisit them.

 

[NicholasN]

Can you elaborate on that with settings/buttons/etc? Always looking for good ideas to borrow.

Animal detection is ON

A1 Focus priority for AF/C - I feel it’s more accurate (please note above f6.3 slows down fps due to aperture opening/closing)

A6 (off) AF-ON only (then click to the right and set out of focus to Enabled)

A7 Focus point persistence to AUTO
F2 custom controls (All function buttons BELOW set to AF-area mode + AF-ON)

FN1- 3D

FN2- W-C1 (as a single point)

DISP- Auto-area AF

SUB-selector center - set to Dynamic- area AF(L)

AND THE FOLLOWING…

My primary focus is set to Wide-L

AF-ON- set to AF-ON

FN3- recall shooting functions (hold)- set to what you want, mine is set for the small birds in between branches or for slower action -Shooting mode -Aperture priority. ISO 64-200 (auto iso)Af area mode-wide-S. focus tracking with lock on delayed. Release mode single or slower fps.

Video record button - set to release mode (for quick change of 30/60/120 fps pre/post capture to catch the moments.

 

[NicholasN]

I am also interested. Please post.

Replied in post 159 - it’s just the way I have it set up hope it helps.

 

[Anjin San]

Animal detection is ON….snipped the rest.

Thanks Nicholas…I will see what in there makes sense to change from my current setup…which is BBAF on whatever area mode seems right at the time with 3D on Fn2. Fn1 is RSF hold with 20FPS, 1/3200, wide open for quick reaction to action and Fn3 is Area mode since the AF button is hard to get to easily…but I’m always looking for ways to maximize flexibility with minimized fumbling.

 

[NicholasN]

Thanks Nicholas…I will see what in there makes sense to change from my current setup…which is BBAF on whatever area mode seems right at the time with 3D on Fn2. Fn1 is RSF hold with 20FPS, 1/3200, wide open for quick reaction to action and Fn3 is Area mode since the AF button is hard to get to easily…but I’m always looking for ways to maximize flexibility with minimized fumbling.

It’s all about what’s best for you, it took me a while to get to my current setup continuously changing it but you have to remember when you change it you have to get used to the new setup but not to used to it that you don’t want to change it again - It’s a continuous tweak if you know what I mean.

 

[NorthernFocus]

It’s all about what’s best for you, it took me a while to get to my current setup continuously changing it but you have to remember when you change it you have to get used to the new setup but not to used to it that you don’t want to change it again - It’s a continuous tweak if you know what I mean.

Zackly.

 

[Calson]

Many features in the Z cameras were available years ago with the Olympus mirrorless cameras, including pre-capture in Raw.

What is more of interest is the amount of upgrades being provided through firmware updates from Nikon. I never saw this with my DSLR cameras from Nikon or from Canon where I had to buy the new model to get new features or new functionality.

Nikon has definitely closed the gap in terms of video performance against Canon and Sony. At the pro level it is third party cameras with Canon lenses but at $100,000 to get a camera and a lens rig put together it is now something I will be doing.