What’s Your Go-to focus mode for nonBIF subjects (Z8,Z9)

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You’re asking about autofocus area modes. Generally speaking, I use wide large or auto area, with handoff to 3D. Occasionally I use wide small or a custom area, if needed. For perched birds in dense vegetation, I may use single point. My choices depend on the birds involved, their behavior while I’m observing them, my distance to them, and atmospheric conditions of the day.

Addendum: Just realized the question was about non BIF. In that case, probably single point.
 
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It kinda depends on what I’m shooting. For general purpose I’ll use single point often (I am always in AF-C with BBAF). Sometimes I’ll use the smaller wide area if the situation suits. For portraits I’m always in wide area with people detection or auto area with people detection. Macro I’m in manual focus.

If it’s wildlife I usually start with wide area small or wide depending on how big the subject is in the viewfinder. Often I’ll switch to auto area if the subject is moving a lot. With subject detection although I’m getting braver about turning that off.
 
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Steve said:
it depends. If Subject Detection is doing a good job, then 3D, otherwise single point.
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I spent several hours shooting yesterday and genreally speaking I was very happy with 3d With subject detection on. Single point was my go to if 3d acts up but didn’t need it yesterday.
 
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This is interesting to see the responses. While I switch around, because birds move so quickly I am often shooting in wide area- small mode with bird tracking regardless of whether stationary or bif. I do at times move to single point if I’m having trouble with focus or if bird is small and stationary for a bit.
 
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I came across this youtube video and have started to use his approach to toggle between bird detect with C1 and animal detect with 3D. It seems to work quite well.


With my DSLR cameras I had the camera set for AF-C in horizontal mode and AF-S in vertical mode which made it easy to photograph a bird on a branch and quickly switch when the bird too off in flight.
 
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For static or slow moving subjects, I usually start with Wide Area Small with SD on. I have a button set to toggle 3D on/off. If there is clutter or foreground elements that are being grabbed, I use custom area with the box set at 1X1. This lets me leave SD active and I can still hand off to 3D. If the subject moves, I move or the boat rocks, I have a button set to cycle to a larger AF Area Mode with SD still on. When I get back on the target, I can hand off to 3D. Rarely use dynamic area modes.
 
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