Z6/7 AF Optimization

[ccirelli]

I read in Steve's book Secrets to Nikon Autofocus System - Mirrorless Edition, that turning OFF Apply Settings To Live View saves some processing power, and actually speeds up AF Continuous performance. I haven't fully tested this yet, but I trust your findings Steve. I guess I'm wondering if the trade-off of losing Live View (seeing "final" exposure, etc. as you shoot) is worth the trade off? Is there a significant AF performance gain?

Perhaps a hybrid approach - have a User preset for speed / action, with Live View off... and a User preset for portraits & everyday shooting, with Live View on - would make sense.

Lastly, I recently heard another photographer also suggest that Low Light AF will slow down AF continuous performance... however, Nikon clearly states that Low Light AF only functions in AF Single. Does anyone have further info on Low Light AF affecting AF Continuous performance?

I don't imagine either of the above settings will affect any performance, once I move up the dual-processor Z6II. Other Z AF performance tips are welcome as well.

 

[Steve]

The problem is it's really hard to pin down AF performance improvements. What I did was shoot multiple different BIF scenarios where I had lots of action. I'd try with and without Apply Settings To Live View and was honestly skeptical at first. However, at least for the scenarios I was shooting, I did notice that the camera was locking and holding on better with it turned off. It seemed pretty obvious there was a difference. However, with the MKii models I haven't been able to tell any difference (as you say, the dual processor might be why).

If it's worth it really depends. For BIF work, once I have the exposure figured out - and as long as my birds aren't flying in and out of shadow areas, I can set it and forget it. So, I don't really worry too much about the live preview. However, in trickier light, I do think it's a shame to disable one of the biggest benefits of a mirrorless camera. So, I ended up only turning it off when I was shooting action.

I've not had any issues one way or another leaving Low Light AF engaged. It will slow things way down when the camera is using it, but it has to be incredibly dark for that to happen - like moonlight.

 

[ccirelli]

Thanks Steve I appreciate your reply. Your AF book, like all your books, is an amazing resource!
I'm going to experiment with Live View on/off some more now.

 

[JANuser]

In low light, low contrast situations having the liveview setting off is noticeably faster. Sometimes it won’t focus at all with the option turned on. When it’s off the lenses focuses with the aperture wide open like a DSLR does, with it on the lens stops down to the set aperture.

 

[ccirelli]

In low light, low contrast situations having the liveview setting off is noticeably faster. Sometimes it won’t focus at all with the option turned on. When it’s off the lenses focuses with the aperture wide open like a DSLR does, with it on the lens stops down to the set aperture.

Interesting & good to know, thanks. Experiment: I'll try my 85 1.8 Z with Live View on, at 1.8. Then off, to see if there's a difference wide open (my guess is there will be, since Live View is calculating more than just aperture).

I'm adding this to my list of justifications for a move up to the mark II model.

 

[BillW]

In low light, low contrast situations having the liveview setting off is noticeably faster. Sometimes it won’t focus at all with the option turned on. When it’s off the lenses focuses with the aperture wide open like a DSLR does, with it on the lens stops down to the set aperture.

Does that mean with liveview settings off you might have issues with focus shift as the lens stops down to take a photo? The fact that the camera focuses with the lens stopped down (up to f5.6, I think) eliminates focus shift on shooting. Maybe not often an issue with BIF or other fast action.

 

[JANuser]

Does that mean with liveview settings off you might have issues with focus shift as the lens stops down to take a photo? The fact that the camera focuses with the lens stopped down (up to f5.6, I think) eliminates focus shift on shooting. Maybe not often an issue with BIF or other fast action.

If the lens has focus shift issues, I suppose it would. It's a trade off, faster, more acurate focus, or the possibility of focus shift.

 

[Anjin San]

This is only tangentially related to AF part of AF...but what the best shutter type to select For Zs...mechanical, electronic front curtain or auto? Seems like the advantage of no front curtain shock at slower speeds is good and auto would get that... it mybe there’s not her drawback I didn’t think of.

 

[ccirelli]

This is only tangentially related to AF part of AF...but what the best shutter type to select For Zs...mechanical, electronic front curtain or auto? Seems like the advantage of no front curtain shock at slower speeds is good and auto would get that... it mybe there’s not her drawback I didn’t think of.

Good question, now I'm intrigued as well (currently I'm just using auto).

 

[Steve]

This is only tangentially related to AF part of AF...but what the best shutter type to select For Zs...mechanical, electronic front curtain or auto? Seems like the advantage of no front curtain shock at slower speeds is good and auto would get that... it mybe there’s not her drawback I didn’t think of.

I have mine set to electronic most of the time. The only exceptions are if I'm concerned about rolling shutter or if I'm using flash.

 

[Rogereh]

I read in Steve's book Secrets to Nikon Autofocus System - Mirrorless Edition, that turning OFF Apply Settings To Live View saves some processing power, and actually speeds up AF Continuous performance. I haven't fully tested this yet, but I trust your findings Steve. I guess I'm wondering if the trade-off of losing Live View (seeing "final" exposure, etc. as you shoot) is worth the trade off? Is there a significant AF performance gain?

Turning OFF Apply Settings To Live View turns off the histogram in the eye viewer which I like to use when I'm shooting, so I leave it on. I don't see much difference with my Z7?? If there is a difference I guess I can live with it because I haven't noticed much, if any, AF performance.

 

[ccirelli]

Turning OFF Apply Settings To Live View turns off the histogram in the eye viewer which I like to use when I'm shooting, so I leave it on. I don't see much difference with my Z7?? If there is a difference I guess I can live with it because I haven't noticed much, if any, AF performance.

Thanks, good to know. What I've decided to do in the meantime (until I have a dual-processor mark II model) is just toggle Live View settings on/off via the Info menu, depending on what I'm shooting. Live View is perhaps less necessary for the lighting in most action scenes. It's a little like Scotty pulling power from shields to boost warp engines... but it takes just a second to do, easy solution.