sid_19911991
Well-known member
Hi folks, as also suggested by one of the forum users, I thought we can have distinct thread on Z9 AF from the perspective of first hand users.
In short, wide-area large mode with animal detection switched on, AF sensitivity set at 5, & subject motion set to erratic, yielded the best results for birds-in-flight with busy background even in low-dull light, IMO.
Following are the examples of lapwing that I shot in dull light. It was cloudy with pale light. Shot on Z9 with 500 pf on dx mode.
Unedited jpegs. I shot a burst of 28 images. 25 of them are in focus & the sharpest part of the image. The other 3 of them are also reasonably in focus, but its eye is not the sharpest part of the image but the dried branch near it. 1/2500, f5.6, most pics have an ISO of 2800.
(10th image in a sequence of 28) (1st 17 images are like image 10)
(18th image in a sequence of 28)
(21st image in a sequence of 28)
(23rd image in a sequence of 28)
It is not letting me to attach more than 4 files!
.............
I would love your take on how I have set up my AF & shutter buttons!...And if it makes any practical/logical sense to you.
Also, if there is a better or quicker way to go about things.
How I have set up my AF.
a) Shutter Button AF --- (BIF shooting -
Full Area AF with animal detection on & sensitivity at 1, subject motion steady with the Shutter AF button. If the background is busy, I switch to 5 & erratic option. At the top of the custom menu list, I have added AF sensitivity menu option. So one click of the menu button while my eye is pressed against the EVF, I get to toggle the AF sensitivity scale.
b) Shutter Button AF --- (BIF shooting)
Wide Area- AF button with animal detection on & sensitivity at 1, subject motion steady with the Shutter AF button. So the AF button only gives me the AF mode, while the AF focussing is still done by the half-pressed shutter button.
c) Joystick button Shutter On + AF --- (Slow moving birds/mammals in clutter shooting)
By using the lens recall function, I have set it to wide-area small with animal detection on. AF sensitivity to 5. Subject motion to erratic. (Other settings include manual focus focus with auto ISO but with a starting point of 1/800, f5.6, +0.3 EV, Spot metering). I intend to use this mode only for small birds or mammals in extremely busy background. If the wide-area small fails, I adjust the focus ring button & make use of the focus peaking (setting 3) mechanism. So far, I have found this the most effective way to focus on tiny birds in dense foliage.
d) I have set up Function 1 button to dx/fx mode crop.
e) Function 2 button as single point.
f) Yet to try 3d mode.
In short, wide-area large mode with animal detection switched on, AF sensitivity set at 5, & subject motion set to erratic, yielded the best results for birds-in-flight with busy background even in low-dull light, IMO.
Following are the examples of lapwing that I shot in dull light. It was cloudy with pale light. Shot on Z9 with 500 pf on dx mode.
Unedited jpegs. I shot a burst of 28 images. 25 of them are in focus & the sharpest part of the image. The other 3 of them are also reasonably in focus, but its eye is not the sharpest part of the image but the dried branch near it. 1/2500, f5.6, most pics have an ISO of 2800.
(10th image in a sequence of 28) (1st 17 images are like image 10)
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
(18th image in a sequence of 28)
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
(21st image in a sequence of 28)
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
(23rd image in a sequence of 28)
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
It is not letting me to attach more than 4 files!
.............
I would love your take on how I have set up my AF & shutter buttons!...And if it makes any practical/logical sense to you.
Also, if there is a better or quicker way to go about things.
How I have set up my AF.
a) Shutter Button AF --- (BIF shooting -
Full Area AF with animal detection on & sensitivity at 1, subject motion steady with the Shutter AF button. If the background is busy, I switch to 5 & erratic option. At the top of the custom menu list, I have added AF sensitivity menu option. So one click of the menu button while my eye is pressed against the EVF, I get to toggle the AF sensitivity scale.
b) Shutter Button AF --- (BIF shooting)
Wide Area- AF button with animal detection on & sensitivity at 1, subject motion steady with the Shutter AF button. So the AF button only gives me the AF mode, while the AF focussing is still done by the half-pressed shutter button.
c) Joystick button Shutter On + AF --- (Slow moving birds/mammals in clutter shooting)
By using the lens recall function, I have set it to wide-area small with animal detection on. AF sensitivity to 5. Subject motion to erratic. (Other settings include manual focus focus with auto ISO but with a starting point of 1/800, f5.6, +0.3 EV, Spot metering). I intend to use this mode only for small birds or mammals in extremely busy background. If the wide-area small fails, I adjust the focus ring button & make use of the focus peaking (setting 3) mechanism. So far, I have found this the most effective way to focus on tiny birds in dense foliage.
d) I have set up Function 1 button to dx/fx mode crop.
e) Function 2 button as single point.
f) Yet to try 3d mode.
