Nikon Z8 and Z9 - 4.10 Autofocus Setup and Button Layout for Bird and Wildlife Photography

Рет қаралды 19,468

Күн бұрын

On this episode we walk through my autofocus setup for the Nikon Z8 and Z9 for bird and wildlife which includes the 4.10 Firmware and how to install it.
It's a detailed walkthrough of each setting, why I am using these settings, and the button layout to move through the settings with the quickest way to access them and keep you focused on taking the picture as opposed to fumbling through menus.
Use the chapters to move around to the subjects you are interested in.
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00:00 - Intro
00:51 - Setup Philosophy
01:20 - Shooting Needs
02:10 - Channel Updates
03:05 - Resting the Camera
04:05 - How to Apply New Firmware
04:55 - Camera Setup Menu
08:40 - Video Recording Menu
11:22 - Custom Settings Menu
20:22 - Setup Menu
21:15 - How to use the Setup
22:40 - The 1 Thing People Get Wrong
27:00 - When do I use 3D Tracking
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WHO I AM.
My name is Scott West and I am a nature and wildlife photographer located in Alaska. I am very lucky to live in a place surrounded by amazing landscapes and even more amazing wildlife.
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Best Wishes
Scott

Пікірлер: 62

@souki83 5 ай бұрын

Scott: this is a different video. You go off the beaten path on AF, subject detection and hybrid/handoff AF. You remind us that all AF does is to get your subject in its focal plane. Short of BIF, where you need to hold on AF-ON in AF-C since the subject is in constant movement, if your subject is weaving and bobbing , but remains close to its focal point, Fn1 tapping or quick AF-ON grab is often all you need. I thank you for this. You’re educating and not simply repeating. I’m a newbie when it comes to wildlife. I’m coming back to this channel and look forward to your « in-the-field » video.

@WILDALASKA 5 ай бұрын

Thanks and great takeaway.

@VABrowneMDPhD 7 ай бұрын

Scott, this is a really awesome video that helps tremendously! It was particularly interesting to see how you set up your auto focus, and to learn the technique of focusing and then letting go of the back button if the animal has not moved from its original plane of focus. I’m really looking forward to the next video of how you apply this in the field.

@WILDALASKA 7 ай бұрын

Awesome, thank you!

@RickErbach 3 ай бұрын

Scott. Thank you for taking the time to make this video. I’ve shot the Z9 for two years and you showed me some nice alternatives to try. Thanks.

@WILDALASKA 2 ай бұрын

thanks

@markinwestsac 3 ай бұрын

Love your videos. New to photography and just got a Z8. It’s overwhelming but your videos really help me learn the menus. Just wanted to say thank you. 🙏🏼

@WILDALASKA 3 ай бұрын

Happy to help!

@slavepetkovski2625 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for information in this video( part 1) Still waiting for part 2,as you mentioned.

@WILDALASKA 6 ай бұрын

👍

@dr.lopuckdds2603 4 ай бұрын

Nicely done. Looking forward to in-depth field show and tell.

@WILDALASKA 2 ай бұрын

thx

@cherylshimer2060 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for this tutorial! It helped so much!

@WILDALASKA 5 ай бұрын

Glad it helped!

@smkunder1 7 ай бұрын

Wow! Thanks , this is so helpful.

@WILDALASKA 7 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@yairdvora871 5 ай бұрын

I just got my z8 and couldn’t figure out how to set up the single point AF on one of the fn buttons. You explained it perfectly! Thank you for that!

@WILDALASKA 5 ай бұрын

Glad it helped

@Jordiephotography 5 ай бұрын

oo man I like this vid so mutch.. I bought mine yesterday and saw alot of vids before I bought is.. I have the wildlife settings from another KZfaq steve, but I am so happy to do yours.. keep up the good work. 👌👌👍

@WILDALASKA 5 ай бұрын

Glad I could help!

@photographerswithoutborder7302 3 ай бұрын

super amazing

@WILDALASKA 2 ай бұрын

thx

@randyschwager2515 5 ай бұрын

Scott: This is a fantastic guide for set-up of my new Z8! I’ve watched a lot of videos…but yours is easy to follow and really makes sense! I’ve also taken your advice on the best type B card to buy! Thanks for saving me a bunch of money and for improving my speed! You stated that you were going to follow up with a video on using your focus techniques in the field. I’m not finding that anywhere? Also, have you heard anything about Z8 firmware being upgraded? I’d love to have the Bird option that’s now in Z9! Thanks for all your help!

@WILDALASKA 5 ай бұрын

Thanks. Just haven't gotten around to the z8/z9 in the field how to use the af yet. No idea on the z8 firmware, last the website said was Early 2024

@randyschwager2515 5 ай бұрын

@@WILDALASKA cool! Thanks!

@kevinleague 5 ай бұрын

Great video, really helpful. Thank you for describing how to get rid of the circle in the viewfinder! Curious, regarding back button focus - perhaps I missed it, but I believe you skipped describing custom menu a6 (on the Z8) to set up back button focus.

@WILDALASKA 5 ай бұрын

I think I covered it with the af-on setup, 3d setup and the single point. The Z8/9 don't have enough buttons on back. So it's a font back focus bounce. AF-on for subject detect, center of joystick or fn1 for single point and fn2 for 3d.

@TUGNACIOUS 4 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@WILDALASKA 4 ай бұрын

Thank You

@johnpeterka8355 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for your video! You covered Autofocus extremely well. What Metering Mode settings are your using when shooting birds?

@WILDALASKA 2 ай бұрын

thx. full manual

@georgk255 7 ай бұрын

Nice setup. Question. Why do you prefer AF large area and not 3D for animals and birds?

@WILDALASKA 7 ай бұрын

3D you have to get your focus mode ON the animal or bird. If it's smaller in frame or moving fast I can miss and it won't lock. The Wide L for general animals is extremely good and locals up. And the new 4.10 for birds the auto area find them with ease

@joycecompton5337 4 ай бұрын

Great video! Have you done the follow up video of you in the field?

@WILDALASKA 2 ай бұрын

Yes, soon

@VABrowneMDPhD 6 ай бұрын

Scott, how do you switch between Animal and Bird subject detection modes quickly in the field without having to open the Photo Shooting Menu -> AF subject detection options?

@WILDALASKA 6 ай бұрын

2 ways, bank settings or its already up in my menu, so I just hit menu then click it back and forth. Im usually already in the right mode, but in a pinch that's how I choose it.

@19Photographer76 7 ай бұрын

I fear that many Z9 users will still use the 3D and think the update didn't do very much. Without using the Auto area AF or Wide L, they'll miss out (for birds). Great video.

@WILDALASKA 7 ай бұрын

Great point

@JoelRiveraMD 4 ай бұрын

Can you setup the photo function buttons the same way for video ? I’ve tried and doesn’t give me the same options . I would love to use the same setup you have for fn1 fn2 fn3 in photo but in video mode.

@WILDALASKA 2 ай бұрын

I just keep the camera in manual and with from still to video

@bladerealm124 4 ай бұрын

Is the Nikon ZF AF the same as the new firmware on the Z9 or the old firmware (and Z8)?

@WILDALASKA 2 ай бұрын

the new 2.0 is

@jabonaelwuo9703 4 ай бұрын

Hi. can You tell why I don't have a standard set of frames per second in vido mode? I've got a exposure corectly but the fps is in valoue of 32.0 to couple of thausants. I honesly don't know what that value means. Sorry but my english. Regards

@jabonaelwuo9703 4 ай бұрын

here's video of this issue drive.google.com/file/d/1-NRUTWd1d36OxAf5tJ8sIptgl1OujKJE/view?usp=drive_link

@WILDALASKA 2 ай бұрын

🤷‍♂️

@bap1944 7 ай бұрын

Do you use Back button Focus... I didn't hear/see you set it up

@WILDALASKA 7 ай бұрын

Yes any setup that has the shutter button set to ONLY take an image and not initiate focus is "back button focus"

@Kakkoii_ne 6 ай бұрын

I have the Z8 and it does not have a birds setting. Only animals. Do I need to update my firmware?

@WILDALASKA 6 ай бұрын

Only the z9

@janielawson6553 7 ай бұрын

is 4.10 available for the Z8? I can't find it.

@WILDALASKA 7 ай бұрын

not yet

@PerratheSwede 7 ай бұрын

I noticed that the Bird-option doesn' work in Auto-Capture mode. But Animal-option works. Anyone that have a solution on this problem?

@WILDALASKA 7 ай бұрын

I'll have to check. I haven't used the auto capture in a long time. If I figure it out ill pop out a short video on it.

@DAVE_WHITE 7 ай бұрын

did you edit this in 2x settings? you are talking like you are on speed

@WILDALASKA 7 ай бұрын

No just a lot to go through. My pace was a little fast ;)

@DAVE_WHITE 7 ай бұрын

@@WILDALASKA I had to hit options and play it back in .75 speed:)

@scottwedell5072 6 ай бұрын

KZfaq also has a transcript of everything he says so you can read it too. Helped me a few times.

@fotoflorian 7 ай бұрын

Still waiting for a significant update for the z8… maybe after Nikon launches their next 5 cameras

@WILDALASKA 7 ай бұрын

🤷‍♂️

@1chefbr 3 ай бұрын

You talk too fast

@WILDALASKA 2 ай бұрын

🤷‍♂️

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