For someone that wasn't sent a Z9 from Nikon, you've made the most useful video on the autofocus. Good job Josh

S/O to the Gremlins. I've had the chance to use a Z9 over a weekend and I felt the same way. It's like black magic.

Well Josh, your game is moving on up. I can't wait to see some of your new photos and videos with the new Z9.

Just now found this channel. Where have you been hiding during my hundreds of wildlife photography searches?? Let the binge watching commence

I'm not a Nikon shooter and I'm not a subscriber.. but maybe I will be.. a subscriber I mean.. lol.. because I just watched one of the most honest not in your face camera reviews I think I've ever seen on KZfaq.. Thanks for that! Enjoy your new camera! I hope you continue to show in your videos how much fun photography can be.. Great Video!

So cool Josh, that your really happy with Z9 camera. Looking forward to your next video.

Hello from MANHATTAN, I wanted to tell you I just finished watching The Vahagraphy KZfaq video of Jan 2, 2022, where my buddy Vahagan praised you, your work and your channel..all I can say, he's correct..kudos to you Josh for great content..Carmine 👍

Awesome to see your excitement about it

I love the intro ! The best on on the Nikon Z9 !

I JUST picked up my Z9 today from the store and WOW!!!!!!!!!! SO MANY KEEPERS NOW!!!

Congrats with camera Josh. Man I want to visit you, what a magnificent birds.

When shooting birds - Put in bird detection mode. Then the camera knows what you want 👍🏻 You had it in auto detection. I think that’s the reason

That's it. I'm sold.

Good honest video Josh and I take no credit, but do feel a wee bit of pleasure in knowing I encouraged you to buy it!! 😊

Nice, this is the video I've been waiting to see. Glad you finally got the camera. You have some great images on your instagram account buddy!!

Beautiful owl and shots.

Hi Josh excellent video as usual. Auto focus is even faster if you just set the focus mode to just Animal, people or vehicle depending on what you are photographing. Also Hudson Henry just posted several videos on setting up the Z9 for Action, Standard, Landscape and Astro. Worth taking a look at. Leep shooting. Bob

Finally, Nikon has a good sensor. I have never liked the colors of the D1, D2, D3, etc... not accurate at all--way off. And now I am SOOOOOO happy they are using a Sony sensor, it's wonderful, what a perfect combination, I love it. the Z9 is awesome because of the Sony sensor. the best of both worlds.

Good to hear!!!!

Awesome location for getting so many owls. Great AF video 😁

im glad nikon finally came thru ..

Love this ❤ great video as always josh

Impressive gear! Thanks for taking to the time to share. Insightful

Love it Josh! Many paths to take and some, like us, tinker, poke and prod, stumble and get back up, to eventually getting there. That AF-hunting is not surprising on some of your images. Squint, or convert to black and white and squint. (heck, some are already b&w!) Close your eyes half way and you'll see the owl disappear.

Glad your enjoying your new Z9 Josh! Keep making good shots. 👌🏾👌🏾

Great stuff. So you now have your own Z9 - you lucky, lucky b.....d!!! Here in the UK I can still not get any indication as to when we might see deliveries. I was chasing only yesterday but nothing has changed since I previously asked a couple of weeks back. Patience, patience, patience - I wish!!!

very interesting and as always, also informative

I almost watched all of your video and I enjoy it, keep it up.

Nice, thanks!

I think that the el. shutter alone, makes this camera better than any Canon or Sony. This is a big leap into the future of digital photography technology!

Awesome. Happy for you Josh.

Bayou Josh - I like your channel, and your honesty/directness. - Subscribed.

Another great and resourceful video. Thanks, Bayou

Hey Josh - been a fan since the early days. Excited for you with the Z9 - I completely understand the buzz of a new camera. It doesn't happen often, and great fun to have that new, hottest toy in your hands. That said, please don't change this channel to a hardware focus. I've always enjoyed your narratives, and coming along on your adventures and seeing what you see. YT is bombarded with videos about the Z9 and how it the best thing ever and run out and buy it!!!! Well, as you know, all of us can't - at least right now. So it's great to have content that focuses on other things, too ;-) All I'm saying is don't forget where you came from with this channel - you are a MASTER story teller. That said, I am excited to see what you do with the Z9 as my wife also watches your vids with me and I can say "see, look at what I could do with THAT camera!" ;-) (Course I need to find some Great Greys as cooperative as those - wow!)

Thank you!

This is great

Excellent explanation Thankyou

Thanks for sharing your experience with us! I'm glad you finally pull the trigger on to Z9. I do believe that better equipment doesn't make you a better photographer but it will definitely makes your life easier and your experience much more smoother!

As for me, these mirrorless camera take away the fun & the true learning skills of a traditional photography & videography…IMO! A great informative video, by the way…👍

Good, honest review! 👍

Thanks for this video! The Owl footage is awesome!

Thanks Josh. The more "in the field" reviews of any piece of equipment is leagues better than any "on paper" or "out-of-the-box" testimonials. I appreciate your honest review of the Z9, especially when it comes to in-flight shots.

I'm so glad to see that you waited along with the rest of us for Nikon to catch up to the rest of the mirrorless market with Autofocus. I've been yelling loudly in your comments to all the naysayers out there that Nikon will without a doubt catch up and maybe even surpass the rest of the class on autofocus. They haven't passed anyone yet but I think thats coming within a year or two. I am not sure if I am going to get the Z9 or wait a year and grab a Z8 or Z7iii because if history has shown me anything with Nikon is that they always put their flagship autofocus system in their lower end bodies a year or so after they drop. I may sell my Z6ii and Z7 and grab the Z9 anyways but honestly I really like the smaller bodies of the Z6 & Z7 bodies over the Flagship bodies with the grip. I do own a grip for my Z6ii just in case I'm shooting portraits but thats almost NEVER, so I guess it will just come down to how much effort I feel like putting into selling my other bodies and if Nikon teases any newer lower end bodies soon. Super glad you got your Z9 and I'm glad that I was one of the guys telling you to not even put any thought into it and to just get it because it will advance your channel without a doubt. Remember..... 108k within a year and you've doubled your subs in the last 5 months, so I expect it go grow super fast now that you got a fire lit under you right now with that new bazooka Z9! Good Luck Josh!!!

Excellent video

So happy you’ve got one and got already these amazing results.

thanks a lot for sharing this all the best for you and subscribed already

I'm so happy for you, Josh! The right tool in the right hands😉 Some amazing owl photos you have there! I look forward to seeing wildlife through your eyes with this amazing tool! Enjoy it man!

Excellent! Thanks!

TGIF and your joy with the Z9.... bleeding that joy to me today as well like water moving through resting paper napkin...... those flying images of the owl, beautiful, wonderful~!~!~!

Great video. It may surprise you but the best part may have been the beginning where you were shooting and raving to your wife. And she responded with “that’s wonderful dear” or “I’m so happy for you” or words to that effect. I stopped the video then and there and replayed it for Marianne. Now at least she knows I’m not the only insane bird photographer out there. BTW, check out Hudson Henry’s latest Z9 video. He discusses a hybrid or dual focus mode where BBF engages one AF mode but the shutter release can program a totally different mode. I don’t have a Z9 so not exactly sure what he was describing but it seemed like he was using the first one to acquire, then the second one to track. Worth a look, maybe. Glad you’re having fun but I won’t be truly happy for you until you break out the new 400. Hope your wife stays supportive.

Still waiting for my Z9. Hudson Henry is using an interesting strategy for focus on flying birds. He has set the shutter button focus for auto area which picks the birds up initially, but may lose them if they fly out of the focus square. He has the back button focus set for 3-D tracking. He acquires focus with the shutter button and then immediately hits the back button focus to follow the bird. For perching birds you can just use the back button for 3-D tracking.

Excellent video, just excellent. And I am an Olympus shooter, never owned a Nikon.

great video, and some real strong selling points for the Z9. Will take me a while to save enough for one (if I can be selective in buying lenses .. lol). Really enjoyed this .. thanks Josh.

Wonderful video with honest review, a must view for all photographers.

AMAZING !!!! Definitely my next purchace

Aha.. you've got it finally.. hope you have a good times with it. Personally after a big search i found till this moment, that the z6 ii sensor is more cleaner and sharper in photo shots. I'll be happy to know how you customised the single focus point on the the Z6 ii as you were a user for it. Keep those videos coming josh.

Aw, you're a professional. Great video. Enjoy the camera, can't wait to see how you grow

Awesome videos, Josh! I just got my Z9 a few days ago. I had a similar experience with a bobcats. I got so many in focus tack sharp images that I couldn’t believe it. With my Z7II and Z6 I too used the FN button to scroll through the focus modes. With the Z9 I set the record button to scroll through focus modes and the FN 1-3 buttons to individual AF modes. It seems to be a lot faster. I also set the AF tracking to animal instead of auto. Like you said, “the Z9 is worth every penny”.

Many thanks for sharing your honest experience in the field. For most of us out there, wildlife photographers, it is more about real life experience in the field and the actual end results than theoretical figures and tests. Your video conveys just that and is really motivating. And, well done for the great shots.

Thank you, Josh. This is exactly the type of information I've been looking for. Morten Hilmer also did a video that was straight to the point user information. Now, if my health improves I might end up with a Z9.

Love the video! I’ve got a Z9 on order. Hearing about your experiences (and enthusiasm about the camera) makes me believe I’ve done the right thing. Keep the videos coming please. I look forward to seeing where this camera takes you!

Hello Josh Nice video I’m very happy that you are happy with z9 Beautiful job Gary temor

Glad to see you having fun with your new Z9 Josh. I can hear the excitement in your voice. These new digitals are well worth the purchase.

Forget the gear, the joy you andd yo wife bring to photography is wonderful. Thank you for sharing! (Also the Z9 is amazing. 😁) Edit: 10:15 Those "I was fumbling to get the shot" shots are jaw-dropping. The Z9 is no joke!

Hi Josh... happy to see you with your own Z9..I am a Z6ii user and from last 8-9 months I am using it for my bird and wildlife photography..what I really feel that tracking for Z6ii is a matter of huge challenge..for still photos it's most of the time bang on the target... knowing that you have used your Z6ii extensively, can you pls share some of your thoughts and some fild tips ... it would be a great help for people like me.. ofcourse I can't afford Z9 right at this moment..great respect to your work 🙏, from India

Hi Josh. Great video. I also am impressed with mirrorless and use Sony currently. It is crazy now as BIF work is so easy. Too easy? Maybe. BIF photographers still need field skills and technique and that will never change. Keep up the great work!

Your excitement is infectious! Congratulations on nailing your best BIF shots with your new toy :)

I like what your saying, Please just keep on enjoying photography.

Nice video with live shots. I'm the :gear hauler" in my marriage but occasionally I get to take some pictures.... lol I tell my wildlife photographer wife all the time she is cheating with her Sony A1. Once it gets locked on to a flying bird it will take focused images even as they fly through the trees. The technology change in cameras since she started many years ago is amazing.

Great images Josh! Thanks for sharing. Keep them coming.

Really helpful review of the AF system. Really hope AF trickles down soon to my Z6ii. I still have my D500 also but the one mode I miss is the 3D tracking but still prefer the Z series. I wonder what the Z9 is like where you have a bird in flight some distance away which the Z6 II struggles with. You certainly took some beautiful images.

Such beautiful country and you are doing a wonderful job of telling the story of you capturing it.

What a wonderfully accurate assessment of the strengths and shortcomings of this AF system. Great video. Thank you for sharing this.

Less than a few minutes in now and I like the authenticity and style of your videos! Also I just laughed out loud at the part about obsessing over bird photos I’m in that zone as well it is a fun addiction!

Great video Josh, i just got a Z9 coming can't wait to step up from a D4 .

Very informative in a very calm and relaxing way.

Awesome video Josh. You are an awesome guy. There is something about you that strikes the chord with most of the people watching your channel. The video about Making Your Own Luck, made me a fan of yours, and it helped me to see things from a better perspective. I too am not a professional photographer, but I love bird photography. Thank you so much. And keep up the good work. Cheers. 🍻

Very well presented, I can't wait to get mine, until then I have been using a D500 for birds instead of my Z6ii or Z7 and have far more keepers.

I am not sure how i ended up here, but i like it! You seem humble, down to earth and honest. Three things i highly appreciate in people and your video was informative and useful without any useless fluff. Looking forward to more videos! Subscribed and liked!

Thank you. (and congratulations!) I'm still waiting for my Z9, so in the meantime, it's hugely gratifying to see others enjoying the camera, and seeing that it's elevating everyone's work. Nice!

I had the same thoughts using mine. Going out tomorrow for a walk. Hopefully something worth shooting. It is a nice feeling to be able to focus on the moment, feeling and composition more now than the focus. As always, enjoy watching each video Josh.

Brilliant , and honest assessment as always. Thank you. Ian (UK)

What a great and honest review , thank you for sharing it BJ !

A great honest review Josh, and some fab owl photos 👌

Hi! As usual, awesome review, observation & comment. Great video. Thanks for sharing.

This is one of the most honest videos I've ever seen on KZfaq for the Nikon Z9 I've just bought the Olympus OM-1 and it's incredible a new camera with new technology doesn't make you a better photographer but it definitely makes photography much easier and I've definitely gotten better results.

I’m so glad you chose to buy this camera. Great photos, great video.

Hi Josh, great video, and I like your channel! I'm still a beginner in photography, and an absolute beginner in bird photography. And even worse, I'm a Canon guy, a proud owner of an R5. Since this is a video on autofocus, I thought I'd share a tip that I found on another youtube video; double back-button focusing. I've sat it up on my R5, and I'm sure you can do it on Nikon and Sony as well. So I use two buttons for back-button focus. The first one (AF on) is a single spot continous focus. I use that when the bird is a bit hard to find, maybe partly hiding is some branches. In those cases the Eye focus won't always work, so the standard one point is safer. Than if the bird moves or turns so that the eye becomes clearly visible, I move my thumb to the other button (the star button) which is set up for eye detection focus, and I have eye focus. This works well for me, so maybe it is worth trying.

I have the same setup and was also blown away. First by the 500pf and now with that lens attached to my Z9.

Amazing Amazing Review It was the best video I saw about the Z9 focus system Great Job

Wow! This video has got me very excited for mine to come. Good thing it’s winter and birding is not too good yet at least around here. Thanks Josh!

Happy in the extreme for your delight in the Z9. I settled over a year ago for a Z6ii. The Z9 has huge computing power and the software needed to get you the focusing experience you are so pleased with. I’m sure the software will be further developed and can anticipate your continued delight. Those owl shots were great and you are hopefully going to give us more. Enjoy.

thanks for tell us your exoerice! I hope you can give us more beutiful shots with this equipment

WOW!!! CONGRATS On the new Z9!!

Hi Josh, awesome piece of equipment and a dreamcombo for me at the moment. I love my D500, I am upgrading my 200-500 to a 500mm PF very soon and maybe next year, the Z9. Keep those videos coming. Kind regards from the Netherlands!

love your comment at the end not deifying the nikon above sony/canon, but instead being pleased that nikon is at last in the 3 way conversation... very mature statement and rare on YT where most shooters are not just biased to a brand but are loyal to the point of blindness... much appreciated!

I can tell by your voice you're loving it - looking forward not backwards... i'm selling my DSLR gear... before it's worthless

Thanks for giving me a few hours with the Z9. I can’t wait for mine to show up! Glad the back button/shutter release tip worked better for you. Loving the Atomos!

Dear Josh, you are a Pro bro! you're just being humble Sir! In truth, the Z9 is...to me, the best hybrid camera body in the world right now! Those who has fiddled with the D500,the D850 and even the D6 will attest to that for sure. What is scary is that this Z9 is already great with factory presets and in the years to come, Nikon will make it even better with future firmware updates. What this Z9 really does to shooters is that it forces you to learn the various AF modes to further improve and educate ourselves in order to execute our craft better and better. One can even do a full documentary movie on this thing! You really can. The Pro Res feature in video is like watching IMAXX on screen yo! Josh, now I look forward to more content of yours with your new Z9. Excellent work Bro.

Could sense your excitement from the start. The wait has been worth it I see. Looking forward to more.