Approaching the Scene 207: Nikon Z9 Eyecup Hack, Settings and Accessories Update

[@bodkinsbestphotography]

Thanks, man! I just bought the same cup off amazon and was really worried about snapping the plastic during installation. Your walkthrough made this a breeze. Now i have a nice eyecup on both my D850 and Z9!

[@donmcpheephotography]

Hudson, As always great video. I'm back after a 5 year break, had to take care of my mommy during her last years on this planet, she made it to 99. Any way sold all my gear, Phase1 and Nikon as I new if I held on to it I would of just lost more money, cuz I know me and I would have upgraded if I did hold on to it. After long deliberation ( almost went fuji GFX ) I went wiith Z9 and a few lenses ( 24-70 2.8z, 105 2.8z and 20 1.8z). Seems as this run of 1.8 glass has been exceptional, you and many others have been pretty dang impressed. I'd like to say thank you for your settings videos on the Z9. Very, very well done and full of great info!!! I've yet to take my first frame as this has a few more options than my D4s and D810 and personally, when I shoot I want to know my camera without hesitation if you know what I mean! Have you had the chance to try/review the Pro Media Gear L bracket? Looks like this may be a contender especially with flash accessories that connect right up. I have always put the hoodman eyecup on...may have to try your hack. Great work!! Cheers Don

[@corrbox2]

Thanks Hudson. You always go through so much information so quickly. I'm always saving your instructional video's and going back and watching them in parts and pieces. You offer lots of great ideas and suggestions. I appreciate all the hard work you do to put these video's together, 😀📷✔

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

Thanks Joel!

[@ferdiamacaodhagain5652]

Having been a subscriber since 2020, I’ve come to know that you enjoy using Kirk products. I decided to purchase the Kirk V2 l-bracket shown in this video for my Z9 from B&H and it’s a great product. While I incurred the additional shipping costs for it to be delivered to me in Ireland, I was happy to do so, as it’s really well designed and machined. Your videos on tripods also convinced me to adopt a systematic tripod with a 75mm bowl and a 500ah fluid head, and it’s been a truly fantastic experience to use in the field. Thanks Hudson. I think I will also soon be adding the quick release bridge system to my 500ah fluid head!

[@jasoneldridgephotography]

Great video and it shows me where I can stand to learn more about my Z9. Also your daughter is adorable.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

Thanks Jason!

[@markmozley5604]

Thanks for this video. My Z 9 just arrived this morning. So lots to learn.

[@merkin22]

Adorable kid # 2 :) So many buttons.... Your videos are so helpful as I work to actually take advantage of all the shooting management features of the Z9! We've come a long way from the days when my cam didn't even have AF! Thanks.

[@terrykellyphotography6171]

Thank you Hudson, great video! The Z9 is a joy, more than any other camera I've used.

[@richcower]

Thanks for that tip “click on the title”…I never knew how to find the links! and thanks for your great videos, they’re damn good.

[@CJGlynnPhotography]

Great stuff as always. It's just that simple. "Boom" as you would say!

[@JohnCBauer-mj8ur]

Thanks Hudson! My Z9 is still in the "honeymoon" phase having only picked it up several days ago, and I hope that I too can get over the "I wish it was a bit lighter / smaller." Unfortunately, I reviewed your video after I had purchased a RRS L-bracket, although it is well made, it blocks access to all of the ports on the lefthand side of the camera. The update on the action bank, setting Fn3 to "Recall shooting functions (hold)" solved a dilemma I faced the first day photographing waterfowl. And, last night I tried out the astro settings - wow!

[@billboswell4509]

Nice eyecup hack. Just did it and it seems great. Thanks for the tip.

[@dance2jam]

Thanks for another welcomed and timely addition to your Banks series (and nice touch adding Pepper to the process). Now to the meat and potatoes. I immediately changed my setup to utilize the "recall function shooting" on a Fn button and found the following. It "HOLDS" the settings until you EITHER push the function button a second time OR if you hit another button like image review, it resets to your original setup (i.e. out of single point in your example). I thought it would hold the settings until the button was pushed a second time, but apparently not so much. (I just read that Chip found this as well! Sorry I'm late to the party).

[@dmalencid7348]

Pepper has all the moves and looks of a professional model

[@charlesdavis6371]

the update to AF is a huge help (even though I don't have a Z9 yet?). I also love it when you show your family, it makes if feel like I'm getting to know you better. Great video Hudson - I added it to my HH-NikonZ folder. Thank you - I really do appreciate all the work you do and share with us.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

That comment makes my night Charles. Thank you.

[@zZola_Photography]

Nice updates. Love the tweek on the Bank B .. I had been needing a pop into Single point for some small birds especially until I get my 800. Speaking of 800's I went to look at kirk's website for the L bracket and noticed they are about to release a replacement foot for the 800pf 😁

[@dansoto3791]

Good stuff! Glad to see you change some settings as you use the Z9. I've been making changes as I get more time on the camera as well and your tips are very helpful. Thanks

[@barkingbeanscoffee]

Thanks for all your wonderful sharing of knowledge. A truly human gift when humanity needs it. With FN3 so accessible I just programed Single Point Autofocus to that (requires continuous press). I loved your Recall Shooting Functions for the red Movie button so its even more accessible for Standard to Action. Wishing you and the family all the best.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

Thanks so much for that Michael!

[@mzeeshanch]

Thanks a million for your videos… the time and effort you put in to make the lives of other photographers easier… Helps us from fiddling around to going BOOM (your style)… that’s a wrap 😊😊😊 My Z9 is on its way… Have been learning in the meantime by watching your videos…

[@EugeneMaynard]

Love that eyecup hack!👍🏾🙏🏾

[@sophiaschade8957]

Thank you so much.. I had ordered the V1 and it was out of stock so I called to cancel the order and get the V2 but they raised the price by $50.00 so it is $249 vs $199 ouch.. Your are awesome and have helped me to learn my Z9 camera.. you rock!

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

Thanks Sophia!

[@richardellishk]

Hey Hudson so much for you not liking large body cameras and battery grips!! great vid BTW

[@patrickmolloy6994]

great tips Hudson! I wish I had a z9! But nevertheless it's interesting and you're so clear expressing the why's and wherefore's that so much is applicable to my Z6 and the way I shoot. Thank you!

[@curtwells9628]

Hi Hudson, I understand that the Z9, the 400mm and 800mm lenses are the newest and greatest things going from Nikon but for those of us who are still shooting the lowly Z6 or Z6II or even the Z7 and Z7II with lessor lenses it would be nice if occasionally you would do updated show on using other Nikon gear. Not all of us have the Benjamins to go down the pro rabbit hole or even the need. This is not meant as a criticism only a request, I think you go great work. Thanks, Curt

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

I appreciate that, and given the content, I understand why you'd not have seen, but I speak to your very request nearly verbatim in this video's intro before getting into Z9 specifics. :) it's within the first minute.

[@AndyMillerPhotoUK]

Thanks Hudson - the real question is WHY hasn't Hoodman come out with their much bigger Eye Cup version for the Z9 YET so I can put my Bluestar Large Oval viewfinder eye cushions on them -- the fix you show which most of us glasses and bright sun shooters have done for a while now.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

I've never like the Hoodman stuff. For me it's too big and overpriced, but I can imagine if the diopter didn't cut it maybe reconsidering that.

[@rolfoehen5435]

Hi Hudson, I wish somebody could explain and show in a step by step video how we can program the 4 favorite settings on to the Fn1 - Fn4 buttons!

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

Rolf check this out.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4XaXouadqZ-oNU

[@dance2jam]

Hudson, thanks for your feedback and continued education. I'm sure someone smarter than I thought of the following utilization for "recall function shooting", but I'll ask your thoughts and place this idea here anyway. When I am out shooting birds on water or in flight, in the past (DSLR) I would find myself electing to choose between "what will it be now, white birds or dark birds". Invariably, when I made that decision, something would fly by that was the opposite of the plan. Perhaps, a use for recall function shooting would be the setting on the camera (with EC dialed in) for bright objects, and recall for dark objects - as I find always having to change EC while shooting for a temporary event problematic - and I forget where I left it at times. Thoughts? How do you get around this?

[@barrypack4599]

Great video. Really like the eyecup hack. Quick question, can the raw file sizes be changed on Z9. Coming from the Z7/6, I'm use to changing from large to medium depending on what I am shooting.

[@dominiclester3232]

Nice video thanks!

[@jayharder2598]

Hudson, I saw this video on changing the eyecup and was wondering if this new eyecup works well if you wear glasses. I notice you keep bouncing back and forth with you glasses, do you wear them while shooting with the Z9 and if so does this eyecup hack interfere with glasses?

[@markstemmett5296]

Excellent hack doing mine ASAP

[@thomasmanson1119]

Well wait a sec Hudson, I did the eyecup hack, but it appears I have a part left over… the little thin ring (that appears to have come off of the back of the rubber eyecup), don’t I need to reinstall that somewhere? I can’t get it back on. Thanks, Tom KC3QAC

[@duanecannon4117]

Thanks Hudson for the setup videos. They have saved me a lot of trial and error. Regarding the bracketing burst mode: Is there a way to make that a normal part of a bank setup without assigning it to a function button?

[@agrnbrg]

Any additional changes since FW 3.01 came out.

[@philipculbertson55]

I was curious, do you wear your glasses when using the eyecup? I wear my glasses all the time and they work fine with the round Z9 eyepiece but I wonder if the eyecup would be in the way wearing glasses. The reason I want to try an eyecup is sun or glare coming from the side when looking through the viewfinder and the eyecup would help, at least on the right side.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

No I adjust the diopter to my farsightedness. I never use my glasses through the viewfinder. I'm not sure if it would be good or not with them.

[@davearchbell9921]

Maybe a stupid question but does the eyecup work for people like me who wear glasses?

[@thomasmanson1119]

I thought that button was for AF-on while shooting vertical! Tom KC3QAC

[@cgtung]

Hi Hudson, Thanks for sharing your vast wealth of knowledge! I have something that has been driving me crazy with my Z9... Currently, I've set the banks up similar to your recommendations on the setup guide. It's set to not show images as they are shot, occasionally I like to review some shots, hit play to review and command dial to review... It will always occasionally (unwanted and unexpectedly) take shots while trying to review the images that has been shot. Wierd, Is there any suggestions that come to mind of settings to check/change? (other than the obvious... Change the operator... lol (¤¿¤) Thanks Again for your time and knowledge 🙏 Rock on! Andy

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

Totally, just turn off your vertical grip shutter release with the lock switch. I'm sure your just bumping the secondary release down there. I leave mine locked till I rotate the camera vertical to shoot. It takes an instant to switch it on. I turn it off before rotating back to avoid exactly this issue.

[@cgtung]

@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thanks Hudson, I'll give it a try. 😀

[@dougkrupa2372]

Do you use auto iso even when shooting birds in flight ? Excellent video.

[@dance2jam]

Clearly a personal choice. That said, I use Auto-ISO, especially with BIF most of the time - because they typically will fly in/out of different lighting with no time to adjust settings.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

Exactly. The truth is that in general when I'm shooting handheld or fast moving subjects, I'm in auto iso. It let's me focus on shutter speed, depth of field and composition. The meter is so good and I chimp to see if any compensation is needed. It rarely is nowadays. Landscapes, strobe work or still life? Fully manual.

[@barrybenteman2119]

I put the eyecup, on, but it fell off twice. Have you experienced that before?

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

Yeah unfortunately. I generally carry a couple in case.

[@dieseldavey]

Hi Hudson thanks for the video 👍🏻 Did you sell the z7ii? Thanks

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

I did. I still have the 6ii for these videos and low light + the Z50 as a lightweight knock around.

[@dieseldavey]

@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thanks I was looking at getting one but think I'll hang on to see off the mysterious z8 arrives.

[@CJGlynnPhotography]

@@dieseldavey I'd wait for the Z8 II. I hear that'll be a great camera. You only have to think "Take the shot," and it takes the image. It includes an automatic lens "windshield wiper" to ensure there are no water droplets on your lens. It features an auto [MAKE IT NOT SUCK] mode, so you will never have a bad shot. Seriously, I am not a Nikon fanboy; in fact, I am a reformed Sony shooter who is now fully clad in Nikon thanks to seeing the Z9 perform so well in the field. The Z9 is a truly great camera. Yes, it is expensive. Is it for you? Only you can tell. If you do solely landscape or things that do not move quickly, a Z6II or Z7II (or for that matter a Sony A7R IV or some flavor of Canon) would be great. If shooting sports or wildlife is important to you and you are already in the Nikon camp, then a Z9 is a great upgrade if you have the funds to make it a reality. Good shooting.

[@dieseldavey]

@@CJGlynnPhotography Hi nope to big (physically) for me. I'm starting to look more into the canon system.

[@justinjrebbert]

How does an eyecup like that feel when you’re shooting vertically?

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

With a 90 degree twist, just like shooting horizontal. It rotates for left eye, right eye or vertical of course.

[@justinjrebbert]

@@HudsonHenryPhoto I may have misunderstood…it appeared difficult for you to get it positioned just right, and you said it doesn’t spin around easy, especially once it’s mounted to the camera.

[@TimvanderLeeuw]

Question - what good does formatting your cards do, actually? Why not just delete all images manually after copying them to your computer?

[@CJGlynnPhotography]

In the early days, memory cards would have "glitches" if you deleted images from them. So, people got fixated on always formatting cards instead of deleting images. With modern memory cards, there seems to be no issue with deleting images, thereby not requiring the users to format all the time. Of course, YMMV.

[@TimvanderLeeuw]

@@CJGlynnPhotography interesting. I don't remember ever having had any issues with that. I suppose these might have been issues with particular camera models and their handling of file systems. Even nowadays some cameras don't correctly write to the card when putting large numbers of files in a single directory, for instance.

[@johnvaleanbaily246]

Hudson, what's the name of the eyecup ? TIA.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

It's linked in the full description of this video. Just click the title or show more. :)

[@ChipSutton]

I use the recall setting (hold) to switch to a slower shutter speed when in action settings so I don't have to scroll through several shutter speeds. For example if I see a perched bird I want to go to a much slower shutter speed to get a lower ISO. What I have noticed though is that if after you hit the function button assigned to the recall, take some shots and then hit image review button, when you go back your settings are back to where they were before, same as hitting the function button assigned to recall. Not sure if this is the way Nikon intended it to work or not. Has anyone using recall hold noticed this?

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

NO that's right. There are a number of ways to bounce out of it. Not sure if intended or overlooked.

[@dance2jam]

Chip, I just put a comment on here stating the same point (I didn't realize image review would reset things. Not a bit deal, but good to know. After reading your comment, I thought you might enjoy in early morning when the light is too low for high shutter speeds and BIF, you could set Recall to a very slow shutter speed (i.e. 1/60th) and practice slow panning. Then release the shutter speed if you see better action you want to capture with higher success rate. Thanks for add that thought to my setup. Gracias.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

@@dance2jam I love panning with a slow shutter. I don't usually have much problem spinning the back wheel to accomplish that speed change though. Dozen clicks take a second at most. :) you can just spin it fast while you watch the numbers in the viewfinder. I'm constantly tweaking and adjusting shutter speed when I plan motion. There's no one good speed. It depends on angle, distance and speed every time.

[@dance2jam]

@@HudsonHenryPhoto Very True (and very challenging). ;-) Thanks for the input.

[@timsharp4759]

Is there a downside to always using 3D Tracking? Can you give examples?

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

For fast erratic moving subjects like birds in flight the box is very small to nail your subject. Using the wide area on the shutter makes acquisition much easier, then the back button converts the acquired subject to 3d for full frame tracking. In some situations (small subjects in a busy scene or animals with eye like body markings) the auto modes with eye detect simply can't find an eye or mistake a non subject for a face or eye. That's very frustrating in 3d or any of the area modes. Being able to quickly switch the shutter to single point AFC that you manually direct aliviates that. In my method 3d remains a back button press away in that mode as well. Obviously for non moving subjects like landscape, macro or still life 3D is a terrible choice. Single point gives the precision needed.

[@timsharp4759]

@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thank you for the explanation. I may have just missed it but out of all the videos I have watched that explain the different AF- area modes I haven't heard a clear description like that. So just one last question. Why is choosing 3D a terrible choice for non-moving subjects? Does 3D AF obtain its focus differently than Single Point? Thank you for your time.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

Because in 3D the computer will be looking for a subject to track other than the specific point you want focused. You have much greater control in single-point autofocus for still subjects.

[@Pengranger]

Looks great but I wear spectacles 🤓

[@billadamsphotography]

Hey that's one of my favorite lens too..but its not macro..

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

The 105 1.4? Of course not. It's a portrait lens. The 105 2.8 S is an epic macro though. Best I've ever used.

[@billadamsphotography]

Do u think 50mm 1.2s is better than 105mm 1.4,I do mostly portraits(I favor 70-200mm 2.8s) I own 105 1.4 but really thinking about 50 1.2...any thoughts 🤔 🙏🏽

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

I loved the image quality out if it. So sharp wide open and amazing bokeh. Lazer fast ficus too. I'm just waiting on what we get in the new 105 S lurking on the roadmap. I love 105 as a focal length. I'll get one of those two I think. :)

[@ianmackenzie8584]

Any thoughts on the control rings and buttons on the 400 TC? You're shooting more than me at the moment and wondered what you had discovered. I kinda like switching EC up and down on the front ring but interested in your thoughts.

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

I don't tend to use the control rings on the S lenses. I find myself changing settings by accident too much. The jog-ring on David's 400 2.8 TC S is different though. It's very positive feel was nice and hard to accidentally shift without knowing. I liked it for focus memory recall personally.

[@NikCan66]

Another tour de force

[@thomassiegers3007]

I picked up a used d5

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

Great camera. The DSLRs will just keep cheaper and cheaper faster and faster now. Used F glass is down about 40% over the past couple years too with the exception of a few exotics. Reminds me of the film to digital tipping point.

[@thomassiegers3007]

@@HudsonHenryPhoto ya got a used 600mm fl Ed vr lens the guy used 1 time for half the price

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

@@thomassiegers3007 Again, the exotics have been holding on still. I just dumped my 300 and 500 PFs for 2/3 thier original value. Sadly the 14-24 2.8 I loved in prinstine shape had the bottom fall out before I got around to selling it. $700. :-( I get it though. The 14-30 F4 is sharper and the 14-24 S is simply mind bending by comparison. The only F lens I haven't sold is the 105 1.4 I won't sell that till I have a Z replacement in my hand, or maybe the rumored 85 1.2...

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

Oh you should have a look at used 400 2.8s if you're serious. Since the new one released they have gone way way down. But again, we are still high on a fast moving curve. Wait 2 years and it will be much cheaper.

[@genegustafson715]

Are memory cards capable of storing 7-8 45 minute video segments? If not, how do you get bank settings saved to multiple cards?

[@HudsonHenryPhoto]

A lot of that depends on the video resolution, frame rate and bit rate. The video I shoot is 10-bit 4k 24fps oversampled. I can get that amount on a 1TB card, yes. I use an affordable Pergear 1TB card for my video in slot two. If you choose to shoot Pro Res 8k, you'd be lucky to get 30minutes on a 1TB card. 1080p would give you hours on end. Easy. Pull the card in slot one and hit save settings with a card in slot two. :-)