NIKON Z SERIES - 2 MINUTE TIPS #32 = 'AF Activation' (Back Button AF) in the nikon z6 & z7

[@AF8Images]

So how many of you are back-button AF users?

[@Cornelis56]

I use back button focus for a few months now. It didn’t take much time to get used to it and I will NEVER change back to the original factory setting.

[@AF8Images]

It's a one way change😉👍

[@photo-markus]

Yes, for years I only use back button focus

[@AF8Images]

👍

[@paulmartin9578]

On my Z5 camera, In custom setup, a7 ,AF Activation, AF Only enable will not show ON , , under Shutter/AF-On comes on. Any suggestion on correcting this issue.

[@slimshady3705]

Nice tip. Does the AF-ON change the focus square to Green like the normal shutter half press one? I tried the settings and it stays Red even though I am pressing the AF-ON. Any thoughts?

[@Zozolee19]

if you're in AF-C mode the focus square never turns green

[@jeromeThailande]

The problem is that in manual the camera keep the focus ,when you half press the shutter, but in other modes A,S,AUTO and P ,it doesnt look like it keeps it. Does it keep the focus in all modes and areas with the back button ?

[@AF8Images]

Hi Jerome, the focus settings in the z-series are fairly complex and it depends on the focus mode you're using - check out my videos on the various sttings for focus, they're all in this playlist - kzbin.info/aero/PL4hil2OHVaZ6FenF-nZu4uuxNSmsIDnsh - I have broken the various layers of settings down into short videos which I hope will help understand how to think through the focus approach depending on what you're shooting. Hope this helps, Adrian

[@laporziuncula]

I use back button focusing but just got the Z5 and can't figure out how to stop the shutter button from re-focusing when I half press. It keeps detecting that I'm half pressing but I'm only meaning to release the shutter.

[@san520823]

Hi I use back button focus on. but i'm not sure if i need to return to release shutter/focus when using a remote. Does the remote for z7 focus with Back button focus on?

[@marclabro]

on my z6ii, it is in A6 AF activation. If i select AF-ON only, it opens another menu "out of focus release enable". should i leave it enable ? does this AF-ON apply to mode A,S and also to my existing U1,U2,U3 which previously used half press mode or do i need to save each preset again to be sure ? I have set my z6ii to AF-C and a6 to af-on only. There are still two menus a1 and a2 which mention Af-C and AF-S priority selection which are both on focus. should i set both to release or leave them as they are because they are desactivated by af-on only mode ?

[@CloverPhotoandVideo]

Yes, I certainly find this feature useful, especially for photographing birds in flight, and as you noted it is already built into the Z6 as the default. Good informational video!

[@AF8Images]

Thanks for the comment Richard, as always, much appreciated. Adrian

[@nellorechari9770]

Simple and precise explanation

[@amandawood5903]

I have two questions. When I enable AF-ON only the AF activation (a7) still shows it as OFF although back button focus appears to be working. Secondly, if I back button focus, release, and then recompose, the focus point on playback display mode the shows the position of the recomposed focus box. Can you help me understand this please?

[@matsudakodo]

I would use subject tracking in AF-C for focus and recompose, and continue holding AF-ON. Set a Fn button to subject tracking, switch to Auto-area AF, and hit your Fn button.

[@sh1209macro]

Love back button focus. All I’ve used for years.

[@AF8Images]

👍

[@matsudakodo]

I think the Nikon Z eliminates many of the scenarios where AF-ON was useful. It's still useful in some situations like when you need to pre-focus while anticipating a very quick shot coming up, but NOT for focus and recompose, which was replaced by subject tracking.

[@MoonerBros]

Thanks for the video. it is very useful for portrait shooting with AF-S mode. However, AF-C + eye detection should be fine for most of casual photographers. this really requires the muscle memory like you mentioned.

[@davidp5875]

directions did not apply to Nikon Zfc

[@littlejackfilms]

thanks

[@AF8Images]

Thanks very much for the comment👍

[@blurayauthority]

You never told us how to actually do it.

[@AF8Images]

Apologies, must have had a momentary lapse 😉

[@casandralorrainephotograph3858]

I agree, why label it this when doesnt say how to do it :(

[@sunking9050]

All the time

[@AF8Images]

👍

[@peterh6655]

What a waste of time. Hearing you prattle on about the benefits was useless. Your video title is "AF Activation (back button focus)" and the key word - activation - is what I wanted to learn.

[@daviddowling9830]

Once you go back you never go back

[@AF8Images]

👍

[@iammz81]

I did not enjoy the video, as I still dont know how to setup my camera.