Nikon Z6: Pull Focus Using the Touch Screen Function

[@DanielandBenjamin]

Thanks so much. Auto-area AF and and AF-F makes all the difference.

[@Hongdadda297]

I would never have figured that out. Great tip thank you!

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

You're welcome. Glad it helped.

[@Vemovemo1]

Great video, on single point focus seems that af speed doesn´t affect, but in auto area it works, great!

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

Thanks! Yes, that's what's demonstrated here.

[@YannParodi]

Very useful Raymond. I was searching for this for Z50 I'll try it :)

[@Simbku]

Thanks for sharing

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

You bet!

[@BenjaminHalsall]

Incredible location! Love the location-based camera instruction. Great video.

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

Thanks Ben. This is what I want to do more of, despite the complexities (and dangers!) it introduces. Incidentally/coincidentally, I wanted to do my first Final Cut multicam edit, however, FC seemed to get confused by the number of clips from the Z-6, despite the unifying external audio clips (just 2), so it turned into quite a challenge. I ended up making 2 compound clips from camera one and audio, then using the Z clips and others as b-roll. Not sure if that was the best solution, but it worked well for the most part.

[@WhatMyLensSees]

Good stuff here Raymond. And definitely a great way to pull focus on the Z6!!

[@jamesss1953]

Thanks for sharing. Easy instructions ✔️

[@j3lmn]

Great instructions. Thank you.

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

You are welcome!

[@elemissie]

love the location and the tutorial, thank you!

[@CastFromTheHip]

I will give this a try, thanks for the info!

[@aschoffotografie]

you made my Day....thanks so much !!!

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

Glad it helped.

[@brendontyree]

Cheers mate, great video in a nice setting ✌

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

Cheers Brandon. Thanks for the comment.

[@glacierfilmco]

Great tip

[@markshirley01]

Thanks that very helpful

[@uncledoey]

thanks! I couldn't understand why my pull was still fast and the end here shows that it was because I was using single point instead of area mode. not sure why it works this way, but at least I know .....

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

You're welcome. Glad you watched to the end. A lot of people don't and miss that.

[@iWineLove]

Thanks. Even I set -5 speed, it still instantly changed focus, not slowly gradually. Why?

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

You must use the appropriate focus modes -- AF-area mode (Auto-area AF) and Focus mode Full-time AF (AF-F) , otherwise, as I demonstrate in the video, focus speed is not controlled.

[@iWineLove]

@@RaymondParkerPhoto Thanks. I did these settings as you said. But still instantly focus changed. My lens is 50mm f1.4 Nikon. what's your one?

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

@@iWineLove See video details. You haven't given me much to work with -- just 50mm 1.4 -- and I can't speak to f-mount or 3rd party lenses.

[@rbvan]

I purchased the Nikon Z5 and with the Nikkor Z 50mm 1.8 S lens it ALSO INSTANTLY CHANGES FOCUS despite making all the changes as outlined in this video. I was thinking the Z5 does not support this slower focus pulling somehow (firmware) and am probably going to return the camera.

[@lookingdown8290]

Nice video. Thanks. What tripod are you using for the Z6?

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

Thanks for the question. In this video, the Z6 is mounted on an old and heavy aluminum Manfrotto 055CB w/ #168 ball head, which is no fun to pack into places like the video location. The camera used to shoot the Z6 (Fujifilm X-Pro2) is mounted on my preferred tripod, the Gitzo GT3532S Series 3 6X Carbon Fiber Systematic 3 Section w/ FLM 38-FT “Centerball” head.

[@peterp7736]

Hello! This does not work in AF-C mode?

[@jmvideos2023]

Hola. Como se desactiva el disparo táctil en la z6

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

Toque en la pantalla.

[@AlexGower]

Which lens?

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

Thanks for asking, Alex. The main waterfall clips from the Z6 were recorded with the 50mm f/1.8S, also the "hiking" clips, except the entrance to the canyon, made with the 14-30 f/4.0S, as were b-roll at the end. The intro and a couple of other b-roll were made with an iPhone XS. Audio recorded externally with Tascam D60 MK II and Røde Stereo VideoMic Pro -- hence the "3-D" water effect :) Screen shot with Fuji X-Pro2 and 23mm f/1.4.

[@TheGeoDaddy]

So I set aside my two Z Zoom lenses for my Z6 when I realized that all Z lenses (even fixed) are “wired focus” which means you are not guaranteed that the same focal distance can be predicted when turn the dial away then back again... since I will be doing most of my shooting off a Rhino Slider Arc II with actors, I need to set focus on one actor, then another, and let the Slider pull focus automagically (trusting the actors do not change their distance for that shot) HAS to be done with a Legacy Manual Lens (via FTZ) the Z lenses are not designed to be accurate by way of the focus ring! I see what we are doing here and it’s fine for run and gun (still a lot of chance for hit and miss... though this does catch the chance that an actor moves in distance and the autofocus will find them!) but not practical for shooting on a set - cinematically - as the Z6 ProRes RAW is billed to shoot “movies” 😎

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

Agreed. I don't think the Z6 or the Z-mount lenses can replace dedicated cinema gear. However, as I think this video demonstrates, the autofocus is very nice, especially with the touch screen (which, I admit, isn't 100% reliable). I also count on the auto follow focus for all my "talking head" clips. As a mostly one-man-show, I wouldn't want to go back a year to the time I'd have to set focus with "Dummy" (star of several productions) and try not to move much. My latest firmware update video shows the improved tracking which, I think, will only make the camera/lenses more attractive to people like myself -- KZbinrs and amateur filmmakers.

[@TheGeoDaddy]

Raymond Parker Yes, 3.0 is remarkable! It took Nikon a year to get Autofocus up to snuff, and they got the right stuff especially for people who shoot their beloved friends with four legs

[@aschoffotografie]

I am afraid, Nikon put that much power into the Z6ii that this cool trick does not work anymore with the new models. I did try a lot of settings. Of course I started with Auto Focus Speed -5 and Auto Aerea Focus and Focus Tracking active....but the z6ii just pulls the focus straight away. It seems as if the setting -5 has a much less big impact than with the old models. In fact with the z6ii the slowest I could get was with Singel Point AF....Nikon made it faster all the way....so I believe the z6 Owner do have a real advantage when focus pulling is wanted. At the moment, the only way I see for z6ii owner is to work with: Full HD / 120 p / Singel Point AF / AF Speed -5 / Touch AF and slowing it down in Post. I talked to Nikon about the missing Option to produce slow Fokus Pulls...hopfully the come along with the next Firmware Update

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

You need Auto-area Autofocus with Full-time Autofocus (AF-F). Any other combo will revert to fast focus pull, as I illustrate in the video. Use the first settings I show in the video. If you're following my instructions and it's not working, then I guess there is something changed with the Z6II ... or your camera, in particular. Hope this helps.

[@OutdoorEdition]

I encountered the same issue on my z6ii. Better to do a manual pull in 4K 60p and slow it down

[@pmarval]

I'm having difficulty making this work using my Z6ii. I'm using FTZ adapter and maybe that's why? Does this only work with dedicated Z lenses? I think this would be an amazing effect to be able to do when filming and I'm a little frustrated that it doesn't work on the newer model but does on the older one.

[@pmarval]

@@OutdoorEdition if you're filming people having a conversation, you can't really do that. I don't get why this doesn't work.

[@OutdoorEdition]

@@pmarval I am using FTZ as well. I don’t have the capital to upgrade to Z lenses, would be a shame if that’s the reason why it doesn’t work :(

[@unalozmen526]

It hunts at fast setting, in slow settings its OK.

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

Not sure I'm following you. What settings?

[@raysanders332]

I am not sure I understand why you chose a negative focus speed in the movie mode.

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

It smoothes the transition.