Nikon Z6ii - Autofocus Guide for Wildlife and Bird Photography

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Күн бұрын

In this week's video, I will guide you on how to effectively use the autofocus feature on the Nikon Z6ii for capturing stunning bird photographs.
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Пікірлер: 54

@dusty_burkhalter 9 ай бұрын

I was talked away from the Z6 II at release and steered towards the R6 by a camera store owner because of auto focus. I have since owned the R6 II, A7 IV and A7C II, all great cameras with amazing auto focus systems. After finding that the A7C II just did not meet my expectations I returned it and decided to finally take the plunge on the Z6 II while it was on sale and pair it with the 50mm 1.8. I did a professional shoot the same day the camera arrived and it didn’t miss a beat. The couple was thrilled with their photos and I have to say of all the cameras I have shot the raw files were the easiest to work with. Was the auto focus as good as the R6 II (undoubtedly the best focusing system under $2500) no but it was far more than sufficient. I’ve come to the conclusion that most people who complain about the focus system in the Z6 II have never shot a DSLR or they don’t take the time to learn the camera and work around some of its minor shortcomings.

@Rowlandzy 5 ай бұрын

Absolutely

@SeanCarter Ай бұрын

No, this is the cop-out that you all keep telling yourselves. Y’all would rather gaslight than to admit that the z6ii’s AF is garbage. I’ve shot with several different DSLRs for more than a decade and the autofocus on the z6ii simply sucks.

@ajc1482 21 күн бұрын

I've been shooting with Nikon DSLRs for years and I'm sorry btw AF on the Z6II is awful especially for wildlife. I spent three hours laying in old sand, mud and sea water photographing Red Knot, 40% of 500 images were in focus the Z6II struggled on situations my D500 would have absolutely nailed...and before you ask I was using the Z 180-600

@thezeek2745 Күн бұрын

@@SeanCarterno it doesn’t. I don’t understand people. Maybe you tried it (did you actually try it?) before the software update

@SeanCarter Күн бұрын

@@thezeek2745 Like I said, I’ve been shooting for more than a decade. I know VERY WELL how to operate a camera, so you can miss me with the “you don’t know what you’re doing” talking point. Again, the focus on the z6ii sucks.

@hk7219 4 ай бұрын

You have a really nice way of explaining things in a patient way, thank you!

@marieta.s 10 ай бұрын

I just bought the z6ii and looking forward to using it. For sure it’s a huge leap between this and my d5500. I just need to set it up properly before I go out to shoot wildlife 😃

@adrianvanleeuwen 9 ай бұрын

Love the explanation for Dynamic focus mode which I had not considered. I though Wide area box focus mode would be useful to keep tracking but it seems to have some limitations. If capturing a runner or fast moving person maybe Wide area eye detect may be useful, but Dynamic focus mode with continuous tracking on release seems best for fast moving birds who take flight. I only have the Z5 but may sell it and upgrade it for Z6ii or else z6iii when it comes out next summer of 2024, so I can get better moving action AF for photos and video.

@jamespyron3160 10 ай бұрын

Thank you for your autofocus explanations. Your video was very helpful.

@frugeon9318 Жыл бұрын

Great video! As a fellow Z6II owner who is taking a liking to Bird Photography. This is great. Subscribed and will be following your channel. I mainly do landscape but like to do some bird photography in my back yard. In the process of making a reflection pool to up my photography as well.

@donaldklopper 9 ай бұрын

Great comprehensive explanation of z6ii focusing. Thanks!

@Endogamy 3 ай бұрын

Once pressed and by holding the F1, use the front dial to quickly change, in this case AF mode! Very effective!

@MikeMyers00 4 ай бұрын

Can you please tell me what settings you used on your D780, before you switched to the Z6 II ? Did you turn on "tracking" What other thngs did you do? Wonderful video, very descriptive. I want to do the same thing with my D780 next week.

@Abdullah-kd8kq 8 ай бұрын

Z50 user. Very helpful tips!

@nongjin4770 2 ай бұрын

Great video, very informative! You mentioned you focus the subject at center point and then recompose. I am curious, with AF-C and dynamic focus area, the focus area is fixed (e.g. center point), how do you maintain focus on the subject when you move the camera? In my understanding, with this combination, something in the focus area will be constantly focused. If you move the subject out of the focus area, the subject won't be focused anymore. Did I miss something?

@thezeek2745 Күн бұрын

Let go of the button and focus locks where it was when you had it pressed. Focus. Let go. Recompose. Shoot. If I understand you question.

@ianwilsonwildlifephotography 6 ай бұрын

Hi Alan, fantastic informative video. Have you used the animal eye tracking mode on the z6ii? Might be me but just find it difficult to use and not very effective? Thanks Ian

@fabiomarujo4290 8 ай бұрын

Excelente, obrigado.

@jagadhish8244 11 ай бұрын

My dear brother am. From India this video is very helpful, I need a video of 180-600 mm with z6ii please consider this mate thank you❤

@ajc1482 8 ай бұрын

One issue I've had with AF-S is the focus point stays locked even when I release the shutter button. I've tried adjusting the AF "stickiness" but even that to 1 doesn't help. Really annoying today, I was photographing Red Knot switching between AF-S and AF-C and the AF just didn't want to focus. The AF-S single pint would again lock focus then stay focused even after I released the shutter button, obviously meaning I couldn't focus on a subject until it fixed itself. Not sure if the 180-600 is the issue or the Body.

@asamendigorin1512 Жыл бұрын

Great video. My z6ii is collecting dust after buying my Z9 😅

@teak909 3 ай бұрын

Hey, is it possible that the Z6 II can detect and track Animals Eyes/Bodys while recording a video?

@smileinurhand 8 ай бұрын

Nikon raw weak processing on Lightroom. I'm facing this issue with the D750 and Z5. Nikon must work for that. overall best camera for portrait Photography.

@kilian9591 7 ай бұрын

Great video! I currently want to update from my old d7100 to the z series, but plan to continue using an f-mount tele-lens with ftz-adapter for birds. As my budget is tight, but a used z6ii would be an option, I'm wondering if that's a good choice. (I have decided not to invest in a d850 as I trust in z as the future.) Any comments on that?

@alanyoungphoto 7 ай бұрын

I think the z6ii would definitely be a step up but you also might want to wait to see the z6iii and compare to the ZF as well.

@marktvcturner2448 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for an informative video! Could I please ask your advice? I currently use a D5 and mostly shoot live performing arts, primarily circus performers. I spot focus and spot meter and manually move the focus point around on the fly as needed. Usually around 1/250, as wide open as I can with auto ISO. I use back button to focus. Do you think the Z6 II would be up to the challenge? Thank you!

@alanyoungphoto 4 ай бұрын

I haven’t used a D5 personally, but my understanding is that autofocus and low light performance are its strengths. I’m hesitant to suggest that the z6ii could compare. My instinct is to suggest maybe the Z8 or Z9 instead for what you’re doing. I could be wrong though!

@marktvcturner2448 4 ай бұрын

@@alanyoungphoto thanks. I ended up biting the bullet as a bloke locally had the body and the exact lens I was looking at for a decent price. I shot three shows over the weekend and it took a bit of practice, but it performed well. Not quite as solid as the D5 with the AF, but I'm yet to experiment with the AF options that Z6II has that the D5 does not, so it could end up on par. The IQ is fantastic, especially at high ISO. Cheers!

@NIBUSVISUALCREATIONS 10 ай бұрын

Informative.

@marc5279 7 ай бұрын

2 years now with the z6ii while trying out different suff and listenning to different setups for the autofocus system. Not a chance ill grab it over the d500 for wildlife. At most, if silent shutter is mandatory for whatever i intend to do i'd feel sorry for myself and take the z6ii with me, but thats it. It can work, but it's so unreliable that makes the experience not worth it... I've missed great shots because of that

@amitdutta8768 7 ай бұрын

Great video with lots of information. Thanks Alan. One question - how much z6ii is capable of tracking a moving subject while shooting video ?

@alanyoungphoto 7 ай бұрын

It’s not quite as advanced as the cameras with the Expeed 7. Animal mode is also limited to cats and dogs, if I recall. But the autofocus is still more than good enough for most slower moving subjects. I actually struggle with the shutter blackout more than I ever notice autofocus issues.

@amitdutta8768 7 ай бұрын

@@alanyoungphoto Thanks Alan. I currently use D500 for wildlife video, with 200-500. Wish z6ii should have better autofocus during video.

@glenngarton2854 9 ай бұрын

How does the z6ii compare to the Z50 for wildlife?

@COShea-iw6ii 8 ай бұрын

Hi Alan, thank you for the video. I'm about to jump to a Nikon Z6ii (astrophotography priorities) after eight years with a Pentax K3ii. My one concern is EVF lining up directly with a bird in flight the way an OVF can do it. I see that EVFs have improved greatly since the mirrorless era began. What's your experience with tracking moving objects via the EVF? Thanks for your time, Cathleen Shea

@alanyoungphoto 7 ай бұрын

For me, the only trouble I have is the shutter blackout when I’m shooting bursts. If the bird in flight is erratic in any ways, its easy to lose track during those moments of blackout

@COShea-iw6ii 7 ай бұрын

@@alanyoungphoto Thank you. This sounds like a relatively tolerable quirk. I'm eager to get my hands on one. 🙂

@mike.photography 10 ай бұрын

Grazie! 🇮🇹

@rocketmanab 9 ай бұрын

Thanks for this. Same settings for Z7ii ?

@alanyoungphoto 7 ай бұрын

Yep!

@woodymallory9058 Жыл бұрын

Think I will wait to see the improvements on the Z63

@alanyoungphoto Жыл бұрын

I’m very curious to see what niche the Z6iii will fill that the Z8 does not. Possibly more video-centric? 🤔

@asamendigorin1512 Жыл бұрын

@@alanyoungphotoprobably weddings and portraits

@noctivagance_imagery 9 ай бұрын

@alanyoungphoto that's easy! Mechanical shutter and non stacked sensor. Music/wedding photographers can still hugely benefit from a Mechanical shutter due to no banding

@mikearcher6239 9 ай бұрын

Great AF explanation! Have subbed and will check out more videos. Very new at wildlife and landscape photography; currently using a D5200. Researching what to step up to: D780 or Z6ii. I currently own an F mount Sigma 150-600 so that has me leaning toward the 780. But might I be better to go with the Z6ii and an FTZ adapter? Thanks!