Nikon Z9 Autofocus AF Tracking Birds In Flight In Dense Branches

[@jamalkleghari446]

Sir,,you Nailed it ! Absolute Perfect Illustration of Z9's Absolute Supremacy. Great Sharing Indeed

[@bigboi36]

The Z9 user content is quite valuable by those like yourself who have taken the time to test and tweak the af settings. This user content along with Nikon’s firmware tweaks will catapult the tech for future cameras. There are some users who have commented on af of the z9 who have tested the af but not tweaked it. Kudos again for all your effort’s.

[@Coolwildlife1]

Thanks Robert, much appreciated

[@longrider9551]

YOU OWN THE CAMERA and are the ONLY one that has to be happy, nice shots, put in the work and show us more amazing shots. The more time you put in the less time you will have to pay attention to the internet. I don't shoot Nikon but it looks like an amazing camera!

[@Coolwildlife1]

Thanks man, much appreciated

[@josemirabal1063]

Excellent video and narration of the AF tracking ability and setup of the Z9. Thanks for sharing.

[@Coolwildlife1]

YW Jose, I'm glad you enjoyed it

[@tonyclark1504]

Thnakyou for taking the time to produce - well presented.

[@Coolwildlife1]

Thank you Tony, I appreciate your comment

[@juju691]

Really enjoy your videos...great learning for me. i am unable to access your website/blog..is there another place where I could download the Z9 setting guides ?

[@Coolwildlife1]

Thanks. If you have a VPN turned on try turning it off. There's no blocking on my site so you should be able to access it.

[@juju691]

Thank you. Will check

[@tc6912]

Thanks again. What about a still bird sitting in a bush or tree tightly surrounded by branches? Will it sort out the eye and hold it as she jumps around?

[@Coolwildlife1]

I’d likely go single point for that use case as you need to be able to lock onto the eye in the first place.

[@tc6912]

OK. Thank you. Trying to get a feel for the limitations of this auto 'eye' focus.

[@cliftonwhittaker260]

Thanks. This answered a lot of Z9 questions for me.

[@Coolwildlife1]

YW, glad it helped.

[@leetwigg]

Hi, Great video, I can't do this with my Z9, im guessing its because I use the F mount 200-500 with the FTZ. I can lock on the eye then as it takes off it just starts searching again.. any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

[@arwen311]

Nice video. I don't shoot birds or use AF tracking. So do you use single point focus on the female bird or does the camera automatically focuses on the bird?

[@WilsonSilverthorne]

Well done and pretty impressive stuff.

[@Coolwildlife1]

Thanks, it's a ton of fun.

[@pics7161]

Great video: Full of detailed information. I use your your recommended settings, one question though. Should I still use AF setting 5/erratic for smaller fast moving birds such as kingfishers, specially while diving ? I am still struggling with small birds compared to using GroupAF on a D850. Thanks

[@Hrishi1970]

Very impressive

[@Coolwildlife1]

Thanks, it impressed me as well, opens up a whole new world for me with BIF.

[@tc6912]

Still hanging on tightly to my D500 and 500pf. I have the 100-400, 24-120 and a Z6ii in my cart at BH. Just can't seem to pull the trigger yet. The Z9 performance looks great, but the body size is not for me. As an entry level into Nikon mirrorless, would you go for the Z6ii or Z7ii as a slower action and wider shooting second camera to the D500. Can't decide whether the low light characteristics of the Z6ii or the high resolution of the Z7ii has more value.

[@prokremelskidezolati1426]

Z6 II/Z7 II is slower than the D500...

[@mlai2546]

@@prokremelskidezolati1426 what are you talking about? Z6ii and Z7ii both have dual Expeed 6 processor. D500 only has 1. If you switch Z6ii to dynamic autofocus, it will do 14fps vs D500's 10fps.

[@tc6912]

Thank you for the advice, but I do understand the autofocus limitations on the Zii's. I can't get a good grasp on the Z6ii -4.5 ev vs the Z7ii -3 ev. Does this really make a difference in low light? Will it be better in low light than my D500? Does is let you shoot at a lower ISO for a given situation or just let you focus better in low light?

[@mlai2546]

@@tc6912 I don't know how well D500 does in low light. But compared to D7200, I think Z6 is better. When you say low light, do you mean like pitch black? Or just indoor with dim light? When people say Z7 doesn't focus well in the dark, they mean really dark. Like maybe in a club with very low lighting.

[@Coolwildlife1]

@@tc6912 If the body size of the Nikon Z9 is too large for you then stick with the D500 and 500pf. This decision depends on what you shoot really. The D500 is a great camera with additional reach with the crop factor so it's great for wildlife. I owned it for a year before I went to the Z6II/7II. It was not great in low light, I did not feel comfortable pushing it past ISO 2000. The Z6II can push higher and the Z9 I take out to 12,800. There's no right or wrong here, only you know what your needs are for what you shoot. If you are buying gear, you can support this channel by using my B&H affiliate link. www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1597167-REG/nikon_z_6_ii_mirrorless.html/BI/8999/KBID/10483/kw/NIZ62/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xNIZ62

[@flowyscreations]

The Z9 is a beast and performed very well. The A1 fan boys will say it doesn't have 30fps, only 20 hence miss 30% of what they can capture in raw. Do you think you missed much Bill? Here from the FB group.

[@Coolwildlife1]

I've been a Nikon shooter for 30 years, owned every pro body except the D6 because I was already switched over to mirrorless. Without question, this is the best AF I've ever shot with. I missed nothing on my snowy owl shoot, AF nailed every eye in focus in bright light and sunlight. In this latest video it did an amazing job tracking a duck through the branches. It was soft only 3 frames in the sequence.

[@longrider9551]

I shoot an A9, average 10,000 BIF images a month. Were not all fan boys and my friends shoot Canon and Nikon. Far as I can tell this virtual reality competition is mostly folks who don't even own one of these cameras and just need to know their brand is best. I want you to have a better camera so I can smile when my images are better than yours because after all that's the point of what we do. Do what I do and the next time someone tells you their camera is better, I quietly smile and say "show me your images 😎. On gear its great Nikon made the Z9 and Canon the R3, because at some point Sony will give me a better tool than what I have, in the meantime I will work hard to be the best I can be✌

[@avikmajumdar7668]

and A1 doesnt have 8k 60p and a fully professional body with vertical grip it also doesnt have the capability to record for more than 2 hours and many more

[@longrider9551]

@@avikmajumdar7668 and you just don't get it

[@mlai2546]

@@longrider9551 😆 am smiling at this comment. ☺️

[@eric00214]

Just so you know. The blocked shot setting 1-5 and the steady/erratic setting only works in the dynamic af modes. They do NOT effect the AF in 3D, wide area large, small or auto area AF.

[@neerajr3134]

Such detailed vedio.. Thanks

[@Coolwildlife1]

Your welcome Neeraj

[@Brentbrussell]

This is the first example I've seen of the Z9 where I genuinely think the D500 would not be able to match it.

[@Coolwildlife1]

I just read where Nikon is discontinuing the D500.

[@Brentbrussell]

@@Coolwildlife1 It was a good run and it's still very capable but the future is Z

[@tedcomeau2671]

Thanks for the education, can’t wait to get mine . I ordered from Henry’s in Canada and I’m number 68 on the list. Hopefully when all the NPS is complete grrr , the little people will get orders filled. Keep sharing it makes waiting a little easier.

[@Coolwildlife1]

I spent hours reviewing Z9 content before I got mine, my wife said I was obsessed. Like there's something wrong with that:))

[@danielcogan6619]

Great video and so kind of you to share the knowledge you've gained over many, many hours with the Z 9! Only comment regards the volume of the video - it seems quite low. Your comments after the video came through loud and clear. Again, thanks for your generosity!

[@Coolwildlife1]

Hmmm, I'm really struggling with the sound aspect, I turned it up last video and had peaking. Turned it down for this video and now too low. I'm no video/audio guy so if anyone has any helpful suggestions I'm all ears.

[@danielcogan6619]

@@Coolwildlife1 Hey, you're not struggling with the photography end and that's what's most important!

[@edbritelight7683]

Wow…just love to see how impressive this AF is working! can’t wait to get my hands on a Z9 myself Keep up the good work…really enjoy your channel

[@Coolwildlife1]

Thanks Ed, it's been a fun way to spend retirement:))

[@prokremelskidezolati1426]

@@Coolwildlife1 lol

[@stuartbell3666]

Real world examples and totally impressed. There’s a lot rhetoric out there and with videos such as yours it may give the doubters out there something else to ponder on. Love your content and just subscribed, thank you👍

[@Coolwildlife1]

Thanks Stuart, I appreciate your kind words and support.

[@BaaPhoto]

Thanks for sharing this with us =)

[@Coolwildlife1]

My pleasure Borge

[@ianmackenzie8584]

Thank you, very interesting. Zed 9.

[@Coolwildlife1]

I will keep the info coming Ian

[@HotGates]

Excellent I love my Z9 the only thing I don't like is my 200-500 with it, Getting ready to buy the 100-400; )

[@Coolwildlife1]

You'll love the 100-400. I sold my 200-500 last year, the new 100-400 is so much lighter, faster and optically way better. Oh yah, it's also awesome with teleconverters, check out my review on that lens with the 1.4 and 2.0. coolwildlife.com/nikon-z-lenses/nikon-z-100-400-teleconverter-field-test-z-1-4-2-0/

[@HotGates]

@Coolwildlife1 I did read your review on the 100-400, Great site and info btw 👍

[@jazinzlaty4823]

Great!

[@Coolwildlife1]

Thanks Jazin

[@molokaibicycles]

Man I wish I could shoot like that!

[@Coolwildlife1]

You can Ted with a little practice 😁

[@jimreimer6140]

After seeing so much garbage, this very nice and refreshing.

[@Coolwildlife1]

Thanks Jim, I appreciate the positive feedback

[@MichaelHassey]

Good content, all into the topic etc. but dude, your audio.... what's up with that? You need to tune into some Curtis Judd videos - You sound like you are using a soup can and a string tied off to a phone for your audio..

[@Coolwildlife1]

Michael, I'm clearly struggling with audio. I have an external mic, turned down the software so it wasn't peaking this time and it's still not good. I'll watch some of Chris' video's to see if I can figure it out. I do appreciate the feedback.

[@Skye_the_toller]

It is so far away from what the Z7ii can not do at all ;)

[@Coolwildlife1]

Yes, I had difficulty tracking birds in flight with the 7II

[@daviddowling9830]

Get out of the barrel

[@Coolwildlife1]

Hey David, not sure what you mean?

[@LightPointSoftware]

@@Coolwildlife1 I think he is referring to the audio.

[@josefmolina3510]

Even with the new firmware 4.0 the autofocus of the Z9 sucks when the bird is passing a busy background. Really, really terrible. I use also a Sony A1 and the A1 does a much, much better job here. This is really disappointing.

[@Coolwildlife1]

Have you tried 4.1 with the new bird eye detect?

[@MyContestPix]

Damn, very impressive. I guess my only question is, would you have gotten better tack sharp tracking with Sony or Canon or is that irrelevant considering the Z9 is close to perfect. Maybe 2-3 firmware releases away from being indistinguishable.

[@Coolwildlife1]

I think the three flagships from each brand do very well with AF so I don’t think it matters which brand you choose at this point.