Nikon Z9 Autofocus Setup for Wildlife

You've been asking for it, so here it is.............
I have been asked many times in the comments of previous videos about the autofocus capabilities of the Nikon Z9, how I use it and have it setup. Those of you who have been watching my videos for a while now, will remember the disaster I had with the autofocus system when photographing the Osprey's!
In this episode I visit Gauntlet Bird of Prey Sanctuary and use this as an opportunity to share how I setup the autofocus on the Z9.
So sit back, get your notebooks at the ready as I share my autofocus journey with the Nikon Z9.
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Kit Used in this video:
Nikon Z9
Nikon Z70-200mm 2.8
DJI Pocket 2
DJI Microphone
GoPro Hero 11 Black edition

[@ericsmith9777]

Been shooting with the Z9 now for 9 months. She's a beast, with so much to learn. Excellent video and in watching, adding "wide area small' to the shutter button makes sense ! Thanks... From Alberta, Canada.....Cheers.

[@danwillis_photography]

My pleasure Eric and thank you for your comment 👍🏻

[@randyredding3629]

Well done, Dan. I really like how you tell it like it is. My Z9 set up is similar. I use the shutter button half press for 3D tracking. The rear AF for wide area large and the toggle (push to engage) for single point. I can engage all three very quickly without going to the FN buttons on the front of the camera. FN 1 is set to wide area small. Keep up the good work. Can’t wait for your next video.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much for your comment I also like the thought of using the toggle button for single point as the front buttons can be a bit fiddly when you are under pressure. Thanks again 👍🏻

[@refuztosay9454]

Thanks for tips - very helpful.

[@danwillis_photography]

My pleasure, glad they were helpful 👍🏻

[@michaelsaltsman7550]

another great instructional video as always Dan love ur chnl

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers Mike, really do appreciate your continued support and encouragement mate 👍🏻

[@PottsiePhoto]

Brilliant video Dan, I’m just about to get a Z9 after shooting with D850 and already a bit anxious. This should help tho.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much I really appreciate it. Best of luck with your adventures with the Z9. All the best 👍🏻

[@gerrygill3330]

Thanks Dan, love your videos keep them coming, I have the Z9 & 400mm 2.8 it's a dream come true for birders and think it will only get better.

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers Gerry, I must admit I’m really tempted by the 400mm 2.8 I’ve heard nothing but great reviews about it. Thanks for your comment it’s appreciated 👍🏻

[@herbertthuasne3153]

Hi Dan you could program one of the Front Botton to the panic Focus, means Full frame Focus. Then while you press the Back 3D Button you press at the same time the Frontbutton with the Full Frame Auto search, when it found your Object you release the Front Button and continuo automatic with the 3D tracking, that works really good.

[@danwillis_photography]

I like the sound of that Herbert, thanks very much for your comment I’m going to try that one 👍🏻

[@alejandrosikaffy8543]

Really helpful video, thank you Dan.!

[@danwillis_photography]

My pleasure, thank you for your comment 👍🏻

[@matthewmulroy5537]

Great video again Dan. I really like what you are doing on your channel. I'm a Z9 shooter as well and you are right when you say, to get the most out of the Z9, you have to understand the autofocus system. . Keep up the good work.

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers Matthew I really appreciate your comment and support 👍🏻

[@Johnd3s]

Nice video with good focus info, the hybrid focus option is in my view the best way to operate the Nikon Z9. Many thanks.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks for your comment John, appreciate it 👍🏻

[@davelangley2965]

Hi Dan. Works of art Dan, detail in those images that would be lost I feel if those magnificent birds or any other animals could not be photographed in this way. For anybody wanting to see so much detail as I often do, you can't go far wrong with images like yours. Not a Z9 owner myself , but even with a D500 I feel my shots have improved so much thanks to yourself and others with videos and tips to learn from. Thanks for your hard work and sharing Dan, as I'm sure this is your aim, it's how we learn to improve ourselves and then help others Thank you Dan. Best to pops.👍

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers Dave I really do appreciate your kind words and yes sharing information and tips about our passion in a hope that it inspires and helps others is definitely a driving force in why I make the videos. Thanks again 👍🏻

[@NikCan66]

Excellent video yet informative 👏

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks I really appreciate that 👍🏻

[@MrCopper4]

Great tips thank you. Will give it a try

[@danwillis_photography]

Thank you, hope they help 👍🏻

[@jeanlouis83]

Bonjour de très bonnes explications, reste à acheter le Z 9 😀

[@danwillis_photography]

merci beaucoup pour votre commentaire c'est apprécié 👍🏻

[@bobhart6160]

Great video and your technique sure makes sense. I can’t find how to set top button in my settings when half pressed to how you have yours set up, don’t suppose you done a video on how to set that up. Keep up the good work.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks for your comment and question Bob. In answer to your question you can’t actually assign any function to the shutter button and I think my comment was misleading as a number of people have asked this question. I will explain what I mean, if you set your main AF to wide area small this is assigned to the shutter button. When you press the back button or any other programmable button it will take priority over the shutter button as long as it is pressed. Hope that makes sense 👍🏻

[@bobhart6160]

@@danwillis_photography thanks, just done it and it’s so much better.

[@cliveingram9840]

Really really helpful Dan thank you so much! Clive

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks Clive, appreciate it 👍🏻

[@Jwb-d6h]

Very informative Dan, I’m considering upgrading from the z7 to the z9 as I’m finding to z7 isn’t quite quick enough at focusing on faster birds……..although it could also be ‘user error’ 😅🤣🤣

[@danwillis_photography]

You won’t be disappointed with the Z9 it’s an incredible piece of kit 👍🏻

[@relichunter7984]

Nice one mate, every bit of info helps

[@danwillis_photography]

No worries at all 👍🏻

[@georgeschassagne6244]

Great video Dan, I use pretty much the same settings on my Z9 just the bigger wide box. Autofocus improves with new firmwares. On 3.0 I still had problems with 3D on loaded backgrounds. I have to test 3.1 which seems to improve this point. Your photos are superb. Well done and thank you for sharing. Greetings from France Bordeaux.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thank you for your comment it’s great to hear from overseas viewers. I made this video before the new firmware update and agree that it has improved the 3D tracking system. Thanks again 👍🏻

[@SwanSycorax]

Great video Dan. An interesting set up arrangement. Mine is similar but different!! I use the back-button focus to select either "Wide-area L" or "Wide-area S" (I switch between the two via the I-menu depending on the environment), and have the 3D-Tracking allocated to the forward function button(s) on the 100-400 & 800 lenses so I can quickly and easily switch from wide-area to 3D according to which works best. I hadn't tried the single-point allocation to one of the Fn1/2/3 buttons and might give that a try. My Fn1 is set for FX - DX switching. Whilst I prefer to shoot Full Frame, in some situations I find the DX-crop mode makes it easier to grab focus when the subject is a bit far away.

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers Brian, appreciated as always. I too use one of the front buttons to switch between FX and DX mode for the exact same reason, it just seems to help the focus system when the target is larger in the frame 👍🏻

[@SwanSycorax]

@@danwillis_photography I was intrigued by your configuration layout so I have set up one of my Custom Setting Banks (C) to use your configuration whilst still retaining my set up on Bank B. A little confusing when I first tried it as I have been using my setup for almost 12 months now and have become so used to having focus disabled on the shutter button, but, I can see some advantages with your setup so I will persevere for a while before making a final decision. I like the fact that with your set up it is quicker to switch from the Wide Area S/L to 3D Tracking - with my set up the 3D Tracking is via the lens Fn buttons and I sometimes have to fumble to find the button whilst shooting, and the Wide Area L/S is under the AFn back-button which I have become so used to.

[@danwillis_photography]

@@SwanSycorax I think it’s all personal choice and practice which gets us using a system without thinking about it. Worth trying but if you are used to your original setup it might be best to stick with that 👍🏻

[@Gazzab6]

A very informative video Dan. I haven’t got a Z9 but I will save your video into a folder just in case I ever purchase one. I’m still on a D500 and to reduce the AF locking onto the background or foreground instead of the subject, I have the AF sensitivity set to Delayed on 4 or 5. It works great when panning especially in combination with the AF Group mode. I was photographing a Barn Owl tonight and it worked flawlessly.

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers for the comment I appreciate it. I had the D500 before my Z9 and wish I had kept hold of it, they seem to be increasing in value now and it’s a stunning camera. I like the tip you have shared also, that makes perfect sense and something I wish I had tried. Cheers 👍🏻

[@Gazzab6]

@@danwillis_photography I'm seeing more D500 cameras now then I ever did. Probably because they have become more available due to photographers upgrading to the Z9. I was at a reserve hide / blind yesterday evening and there were five photographers present counting myself and three of us were shooting with D500s and one bloke owned two. I was talking to another well known wildlife photographer that also has a You Tube channel (you do know him by the way) who upgraded from his D500 to a Z9 and he said he's thinking of buying a D500 as a back up.

[@danwillis_photography]

@@Gazzab6 you’ve peaked my interest, who was you talking to?

[@Gazzab6]

@@danwillis_photography Simon E.

[@danwillis_photography]

@@Gazzab6 top bloke 👍🏻

[@sinetwo]

This is good news for Z8. Hoping to see more wildlife videos testing and comparing the AF systems

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks for your comment 👍🏻

[@ianwilsonwildlifephotography]

Great video Dan, just wish you’d done it about about 5 weeks ago before I visited there recently. Will have a look on my Z6ii and see if that has all three of those settings. Has at least two of them I’m sure.

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers Ian, hope you had an equally good time at Gauntlet. I’m sure some of, if not all the AF is transferable to the Z6ii it’s a fantastic camera 👍🏻

[@ianwilsonwildlifephotography]

Just need to get out a practice with the buttons 👍

[@danwillis_photography]

@@ianwilsonwildlifephotography it really is a case of practice, practice, practice and then practice some more. All the best Ian

[@ianwilsonwildlifephotography]

Hi Dan, just gone back to look at this video again from your archives. Suppose it depends how often you get out and practice the technique but roughly how long did it take you to master using all the buttons as well as concentrating on panning the subject. Thanks Ian 👍

[@philippGM]

Great video and really helpful. One question, how do you re-assign the shutter button to another AF mode?

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks for your comment, you set your main focus to (in my case wide area small) your desired af setting. The other programmable buttons override this when depressed. Hope that helps 👍🏻

[@joncothranphotography9375]

Too cool!

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Jon 👍🏻

[@paulliversage4479]

Cheers Dan...take it was pre bird id upgrade? Have you noticed a significant improvement since the upgrade?im on the Z8 and patiently waiting to find out.

[@danwillis_photography]

This was pre bird id and this has made a significant improvement on the auto focus system. It’s pretty close to perfect now 👍🏻

[@paulliversage4479]

@@danwillis_photography cheer Dan..hoping the z8 gets it soon

[@tonyh4266]

Great video on auto focus settings. I have a question,however. When you press down on the shutter button with your adaptation, does it take the photo with 3d tracking when using the back button, or at the last moment does it use the focus setting linked to the shutter button setting? I have never linked any focus settings to the shutter button for this reason.I hope I haven’t confused you. Love all your videos, they are honest natural and full of helpful critique. Please continue.

[@danwillis_photography]

That’s a very good question Tony. The answer is that if you keep the back button pressed throughout the process then the 3D tracking is in operation. If you release the back button before pressing the shutter button then it would switch. Exactly the same with the programmable front button. If this remains pressed then I have single point but the moment it is released the shutter button operation takes over. Hope that answers your question, get back to me if you need anything else 👍🏻

[@tonyh4266]

@@danwillis_photography Thanks for the swift reply. I’m clear now👍

[@danwillis_photography]

@@tonyh4266 No worries at all Tony 👍🏻

[@jamalkleghari446]

Hello Dan, I have been using the Z9 for now almost more than 8 months with a 500mm pf and the FTZ II. In your video, at 8:03 minutes, You are Assigning on the Shutter button , Wide Area ( S ) For Better Zeroing in to your Bird or Animal. I Tried doing that but CAN NOT Assign Any Thing to It Other than its Normal Function, i.e Pressing the Shutter. Kindly tell me, where I am going " wrong "

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks for your comment. You are right it is only assigned as shutter but you can set the primary autofocus system to wide area small. The other programmable buttons override this whilst they remain pressed 👍🏻

[@garyhook1372]

Correction: A peregrine falcon can reach speeds of 240 MPH when diving. Good stuff on setup. Will try it out!

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks for the correction Gary, my bad. Hope the setup information works out for you 👍🏻

[@gerrygill3330]

Dan, not had an opportunity to used it myself. Have you ever tried *Pre-Release mode* if so what are your thoughts, thank you.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks for the comment Gerry, I have used the pre-release mode on several occasions but I find as you only get jpeg images it is limited in application. Having said that it certainly produces some images that I would never have gotten without it 👍🏻

[@sonnydugganphotography]

Another belter Dan even tho I shoot the Canon R5 great informative video for Nikon users 👍

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers Sonny, appreciate your ongoing support mate 👍🏻

[@tobyjefferis8986]

when you say 300mm on a 70-200 are you zooming in at what it would be?

[@danwillis_photography]

It is when you put the camera into DX mode and you apply the crop factor 👍🏻

[@davedewdney]

Great video not got a z9 😢only a d3500 😮but still good to watch I’ve got a wildlife channel hoping to grow and need to improve thanks for sharing

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers Dave, appreciate your comment and support. I will take a look at your channel too, good luck with it mate 👍🏻

[@davedewdney]

Thanks 🙏

[@Granfoss]

That’s how I take my Tinder photos. Really close so they can’t see I’m in a cage… 🤣 Seriously tho a nice vid and good tips & tricks. 👍🏻

[@danwillis_photography]

😂😂😂 comment had me laughing out loud, thanks 👍🏻

[@Mr09260]

Real Wild Life Photography though is not Captive Birds in Cages and Posed Owls etc on logs >> Nice Camera and I too love my 70-200 for my Wild Life in Africa I enjoyed your Video

[@danwillis_photography]

I totally agree with you and only visited the centre so that I could demonstrate the setup that I use, although I must admit that the conservation work that Gauntlet do is invaluable especially for the heavily persecuted vultures. Wildlife in Africa is the dream I’m very jealous. Thanks for the comment 👍🏻