Owl Photography | Nikon Z9 Camera Settings | Wildlife Photography in British Columbia Canada.

Here is how to photograph owls in the wild! Come join me on this fun adventure into the marsh to photograph Short-eared Owls, hawks, herons and more. I'll show you my set up, camera settings, gear and the photographs I created in the field. If you like cute owls, this youtube episode is for you! Thanks for joining!
Join me on a Photography Workshop!: www.mattshanno...
Thank you for watching! Be sure to check out my website for discounts off of camera gear!! links are below 👇
⚡ GEAR WITH A DISCOUNT ⚡
🔗 Cotton Carrier: www.cottoncarr....
🔥 10% Discount code for Cotton Camera Carrier: MATTSHANNON
🔗 f-stop Camera Backpack: bit.ly/3mAjxWw
🔥 15% Discount code for f-stop Camera Backpack:O66N04H6CO11
🔗 FLM Tripod: www.flmcanada.....
🔥 10% Discount Code for FLM Tripod: frzu256b
⚡ MY CAMERAS AND LENSES ⚡
🔗 Topaz Labs: topazlabs.com/...
🔗 Z9 body: geni.us/N5do
🔗 Z9 body with adaptor for f-mount lenses: geni.us/iRNsW
🔗 Nikon D850: geni.us/my6L
🔗 Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 Z mount lens: geni.us/Xrnoo8a
🔗 Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 F mount lens: geni.us/y2DwJM
🔗 Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 Z mount lens: geni.us/kYUfL
🔗 Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 F mount lens: geni.us/QljAcs
🔗 Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 Z mount lens: geni.us/YEH5
🔗 Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 F mount lens: geni.us/UPB3lf
🔗 Nikon 105mm f/2.8 Macro lens Z mount: geni.us/6SKRLR
🔗 Nikon 105mm f/2.8 Macro lens F mount: geni.us/HEq26
🔗 Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 F mount lens: geni.us/K5kLJ9
🔗 Nikon 500mm f/4 F mount lens: geni.us/1o2glEx
🔗 Nikon 500mm f/5.6 FL ED VR F mount lens: geni.us/e8IS
🔗 Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 180-400mm: geni.us/J5JcSN
🔗 Nikon PC NIKKOR 19mm f/4E ED: geni.us/Vvy9o
🔗 Sony a7c: geni.us/vM8ftv
🔗 Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G Lens: geni.us/E9avyvD
🔗 Drone - DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo: geni.us/x78Ui
🔗 GoPro Hero7 Black: geni.us/f58giBS
⚡ TRIPODS, BALL HEADS & FILTERS ⚡
🔗 Wildlife gimbal - Benro Aluminum 2 Series Gimbal Head (GH2): geni.us/93Gn
🔗 Video head - Manfrotto Video Head: geni.us/c8DSr
🔗FLM Carbon Fibre Compact Tripod: flmcanada.com/....
🔗FLM CP38-L4 II: flmcanada.com/....
🔗 LEE Filters SQUARE: geni.us/zl9q
🔗 LEE Filters Circular: geni.us/TkqmnP3
🔗 K&F Concept: www.kentfaith.....
⚡ LIGHTS, MICS and ACCESSORIES ⚡
🔗 Aputure Amaran COB 60X LED Video Light: geni.us/AxS7e
🔗 ProGrade CFexpress Type B Digital Memory Card (325GB): geni.us/cohq4rk
🔗 ProGrade CFexpress Type B Digital Memory Card (165GB):geni.us/1PXV4
🔗 ProGrade Digital SDXC UHS-II V90 300R Memory Card (128GB): geni.us/gdrujq
🔗 Sony Professional XQD G series 120GB Memory Card: geni.us/Y7Df
🔗 Gigastone 256GB Micro SD Card, 4K Camera Pro: geni.us/7NOFug
🔗 Rode VideoMic Pro+ Camera-Mount Shotgun Microphone: geni.us/qfQ7
🔗 Rode Stereo VideoMic Pro Camera-Mount Stereo Microphone: geni.us/cwEv
🔗 DJI Mic (2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case), Wireless Lavalier Microphone: geni.us/GjbuP
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⚡ My other Social Media Accounts ⚡
📸 Instagram: 🔗 / matt_shannon_photography
📸 Facebook: 🔗 / mattshannonphotography
🎥 TikTok: 🔗 / mattshannonphoto
About Me 🙋‍♂️:
Matt Shannon (Thats me) is an inspired nature and landscape photographer living on Vancouver Island. His images have captured an international audience and his artwork hangs in homes around the world. He has developed a keen eye for detail and a passion for striking images. Matt is an enthusiastic teacher and hosts regular workshops aimed at inspiring and equipping photographers.
Matt’s photography is the product of his adventuresome heart - it’s the physical representation of his love for striking landscapes and beautiful natural creations.
🌍 Website: www.mattshanno...
Helpful note: Some links above are affiliate links that give me a small pump in pay or high-fives with those who support me. If you have any questions, comment or DM me through any of my contact lines 🙏😄

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thanks everyone for watching and supporting the channel! Cheers

[@franktherabbit42]

The action shot with the owl at 6:45 was absolutely phenomenal.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

What a moment eh! I was just out photographing short-eared owls again this year and I got a few more shots like this one that I'm excited to share in a future video. Thanks for following along! Cheers

[@franktherabbit42]

@@MattShannonPhoto Absolutely no problem. I love your work. You seem some amazing wildlife across the pond. I look forward to seeing what else you’ve got to show! :)

[@johncody6265]

Loved this video. I’ve gone out with a local photography group a few times. I recognize the area. Wonderful birds. Thanks for the technical pointers

[@hayleighshannon1820]

I’m here for all the stunning owl footage

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Awesome!

[@PharaohMan007]

Nice shots!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you! Cheers

[@Sandra-qy7rf]

Great video footage and information! Thanks for sharing and singing some Christmas music :)

[@MattShannonPhoto]

I gotta belt out some tunes with Christmas so close! Thanks for watching and Merry Christmas/ Happy Holidays!

[@hazelogrady8899]

Thank you for the Christmas gift that is this video. Beautiful!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

You guys are too kind! Glad you liked it, thanks for watching!

[@deannawebb5756]

Just found your channel and I wanted to say thank you. They are beautifully done. If your ever in Waterton I would love to show you around.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you very much! So happy to have you join the community. Where is Waterton? That place rings a bell.

[@hayleighshannon1820]

Well done! I loved the photos you took!! Thanks for sharing.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Aw thanks, happy to hear ☺️

[@PapaVeedy]

Beautiful work! Love those short eared ! Thank you for sharing.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you, I appreciate it. Short-eared are so entertaining to watch and photograph. Are you a wildlife photographer too?

[@PapaVeedy]

@@MattShannonPhoto yes, I take pics of all sorts of stuff, like you do! Thanks!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Just out of curiosity, do you shoot Nikon, Canon, or Sony?

[@PapaVeedy]

@@MattShannonPhoto Mostly Nikon but have G9/100-400 too.

[@coastalforgecoffee1507]

wow, so awesome to see! Beautiful owls.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

It was an epic day, thanks for watching!

[@HayleighShannon]

Exceptional! Owls are so cool! Fantastic work.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Yes they are! Thanks

[@nucerity-keepingitsimple8469]

Fantastic video! The footage, captures and tips are all greatly appreciated. Your photos are outstanding! Thanks for sharing.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

So great to hear! Thank you for watching and the encouraging comment. Have a great day!

[@ThaneRogersPhoto]

Matt, thank you for doing a video on short-eared owls. I discovered these owls a year ago. They migrate to Kansas in the winter. So much fun to watch, photograph & video them. They have such different behavior from any other owl. Here in Kansas, they don't show up to hunt until an hour before sunset at most. Sometimes only 10-30 minutes before sunset so low light is usually a factor. Loved your footage and tips. It's time for them to be arriving here. Can't wait!!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Great to hear from you and thank you, I am glad you liked the video! Happy to hear you get short-eared owls down in Kansas. Hopefully the weather stays stable during your time out photographing. The weather this year has been wild. What do you photograph with if you don't mind me asking? Thanks again for connecting, I appreciate your time to comment. Cheers

[@ThaneRogersPhoto]

I'm currently using a Sony alpha 7R4 with a Sony 5.6-6.3 / 200-600 G OSS lens. Very happy with that setup.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

@@ThaneRogersPhoto oooo that is a nice set up! The Sony 7R IV is such a nice camera, paired with that lens you have a nice setup both for video and stills.

[@Sheikhharris01]

NICE BROOOOO 📽

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you sir! Cheers

[@Sheikhharris01]

@@MattShannonPhoto welcomed brother

[@littleoneadventures]

Beautiful shots!!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you! and thank you for watching

[@paulkirk5760]

Some great tips Matt and beautifully shot.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you very much Paul! I appreciate it

[@jordonchatten]

Great video, but those photos are unreal dude!! Great job !

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Awesome! Thank you Jordon that is so great to hear! Super rad thanks for watching and the feedback!

[@AsbjrnKyhlPaulsen]

Thank you so much for a good energic storytelling about getting out on a little adventure in the marshes. Your decisions made about location, tripod, the Nikon camera gear and settings was interesting to learn and reflect about. And I enjoyed your results both with photo and video; video really has some potential to elevate the storytelling; wet marsh, drowned mice, darkness, dawn, the light in the car, You setting afterwards at your computer at home and so on. A good start on my day to see your video, thanks.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

wow what a fantastic comment to receive! Thank you so much!

[@CandSEvo7]

just discovered your channel, , what a great subject, really enjoyed the video , i shoot extreme 4x4 racing usually so quite different

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Welcome to the channel, happy you found me! 4x4 racing sounds like a blast to shoot. Do you post on youtube footage too?

[@RichardBirchett]

Hi Matt, New Subscriber here from the UK. That's a crazy amount of Owls in one place! Awesome footage and superb still images. Such a great location and seeing the Harrier as well was such a treat. I'm moving to Canada in July of this year so I am checking out all the Canadian Wildlife on KZbin to get some tips and ideas. Brilliant video and look forward to seeing more. It's going to be a new adventure for me and my family and I hope to get amongst all the amazing wildlife Canada has to offer. You are totally right about your position, get the position right, sit, wait and be patient and the rewards will come. All the best Rich👍

[@MattShannonPhoto]

It is a pleasure to youtube-meet you! Thank you for subscribing and dropping a comment. So many great compliments to my work and video, I am flattered thank you! What part of Canada are you moving to if you don't mind me asking? If you come out this way and are interested in photographing Grizzlies, Whales, dolphins, sea-otters and more, I have a workshop you might be interested in :) Thanks again and chat soon!

[@RichardBirchett]

@@MattShannonPhoto My pleasure, sounds very interesting! I’m living in Toronto for 1 year then Ottawa for 3 years… 👍

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Beautiful spots around Ottawa. I grew up in the Maritimes (New Brunswick/ Nova Scotia) if you get the chance you should swing down there 🙂👍

[@jamierogers5685]

Wow

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thanks :)

[@edbritelight7683]

Hey Matt! I really enjoyed watching your video. Great footage and images and story telling ❤. But why are you using f6.3 in some instances?? Your 500f4 lens should be tack sharp at f4 givimg more room to lower ISO or faster shutter speed. Keep up the great work…Happy new Year 🎊

[@edbritelight7683]

Should have watched to the end first 😂😂😂. I am shooting the exact same combo and mostly use f4 for aperture. In all my test shots at various distances and apertures f4 was never any softer than f6.3 on the nikon 500 f4 FL ED lens ❤

[@MattShannonPhoto]

This is great feedback thank you! My default is to stay clear of my lens limitations whether it is in focal length (on a zoom lens) or aperture. The centre of my image seems to stay consistently sharp at f/4, but during my test, the edges get noticeably softer when I pixel peep. f/5.6 seems to be well balanced from centre of image to the edges. My main reason is to nail focus on the eye and I have a better chance at a higher f stop.I am still getting use to the Nikon Z9 with it's auto focus accuracy which I am very pleased with. Most of the time my subject is placed in the centre of my frame and with the Z9's accuracy on focus, I will be shooting more at f/4 to get that extra light. It is great to hear feedback from other photographers using the same equipment. One website (out of many) I check out for clarity at different apertures on the Nikkor 500mm f/4 is this: www.photographyblog.com/reviews/nikon_afs_nikkor_500mm_f4e_fl_ed_vr_review/sharpness_1

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you for your comment and follow up comment! I replied to your latest post and I appreciate your time to write it.

[@stevedobbsphoto]

Great format Matt. Good combination of shots, video and technical information. Maybe trim the intro/ getting ready part. You've got a new subscriber 🙂

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you! I appreciate the feedback and compliments to my work! Cheers

[@Santamike212]

Thank You, Mike

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you Mike, cheers!

[@ScottMckeagan]

Matt, your video footage and images are fantastic! Thank you for sharing your tips and settings. I found it very useful 🎉

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you so much Scott! That is very encouraging and I appreciate your time to comment! Have a great day 🙋‍♂️😄

[@ameyamarathe7775]

Hey man just discovered your channel. Amazing work

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Epic! So great to hear. Thanks for saying hello and welcome to the community 🙋‍♂️😃. I’m open to feedback and suggestions. Cheers

[@Bcastingphotography]

Hlo sir i m interesting wild life photography

[@Bcastingphotography]

With nikon 📷 my camera z50

[@MattShannonPhoto]

@@Bcastingphotography z50 is a crop sensor camera body I believe which is nice for getting closer to wildlife and it has silent shooting which is a huge plus for wildlife photography!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Is there specific wildlife that you are interested in or just all wildlife? Thanks for watching and following along. My next video is about Snowy Owls.

[@jasondarbyshire_photography]

Great videos

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you Jason! Cheers

[@ChadintheATL]

Love your content and style. Keep up the good work. Just subscribed. And a fellow Nikon shooter.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you! Welcome to my channel fellow Nikon shooter! Are you currently a DSLR, SLR, or mirrorless shooter?

[@ChadintheATL]

@@MattShannonPhoto I waited so long for my dream camera which was the D850, so I’m sticking with that. Does everything I want and I don’t shoot video so it fits me.

[@paulkirk5760]

As with many others Adam sent me and been watch fototripper video. This was fascinating and informative.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Happy to hear it thank you! Adam and fototripper are great. Perhaps I’ll get to go on an adventure and create a KZbin with them.

[@paulkirk5760]

@@MattShannonPhoto somehow one of my comments got mixed up and posted on your channel, probably my fat fingers!! Nevertheless I’ve really enjoyed your videos and subscribed. The comment relating to Adam Gibbs was meant for his brothers video which I’d watched!🙄

[@MattShannonPhoto]

I just read this now, oops. Adam Gibbs brother has a youtube channel? What is his name/handle, I'm assuming it is photography too?

[@paulkirk5760]

@@MattShannonPhoto Here’s the link Matt. It’s more a nature video, I think Adam’s brother is the videographer and sister-in-law is the presenter. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWKwm5iJo8eAaKM

[@jeffcampbell6458]

Great video Matt just found your channel have been watching your video's all day, I saw a couple of short ears up at Comox Valley last year , they are awesome. I was just wondering was this video made near George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary?

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you and yes, it was fairly close to George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary. The whole western shoreline is a good spot to see them. Thats pretty cool that there are a few up in the Comox Valley. I've seen them in Cowichan Bay too. Not 100% sure if there are any there now.

[@jees3474]

Wow I’m really glad to see that your channel is growing 😄 contgrats on 1k subs!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you 🙋‍♂️😄. Yeah, I’m pumped. Life can be busy so I hope I can keep rolling out the vids and get feedback on my progress. Excited to smash the next goal! Thanks for the confidence boost. Cheers!

[@IngolfurDavid]

Well done dude merry christmas

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thanks man! Merry Christmas, thanks for watching. Cheers

[@BudBetz]

Howdy Neighbor! Nice video. Great photography! I too shoot a Z9 and a 500 f5.6 PF lens. Not quite as fast but a good lens nonetheless less. I'm a little further south on Whidbey Island. Never considered a jaunt to the farmers fields. Guess I'm going to have to check it out. Thanks for the inspiration and the settings tips!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Howdy! Thanks for watching. You are only a stones throw away. You venture to Vancouver Island or directly north to Vancouver/Whistler area? Plenty of places to photograph on Vancouver Island if you ever visit. 500 f/5.6 PF is a fantastic lens. A lot lighter than my f/4. Let me know if you find success in the famers fields there! Good luck

[@silvere36]

Good stuff. Did you use 3D tracking with animal eye detection? Also, did you notice any improvement with v3.1?

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you and yes, 3D with animal eye detection. I believe it is v3.01 unless it was updated to v3.1. Perhaps thats what you meant or they are one in the same firmware version. Regardless I've noticed that the tracking is stickier then it was before! Great news for my experience with the new update so far. Do you have a Z9 and have tested out the new FW update? Thanks for watching and Happy New Year!

[@silvere36]

@@MattShannonPhoto thank you Matt. I do have a Z9. Been using Nikon for a long time and just locked in on the ecosystem. I'm still messing around with different focusing modes. I have a second button for a different mode. I believe we're talking about same version. Was just out capturing that snowy owl in Socal that's been in the news. Thanks for sharing your clip.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

A buddy of mine shoots in different focus modes too and he has not settled on one over the other as a default yet. Sometimes with too many options I get bogged down in the function of the camera instead of my holding technique...or panning technique. It's all fun regardless, as long as I don't get frustrated with it. Great to hear others are messing around too :)

[@lukeiamyourfather7736]

Stunning work, thank you for sharing! How did the Nikon Z9 battery do overall? Seems like you didn't have any issues.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

I was out filming and taking pictures from 7:00am to 4:00pm with 11% battery life left. The battery is huge so I expected it to last for some time. It was around -1C and there was no issues with slowing the battery down. I will report back in January during my Canadian Rockies trip. I expect to be out in -10 to -20C temps there.

[@lukeiamyourfather7736]

@@MattShannonPhoto Have you used an external battery for the Z9?

[@MattShannonPhoto]

@@lukeiamyourfather7736 Yes, I use an Anker Portable Charger. plugs into the Z9 using a USB C cable.

[@coffeeatitsbest1500]

Did you fit a thermos of coffee in that camera bag? Looks like you were out there all day. Beautiful owls!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

I did have a thermos of coffee. It was gone within the first 30 mins of course.....I need a larger thermos :)

[@tomdearie5165]

Thanks, Matt. Enjoyed the footage. 👍 I do successfully shoot the 200-500mm regularly hand held - I’m a very active shooter and the tripod is often a show stopper. But, now that I’m shooting the enormous z9, I do find my forearms are getting larger. 😳💪

[@MattShannonPhoto]

The 200-500mm 5.6 is a lot lighter than the 500mm f4. I have one too and shooting handheld is nice. But I hear ya when it comes to the weight and size of the z9. That thing is a beast!!

[@AtaBoraBasar]

Hi Matt, I just discovered your channel and watched your video. The owl is a species that has the most special place among the birds of prey. To give an example, the sound of wings while flying towards its prey is almost non-existent, and hearing it is the shortest moment between death and life. :) Your channel has gained a follower, I'll be waiting for your new videos.👍

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Welcome to my channel! Owls are so amazing, thank you for sharing. Silent hunters of the night. Thank you for the follow!

[@connormccafferty4249]

Hi matt, you should definitely send me a camera for sure

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Any camera or a specific one? Now a days everyone one has a camera on there phone 🙂. Must be a nice camera you want. Perhaps I’ll do a giveaway!

[@drabbag]

Hello, what video mode did you go with on the Z9 for these SEOs in flight? THanks!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Most of the SEPs in flight are 120fps. There might have been a few clips where they are 60fps. For 120fps slow motion I use 3840x2160 on the Z9. I usually use the same 4k setup for 60fps and 24fps unless I want to crop way in, then I will go for 8k and in post I will crop down to 4k. For 8K I switch from H.265 8-bit (MOV) to N-RAW 12-bit which allows for video in 8K for 24, 30 or 60fps. I don't believe I switched to 8k for SEOs, I just stuck to 3840x2160. I hope that makes sense!

[@noneedtochange9413]

That was KILLER! Crazy to see so many mice in that field, no wonder there was a lot of action! Well done, thank you for the video. What do you have next?? Also, how does the Z9 work with F mount Lenses compared to Z mount lenses?

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you, I'm glad it was KILLER :)! I have a few landscape shots I want to do so we will see. Z9 works so well with the F mount lenses which I am thankful for considering how much Z mount lenses are. I will slowly switch over to more Z mount lenses, but in the meantime the combo is better than expected.

[@michelrochon7399]

Hey there, great video. I'm new to your channel, hoping to see more owl footage in the future. Loved the footage and especially those stills of the shorties. I guess by now you know that herriers is not the right name, it is northern harriers. I am also a Nikon guy with a D850. The Z9 is a great camera but way too expensive for me. Still waiting for a mid-level body with great autofocus.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Northern Harrier, yes 😄. I use to call them Marsh Hawks. Thanks for pointing that out, keeps me on track to saying things right 😁 D850, still a sweet camera. I use my D850 a lot still, especially for my architectural and commercial work. Do you sell your work and photograph professionally or just a hobby? Thanks again for the compliments to my video! I appreciate it.

[@cristo2292]

Heya Matt! Is this at Alaksen National Wildlife Area? Somewhere at the Boundary Bay Dyke Trail? Thank you kindly :)

[@MattShannonPhoto]

yes, somewhere in that area :). This year is a good year to spot them.

[@surfintom]

z9 all the way!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

🙌 Z9.

[@aser75]

Great video! I just subscribed for your channel to learn some more and to get inspired ! Wonderful pics especially the raven & owl sunset pic. Can you share your settings for video as well : what your g6 (Af speed) and g7 (Af tracking sensitivity settings ? And maybe also the stills setting for a3 (Focus tracking with lock-on) - do you change this a3 setting according to the subjects/situations or usually just stick to a preferred value ?

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you! Glad you liked the video. My AF speed is set to 0. I've tried moving it left and right and I stuck to 0 for now. AF Tracking is set to 3. slightly on the higher side. curious what you have yours set to if you feel like sharing. my Focus Tracking is on 2. I do shift from steady to Erratic depending on the subject. These are great questions and to be honest, I am still testing these slight adjustments out. Now that there is a new firmware update, the settings might have to be changed again :) Thank you again for your kind words and questions! Feel free to share your thoughts with your experience

[@aser75]

@@MattShannonPhoto Thank you for answering! I’m keep fiddling with those two video settings and still didn’t find the optimal way to go. My current settings are : af speed g6 set to 4 = It’s still smooth but fast I think, so maybe have an edge with fast flying birds (?). And my settings for tracking g7 is 3 like yours. But again I still experimenting with both and not sure what is best way for different situations and for general wildlife work

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Same here, still experimenting. It is great to hear feedback from other shooters such as yourself on your experiences in the field. I replied to @silvere36 comment saying that with so many options I can get bogged down in the functions and options the Z9 has instead of focusing on my holding technique or composition. Keep me in the loop if you find a breakthrough on the best settings of all time :)

[@uaebifvideo5472]

What was your focus modes used ,in both video and image shooting ?..

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Great question, for video it was AF-C, AF-area wide mode with wildlife subject detection applied. For photos it was set to 3D with wildlife AF subject detection applied. IMO 3D seems to work the best.

[@uaebifvideo5472]

@@MattShannonPhotoThank you for the information!!I did test with targets in busy backgrounds i found that dynamic area catches targets,then transfer that to a 3d (using the fn buttons) .The options we get on the Z9 ,i think , means that we have tools for situations, more practice will take you to the point of utilizing them accordingly.

[@LondonBow]

how do you keep your sensor so clean? I have a Z9 and even after getting it professionally cleaned it was dirty again in a few days, do you clean it yourself? The cameras Clean function doesnt seem to do very much.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Do you have your image sensor shield activated every time you turn you Z9 off? I believe the default is set to off instead of on. I do clean my own image sensor. Every once in a while I take all of my camera bodies in for a cleaning. The Z9 seems to stay the cleanest for me but I suppose it depends on the environment I take my gear in. That image sensor shield works so well IMO!

[@scotttilleyphotography]

Fantastic video Matt, my favourite owl, sadly not too many around this year in the UK. Only caught up with one so far and at crazy ISO! New sub from the UK looking forward to more from Canada👍

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Hi Scott! So great to have you subscribe, I am honored! Thank you for the kind compliments. As a fairly new KZbinr, I really appreciate it! Sorry to hear that the numbers are low where you are, I guess they all few to Canada this year 😄

[@kemerson01]

What eye cup are you using on the Z9

[@MattShannonPhoto]

I’m just using what the Z9 came stocked with. The eye piece has a rubber ring around the viewfinder. Is that what you mean?

[@manuelpereira7104]

hola soy de chile y he entrado hoy a tu canal , quiero consultar porque debería comprar una Nikon z9 y no una Sony A1? me ayudas con eso, pues Sony habla mucho sobre IA y sus autofocus adelantados, muy bien ven a chile aca hay lugares hermosos igual.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Both the Nikon Z9 and Sony A1 are top-tier cameras, and your choice ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. The Nikon Z9 offers robust build quality, deep ergonomics, and has been praised for its high-speed shooting capabilities (not in RAW though...so that is a win for the A1). If you're already invested in the Nikon ecosystem or prefer its user interface and handling, the Z9 would be a great choice. On the other hand, the Sony A1 is known for its versatility, boasting high resolution, fast shooting speeds, and advanced AI-driven autofocus features. Sony's mirrorless lineup also offers a wide variety of high-quality lenses. More expensive, but there is a good reason for it. However, it's essential to consider your existing gear, lens investments, and specific photography or videography needs. Both cameras are exceptional in their own right. I've invested a lot in the Nikon line up. If I had to start all over, I probably would have went with Sony for the photo and video capabilities. And thank you for the invitation! Chile is indeed known for its breathtaking landscapes, and I'd love to visit someday.

[@YannickPhoto]

Hey Matt, was this at Centennial Beach?

[@MattShannonPhoto]

No, this isn’t that location but there has been Short-eared owls at Centennial Beach. I think this year is a good year to see them. I’ve seen a few on Vancouver Island too which is great to see.

[@robertdane1212]

I was just shooting shorties a few days ago for the first time with my z9. I’m usually using 3d with animal tracking but was having a difficult time staying locked on them with them blending in so I switched to wide area large and that worked a lot better. What are you using ?

[@MattShannonPhoto]

I started off by just using 3D, but now I use Wide Area Large with a FN button programmed to Single Point and my lens FN button programmed to 3D tracking. That way I have 3 different options at my ready. with the new 3.01 Firmware update, the Wide Area Large + 3D tracking seem to work really well together as a pair. There is another youtube who does the same and it is what I am sticking to at the moment. Thanks for sharing your experience, I hope what I said makes sense. Let me know what you think.

[@robertdane1212]

@@MattShannonPhoto makes sense I do it very similar, I have 3d on my af-on back button, fn1 is single point and fn2 is wide area large. I like 3d and the freedom to compose on anything still or people and on alot of moving subjects but when I have a bird in flight I’ll just hit fn2 for that track.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Odd my reply wasn't sent. Great info for using a fn2 for birds in flight. I think that is a solid technique.

[@limboigah]

*Northern harrier (not "herrier hawk"). Used to be called marsh hawks.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Thank you, small error 🤦‍♂️🙂

[@williammbonile188]

Hello brother hi can you help me to use nikon camera

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Hi, I hope some of my KZbin Videos will help. I hope to keep sharing Nikon tips every video I share. Stay tuned for the next video. Cheers

[@MarkRLawrence]

I noticed you mentioning a Fluid Head .What is the make and model please?

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Yes, thank you for asking. The video head I am using in this video is a Manfrotto Bridging Video Head. Here is the link on Amazon if you are interested in it's price and specs: amzn.to/3vbWXtv

[@MattShannonPhoto]

For video heads, it is a great product for the price. I'll add the link to my description. For more info, discount codes, and a list of my camera equipment, you can go to my gear page on my Website: www.mattshannon.ca/gear.html

[@beckermuns1970]

Firmware 3.1 is out for the Z9 !!!

[@MattShannonPhoto]

whaaaaaaaat! I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to check for updates. What are the reviews? Know any of the details? Thanks for letting me know! Cheers

[@rodneyturnerphoto]

@@MattShannonPhoto some af improvements. It’s FW 3.01. Also, 5 primes lines received firmware updates too.

[@beckermuns1970]

Firmware 3.1 just came out yesterday 😊

[@MattShannonPhoto]

@@rodneyturnerphoto FW 3.01, thanks! I just looked it up. There are a few small changes, one being: "Improved focus tracking in focus mode AF-C..." I am excited to see how it works.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

@@beckermuns1970 Awesome, I appreciate you sharing that. From my research I couldn't find anything on FW 3.1 update but I did find FW update 3.01 after Rodney's comment. Looks like a few changes were made, one being an improvement on focus tracking which will be interesting to see how it does. Perhaps another trip to see the owls 😄

[@Forestauthority]

From Where can i see your uncompressed original photos. Sir . ?

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Do you mean my RAW images or full resolution images? Higher resolution on my website if you want to go there: www.mattshannon.ca/

[@Forestauthority]

@@MattShannonPhoto yes sir, high resolution images. Because social media does compressed images, and your images are like heaven.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

oh man, I thought I responded to this but clearly I didn't hit reply. Such a great compliment thank you! Yeah, my website shows higher resolution images, still reduced a bit so the site actually loads but a lot better than social media.

[@hitmanhart22]

I have a Sony and it's autofocus is oversold. The Nikon Z9 autofocus is as good if not better than Sony. Canon AF is best but there's too many issues with Canon.

[@MattShannonPhoto]

What Sony camera body do you have, A1? I am happy to hear your feedback on the comparable flagship/best quality camera's currently at the top. Z9 just put out another firmware update tweaking their autofocus which I am excited to test. How do you like Sony's glass compared to Nikon? I appreciate your input, thank you for your comment!

[@rcgrant9310]

Matt, I am so glad I came across your owl video. Amazing camera work. I commend you. Yes, there a new Z9 FW update - 3.0.1 You may find fellow photographer Matt Irwin's discussion regarding the update of interest -- kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYSWdXt8l5ylrK8 I subscribed to your site and look forward to more remarkable video footage and stills, as I'm sure you'll have a positive impact on my photography. I'll check out your workshops. Holiday wishes, Robert Grant

[@MattShannonPhoto]

Wow, what a great comment to receive! Thank you for all the kind words and encouragement, I hope I don't let you down :) I am watching Matt Irwin's video right now, thank you very much for sharing the link!! Robert, do you reside in the states and are primarily a wildlife photographer? Thank you for subscribing, Holiday wishes to you too! Cheers.