Use Subject & Eye Tracking Like A Pro

The Nikon Z camera comes with subject tracking, face detection, & eye detection. Learn how to seamlessly switch between both without ever having to take the camera away from your eye to make the most out of this system. This video is for anyone with a Nikon Z50, Z5, Z6, Z7, Z6 II or Z7 II who wants to learn how to master this focus system.
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[@FrancescoBorsotti]

Thanks Joe. Great video. I would suggest to use one of the front function buttons (the one not used for selecting the focus mode) to activate the auto tracking, instead of pressing the OK button. This way you just simply press it again to exit from the tracking focus (instead if pressing the - button) and go back to the eye tracking. Easier!

[@sekander1253]

This is yet another super useful tutorial and thank you for sharing your professional knowledge Joseph. I come from a manual world so these autofocusing techniques have made it easy to grab.

[@joen3083]

You're welcome. thank you for watching and letting me know you found the video helpful.

[@KatherineGarland]

Thank you for this! I gotta tell you, I just switched from DSLR and was frustrated with this as I don't want to stay old school forever! I appreciate it!!

[@ShutterSpeak]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@grantking4681]

Thanks Joe, all set-up now with the Z7 II, it's all starting to make sense now, far more so than it was before watching your video. Mate, you have a new subscriber too.

[@ShutterSpeak]

Thanks for the comments, watching, and subscribing!

[@randybocksnick3750]

JOE-- Today I went to see my Doctor and I took my Z6II and 24-70 2.8s lense! The reason was to try the new 1.10 face and eye detection! Well JOE it is fantastic! My Doctor really enjoyed being photographed! Thank you for your nice video. I always learn new things from you, JOE! Randy Bocksnick(Montana)

[@ShutterSpeak]

Thanks for watching - glad you had fun with it. That's what it's all about!

[@LilCubano78]

New subscriber here.. Love the Nikon content!!!!!! Hard to find Nikon Z youtubers besides Nikon Ricci. About to Binge all your vids.. lol..

[@ShutterSpeak]

Welcome aboard!

[@rickkremer0525]

Hi, Great video. I just got my Z5 and setting it up. Thanks

[@knutasper6830]

Great class. You made it look so easy. Can't wait to try it

[@ShutterSpeak]

Thanks for watching!

[@EdwardKilner]

I did like this video. Have been doing landscape and macro, not portraits. Need to practice portrait focusing again. Thank you.

[@costabunny]

Only just watched this. Got some awesome tips for setting up my 70-200 Z lens this week. The switch tracking etc is a cracking feature. Those lens fn buttons are going to take some getting used to, but oh so helpful. I have Aspergers and just ooze over nerdy stuff. My physical disabilities will also be a little easier to manage on wildlife walks; knowing that I don’t have to think twice bout mode setups and so forth. I find many of your videos to be most helpful. Even on my lowly Z5, it’s all about learning and enjoying the craft.

[@ShutterSpeak]

I'm glad this video helped you out - thanks for watching and commenting!

[@jeffrey3498]

Just want to say that the Z5 is a great camera, not lowly. 📷😃👍

[@gw2k66]

Great tutorial. Thank you for helping me set-up my function buttons to work better with the different AF modes.

[@ShutterSpeak]

Glad to help!

[@reneeeasterling9932]

Thanks so much. So glad I found your channel. Very helpful

[@ShutterSpeak]

Glad I could help

[@euthman]

Very useful. Thanks!

[@deejaybeephoto]

New subscriber! Thank you for your very clear explanation - from a new Nikon Z6 user.

[@ShutterSpeak]

Glad the video helped you! Welcome aboard :-)

[@idratherberidingnow]

Enjoyed your video. You gained a Subscriber.

[@jeffstephens5266]

Wow what an interesting and well explained video

[@jackbrumby1892]

I use the same PD hand strap, but also connect the PD wrist strap at the same time. Particularly useful when you're leaning over the side of a boat for whale shots!

[@sujiitkundu9843]

Great video Sir, I will be obliged if you tell me the method of subject tracking in older nikon D7100 .

[@stevengoldberg44]

I am new to the Z6ii (6 weeks) and I am still learning. The only lens I have at this point is the kit lens, which has no buttons. I have the focusing system set up as follows: AF/ON is set to back button focus; Record is set to Focus mode/AF area mode (so the rear command dial scrolls through all the options); Fn1 is set to object tracking. This allows me to easily move from eye focus to object tracking and back; Fn2 is set to metering. This seems to work well. Quite honestly, I’m not sure it does everything that your set up does. I’ll have to go through your video much more carefully. I have enjoyed all of your videos I have seen so far. Great job!

[@ShutterSpeak]

Thank you for watching and the comment!

[@sensub]

Looks like, I'm not alone and I have the same exact setup on my 2 Z6ii cameras!

[@jackbrumby1892]

On my D500, I was able to assign a button to switch from any AF mode to Single point.

[@sibasishmohanty7871]

Hi nice explanation. I am getting the face and eye detection settings in Z7ii. Like the small square with arrow not seeing. In control a4 there is no settings for eye face detection. I am using fx lens with ftz

[@Nilz4FR]

I use the center dial button to swith to tracking on my Z7ii - easier access than the lens button!

[@yadiratackett7897]

Hi Joseph 👋 thank you my son bought me a Nikon Z5 camera so this will help me a lot. My question is what kind of lenses is this and where can I buy it 🤔 😅

[@johnle6160]

would you please show an example of how you can focus to shoot both of subject, before shooting. or how to focus Multiple people or Group before hit shuttle button shooting. Thanks

[@marclabro]

FN1=subject tracking seems working same way than L-FN unique button on Z 24-70/F2.8. No need to search for the "-" magnifier button to exit, I never find with my fingers. -Your af-on technique to change location is really nice ! BUT I find tedious to locate the tracking target with knob. I realized that when i activate subject tracking it is by default at center. If i leave it there and turn camera to an object on side and start pressing AF-ON it tracks the subject without moving the target. Am I right ? What do you think ? - Is it normal that when we are in eye detection mode, the eye is blur and we need to press af-on on af-c mode to make it sharp and so we have the feeling we need to continuously press af-on until we shoot but sometimes z6ii becomes blur and looses af and comes back. correct ? or in af-c do you advise to press sparingly but not continuously ? a pity eye detetcion doesn't make the AF at same time. It just detects an eye without focusing on it. - Is it normal in subject tracking, if target is on side, pressing the knob center button (reset in custom FN) doesn't reset the target at center of display ? strange !

[@rsmolkin]

So if you're in eye tracking, do I need to still use back button focus to actually focus, or do shutter button half way down to focus, or when eye tracking is on, it's always in focus and I just take the shot? Do you have to put it in AF-C first? Or eye tracking puts the camera in AF-C?

[@marclabro]

super tuto. however eye detection doesn't work in my case for street photography (whatever the percent occupied by the face/body on LCD and with clearly visible people in a gray street where any iphoen or sony a7iii detects it) on my z6ii (V1.4) + Z 24-70 F/2.8 in BBF (AF-ON), af-c, mode A, auto area AF people, auto iso. I set FN2 like you for AF mode and FN1 for subject tracking. Either nothing on LCD or erratic red boxes. Sometimes, depending on the mood of the z6ii i can have face or eye detection boxes but can't rely on these in street photo. If i look a youtube tuto with fashion photo and test eye detection on this tuto it works fine; Any idea why my eye detection is so poor or which parameter could make it so bad ? any tuto i see work better and better since V1.3. i can't rely on it and need to come back to AF-C single point. I was surprised even wide L people didn't work better because faces or body+face are clearly in box. Your subject tracking method is interesting if we can force a box on face and switch to eye detetcion but i try to avoid using it by default because tedious. Nikon support advises me to send them example photos and ncset file.

[@scottn8910]

I set the FN2 button to Subject Tracking and it worked well. Today I noticed it will only work in AF-area mode and no other. I'm wondering if I inadvertently edited something that changed when Subject Tracking works. Any ideas?

[@janicebain3431]

Thanks. Your info was very helpful. I have a question, what if I want both of my people in focus and one of the people is a bit farther back than the other? How do I shoot that?

[@jooyoonchung3593]

You need to close down the aperture to increase the depth of field sufficiently. Or get both people into the same focus plane.

[@smkunder1]

Great video, wondering if you could apply this to wildlife and birds in flight

[@ShutterSpeak]

I don't think eye detection will work on birds but do try and let me know!

[@Macrosill]

The eye focus is insane. What will they think of next.

[@ShutterSpeak]

Flying cars!

[@sherylkingstone]

I know this is an older video but I can’t set subject tracker for lens button. Has this changed?

[@SrikanthPRABHA7]

Hi Joseph, can you do a tutorial on how to use Nikon Z6II/7II as a Webcame/live stream camera with all the possible options, please.

[@ShutterSpeak]

Thanks for the suggestion and thank you for watching.

[@Robert-en6cs]

I want to use my Z6ii for recording videos of myself for youtube. I am looking for a function, that I start the recording of the video, then go infront of the camera and the camera-AF catch my eye and always keep on it. There is noone to touch the camera anymore. Means I need a modus, where while recording, the camera should automatically focus and track eyes. And tip?

[@melissafaria5386]

I have tried to change another button on the camera (z6ii) for subject tracking. I'm following the instructions on this video but when I click "ok" after i set the focus point it automatically resorts back to the center of the screen. It will not stay where I set the focus point.

[@arupkumarchanda3302]

Is Subject Tracking Option will WORK FOR BIRDS IN FLIGHT and STATIONARY SUBJECT?

[@lynr3399]

No Fn buttons on my 24-70mm f4 lens, only on the f2.8

[@marcelopradostudios2719]

Amazing…!!!

[@ShutterSpeak]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Digmen1]

Sounds good But who can remember all of this. Nikon needs to come up with a simple AF system Eye, Face, Object, Bird, Car etc

[@mh-ey4wf]

Does this work with z7?

[@morpheus3190]

Very helpful, but animal eye detection simply does not work on my dog. Z7ii with latest firmware.

[@Costibuzdugan]

i own Z6 and 7... thank you

[@ShutterSpeak]

Great combo of cameras there!

[@Costibuzdugan]

@@ShutterSpeak thank you

[@40SomethingCoverArtist]

You guys love to leave the Nikon D780 out of this list. It has the same auto focus system. I am sure the D780 users (including myself) will also appreciate this video.

[@ShutterSpeak]

Thank you for watching it and enjoying it. I hope it helps you.

[@coltenpinder]

I have to admit, I thought that was Jon Snow at first.

[@ShutterSpeak]

I could see how you could make that mistake - but the lightsaber was a dead giveaway :-)

[@Ed-lz4jv]

So much AF modes - Funny it tracks you and your toy model eye focus, still button functions take awhile to get using... MY z6 ii does not have 100% zoom playback option press for joystick button to check focus

[@iThunder66]

Just press the OK button during playback and it will zoom to 100%.

[@myblueandme]

Will it work with f mount?

[@ShutterSpeak]

Yes - it will.

[@myblueandme]

@@ShutterSpeak great thanks!

[@buidoi72]

Do you have a function button assigned for auto focus or are you just using the i menu?

[@mannyroman6133]

The lens function button does not work if focus is on single point

[@ShutterSpeak]

Eye focus is not available in that mode

[@mannyroman6133]

@@ShutterSpeak yes I realised that, but it would be nice to have the option of subject tracking regardless of focus mode.

[@selianboy8508]

You do not need to move your Subject Tracking manually. This is simply too time consuming and unnecessary. Once you active the Subject Tracking Box, simply recompose briefly until your Subject Tracking Box is over what you want to focus on, press your back-button AF-on button and hold it down (you should be using AF-C only!!), then recompose your image how you want your composition to be and you will find then that the Subject Tracking Box will stick to your new choice of focusing point. You do point this out... sort of... but only by manually moving your Subject Tracking Box around. My point being that there is no need to do the latter manually. I also suggest that you take off autofocusing activation from the shutter-release button (half press) and only use the back button method (using the AF-on button) for focus activation [Custom Settings>a7>and choose AF-on only]. You will find that you will never need to use any of the other focusing modes (MF, AF-S) at all. Simply only ever use AF-C and back-button (AF-on button) to activate and deactivate focusing as and when need. Good vid though...

[@csc-photo]

If you're in AF-S using Subject Tracking, you should *not* hold down AF-ON to initiate tracking. That will lock focus, and it locks tracking. in AF-S, you want to *tap* AF-ON when you're over your focus point. From there it will track. Then, you recompose and hold AF-ON until the focus box turns green. You'll need to reset the tracking box if it loses your focus point. In AF-C, it's much easier. Move box over focus point - *hold* AF-ON, tracking will stick & focus continuously until you let go of AF-ON. Much faster. AF-S is great for subjects that don't move (rare, for me), and/or in low light situations.

[@ShutterSpeak]

I think you both have some great points here - yes, moving the camera to the focus point may be faster, however, I do agree that AF-C is a better choice for anything that isn't standing still. AF-S is a great choice for very low light. Thank you both for watching and your comments.

[@selianboy8508]

​@@csc-photo not too sure as to what you mean here but, just to clarify, there is never any need to use AF-S when using the backbutton AF-on button (in fact AF-S is never 'actually' required at all). When backbutton focussing, AF-S is redundant as if you want to lock focus you simply take your thumb off the AF-on button! AF-S is made pointless as when shooting in AF-C and using backbutton focusing overtakes all functions of the AF-S even when taking shots of still subjects like landscapes etc. Just remember that using the shutter release button to focus with is also not something that is recommended. Post edit: btw you are absolutely correct that, in AF-S mode, Subject Tracking (focus point) is locked as soon as you press the AF-on button and focusing is acquired. There is no real advantage of doing it this way. As you point out: "In AF-C, it's much easier. Move box over focus point - hold AF-ON, tracking will stick & focus continuously until you let go of AF-ON. Much faster." Which is why I comment that AF-S is a redundant function in reality.

[@BrentChip1]

Joe, thanks for your nice review on this topic and I appreciate the options suggested in the "replies." This allows me to use the method that is easiest for me or that is best suited to the situation. Thanks again.

[@4score]

I agree with your reply, Seliantoto, except for the statement, "(you should be using AF-S only!!)". Did you mean AF-C? After watching this video, I was just about to comment on the same thing about not needing to manually move the Subject Tracking box around, simply move the camera/lens until the box is covering the subject you want, then press backbutton focus (and hold it) and recompose the shot.

[@vahkhachatryan]

what about not pro lense without button? common

[@saopaulosoul8714]

it was very good and informative, but seriously do think a little bit about cutting down the time. it took 3 min and 17 seconds to just get started 🤦‍♂️ 🤦‍♂️ 🤦‍♂️

[@arupkumarchanda3302]

Is Subject Tracking Option will WORK FOR BIRDS IN FLIGHT and STATIONARY SUBJECT?

[@ShutterSpeak]

It would but I don't think it is the best choice for birds.