Using U1 and U2 on the Nikon Z50 for bird photography

#Nikon #Z50 #guide #setup #configuration
I made a mistake in the previous video about the Z50 and shooting wildlife with the 200-500 mm F/5.6, where I wanted to shift between two focus modes by just turning a dial. It actually is possible using the U1 and U2 options on the mode dial. In this video I show how it can be done.

[@maniveiszadeh8030]

Watched 10 other videos, you were the first one who even bothered to explain the very first step! Thank you.

[@frederikboving]

Thank you for your kind words! Much appreciated!

[@hk_200k]

Great video. I have been shooting birds on my z50 + kit 50-250 for weeks. The settings you provide and U1+U2 will sure help!

[@frederikboving]

Thank you for your feedback! Great that the video was helpful!

[@briandurell]

Hi Frederik. Thanks for the useful tips. I’m glad to see there is something of a community starting to gather using the Z50 for bird photography. I think this is an under-rated camera. I like the size and (lack of) weight. I don’t need all the features of a Z9 - or its weight to lug around. I’ll put my money Into lenses. Anyone here using the Z 100-400 with TC 1.4?

[@frederikboving]

Thank you Brian! Uh, TCs, never tried them - it is a big flaw in my upbringing as a photographer! 🙂

[@davidsaylors]

Thanks for the plug! Your video on this is great. I really liked how you explained it. Now I know how to setup U2 for wildlife photos!!!👍 Thanks!!!

[@frederikboving]

Thank you David - much appreciated!

[@mikeinnc4960]

Thank you so much for this step by step instruction!! After a week or so with the Z50, I now feel more confident after making these changes. Perfect timing! Thank you also to your followers who also added guidance with these instructions!! And, of course I liked and subscribed!

[@frederikboving]

Thank you for your kind words! Much appreciated! And welcome onboard! 🙏

[@laurelb8372]

Well put together instructions on auto focus for Z50. Have been struggling with mine so this will help a lot, thank you 🙏

[@frederikboving]

Thank you Laurel! Much appreciated!

[@musicdefinesgravity]

Haha when I saw the thumbnail I had a gut feeling that I would be in this video :D I also learned something from you - that you can save S or A modes on U1 and U2. Good explanation on the topic overall.

[@frederikboving]

Thank you 🙏🏻 Nick and thank you helping me understand how the Z50 works 🤗

[@BrendaAndriese]

Wow!!! This is SO helpful. Thank you!

[@frederikboving]

🙏🏻

[@teejay2483]

Excellent tutorial! Thank you very much.

[@frederikboving]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@cw4910]

Helped me with my z50, love the camera even more now, tyvm.

[@frederikboving]

Thank you for your positive feedback - much appreciated!

[@cw4910]

@@frederikboving your welcome, it’s well deserved. I have been using my u1 and u2 settings today after learning how to set and use them properly and they make the camera so much more enjoyable to use.

[@frederikboving]

@@cw4910 Thank you for your kind words - much appreciated!

[@bjarnerysseljensen3858]

Thanks for the information about U1 and U2 on the Nikon Z50 - very useful! My own tip: In C (continous) and autoselect AF-area the OK-button is very important here. Press OK once and twice and nice things happen. Perfect for birds in flight and for other moving subjects.

[@frederikboving]

Bjarne, thank you for sharing! That is a wonderful tip! It reminds me of the 3D tracking on my D750. It requires a good deal of light to work well, but otherwise it is a great tip for tracking subjects. It even regains control if the subject leaves the frame for a short while! All the best!

[@pdevonport7266]

Great videos, also if you use back button focus it gives you an option of AF-C or AF-S

[@frederikboving]

Thank you for sharing!

[@RudiZimmerer]

I came to a totally different conclusion... Mark Smith is the greatest bird photographer on KZbin and he recommends for Mirrorless cameras, fast shoot burst(H+), and then again focusing... The fastest focusing is a single point and combine it with focusing priority for shooting, and remain on single focusing instead of continuously focusing... Why, in any case, the Z50 can't focus precisely by continuously focusing, the d7200 can. And you have at least with the single focusing mode the first 3 photos in focus... You just hit the shooting button, focusing with your single point on the bird and you get sharp photos. After taking 3 to 4 photos, focus again on the bird and shoot... The continuous focusing is B. S. on the Z-mount cameras! For my D7200 it works perfectly.

[@frederikboving]

Thank you for sharing Rudi! I have fairly good results with the Z50 and continuous focus, but it may be because I shoot BIFs from quite a distance, so the camera simply focuses to infinity and the (lack of) performance of the AF is then not apparent to me.

[@karlburchill2704]

There's a guy who said the the Z50 wasn't any good for Bird photography but at the end of the day it's all about setting the camera up correctly and trying out different things tweaking certain options in menu........I'm thinking of getting the Nikon Z50 for Dragonfly photography.

[@frederikboving]

Yep, there are many opinions about the same cameras, so difficult to know what is up and down. I use the 200-500 mm on my Z50 and I am a happy camper. But I have never shot with a D500, so maybe I am happy with the Z50 because of that. All the best!

[@karlburchill2704]

@@frederikboving do you need an adaptor for that 200-500mm lens?

[@frederikboving]

@@karlburchill2704 Yes, you need the FTZ adapter as the 200-500 is a F-mount lens. I think that there is a Z 200-600 in the pipeline, but I fear the price tag!

[@jennaralissima]

Thank you for the interesting and informative video. One thing that I woul recommend is that you review the Voice-to-Text results that are showing the subtitles. I counted 4 mistakes in the first 4 minutes alone: e.g. "Nikon said" instead of "Nikon Z" and "kidnap" instead of "kit lens".

[@frederikboving]

Yes, I do see the mistakes the auto generation of caption makes, and I notice the same on other KZbin channels even when it is native english speaking channel hosts. I feared it was due to my poor pronunciation, but apparently there is more to it than that. You are the first that has ever given comments to the subtitles, so much appreciated!

[@jennaralissima]

How difficult (I haven't tried yet) is it to hold the heavy 200-500mm lens still enough to use pinpoint focus on the eye of a bird? I'm thinking this is going to be. Another text error: "food menu" instead of "fooled me".

[@frederikboving]

I'd say: prepare to be a bit seasick! At 500mm the slightest movement of the lens yields a lot of movement in the viewfinder. So shoot with a tripod, a monopod or lean the lens tip against a firm surface for support, otherwise you need to be a hardened sailor to survive the jumpy experience. I bought the zoom lens because my plan was to identify the bird at 200mm (thinking that would be easier) and then zoom in afterwards. IRL that turned out to be cumbersome (the zoom ring needs to be turned a lot). It is easier to look over the lens like you would with a rifle, and once you have spotted the bird, align the lens accordingly and finally look into the viewfinder. So in hindsight, I might as well have bought a 500mm prime. ("fooled me" is fixed, thanks).

[@jennaralissima]

@@frederikboving Yes, that makes sense, thanks. I've used the lens set between 300 - 400mm to capture a bird in flight relatively close as well as 500mm at birds sitting on branches so the zoom is the best compromise for me. But you are right: most zooms are used at their full extent so, if you're aware of that in advance, it would makes sense to buy the prime.

[@jeshurunroshan]

I have a doubt and would need your help, im using the z50 and 200 to 500. I am getting an error when using this set up 'press shutter to release' and it is repetitive also. The ftz2 is working with other bodies and the tele photo works with no errors with f mount dslrs.

[@frederikboving]

Hi Jeshurun, I have unfortunately not come across this issue. My immediate reaction would be the 200 year old IT supporter advice to switch off the camera and start all over, but I am sure you have tried this a million times. My best suggestion is to see if there is a software update for both the Z50 and/or the FTZ adapter. I believe you can download the FTZ adapter software via the camera and the site for downloading is here: downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/download/fw/360.html - It looks to me like the comments from Nikon indicate that the FTZ adapter does not like to be on a too old version of the camera body software (the text in red), so maybe this could be part of the solution.

[@TonVanvliet-di3ji]

Can someone advise where I can obtain the extensive manuak for the Z50? The videos are a great help but something on paper would help me a lot as well .

[@frederikboving]

It's on the Nikon homepage. I believe it is called reference manual: downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/products/526/Z_50.html

[@peternauta4672]

Why you should save shutter prio in U1 or U2? You already have mode S right? ;-) lol do I miss something?

[@frederikboving]

U1 and U2 controls much more than the shutter speed. So you can set up many parameters to be controlled by U1 and U2 (say focus area or release mode).

[@BrendaAndriese]

Do you always use the matrix mode?

[@frederikboving]

Yes. And I shoot RAW maybe 98% of the time. That gives me lots of options in post if the exposure is a bit off.

[@adityarrao]

Hey Fredrik, I see in U1 you have used Exposure compensation ? Have you don't that with a purpose ? Do you recommend that in S mode ?

[@frederikboving]

Hi Aditya, no, not recommended. I was not aware of this. You can however use exposure compensation to "tweak" the the camera to accept less light and hence have better ISO / aperture, but then you need to recover in post processing and potentially loose some details in the darker part of the image.