Why I have started using my Nikon D850 for wildlife photography instead of my Z6ii.

In this video I take some photographs of birds from my garden hide. I also discuss why I have started using my Nikon D850 for wildlife photography instead of my Nikon Z6ii.
Please enjoy this video.
Video about perches: • What food will attract...
Bird Editing vide: • Taking and editing Bir...
D850 vs Z6ii: • Nikon Z6ii vs Nikon D8...
______________________________________________________________
MERCHANDISE
teespring.com/stores/darrello...
______________________________________________________________
Music from Epidemic Sound www.epidemicsound.com
Into the sunset, Traces, When the ocean sleeps, Mornings
Music from KZbin Studio: Wishful thinking ________________________________________________________________
Please send me any questions in the comments.
Face Book: / darrelloakde. .
Instagram: @doakdenphotography
________________________________________________________________
In this video Darrell Oakden takes photos of garden birds and discusses why he has gone back to using his Nikon D850 instead of his Nikon Z6ii.

[@rovleculina8237]

Hi Darrell, no there's nothing wrong with your camera, the focusing issue that you're having is inherent to mirrorless systems, Nikon, Canon, Sony, etc. I use Canon and I have the same issue, on my recent birding trip to Costa Rica I ended up using primarily my dslr and leaving my new mirrorless in the bag as I had the same issue when the background was really far away from the subject and I missed some crucial moments when focus was stuck to the background. In those situations you can aim the lens at the big object or at the ground to reacquire focus, you can use manual focus to focus closer to your subject and than it will acquire a focus, you can use focus distance limiter on your lens, or you can use a focus preset on your lens if your lens has that option. Other than that, it seems it's a common issue among brands. Hope this helps at least a little bit.

[@ivorgottschalk6432]

Another terrific video Darrell. The sharpness you obtain from the 200-500 is remarkable. Mirrorless cameras focus using the image sensor while DSLR’s use a dedicated light sensor enabled when the shutter is closed and the mirror is down. The dedicated Phase Detect Auto-Focus (PDAF) sensor in DSLR’s are known to acquire focus faster and track better in continuous focus mode than the the image sensor in most mirrorless cameras at this time. While the Z6ii does have PDAF sensors built into the image sensor they don’t appear to match the dedicated sensors in the D850. Currently some high end mirrorless cameras like Sony’s A1 are reported to match and even surpass DSLR’s and have other marvellous features like bird eye detect. Also, since mirrorless cameras measure focus on the image sensor, once acquired, focus is more accurate and eliminates the need to calibrate the camera’s PDAF sensor for each lens. Having said all that, I purchased a used D850 shortly before the Z6ii was announced and your video has hopefully put and end to me second guessing my purchase.

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks for the comment. I am going to compile all of the advice I have received into a video this week.

[@ivorgottschalk6432]

@@DarrellOakdenPhotography You are welcome. I'm looking forward to your follow-up as I'm watching the developments in mirrorless with great interest.

[@1957uklarry]

Hi Darrell, You have just made me feel a lot better about my decision to buy a D500 instead of a mirrorless camera. And the reason I went for the D500 is the great focus system that it has and that I have a few F-mount lenses and even though there is the FTZ adaptor I always think that things do not always work as good when they have been adapted to work with something it was not intended for. Plus to sell and upgrade all my lenses to Z-mount would work out to be too costly.

[@PunjabiGymBeats]

D500 is still best camera for wildlife and sports shooters.

[@Richardisonline]

Great video and your outtakes are brilliant Darrell

[@RandyPollock]

Another nice video, look forward to them each week

[@glennburch1081]

I already own the D500 and just now purchased the Z6 ii as a companion camera. Will use the Z6 ii for landscape and portrait as well as waterfowl on the water (Silent shutter mode that the D500 does not have) and I will use the D500 primarily for BIF. All of my glass is AF-S which will get used on the Z6 ii via the FTZ adapter. Almost pulled the trigger on the D850 as a companion to the D500, but the silent shutter was the deciding factor for me as well as the price difference. Plus the WYSIWYG viewing screen on back of the Z6 ii helped in my decision making process as well.... a huge advantage here IMO.

[@NikCan66]

Excellent video yet again 👏

[@acemanfrog]

I've had the same issue, esp wildlife photography. The Z6ii AF Wide-L (cat) fails to lock fast enough for many bird shots. A workaround is going back to simple center-weighted (or spot) focus/meter config, which works well with the 200-500VR w/the FTZ adapter. Or, alternatively, which is what I've done, resort back to the DSLR and experience buyers remorse. Nikon may be able to help this with a firmware update, but it probably goes deeper than that...

[@davetv13]

I do a lot of zoo photo work and had the chance to test both the Z7 and the Z6ii when they came out and neither worked well enough for my needs that they lasted more than 4 days for me. In both cases I got better results from the D850 and even better results with a D500. Focus grab rate went down 60 to 70% and usable end frames went down over 50%. In many cases I could over-ride the focus and get frames but by that time the action was past the peak or over. Also with the Z6ii I would be shooting a burst of a flying owl and it would suddenly grab the background in the middle of the burst for the rest of the burst. Hoping the Z9 fixes all this as I would love to have a silent shooting mode.

[@terilapetino6337]

It takes practice! I used to have the same setup - D850 with the 200-500. I replaced the 200-500 with the 500mm pf5.6 since it focuses much faster, is lighter and super sharp. Sold the D850 because it was too heavy but I loved the camera! Now I use the D6II with the 500pf and am getting better with it. It’s also a lot lighter! The camera just doesn’t know what you want to focus on since the background is so busy. I have been shooting hummers with my setup but I have to put my left thumb on the manual focus ring; once I get it close to what I want, the BBF will pick it up. I use single point and have gotten good results so far and am going to stick with it. Birds are tough because they move so fast but if I can do it with hummers, larger subjects should be easier. I’m guessing you have tried using the limit switch on the lens? You just can’t be too close to your subject. Keep trying.

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks for the comment. I am going to compile all of the advice I have received into a video this week.

[@sinetwo]

Isn't the Zii like 200 grams lighter? The lens is of course the same weight so I can't imagine 200g making a huge difference with that kind of glass?

[@amaimani]

Hi Darell, is this still an issue after firmware update on Z camera?

[@rickbooysen550]

THANK YOU Really enjoyed this. Now, I have a question which no one can really answer here in RSA, Panning photography, eg following a goose/pelican or any other water bird landing on water, I love to capture that 5 to 8 meter water ski that the bird does before settling into the water, Take off's are also interesting geese do a single footed left right. left right run, vs the Cormorants doing a double footed slap in the water to get to speed before take off, My question is CAN THE MIRRORLESS CAMERA MANAGE THIS, , I don't have anything fancy D3400, 70/300 Sports mode but on Dynamic focus, This dynamic focus locks on a bird and retains the focus including slight adjustments,

[@MrDAGO1974]

The focus problem is typical for a mirrorless camera focus system, and not a problem on your camera or lens I'm afraid, it will be something we all will need to get used to (unless the engineers find a solution). The new focus system just doesn't see enough contrast in the foreground to focus, unless you trick it. If you look on KZbin, there are more wildlife vloggers that have experienced the same issue (and not only with Nikon, but also Canon and Sony)

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks for the comment. I am going to compile all of the advice I have received into a video this week.

[@howardsykes553]

I've recently sold my D850 and really regret it. I was having problems for the last few months and it took a couple of camera shops and Nikon to finally fix the issue but I'd already made my mind up that the time was right to upgrade despite loving my d850 before it developed a problem. I used it with the 200-500 and got great results. I ended up getting a Canon R5 though and I really wish I hadn't. I'd hired it before buying one and I wasn't as impressed as some although it was still pretty good. That was with a hired 500 f4 though. The R5 with the 100-400mm is a different prospect though and the focus is terrible at times. I wish I'd have got a Sony A9 instead despite the loss of megapixels compared to the Canon R5.

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks for the comment. I am going to compile all of the advice I have received into a video this week.

[@markrigg6623]

My R5 works fantastic with my 100 - 400.

[@tarjeijensen7237]

The auto focus issue is similar to what we have on Canon R series camera. It might be a feature and not an error. It might be something that is designed to keep the camera from focusing on something close when you want it to focus on something far away.

[@seanimal3]

So I have used tons of mirrorless cameras and the focus issue seems to happen with many of them. In my opinion sony does the best with long lenses and ability to transition from far to close focus reliably. But I do think it has to do somewhat with the lens

[@svendrantzaujensen5135]

Hi Darrell, I enyoy your videoes very much, I shoot mostly with my Z6II and 200/500 plus my 500F4 lens - in my opinion you can't compare different systems and expect them to work same way, think it's all about practice, muscle memory, practice and understanding the camera, find the right focus mode for actual situation, sure your D850 is a great camera, think the same with my D500, but I absolutely love my Z6II, only one thing I really miss, that's the lack of bird eye focus, hope it will come in a firmware update. untill then I will enyoy my wildlife photograpy with Z6II, excuse my English, prefer my own language, I'm Danish.... cheers Svend

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

I Svend many thanks for your comments. Glad you enjoy the videos. Look out for next week’s I filmed it yesterday at a wildlife reserve and I am really pleased with how it turned out.

[@robbiedeville]

I’m hoping the 200-600mm z mount will fix some of these issues

[@madhubarathwajranganathan9434]

Hello Darrell , excellent work. Ardent follower of your work. Am a D500 user contemplating to buy a z6ii( just for the love of mirrorless). Do you think the AF scenario improved after updates provided by Nikon?

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Still waiting to do the September update. Will report when I do it.

[@leonkirkbride6559]

Hi Darrell , the D850 is a great DSLR , I used mine for wildlife mainly birds in flight and after getting to know the focus system it’s given me some great results . Only downside was that mirror slap tended to scare some skittish wildlife off especially Owls . I tried the current Z ‘s but didn’t like the focus or tracking as much as the D850 . I’ve now got a Sony A1 but still keeping the D850. Btw the problem your seeing with that focus is quite common with a lot of mirrorless cameras. Not sure if it helps but maybe worth trying manual focus override with the 200-500 , quickly adjust the focus ring until the camera sees that closer branch and hit AF , should be quicker than keep pointing camera to floor. Mirrorless tend to go blind if the subjects are way out of focus especially if it sees background distractions

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks for the comment. I am going to compile all of the advice I have received into a video this week.

[@K0ga64]

For photos the D850, for video give me the Z6ii. 500mm 4k crop = 750mm with teleconverter on it x1.4 = 1050mm. And you can crop 4k to 1080, how many mm do you have? That's chilling from your lazy chair.I have a feeling that the z6ii got better results on the first firmware than the current one. Nice vid.

[@darrenprobert1831]

Hi Darrell , I have the same kit as in D850, Z6ii, 200-500 lens and can confirm the very same issues. I have missed a number of bird opportunities due to focus stalling and like you, opt for the D850 which is disappointing as I love the silent shooting on the Z6ii. Great vlog and images

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks for the comment. I am going to compile all of the advice I have received into a video this week.

[@paulkirk5760]

Interesting video as usual. I have the D500 and the Z6ii with 200-500mm but hardly use my D500 these days, yes there are issues with the Z6ii but generally with practice, changing behaviors and work the Z6ii almost matches the D500. Where it doesn’t yet is the 3D tracking which I relied on a lot on the D500. The Z6ii is not quite as accurate for small birds and birds in the distance in flight but you need to choose your focus mode carefully and there are a lot of choices. Where you’re having trouble changing focus to smaller and nearer objects are you using auto-area auto mode? I find animal wide area works well in such circumstances for example Red Kites flying through woodlands and as one of your other commenters says keep the thumb on my zoom hand ready to use on the manual focus ring. Strangely auto-area auto mode works well with House Martin’s in flight in busy backgrounds! Can’t say I’ve noticed problems with the OS on the lens but had noticed you don’t feel it locking on like you would if used with the D500. I assumed that’s the way it was, as it had with mirrorless as on G7 Panasonic with 100-300mm was the same but that was nowhere as good as the Z6ii. I will hang onto my D500 until the Z8 is out!

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks for the comment. I am going to compile all of the advice I have received into a video this week.

[@paulkirk5760]

@@DarrellOakdenPhotography that’s a great idea. Have I mentioned Hudson Henry Photography channel. He has specific settings and advice for Z6ii and Z7ii and has sold his D500 and D850!!

[@hansmclain6749]

Great video, I was going to buy the new Nikon Z9, but decided why would I want a heavier camera. I'm keeping the D850. I love your videos, keep up the great work.

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

I have an update to this video coming out on Sunday where I discuss how the firmware update has affected the Z6ii. The Z9 is a very nice camera, but I am waiting to see what the rumoured Z8 looks like.

[@hansmclain6749]

@@DarrellOakdenPhotography I agree and will wait and see what refinements come down the road. I'm also invested in non S glass, another reason to stick with the D850. I look forward to your new video. Happy New Year.

[@nathanielcashjr.732]

I have the same problem with the Z6ii using the 50mm with far to near focus. Do not have this problem with my D780 using OVF.

[@SkylarkFields]

Really interesting as always, and beautiful images. I use a mirrorless Fuji with a 400mm lens and I get the same problem with it being slow to acquire focus, especially if the background is busy. I am only an amateur wildlife photographer so it doesn't matter too much for me, I guess, apart from my disappointment at not getting a record of what I have seen!

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

It is very noticeable, as I demonstrated in the video, how the D850 locks onto the foreground much more quickly than the Z6ii. My chair used to be in my office until I invested in a secret labs chair. I make the long wait more bearable.

[@mortenthorpe]

In the case of the Fuji, and this might also be Nikon, canons, Sony’s approach to mirrorless autofocus, the rules for fast and precise autofocus acquiring have changed somewhat from dslr. Single small point autofocus is the fastest on dslr, not so on mirrorless… it’s a lot slower than the fastest - on mirrorless the fastest is a larger autofocus point, or preferably an autofocus group - zone on Fuji, 9-point dynamic or wide on Nikon.

[@SkylarkFields]

@@mortenthorpe Thank you, most interesting to learn, and I shall experiment! :)

[@Robertgreaves816]

Hi Darrel do you always use iso 800 for your shots or are you on auto iso

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

I don’t use auto ISO. I try to keep it as low as possible and raise it to give me a reasonable shutter speed. 800 on my camera does give me any problems. There are occasions when I forget to lower the ISO as the light improves (been caught out with far too many times).

[@ytr8989]

The D850 still the best. No mirrorless can match autofocus like a DSLR.

[@markrigg6623]

That's absolutely not true.

[@mrnice6598]

I sold my z6ii and went back to the D500 happy days again. My 200,500 had problems with the FTZ and Nikon sead there is nothing wrong with it and there was so glad i got rid of the z6ii

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks for the comment. I am going to compile all of the advice I have received into a video this week.

[@lokeshmahendrakar4948]

I had issues with Nikon Z6ii and lenses with stabilization, in-line z50 which works well .. so there is a conflict with IBIS and VR.. if you shut off the VR it works better but then the IBIS Does not so adapted Vr Lenses are not great with IBIS body but all my sigma non VR primes work well .. and I get IBIS ..

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks for the comment. I am going to compile all of the advice I have received into a video this week.

[@lotharmarunga7611]

I can take 50 sharp shots with the D4s while the Z6ii is still stacking cubes.

[@Ken_H_]

Martin Mere is best in winter Darrell (in my opinion), it's WWT and the wild birds are largely overwintering geese. RSBP Marshside is nearby and worth a visit if you're in the area, it's only a smallish site but it's not bad year round.

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks for that advice I might do both anyway.

[@Ken_H_]

@@DarrellOakdenPhotography keep an eye on the website, the pink foots arriving is pretty spectacular, mid to late September onwards. Dusk at Marshside is good, watching them come back in over the pier like squadrons of aircraft.

[@chrismc2090]

Yes Martin Mere is WWT, pretty quiet this time of year, but having said that we were there this weekend and managed to see and photograph a Barn owl, Marsh harriers and Kingfisher amongst other birds, so you never know what might turn up.

[@shot2death876]

Watching video's with this problem none appear to mention if they have set the focus tracking speed. That is, how quick the camera is set to move from one focus subject to another. If the camera's setting is slow then focus will lag from one focus to another. I have never had a Z6 but on Z7 it is pencil icon/Autofocus/a3 Focus Tracking With Lock On. If you set the speed to 1 or 2 then things should speed up.

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks. I'll give this a try.

[@SKgeostrat]

Hello and thanks for an interesting and somewhat artistic video. I am going through the same process and frankly haven't switched yet. My D850 and D500 give me such good results, that I will not go mirrorless until Nikon has the longer lenses in Z format. When that happens, I will, because the Z format and the S lenses seem to be outstanding. I am waiting for the Z9 to appear and, hopefully, it will take care of the AF and tracking problems and the technology will be transferred to the Z8!!! Nikon at some time has to do a real replacement of the D850? RIGHT? By the way, your feeder set up is interesting. Do you have a video describing it?

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks for the comment. I am going to compile all of the advice I have received into a video this week.

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

There is is a link in the description to my video specifically about feeders and perches. This is it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/faumimR3hJyAndE

[@paulmitchell1580]

I sold my Z7ll and bought the fantastic D850

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

I have kept both and use the Z6ii for landscapes and D850 for wildlife.

[@mikedeloye8060]

Your photos were stunning as always! You know some of the people here in Florida play bird calls through their phones. It tends to stimulate some of the activity. You could pick out a dozen of the birds that are around in your area and start playing it. I don't think it would scare them away.

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks for the comments. I think both cameras have their pros and cons. I do have a little more confidence with the D850.

[@CraigNiesenPhotography]

Darrell, excellent bird photography once again. While I have no experience with either camera, I believe that the focusing issue has something to do with the ftz adapter. I am basing this on the fact that you are not having the same issue z mounted glass. Thank you for sharing.

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks Craig. I am am not sure where the issue lies. I am pleased I have the choice of bodies for different situations.

[@peterbowler6524]

The woodpecker is a Great not Greater Spotted and the much smaller woodpecker is Lesser not less.!!🤔

[@Revup1]

I don't have a Z camera, not a great fan of mirror-less, EVFs, flimsy build, menus, or poor battery life, so don't take what I'm about to say as an absolute answer. However, I was watching a piece by Grays of Westminster on lens compatibility and Z cameras. From what I understood: 1. Z's have a 5 axis in body stabilisation, but when you attach an F lens with an FTZ you only get 3 axis stablisation. 2. If you have a non VR F mount lens attached to an FTZ the Z camera turns it into a 3 axis stablisation. Hence you get VR on a non VR lens. 3. If you have a VR F lens the Z camera's 3 axis stablisation is in conflict with the VR. So the Z camera cancels the VR....F lens VR doesn't work on Z cameras. Instead the camera provides 3 axis IBIS..... 4. Now if you switch off Z camera IBIS, you might think that the lens could use its VR....but NO, what they really want you to do is buy a new lens for your Z camera....marketing you see....that's what Z cameras are really all about....a triumph of technology over functionality. Clearly, as you have described, the substitute 3 axis VR on the Z6 doesn't function as well as the VR on the lens you are using.....I guess because of the length/size of the lens. The IBIS is probably optimised for more 'normal' use and doesn't completely counteract the extra movement of a longer/bigger lens, especially one that is mounted on that daft FTZ thingy. My recommendation? Trade in your Z6 and buy second D850 body.......result?......never miss another shot! Never need to feel the disappointment of buying an expensive plastic brick that doesn't work......can you tell I don't like Z cameras? I did have a play with a Z camera when they came out. I thought the auto-focus was slow in comparison to my then D810, and my impression of the IBIS was that the 'lock' could be more easily broken than on the VR lenses I have......I've no doubt that I would get used to some of that, and that I would find other benefits to a Z system in time....but why bother when you have already got something that works? See the lens issue here. www.nikonimgsupport.com/na/NSG_article?articleNo=000042799&configured=1&lang=en_SG

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks for the comment. I am going to compile all of the advice I have received into a video this week.

[@rafaelamatarazzo4644]

Begining 5:09

[@CincyPhotography]

mirrorless still sucks for fast focus, stick with dslr

[@RobsKoiPond]

It's the camera with the constant "focus hunting" you're not the only one that happens to. Nikon needs to get off thier tails and put some updates out to fix this problem it's rediculous. Instead Nikon is putting all thier effort into the Z9. My Z6II does the exact same thing as you. So it's not your camera. My D750 seems to do better with focus hunting.

[@nikilk]

Lets see what the firmware update releasing this Sep 2021 does for autofocus on the Z6ii. I hope it improves AF on the Z-series.