Nikon Z9 & Z8 has poor AF compared to Sony and Canon bodies. In fact they are consistently inconsistent in their AF accuracy especially while tracking. Quite sad considering that 3D AF in Nikon DSLRs were quite good
I sold my Nikon for canon only for the frustrating AF. Pros and cons but AF is priority for me. I tried everything for my Nikon, gave up. I’m happy now!
@@baredesigns1 there’s literally 2 canon bodies with better AF (photo/video) than Z8/9 and 2 Sony bodies. Those were released very recently and are much newer than Nikons 3+ year old tech. And still it’s close. If you can’t get the shot from the top of those three brands, it’s you not the camera.
Jan - thanks for taking the time to produce another really helpful technical video - much appreciated by an R7 / R5 user! I've been relying on your set-up advice and getting very encouraging results.
Your tweaks for the R5 Mk ii are spot on Jan! I mainly shoot very different subjects to you, but after much experimenting when I first got the camera, I settled on pretty much those settings as my "go to" ones for motor racing. In particular, I've found that having the AF set to responsive is very effective in initially locking on and holding focus on suddenly appearing and rapidly approaching cars.
I really liked this video. I found it interesting to see some of the options on the other Canon cameras! I think it’s easy to set up the camera and forget to fine tune these over time. R5 shooter. I hike and shoot whatever I find, so my setup is more general, with 3 back button auto focus. One for animal eye tracking, one for spot and 1 preset for quick action and a wider focus area. What I haven’t figured out is where I could set a button to change my autofocus points easily on the fly. I use the dof button from moving in and out of crop mode. I’ve tried the control ring on the lens which will toggle through the options, but as soon as I touch any back button to engage that zone, it goes to its programming. I’m probably missing something basic.
Thanks Jan, a really useful video. I have an R7 and have had some frustrating moments with my AF especially with BIF. Looking forward to testing your suggestions. Have a good Christmas 😊
I went out yesterday to test your AF Settings recommendation, Auto +1. I was photographing small songbirds in the brush, perfect subject and environment to put the camera to the test. To say I was shocked is an understatement. It felt like I was using a different camera. This is the stickiest the AF has been particularly on very small songbirds. Eye AF did a much better job acquiring those small eyes even in trees, densely packed with branches where the AF normally struggles. I haven't tried this with birds in flight yet but so far, success! My theory is the Auto +1 setting puts the new Digic Accelerator with AI learning into hyperdrive. I also just purchased your Photoshop Master Class. Keep up the great work Jan!
Jan fantastic work over the years you are a man I look up to and appreciate all the great content you give to us all. Hoping for your master class videos for Christmas I have dropped plenty of hints lol . Happy holidays mate to you and yours, and continued success for the New Year 🥂 Warm regards from Stuart Perth W.A
Another excellent tutorial on settings, just checked, only had to tweak a couple as I am set up from your first R5 tutorial, I rely totally on these settings and have found them faultless and extremely helpful, can't afford to upgrade yet but am pretty happy with the original R5, thanks heaps Jan.
Great vid, I am loving the advice, I am new to mirrorless and have recently bought a R5 ii and on a very steep learning curve so any help is very much appreciated, between yourself and your friend Duade (great guy) I am learning.
Very interesting! I will try the one for R5 II and see how it goes! I have been experimenting with lens IS as well... still not sure if, its best to leave entirely OFF, or only Panning, or if can use 100%/all axis now, at 600MM at higher shutter speeds, like 1/3200-1/4000th. Sometimes I wonder if the IS fights the shutter speed then or not.
As always, a very good and informative video mate. Did a few tweeks on my camera, while looking at the video hehe. Wishing you and yours a great holiday, and looking forward to your next video. Cheers, Bjoern.🦘🦜🦩🎄📸
Thanks Jan, I enjoy my R7,but from the day I bought it I've been waiting for the R7II, and hopefully this will have a faster sensor -scan, along with the R5II auto focus and pre-trigger. A Sony -like 'increase frame rate' with button control would be useful.
how many different areas are there in Australia for birding - I know they are far apart but I am thinking what to look at if I want to maximize a trip for birding - thanks for your great videos
Love your work Jan. R5mkii shooter here. Like with my R5, I have played with every AF case setting on my R5ii. Using the precaptue and 30fps is addictive shooting bif taking off, and landing and dragonflys in flight.using the RF 100-500 On my R5mkii, I currently have the AF case on Manual, with both sliders set on max. With the sliders @ mid, the AF simply does not track fast enough for birds taking of towards me, nor does it stay on fragonflys making fast movements. With the AF sliders on max, Yes, @ max, the AFcan be a bit jumpy, and jump of the eye after a few seconds, but I have progammed one of the button to instanty return the AF to centre in any AF mode. Thus, if the AF jumps of the eye, I can return it with a tap. And the AF starts again from that centre point and locks on to the closes eye - for a few seconds. If I am waiting a minute for a perched bird to take off, I just tap my AF to centre button every few seconds and it stays there. I learned all of this after analysing many 30fps sequences where only the first few frames were in focus with the zliders on mid or to the left. Then I tried sensitivity and tracking on max, and it works - the only challenge left now is keeping the subject in frame.
Regards the A7, earlier this year I saw a link to a Canon paper that discussed AF at high frame rates - using the maximum frame rate causes a voltage drop which means less power to drive the lens AF motors. I am guessing this is a problem for all camera manufacturers. I also understand that in the evolution of the EOS 5D series various updates tinkered with the power management, splitting it between AF power to the lens and other camera functions - and I would guess that this is why with the R5 you do not get all functions if you use older legacy batteries. With the beefier batteries in the R1 (or 1Dx range) this is less likely an issue.
Jan. I set up my R7 using your 2 button auto focus suggestions and have been thinking about adding a 3rd button for turning on subject tracking in situations where eye auto focus may not work. Do you have any suggestions on what the best way is to do this? I tried mapping the subject tracking button to my DOF but it seems subject either on or off does not work well, and I think it interrupts the eye tracking button setup. Thanks for the help.
Interesting video. I will definitely try the tip on the R5-2. By the way, what stabil. setting do you like to use on the 100-500 RF? 1, 2 or 3? Especially for BIF.
Some good stuff appreciate it! One issue you haven’t mentioned is when a new subject appears suddenly in front of the intended subject and r5 mii refuses to focus. Not taking a big difference in distance. Any ideas?
Great video, thanks Jan! On another subject: Have you (or anyone) trimmed a video clip on the R5mk2 yet? On my R5mk1 it gives me the option in playback but on the mk5 there is no cut option. Could it be a setting I’m missing? Plse help!
Thanks Jan, interesting new insight regarding the R5ii AF servo character ! Certainly will try this next time ! Sounds a bit like inverse logic .. but Japanese English and negations are always a tricky cocktail .. soo just maybe they intended to use a pos value to calm it down 😛 The new R7 trick I'll pass on to my wife and my colleague !
Great stuff Jan. I notice some cameras or lenses have a manual+autofocus setting which I have found useful. Would that obviate the last electronic MF setting if it was available. I often wondered why more lenses or cameras did not have this feature.
@@jan_wegener Yes, the switch on the lens, but I have a Sony RX10 bridge camera which has a switch on the camera and the more expensive Sonys have a camera switch. But I think all big lenses should have it. The big Sigma I used to use had it and I found it really useful. But I see on your video on assigning the focus to a back button sort of makes it unnecessary.
Will watch the video later. Hope it'll help me fix my problem: On my actual camera's for wildife, R7 and R5, if I hold the back button focus ( eyeAF, servo, animals), I sometimes lose focus when I start shooting in H/H+ after 3-4 pictures.
I have the r5 and I shoot eagles by me. There are a lot of times I’ll have shots and when they fly in front of trees the focus is gone. I should turn stop focus search off and that will help?
Canon R5 MKll - Today i shoot flying birds (Geese and Swans) on the Manuel +1 setting, and it worked better than Auto! More sharp shots and the eye focus point was like glue. Even with threes behind.
One annoying quirk is that on the R6 is that pressing the AF point selection button and then the INFO button disables eye detect AF. I never intentionally press this but I notice it often I end up unintentionally disabling it. Eye detection still works .regardless when you use the back button you have programmed but I usually prefer not to use back button because I have one button programmed as recall function to a high shutter speed and holding 2 buttons is quite awkward.
I hope this works because I'm frustrated with some of the results my R5 has given me, I miss quite a lot even after following instructions on youtube content providers
You really need to work with two back button AF and get accustomed to constantly use one and the other. Eye detect is great when it gets it but often time it does not (eye too small in the frame, not enough color contrast, etc.). Point AF will allow you to help it by prefocusing close to target. Also point AF will give you a good plan B with static subjects or when there are several subjects in the frame and you want to select one in particular. So it is not all about settings, a lot has to do with field craft.
You'd think these manufacturers of expensive camera equipment would have someone like yourself test and find the best settings, so they could make them the default settings for us. Surely, having the best performance straight out of the box would save them a lot in returns, and people jumping to other brands
@jan_wegener Birds in flight with a DSLR is a fun and challenging thing to try 😜. The focus system is so different than the mirrorless and I was hoping to get some advices from somebody like you, a pro photographer with more experience than me.
Auto-Translated title promised "repairs" to autofocus. Looking forward to Jan diving into firmware development on his home IT. Kind of sure though that it was just the stinking youtube auto-translate not grasping the context correctly.
Please make one for the Z8/Z9
Nikon Z9 & Z8 has poor AF compared to Sony and Canon bodies. In fact they are consistently inconsistent in their AF accuracy especially while tracking. Quite sad considering that 3D AF in Nikon DSLRs were quite good
I sold my Nikon for canon only for the frustrating AF. Pros and cons but AF is priority for me. I tried everything for my Nikon, gave up. I’m happy now!
@@baredesigns1 there’s literally 2 canon bodies with better AF (photo/video) than Z8/9 and 2 Sony bodies. Those were released very recently and are much newer than Nikons 3+ year old tech. And still it’s close. If you can’t get the shot from the top of those three brands, it’s you not the camera.
@@livejames9374 So true. ha ha
@@baredesigns1 I have Canon, Sony and Nikon. Nikon hasn't poor AF. In fact it's great! And I can prove it!
I am a Sony user, would like to see your setting for the Sony Cameras A1
YES, YES please give us a Sony video, specifically the A9ii and A1 please!!
And 7R5 too please.
Jan - thanks for taking the time to produce another really helpful technical video - much appreciated by an R7 / R5 user! I've been relying on your set-up advice and getting very encouraging results.
I'm glad you're finding the setup advice helpful!
Your tweaks for the R5 Mk ii are spot on Jan! I mainly shoot very different subjects to you, but after much experimenting when I first got the camera, I settled on pretty much those settings as my "go to" ones for motor racing. In particular, I've found that having the AF set to responsive is very effective in initially locking on and holding focus on suddenly appearing and rapidly approaching cars.
Please make a Sony a1 version of this.
Thank you, Jan! I can't wait to sit with my R5 II and go through these settings. Happy Holidays!
Excellent review of the key focus tweaks Jan. Best wishes for the Holiday Season!
Thanks so much and the same to you!
Please make a video for sony A1 II
Thanks for the great tips, Jan. I just got an R3 and set it up. Ordered your setup guide now to double check everything. Cheers & Happy Holidays!
I really liked this video. I found it interesting to see some of the options on the other Canon cameras! I think it’s easy to set up the camera and forget to fine tune these over time. R5 shooter. I hike and shoot whatever I find, so my setup is more general, with 3 back button auto focus. One for animal eye tracking, one for spot and 1 preset for quick action and a wider focus area. What I haven’t figured out is where I could set a button to change my autofocus points easily on the fly. I use the dof button from moving in and out of crop mode. I’ve tried the control ring on the lens which will toggle through the options, but as soon as I touch any back button to engage that zone, it goes to its programming. I’m probably missing something basic.
MFN button or do you use that to switch to video?
Dear Jan, another well done Video Instruction in a easy to understand and to adapt manner. Thanks it whas very helpfull and saved me a lot of time. 🙂
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks Jan, a really useful video. I have an R7 and have had some frustrating moments with my AF especially with BIF. Looking forward to testing your suggestions. Have a good Christmas 😊
I’m glad you found it helpful, good luck with the testing!
I went out yesterday to test your AF Settings recommendation, Auto +1. I was photographing small songbirds in the brush, perfect subject and environment to put the camera to the test. To say I was shocked is an understatement. It felt like I was using a different camera. This is the stickiest the AF has been particularly on very small songbirds. Eye AF did a much better job acquiring those small eyes even in trees, densely packed with branches where the AF normally struggles. I haven't tried this with birds in flight yet but so far, success! My theory is the Auto +1 setting puts the new Digic Accelerator with AI learning into hyperdrive. I also just purchased your Photoshop Master Class. Keep up the great work Jan!
Glad it’s working well for you! I was just as shocked as you!
Jan fantastic work over the years you are a man I look up to and appreciate all the great content you give to us all. Hoping for your master class videos for Christmas I have dropped plenty of hints lol . Happy holidays mate to you and yours, and continued success for the New Year 🥂 Warm regards from Stuart Perth W.A
Cheers Stuart! And thanks for the support, I appreciate it.
Thank you for these tweaks on the autofocus. I was also having troubles with the focus point jumping all around, and your tweaks appear to be working.
Glad you're finding those tweaks helpful!
Bonjour, merci pour ces informations précises, est que c'est possible pour Sony A9III/A1II? Merci
Another excellent tutorial on settings, just checked, only had to tweak a couple as I am set up from your first R5 tutorial, I rely totally on these settings and have found them faultless and extremely helpful, can't afford to upgrade yet but am pretty happy with the original R5, thanks heaps Jan.
That's great to hear!
Great vid, I am loving the advice, I am new to mirrorless and have recently bought a R5 ii and on a very steep learning curve so any help is very much appreciated, between yourself and your friend Duade (great guy) I am learning.
Thanks Jan, really helpful as I'm an R7 shooter so I can see these changes helping me to nail even more in focus shots🙂
Great video, I am personally a Nikon user and would love to see this style of video for Nikon Z9, Z8, etc! Thanks again, Jan.
Very interesting! I will try the one for R5 II and see how it goes!
I have been experimenting with lens IS as well... still not sure if, its best to leave entirely OFF, or only Panning, or if can use 100%/all axis now, at 600MM at higher shutter speeds, like 1/3200-1/4000th. Sometimes I wonder if the IS fights the shutter speed then or not.
Great review of Canon AF settings. Look forward to my weekend marsh visit to see the impacts! Happy Holidays Jan!
let us know how you go
Another excellent video with useful content. You should have many more followers.
Thank you, I appreciate that!
What would you personally use if it was between the Nikon Z8+Z 800mm Pf f 6.3 vs. Canon EOS R1+Rf 200-800?For wildlife.
Thanks Jan. Very helpful especially for owners of both "old" and "new" AF cameras.
Glad it was helpful!
As always, a very good and informative video mate. Did a few tweeks on my camera, while looking at the video hehe.
Wishing you and yours a great holiday, and looking forward to your next video.
Cheers, Bjoern.🦘🦜🦩🎄📸
Another great video Jan! Thanks so much. You are the best!
I'm glad you like it!
Oh yeah, please for Nikon, too! Great job!
Yes, please make a video for Sony a1
Thanks Jan, but what about Nikon AF, especially in the new Z50 II? Thank you and Happy Christmas holidays
Thanks Jan, I enjoy my R7,but from the day I bought it I've been waiting for the R7II, and hopefully this will have a faster sensor -scan, along with the R5II auto focus and pre-trigger. A Sony -like 'increase frame rate' with button control would be useful.
Great Video, like always . I learn so much from your videos
Thanks Jan. I took lots of notes.. Also the Tern chicks are out at the Nobbies on Phillip Island. Daily visits from our camera club members
When I was there this year, they seemed to be further down the hill and not as close
how many different areas are there in Australia for birding - I know they are far apart but I am thinking what to look at if I want to maximize a trip for birding - thanks for your great videos
Countless really. There aren’t many lodges or anything like that that feed birds so it’s harder to plan
Thank's for all yours super videos!! Please make one for all Nikon Z Cameras please! For the Z6III !! Thank you and have a nice christmas day!
Love your work Jan. R5mkii shooter here. Like with my R5, I have played with every AF case setting on my R5ii.
Using the precaptue and 30fps is addictive shooting bif taking off, and landing and dragonflys in flight.using the RF 100-500
On my R5mkii, I currently have the AF case on Manual, with both sliders set on max.
With the sliders @ mid, the AF simply does not track fast enough for birds taking of towards me, nor does it stay on fragonflys making fast movements. With the AF sliders on max,
Yes, @ max, the AFcan be a bit jumpy, and jump of the eye after a few seconds, but I have progammed one of the button to instanty return the AF to centre in any AF mode. Thus, if the AF jumps of the eye, I can return it with a tap. And the AF starts again from that centre point and locks on to the closes eye - for a few seconds. If I am waiting a minute for a perched bird to take off, I just tap my AF to centre button every few seconds and it stays there.
I learned all of this after analysing many 30fps sequences where only the first few frames were in focus with the zliders on mid or to the left. Then I tried sensitivity and tracking on max, and it works - the only challenge left now is keeping the subject in frame.
Great video!! Is it good for the old R5?
and if it's not, can you do one for the old R5?
Thanks!
Yes and I did 😉
@jan_wegener
Thanks!😊
Great stuff as always Jan..................and by all means do one of these for Sony!! I'm always happy to learn stuff I've not yet figured out 🙂
thanks mate
Regards the A7, earlier this year I saw a link to a Canon paper that discussed AF at high frame rates - using the maximum frame rate causes a voltage drop which means less power to drive the lens AF motors. I am guessing this is a problem for all camera manufacturers.
I also understand that in the evolution of the EOS 5D series various updates tinkered with the power management, splitting it between AF power to the lens and other camera functions - and I would guess that this is why with the R5 you do not get all functions if you use older legacy batteries.
With the beefier batteries in the R1 (or 1Dx range) this is less likely an issue.
Jan. I set up my R7 using your 2 button auto focus suggestions and have been thinking about adding a 3rd button for turning on subject tracking in situations where eye auto focus may not work. Do you have any suggestions on what the best way is to do this? I tried mapping the subject tracking button to my DOF but it seems subject either on or off does not work well, and I think it interrupts the eye tracking button setup. Thanks for the help.
Vielen Dank. Einige interessante Tips zur Einstellung des AF!❤
Interesting video. I will definitely try the tip on the R5-2. By the way, what stabil. setting do you like to use on the 100-500 RF? 1, 2 or 3? Especially for BIF.
Always 1
even when panning a flying bird you use mode 1? @@jan_wegener
Some good stuff appreciate it! One issue you haven’t mentioned is when a new subject appears suddenly in front of the intended subject and r5 mii refuses to focus. Not taking a big difference in distance. Any ideas?
Great video, thanks Jan!
On another subject: Have you (or anyone) trimmed a video clip on the R5mk2 yet? On my R5mk1 it gives me the option in playback but on the mk5 there is no cut option. Could it be a setting I’m missing? Plse help!
might depend on the format or file type you're filming in?
@ Thanks Jan. Could possibly be! Will experiment with different formats! Thanks again for your videos. Find them really useful and practical!
Thanks Jan, interesting new insight regarding the R5ii AF servo character ! Certainly will try this next time ! Sounds a bit like inverse logic .. but Japanese English and negations are always a tricky cocktail .. soo just maybe they intended to use a pos value to calm it down 😛
The new R7 trick I'll pass on to my wife and my colleague !
hehe, who knows!
Thanks Jan, great job ❤
Always something to learn......thank you
Great stuff Jan. I notice some cameras or lenses have a manual+autofocus setting which I have found useful. Would that obviate the last electronic MF setting if it was available. I often wondered why more lenses or cameras did not have this feature.
You mean the switch on the lens?
@@jan_wegener Yes, the switch on the lens, but I have a Sony RX10 bridge camera which has a switch on the camera and the more expensive Sonys have a camera switch. But I think all big lenses should have it. The big Sigma I used to use had it and I found it really useful. But I see on your video on assigning the focus to a back button sort of makes it unnecessary.
Great video, thanks for the info.
Glad it was helpful!
Jan I don't think you have a setup guide for the z9 or z8 after the bird eye detection was enabled...can you update these videos too?
I think I did a video for the Z8
Great video! Please include a similar one for Nikon
Will watch the video later. Hope it'll help me fix my problem:
On my actual camera's for wildife, R7 and R5, if I hold the back button focus ( eyeAF, servo, animals), I sometimes lose focus when I start shooting in H/H+ after 3-4 pictures.
Sir..Can you please suggest for Fuji XH2S autofocusing settings?
I am a Fuji user...Please
Can't wait for your verification of the R5 MII new solution. I face the same issues as you so I am VERY interested in this new solution.
Thanks, very helpful as always.
Do you need to drop the FPS on R7 if you are shooting electronic first curtain?
I don't think so. It's mainly the 30fps ES that cause trouble
Muito bommmm a dublagem automática ajudou muito para mim que não falo inglês obrigado 👏👏👏
I have the r5 and I shoot eagles by me. There are a lot of times I’ll have shots and when they fly in front of trees the focus is gone. I should turn stop focus search off and that will help?
you can try. in theory at least it should help
Dear Jan - does Electronic fulltime MF works for all lenses ? Asking as we are trying force the AF motor against it.
I believe so
Excellent video Jan.
Thanks!
Great info Jan. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Please make a similar video for the nikon z8 and z9
Canon R5 MKll - Today i shoot flying birds (Geese and Swans) on the Manuel +1 setting, and it worked better than Auto! More sharp shots and the eye focus point was like glue. Even with threes behind.
thanks for sharing!
Excellent advice Jan!
Glad you think so!
Nikon Z8/Z9 please that great.
Please make one for Nikon Z 8 and Z 9. Thanks
Great info. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
One annoying quirk is that on the R6 is that pressing the AF point selection button and then the INFO button disables eye detect AF. I never intentionally press this but I notice it often I end up unintentionally disabling it. Eye detection still works .regardless when you use the back button you have programmed but I usually prefer not to use back button because I have one button programmed as recall function to a high shutter speed and holding 2 buttons is quite awkward.
Yes, please a video for Nikon!
Great video, just one little comment: „eventually“ is a false friend for us German native speakers. Best regards!
I hope this works because I'm frustrated with some of the results my R5 has given me, I miss quite a lot even after following instructions on youtube content providers
You really need to work with two back button AF and get accustomed to constantly use one and the other. Eye detect is great when it gets it but often time it does not (eye too small in the frame, not enough color contrast, etc.). Point AF will allow you to help it by prefocusing close to target. Also point AF will give you a good plan B with static subjects or when there are several subjects in the frame and you want to select one in particular. So it is not all about settings, a lot has to do with field craft.
@MrMartin246 well said
@@MrMartin246 I do have 2 BBF set one is eye detect, It looks like I'm not very good
@ with practice it will come
Love to have a version of this for Sony a7Rv and 200-600
Make one for Nikon Z9
I own a Sony A7iv and Tamron 150 -500mm
Video for Nikon z8 n z9
Please make one for Sony
Can you please do one for Sony A1? :D
Can you do one for Nikon D810 please
Great video can you do one for nikon please
We waiting video for Nikon z8 and z9
Yes please add Z8 and Z6iii AF tweaks :)
Yes please do Nikon. Thanks in advance .... in fact always do Nikons😅😅
You'd think these manufacturers of expensive camera equipment would have someone like yourself test and find the best settings, so they could make them the default settings for us. Surely, having the best performance straight out of the box would save them a lot in returns, and people jumping to other brands
I always wondered who actually tests some of these things or decides on somewhat strange design choices
Please make one for Sony, thanks.
Please please make a video about sonys autofocus
Anybody has any recommendation for R10?
Can u do Sony r7v 😅
Sony please!
First! Let’s go 😁🙌🏻
Nikon Z5 🥰
Nikon Z50 or Z50 II . It would be grate.
Pls make for nikon z8
What about R10?
Nikon z6 3 please
I will try on my R8!
Please make a Nikon z6 lll
Video is valid for Canon ONLY
Nikon please! and include DSLR
I have actually never used a Nikon DSLR :O
@jan_wegener Birds in flight with a DSLR is a fun and challenging thing to try 😜. The focus system is so different than the mirrorless and I was hoping to get some advices from somebody like you, a pro photographer with more experience than me.
@@crepaspiodresback then I was stuck in canon land hehe
Auto-Translated title promised "repairs" to autofocus. Looking forward to Jan diving into firmware development on his home IT. Kind of sure though that it was just the stinking youtube auto-translate not grasping the context correctly.
Ja die auto translate titles sind eher nicht so prall