NIKON Z9 - Your Questions Answered - Auto Focus Consistency - EVF Quality
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0:00 Osprey The Glorious Pursuit of Unbridled Determination
1:05 Nikon Z9 and Teleconverters
2:09 How Does the Z9 autofocus handle busy backgrounds
4:19 How does the z9 eye autofocus work with bird in flight
6:10 How does the D500 work with the 500pf
6:59 how does the nikon z9 autofocus handle birds on the water line
9:45 what lens foot did you use on the nikon 500pf
11:27 what nikon z9 autofocus settings work best for bird in flight
12:54 does the sigma 500f4 work well with the nikon z9?
14:46 is there evf lag with the nikon z9
16:28 how does the nikon z9 autofocus compare to the sony a1
re: "The $64,000 question" - this is a reference to an old American game show from the 1950s. Good video, ty for responding to all the questions. (and good luck with the awards)
Thanks for explaining that and for watching!
I came here to say this! (And thus date myself as being pretty old, lol!)
Thanks Mark for answering your questions and sharing your thoughts about the Z9. So far I have been very pleased with my Z9!
Hey Mark, great to see you getting some recognition from the Benjamin Franklin Publishing Awards for an exceptionally well produced book. It's #1 in my Library, proudly displayed. It's an awesome reflection on how committed you are to your craft & always striving to improve-Well done. Once again impeccable timing for the release of this Z9 Q&A video as my Z9 arrived earlier in the week. Your knowledge & experience w/D850 (noisy flapping) that you provided to me at Washington Eagle Workshop 2019 helped immensely. I'm stoked to return this May w/Son Matt & expect great lessons as always Thanks for all of your content, much appreciated
See you both soon and thanks for the compliments!
Thank you Mark. I did received your book and it is top shelf quality. The prints are unbelievably sharp. The ridges in every feather. The eyes clear and bright. Your stories, as always, engaging and tell us a lot about who you are as a person. How you view life and your unbridled enthusiasm for nature. You are a special gift to all of us. Good luck on the final. ~ your neighbor
Awe thanks so much!
Congratulations for the nomination and well deserved! I wish you the best to receive it!
Thanks
Excellent Q&A Video. Congratulations Mark On Being A Finalist For Your Book. I Hope You Win!
Congratulations Mark, well deserved nomination. I hope you win first prize 👍👍
Always interesting to listen to photographers of your caliber talk about the gear they're using, especially the cutting edge equipment like the Nikon Z9, Sony A1 and Canon R5. Thanks for taking the time do produce these videos.
Thanks for watching
Hey Mark Thank you for the answer. I just want to let you know, that since posting that question i bought the Sigma 500 F4 lens and i am happy to report that it works great with the Z9. No focus inconsistencies as mentioned with the DSLR cameras.
Great to hear!
Great news on that award nomination Mark & best of luck! You really deserve it.... 👍👍🦅🦅
My favourite wildlife photographer 😍 ❤
Thank you for answering the questions, your video is very informative.
always appreciate your honesty as you share your opinion - I also think the experience with older glass will not match the performance of the newer glass with linear motors - I shot with a d500 for many years, and while it was a great camera, I am loving the z9
Great video. Thanks for sharing. Look forward to hearing more about this camera.
An inspiring video - and informative (especially about linear versus rotating)
Beautiful pictures!👍👍👍
Thanks for the great Q&A session. I have a Z9, but I don't own any Z glass yet, so I'm using my 200-500 f/5.6 with the adapter, and I'm finding some of the same focus issues that you mentioned. I'm waiting to see what the Z mount 800 PF lens is going to cost, because that is what I could really use. I also agree that TCs aren't worth it. I've rented a couple and neither one performed well enough for me to consider buying one. Congratulations on the book!
Thanks Mark! I've been waiting for this video and am happy with your review. I'm currently a Nikon shooter (dSLR) and have been struggling with whether to move to Sony or getting the Z9. Your review gives me more confidence to move ahead with the Z9. Congrats on being a finalist!!
Z9 perhaps?? 😁
I also received your book today. It's just spectacular. I hope to one day get down to your area and attend a workshop. Thanks for your efforts.
Thanks Mark. I do have your book. It's great.
Great honor. Good luck on #1, Matt! I love my book!
Thanks
Excellent review and very good insight in pros and cons of the Z9
Good video Mark! Thank you for sharing it with us!💖👍😎JP
I think it somewhat foolish to ask the question is one camera as good as another, especially in wildlife where we have tens of thousands invested in glass. Very few of us will switch brands for a slight advantage between one body or another. The important question is can I get good images with my setup, and I believe the answer is yes as of the Z9 arrival. I shoot Sony but clearly with good glass you can get good images with any of the big 3 today. I still shoot the 5 year old A9 because I don't see any reason to change. I have the 600 F4 on order and currently shoot with a 200-600. Go out and shoot and lets argue about our images NOT the camera that took them ✌
Congrats on your book. I’ll buy it. Big honor
I love that book and well deserved honor
Thanks
Awesome video and Congrats on your book.
Huge congrats on your book, Mark. Hope you win. Can't wait till you get your hands on a new 800mm PF and tell us all about it.
Thanks! I’m excited about the book and the lens!
Great video Mark and congrats on the the book award!
Thanks
Such a powerful camera. It will be fun to see how it is fine tuned with firmware updates over the next year or so. And interesting to see how some if this tech flows down stream into the future new Z cameras.
Congratulations on the nomination for your book!
Thanks
Thanks Mark, been waiting to hear your take on the Z9. I find the 500PF with 1.4 tele. works good with video but kind of slow to focus on birds in flight. I have the Nikon Z 100 400 and with the Z tele. works better than 500PF. So your take on the Z lens is good advice.
Hey Mark, awesome that your Osprey book is a finalize in the Benjamin Franklin Publishing award. Hope you win first prize. As a hobbyist photographer, I really can't justify the price of the Z9, A1 or the Canon flagship camera. With that said, can you comment on the AF on the new Sony R7IV. Thanks. Looking forward to your next video.
Ah, the $64,000 question comes from an old game show in the 1950's called "The $64,000 Challenge" where contestants were coached to give the answers and the winners were picked before the show ever aired. When these shenanigans came out it gave TV quiz shoes a bad rep for years. How do I know this? I can remember watching this show when I was little. On to the Z9! I am primarily a sports photographer but your videos got me interested in bird photography as well. I've had the Z9 for a couple of months now and I have to say my experience pretty much matches up with yours. The eye tracking is useful but, like your experience, can get in the way. I've actually had the eye focus capture and track an "out of focus" subject which left my mouth dropped open. I have my first Z lens on order, but I borrowed a friends 100-400 and it seemed to work substantially better than the legacy lenses. Having said that, I own a 10 year old 400mm f/2.8 E lens that produces some of the best images I have ever taken and it seems to work well with the Z9. Not sure if I will invest $14,000 in the new 400 or not. The big glass is essential in sports as in birding. Thanks for the discussion and your time to make this video and answer questions. I'm going to be in Denver in June and looking for some good locations to shoot - can you recommend?
Thanks for the comment. I lived on the west side of Colorado for a few years. I’d say anywhere high in the mountains is good!
Congrats on the award nomination!!!
Thanks
Hi Mark - having both Z and F mount glass, I think the Z9 does work a little better with native Z lenses, but some of my friends have been very happy using it with the 500PF attached. One approach that I have been trying out which was originally suggested by Hudson Henry, is using shutter focus with Wide Area L to “acquire” the subject and then using back button focus to lock onto the subject by programming the back AF button to turn on BBF and the 3D tracking mode simultaneously. As long as the back button is pressed, the Z9 will track what is acquired initially extremely well using 3D tracking. As soon as the back button is released, the camera reverts to shutter focus in Wide Area L. This hybrid approach works very well for me, and is what I’m using for action and BIF. I humbly suggest that you try it out, especially with some Z glass. Thanks, as always, for your great content!
That's interesting. So the camera is always focusing at all times? BBF is 3D and shutter is wide L? You would never be able to stop focus if you wanted?
That’s a drawback - I agree - especially as you get to a tough background or the waterline. But, as you mentioned in your video, trying 3D tracking on its own is not perfected (I hope a firmware fix possible?), so this approach allows me to at least capture what it is that I want to track with relative ease and then force the Z9 to track it (and then release it immediately to acquire another subject). As they say, your mileage may vary…
@@carlmarch603 just making sure I understand the purpose. I’ll have to see how it work along the waterline. Thanks!
Thanks Mark for your honest review … yes .. even for me Wide area large does the trick most of the time specially busier backgrounds .. shooting with the new 400mm TC VRS for a month .. it’s autofocus is at least in my testing 4 times faster than f mount 400 mm f2.8 .agree with you they went on a completely different design with Z lenses ..
That’s good to hear!!!
@@njrtech , I am referring to the prime. 400mm f2.8 TC VR S lens...yes 100-400 is only quick at 100mm, but it only matches the 500pf autofocus speed at 100mm focal length. At 400mm, its significantly slower.
hey mark. nice video. Try Z9 with Z 400 2.8 TC . it has VCM motors. Also try new 100-400 z mount .
Hi Mark, love your channel and your work! I'm planning a coffee table book of my photos, and I'm wondering what book printing service you used for your Osprey book, and what software for designing the book. thanks!
Good Evening Mark. Hope this is not a nuscence to you but I did a decent comparison of the 100-400mm Z with a TC1.4 and without. Here is a more specific comparison. When reviewing a photo at about the same focal length (example 400mm vs 380mm), without zooming in the photos are almost identical with little differentiation. When I zoom in a corner of a photo to 100% of a 45mp file, at about 1/3 of the original size. The corners do show some degradation. To give some comparison, I made a random determination that bad softness was a 10 and minimal softness was a 1. With 0 being none. When I look at the corner third of a shot, the shot softens about a 2-3. When looking at the middle of a shot, the softness is about a 0-1. I know this isn't science but wanted to give you a feel for any difference in the Z TC1.4 with my 100-400mm. So Viktor is correct, there is some degradation and I suppose it depends on what you're using the photo for. If you have to have every detail then the Z TC1.4 may not be right. But if you're looking at a landscape at 100%, being able to go from 400mm to 560mm is fabulous. I, like you, also shoot wildlife and so far my good shots don't show any drop in sharpness. My bad shots do but I'm pretty sure that is more due to me than the camera or lens. Keep up the great content. You are in my top 2 or 3 I love to drop in on and check out your thoughts, information and videos/photos.
Thank you for the great information. I appreciate it and I’m sure others will too!!
Great video Mark 😊👍
Thanks
New D500's are still available on amazon, I almost bought another one the other day then changed my mind.
Hi Mark. Any chance you will put together a Z9 set up guide? the one you did for the D850 was fantastic. I find focus wandering and or very sluggish and not sure if it is because of the low light or my settings. Good luck on the competition. Your book is a classic.
Hi Mark, this is a great Question session, really enjoying it. Now after Covid outbreaks here in the UK I have a new job and looking forward to being in a position to ordering your latest Osprey book! My question is, I've been Nikon for 35 years but I'd really appreciate your honest opinion re Sony v Nikon, if you could only have one system would it be Sony or Nikon for wildlife photography! Best of luck with the publishing awards you are shortlisted for, recon you'll do great. Stay safe and thanks for sharing all your photography experiences with us, it's really appreciated.
Regarding the Sigma 500 F4 comment: with DSLRs, a proper fine tunning via the dock, nearly eliminates any focus shifting in AFC + CH. With the Z9, there is no focus shifting whatsoever either amidst bursts or when closing down the aperture. Once the Z9 locks focus, all the sequence is tack sharp. The lens is performing greatly. Any issues I have, are Z9 related (such as missing focus in front of busy BGs) and this something that R5 isn't doing. I believe that Nikon shall do more work with their AI animal tracking algorithms, with regards to bird photography. I had much more expectations.
Congrats on your book that is an accomplishment Don't stop keep going. How do you compare the D500 vs Z9 focusing system in all aspects?
Mark, You made a comparison between the A9 and the Z9's view finder resolution... But from what I understand the optics in the viewfinder also matter a lot. So the real question should be if there is a true difference between these viewfinders despite having the same resolution. I don't have both cameras, so I can't compare. That being said, I would of loved having both a higher resolution viewfinder and screen like on the Canon R5. I think these lower resolutions are just a way to cut costs and increase speed. Maybe the Z9 ii will see this upgrade?
Mark, you should get your hands on the new Nikon 800 PF lens. I have seen a couple of KZhead clipps with reviews of the pre-production version of this lens. Weight, performance and price will make this lense to be a gamechanger.
I used the Z9 with the 70-200 2.8 S lens in bird shoots these last few days. Previously I had done my first shoot with the camera using the 500 PF lens. That experience was amazing - my keeper rate was very high. It is my understanding that the 70-200 though needs a firmware update. My experience bore that out. 3D tracking with stills just performed terribly. I had better success sticking with Wide Area auto focus. It was better with video. Apparently the 100-400 performs very well from testing I have seen. I just don't have that lens yet. I will be testing it with the 300 PF next week. My sense is that that will do better than the 70-200 currently does.
Thanks for this Q & A video. Are you using the original FTZ on your Z9? If yes, did you update the firmware in the FTZ before using it on the Z9? The new firmware is supposed to help focusing on F series glass. Thanks!
No I am using the new one.
Thanks for another excellent video, Mark, and for answering my $64,000 question! (And making me feel old for not getting the reference to the TV game show of the same name.) 😂
Your welcome and I’m sorry, lol!
Great video Mark, it would be great if you can review Z 400mm 4.5 with Z9 😊
I agree with the crop 2.3x in video being inconsistent I still have firmware version 1.10 however, I noticed that the 1.11 version states a fix for that but dont want to update as yet. Mark or anyone updated to 1.11, has this improved the crop video af ??. Also I have tried the sony A1 however after purchasing the Z9 and spending some time with it I feel the Z9 is more accurate for far subjects especially eye af and on par with the A1 for closer subjects so must be your adapted lens in my opinion.
Congratulations on your book Mark and thank you for a insightful video.
Thank you!
Hi Mark, will you be doing a setup guide for the Z9?
I'm trying out the zebra mode on the A1. I was using exposure to make the zebras go away but do you use manual iso? What is your best way to dial down until the zebras disappear?
Bird eye detection should be seen as another tool only. Sometimes it is extremely helpful, others times it is no use at all. I still like it on my Sony A1 though - Great work!
Agreed
What lens camera are you using for this video?
Thanks Mark! Want my Z9, been waiting since the launch. Hope your book on birds wins that prestigious award 👏! Not in to birds, so I won't be buying the book. The Z9 will change photography from a fundamental level.....
Thanks Mark, do not want a Z9! However I absolutely think some specs and features or ergonomics are awesome. I just can't use one coming from the D5/D6 and backup D850. As a photojournalist I do not want to rely on software or AI yet, it is close but NOT there for me. I won't shoot Canon or Sony, been there and back to Nikon 3 or 4 times in 25 years. I love my D6 and D850, sold my personal D5 the other day. It was nearly worthless sadly, I was lucky to get $2000! So I love the D6 but at $4400 it was expensive for basically being a D6 lite. It is not a D5s, simply due to the new AF engine and system and 2FPS gain. D4 to D4s had way less! but Z9, no thanks, not made in Japan, put together more like China does and it feels cheaper compared to my D5/D6. Most of ALL though I've shot 10,000,000+ images manipulating the thumb-pad and AF joystick since 1996. I'm better and more reliable than the Z9's current AF software, algorithm's, and I don't miss with my D6. My D850 misses shots here and there even with the measured 9.5fps with MB-D18 and EN-EL18c/d! However 90% of the shots take are sharp as a tack and will cut your eyes looking at them, with my 28mm f/1.4E, 24-70mm f/2.8 VR, 70-200mm FL, and 500mm f/4E VR FL and sometimes I borrow a 180-400FL from work or NPS. My D6 has a 96% or higher hit rate! If the shot is not in focus it is my fault, I don't blame my camera ever!
Hey Mark. I'm new to your channel. I love your videos. You are vey good at narrating how I wish I can do the same. My question is how is the rf100-500mm lens compared to the sony 200-600mm lens? Canon vs sony in these zoom lenses...
I know you are looking for mark to answer. However you are comparing two different quality lenses. The canon 100-500 should be compared directly with the sony 100 -400 gm. Both are external zoom and the upper level quality in that manufacturer. You cant beat the internal zoom and the extra reach of the 200-600 but it is a little harder to wheel around and heavier than the canon. The canon zoom was much smoother in the version i held vs my gm 100-400. Other photographs i know have added the canon to the stable of sony just for that lens. I am just adding canon to my systems because i could actually afford a 600 prime.
@@jlopez7596 thanks. Im not familiar with the Sony lenses line up. I thought its 200-600mm is the competitor for canon's 100-500mm. How is the AF between the two and which one is better? I think the100-400mm is a little short for me so thats why I am more interested on the 200-600.
I have both lenses as I shoot both systems. The Canon is sharper, but the Sony is by no means soft. Operationally the Sony is outstanding with its internal zoom and its very short rotational throw when zooming full range. And obviously the Sony goes to 600 instead of 500. They're both fine lenses , but different. The Sony is probably far better value overall, as the Canon is pricey.
@@njrtech those were all good points for someone to consider
@@markrigg6623 if the 200-600 had the gmaster glass, worked consistently regardless of body and balanced like the 600 gm f4 it would be an ideal design.
Great video, although I do not have the Z 9, I enjoyed it very much. It appears you have remarried.
Engaged
@@MarkSmithphotography Oh, I did not know men wore engagement rings.
Mark can you please do video like the D850 showing all the buttuns and your settings
A9 EVF is worse than even Z6 IMO try the two (obviously I’m not referencing blackout). There’s more than just resolution. Thanks for providing the community an honest opinion this was a great Q&A.
I have a question for you Sir regarding nikon Z9 Why the focus light do not want to stay in middle 😒
Hi Mark. Hope everything is good at your neck of the woods. QQ Did you have a chance to use new Nikon's 800mm S PF lens?
Yes it is and no I haven’t
Now that I have spent some time trying to get some good Osprey shots, I need to question whether "unbridled determination" refers to the birds or the photographer?
Both!
Hi Mark, What do you think of the colors accuracy between the Canon,Sony and Z9 looks like ?
I think the a1 has the best color accuracy of any camera i have used yet. I can look through the evf with my right eye and then the real world with my left eye and the colors look exactly the same.
@@MarkSmithphotography Thanks you Mark......That's how I look at my view finder or evf finder into the world when shooting a photo........yeah,just wondering how these cameras looks from the color respectively.....
@@MarkSmithphotography hi Mark - which color profile do you use on Sony A1 that you find most accurate?
Hi Mark
Well 3 months ago I am asking you for help you didn't come back to me and so ever his going to cost me he not a problem I have nikon d4 and d4s the focus stay right in middle bot my Z9 after 3 shots the all over the screen please could you help me
The Z lenses are still using the rotational motors, unfortunately. There's only 1 exception and it's the new 400mm f2.8 Z.
Stepper motors used in Z mirrorless are different than motors used in F mount lenses. The rotational factor is a red herring. Sony’s linear motors are quicker but it’s not because of “ratational motors”.
EVF on the Z 9 vs A9 is not about the resolution, not at all...
Mark. I have the Z9 and 1.4 TC with the 100-400mm. Results. Wow, wow, wow. Little to no degradation of the 100-400mm with a 1.4 TC. At 560mm it’s as good or better than my 500mm PF.
Interesting!!
Hard to believe, I have the same Tc and I see degradation.
@@MarkSmithphotography Keep in mind I did do anything scientific. I'm simply looking at shots on my 27 iMac and I don't see any difference on similar shots. I'll have to do something more scientific and let you know.
I’m still using my D810. Sounds like before long I will be able to pick up a cheap “old” 500pf 😁
-Insert Jeopardy Music- Nikon 200-600 When. Gotta let this camera stretch its legs properly.
I'm interested to know if you have processed the z9 files you show here, and if you did what common processes were used. side note.... its a real shame you have to tip toe around people feeling insulted or put out about negative aspects of camera operation, come on peeps get real
Man I wish I had the confidence to pull off that Heihei shirt...it's awesome.
Thank you. I love it. My fiancé bought it for me.
Your lucky z9 is bad