The Osprey Hide, Nikon Z9 AutoFocusing + BONUS FOOTAGE
2022 ж. 18 Мау.
15 723 Рет қаралды
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The last in my 3 part adventure in the Scottish Highlands. I spend two mornings in the Osprey Hide in Aviemore.
With 8 visits from Ospreys and 6 successful catches by these magnificent birds did the Z9's autofocus meet the demands?
This has to have been one of the most challenging wildlife photographic experiences I have had, so come along for the journey and see what I see........
Kit used:
Nikon Z9
Nikon 500mm f/4E FL ED VR
Nikon Z70-200mm f/2.8
Gitzo Series 5 4S Large Systematic Tripod
Gitzo Fluid Gimbal Head
Dji Pocket 2 for vlog
DJI mini 3 pro
I have been watching your videos for a few days now and am realy enjoying them. I am absoloutley delighted that shared your "Tantrum" experience, I have been guilty of simillar in the past, but what is most important is what you said about enjoying the experience. I love your honesty and this encourages me to continue watching. I also love the fact that you are able to share your photopgraphic adventures with your dad, a pleasure that not everyone can enjoy. Great stuff Dan. Regards Andy Jersey channel Islands.
Cheers Andy I really enjoyed reading and appreciate your comments. Thanks very much. All the best mate 👍🏻
LOL!!! 700 subs... Congrats on the wonderful success! At the time of my viewing, you are at 4.01K! Great work Dan! Ohh... And great video!
Cheers Jon, the channel is growing all the time thanks to the support from people like you. Appreciate it 👍🏻
Tracking with Sony A1 you would just nailed every 120 :) Great video...
You are not the first person to mention the Sony and its AF capabilities, would love to get my hands on one and give it a try/comparison. Thanks for your comment 👍🏻
Woooow!!!! Espectacular!!!!!!
Thank you 👍🏻
Some awesome shots
Thanks James 👍🏻
Up there myself next week, hope to have a great time..Keep up the good work..
Hope you have a fantastic trip Dennis 👍🏻
Hi dan. Should have took your d500 with you as well. Best regards from james in scotland. Keep clicking mate.
Cheers James, there have been several occasions where I have genuinely missed my trusty D500. Think I’ve got my Z9 af sorted now though. Cheers mate
Great shots!!
Thanks Robert 👍🏻
Great video Dan, I just got my Z9 last week and still experimenting so iy would be useful (to me and I guess many others) if you could do an AF video once you have managed to find the best modes. Thanks again for the trip to Scotland, I hope to get up there soon. Cheers Ian
Thanks Ian, I am currently working on a video for birds in flight and some different methods of AF so watch this space. Thanks for your comment and support 👍🏻
I’ve been visiting Gordon’s hide for over 5 years, you got couple of good shots, well done. Tracking a diving osprey is one of the most difficult images to get in wildlife, everyone wants the talons touching the water shot. Took me over 20 visits to get the one I was happy with. I now use Z6ii and use small box animal focus, with back button, rather than 3D focus, to keep it on the bird and not jumping to background.
Thanks for your feedback Iain it’s very much appreciated. 20 visits is dedicated which I appreciate is what’s often required for ’the shot’. Thanks for your focus tips 👍🏻
I also use small box animal on the z6ii, that’s the way to go on birds in flight. And I think it works rather well with that.
Great stuff Dan, & some wise words there too. I think we've all had days like this where you end up so frustrated you could cry or pack it all in. I know I have! Another photographer said to me afterwards "your eyes are the best camera you will ever have, use them & treasure the moments they capture". Ever since that day, I have just gone out & accepted that I've got what's in front of me, if i mess the images up; I still have the memories. Like you, I have formatted SD cards out in the field in anger, & one day I left my 'bad' images until I got home. I put the card in the laptop & 80% were keepers! Sometimes the light & our eyes play tricks on us & the LCD screens, so now I always wait until I've looked at them on the laptop/PC before pressing the delete button. Some cracking images there my friend, what an experience to see that at such close quarters too. Fantastic stuff mate, keep 'em coming! Best, Nick
Thanks Nick, your wise words definitely resonate with me. We get some absolutely amazing experiences as wildlife photographers that most will only dream of, “your eyes are the best camera you will ever have, use them & treasure the moments they capture” will now be my go to mantra, fantastic! Thanks for the support 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography One more thing, not sure if Nikon eye AF works the same way - but Canon’s eye AF has what they call ‘deep learning AF’, whereby it learns to track your own eye movements in the VF & focuses where you are looking… I know some others have had to recalibrate their eyes to the VF a couple of times too. Me? I’m still a DSLR man, but the switch to mirrorless is coming…. Best of luck with your channel & adventures Dan, maybe the 4 of us could meet up sometime for a double act, 2 Dad’s & 2 Son’s go on a wildlife photo shoot….
@@nickclaytonphotography thanks Nick and yes would be more than happy to meet up in the future 👍🏻
superb pics dan keep it up m8
Cheers Alan, appreciate it 👍🏻
Great video Dan I had a similar experience last month on Mull with the WTE getting to grips with the R6, focus just wasn’t playing the game after double checking settings that evening and testing with another lens it ended up being a fault with my sigma 150-600 but I felt so deflated…. However as you said it’s the experience that counts …..
Thanks Leigh-Ann for your comment, we’ll get there in the end I’m sure. Hope you had a fantastic time in Mull, it’s my most favourite place in the world 👍🏻
Hi Dan Getting my Z9 next week like you i use a D500 and D4s for sport and wild life i too would be greatful if you could do a video on the best setup that works for you . great stuff
Cheers John, I have gone through setup and focus in other videos such as the fox hide video. Hope they help. Maybe I will do a setup specific video, you have definitely planted the seed in my mind, cheers 👍🏻
Nice video Dan, I was out at the weekend with my new Z9 and my older D6, I like the new camera and will no doubt get to grips with it over time . For now I am finding that what worked for me with the D6 also seems to work for the Z9, not earth shattering news but reassuring that I can at least get the shots I want at a higher res than the D6 offers, with the added bonus of silent or virtually silent shooting. 3D tracking has some way to go I feel.
Thanks Dave for your comment it’s always appreciated. Glad to hear you are enjoying the Z9 👍🏻
Stunning shots and video Dan it seems the mirror less systems are a learning curve regarding AF settings. Still got my D500 was at Skomer last week and only managed around 20 decent Puffin flight shots out of 400+ mostly my fault due to poor background choices or Af locking background. The kites were awesome 👍👍
Thanks for your comment Laurence, it's most appreciated. The mirrorless system is a learning curve and one I definitely intend on mastering. Skomer trip sounds awesome Laurence and definitely a destination I have on my list. I have been before but not when the Puffins are there, so definitely planning on a return trip.
@@danwillis_photography Skomer is an awesome place only trouble is you only get 5hrs, we walked the whole circuit. Need to stay on island next time👍
@@laurencearnold5822 yes we stayed on the island for a week in August. It was an incredible experience especially when the day trippers left and we had the island to ourselves. I am struggling to book the same experience for when the Puffins are there though 🤷🏻♂️
Laurence, for birds in flight with busy backgrounds, Group AF works a treat and if the background is plain, i.e., sky, use 25 Point Dynamic. I wish the D500 had the 9 AF Point Dynamic like the D850. It would be great as a firmware update for the D500.
@@Gazzab6 Hi Gary used the group AF it worked great on clean background ie against the sea sky etc after I moved position a couple of time , to begin with I was shooting Puffins into the light with a dark cliff sky and sea as you panned across got some great shots . People who were using z9’s were commenting how well the tracking af was locking on . But I’m pleased with my results thanks for comment 👍
Hi Dan living the videos keep them coming 👍...Would you please share the full settings on the Z9 once you are happy with the set up for bird photography and wildlife ,thankyou 👍
Thanks Jo, yes I’m planning on putting together a video to share this. Thanks again for your feedback
Many thanx Dan 👍
Gary Jones if it’s the same one does courses all over the place. Does one at Gauntlet a knutsford that’s similar to the bird of prey workshop you did earlier in the year may be worth considering? Cracking work as always.
Thanks Dave, I will definitely check that out I’m sure it will be the same guy 👍🏻
Great video. We had a wonderful time watching them last month at Rutland Water. I want to do the Trout Farm hide there next time though. Dan, can you tell me what your trusted D500 AF settings would be if you'd been using that? Group AF?
Thanks for reaching out, I’m off to Rutland and the trout farm hide next month (video to follow). On my D500 I used AFC with back button focus. I set one of the front buttons to switch between single point and small group so that I could easily switch when photographing birds in flight. Hope this helps 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography while we’re on the subject of D500 AF settings, what sensitivity did you use for BIF on your D500? At the moment I have the tracking sensitivity set to 2 and Erratic (I’ve been photographing Common Terns) but sometimes I find 2 too sensitive if you know what I mean.
@@Gazzab6 I also had it set at 2. I would often ‘pump’ the back button focus on my D500 when photographing birds in flight. I found by doing this I forced the camera to acquire a target which meant I got more keepers, might be worth a try 🤷🏻♂️
Thanks for your efforts and posting your video. Sorry I'm late seeing it. I'll put in my two sense about the Z9. First, I'm an armature photographer (Sports/action/wildlife). I'm sure you have had lots of "tips" and I'd be interested in hearing what your friends had to say. MY FINDINGS: As mentioned below, no one AF setting fits all situations (which is frustrating as ...well, you know). That said, WIDE AREA (small, large, custom) works well with non-cluttered backgrounds and single object/bird in the AF zone. it is, however, the only AF MODE that will focus on THE CLOSEST OBJECT it detects around the box. So user, beware. 3D: - acts as a combination of single point and 3D tracking (which also takes into consideration COLORATION, but not CLOSENESS/PROXIMITY). Therefore, it can "track anywhere" if it worked all the time. I find this works best on small birds or large birds in close proximity (i.e. sitting on a branch) and the animal detect eye AF works wonderfully. Theoretically, since 3D doesn't pay attention to distance or have a limiting box, it should be able to follow the bird from edge to edge - if only that were the case. Occasionally, I resort to single point or dynamic small (which, of course, doesn't utilize Animal eye AF) and resort to "DSLR" mode. No matter how you slice it, there are TWO MAIN ISSUES with the Z9's AF animal eye detect modes and OSPDAF (on sensor, phase detect, autofocus) system. The horizontal array of masked pixels has difficulty focusing on horizontal lines and therefore there are times it jumps to the background (i.e. vertical reeds) and will not "refocus" on close objects. Then there is the sheer frustration of picking up the bird with WA, handing it off to 3D, have 3D track it only to at random moments jump to water, sky, etc. Clearly, the engineers at NIKON need to keep perfecting the software to be "stickier". My friends that use the R3 have similar issues. Olympus may have solved some of the AF issues with the more complicated OSPDAF (i.e. duel/quad) pixel array. Time will tell, but in the meantime, I feel your pain, brother. The Sony A1 is reportedly better and stickier, but I haven't used one myself.
Thank you for what has been one of the most insightful and interesting comments I have read so far, I am currently trialling a wide area and 3D combo from the Hudson Henry KZhead videos and finding that good but not perfect. I am combining this further by programming and function button to switch to single point if I need it. Thanks again for your comment, appreciate it 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography That is exactly my current set up (subject to change) and sometimes trade off single point for dynamic small (i.e. bird flying along water) - where you don't want the subject detection to jump to the eye in the water and single point just can't move fast enough to keep up. Thanks for the kind words. I'm a beginner, but hope I am learning something!
@@dance2jam my pleasure and thanks again for your comment 👍🏻
Good stuff Dan I have the Z9 and am going to photograph Ospreys, What settings did Gary Jones suggest and what did you use. I could not fault your photos.Please keep the videos coming they make my day.
Thanks Malcom. In the end I did not contact Gary, I have I believe sorted the af though and will be producing a video on this shortly. Setting wise I used around 1/1600 shutter speed (I did go lower than this in the first visit due to low light but never lower than 1/1000. Aperture I was wide open at F4 and then left iso on auto. Hope that helps and best of luck 🤞🏻
@@danwillis_photography When I'm shooting ducks in flight I prefer to use manual exposure and auto focus. Sky is lighter than the ducks and will cause underexposure even on single point.
Very interesting comments and I envy you the experience even if the photos weren't as successful as you hoped for. I have also had some frustrations with the Z9 autofocus for birds in flight. All those early reviews made out it was faultless and almost guaranteed success. I certainly have got some wonderful in flight images and sequences of shots I couldn't have got with either my DSLRs or my earlier Z6 & 7ii cameras, however, I sometimes attempt to get a lock on and it completely fails and leaves me wondering what I am doing wrong as, if I believe all the reviews, it can't be the camera so must be me or the settings I have chosen! I will be very interested to hear if you get advice to improve the use of the system.
Thanks Brian, glad to hear that I wasn’t the only one spellbound by the early reviews which have indeed left me feeling somewhat frustrated. I think the camera is awesome and I too have had some great success of birds in flight already. I think ultimately I’m somewhat relieved that it’s not flawless and the user still has a great degree of input as that is what will drive me to master it. Thanks for your comment it’s appreciated 👍🏻
Brian, I also fell victim to seeing the early KZhead reviews showing flawless autofocus locks with the Z9 in bird photography, then seeing reality was a bit more difficult. I was frustrated that the 3d tracking with animal detect wasn’t locking on as often as I was expecting, so now l use wide area af with animal detect and getting more accurate locks. Just practicing and honing my skills.
@@TyWhiting frustrating isn’t it but I suppose that’s all part of the ‘fun’ and learning curve we are all on. Thanks for your comment 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography Yep! We need to get better and every opportunity to shoot, is an opportunity to learn.
Thank you. 👍📷😎
Thanks for your continued support Rob 👍🏻
Brilliant video, did you find the solution from Gary Jones to the blurry photos when using 3D, I am frustrated with 3D too unfortunately, if so can you please share, thanks
I’ve been playing around with several different solutions to this and have settled with wide area af on the shutter button and animal recognition with the back button. Generally this has yielded better results. More videos to come with where I’m up to with it. Thanks for messaging, it’s appreciated 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography thank you, I look forward to watching the videos
Interesting comments you had regarding Z9 and high ISO. I have taken a number of images on my Z9 at very high ISO and have had good results BUT, a) I stopped using Lightroom some 18+ months ago and switched to Capture One which gives me better overall RAW processing than I got from Lightroom (I still have my Adobe subscription and, from time to time, carry out back to back processing to see if I can get the results from LR but each time I am happy with what I get from C1). Secondly, whenever I need to use high ISO I run the RAW files through DxO PureRAW which gives me clean sharp RAW files I can then process in Capture One. I also have Topaz DeNoise but find the DxO product much more satisfactory as it keeps the noise-cleaned file in RAW not TIFF. My workflow is to process all the RAW images in Capture One, then, if the processed image shows noise I run the original .NEF file through PureRAW and bring the resulting .DNG file into the Capture One catalogue alongside the first processed version. I can then synch the adjustments of that file to the .DNG file produced by PureRAW and get the results I am looking for.
That’s really interesting and you are not the first person I know of that has switched to Capture one. It is definitely something I am going to look into a bit more. Thanks for sharing your workflow I really appreciate it Brian 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography I used Lightroom for 5 years and actually taught a number of local photographers on that system. However, I noticed that several professional photographers used Capture One and decided to take a look back in December 2020 and was convinced within just a few days and have been using it ever since. One of the peo-le who helped my get to grips with it very quickly was Paul Reiffer. I really recommend his KZhead videos as well as those from Capture One themselves.
@@SwanSycorax cheers Brian, that’s really helpful I appreciate it 👍🏻
Nice video. Z9 has a learning curve coming from Nikon DSLR. I know quite a few people frustrated that the transition from DSLR isn’t completely seamless. Try mapping 3D and wide area. Initiate with wide area with animal subject tracking and then initiate 3D after the wide area locks focus.
Thanks James really appreciate your feedback and support 👍🏻
That is the set-up I use. I picked it up from watching Hudson Henry's videos on setting up the Z9. It certainly works some of the time but on other occasions just can't get a lock on until it is too late. A very frustrating hobby!!!
@@SwanSycorax just watched his video after your suggestion, very interesting setup, I will be giving this a go 👍🏻
Good video mate. Shame the Z9 let you down, Nikon mirrorless have had a lot of problems with back focusing etc ever since the Z6. They do still seem behind Sony and Canon but hopefully they can sort it out and hopefully you can get some good tips from others who use that system
Thanks for your comment Greg, agree with you 100% and I’m certain things will improve with time 👍🏻
There seems to be a problem with all mirrorless cameras at the moment when the background is busy but the manufacturers will solve it eventually I’m sure.
@@Gazzab6 fingers crossed Gary 🤞🏻
Also struggling with my Z9. Did you get any info from Gary that helped? TIA
Thanks for your comment, I’m still working on it and intend on putting up a video in the next few weeks about it 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography Thanks Dan
The AF limitation is not only a Nikon Z9 issue, it's a mirror-less issue across the board with all manufacturers. It's the technology itself. The upside of mirror-less is video, where DSLRs struggle with. I own the Nikon D850 and Z9, both fantastic camera's in their own right. Heck the D850 still shines. At the end of the day, it's not the tool, but the person using the tool. I don't use 3d tracking at all. Wide area with animal detect, that's it, with back button auto focus.
Thanks for your comment and suggestion regarding the af setup. You’re not the first person to suggest ditching 3D tracking and your alternative is something that I’m definitely going to have a go with. Appreciate your comment 👍🏻
3D tracking I only use the n perched birds and then re compose for space to fly into. Never use it for fight as doesn’t lock on quick enough. I just use Wide with animal tracking.
@@danwillis_photography I have set up Fn1 for 3D tracking, AF-ON with animal/vehicle/human tracking enabled, mostly set for animal, unless the situation calls for all of the above. I also don't use animal tracking "turn it off" if I am going to shoot anything hovering over a body of water or an extremely busy contrasty background as the tracking AI is not consistent/refuses to lock on the subject. I have also set the joystick for single point focus when I shoot small subjects like songbirds, which speeds up acquisition of the subject, then I can either stay with single point or just move my thumb to AF-ON to enable wide large with subject tracking, depending on the situation. I wish Nikon could implement group area "which is my go to when shooting BIF" like in the D850, D500, D5, D6. In regards to 3D tracking, it's fine when you are shooting larger subjects with not much clutter in the background. In my honest opinion, DSLRs are not going away anytime soon. I can say this much, if my D850 "best DSLR ever made from any manufacturer" had usable video, deeper buffer, slightly faster fps and a slightly less noisy shutter mechanism, the Z9 would never have been a thought. My question is, Nikon could have incorporated all this technology into a D850 DSLR replacement. But I understand that they have to go with what the market call for which is mirror-less, even though the technology is not there yet when it comes to wildlife photography "in certain situations", in most situations it's great, but falls short in others. I "and many others" stopped watching all these KZhead photography "selling clicks" channels years ago. People are slowly starting to wake up to the BS they are peddling. I also take manufacturers "all of them" claims with a grain of salt, pushed by their paid for by big corporate ambassadors.
@@jfphotography69 I think your strategy for getting the most out of the Z9’s multi options for AF is really interesting and something I’m going to play around with. I agree with you 100% on where DSLR cameras still very much have a place in wildlife photography. I’m also very much learning as you clearly already have not to believe the hype. Thanks once again for your feedback and support it’s very much appreciated 👍🏻
@@danwillis_photography firmware 2.1 was just released. Will put it through it's paces when I get the chance, and see what AF improvements they cooked up with firmware 2.1.
Hi,please can say where the Red Kites are located many thanks, Russ
It was Argaty Red Kites, link below www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/argaty-red-kites-p255901
Matt Irwin published a video with a fix for the Adobe problem called "Adobe Short-Changing Z9...?! | And How You FIX It! " Good luck, interesting video by the way I must get to that hide one day.
Thanks Ian I will definitely check that out, appreciate your comment 👍🏻
Dude,we get it,you got up early as any birder does,that’s what we do.
Fair comment Chips
@@danwillis_photography if you ever get to Florida let me know,i will take you to Osprey feeding like you have never seen,natural setting at an ocean inlet to a river where Osprey’s are in abundance during the fall and winter months when they are breeding and raising their young and a time when a lot of food is required.Check out Mark Smith on You Tube,a local Osprey fanatic.Cheers,loved your images.
@@chipsrafferty8362 thanks for the offer and something I will take you up in if I ever get to Florida, must admit it looks like a birders paradise 👍🏻
Bonjour les images sont superbes et si tu jettes le z9 dis moi ou je le récupère 😀
Merci pour votre commentaire. j'ai acheté mon z9 sur Wex.com 😁
nice video but try loosing that 3D and use C2 (big box) with eye detect ore large field
Thanks Keld, I will definitely give that a go. Appreciate your suggestion 👍🏻
I need 355 FPS ! See tony north stars 🌟
Thanks for your comment, it’s appreciated
Look up mark smith on KZhead he’s a Sony shooter but he has done z9 videos debunking camera might help you out with setting camera up for wildlife also another one or two to look at is, Trond westby and Morten hilmer, bayou josh if all else fails go Sony or try your z9 with a 500 pf ?
Thanks for your comment and suggestions for where to take my research it’s most appreciated. My Dad shoots with a 500pf on his Z9 and is also experiencing similar challenges in certain situations.
@@danwillis_photography I think the F Mount lenses can sometimes affect the AF on the Z cameras Dan or so I’ve heard. I would think the Z9 will perform at its best paired up with native lenses.
@@Gazzab6 the biggest issue I had was with the z70-200 and not the f mount 500mm prime, I think it’s because the subject fills the frame in the larger lens giving the AF system an easier job. The issue I then had was that if the Osprey dived close I clipped wings. Possibly a zoom over a prime would be the answer 🤷🏻♂️
hi-danwilli_photography! omg~stunning ~ talk you later!))
Thanks for your comment 👍🏻