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Focussing with Expeed7 - Nikon Zf/Z8/Z9

 
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Last Post by W2W3 2 years ago
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 W2W3
(@w2w3)
Eminent Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 27
Topic starter October 13, 2023 1:05 pm  

I am wondering if the powerful AF-C modes of EXPEED7 are a game changer.

Is back-button-focus still state of the art? Is it perhaps better (more keepers) to let the camera find the subject (eg. animal/human + wide area) and customize a button to start 3D tracking? Of course, this may differ between subjects like wildlife or street photography.

I would very appreciate to hear impressions and experiences of you, who are already shooting with a Zf / Z8 / Z9!


   
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PRG Lagarde
 PRG Lagarde
(@prg-lagarde)
Reputable Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 236
October 13, 2023 1:48 pm  

About BBF for mirrorless, the best advice may be here : https://backcountrygallery.com/back-button-af-with-mirrorless-am-i-crazy/

... as most of the time, may I say.

 

Personnaly, I keep using it on most cameras, but I set an easy way to switch back to front half-press when I want to try another way in some circumstances.


   
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 W2W3
(@w2w3)
Eminent Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 27
Topic starter October 13, 2023 2:16 pm  

@prg-lagarde: Thank you for responding. I agree with you: Backcountrygallery is great and competent. I found Fabian Fopp's advice also interesting (a Swiss nature photographer), see the following youtube video. He starts talking about focus modes at 6:15.

Lots of advice out there. Back to personal experience:

I assume you have a Nikon camera. Please let me know your "easy way to switch back to front half-press"? (if it is not your secret rocket science)


   
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PRG Lagarde
 PRG Lagarde
(@prg-lagarde)
Reputable Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 236
October 14, 2023 1:28 pm  

@w2w3 Nothing really special, I put A6 in My Menu. Thanks for the video, indeed interesting.


   
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 W2W3
(@w2w3)
Eminent Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 27
Topic starter October 28, 2023 11:05 am  

With my new Zf I am back to shutter release focus.

On the Zf there are only few configurable buttons. So, half-pressing the shutter is like gaining an extra button (initiate focus). I set the back-button (AE-L/AF-L) to 3D-tracking. Locking the focus on a subject with 3D-tracking prevents re-focussing with the shutter button. In AF-C I would want 3D-tracking anyhow. In AF-S / with static subjects this works almost like the old BBF.


   
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