Photography Life

PL provides various digital photography news, reviews, articles, tips, tutorials and guides to photographers of all levels

  • Lens Reviews
  • Camera Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • Compare Cameras
  • Forum
    • Sign Up
    • Login
  • About
  • Search
Forums
General
Open Talk
Focussing with Expe...
 
Notifications
Clear all

Focussing with Expeed7 - Nikon Zf/Z8/Z9

 
Open Talk
Last Post by W2W3 2 years ago
5 Posts
2 Users
0 Reactions
662 Views
 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!


   
Quote
PRG Lagarde
 PRG Lagarde
(@prg-lagarde)
Honorable Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 253
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.


   
ReplyQuote
 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)


   
ReplyQuote
PRG Lagarde
 PRG Lagarde
(@prg-lagarde)
Honorable Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 253
October 14, 2023 1:28 pm  

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


   
ReplyQuote
 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.


   
ReplyQuote
Please Login or Register to reply to this topic.
Forum Jump:
  Previous Topic
Next Topic  

Currently viewing this topic 1 guest.

Forum Information
Mark all read
Recent Posts
Unread Posts
  • 24 Forums
  • 661 Topics
  • 5,602 Posts
  • 4 Online
  • 1,266 Members
Our newest member: Jakob Bo
Latest Post: Photo Theme Challenge, Week #109: Dramatic Shadows [Deadline: Saturday, July 5]
Forum Icons: Forum contains no unread posts Forum contains unread posts
Topic Icons: Not Replied Replied Active Hot Sticky Unapproved Solved Private Closed
Disclosures, Terms and Conditions and Support Options

Learn

  • Beginner Photography
  • Landscape Photography
  • Wildlife Photography
  • Portraiture
  • Post-Processing
  • Advanced Tutorials
Photography Life on Patreon

Reviews

  • Camera Reviews
  • Lens Reviews
  • Other Gear Reviews
  • Best Cameras and Lenses

Photography Tutorials

Photography Basics
Landscape Photography
Wildlife Photography
Macro Photography
Composition & Creativity
Black & White Photography
Night Sky Photography
Portrait Photography
Street Photography
Photography Videos

Unique Gift Ideas

Best Gifts for Photographers

Site Menu

  • About Us
  • Beginner Photography
  • Lens Database
  • Lens Index
  • Photo Spots
  • Search
  • Forum

Reviews

  • Reviews Archive
  • Camera Reviews
  • Lens Reviews
  • Other Gear Reviews

More

  • Contact Us
  • Workshops
  • Support Us
  • Submit Content

Copyright © 2025 · Photography Life