Great photos on your website! I see you use both the z6 and the R6. What have you notice about that pros and cons of each system?
Thanks
R6 vs Z6 for my usage are on par. I mainly do static photography of people with strobes.I tend to expose the subjects correctly while I do what I want with background exposures.
Consequently to me, the most important thing on the field is how I perceive my pictures. In that regard, I eventually sold my beloved A7 III as I couldn't rely on the back screen / EVF to nail my exposures.
I prefer the displays on the Z6 thanks to the Nikon flat profile : colors and contrasts are much easier to see, so my exposures will be on point.
I am perfectly fine with both brands but I have minor complaints about each one.
R6:
AF is a beast on the R6 but locking the good eye can be a pain because it tends to choose the wrong one and stick with it, even if you try to force the other one.
Then the way Canon cameras expose backlit subjects is horrible, it tends to preserve the background while the subject is totally black. Nikon does not have this behavior. So, you put the flash OFF, once you nailed settings for exposure, then you put back your flash ON to try to see the scene and focus. Sometimes...you can't, because the camera won't be able to focus on a totally dark subject. Nikon never do that, it's perfect
Z6:
You can forget about continuous AF / tracking, it's not reliable even with static subjects.
Eyelash AF...
no flippy screen...
neoshazam wrote:
Do you use "pinpoint" AF to put the AF where you want it ?
That does not really solve the issue, eyelashes are in front of the eyes...I think that's why cameras tend to struggle with that. But you won't notice it unless viewing at 100% on a headshot picture.
My guess is, algorythms find the structure of a face, then it seeks for the eyes, then it displays a box that tells the camera : "Hey focus here please". the camera focuses on the closest element in the little yellow box : snap ! Oh shit eye lashes...
jefonyx wrote:
That does not really solve the issue, eyelashes are in front of the eyes...I think that's why cameras tend to struggle with that. But you won't notice it unless viewing at 100% on a headshot picture.
My guess is, algorythms find the structure of a face, then it seeks for the eyes, then it displays a box that tells the camera : "Hey focus here please". the camera focuses on the closest element in the little yellow box : snap ! Oh shit eye lashes...
I thought this was fixed with the latest firmware updates for the Z6/7. Yes, it finds the face, then the eye and the focus box tells the camera to focus "here", but the AI should then tell it that it is the eyelash, not the eyeball and thus adjust the focus accordingly.
Whatever the case, at about 1.5mts, it seems to work well as I just tried a few shots with my Z7II + 105 f1.4E on my grandson and the eye itself is in focus, not the eyelash in all cases. DOF in this case at about 1.5mts is 1.61cm. I do not post photos of family or friends.
Lance B wrote:
I thought this was fixed with the latest firmware updates for the Z6/7. Yes, it finds the face, then the eye and the focus box tells the camera to focus "here", but the AI should then tell it that it is the eyelash, not the eyeball and thus adjust the focus accordingly.
Whatever the case, at about 1.5mts, it seems to work well as I just tried a few shots with my Z7II + 105 f1.4E on my grandson and the eye itself is in focus, not the eyelash in all cases. DOF in this case at about 1.5mts is 1.61cm. I do not post photos of family or friends. ...Show more →
I'd guess the problem is that not all eyelashes are the same, and the area of the eye is often too small for reliable image analysis by the PDAF sensor elements. Just adding 2cm to the calculated AF probably does not do the trick.
AcuteShadows wrote:
I'd guess the problem is that not all eyelashes are the same, and the area of the eye is often too small for reliable image analysis by the PDAF sensor elements. Just adding 2cm to the calculated AF probably does not do the trick.
Sure...then add the fact that I have a Z6 I and not a Z6 II, I can't really tell about the latest firmware updates.
If it's better now for the latest gear then it's a good sign.
AcuteShadows wrote:
I'd guess the problem is that not all eyelashes are the same, and the area of the eye is often too small for reliable image analysis by the PDAF sensor elements. Just adding 2cm to the calculated AF probably does not do the trick.
I don't think it needs to be *that* accurate. We are talking DOF here and even wide open at where the distance of the focus box covers the eye and eyelashes would mean that a calculated 1 cm back focusing to cover the eyelash would be more than adequate. Closer to the subject and the focus box will be on the eyeball only and can then focus precisely on the eye not requiring any adjustment.
