p.15 #4 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
bs kite wrote:
I think you picked a good area to be in *all year* for wildlife George. We look forward to more of your outstanding wildlife images.
Thanks!! My go to spot here is a Huntington Beach State Park! There is always something here and changes with the seasons. Best part is it's a 15min ride from my house.
p.15 #5 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
George,
Very impressive images!
I really like the one on the pelican, perfectly frozen in action, tack sharpe throughout, even the water droplets!! Seems like you're really getting the hang of the Z9. Looking forward to seeing more of your wonderful images.
p.15 #6 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
Elpfm wrote:
George,
Very impressive images!
I really like the one on the pelican, perfectly frozen in action, tack sharpe throughout, even the water droplets!! Seems like you're really getting the hang of the Z9. Looking forward to seeing more of your wonderful images.
Thank You the camera is pretty awesome! I have several of the pelican that came out really well but liked the wing position here the best.
p.15 #7 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
Went back for more black kites. This time I got up nice and left Bangkok at 4.45am to catch the black kites just a bit after sunrise. Much nicer light this morning.
And to show how sticky auto area tracking with animal eye detection is, among the black kites, there was one greater spotted eagle. So I patiently waited for him to take flight and finally when he took off, Z9 faithfully tracked him with no problem but .......
p.15 #8 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
suteetat wrote:
Went back for more black kites. This time I got up nice and left Bangkok at 4.45am to catch the black kites just a bit after sunrise. Much nicer light this morning.
And to show how sticky auto area tracking with animal eye detection is, among the black kites, there was one greater spotted eagle. So I patiently waited for him to take flight and finally when he took off, Z9 faithfully tracked him with no problem but .......
p.15 #9 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
bs kite wrote:
Thank you for this tip: Auto tracking (wide I guess?) and animal eye. I guess the Greater Spotted Eagle is behind the Black Kites. Yes?
That second image is spectacular suteetat!
But I guess I do not understand the sad faces.
Thanks Robert.
I used auto area AF with animal eye so the camera choose the subject itself. I still find this to be the most useful mode most of the time. As Gannis mentioned before, if auto area mode is stuck on the background, he would engaged wide area AF mode (I programmed mine on AF-on button, same as Gannis, I think) which can be handy sometimes but for tracking bird, auto area focus is just easier as it is much easier to keep the bird in whole frame rather than keeping the bird within the confine of focus box. If there are 2 birds in the frame, the camera tend to pick the one that is moving rather than the one that is stationary.
The sad face is because last week, there were at least 10 greater spotted eagles but all stayed way back. Today, there was only one but he came quite close so I was hoping for a bif shot of him. Unfortunately, the only time he took off, a black kite flew in front of him the whole time and he never returned while I was there. So 2 trips now with no good pictures of greater spotted eagles but this time it was so close!!!
p.15 #10 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
suteetat wrote:
Thanks Robert.
I used auto area AF with animal eye so the camera choose the subject itself. I still find this to be the most useful mode most of the time. As Gannis mentioned before, if auto area mode is stuck on the background, he would engaged wide area AF mode (I programmed mine on AF-on button, same as Gannis, I think) which can be handy sometimes but for tracking bird, auto area focus is just easier as it is much easier to keep the bird in whole frame rather than keeping the bird within the confine of focus box. If there are 2 birds in the frame, the camera tend to pick the one that is moving rather than the one that is stationary.
The sad face is because last week, there were at least 10 greater spotted eagles but all stayed way back. Today, there was only one but he came quite close so I was hoping for a bif shot of him. Unfortunately, the only time he took off, a black kite flew in front of him the whole time and he never returned while I was there. So 2 trips now with no good pictures of greater spotted eagles but this time it was so close!!!
p.15 #11 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
For anyone interested in how the Z9 video AF performs here's a recent example. Of course we have no way of knowing what settings were used but clearly the Z9s AF is struggling...
EDIT:
Now this is looking better, but the subject is relatively large in the frame....
p.15 #14 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
@suteetat, So i've configured my AF modes just the other way round. Shutter button AF for Wide - Area L and AF-On for Auto area. The only reason i did it this way is because I have an RSF override (on the lens Fn button) to turn off subject detection and that override only takes effect on whatever AF mode is set for shutter button. This way, the wide area L can work with subject detection as well as similar to group area with close subject priority when you engage the RSF override. Also, it just doesn't make sense to use Auto-Area and 3D tracking modes without subject detection.
suteetat wrote:
Thanks Robert.
I used auto area AF with animal eye so the camera choose the subject itself. I still find this to be the most useful mode most of the time. As Gannis mentioned before, if auto area mode is stuck on the background, he would engaged wide area AF mode (I programmed mine on AF-on button, same as Gannis, I think) which can be handy sometimes but for tracking bird, auto area focus is just easier as it is much easier to keep the bird in whole frame rather than keeping the bird within the confine of focus box. If there are 2 birds in the frame, the camera tend to pick the one that is moving rather than the one that is stationary.
The sad face is because last week, there were at least 10 greater spotted eagles but all stayed way back. Today, there was only one but he came quite close so I was hoping for a bif shot of him. Unfortunately, the only time he took off, a black kite flew in front of him the whole time and he never returned while I was there. So 2 trips now with no good pictures of greater spotted eagles but this time it was so close!!!
p.15 #16 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
George, you are really giving that 500pf + 1.4 TC a real workout on that Z9. From what I am seeing with that combo I am very impressed with how well they are working out with you.
These are super captures! Love the early morning light the 2nd one.
p.15 #17 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
gannis wrote:
@suteetat@, So i've configured my AF modes just the other way round. Shutter button AF for Wide - Area L and AF-On for Auto area. The only reason i did it this way is because I have an RSF override (on the lens Fn button) to turn off subject detection and that override only takes effect on whatever AF mode is set for shutter button. This way, the wide area L can work with subject detection as well as similar to group area with close subject priority when you engage the RSF override. Also, it just doesn't make sense to use Auto-Area and 3D tracking modes without subject detection.
p.15 #20 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
GSteele wrote:
George, you are really giving that 500pf + 1.4 TC a real workout on that Z9. From what I am seeing with that combo I am very impressed with how well they are working out with you.
These are super captures! Love the early morning light the 2nd one.
Gary
Thanks very much! I loved it on the D500 but on the Z9 it's at another level in my opinion! I have 600vr and haven't taken it out yet! 🤣
