p.67 #1 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
OwlsEyes wrote:
Well NPS delivered my Z9 on Wednesday, and I was able to get it from my local shop that evening. The camera sat idle through Friday. I spent the better part of the day digging into menus, reading Steve Perry's AF book, and reading Brad Hill's blog about the camera.
While I have set up 4 banks and reprogrammed a bunch of buttons, I have little doubt that my current configuration will be tweaked. I'd love to hear what people are setting their Fn1-3 buttons, just to see how my set compares.
Today, I gave the camera a spin, and now I understand why many are so excited. The AF tracking is unlike anything I've experienced with a Nikon body... it is shocking to see how quickly the camera locks on, and how well it hold focus.
This evening I encountered an albino doe in the woods. It was about 7:40 PM and the sun was setting quickly. I used 3D AF with animal detect selected. In the end, I probably would have been better off with single point AF.
I am curious about what AF mode others would have chosen here... note, there is brush throughout, and while not visible here, one can see a twig cutting across the doe's left eye at 100% resolution.
p.67 #2 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
So, I've had a chance to test the Z9 over a weekend and I have to say that it's in a different league compared to any Nikon mirrorless body I've used
Since I've never used the pro DSLR bodies, the weight and size kinda threw me off a bit, but that would be the only downfall of the camera for me.
I took about 5000 photos with it over the weekend, trying to test my most used scenarios with it and when shooting my dog, the in-focus rate was damn near 100%. Honestly, it was cheating. I tried a couple of the 120 FPS bursts and from 340 images, 340 were in focus...and that was with Ajka running at full speed towards me and jumping over a trench. I need to check what software is best used to piece those photos together into a move...
Anyhow, I'm convinced the technology in the Z9 is the next buy for me, just not sure if in the Z9 or I'll be waiting for a smaller body. My guess is the latter. If I can hold off
Anyway, a couple of photos from the weekend below:
p.67 #4 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
Luftwalk wrote:
So, I've had a chance to test the Z9 over a weekend and I have to say that it's in a different league compared to any Nikon mirrorless body I've used
Since I've never used the pro DSLR bodies, the weight and size kinda threw me off a bit, but that would be the only downfall of the camera for me.
I took about 5000 photos with it over the weekend, trying to test my most used scenarios with it and when shooting my dog, the in-focus rate was damn near 100%. Honestly, it was cheating. I tried a couple of the 120 FPS bursts and from 340 images, 340 were in focus...and that was with Ajka running at full speed towards me and jumping over a trench. I need to check what software is best used to piece those photos together into a move...
Anyhow, I'm convinced the technology in the Z9 is the next buy for me, just not sure if in the Z9 or I'll be waiting for a smaller body. My guess is the latter. If I can hold off
Anyway, a couple of photos from the weekend below:
To my recollection, the images you posted here of Ajka are the best I have seen of a fast, oncoming dog. They’re better than the best I have from my dog runs.
But I think that has more to do with Ajka’s youth/beauty, the colors, and the background. Super! Numbers 3 and 1 are my favorites and number 3 is perfect imo (the lift?) !
My D850 and 80-400 AFS (or G) perform as the Z9 and 100-400 did here, albeit at a much slower 14 fps of course.
For this, I have the D850 set at Continuous Focusing, AF Auto (by keeping AF-On and f7 depressed throughout the run). This setup handles the fastest dogs, running straight at the photographer. Once the camera acquires (always at the beginning of the run), *every* frame is in focus, throughout the entire run/burst.
For several reasons, I’m going mirrorless too. I too would probably prefer a pro-grade mirrorless body that is non-integrated, having much of what the Z9 has, but with the option to remove the grip. Then again, the grip stays on my D850. We’ll see.
btw, I encourage everyone (if interested) to try shooting incoming dogs. It’s a blast! Do it while they have the energy because they’re not young for a long time.
p.67 #11 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
bs kite wrote:
Wow! Your images of Ajka are superb!
To my recollection, the images you posted here of Ajka are the best I have seen of a fast, oncoming dog. They’re better than the best I have from my dog runs.
But I think that has more to do with Ajka’s youth/beauty, the colors, and the background. Super! Numbers 3 and 1 are my favorites and number 3 is perfect imo (the lift?) !
My D850 and 80-400 AFS (or G) perform as the Z9 and 100-400 did here, albeit at a much slower 14 fps of course.
For this, I have the D850 set at Continuous Focusing, AF Auto (by keeping AF-On and f7 depressed throughout the run). This setup handles the fastest dogs, running straight at the photographer. Once the camera acquires (always at the beginning of the run), *every* frame is in focus, throughout the entire run/burst.
For several reasons, I’m going mirrorless too. I too would probably prefer a pro-grade mirrorless body that is non-integrated, having much of what the Z9 has, but with the option to remove the grip. Then again, the grip stays on my D850. We’ll see.
btw, I encourage everyone (if interested) to try shooting incoming dogs. It’s a blast! Do it while they have the energy because they’re not young for a long time. ...Show more →
Hey,
thank you for the kind words I am very happy about how Ajka's photos turned out. It's just so much easier with the Z9 where you basically have all the angles/mid steps available to you and all of them sharp.
I do agree shooting dogs is very rewarding and you're right that it shows when they grow older. Ajka is coming up on her 7th birthday now and although she has a lot of her youthful spark left, it shows she no longer has the stamina she used to. Now when playing with other dogs she goes for 10 minutes and then lies down and watches the action
She's been great at providing photo opportunities though.
As for the camera, I'll most likely wait for a gripless version, but there's a couple of things I won't give without with the next purchase...one of them being a lag free viewfinder...that's just too good to not have
p.67 #12 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
George DeCamp wrote:
Awesome, congratulations!!
Thanks George...
After spending morning #2 in the field, I did a bit more button tuning. It looks like firmware #2 will allow me to simply click a function button (without rotation) and lock in a different AF mode... this would be an amazing addition. I'd like to be able to instantly toggle between wide small and 3D... or single point and 3D... this one move would make the AF a slam dunk for me.
p.67 #14 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
River Otters taken with 500mmpf. Light wasn’t the best and the last 2 were decent crops. Eye af struggled a bit more than I would have thought it would. Still managed to get some usable shots though. Iso ranged from 1800-9000. I also wish I could have gotten a lower angle but I was forced to shoot from an elevated boardwalk. CC welcomed and appreciated. Thanks for looking.
p.67 #16 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
The Z9 is my mirrorless D850 since I was always using the MB-D18 grip anyway. I got my D850’s backlit buttons back, a more versatile articulating screen, the 10-pin connector for my wireless remote set that’s always attached, a remarkably natural-feeling EVF, and some other features I enjoy in field work. And I dropped 100 grams in weight with the Z9 (not that I really care, camera weight is near the bottom of my concerns). The Z7 I used a year ago did not inspire me; the Z9 does. When I am not out shooting with it, I daydream about the next opportunity. I know a camera does not make the art, but man do I derive a lot of joy working with this tool! And that counts for something.
p.67 #19 · Z9 and Z8 ! : A thread for Z9/Z8 images and *discussion*
bs kite wrote:
Glad to see that the photographer is able to move the screen away from the body.
I wonder, can we also adjust screen brightness?
You can adjust monitor and viewfinder brightness and color balance. You also have lots of customization with regards to what is shown and how they behave.
Personally I use my Z9 much like a DSLR, so the rear screen is always off unless I manually turn it on to review an image or whatever, and the viewfinder is only active if my eye is present.
