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 p.30 #17 · Nikon unveils the highly anticipated Z8 camera! | |
1bwana1 wrote:
But the point they are making is valid. This complicated workflow is not required with other systems to achieve equal, or even slightly better results. This workflow is demonstrated as a solution by many Nikon Z9 shooters. That is the current competitive environment the the camera World is in. Even in the BCG galleries, and even BCG leadership (Steve Perry) generally recognize it takes more work, using a more complicated workflow, to achieve similar results as other systems.
When I do shoot the same subjects with my friends using the A1, Z9, and Canon, systems, the Z9 shooters frequently show and discuss how they program various back button focus to deal with this workflow in focusing. The other system shooters basically only having to keep the subject in the frame and shoot.
In Jan's specific case he also shows some areas where the Z9 performance exceptionally well. You pick you compromises when you select a system.
Nothing wrong with examining these things as you see them, reporting on them, and acknowledging them. It is a valid consideration when choosing a system....Show more →
I've never understood these "more workflow" comments, as it does not match my experience and I can't seem to replicate some of the issues people talk about, even when specifically trying. If someone can't get the AF to work a certain way but another can, unless they have a magical camera, it all but confirms a user issue or a settings/technique issue. I like to use car analogies because they're easy, and if 2 people driving the same cars are getting different lap times, assuming no hardware issues, what do you think that difference is most likely to be explained by? I use the Z9 in one AF mode probably 80% of the time, and it just works. I have frankly never experienced these prolonged acquisition issues that some YouTubers show in the Atomos recording in extremely similar conditions.
In my opinion, the Z8/Z9 has the simplest AF system to use out of the big 3 brands in that you have to do the least amount of fiddling to get it to do what you want (again, just my opinion). A perfect example of this is my father as he's somewhat of a 'clean slate' - coming from a D610 he has almost zero experience with MILC AF systems in general and is very much still learning. He struggled a lot with both the Olympus and Sony AF systems (hasn't tried Canon), but I just set him up with Wide Area on the Z8, and the whole ride home tonight he had a huge grin on his face - many times he said "I couldn't get camera X to do that" with reference to a certain situation he struggled with previously. So when I see these otherwise experienced photographers saying they are having problems with acquisition or whatever else, it makes me think that there is probably something else going on, perhaps something silly with a setting or whatever. Obviously no two people are ever in precisely the same shooting situation so there's always going to be some variation there.
I also think some of that is subjective, which is why you see different opinions on the matter. When I had that A7R5 out a couple weekends ago, I was constantly having to change AF modes just to get the darn thing to recognize a bird with a slight obstruction or surrounded by branches/leaves - I often felt like the camera was fighting me. The Z9 just grabbed the bird's eye right away with Wide Area, and at a significantly greater distance (Z9 was at 400mm and we had 600mm on the Sony). I'm sure there are some who will say they have never had that problem or the opposite problem, and I would believe them, which makes me wonder how people reach some of the conclusions that you see around here. At the end of the day, if one person is experiencing a problem that another is not, it's most likely some kind of user error or lack of understanding of exactly how the AF modes work.
As another example, I was out tonight in very similar conditions to Jan's video (birds over water/waves) with both a Z8 and Z9 and I could not replicate the issue he was having with either camera either in Wide Area or 3D - it acquired focus what I would consider to be instantly and would track them as you would expect as long as you kept them in the frame. I had 560mm on the Z9 and 300mm on the Z8 and both cameras found the birds right away over water. I also see a couple of Z9 shooters very regularly at a lake near the city I live in - basically all they do is shoot birds over water (not much else to shoot there haha). I've chatted with them a lot and they don't seem to have any issues with acquisition or AF modes. I think some people just have better luck with the way certain cameras behave. Setting up a different AF mode on a custom button is a 10 second ordeal and just a matter of personal preference, it's not a requirement to make the camera AF properly.
Jan's videos are generally pretty good, but he is very much a seasoned Canon shooter. I do really appreciate that he time stamps the timelines of his videos so I don't have to hear about his "Master Class" every time though  I'm also very jealous of the subject matter he has access to over in Australia!
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