If you read the article his source of some negativity is that he thinks Nikon might build an excellent AF system that can produce high level results, but it just won't be as automated as some of the competitors. If that is what Nikon does it bothers me zero. I am not a fan of automating things just so the user doesn't have to learn how to use it. I do recognize this is popular in general. It just isn't something I care about at all. I like to take the time to really learn to use a system and if a system well learned works better than an automated system even it it takes longer to learn. I will take the longer to learn better system every time over the automated system.
So if the Z9 has an AF system such that it takes some time and effort to learn it well, but when you do it works even better than the automated systems of the competitors, then I would definitely get the Z9 over the competition. I suspect, however, this won't be the decision a lot of people make. Automating things is popular and the Z9 might not do as well as Nikon hopes.
The point is that the automation comes from advanced AI built into certain modes in the camera. This is where Nikon is most lacking, and where mirrorless offers big advantages. A mirrorless system that doesn't implement such features will be rightly perceived in the market as trailing in functionality, and therefor worth less in the market place. These features are additive. There is nothing keeping users of systems with such features from using modes that don't depend on the AI in situations where more user control produces superior results. Current users of the advanced stacked sensor cameras from Canon and Sony know these things well, and take advantage of both methods as needs dictate.
This is the exact situation Nikon currently has in the mirrorless marketplace. It has not worked out well for Nikon in reputation, sales, or mirrorless market share. It would be very unfortunate if this continues with the Z9 release. Thom Hogan is expressing his concern that if this turns out to be the case, the market will continue to punish Nikon for it. Rightly so.
There is no way to justify poorer performance in this area by saying one is happy to do it himself without the AI. I still find it enjoyable to shoot manual exposure, manual focus at times, even with advanced cameras like the a1. However, this is about the experience the lenses and process provide. This is in no way an excuse for a system that doesn't implement an advanced AI choice. Ask shooters of cameras from Sony and Canon. The vast majority will tell you that the AI functions are valued and not something they would like to give up and go back to the old way of doing things.
If the Z9 doesn't live up to expectations in this regard, it will get hammered in the press. Some who have been waiting will lose patience and move systems. I think this is the fear that Thom Hogan is expressing. This rise in concern is not happening in a vacuum. He is likely hearing things through his contacts. If so, that would be consistent with some of what I have been hearing.
I really hope that Nikon waits until it get it right to release.
Oct 03, 2021 at 09:20 AM
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