Re: Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S images thread
RoamingScott wrote: James Farrell wrote:
I wonder if all of you who now have the 100-400 S would try a little experiment? When shooting either the Z6 or Z7 - both first and second generations (does not apply to the Z9) - if you have custom setting d5 set to "auto", the default, your shutter type changes from Electronic Front Curtain Shutter (EFCS) to Mechanical automatically when faster than 1/250. However, you can set the shutter type to remain on EFCS and have the camera shoot EFCS up to 1/2000. Do not confuse this with "all electronic shutter" as we know it which Nikon calls "Silent Photography" - not the same as EFCS.
I find that when I shoot EFCS at speeds ranging from 1/320 to 1/500 that results in sharper shots when shooting handheld with my 500 PF at a subject of some distance, especially on the Z 7II. In doing so you eliminate the motion (and some possible image blur) of the front curtain shutter moving before the image is actually taken when the shutter is pressed which is what happens when shooting in Mechanical shutter mode. At slow speeds this "shutter shock" at times will affect your sharpness. However, I find that shooting EFCS up to speeds around 1/500 results are just a tad better. I am not suggesting an AF issue, but a shutter speed issue for subjects at some distance and shooting handheld. Now I know were all talking about the 100-400 and not an adapted F mount lens as I mentioned here. But I am just wondering if shooting the 100-400 at the long end, handheld and on a medium distance subject you would benefit by using EFCS above the auto changeover point? I have read some articles by knowledgeable folks above have suggested this technique. I put d5 in My Menu to get to it quickly without needed to take my eye away from the EVF.
Disclosure: I am no expert, and I don't own the 100-400 S yet as mine is on order. And I am jealous of you that own one. >> Jim
Hey Jim. I'm new to Nikon, and was researching EFCS last night. My understanding is, there is essentially a known hardware defect with the Z6 and Z7 (not sure if it also applies to the mark ii models), and the new "auto" setting (which was provided via FW) is simply a bandaid to fix the issue with EFCS at these lower speeds. Not discounting your experience, and I use EFCS full time on my Sony.
Plenty of forum posts out there from the first gen bodies where people saw bad issues with softness using EFCS at the lower shutter speeds.
Well, I think you're overstating the issue just a bit and perhaps trying make the issue just a Nikon one. The way Mechanical shutter works on pretty much all mirrorless cameras, there is a known shutter shock issue at a range of lower shutter speeds. That was not an issue solely with Nikon. I experienced on my Olympus bodies and OLY/ Panasonic lenses for a time until I wised up and left Olympus in early 2019. When the Z6/Z7 first came out, there was not a changeover point that automatically happened until a firmware update (I think it was 2.0). Anyway, in my experience of using the Z6 Gen 1 handheld with the 500 PF lens shooting marine mammals in Canada from an inflatable dinghy, I noticed that if I shot at 1/320 which is above the changeover point from EFCS to Mechanical that my shots were often soft (and partly due to my technique but that's another discussion for some other time). But I've learned to use EFCS up to 1/500 for handheld distance shots and the results are much better. Nikon determined some time ago that 1/250 should be the EFCS/Mech. auto changeover point. Works fine for most scenarios and most folks I guess, but not for this 75 year old guy.
I'll not engage in any debates, but I think your comment about lots of forum posts about softness using EFCS at lower shutter speeds is incorrectly stated. I think you problebaly meant at lower "Mechanical" shutter speeds, hence the reason Nikon released a firmware fix to address that.
EDIT: My original suggestion to experiment with EFCS was just that, an experiment. I was not suggesting that one set their camera on EFCS all the time. Of course if good light you would not want to do that. I was only referring to shutter speeds just above the auto changeover point when shooting in challenging situation handheld at longer focal lengths.
Re: Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S images thread
RoamingScott wrote: James Farrell wrote:
I wonder if all of you who now have the 100-400 S would try a little experiment? When shooting either the Z6 or Z7 - both first and second generations (does not apply to the Z9) - if you have custom setting d5 set to "auto", the default, your shutter type changes from Electronic Front Curtain Shutter (EFCS) to Mechanical automatically when faster than 1/250. However, you can set the shutter type to remain on EFCS and have the camera shoot EFCS up to 1/2000. Do not confuse this with "all electronic shutter" as we know it which Nikon calls "Silent Photography" - not the same as EFCS.
I find that when I shoot EFCS at speeds ranging from 1/320 to 1/500 that results in sharper shots when shooting handheld with my 500 PF at a subject of some distance, especially on the Z 7II. In doing so you eliminate the motion (and some possible image blur) of the front curtain shutter moving before the image is actually taken when the shutter is pressed which is what happens when shooting in Mechanical shutter mode. At slow speeds this "shutter shock" at times will affect your sharpness. However, I find that shooting EFCS up to speeds around 1/500 results are just a tad better. I am not suggesting an AF issue, but a shutter speed issue for subjects at some distance and shooting handheld. Now I know were all talking about the 100-400 and not an adapted F mount lens as I mentioned here. But I am just wondering if shooting the 100-400 at the long end, handheld and on a medium distance subject you would benefit by using EFCS above the auto changeover point? I have read some articles by knowledgeable folks above have suggested this technique. I put d5 in My Menu to get to it quickly without needed to take my eye away from the EVF.
Disclosure: I am no expert, and I don't own the 100-400 S yet as mine is on order. And I am jealous of you that own one. >> Jim
Hey Jim. I'm new to Nikon, and was researching EFCS last night. My understanding is, there is essentially a known hardware defect with the Z6 and Z7 (not sure if it also applies to the mark ii models), and the new "auto" setting (which was provided via FW) is simply a bandaid to fix the issue with EFCS at these lower speeds. Not discounting your experience, and I use EFCS full time on my Sony.
Plenty of forum posts out there from the first gen bodies where people saw bad issues with softness using EFCS at the lower shutter speeds.
Well, I think you're overstating the issue just a bit and perhaps trying make the issue just a Nikon one. The way Mechanical shutter works on pretty much all mirrorless cameras, there is a known shutter shock issue at a range of lower shutter speeds. That was not an issue solely with Nikon. I experienced on my Olympus bodies and OLY/ Panasonic lenses for a time until I wised up and left Olympus in early 2019. When the Z6/Z7 first came out, there was not a changeover point that automatically happened until a firmware update (I think it was 2.0). Anyway, in my experience of using the Z6 Gen 1 handheld with the 500 PF lens shooting marine mammals in Canada from an inflatable dinghy, I noticed that if I shot at 1/320 which is above the changeover point from EFCS to Mechanical that my shots were often soft (and partly due to my technique but that's another discussion for some other time). But I've learned to use EFCS up to 1/500 for handheld distance shots and the results are much better. Nikon determined some time ago that 1/250 should be the EFCS/Mech. auto changeover point. Works fine for most scenarios and most folks I guess, but not for this 75 year old guy.
I'll not engage in any debates, but I think your comment about lots of forum posts about softness using EFCS at lower shutter speeds is incorrectly stated. I think you problebaly meant at lower "Mechanical" shutter speeds, hence the reason Nikon released a firmware fix to address that. And I will say without any apology that I ignore most forum posts, even here on FM, as most folks have no clue what they're talking about.
Dec 23, 2021 at 12:19 PM
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