NIKON D850 has a SECRET FOCUS FEATURE?? DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS?  

Thank you for that. I've had a D850 for a year, and I never realised I could do that. Brilliant

Glad you eventually found this. When used with the newer mirrorless bodies (i.e. Z8/Z9) the feature works very well. Of course, when you use it on the D850, the main issue is the speed of battery depletion and the heat on the sensor that is generated. Make sure to use in normal climate (not very hot climate), and lower ISOs for limited times - as heating up the sensor will cause electron migration and potential noise issues (black current, amp glow, etc.).

I have had my Nikon D850 since 2017 and had only skimmed over this feature once. I've been struggling with the autofocus, especially when shooting macro. Thank you very much for bringing this back to my attention! I'll have to give this feature a try later tonight.

First off, I admit I was skeptical about a "secret Focus Feature." I don't shoot a D850, I shoot a D780. I followed your directions and shazam there it is. Good on you Garrick. Thanks.

I too have been using an 850 for sometime and didn't know his one, so thanks for the heads up.

Well, I never knew that about the D850 or the D500! Thanks for sharing.

Before this video, I was in the same boat as you. I learned something new today. Thanks for Sharing Garrick

Awesome. Thanks for sharing 😊

Thanks for sharing !

Thanks for the advice!

Thank you Garrick, God bless.

That s true fabulous insights 🙏🙏🙏

Brilliant, Very Informative And Helpful. Thanks For Sharing. 🇬🇧

Thank you😀

Thanks a lot. Such a clear explanation. Great video.

D850 is a workhorse.. never failed me since 2018.

Focus shift shooting may also interest you! Even the little Zfc has this feature and you just set the nearest focus point and the camera will run through to infinity based on an increment you give it. For tripod users.

Great Point !!!

muchas gracias por compartir , gracias

Best Ole Buddy Garrick, I enjoy your Video's very much. Your down to earth chats, and everyday images you take. Your editorials of your chats. I am an old man age 84. I have been shooting for many years. Recently My Nikon D3s gave me issues after many years of faithful service. Thus I recently purchased the D850. I would like to suggest that you create a Video on how to set the "Function Buttons". Personally, i have had issues finding how to set them up. There are a few Vidoe's that attempt to show how, yet not clear to me on many of them. I would like to set image area with a function Button, Go quickly to Single Point Focus when shooting in Back Button Focus with one joy stick at Group the other @ points of focus. I thought if you were searching for subjects of interest, You will find a lot of D850, and other Nikon Camera users interest in Function Short Cuts. Thanks again for your excellent Video's, Pray your new job is going great. Do You receive or have a way for your RU-vid Fans to support You with donations etc. to help you keep the channel active?? Pray your day is going great. Blessings on You & Your Loved Ones.

Read your manuals people. This applies to the D500, the D750 and the D850….you have wide, normal and tracking on all three. No pinpoint on the D750. If you are ok shooting an egret as it takes off without AF-C and are worried about maintaining focus as it starts to move - tracking is a big help so you can wait to press the shutter at the right moment and not miss the shot faffing around with focusing on it. Can’t comment on any other models since I don’t own them….if anyone can add to the list that would help other camera owners. Thanks for pointing this out Garrick. Shows tracking is not that new, nor is IBIS. My Olympus EM5 had it 10years ago. (Admittedly voice-coil driven).

I've had my D850 for almost two years now and I had no idea this existed. Thanks you!!! You have earned a new subscriber.

Great video Garrick! I was not aware of the pin feature on the D850. I bought mine about the same time as you. This will help greatly in the types of photography that you mentioned, but (there’s that but) a great deal of my photography is wild life and I need AF-C. I also am not very good with Live View. My eye wants to be up against that view finder. Then again it took me three tries to get used to back button focus. LOL. Stay well my friend.

Very interesting, thank you

I have the Nikon d7200 and it has the focus feature too.

Thank you 👍

Thank you very much, great tip….!!, I did not know about it until now.

Good tip. One small correction. After making your changes and switching to “Live View” you showed”AF-F” for the focus mode rather than AF-S (single). AF-F is continuous autofocus even when you don’t have your finger half-pressing the shutter (or the AF-On button pushed if you use back-button focus). That is not what most people would want. Thank you for your work and presentation of this tip.

THANK you!

I come from a D800 and D810. Recently was gifted a Z8. And wow, omg what a difference. The z8 has this feature (and tons more) as part of the focus selections. It's literally pin point focus. Very good for the center seeds of flowers or tiny bugs with a macro lens.

wow , cheers, had my D850 for years and never new this . great tip

I've known about this for awhile as I'm a landscape photographer and I've used the D8 50 for about seven years. I've actually progressed to using a GFX camera which actually has a similar thing built into it as well using the touchscreen to focus is difficult in certain circumstances, if objects are moving, but for still objects like Flowers portraits and landscapes it's a really great feature. Great video well done for finding this.

Hi Garrick, thanks for the tip i have the D850 18 months now and recently bought the Nikon 105 f2.8 and not had much luck so far . Hopefully your tip will improve my photos . Thanks 👍

AF-F in liveview is the same as AF-C in the viewfinder.... you need to select AF-S in live view even though you selected AF-S already you need to select again in live view... they are seperate selections 👍

Thanks Garrick for the tip.! Boston Massachusetts

I think this is great for the example you gave, I'd disagree on portraits. Portraits I use AF-S and Group Area AF since it will kick in face detection. I find the D850 does a better job at finding the eyes than I would trying to pick the focus point with the subject waiting on me.

I'm a Pro and I did not know! Thanks so much!

Bought a d810 new in 2014 and I am now in the process of trading it up to a d850 so searching for tips before it arrives. Thanks for this one. 👍

hi, what's the AF-F modes i saw when you scrolled?

Hi Garrick. Regarding Macro photography, I think this feature is good only for an indoor controlled environment where AF is used. However, when shooting Macro outdoors (bugs, butterflies), I always use Manual focus and move the camera back and forth. What do you think? Thanks

Hey Garrick...The D500 does that too....it does not say PIn but it is a square with cross in it

I have a D5300, D780, Z30, and a Z6ii. I use the pin point focus and metering about 90% of the time. Also, watch you AF setting, there is a big difference between AFS and AFC.

Thanks for that; good to be aware of; not exactly secret though; it's in the manual -) Also know as an RTFM as well -) I also press the centre button( focus selector) to quickly magnify as well. You can magnify further from there if needed.

I figured out what I did wrong & I can't wait to use it next time I am shooting portraits, buildings, landscapes anything that either doesn't move, live view is not good for those shoots!

Great video man. I'm eye-ballin' an 850 on CL now and got a lot out of this. Quick question though, does Nikon D850 audio input allow you to select mic level as well as line level for audio? I ask because I use high quality audio gear outboard of the camera and send it into the camera for the best baked in audio. This completely bypasses the low quality camera mic preamp if line level is offered.

No secret, it's focusing directly on the sensor and not the mirror... Works great with VR LENSES AND WITH A TRIPOD... good video!!!

Thanks Garrick. If AF-C is for continuous and AF-S is for single, what is AF-F? And can you use it in continuous and single?

thx, cool !! You also know, if I can move the pinpoint ?

Does this same technique work in action photography? I would guess not. Thanks

Mine dosn't have that. I have "Wide", "Norm", the face, and the target. What am I doing wrong?

That option doesn't appear on my camera Nikon D850.... AF-F pin

I tried it on my 850 & it did not work at all, now I can't undo the mess it caused!!!

So is AF-F your latest BFF?

Thx, but you´ll find it in the manual. Live view photography --> Autofocus. So, it´s not so "secret" but probably unknown, due to the lack of reading manuals. Count me in ;-)

Ok .... but no examples ?

Not a secret. Mirrorless cameras have this as well. It is slower focussing, however. So not great for moving subjects