Nikon Z8 & Z9: BEST Bird-In-Flight Autofocus Settings 

No one in the business is producing (or can produce) this level of useful, detailed guidance. If you can use just a bit of it, you and your images will improve.

Thank you Steve. I don't do much bird photography, but I come here for the best Nikon autofocus tutorials, period. You have helped me immensely.

I purchased your focus book for my 850 years ago. I just got the Z8 and very much looking forward to your book firmware 2.0 update to pull the trigger on this one. There are a couple of other Nikon guys I follow but you are the best/most practical for detailed descriptions of how to handle real world situations. Thanks for all you do!

I just got my z8 for the past week I couldn’t figure out how to get the autofocus to work. This video helped me out so much, Great videos.

Thanks Steve. I have every book that you have published. Please continue providing excellent Nikon tips and tutorials.

Most Helpful & Very timely Video with insights and "why" not found elsewhere. Steve continues to be one of the best!!

Thanks so much Steve, all the advice you've given has been so solid in the past, I always look forward to when you post about new features/how to! I just updated my Z8 and I'm on my way to Kerkini tomorrow!

As always Steve, you have the most keen insight to the Z family of pro bodies and lenses. You’re top shelf in my book! Appreciate you!

Absolutely fantastic Steve ❤ I keep counting days waiting for your tutorial video. ❤❤

You are the only one who helps me learn Sony a1 autofocus system

I have a Zf and this is extremely helpful information. Probably for all the expeed 7 based cameras down the line as well. Thank you for producing this!

Steve you are the best. You post the most helpful and relevant videos on wildlife photography

Awesome as always !!! You are without doubt the best tutor when it comes to photography!!

Took me a lot of time & rewinding a bit to catch all of this, but very glad I did. Great info & details.

subscribed after watching this video and will be coming back to this a few times and seeing what else you have , so clear and easy to understand

Thanks Steve, here in the Netherlands we are also happy with your videos and books.

great video as always! Your explanation, presentation and rhythm are top notch, clear and enjoyable .

Steve very well explained, I am using pretty much all your settings it works very well with all the firmware up to date on my Z9 & Z8 thank you very much for sharing!

Awesome bit of knowledge about Z8. Thank You Steve!!

Another awesome and helpful video. I wanted to see this first and then go to the guide. Thank you so much!

Always very very helpful guidance Steve! Thank You for this kind of videos. 👍

Superb video Steve. I always look forward to your video tutorials . You are the best

I watch quite a few photographers for settings, and I definitely get the best tips from you, which is why I bought your guide a while back. Thanks for this update! Hopefully that Z8 area-af button will come to the Z soon.

Thanks so much for this detailed advice and for talking about how you’ve changed your approach. I came here to learn how to do handoff to 3D and now will see how wide AF and custom modes work. I am adding more events and people to my nature work so am more used to AF-S.

Great info Steve. Good to hear that Auto AF has been refined. I'm gong to give it a go. I find that I use your tutorials to learn how everything functions...even though I may program to a different set up. It is working!

Danke Steve für deinen fantastischen Job !!! Ist immer gut dich zu sehen und deine Tipps sind wertvoll und sparen mir einen Haufen Zeit , thanks much for your tips, this save me much time - greetings from Berlin Germany - Karsten

Great video Steve. Thanks. To turn off the AF subject detection I use the REC button and the rear wheel on Z9. I use it to switch between SHOOT A and B. A and B have exactly the same settings until the AF subject detection is missing on B. Another advantage is that I can choose a different measuring field in B than in A.

Thnak You very much for your Z8 settings for the birds, I have changed a couple of my camera, so many of your settings make a lot of sense and save those crucial seconds when you are shooting. I will try them soon by shooting a kingfisher. Greetings

You really are the best imho for explaining the functions. Thanks so much!

Thanks Steve, excellent advice as always

Great Info…thanks so much…I love your guide books they have been so helpful for me…

Many thanks for this inciteful review. Looking froward to the updated book in due course. An excellent book that I keep referring back to, to learn exactly the differences in focal areas, use of subject detection and 3D.

First class every time. Nice video.

Thanks for sharing those tips, your images are awesome.

I don't know what I'd do without your guidance! Thank you so much!!

Thanks, Steve, for the always-helpful information, as well as new methods that become possible with firmware changes! :)

Thank you Steve, Cycle AF Area is dope...I find in team sports small dynamic works well as the main and I hand it off to auto subject, (to many people). I'm very experienced in fast moving subjects and so use to the legacy modes. I realize birding is different and your way seems like it works great. Auto area mode/subject detect works great with the latest firmware on isolated subjects. I use it a lot. My hit rate is 99%+ I use most of the modes over a lot of situations and always trying to find shortcuts like the cycle mode.

Great video Steve. Big thank You!

The best as always.

Great info. Thanks for posting.

Great video, very informative

Fantastic video, super helpful

Steve is the best, I have all the books, thx for the vid…

Great info and hope the the toggle detection option comes to the Z9 soon as you mentioned!! Great over view👍

I wish Nikon would do this in the AF-Full: Replace multiple squares cluster as the AF system trying to locate the eye of the bird (bird detection mode) with a big box which occupies the entire sensor and a small white box to hunt for the bird's eye (as the camera is panning). As soon as the small white box nails the bird's eye, it turns green. This will make it easier to engage the rule of thirds and easy on the eye due to multiple squares jumping around. Thank you so much for your excellent tutorial.

I usually setup the AF just like you have shown over the years and it always works great. But recently I discovered a trick. I keep the Shutter AF-On and keep it on Auto Area AF with Animal mode. It works great after the 2.0 update. And i keep the back button Af-on button to Af Area+Af-on as 3D tracking and 1 front fn button to Af area+af-on with af area as Custom Area 1x1. Focus persistence is always on auto and movie button to switch af-areas. If Auto-Area not working well, i switch it using movie recording button to Wide area S/L and once subject is detected, I hand it over to 3d tracking set to Back button AF and still if doesn't work I press the front fn button as single point and focus persistence mostly works well and if it doesn't, I move it with the joystick while keeping the front fn button pressed. The AF Area+AF-On switches overrides the Shutter Af-on button. So, now I can use both Shutter Af-On & Back Button Af simultaneously. Will use it for sometime if it doesn't work, will switch back to as you said in this video.

Right on, Thanks man😊

Awesome. Thanks Steve.

Really helpful! Thank you so much!

You instructional videos continue to be excellent! However, having been at this since the 60s, I have to chuckle to myself as I reach for the manual focus ring. But it is fun to learn how to operate a new gizmo.

Thank you 🙏 Steve for sharing this vital information; i only own a Z7ii ,8&9 are out of budget nevertheless i’m listening to what you say 😊

Great, very useful video, thank U

Z9 is a beast, a piano lesson + lot of practice , what i still need to invest. TBH as of now i think D500 worked better for me, as there was 2 well usable AF mode and happy dayz. Here you need to know what is usable and when. ( I need to try out the complete Auto AF as most of the time i used wide (size depending on the bird) - than switch to 3d) However i bet if i finally get enough practice z9 will yield way better results. And for that i really recommend Steve's e-books. Anno the DSLR was a gamechanger for me. With a bit big head i thought i learnt the tricks and z9 will be business as usual. I was so wrong, but Steve's book saved me again. I know most what i need to, just need to put in the field experience, making those settings core reflexes.

You are a great teacher.

Thank you, Steve... I'd go insane if I didn't have your videos to help me learn my Z8.😁

As much as I think I know all I need to know using my Nikon, Steve always proves me wrong.

As always, excellent tutorial. One addition I would like is a refresher on how to save these settings to one of the shooting banks.

Thanks for confirming

thanks Steve Brilliant

Thank you Steve

Perfect timing Steve! I leave next week for a month in Kenya. While my main focus is the big cats, the birds are at times irresistible. Your books on Secrets to the Nikon autofocus system, and Nikon Z8 wildlife setup guide have prepared me (and my Z8 with 400mm 4.5S) to ensure that this the best trip ever.

Thank you for a great tutorial Steve. I wonder if these tips will work with other subjects (airplanes, other fast moving wildlife, even people). Please do a tutorial on the other improvements that came with the Z8 firmware update 2.0. Thank you!

Hello Steve, admire your indepth knowledge and patience in sharing your knowledge. I am happy to be a Landscape Photographer with all of this. How do you manage to shift the AF modes in the same speed as a flying subject baffles me. I have saved all your Videos and maybe one day😇😇😇

Thankls Steve

Hi Steve, I have a wish 🥰 I, many of your followers, would like to request you to make a detailed video on how you do maintenance of your camera, lens, memory cards ....like cleaning of lens, camera and how to handle memory cards for enhancing its life and health...like- quick formatting or full formatting of CF Express cards etc. The trust and loyalty that we have on you keeps us demanding more and more from you in terms of knowledge and learning 😊. I am also very keen to buy your digital books but in India the dollar equivalent amount is bit too much 😅....hope some special offers in the form of discount comes out way someday ❤

That's a great video and useful tips. I especially like the DISP button with animal-AF override which can be useful if you encounter mammals. I missed a great shot of a coyote once when shooting eagles as the cam just wouldn't lock on when I panned over. As I was trying manual AF it ran away, a missed opportunity.

Thanks for another great video Steve. I hate having to use my fn2 button like you do. Wish Nikon would put af area change on one dial and subject detect on other. Then it could be on one function button. Seems like simple firmware. My other objection has to do with renaming lens function buttons. But that’s another story. Thanks again friend.

Hi Fly With Me! Cool video my friend! Well done! Very nice cut! Like nº 16 👍👍👍!!! Congratulations!Thanks for uploading!

I have just got the Z8 and 160-600 z Lens and I use Auto Focus Wide C2 and Bang it works well so far on Coastal fast fliers Like Sandwich Terns here in S Africa

I need this for the ZF!

I love your videos but I was wondering if you would do a review on the OM-1 M2 for BIF?

Thanks!

Steve, Thank you for taking the time to provide such in-depth guidance. Great help! What type memory card are you currently using in your Z9 for capturing bird stills & video clips? Thanks!

Steve. I have purchased your guides and I use the Z8 and Z7.2. I know you have changed some of your settings since the firmware update on the Z8. I am leaving in a few days for Borneo and would greatly appreciate if you would let me know what you have changed. It would be helpful for some additional keepers. I really enjoy your material. Thank you. Paul

Hi Steve! Once again, your content is incredibly high-quality and very helpful. I was wondering, at the end of your video when you discuss and show your guide on shutter speed, what do you do with your vibration reduction? Do you mostly leave it on, or do you turn it off when your shutter speed is higher? Once again, thank you for your amazing knowledge transfer!

Steve, do you use the shooting banks for different scenarios or just set up your cam one way and tweak it if the need arises? For example, if you want to take photos of family, landscapes, etc. would you just keep most of your settings and switch the subject detection to people? Or do you customize the banks and switch between them?

Hi Steve Great Video. Question I set up my Z9 for BBF with Wide area-S and my F1 button to Auto Area. I then programmed by Video button to cycle through area modes. Problem is when I cycle through the area modes it only affects the mode on the shutter button which I am not using. How do I get it to cycle throuh area modes and the back button AF-ON? Thanks.

I tested the new bird subject as well as auto-subject quite a bit in Costa Rica last week on my Z9, and i'm a bit underwhelmed... It works for some birds, but has a LOT of trouble with others. Pelicans and similarly shaped sea birds are apparently a tough subject for it. Frigate birds also cause issues - something about their pouches freaks the AF out. Definitely a YMMV kind of thing. I ended up falling back to dynamic area AF quite a bit. Very small number of keepers, mostly static birds. I'm chalking it up as a "scouting trip" and will definitely follow your AF settings guide next time.

Can we assign custom button for 3D focus and tracking?. I heard that 3D only works for Shutter button focus. Please explain

Hi Steve need help!!!! I have the Z8 set up to “Cycle AF” on FN2. It works, but as soon as I push my “Back Button AF”, the Z8 jumps back to “Auto Area AF” mode, & ignores where I had “Cycled” the AF MODE?????? Please help

Hi Steve, one more question - you recently had a video that showed how to quickly go from Bird to animal detect - I think using the WB button on a Z9 - I can't find that video to set it up?

I also set spot focus on Fn2 on my Z9 for those times when the camera just wants to ignore the hawk in the tree. Hopefully once the cycle through option comes to the Z9 I can just use that. Matt Granger was complaining about Nikon not wanting to focus on subjects if the focus point is past the subject. It won't back up. For that he has the focus recall button on the lens set to a shorter distance so he can immediately get the focus in front of the bird so it can find it. I just shot my Zf at ridiculous ISO, up to 32,000 and I am floored with the image quality. The Z6III is going to be a low light monster.

Hi Steve...Question, so if I'm covering a dance or a play (Using the z8) where people are moving around would you recommend the c1/c2, continuous with people selected? Thanks!

I request you to do similar training RU-vid for Nikon Zf. I am lately using it to get the old feeling of Nikon FM2. I understand that the camera has Expeed 7 processor and many of autofocus functions like Z8, but not all. It will be nice to know how Nikon Zf can be used for bird photography.

I have recently moved to the Nikon Z8 +180-600 combination from a Nikon D850 + 500mm f4 AF-SII combination. While I am really happy with the move, but for some reason my birds in flight keeper rates are much lower than the old D850 combination. I haved used Single sop, Wide area AF in combination with and without 3D tracking. But still struggiling to get shots with sharp focus on the eye. It would either focus in wings or not focus at all.

Do you ever share your banks settings for download to a SD card. I have your Nikon Z8 And Z9 Widllife Setup Guide-v170. Still struggling to get everything into my Z8 camera.

Thanks

Hi Steve can you help my priorities viewfinder button seems disabled not sur what I have or have not pressed,any ideas please

Hi, does the book refer to some of your videos (links) thank you

Mr. Steve, would it be possible to have a Portuguese version of the guide for Z8? Please!

As always Steve, an excellent video. I find though that the control ring moves when the camera is hanging on my side with a strap changing either the ISO or EV or whatever I set it too.

You are a great teacher and explain things well, Thanks! Random question but what's the name of that song in your video intro? I know its song called "Back in Time" but is there an acoustics version you used?

I hope Nikon Releases soon for the Z9 the Cycle AF-area mode. This can be very useful

If you set up display button as you indicated, how does one change actual display option then? For instance if you might want to show histogram? Great video , very helpful.

Excellent video. Just to confirm, what you call Auto AF is called Auto-area AF in the menu system? Thanks!

Steve, does your Z8/9 setup guide also show settings for perched birds, or do these BIF settings work well for perched birds too?

❤❤

Hi Steve, a quick question, I have read through your Z8 & Z9 Wildlife Set-Up Guide - when using AF Hand-off - onec you "hand-off" to say 3DAF do I continue to press my back-button AF or do I just hold the Fn button assigned?

I love your videos and training material. Why does the Menu in my Z8 look different than what you show on the screen? I was trying to follow your section on setting up F1 button for Focusing but could not get the same choices. I am sure I missed something basic..

This is what makes you the best for Z8/Z9 settings Steve! I was actually caught in a situation last week while doing video of some turkeys on the ground with my Z8 and a coyote stepped out into the open. I fumbled around with trying to get out of bird and into animal detection mode via the info button, which is very doable, but the coyote decided to run off before I got my act together. Today after watching your video I set up my FN2 button to quickly toggle through subject detection modes by setting it to access the top item in My Menu. Works like a charm for photos but unfortunately even though the option is there to select this also in the Video custom controls it won't work. In other words, I can try to select a different subject detection mode and hit OK but the original mode stays put. I know you're not much of a video guy but do you know of a better work around than using the info button like I suggested? Btw.. I did try programming all of the other buttons and nothing gave me the option in video mode that I was able to achieve in photos. Thanks!