Nikon ZF for Bird Photography - Tested and Reviewed
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2024
- This week, I take the ZF out into the field and test it for bird photography. I'll give my thoughts on how the autofocus and sensor compare to other cameras in the Z lineup and share if I plan to use it for birds myself.
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This is the review I've been looking for, and it just happened to show up as a recommendation. It's as though you created it just for me. Great review!
Especially after watching your video, where I think the Zf shines for someone like me, as someone who's looking to get back into a full frame camera system, is that I can buy a Zf, 24-70mm F/4, AND a 180-600mm F/5.6-6.3 for only $600 more than a Z8 body. Basically, it gets me back in the game!
By the way, my last full frame camera was a Canon EOS 1V, that I bought brand new a "few" years ago.
As an owner of the Nikon ZF, Z8, and Z9, I have to agree with you 100%, although, I find the ZF a lot more fun to use. If I'm using a long lens to capture far away images, the Z8 and Z9 are far better suited for the task, as for street photography, the ZF is hard to beat. in my opinion, all 3 Cameras are extremely good, and each have an area where they excel. thanks for sharing your video, it is very well produced. Jim
I traded in my beloved z6 for the zf earlier this week and it looks like I'll be getting her at the end of this week. Of course I'm now obsessed with related CZcams videos :D. Thank you very much for this review because it is perfect for me. My main photography is actually documenting my life and my family. Occasionally I like to take out the 500mm and go wildlife. Of course I wasn't expecting the level of autofocus of a z8 or z9 but I think the autofocus will be a significant improvement, especially compared to my z6. Especially object detection/3D tracking. I actually had no problems with the pure autofocus itself with the z6. Of course, object recognition couldn't be used.
I do want this camera but for wildlife I’ll stick with my d500
I'd say there's a fair chance the Zf may get a 2.0 update at some point, refining the AF and maybe adding the bird option perhaps. Also a longer lens (180-600 comes to mind), would help reduce the loss of pixels and improve the AF (maybe). Else get the 800 pf lol for birds and enjoy the better high iso of the Zf over stacked sensor options.
This was interesting to watch because I always thought birds and wildlife photography were the last things the Zf was designed to do.
Did you notice any shutter shock on Zf? It's predecessors Z6/7/ii had noticeable shutter shock with full shutter somewhere in the range of 1/200-1/500
I am looking for a suitable Z-series for wildlife photography, but was a bit confused with the Zf. However your beautiful analysis provided a direction to my thoughts. Thanks Alan !!
I was in the jungle photographing a small kingfisher and using a d7500 and 200-500 f5.6 and he was using the z6ii and new 180-600 z lens and I was still able to get better photos so I feel that I need to wait until Nikon comes out with a New APSC camera with a reasonable autofocus and at least 10 fps raw
Have the ZF .. it will have to do for me ... just got the 180-600 hope to have a good play soon at the local zoo! will wait for the mirror-less D500 if it ever comes out.
I also find the Siri focus hunting occasionally and missing when the eyes are in between trees branches etc. it struggles. Most of the time it works very well. I have no doubt that a firmware update would fix this issue.
A very helpful video, thanks. I’m mulling over waiting for the Z6iii or going ZF. Had a z6ii but sold it off awhile back anticipating its replacement. Birding is an ‘occasional’ use for me. Might come down to how much more Nikon will sell the Z6iii at.
nice review! i love your pacing for all the information. ❤
The z9 is stacked 🤷🏿♂️ of course it's faster
Best review I’ve seen so far.
Looks like quite a bit of hunting with the birds. I was thinking of getting rid of my OM System OM-1 which is fantastic at birding. I will rethink this. I also have the Nikon Z6 II. Was going to trade it.
Yeah you should wait a few months. The Z9 and Z8 got the new bird detect algorithm and now they are up to par with Canon (better than Sony) so probably Zf will get it too. But not sure if they will do it as this is marketed as a lifestyle camera.
Hey Alan. i watched oyur video about Zf and wildlife photogrpahy. pretty much on par as i get so annoyed by missing focus on birds in flight or even a bit further away on branches etc. i use a nikkor 18-300mm f mount with adaptor but i struggle using the 3d tracking. as you said - its slow and by the time it locks to a bird - seagull or red kite or crane - the shot is missed.... What focus setting you use apart from AF-C and 3D? any other *useful" settings in the controls menu? many thanks.
Hey Stephen! If helpful, I made a video titled "Nikon ZF - Settings for Wildlife and Bird Photography" that has my focus settings. One thing I did was map two different autofocus modes to the front and back assignable buttons so that I can jump back and forth between 3D tracking and Custom Area AF quickly.
another cheaper option would be to just stick your lens on a D500, and use the Zf for everything else.
kind of what I thought about bird photography....a you tuber I follow has been pushing me to get one,but he is not a bird or wildlife photographer
Maybe a firmware update can improve the AF & 3D tracking ...
I hope so! It’s still really good, but I wouldn’t say no to them maybe adding the Bird AF subject detection from the Z8/9!
Does it have bird AF? I found with the Z9 that made a big difference over animal AF when it comes to birds.
It does not, but I am crossing my fingers that it will come through firmware like it did recently with the Z8.
Ahh man Alan posted again🥳
I do not agree with this review. You have basically made a comparison with Z9. Yes agreed the AF is little sluggish but when a bird is a habitat where there are branches and trees , you need to use single point AF. 99% of cameras will fail against Z9. For those who are with a budget , this is a good offering. I have got brilliant images with the same setup you had in this video.
I would counter that I think we are actually in agreement. I do think that the Z9 autofocus is better, which you agree with, but the point of my comparison was not to say that the Zf fails, but to be honest about my bias.
I agree that this camera is a great offering for most and I think I say as much in the video. I actually still have the zf as my back up body and I quite enjoy it.
what lens did you used ? With adaptor or not ?
This was with my 500PF and the FTZ2. I use that lens primarily with the Z9, too, if helpful.
@@alanyoungphoto maybe with native lenses ZF is better with auto focus...
Possibly! I don’t seem to have the issue with the Z9, though so something is a little different between them for sure.
@@alanyoungphoto i have nikon fz with adaptor and nikon 70-200 vrii... nowere near the performance with native nikon z 70-200 2.8 i used.
Thanks for this test! Not really agree with you....megapixels are not that important. A crop DX on a 24 million pixel allows you to print your photo in A3 format at 300dpi.So I prefer a better autofocus (ZF) than more megapixel (Z7 II). If you miss the photo because of your focus, the 45 million pixels will not save it.For me, the ZF is the best solution for Wildlife photography at Nikon at this price.
another point for the ZF, it has the pre-taking that the Z7 does not.
Do not forget that the Z8 costs 2x price of the ZF and the Z9 3X the price of the ZF. The ZF is therefore the best price expert entry level at full frame mirrorless Nikon for someone who wants to start wildlife Photography (and not only) without "too much" ruining yourself.
I think this is a fair take!
If higher resolution is more important to you, z7ii might be a better choice, but if autofocus is - the zf does win out on that front. I think for any fast moving subjects (which birds tend to be), autofocus is a more important contribution to keeper rate.
Ok, so you prefer a camera that costs three times as much. Check.
For specifically birds, yes. But for an everyday carry around, for family photography, portraits, and video I find myself reaching more for the ZF.
You are comparing the top camera by Nikon, the Z9, with what The Fuji XT something? You better compare the Z9 with all other top cameras by any brand, but not with the Z6s or ZFs. Come on!
This was a review of the Nikon ZF autofocus. I was comparing the autofocus performance to my other cameras in the Z lineup, which I think is reasonable. And I don’t think it’s incorrect to say that the autofocus performance falls somewhere between the Z6ii and the Z9…
Hey. Next time you feel the need to leave a rude, shitty comment on a video, consider the intent of the CZcamsr. This video is FREE, unsponsored and simply his thoughts. Where’s your camera comparison?
@ogonzilla Big fan of your channel Omar! Thanks for the comment. I visited Costa Rica years ago and your recent trip has me really wanting to go back!
@@alanyoungphoto Great place. Keep doing what you’re doing and don’t forget about the wonderful “Hide user from channel” button. No need to reply to these downers.
Why r u telling again and again that Z9 has 45 mp sensor.? Factually iaccurate
Technically it has a 45.7MP sensor