The Z9 is an incredible camera that just keeps getting better. Released in 2021, I got my first Z9 as they first became available in 2021…almost five years of shooting the same flagship body, amazing in the mirrorless era! Rumors of the z9II are all over the internet, maybe we will see the new camera at the end of this year. Can’t wait!
Nikon has done an incredible job with firmware updates to this camera. And not just simple bug fixes, but more like adding features that will change how you shoot and set up your camera. I look at my first blogs from 3 years ago on this camera and now I set up things very differently. On this post I will look at how I customize my controls for wildlife photography.
If you watch online videos on customizing controls on your Z9 for wildlife photography, you almost need a PhD to set up your camera. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of great information out there. But remember one important principle…customizing your camera controls is very subjective, there isn’t a right or wrong way. Set up your camera so it works for you. I’ve shot many assignments for Nikon through the years, talked at various trade shows for Nikon about my work using their cameras, and most importantly, taught workshops and conferences with other Nikon pros. Guess what, they all customize their cameras differently.
My philosophy is less is more. I tried a lot of complicated setups, and instead of getting more keeper images, I was missing shots. I don’t want to be pushing different buttons while a bird in flight is going past. Honestly, what is as important as customizing your buttons is working on your hand to eye coordination. During lunch breaks Cree and I go photograph swallows that live near our house. Try tracking a fast moving tree swallow flying past with a 600mm. If you get the bird in the frame, a number of subject detection modes will lock on just fine. The challenge is getting the bird in the frame.
Here are the four custom setting and buttons I use for wildlife and bird photography.
Cycle AF-area mode. This feature was added with a firmware update, and it changed how I shoot. I assign this feature to my video button (orange dot) beside the shutter button. Cycle AF-area mode allows you to check the boxes of the modes you want. I choose three…3D-tracking, Wide-area Large and Auto-area AF. By quickly hitting the video button I can toggle between these modes very quickly since the button is right beside the shutter button. I used to assign these different modes to the F buttons on the front of the camera, but this is much easier and faster. Which mode I use depends on the subject and the environment.
Cycle subject detection options. This also was a recent firmware update, and a huge help with wildlife photography. I assign this setting to my F1 button on the front of my Z9. You can choose what subjects to toggle through…I just select birds and animals. Now, when I hit my F1 button, the camera switches between birds and animals. Imagine being on safari photographing lions all day, and suddenly a carmine bee-eater lands in a tree right beside your car. Just hit the F1 button to switch to birds and you are ready to go. Need a different AF-area mode…just hit the video button as set up in the first step.
F2 Single point focus. There are rare times that subject detection or the AF-area mode won’t be able to focus on my subject. I see this situation occasionally shooting through thick brush or grass…you need to choose a smaller focus point without subject detection. For this I set up my F2 button to use single point autofocus without subject detection (custom setting a10 allows you to choose what AF-modes use subject detection). If I can’t get focus using other modes, I push my F2 button and use single point.
Silent mode. I am in Texas this week photographing birds and animals from blinds. Most birds don’t mind the sound of a shutter at 20FPS down here, but some do. And shy wildlife like bobcats are sure to be spooked by shutter noise. To be able to quickly switch in silent shooting mode, I set up my F3 button to switch into silent shooting mode. You want to be ready for those shy critters, just hit the F3 button and hold your breath.
There you have it…try these tips out and see what you think. If they don’t work for you, then set up your camera so it does work for you. Also, these are just the customizing of buttons, not a full list of settings for the Z9…that is another much longer blog post! Happy shooting!