Nikon Z AF

Yes motion blur is a possibility, although here I think it was just focus accuracy.
These were real pictures taken in quick succession at the same spot, not tests as such.
AF mode was AF-C and eye detect was on as you can see.

In those pictures, nothing appears to be sharp at all, which says to me the problem was motion blur (or wildly off focus, or an extremely unsharp lens).

I didn't say I was uncomfortable with the questions. Where is that evident? However, you are contributing nothing useful either except the animosity you have fostered from your time at DPR. Not only that, but you want to control who can post and control the narrative. Just like you were at DPR.

What you call a problem did not have to be denied - because it did not exist!

The explanation was quite simple, and I was quite happy to demonstrate to "complainers" how to prove they were wrong by getting there D 800 to work!

There was a relative weakness in that either far outer row of AF points did not read detail parallel to the long dimension of the frame – OUTSIDE the centre of the AF rectangle - a bit like though not exactly same as Mirrorless without AI - though detail at the centre or inside was detected with relative ease.

To repeat - detail on the outside of centre - left or right AF of an outer row point was not detected - though detail at the centre was!

I presume you did not test sufficiently thoroughly to find out your opinion was on quicksand as the same limitation applied left or right.

It is not for me to explain why you cannot get as good an AF performance from current Nikon equipment as most other Nikon users can.

The great majority of users, who get better results than you report, are likely to regard your comments as similar to some YouTube posters – who give a clear impression of not knowing how handle equipment to a good standard.

You are entitled to post your generally unproven opinions.
The significant majority capable of getting much better results than you are free to disregard your views on the grounds that, like a near empty kettle when heated, you make a lot of noise - and the noise does not arise from a problem with the kettle.

[quote="@Ghostfox1"]
[quote="@Dibyendu"]
Here are three examples of Z6 with the 28mm f2.8 Z mount lens in relatively low light.

All 1/30s f2.8 ISO 1800.

It's too dark.. it's EV 4-5, eye af works now and then in such low light. Phase pixler need help from contrast, and things slows down. Perhaps Canon or Sony or Z9 can do fantastic eye AF in EV 4, I don't know

I certainly think that the slow shutter speed captured some motion. But its not an issue of lens sharpness.

Here is a snip from the first image,

Btw the lesson for me was that I need a faster lens, so now I have the Sigma 28mm f1.4 :-) But I haven't had the chance to try it out yet!

Here is manually focused example. Z9, 35mm f1.2 Nokton, at f1.2. ISO 2200. 1/40s.

Note that the posted image is at 100% - and if you click on it, the viewer gives you a pixelated zoomed image. You have to view it as is. (same for all others I posted). And I am posting screen shots.

I ran those images through a deconvolution routine that detects blur: they have significant blur in them.

Okay thank you - these aren't good examples then.

What’s the link to your objective tests? Would like to review. Thanks!

I have owned the Canon R5 and now use the Z9.
In my personal experience the Z9 is better than the R5. The R5 would often fail to lock on when the Z9 would be solid.
The 3D tracking mode of the Z9 is so much better than anything I could get out of the R5 when it comes to just grabbing a point and have it track around the frame.

The primary reason I changed back to the Z9 wasn't for the AF, but the Nikon colours that I sorely missed when using Canon.
I have been a Nikon shooter for a long time and later changed to Fujifilm GFX. When my work started to require better AF I ordered the Z9, but after 15 months on a waiting list I gave up and bought the Canon R5 and a complete set of RF lenses.

I struggled with the Canon colours for a year, really couldn't get used to it. Finally gave up and bought the Z9 that I always intended in the first place.
Very happy with the change.

Having used the Canon R5 for a year I don't miss it at all now that I have the Z9.

Part of it can be found here:
www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4694538?page=4#forum-post-66817732

Hi Mike, your findings are very interesting. I didn't know that D850 is that good - I always assumed that DSLRs are imprecise when it comes to focus accuracy especially at large apertures. But I also thought DSLRs might have an advantage in low light due to dedicated focus sensor and lenses that concentrate light. I say this from my layman's point of view (as I don't have enough knowledge of physics to make a proper judgement here).

I was wondering if you have tried the D6 and have any thoughts re its accuracy vs D850 - as Nikon appears to have increased the cross type sensor resolution in the D6.

Hi!
I have no use for the D5/D6 type of bodies for the work I do, so the answer is no.
The D850/40 art combination is as close to "perfect" as I've ever seen, since shooting with digital bodies in the studio back with the D100, at least with AF-S work. I'm sure a D6 in AF-C tracking would walk all over it, but that's not how I shoot.

I think some more tests are in order, but they take time, and I'm not really sure I want to keep venturing into this topic given all the hatred and emotion being spewed forth, even between posters whom I respect. We'll see how I feel about more testing down the road. Personally I'd love to see a Z8 solve the problem, but don't expect to be able to get my hands on one quick enough given my studio work runs about October through May and I'm not at all sure how much I'll be doing next year as I'm aging and slowly switching photographic interests. So possibly, more to come, possibly not.

I had hoped Nikon would update the D850 with the D6 focus sensor, but maybe they won't anymore.

If the issue is related to mirrorless technology then I think Z9 and Z8 will suffer similar problems - as I doubt the fundamentals are any different.

Hurry up and get it all out of your system. The timer is ticking. The moment management believes Nikon could potentially become a candidate for future ad revenue, Nikon's dirt will immediately be swept under the rug... along with those who are exposing it.

If my eyes rolled any harder, they'd get stuck in the back of my head.

No, people just don't like systems getting bashed when it's user error, like not being able to focus on static subjects, or do objective testing.

Feel free to keep complaining though. I enjoy the salt.

Oh dear.