tomcat

Sorry dude, but the Z6 does indeed use Phase detection autofocus when you use the viewfinder. The contrast detection method you are referring to is when you use the rear live-view screen. Who in the world can ever expect to follow sports action by pointing a screen at the action? Hand-to-eye coordination makes it a total failure for me to use the live view screen and it's a joke for me to even try that method. I could be wrong, but I am guessing that could be one reason why you were having problems with AF target acquisition. I just came home from shooting approx 1400 images of girl's and boy's BB games and there were no focus acquisition problems at all that were the direct fault of the Z6. Focus was almost instantaneous on every shot. The only shots that were out of focus are those where I could not move the camera fast enough and keep up with the player's paths. I also use the AF-on button on the back of the camera for a BBF effect. As soon as the image I want to shoot begins to compose itself, I immediately press the AF-on button and hold it down all the way through the series of images for that shot.

CO

That's right. It does have phase detection autofocus but it's on the sensor. A DSLR has separate phase detect sensors. I did a lot of side by side testing with my D500 and there was no doubt the D500's autofocus had better performance. Another issue was EVF lag. I noticed, that when panning the Z6 viewfinder image was jittery. It seems like the refresh rate is not fast enough. Objects in the distance looked too grainy also. I'd like to look at Nikon second generation Z cameras. I think the Sony A9 is the only mirrorless camera right now that can match the AF performance of DSLR cameras.

tomcat

The only thing that turns me off with Sony is that archaic menu system of too many options laid out in the wrong locations. It is not logical to me at all. I have a Sony RX100-II. It takes pretty good pictures in daylight, but crap at dusk. But I cannot tolerate the menu system. On vacation, I lost a lot of shots just trying to get the AF back to where it was supposed to be. Sometimes my fingers would hit buttons that caused unplanned options to be active and I just quit using it after the first day. From what I gather on this website, the menu layout has gotten no better.