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Nikon Z7: Am I too impatient ?
Jun 22, 2022 16:02:39   #
soloboogie Loc: Bunker Hill, Indiana
 
I had a Z6 and now have a Z7 and had the same problem with both. The autofocus is sometimes blind. It can't see a bird feeder from 20ft in moderate shade. My D7200 and D800 never had this issue. Also, every time I take a photo my thumb seems to move the focus point. Is there any way to make the focus point stationery ?

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Jun 22, 2022 17:02:52   #
r1ch Loc: Colorado
 
Are you using animal or human eye tracking? If you are from what I have seen (read) all mirrorless have this problem (but don't quote me on that because others have mentioned this problem). If you can't see the subject from the background, then AI cannot either and DSLRs do not have this problem. For Canon, you create two back button focus. One for Eye AI and the other for spot focus. Spot focus does not suffer from this "blindness" problem, I have never had this problem (although the guy in the video had the problem but his focus point was different than mine) So you spot focus then shift to AI. It seems to only happen if you are close to the subject and distance to background is far.

If this is not what you are experiencing I have no answer for you. Here is an example in the Canon series.
https://youtu.be/L06kMSYnFO4

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Jun 22, 2022 19:33:04   #
Grahame Loc: Fiji
 
soloboogie wrote:
I had a Z6 and now have a Z7 and had the same problem with both. The autofocus is sometimes blind. It can't see a bird feeder from 20ft in moderate shade.


I have a Z6 and find its AF extremely good in low light. If the subject and background do not have enough contrast 'difference' it will struggle of course, as any camera will do. For info I also have a D800 and find the Z6 focus locking on a target superior.

Are you using the AF assist light which is only available in AF-S mode?
What focus mode are you using, 'Single point' or 'Auto'?

soloboogie wrote:
Also, every time I take a photo my thumb seems to move the focus point. Is there any way to make the focus point stationery ?


Sadly this is a problem with smaller camera bodies cramming all the controls in a reduced area. I don't believe there is a way to lock the point.

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Jun 23, 2022 08:12:20   #
BurghByrd Loc: Pittsburgh
 
The new mirrorless cameras have much better focusing systems but that comes at a price, they are also crammed with many more focusing options and confusing menus. For this I'd suggest you try selecting the pinpoint focus option. I suspect your focusing algorithem is having a hard time recogizing the feeder as your subject since at 20' it may be relatively small in your field of view.

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Jun 23, 2022 09:17:06   #
ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA
 
soloboogie wrote:
I had a Z6 and now have a Z7 and had the same problem with both. The autofocus is sometimes blind. It can't see a bird feeder from 20ft in moderate shade. My D7200 and D800 never had this issue. Also, every time I take a photo my thumb seems to move the focus point. Is there any way to make the focus point stationery ?


Autofocus works fast and well depending on contrast. If your feeder is in bright sun and little contrast then the focus will be more difficult. Try several focus modes such as single point or small area - then try focusing on the edge of the feeder which should be where there is more contrast.
Yes, you can lock the focus point - check your manual to find where it is in the menus and then you can set up a button to lock and unlock it at will.

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Jun 23, 2022 17:12:14   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
soloboogie wrote:
I had a Z6 and now have a Z7 and had the same problem with both. The autofocus is sometimes blind. It can't see a bird feeder from 20ft in moderate shade. My D7200 and D800 never had this issue. Also, every time I take a photo my thumb seems to move the focus point. Is there any way to make the focus point stationery ?


Your D7200 and D800 did not have a electronic viewfinder. You are seeing now what the Z sees. I went to manual on my mirrorless and open up when looking into the shadows.

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