Whilst I admit that only 2 weeks with the combo, are not enough to make a safe conclusion, I am personally not convinced that the lens works as it should with the Z9 and that there might be some compatibility issues!!! Whist I am happy with perching birds, on BIF I think that the lens is not performing as it should. I do find that a) it acquires focus significantly slower than it should (it hunts too much until it locks), b) it fails to lock focus in situations that it just shouldn't (easy, steady flying birds) and c) even after it locks it loses focus when the bird flies in front of busy BGs. I am running the newest firmwares on both the Z9 and the lens and yes I have tried all recommended techniques (Dynamic to acquire, then change to wide are L against open BGs / Dynamic to acquire and then auto on clear skies and all other possible combinations). I am also very used to its weight, so it's not a weight issue for me.
The Z9 AF system is a very different experience from a DSLR like the D500!
It certainly is and in support of the Z9, especially for longer distance shots, the Z9 produces a clearer result (with the Sigma 500 F4) and a higher keeper rate in a burst (IF and when the AF works). Especially for the Sigma 500 F4, this is of paramount importance! My copy did experience focus shifting back in the DSLR days (both within a burst and when closing down the aperture). I also get much clearer shots now, at longer distances.
I am not really encountering the issues you describe though I do have specific issues with the way that the Z9 behaves ... but that is the Z9, nothing to do with any specific lens.
I really hope it is the case, as I get better initial focus acquisition with the Contemporary. This could be due to the lens' weight though, exaggerating the Z9's known handicaps. I need more time with it to come to a verdict.
In any case I have so far always found work-arounds for any specific odd issue. One such I came across the other day was when trying to photograph a Peacock butterfly I initially couldn't get the camera to stop obsessing with focussing on the fake eye-spot on the wings (I was using the 70-300 AF-P lens at the time). The solution was to switch off subject recognition - the easiest way being to instantly switch to Dynamic mode which doesn't care about eyes.
Yeap, Dynamic is my goto when everything else fails.
I only use either Auto Area or Wide Area Large or, since firmware 2, customised Wide Area (configured largest) for intial acquisition for BIF (or most animal subjects actually) and then switch to 3D tracking mode as soon as possible (I have the F1 FN button set to activate 3 tracking mode). 3D tracking mode is usually the most relentlessly "sticky" on a bird's eye but Wide Area modes also work well.
It really has to do with the BG. Auto works ok on clear skies, but when I used it against any sort of BG, it just goes all over the place. AW has a temper - it sometimes works flawlessly and then it just doesn't. When it does though, it's a joy to use.
All the Z9 "Dynamic" modes (and single point) are like legacy AF modes that don't make any use of subject recognition and therefore such modes do not use eye tracking. I have never seen any "recommendation" to use any of the Dynamic modes for initial acquisition. Certainly not for BIF. It's the opposite of all the advice I have come across and general concensus on the Z forum seems to agree. Apart from the lack of subject recognition I also have noticed that Dynamic large is significantly slower than other modes - so I never use that mode.
Maybe the latest firmware changed things, but on the contrary, this is widely advised these days. Exactly as Dynamic only uses contrast and not AI or colors, it is better in acquiring initial focus. By better I don't mean faster, but that it will eventually lock (vs the zone modes, that can simply fail in some scenarios). The issue here is that there are MANY cases where all zones (be it AW, 3D or Auto) will just won't work. I have all AF modes customized in various buttons and I can confirm that there are just cases, where NONE of the AI related AF modes will acquire initial focus on BIF (against busy BGs, against open BGs, against droplets etc).
Have you watched this??
What I don't understand is why if they can make Dynamic as an option, can't they make a Group legacy AF mode as well. Didn't these two use the same contrast type of AF acquisition method?? I never liked Dynamic back in the DSLR days, I only used Group for BIF. Apparently in the video it is mentioned that if you use WA S, with subject recognition off, it behaves like Group. I have tried this (not extensively), but I did not found it to be the case.
I don't think any of the issues that you described has anything to do with the lens, these are all issues that have been aired by other Z9 users with a variety of different lenses, especially the 500 PF.
I have found that perseverance with learning the intricacies of the AF system solves all these sorts of issues.
I admit that having used the combo extensively, the more persistent you are during tracking (ie keeping the bird consistently in the centre of say WA S), you do give the camera time to introduce animal recognition, which once initiated is very sticky. I also found AW S working much better than L with smaller BIF (against busier BGs). Unfortunately coming from the D500, the weight difference of the Z9 + adapter is significant and fatigue kicks in faster than it should in the past while HH the combo.
There is a customisation option that I have found to be very important:
- a7 "Focus Point persistence": Auto
This is essential to allow seamless hand-over of tracking when switching between AF modes.
I think a7 is on Auto by default. At least mine was when I checked this
I also normally have ...
- a3 "Focus Tracking with Lock On":
Blocked Shot AF Response : 4
Subject Motion: erratic
Same here
I haven't found that the "subject motion" setting has made much difference so far but others seem to think it can be important - perhaps I haven't been trying an "erratic" enough subject yet!
Oh I did. For swallows, terns diving etc and it does make a difference.
I am hoping to get the opportunity to try the system on some Swallows - there just aren't many around yet and none within range for me yet (this year Spring seems to have arrived quite late for some species in northern UK). I expect it to be very good.
I did and it again all depends on the BG. AFC + AW S works better than W and of course the photographer's ability to HH the beast and keep those little devils constantly in the box. I haven't used AW C1 and C2 yet, but I would presume that S will work better.
Thanks for your input and for suggesting more persistence. It is indeed a learning curve and I am pretty sure that I will improve more, the more time I spent with the combo. I am still not 100% convinced that there aren't some compatibility issues and that Sigma could help with an update, but I will have more to say once I complete my initial learning cycle. AF initial acquisition seems is what concerns me the most and if the Sigma 500 F4 struggles more with the known Z9 hiccups vs other F mount glass (such as the PF, the contemporary, OEM F4 etc).
