Z8 AF Modes

Jerry Ashcraft said:

After installing the 2.01 firmware update on my Z8 I can no longer get the dynamic area modes to show up on the viewfinder for selecting. I did not revert back to the default settings of my camera after the firmware update. Is this the issue? Do I have to go back to the default settings and then set up all the customization again?

Click to expand...

No, you shouldn’t.

What exposure mode are you using?

You didn’t switch a lens to MF, did you?

Jerry Ashcraft said:

After installing the 2.01 firmware update on my Z8 I can no longer get the dynamic area modes to show up on the viewfinder for selecting. I did not revert back to the default settings of my camera after the firmware update. Is this the issue? Do I have to go back to the default settings and then set up all the customization again?

Click to expand...

Are you saying that it is just a display issue, or is it non- availability of focus modes when attempting to cycle through the modes?

All the AF modes are available in the menus. Using AF-C, I have checked Single Point, Dynamic Area AF(S), Wide Area AF(C1) and 3D. When I go to take a photo the AF Mode shows in the viewfinder top towards the right. When I scroll through my options the Dynamic Area mode is missing. This is the same for a few other modes. I am just asking if someone has had this problem after updating to 2.01 firmware. Will a reset to default settings and then making changes to my specifications correct this issue? I apologize, I do not know how to answer any other question.

Jerry Ashcraft said:

After installing the 2.01 firmware update on my Z8 I can no longer get the dynamic area modes to show up on the viewfinder for selecting. I did not revert back to the default settings of my camera after the firmware update. Is this the issue? Do I have to go back to the default settings and then set up all the customization again?

Click to expand...

There is a setting to restrict AF modes displayed. You may have used this setting.

When you write "scroll" do you mean using the "cycle AF modes" button? Because the available AF modes you directly configure in the menu of the button (i.e. it is an entirely separate set of AF modes).
Another small thing: make sure you really are in AF-C mode as any dynamic mode vanishes in AF-S..

A Owens said:

Jerry Ashcraft said:

After installing the 2.01 firmware update on my Z8 I can no longer get the dynamic area modes to show up on the viewfinder for selecting. I did not revert back to the default settings of my camera after the firmware update. Is this the issue? Do I have to go back to the default settings and then set up all the customization again?

Click to expand...

There is a setting to restrict AF modes displayed. You may have used this setting.

Click to expand...

I never worry about saving my settings before a firmware update. It shouldn't change anything.

From the useful online manual:

a8: Limit AF-Area Mode Selection

"Choose the AF-area modes that can be selected by pressing the focus-mode button and rotating the sub-command dial."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Odd selection behaviour on my Z6 iii:

I have all modes checkmarked in a8 except the three Dynamic ones.

I use the i-menu to change AF-area modes. But it has two different results:

With the i-menu selection for AF-area just highlighted, the i-menu stays on the bottom half of the screen, and the AF modes scroll across the top. This limits to just the checkmarked choices.

Or:

Click the i-menu AF-area selection: now the i-menu goes away, and the AF-area and Subject detect rows have titles.

This now shows every AF-area mode, including the Dynamic ones that weren't checkmarked. First, it scrolls my selected ones, then loops around and shows all modes on the second pass.

Ha, I kept seeing Dynamic what seemed to be at random. Sometimes included, sometimes not. So now I've figured it out. Why is there two different methods in here!

A Owens said:

Jerry Ashcraft said:

After installing the 2.01 firmware update on my Z8 I can no longer get the dynamic area modes to show up on the viewfinder for selecting. I did not revert back to the default settings of my camera after the firmware update. Is this the issue? Do I have to go back to the default settings and then set up all the customization again?

Click to expand...

There is a setting to restrict AF modes displayed. You may have used this setting.

Click to expand...

This!

My reason for asking for clarification.

I had the same issue and it turns out that I didn't have my "Limit AF-area mode selection" settings correct. It was driving me crazy. Hopefully you get it sorted out.

Jerry Ashcraft said:

After installing the 2.01 firmware update on my Z8 I can no longer get the dynamic area modes to show up on the viewfinder for selecting. I did not revert back to the default settings of my camera after the firmware update. Is this the issue? Do I have to go back to the default settings and then set up all the customization again?

Click to expand...

Not enough information. For instance, "to show up..." There are multiple ways of setting the AF-area mode. Are you saying all ways, or just one way? And if so, which way was that?

But the highly likely scenario is that you've limited the selection using one of the ways that can do that.