Z8: AF-area woes in video

[PLShutterbug]

I’m becoming more interested in video with my Z8, and am having trouble understanding how AF-area mode and the focus box works in video modes. I haven’t found any help yet in the reference guide. Running the latest firmware, and only using Z lenses. 4K/30, H.265 10-bit recording.

I don’t see a focus box in the EVF or monitor.

I cannot change the AF-area mode, whether AF-S, AF-C, or AF-F is chosen for the AF mode. In the “i” menu the AF-area modes are greyed out, and that menu choice is greyed out in the Video Recording menu.

What else do y’all need from me to help figure out what is going on?

Thanks.

 

[Horshack]

Maybe this?

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/67776940

 

[PLShutterbug]

Maybe this?

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/67776940

That was it! Thanks.

I did search; obviously not enough.

I also see that on page 209 of the v1.01 reference manual it says that high-res zoom disables the focus point and sets the AF-area mode to Wide Area AF (L).

Now for the obligatory self-righteous “it’s still not my fault!” whine: Nikon should put their caution in two places: first where they did, in the control description that affects other controls; and second, in the control description affected by that control. Placing the caution only with the control that affects forces me to look at every other control description in the manual to try and discover which other controls affects it. Placing it in the affected control’s description shows me immediately how it might be affected. Anyway.

 

[KnightPhoto2]

Agree with your manual placement observation!

Question for you, since Hi-Res Zoom locks you into Wide Area AF (L) why can't you see that box?

 

[PLShutterbug]

Agree with your manual placement observation!

Question for you, since Hi-Res Zoom locks you into Wide Area AF (L) why can't you see that box?

I have no idea. I didn’t know about the limitation until Horshack pointed it out.

 

[Horshack]

Agree with your manual placement observation!

Question for you, since Hi-Res Zoom locks you into Wide Area AF (L) why can't you see that box?

I'm guessing it's because the sensor/image AF area usually implied by the focus box would be inaccurate when you account for the fact the image is zoomed. For example, if you're hi-res zoomed in 2x, the actual focus area would be larger than the total area displayed in the LV feed.

Btw the manual also states the box isn't displayed (source):

AF-area mode is fixed at [Wide-area AF (L)]. The focus point is not displayed.

 

[ghostfox_1]

Agree with your manual placement observation!

Question for you, since Hi-Res Zoom locks you into Wide Area AF (L) why can't you see that box?

I'm guessing it's because the sensor/image AF area usually implied by the focus box would be inaccurate when you account for the fact the image is zoomed. For example, if you're hi-res zoomed in 2x, the actual focus area would be larger than the total area displayed in the LV feed.

Btw the manual also states the box isn't displayed (source):

AF-area mode is fixed at [Wide-area AF (L)]. The focus point is not displayed.

Yep. When it's transitioning it relies on something smaller than the full frame so you can't accidentally pick a point outside of the dx frame and then try to zoom in cutting the point out and causing headaches