Capture eye-catching moments with the Eye Detection AF

With firmware version 2.00 and above, enjoy enhanced autofocus (AF) performance on the Z 6 and Z 7. These include a lower low light focusing limit, support for AE tracking during expanded high-speed continuous shooting, and Eye-Detection AF, which automatically detects and tracks the eyes of human subjects. In particular, Eye-Detection AF promises to make it easier than ever to ensure that your main subject is tack sharp, which is crucial for portrait photography. In this article, we test it out on the Z 7. (Report by Yuriko Omura)

You can choose which eye to set focus on using the multi selector or sub-selector.

While Face-Detection has always been available on the Z 6 and Z 7 as part of the Auto-area AF, with the new firmware update, it is now possible to select Eye-Detection AF, which detects and eases focusing on human eyes. When both the left and right eyes are detected, you can also use the multi selector to choose which one you want to set focus on.

When Auto-area AF is enabled, Face-Detection is active when a human subject appears small in the image. When the subject is sufficiently close, the camera automatically switches to Eye-Detection AF.

Eye-Detection AF can be used for still photo shooting in either the AF-S or AF-C mode. This ensures highly precise focusing regardless of whether the subject is stationary or moving, whenever s/he is facing the front and most of the time when s/he is facing sideways. This function works whether you are using the NIKKOR Z mount lens or the NIKKOR F mount lens with the Mount Adapter FTZ.

When using the continuous high-speed shooting mode to photograph my model as she sat on a swing, AF tracking was seamless, switching between Face-Detection AF when the model was further away from the camera and Eye-Detection AF whenever she moved closer.

One of the most challenging situations in portrait photography is when we need to establish focus on the eyes of a moving model while using the maximum aperture. When I tried continuous high-speed shooting with the maximum aperture on the NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S, I found that Eye-Detection AF was able to achieve focus most of the time. This suggests that it is a reliable feature, even in challenging situations such as when shooting with an extremely shallow depth-of-field.

I took continuous shots of the model while she was moving away from the camera from the right toward the left end of the frame. The camera was able to maintain focus on the eye most of the time.

In such a scene, it is quite normal for the AF to lock its focus on the glass of soda instead because of its larger surface area and proximity to the camera. I was pleasantly surprised that the Eye-Detection AF detected the model’s eye without any problem. This will come in handy for scenes where you want to make use of foreground bokeh.

A1: Regardless of whether there is one person or a few people in the frame, Eye-Detection AF will function in the same way. You will see an arrow appearing at the side of the focus area, and you can use the multi selector or sub-selector to choose which eye you want to set focus on.

A2: Eye-Detection AF is currently exclusive to the still shooting mode. Its function might not be optimal in certain situations such as when the face is overly bright or dark, when the subject is wearing glasses or shades, or when the eyes are obscured by the hair.