This video shows that Nikon D850 autofocus tracking is as bad as everybody feared
Sep 20, 2017
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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For shooting stills, Nikon’s autofocus system is pretty solid. I’ve thought so for a long time. Even my ageing Nikon N90s could keep up just fine with most everything I’ve thrown at it. Several cameras later, I picked up a D300s. The 51 point predictive 3D autofocus tracking just blew me away. Every Nikon I’ve owned since then has also impressed me.
Why, then, do Nikon fail so damn hard when it comes to video? People had high hopes for the Nikon D850, given the specs. Nikon fanatics were praying it would crush the recently released Sony A9, and in other areas it may. But when it comes to video autofocus tracking, hopes is all they were. And this video from photographer Clifford James just dashed them.
It almost feels like Nikon have taken a step backwards. My Nikon D5300 can facial track better than this. Sure, it’s only 1080p, but it’s supposedly a much less advanced autofocus system. So, why can’t the D850 keep up?
I’ll give Nikon some credit, at least, when it comes to the old D90. Back then there was some serious innovation. It was, after all, the first DSLRs to even shoot video, followed a short time later by the Canon 5D Mark II. The D90 was only 720p, automatic exposure, and it would only focus when you half-press the shutter, but it could shoot video. Other than stepping up to 1080p, then 4K, and giving us manual exposure control, not much seems to have changed for the better when it comes to Nikon video.
That being said, I learned video with big Sony DSR-500 broadcast cameras. The lenses I used then were all manual focus. For the types of video I typically shoot, manual focus often does the job fine. But there are times when I really wish I had a camera for video with a decent autofocus system. And that’s never been Nikon.
Canon’s dual pixel autofocus technology has become a hot favourite for DSLR video shooters. And Sony’s A9 is just ridiculous. I suppose, at least when the D850 footage is in focus (and correctly exposed), it doesn’t look too bad.
I guess us Nikon shooters will just have to keep manually focusing video for a while longer.
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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38 responses to “This video shows that Nikon D850 autofocus tracking is as bad as everybody feared”
Is D850 a VIDEO camera?
no but photographers need video sometimes
And sometimes you can survive these problems. Or buy Sony. Or buy Canon. Lot of solutions…
Nikon is trying to jump on the DSLR video bandwagon, which was dominated by Canon and the 5DMk II/III and since bested by Sony and Panasonic hybrids.
A lot of photographers do video, youtubers need that too and people generallly want swiss knife cameras, especially when theese are expensive.
Buy a TOP Nikon DSLR for video. :) Pretty amazing.
Whatsapp about stilletjes photography? I wonder how it compaies to other high end DSLR camera’s in terms of autofocus performance…
Adel M. Takash
Good that this guy is a DSLR and not a videocamera. If you want to make video go and get a fucking videocamera.
Even Hollywood movies need a focus puller, not tracking.
But no Nikon D850.
What full frame video camera do you suggest?
Yeah I’m sure when everyone found out the D850 was coming out they all shook in fear over AF tracking ? who writes this crap anyway? And I don’t even use Nikon! People are still going to buy it, you think AF tracking is going to stop them?
Why do people care about video autofocus so much? For photos it’s critical but for video I’ve never used it and none of my videography friends do either.
Auto focus is very useful for gimbal use. But outside of that, I can take it or leave it until DPAF is mainstream.
gimbal use is the only thing thats making me cry, I’ve never even “wanted” to do autofocus with my d750 or now my d850…until I wanted to mount it in my ronin-M. :'(
Good, so now they don’t have to sell their expensive focus pulling rigs and lose money.
“Why, then, do Nikon fail so damn hard when it comes to video?” Truth is they don’t… if you’re relying on auto focus when capturing motion then perhaps you’re a vlogger, everyone else that’s doing serious work uses manual focus or expensive purpose built solutions.
They do a pretty good job with the Nikon1. I just wish they would transfer that technology to the larger sensor cameras.
Short answer:
You cannot do phase detect auto focus (the kind that blows you away) when the mirror is up. You cannot shoot video when the mirror is down.
Seriously, they could do away with anything video on their high end dslr’s… Would bring our costs down a bit. I haven’t used video on my dslrs more than once a year in the last 5-10 years… Hardly worth all the development they are putting into the video features.
If you look at the Professional Wedding photography space, using video and still photography is the norm now. Let’s also not forget the overuse of drones at weddings too.
Perhaps in your market but not in mine and those who do, use dedicated video equipment.
My DSLR still comes can’t autofocus when shooting video! Oh woe is me.
It’s a good thing professionals know how to manual focus for video :p
How do you manual focus on a gimbal? Asking for a friend… ;)
Gimbal with a focus ring attachment to control from the hilt. Wish I could buy one lol
lol
If I wanted to shoot video…… hey guess what I’d buy. Not a DSLr that’s for sure!
videographers use video cameras….
as I photographer I only use the video mode to record my voice or quick audio from an an event for “names” and/or Titles….
Dslr is for stills, get the video camera to do video work. Why doesn’t he test image quality on video camera?
Because when you travel a single camera rocks. I currently use a D750 and a XC15 – I would love to take just one body.
It would have been better to test under different conditions to see more variability in performance. Nonetheless, this shouldn’t be a dealbreaker for anyone considering the camera as it’s not a prized feature.
Click bait crap. Title makes it sound like all autofocus is junk including still images.
You can do better than that @JohnAldred
Why would you buy Nikon, if you want to shoot video. Is AF that important for video??
The autofocus is rubbish….
But only in video?
Well buy a video camera then!
I’m not gonna buy a sports car and complain that while it Is great on the road, it can only off-road on flat grass rather than go exploring in Moab.
its video features were a big part of its marketing you moron
The main marketing I saw was about its stills performance.
Also, try not being a prick.
NIKON : If you need Video camera : Buy video camera : forget us
CANON/SONY : We are GOOD for both don’t worry
NIKON keeps its costumer stupid. They even provide the stupid answer
If 2018 but nikon cannot compete with Dual pixel AF or Sony AF, Good by nikon