Z8 Eyelevel View Finder Magnification for Manual Focus AIS Nikkors

[David H. Hartman]

Is there a function to enlarge the focus area of the eye level finder to 100% for critical focus. Ideally press a button and zoom to 100% then release to return to normal view. A toggle on, toggle off would be OK. This would be for manual focus of AIS Nikkors that have no had a chip added.

My eye sight is declining. I still have 20/20 down from 20/15. Accurate focus of AIS Nikkors on my D850 is now hit and miss.

Thanks

Dave

I've been struggling with the Z8 manuals and they are to me inscrutable as compared to the D850 Menu Guide. Perhaps I haven't found the right manual and pages.

[Snoogly]

Could you expand on this a little? Which eye level finder are you asking about?

[pluton]

Yes, "focus zoom" can be set to what Nikon calls 100% or 200%.  Go into Custom Settings menu, go to f-Controls in the custom settings menu, go to f2 (custom controls-shooting) and behold all the buttons that can be customized, along with a cute graphic of where they are on the body.
Focus Zoom is iconized using a magnifying glass symbol with a + in it.
Added: The Focus Zoom is the same in finder or rear screen viewing.
Added-2: I assign focus zoom (100%) to the function button that sits immediately to the right side of the lens-the one that was the DOF Preview button on the SLRs and DSLRs. I always have a finger near that button when holding the camera by the grip.

[David H. Hartman]

Could you expand on this a little? Which eye level finder are you asking about?

The eye level finder that's similar to a DSLR's optical finder.

[David H. Hartman]

Yes, "focus zoom" can be set to what Nikon calls 100% or 200%.  Go into Custom Settings menu...

Thank you, tomorrow morning I'll have a look. Just now I have a hungry cockatoo to feed and a mean woman to get set for the night.

[David H. Hartman]

I'm not finding the information I need. Maybe I'm using the wrong manual? When I set up my D850 I had the camera in hand so it was easy.

I'll try a different manual.

---

In Z8_CustomControls_List_(En)03.pdf I see [Zoom on/off] can be assigned to the AF-ON button but I don't see anywhere that [Zoom on/off] is defined. It seem one really needs to have the camera in hand to understand/set these options.

[Frank Fremerey]

Is there a function to enlarge the focus area of the eye level finder to 100% for critical focus. Ideally press a button and zoom to 100% then release to return to normal view. A toggle on, toggle off would be OK. This would be for manual focus of AIS Nikkors that have no had a chip added.

I simply set the 100% VF-magnification for my Z-cameras to the video button. I found the option in the menu where you set the function of the buttons

[BL]

I'm not finding the information I need. Maybe I'm using the wrong manual? When I set up my D850 I had the camera in hand so it was easy.

I'll try a different manual.

---

In Z8_CustomControls_List_(En)03.pdf I see [Zoom on/off] can be assigned to the AF-ON button but I don't see anywhere that [Zoom on/off] is defined. It seem one really needs to have the camera in hand to understand/set these options.

Hi Dave,

I use this zoom option on the Zf all the time, indeed mainly to support manual focussing. Works for both EVF and Screen.  Under Custom Controls  f2 you can assign Zoom on/off to any button including the AF-ON. I typically assign it to the Fn button on the front of the camera. Once you assign zoom to a button you can also select the zoom level (50% 100% 200% or 400%)

Depending on the type of shooting it might be also handy to activate Custom Controls d18 Half-press to cancel zoom (MF). This half-press of the shutter button then allows you to quickly check final framing before releasing the shutter. I’ve got this option d18 selected in My Menu for fast toggling.


Hope this helps!
Jan

[David H. Hartman]

I simply set the 100% VF-magnification for my Z-cameras to the video button. I found the option in the menu where you set the function of the buttons

Thank you! that's great information. 

[David H. Hartman]

Are there multiple banks that can be saved to a memory module in BIN file? It appears that there are but I find this manual so confusing. It's probably that when I went through the D850 manual I had the camera in hand.

[pluton]

Because the "banks" have an arbitrary list of what can and cannot be saved, I've never bothered with them.  To me, they are a prescription for confusion.

[Frank Fremerey]

Are there multiple banks that can be saved to a memory module in BIN file? It appears that there are but I find this manual so confusing. It's probably that when I went through the D850 manual I had the camera in hand.

as far as I am concerned I try to memorize the important settings.


with the newer cams though the setting got very very complex