On 25 Feb 2024 I wrote on Why the Nikon Z8 is a Better Bird Camera than Z9 (for now) At that stage the Z8 was better than the Z9 as a firmware update had enable a function button to be set to cycle AF area modes and this was a huge step forward for me. Before long the Z9 acquired this feature with a firmware update too and put the 2 cameras on a level footing again.
The recent release of the Nikon Z8 firmware version 3.0 has again given it a capability that the Z9 lacks, in-camera focus range limit. This allows you to set the nearest and furthest you want to camera to search for focus and can make locking onto flying birds quicker and easier. Previously focus limits have been a feature of some lenses, usually limiting nearer focus. With F mount lenses I found this was useful to speed focus acquisition on flying birds as the lens didn’t need to rack through the full range in search of focus. I have found this less of an issue on my Z lenses which have largely remained set at the full range.
The focus limiter is accessed through custom setting a16 where it can be switched on and off and the limit ranges set.
Limit ranges are easily set by focussing on an object using the shutter release for the farthest limit and the Af-On button for the near limit. They can be fine tuned with the front and rear command dials respectively.
To be really useful this feature needs to be easily assessable to toggle on and off and redefine distance limits. I have programmed my Exposure Compensation button to turn it on and off. I don’t use exposure compensation as I shoot almost entirely in manual mode with manual ISO selection so this button is free.
To access the focus limiter window to redefine limits I have placed this as the top item in “My Menu” and programmed Function 3 button to access this. UPDATE – I after writing this post Tom and Sharang Satish shared that pressing and holding the assigned button (Exp comp) brings up the option to set the focus range limits so all can be managed for the one button.
This would have been a useful feature recently when photographing flying swallows as at times the focus was jumping to a high contrast background. Realistically the subject recognition capability that identifies birds remains the best tool for bird photographers but this adds a refinement that will make some circumstances easier to manage by eliminating nearer and further subjects from the equation once properly set for the circumstance
I hope that this will be incorporated into a firmware update for the Nikon Z9 as there is no hardware reason it cannot be done and the current flagship body should have this capability for those that have invested in it for wildlife work. Nikon has arguably the best track record of supporting cameras by updating their firmware but there has recently been some separation between the Z8 and Z9 with the Z9 not receiving the pixel shift option that the Z8 gained. I suspect we are in the phase of preparation for the launch of a Z9ii so that the Z9 will be deprioritised to motivate an upgrade to the new camera when launched.
Gull photo with Nikon Z8 and Nikkor Z 28-400mm 4-8 VR
Chris Kurton
6 Jul 2025Unfortunately this only works for Z series lenses.
tony
6 Jul 2025Correct.
Tom
8 Jul 2025If you now push and hold the EC button, you can change the settings in the focus limiter screen.
Now you don’t have to go to My menu. Works great with me ! Tom
tony
13 Jul 2025Thanks Tom. I’d missed this.
Sharang Satish
10 Jul 2025You do not have to assign a different button (Fn3) to redefine the focus limiter settings. All you need to do is press and hold the currently assigned button (Exp comp in your case) for a few seconds and it takes you to the focus limiter settings!
tony
10 Jul 2025Thanks for that.