Nikon Autofocus Woes

Maybe football isn’t as fast-paced as we think. Or maybe it’s something else entirely. I’ve got it—it’s the background crowd. Or maybe just bad camera equipment? Honestly, I can’t pinpoint the exact issue, but here’s what I know: during football season, I shot 29 games, averaging 1,200 to 1,500 photos per game, and I’d say I missed focus... never? I don’t recall sitting at 4 a.m., frustrated over focus issues.

Yet here I am, mid-photo-editing session, completely stopped because this just sucks. And what better way to vent my anger than by typing out this note?

Now, I’ve never shot with Sony or Canon, but I’ve heard all the glowing stories about their "flawless" autofocus. I’ve lived with the Nikon Z6 and its quirks. Now I’m using the Nikon Z6II and even contemplating upgrading to the Nikon Z6III. Should I? Many great photographers who once swore by Nikon have jumped ship to Sony or Canon. Should I stick it out?

Up until now, I’ve loved the Nikon Z6II. It’s handled everything, including low-light football action shots with my trusty 200-500mm lens. So maybe it’s the lens? Or should I just blame the brand-loyal photographer in me who’s too cheap to reinvest nearly $20,000 into switching systems? This was only my third basketball game of the season, and already I’m venting about autofocus issues. I was using the 35-150mm Tamron lens. Maybe the problem lies there.

I plan to photograph roughly 60 games this season. Will my gear survive the season, or will I end up trashing it out of frustration? But let’s not forget—I’ve seen the rodeo and football photos I’ve taken. I’ve always felt like I outshot the Sony and Canon guys. So, maybe the issue isn’t me. Maybe it’s Eagle Nest Gym in Farmington.

(Quick aside: This is MV's Megan Sandoval, who scored just four points in the first quarter. She only had three attempts. I went 0-2 on my side—not me, actually. The Nikon Z6II went 0-2.)

So, what are my alternatives? If I were to jump ship, I’d lean toward the Sony A9II with another 35-150mm Tamron lens. That lens was originally made for Sony before it came to Nikon mirrorless earlier this year. I’ve never seriously considered Canon—what’s the deal with their selection of cameras anyway? R1, R3, R5, R6, R7, R8, R10, R5II, R6II—it’s chaos! Sure, the Canon R6II boasts an ISO of 102,400 compared to the Nikon Z6II’s 51,200. Even the A9II is capped at 51,200.

So, what keeps me in the Nikon world? It’s not brand loyalty; it’s financing. When you buy a camera, the big three—Sony, Canon, and Nikon—are always there. Scroll through Facebook Marketplace, and you’ll see Canon Rebels and Nikon D3X00 cameras for sale. Sure, Nikon dominated the DSLR era, but we’re in a different age of photography now.

Maybe my frustration stems from also shooting with the Nikon Z50. I’m not sure what to make of this, but I’ll file it under “Nikon Woes” and move on to the next shoot.

See you all at the Gallup and Rehoboth tournament.

________________________________________

Editor’s Note: This post was originally written with the word “f**ing” before “Nikon,” but the editor removed it. Consider it implied.*