Nikon Z8,Z9 Firmware Bug: Pinpoint AF Mode Ignored

It’s in Nikon’s documentation that you can only use Pinpoint AF while in the AF-S focus mode. It turns out that even in this AF-S mode that you’re not allowed to select Pinpoint focus when you have assigned the “Cycle AF-area mode” to a button. I’m talking about assigning a button inside the Custom controls (shooting) menu option.

I’m using the Nikon Z9 firmware version 5.0 the Z8 2.01 version. I just noticed this bug, but I assume it’s also a problem with older firmware.

If, instead, you go to the Photo Shooting Menu and select Pinpoint AF inside the AF-area mode there, you’ll be able to enable Pinpoint focus (assuming you are using Single-AF focus mode).

When I tried pressing the Sub-selector center button, it would cycle right past Pinpoint and invoke all of the other requested AF-area modes that are legal while in AF-S focus mode. 3D-tracking, for instance, isn’t allowed while in AF-S focus mode.