Nikon Z* mirrorless

Cheers Pete. My aim was to get some in flight shots and some video. I think I achieved both but have to look through all the images over the weekend.
 
Superb kingfisher shot
 
Anyone using the 40mm F2 for low light event photography ? Just picked one up as was missing too many shots with the Meike 35mm f2 in low light. Hoping the native lens AF will improve things. Initial testing seems good although a tad soft at f2.2 so may shoot at f2.2. It's a very dark venue so really pushes the camera's AF system (ZF and Z5ii)
 
mikeyw said:
Anyone using the 40mm F2 for low light event photography ? Just picked one up as was missing too many shots with the Meike 35mm f2 in low light. Hoping the native lens AF will improve things. Initial testing seems good although a tad soft at f2.2 so may shoot at f2.2. It's a very dark venue so really pushes the camera's AF system (ZF and Z5ii)
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It's just about ok wide open for photo but awful for video in low light, my 24-120 however was significantly better at f/4. You don't necessarily need f/2 with modern Nikon bodies as high ISO files are very clean and don't always even need denoise. I'd recommend f/2.8 or f/4 if you use the 40mm in this scenario.
 
imattersuk said:
It's just about ok wide open for photo but awful for video in low light, my 24-120 however was significantly better at f/4. You don't necessarily need f/2 with modern Nikon bodies as high ISO files are very clean and don't always even need denoise. I'd recommend f/2.8 or f/4 if you use the 40mm in this scenario.
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Probably the hardest conditions to shoot in, dance floor with very low light and everyone going nuts. At f4 just cant get the shutter speed even at iso 8000
 
Cracking shot Jonathon
 
Hi folks,
As a dyed-in-the-wool DSLR user for almost 20 years I've not taken much interest in this thread so far (except for occasionally admiring the photos) but as I've just sold my D780 and ordered a Z5ii I thought it was time :giggle:

I will be using my f-mount lenses with the FTZii adaptor for a while but clearly transitioning to Z glass will happen over time. My first requirement will be a replacement for the Sigma 100-400 C that I use for both wildlife and motorsports so I was wondering what recommendations I can get from the collective wisdom here? My budget will be around the £1000 mark.

Thanks in advance (y)
 
My friend has the Z5II and it's a great camera, especially for it's price.
The Nikon 100-400mm Z is a direct replacement and a great lens, unfortunately it would be a bit above your budget.
You could maybe get the Nikon 180-600mm for close to your budget, whiles it's another great value bit of kit from Nikon, it is big and heavy.
I'd continue using the Sigma and save a little bit more for the Nikon 100-400mm Z.
Paired with the 24-120mm, the 100-400mm makes a great two lens setup.
 
Bristolian said:
Hi folks,
As a dyed-in-the-wool DSLR user for almost 20 years I've not taken much interest in this thread so far (except for occasionally admiring the photos) but as I've just sold my D780 and ordered a Z5ii I thought it was time :giggle:

I will be using my f-mount lenses with the FTZii adaptor for a while but clearly transitioning to Z glass will happen over time. My first requirement will be a replacement for the Sigma 100-400 C that I use for both wildlife and motorsports so I was wondering what recommendations I can get from the collective wisdom here? My budget will be around the £1000 mark.

Thanks in advance (y)
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Some of my favourite shots recently have been with the tamron 50-400. Excellent lens.
 
Bristolian said:
Hi folks,
As a dyed-in-the-wool DSLR user for almost 20 years I've not taken much interest in this thread so far (except for occasionally admiring the photos) but as I've just sold my D780 and ordered a Z5ii I thought it was time :giggle:

I will be using my f-mount lenses with the FTZii adaptor for a while but clearly transitioning to Z glass will happen over time. My first requirement will be a replacement for the Sigma 100-400 C that I use for both wildlife and motorsports so I was wondering what recommendations I can get from the collective wisdom here? My budget will be around the £1000 mark.

Thanks in advance (y)
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Couple of options there Steve a 180-600 z from Cotswolds is only slightly above your budget , but I also use a Nikon f mount 80-400 G that works extremely well with the FTZII adaptor even wide open can be found circa £500 used .
 
Today is new camera day :banana: My Z5ii and FTZii got delivered today, just one day late for my birthday but who cares? It's here!!
IMG_2865.JPEG

ETA: So far my Nikon 28-300 and Sigma 100-400 C have provided some excellent test shots so I may keep them for a while. I need to check out the Sigma plus 1.4TC tomorrow.
 
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Whilst in my Nikon Z kit, my Z8 is used most often followed by the Z9, there’s just something about the Z7 II, its small size, handling and files that it produces, that just stops me selling it every time - sure it’s old tech now, and the AF and continuous shooting is no where near a match for later Z bodies, but like I say, there’s just something about it. Really must use mine more.
 
Always been a big fan of the Z7ii, OK I don’t shoot anything very fast moving with it so the AF has never been a major issue for me.

There’s a couple of niggles I have with the Z7ii. I can’t see the AF box very clearly, especially in the woods which is mostly what I shoot due to my colour blindness. At least with the Z8 you can thicken the AF box which makes it more simple for me. The rear flip screen of the Z7ii was a bit limiting as well which I found frustrating at times.

My initial feeling is I’m going to love the Z8 - it answers all the niggles I had with the Z7ii, I love the size of it and it feels very solid in hand. The 24-120 which is my go to lens balances much more nicely on it.

Not sure about the custom banks over the U1/U2/U3 options - juries out on that for me.
 
wibbly said:
Always been a big fan of the Z7ii, OK I don’t shoot anything very fast moving with it so the AF has never been a major issue for me.

There’s a couple of niggles I have with the Z7ii. I can’t see the AF box very clearly, especially in the woods which is mostly what I shoot due to my colour blindness. At least with the Z8 you can thicken the AF box which makes it more simple for me. The rear flip screen of the Z7ii was a bit limiting as well which I found frustrating at times.

My initial feeling is I’m going to love the Z8 - it answers all the niggles I had with the Z7ii, I love the size of it and it feels very solid in hand. The 24-120 which is my go to lens balances much more nicely on it.

Not sure about the custom banks over the U1/U2/U3 options - juries out on that for me.
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For me, the pros and cons of the custom banks depend on how I'm using the camera.

I like the way they remember the last settings used, because within a day of rapidly changing conditions, it's really useful to immediately switch back to my last used settings. Which will change as the weather, subject or location changes during the day.

e.g if I am waiting from a Heron to do something, and I can see a peregrine flying towards me, I can switch from my "slow moving" memory bank to my "very fast moving" memory bank, knowing that when I switch back to the "slow moving" memory bank, all the previous settings from a few minutes ago are in memory and I'm not switching back to some fixed set of settings I set up months ago. But, I don't understand why you can't save FPS settings :-(


For that sort of use I would hate to only have the U1/U2 etc settings, but the U1/U2 etc settings are more useful if you only change defaults only occasionally, ie between genre's of photography. e,g Action, to Landscape, to stacked focus etc.

If I could only have one option, it would be the memory banks, because the User settings (U1, U" etc) can't replace the memory bank functionality, but the Memory Banks can largely replace (with occasional frustrations) the User setting functionality.

They take a bit of getting used to, but I find it easy to understand why the polling of professional photographers that Nikon did for the Nikon Z9 design had overwhelming support to keep the memory banks of the D4/D5/D6 and not replace them with the U1/U2 settings found on the Pro/Am bodies.

Olympus cameras have an option of using either approach, and Nikon have added this option to the Nikon ZR: I'm hoping this becomes the standard for any new models they bring out.
 
I find as a wildlife / bird photographer the most useful feature on the Z8 and possibly other Z models is the ability to set the front top button to switch focus points/ modes . I initially followed online suggestions to switch between the focus mode in use and single point , but then changed it again to switch between all the various points I use without having to take my eye off the EVF ..
Don’t ask how I did it but it can be found online or googled .. but so handy in use a total game changer
 
For wildlife I find the ability to toggle focus modes on a set button (I use the video button) very useful.

Also I have the display button set as an “emergency action button. See link below.

backcountrygallery.com

Emergency Action Button: The Secret Weapon for Wildlife & Bird Photography - Backcountry Gallery

Are you tired of missing action shots? You know how it goes – you’re photographing a static subject, using an appropriate shutter speed, F/stop, AF area, etc., when suddenly a bird flies into view. Sigh. You’d love to nail the shot, but your camera isn’t even close to the proper settings, and...
backcountrygallery.com
 
myotis said:
For me, the pros and cons of the custom banks depend on how I'm using the camera.

I like the way they remember the last settings used, because within a day of rapidly changing conditions, it's really useful to immediately switch back to my last used settings. Which will change as the weather, subject or location changes during the day.

e.g if I am waiting from a Heron to do something, and I can see a peregrine flying towards me, I can switch from my "slow moving" memory bank to my "very fast moving" memory bank, knowing that when I switch back to the "slow moving" memory bank, all the previous settings from a few minutes ago are in memory and I'm not switching back to some fixed set of settings I set up months ago. But, I don't understand why you can't save FPS settings :-(


For that sort of use I would hate to only have the U1/U2 etc settings, but the U1/U2 etc settings are more useful if you only change defaults only occasionally, ie between genre's of photography. e,g Action, to Landscape, to stacked focus etc.

If I could only have one option, it would be the memory banks, because the User settings (U1, U" etc) can't replace the memory bank functionality, but the Memory Banks can largely replace (with occasional frustrations) the User setting functionality.

They take a bit of getting used to, but I find it easy to understand why the polling of professional photographers that Nikon did for the Nikon Z9 design had overwhelming support to keep the memory banks of the D4/D5/D6 and not replace them with the U1/U2 settings found on the Pro/Am bodies.

Olympus cameras have an option of using either approach, and Nikon have added this option to the Nikon ZR: I'm hoping this becomes the standard for any new models they bring out.
Click to expand...

I can definitely see the advantages of custom banks over U1/U2 etc. settings. I’ve never used them before so it’s all new to me. On my Z7ii it was nice to have U1 for landscape and U2 for aperture priority and the advantage of the U1 setting at the time, was the consistency of what settings were going to appear when I plonked down my tripod mounted the camera and once I’d switched the camera off and moved elsewhere the setting was held.

For sure I can see the advantage of using a custom bank, which holds your settings as at that time with any changes you’ve made. I’ll let you know in 3 months when I’ve used the camera some more. :-)
 
Thoroughly enjoying the Z6iii, not missing the 67mp sensor of the Sony A7RVI either.

Need to get the Megadap adapter so I can use some of the smaller and lighter Sony E glass though.
 
wibbly said:
I can definitely see the advantages of custom banks over U1/U2 etc. settings. I’ve never used them before so it’s all new to me. On my Z7ii it was nice to have U1 for landscape and U2 for aperture priority and the advantage of the U1 setting at the time, was the consistency of what settings were going to appear when I plonked down my tripod mounted the camera and once I’d switched the camera off and moved elsewhere the setting was held.

For sure I can see the advantage of using a custom bank, which holds your settings as at that time with any changes you’ve made. I’ll let you know in 3 months when I’ve used the camera some more. :-)
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Most of the settings in my memory banks stay the same all the time, and I don't change them. Bank A can be anything, so I know I can't rely on quickly changing to bank A (but normally set up for landscape) and the others are set for slow/stationary moving subject, fast moving subjects and very fast moving subjects. The bigest dofferences between B,C and D are the auto ISO settings and shutter speed constraints.
 
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