The Amazing Sony A1/A7/A9/APS-C & Anything else welcome Mega Thread!

[snerkler]

In my constant desire for a hipster retro camera I’ve been looking at the Nikon ZF today. Initially I thought it looked very interesting but then I saw that Nikon doesn’t make any Z lenses with an aperture ring.

Firstly I much prefer shooting with an aperture ring, but secondly it makes me wonder why Nikon made the ZF. It’s been made deliberately to give a retro ‘film camera’ experience, but you’ll only ever get 2/3 of that experience as you’ll never have an aperture ring, it seems a bit odd to me

 

[LeeRatters]

In my constant desire for a hipster retro camera I’ve been looking at the Nikon ZF today. Initially I thought it looked very interesting but then I saw that Nikon doesn’t make any Z lenses with an aperture ring.

Firstly I much prefer shooting with an aperture ring, but secondly it makes me wonder why Nikon made the ZF. It’s been made deliberately to give a retro ‘film camera’ experience, but you’ll only ever get 2/3 of that experience as you’ll never have an aperture ring, it seems a bit odd to me

This is going to sound really weird, but I know what I mean The ZF hasn't really appealed to me because I think it's gone too retro. Or it's trying to hard to be retro maybe? Something like that. Plus, it's a Nikon....

 

[woof woof]

In my constant desire for a hipster retro camera I’ve been looking at the Nikon ZF today. Initially I thought it looked very interesting but then I saw that Nikon doesn’t make any Z lenses with an aperture ring.

Firstly I much prefer shooting with an aperture ring, but secondly it makes me wonder why Nikon made the ZF. It’s been made deliberately to give a retro ‘film camera’ experience, but you’ll only ever get 2/3 of that experience as you’ll never have an aperture ring, it seems a bit odd to me

That does seem daft. You could use film era lenses though.

 

[Gold]

Could also adapt e-mount lenses with bonus compatibility with your existing Sony kit?

 

[Gold]

Getting used to my new-to-me A1, definitely enjoying the resolution over my A9. AF subject recognition isn't quite as good as the A6700 nor even a Canon R5 (dare I say it) but it's definitely far faster at hitting focus and so sticky:


Central Park April 2026-3

Central Park April 2026-6

 

[nandbytes]

Getting used to my new-to-me A1, definitely enjoying the resolution over my A9. AF subject recognition isn't quite as good as the A6700 nor even a Canon R5 (dare I say it) but it's definitely far faster at hitting focus and so sticky:


Central Park April 2026-3

Central Park April 2026-6

Have you updated the firmware?
I believe they improved the subject detection a bit with one of them, though R5 is probably still better overall. To some extent even the A7iv was better for subject detection compared to A1.

 

[Kieran_89]

Other than the 24-105 which needs a refresh, what else is close to the Nikon Z 24-120 in terms of IQ? Maybe the Sigma 24-105 2.8?

Anyone used the Sigma and would recommend it over the 24-105 f4? Is the extra size and weight worth the 2.8?

 

[Gold]

Have you updated the firmware?
I believe they improved the subject detection a bit with one of them, though R5 is probably still better overall. To some extent even the A7iv was better for subject detection compared to A1.

Yup on latest firmware. AF is still excellent, don’t get me wrong and leaps and bounds better than my old A9.

 

[snerkler]

That does seem daft. You could use film era lenses though.

You can, but they tend to be manual focus

Could also adapt e-mount lenses with bonus compatibility with your existing Sony kit?

I'm not looking at the ZF seriously, I just stumbled across it whilst looking at other stuff. It does look cool, but the lack or native AF glass with aperture rings is a deal breaker even if I was truly considering one. I don't like to use adapted glass.

Yup on latest firmware. AF is still excellent, don’t get me wrong and leaps and bounds better than my old A9.

I've found for the subjects it can detect it's excellent, but it's limited compared to more modern cameras only have human, animal and bird. I found that the A7RV would find the eyes of more animals compared to the A1 but the A1 stuck and tracked better than the A7RV so you still ended up with more keepers.

 

[snerkler]

This is going to sound really weird, but I know what I mean The ZF hasn't really appealed to me because I think it's gone too retro. Or it's trying to hard to be retro maybe? Something like that. Plus, it's a Nikon....

I don't think it's trying to be any more retro than Fuji tbh, but like I said it's weird that they've chosen to do this without thinking about the lenses you're going to use on it. It's either a massive oversight or a very weird decision imo.

 

[snerkler]

Oh, one other thing I found out when looking at the Nikon DF is that you can create presets in the Nikon software and then send them to the camera to use as a profile, I wonder why no-one else does this?

 

[ancient_mariner]

I don't think it's trying to be any more retro than Fuji tbh, but like I said it's weird that they've chosen to do this without thinking about the lenses you're going to use on it. It's either a massive oversight or a very weird decision imo.

It's just a case of "we want a retro camera for the range" rather than designing a series.

 

[snerkler]

It's just a case of "we want a retro camera for the range" rather than designing a series.

Yeah, it just seems daft to me. YMMV

 

[nandbytes]

Been looking for a second body myself. Was tempted by ZF and using adapted e-mount glass, just wish it was as small as ZFc with a slightly higher res sensor like 33mp

Decided to look for used A7cr but they are all selling for same price as new grey prices

 

[f/1.2]

You can, but they tend to be manual focus

A lot of Nikon AF-D lenses have an aperture ring and as the name implies have a.f.

There is also an adaptor it’s made by Tech Art that allows you to use a.f with manual lenses. A lot of people that use Leica lenses use that adaptor.

Techart PRO Leica M – Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter ver II (TZM-02)

techartpro.com

A lot of people also adopt e-mount lenses like the Sigma 35 f/2 that has a retro look.

 

[f/1.2]

Oh, one other thing I found out when looking at the Nikon DF is that you can create presets in the Nikon software and then send them to the camera to use as a profile, I wonder why no-one else does this?

DF? Quess you meant ZF.

There is an app that allows you to do this with Fuji recipes not sure if anyone else also has this. Would be useful.

 

[Hogboy]

The Nikon picture control feature is not given the credit it deserves, a ton of film sims are available, just download the tiny file and copy to the camera, stays in picture styles forever.
Great selection here https://nikonpc.com/

 

[woof woof]

Since getting the A7cII and two mini G lenses with aperture rings I've hardly used my MF lenses.

I have 4 E mount Voigtlanders, one modern cheap Chinese E mount MF prime and about a dozen film era MF primes and when I get around to it some or maybe even most/all will be going.

 

[snerkler]

Been looking for a second body myself. Was tempted by ZF and using adapted e-mount glass, just wish it was as small as ZFc with a slightly higher res sensor like 33mp

Decided to look for used A7cr but they are all selling for same price as new grey prices

Yes the resolution is a bit disappointing by today's standards.

A lot of Nikon AF-D lenses have an aperture ring and as the name implies have a.f.

There is also an adaptor it’s made by Tech Art that allows you to use a.f with manual lenses. A lot of people that use Leica lenses use that adaptor.

Techart PRO Leica M – Nikon Z Autofocus Adapter ver II (TZM-02)

techartpro.com

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View attachment 479639

A lot of people also adopt e-mount lenses like the Sigma 35 f/2 that has a retro look.

View attachment 479640

I'm not a fan of using adapted glass, and the AF-D lenses aren't particularly sharp by today's standards, but I guess with the resolution of the sensor it's not going to push the lenses as much as it could have done. If Leica M lenses weren't so far out of my budget I might be a bit more keen on adpated glass

DF? Quess you meant ZF.

There is an app that allows you to do this with Fuji recipes not sure if anyone else also has this. Would be useful.

Yeah I meant ZF

The Nikon picture control feature is not given the credit it deserves, a ton of film sims are available, just download the tiny file and copy to the camera, stays in picture styles forever.
Great selection here https://nikonpc.com/

Yeah I wasn't aware of this until yesterday, and it was only one review on youtube that mentioned it. I don't understand why other reviews don't mention it

I was saying to Trev earlier. generally prefer the silver/black versions but the Zf does look cool with this grip with the red stripe




I don't know why but it somehow made me think of my first ever camera

 

[Iiyama]

Still not doing as much photography. However, a pleasant walk around Gibside National Trust changed that a little today. A6700 and Sony 70 -350mm lens

 

[Kieran_89]

Haven’t had time to process yet but these are straight from the camera, A7RV + 24-70GM, very impressed so far with the 24-70 even though it’s not my usual focal length.

 

[snerkler]

Just seen the techart adapter that gives autofocus on the Nikon ZF with Leica M mount manual focus lenses I’d love some Leica M lenses, shame one lens costs nearly as much as all my gear put together

 

[ancient_mariner]

A friend's daughter got married yesterday - we've known her since she was just a couple of years old, and she's the same age as our son. I wasn't the photographer, but managed a couple of pictures while keeping out of the way.

 

[Kieran_89]

Can anyone explain how to get metadata in this style as an overlay on a picture?

A quick google suggests using a paid app but it should be fairly simple to pull the data from the image?

 

[f/1.2]

Just seen the techart adapter that gives autofocus on the Nikon ZF with Leica M mount manual focus lenses I’d love some Leica M lenses, shame one lens costs nearly as much as all my gear put together

Depends some of them can be bought pretty cheap.

Have tried some of the higher end lenses like the Summilux and Noctilux, mental price, very good lenses but not as good as some of the glass I already have for my Sony set up, which cost a fraction of the price.

Leica is what we would call Dentist spec gear. Hyped beyond belief to suck in those that have a good level of disposable income but don't have a lot of time for photography.

 

[snerkler]

Depends some of them can be bought pretty cheap.

Have tried some of the higher end lenses like the Summilux and Noctilux, mental price, very good lenses but not as good as some of the glass I already have for my Sony set up, which cost a fraction of the price.

Leica is what we would call Dentist spec gear. Hyped beyond belief to suck in those that have a good level of disposable income but don't have a lot of time for photography.

I do like the look that some of the older M lenses give. Some of the newer ones, especially the SL glass don’t look any different to any of the better glass from Canikon and Sony imo. There’s definitely more of a ‘digital’ look to the SL lenses from what I’ve seen.

 

[Swanseajack]

In my constant desire for a hipster retro camera I’ve been looking at the Nikon ZF today. Initially I thought it looked very interesting but then I saw that Nikon doesn’t make any Z lenses with an aperture ring.

Firstly I much prefer shooting with an aperture ring, but secondly it makes me wonder why Nikon made the ZF. It’s been made deliberately to give a retro ‘film camera’ experience, but you’ll only ever get 2/3 of that experience as you’ll never have an aperture ring, it seems a bit odd to me

I loved the ZF with the Voigtlander APO lenses. The problem I had with the camera was that I needed a grip as the camera felt too small for my large hands and I had to use pliers to get the SD card out of the camera. I couldn't grip the SD card with my hands.

It's one of the reasons I have ended up with Sony as my original plan was to get a Q3.

There was a Nikon DF retro camera Minnt used to have one along with his D750.

 

[Swanseajack]

Anyone have any thoughts or user experience on the original Sigma 35mm f1.4 Art lens?

 

[snerkler]

I loved the ZF with the Voigtlander APO lenses. The problem I had with the camera was that I needed a grip as the camera felt too small for my large hands and I had to use pliers to get the SD card out of the camera. I couldn't grip the SD card with my hands.

It's one of the reasons I have ended up with Sony as my original plan was to get a Q3.

There was a Nikon DF retro camera Minnt used to have one along with his D750.

Another thing that puts me off the ZF is the rear screen, I hate that you have to flip it out to the side to then tilt it up and down. Sony have come up with an ingenious way to get around this issue, and I'd prefer to just have a tilt screen over those vari angles that flip out to the side like that.

 

[woof woof]

The screen on my A7cII annoys me every time I use it out to the side.

 

[jimmyjamjojo]

Ball is life.

Lofty by Jamie Moulton, on Flickr

 

[woof woof]

As I like the reviews on this site...

REVIEW: Viltrox 55mm f/1.8 EVO - phillipreeve.net

This is a lens with phenomenal sharpness, I wanted to see if it can beat Nikon Z 50/1.8 S. Well. in some aspects it does.

phillipreeve.net

I have the Sony 55mm f1.8 and the fact that it's 55 and not 50mm does get to me and the same would be true of this lens too. I can't see myself buying an AF 50mm any time soon though.

Hopefully they'll do a review of the 35mm f1.8 too. Until then there's the Christopher Frost one.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KTeuLpMGPk

 

[f/1.2]

Anyone have any thoughts or user experience on the original Sigma 35mm f1.4 Art lens?

I had that lens and used it for a long time. Also had it for Nikon before mirrorless.

Image quality wise it was very good although a bit sterile.

A.F wise it was okay but not great compared to what’s available now as it was basically just the DSLR version of that lens with a built in adapter.

Build wise it’s a bit awkward as it’s just the same as using the old NIkon/Canon lens with a built in adapter. That makes it way bigger than it needs to be.

Unless you are able to buy it extremely cheap and you are on a very tight budget I would give it a miss and get one of the newer lenses.

 

[jonneymendoza]

Anyone have any thoughts or user experience on the original Sigma 35mm f1.4 Art lens?

I have one still. Interested in selling it to buy the new one as the new one is way smaller