Nikon mirrorless definitely on the way

[gad-westy]

It’s what the Nikon crowd have been saying for the last 30 years.

I realise Canon went one way and Nikon went the other way at the time (intro of AF period I assume?) and both had their pros and cons in terms of marketing. Canon seem to have come out of it just fine but now that Nikon have had to make the move anyway, are there any actual downsides to a bigger mount? Other than the obvious reason that it takes up more room.

 

[Phil V]

Not one person has mentioned any of the sample images from the camera or the fact it will undoubtedly produce the same or maybe even better image quality than the D850 which is widely regarded as having the best image quality of any FF camera out there! Why is nobody talking about this?

Because it’s just a camera, the IQ is only worth a mention if it’s terrible. The least we should expect from a £3000 Camera is that it can record a high quality image.

And as we have no actual images from a production camera, there’s really no data to discuss the IQ objectively.

Frankly I find the idea of 70pages of discussion about a camera no one here has used to be funny, but exactly what I expect of photography forums, which are all about cameras and settings, it’s rare for us to have any discussion at all about the nature of images.

 

[Cagey75]

This thread is quite something!

I keep hoping to read some new info. I'll come back another time.

 

[Phil V]

I realise Canon went one way and Nikon went the other way at the time (intro of AF period I assume?) and both had their pros and cons in terms of marketing. Canon seem to have come out of it just fine but now that Nikon have had to make the move anyway, are there any actual downsides to a bigger mount? Other than the obvious reason that it takes up more room.

Absolutely not, the only mistake Canon made was increasing the flange distance, which ruled out the adaptation of their A mount lenses.

 

[simonbarker]

So when you objectively compare z7 battery life its below many others inc. latest Sony bodies which should last about twice as long as per the standard measures.

The DPR article he quoted reckoned 12 hours, I doubt that'll stand up to close inspection as despite quoting half the Sony they're saying they're getting twice what the Sony offers.

If accurate it'd mean the Nikon has class leading battery performance.

 

[snerkler]

Completely agree!

We are up to page 70 already and all we seem to here is the vast majority 'bashing a spec sheet'; most of whom have no intention of buying a Nikon Z series camera! I find it odd that when that 'single card slot' came to light they instantly said the camera wasn't for them, why are they still posting the exact same criticism numerous pages after!

Talk Photography - a forum where you would probably expect people to discuss the Image quality? I have made numerous posts in other threads that my enjoyment from photography comes as much from using the camera and taking the picture; the actual image produced isn't as important to me - I have yet to see anyone actually agree with this and everyone states it is the final image that matters most to them. Lots on this thread and others state they are 'not gear heads', yet the evidence in this thread would appear different.

Not one person has mentioned any of the sample images from the camera or the fact it will undoubtedly produce the same or maybe even better image quality than the D850 which is widely regarded as having the best image quality of any FF camera out there! Why is nobody talking about this?

If you post a link to a favourable report it is slagged off as 'Paid by Nikon, in bed with Nikon, sell a lot of Nikon, it's staged/scripted etc, etc...... or even just completely ignored!

The majority of these comments come from users who use competitors cameras as if they need to justify that their own purchase was the correct one and I still have the biggest cock in the town.

Yes it's fun to talk about the camera before anyone here can evaluate it, but that is all it is; fun and speculation.

Lets see how the Camera performs in the real world where it's undoubted stunning image quality 'off the sensor' may be just the ticket for keen enthusiasts (who apparently put IQ before gear spec) and save professionals endless time in Post production.

.......rant over!

I think it’s probably because image quality is pretty much a given these days, and whilst we probably shouldn’t take it for granted we probably do, especially when it comes to Nikon.

 

[Cagey75]

I posted the rumors about the Canon FF ML earlier today, can't find it now, but also posted in the Canon M thread just tonight. I was wrong earlier, me and my skim reading! I said strange there's no 4K, there is, just 30fps but ... if they combine that with their famous dual system AF I think they could be on to a winner. IBIS is also listed as very likely: https://www.canonrumors.com/we-were...irrorless-dreams-are-likely-coming-true-soon/

 

[nandbytes]

The DPR article he quoted reckoned 12 hours, I doubt that'll stand up to close inspection as despite quoting half the Sony they're saying they're getting twice what the Sony offers.

If accurate it'd mean the Nikon has class leading battery performance.

What DPR state is worthless and unscientific. They have grown cocky and too full of themselves. They are not above facts, known standards and objective scientific testing.

When Nikon marketing is ready to tell us that the body will shoot 9fps when all planets at lined up 37 degrees north, do you really think they'd miss the opportunity to tell us their camera has class leading battery life

 

[snerkler]

I posted the rumors about the Canon FF ML earlier today, can't find it now, but also posted in the Canon M thread just tonight. I was wrong earlier, me and my skim reading! I said strange there's no 4K, there is, just 30fps but ... if they combine that with their famous dual system AF I think they could be on to a winner. IBIS is also listed as very likely: https://www.canonrumors.com/we-were...irrorless-dreams-are-likely-coming-true-soon/

IBIS has to be be pretty much standard for mirrorless these days imo (which is why it surprises me that the rumours are it won’t be in the XT3) so I’d be surprised if it’s not on the Canon as and when it’s released.

 

[Raymond Lin]

If Canon brings out 4K/60 with dual pixel.

Bye bye Panasonic GH5.

 

[nandbytes]

IBIS has to be be pretty much standard for mirrorless these days imo (which is why it surprises me that the rumours are it won’t be in the XT3) so I’d be surprised if it’s not on the Canon as and when it’s released.

I really hope it isn't and they a make cheaper IBIS-less FF body size of M5. I'd be first in line.

 

[JJ!]

I’m interested to see what Canon do! The Nikon and Sony are no go cameras for me.

 

[nandbytes]

I’m interested to see what Canon do! The Nikon and Sony are no go cameras for me.

What wrong with both?
Sensor too good for you?

 

[Phil V]

IBIS has to be be pretty much standard for mirrorless these days imo (which is why it surprises me that the rumours are it won’t be in the XT3) so I’d be surprised if it’s not on the Canon as and when it’s released.

It’ll likely be hogtied ibis like in the M series where it’s only for video.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the 4K video is also limited like in the M50.

And none of this is because I’m a hater, it’s just years of watching Canon implement new tech.

And I wouldn’t be at all surprised by a single card slot either, a mirrorless 6dII is my betting.

The ‘clever tech’ will be in the lens mount, my guess is that it’ll have a motorised lens adaptor, fit an EF or EFS lens and it’ll move to the correct flange distance, fit a new FFM lens and it’ll retract to the mirrorless distance.

I’m gonna look a right dick when none of this proves to be true.

 

[JJ!]

What wrong with both?

Nothing wrong, just reasons they are not for me.

Nikon
I always use 2 card slots
I need a 2.8 zoom and don’t want to be forced in to using adapter
The price
The lens prices
And what does it do what my D750 doesn’t do?

Sony A7iii
Hate the size and grip. Used one again today and it just doesn’t work for me
Prefer the OVF over the EVF (A7Riii one is much better though)
Price of lenses
Does not over enough over my Nikon for what I shoot.

 

[Raymond Lin]

It’ll likely be hogtied ibis like in the M series where it’s only for video.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the 4K video is also limited like in the M50.

And none of this is because I’m a hater, it’s just years of watching Canon implement new tech.

And I wouldn’t be at all surprised by a single card slot either, a mirrorless 6dII is my betting.

Get your batts ready for some Canon bashing !!! (I'll join )

 

[JJ!]

It’ll likely be hogtied ibis like in the M series where it’s only for video.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the 4K video is also limited like in the M50.

And none of this is because I’m a hater, it’s just years of watching Canon implement new tech.

And I wouldn’t be at all surprised by a single card slot either, a mirrorless 6dII is my betting.

The ‘clever tech’ will be in the lens mount, my guess is that it’ll have a motorised lens adaptor, fit an EF or EFS lens and it’ll move to the correct flange distance, fit a new FFM lens and it’ll retract to the mirrorless distance.

I’m gonna look a right dick when none of this proves to be true.

I was so excited when the 6Dii was announced, but then it all turned Sour. Don’t let me down this time Canon!

 

[Raymond Lin]

Nothing wrong, just reasons they are not for me.

Nikon
I always use 2 card slots
I need a 2.8 zoom and don’t want to be forced in to using adapter
The price
The lens prices
And what does it do what my D750 doesn’t do?

Sony A7iii
Hate the size and grip. Used one again today and it just doesn’t work for me
Prefer the OVF over the EVF (A7Riii one is much better though)
Price of lenses
Does not over enough over my Nikon for what I shoot.

TBH, my 5D4 can do everything I do but Sony does 1 thing that none of the others do and for what I need, it offers a HUGE advantage, the Eye-AF allows me to get photo with such ease these days, some of them I know the Canon will be off by a little or off by a lot.

If no new cameras offer you such difference for what you do and what you need then stick with what you have.

 

[Phil V]

Get your batts ready for some Canon bashing !!! (I'll join )

There’ll be less bashing because:
It’ll not be flagged as a pro camera
A higher % of Canon users are used to using a single card slot.

 

[Phil V]

I was so excited when the 6Dii was announced, but then it all turned Sour. Don’t let me down this time Canon!

There’s nothing wrong with the 6dII

 

[photogwannabe]

Well, just read a report that says Nikon are producing 20,000 Z(ed)7s a month and that people on preorder may not get one as they're selling like hotcakes and that based on that they may produce a D5 type mirrorless. Can't be too much of a dog. I'll try and find it... This wildlife shooter seems to be liking it. http://www.michellevalberg.com She has some great wildlife shots from her kayak on her instagram.

https://petapixel.com/2018/08/28/nikon-is-sorry-that-the-z7-is-selling-so-quickly/
https://fstoppers.com/gear/nikon-plans-release-flagship-mirrorless-camera-similar-d5-282510

 

[JJ!]

TBH, my 5D4 can do everything I do but Sony does 1 thing that none of the others do and for what I need, it offers a HUGE advantage, the Eye-AF allows me to get photo with such ease these days, some of them I know the Canon will be off by a little or off by a lot.

If no new cameras offer you such difference for what you do and what you need then stick with what you have.

True! I don’t photograph the human species very much at all. Well only when on a horse and would not be focusing on eyes anyway!

 

[redhed17]

Completely agree!

We are up to page 70 already and all we seem to here is the vast majority 'bashing a spec sheet'; most of whom have no intention of buying a Nikon Z series camera! I find it odd that when that 'single card slot' came to light they instantly said the camera wasn't for them, why are they still posting the exact same criticism numerous pages after!

Talk Photography - a forum where you would probably expect people to discuss the Image quality? I have made numerous posts in other threads that my enjoyment from photography comes as much from using the camera and taking the picture; the actual image produced isn't as important to me - I have yet to see anyone actually agree with this and everyone states it is the final image that matters most to them. Lots on this thread and others state they are 'not gear heads', yet the evidence in this thread would appear different.

Not one person has mentioned any of the sample images from the camera or the fact it will undoubtedly produce the same or maybe even better image quality than the D850 which is widely regarded as having the best image quality of any FF camera out there! Why is nobody talking about this?

If you post a link to a favourable report it is slagged off as 'Paid by Nikon, in bed with Nikon, sell a lot of Nikon, it's staged/scripted etc, etc...... or even just completely ignored!

The majority of these comments come from users who use competitors cameras as if they need to justify that their own purchase was the correct one and I still have the biggest cock in the town.

Yes it's fun to talk about the camera before anyone here can evaluate it, but that is all it is; fun and speculation.

Lets see how the Camera performs in the real world where it's undoubted stunning image quality 'off the sensor' may be just the ticket for keen enthusiasts (who apparently put IQ before gear spec) and save professionals endless time in Post production.

.......rant over!

A massive post having digs at people for doing exactly the same thing as you, commenting on a camera on specs alone and very little hard facts so far. Classic.

I think I have mentioned the potential image quality here or in the other thread. These camera sensors are based on the D850 sensor, and to a lesser extent because of its age, the D750 sensor. Both will be improvements, the Z6 more of an improvement because of the time between that and the D750. Image quality should be further improved by using the Z lenses. Only if any of that turns out to be not true will image quality become a huge issue.

Image quality, AF performance, user interface and Video performance can only be judged when these cameras are tested, and tested with final firmware. That hadn't happened yet as far as I know. The source who seem to have had the most access so far seems to have been DPReview. At the moment it is camera design choices and first hand experiences of the few, relatively speaking who have had the chance to use the camera and pass on their experiences that we can talk about. Yes, we can discuss the D{Review images, but is there anything wrong or great with the? Are they done with final firmware? Then imho not much to talk about there, but discuss away. After the month long hype this is the void until proper testing and reports happen. How long that is depends on how ready Nikon are with final spec cameras.

Oh, and people keep on posting about the card slot issue because while a lot of people agree it is a mistake, and a reason not to buy one or more of these cameras, some people feel the need to dismiss them as if it were a non issue, and will even proffer ways around the perceived problem, because it is not a problem, with little or no understanding how those whom have said it wouldn't work for them use and rely on the 2nd card slot.

 

[JJ!]

There’s nothing wrong with the 6dII

Yeah I know, but I was hoping for it to be better than my D750 being newer and all that, but for what I wanted to use it for its slightly worse.

*edit not bashing the Canon!

 

[Phil V]

Yeah I know, but I was hoping for it to be better than my D750 being newer and all that, but for what I wanted to use it for its slightly worse.

It was never going to be better, Canon have struggled with sensor tech against Sony for years now. If I wasn’t so heavily invested, I’d buy a D750 in a heartbeat.

 

[Raymond Lin]

Yeah I know, but I was hoping for it to be better than my D750 being newer and all that, but for what I wanted to use it for its slightly worse.

I think that's why people were disappointed, especially when they say things like "it is a mirrorless D850".

When the 5D4 announced, it was not as good as I hoped it might have been, there were plenty of annoyance but I bought it anyway because ultimately it is a better camera in every way to the 5D3. This isn't the case with the D750/Z6 or D850/Z7. People might spin it as Nikon is trying to get people from lower down body to upgrade to these but a lot of people just expect, and rightly so, that when you pay something at the same price bracket for the newer model, you get better value than you had before.

I think that is the crux of it.

 

[JJ!]

I think that's why people were disappointed, especially when they say things like "it is a mirrorless D850".

When the 5D4 announced, it was not as good as I hoped it might have been, there were plenty of annoyance but I bought it anyway because ultimately it is a better camera in every way to the 5D3. This isn't the case with the D750/Z6 or D850/Z7. People might spin it as Nikon is trying to get people from lower down body to upgrade to these but a lot of people just expect, and rightly so, that when you pay something at the same price bracket for the newer model, you get better value than you had before.

I think that is the crux of it.

The D750 is quite old now, and you are right the Z6 disappoints me!

Not based on any IQ that is.

 

[Fraser Euan White]

I think that's why people were disappointed, especially when they say things like "it is a mirrorless D850".

When the 5D4 announced, it was not as good as I hoped it might have been, there were plenty of annoyance but I bought it anyway because ultimately it is a better camera in every way to the 5D3. This isn't the case with the D750/Z6 or D850/Z7. People might spin it as Nikon is trying to get people from lower down body to upgrade to these but a lot of people just expect, and rightly so, that when you pay something at the same price bracket for the newer model, you get better value than you had before.

I think that is the crux of it.

Hi Raymond,

the people with the most experience of actually using the camera to date (DP Review) are infact stating this in their conclusion:

Overall, the combination of high resolution, expansive dynamic range, compact size, comfortable handling and great 4K video with intuitive and decisive autofocus is hard to dismiss. We're confident in saying that, as of now, the Z 7 is Nikon's most well-rounded camera they've ever produced.

This isn't what you and others who haven't even seen the camera in the flesh are saying?

 

[Fraser Euan White]

A massive post having digs at people for doing exactly the same thing as you, commenting on a camera on specs alone and very little hard facts so far. Classic.

Obviously a slightly different language is spoken across the county border??

Completely agree!


..........................Lets see how the Camera performs in the real world...............................

.......rant over!

My posts in relation to the camera performance have all been links to people who have actually used the camera

(Clearly you don't like the links that state the camera is good though)

 

[woof woof]

Being the most well rounded camera they've ever produced does seem rather at odds with the issues they've identified and maybe more to do with the parent company selling more kit.

But shame on me for thinking such a thing.

 

[decigallen]

The majority of these comments come from users who use competitors cameras as if they need to justify that their own purchase was the correct one and I still have the biggest cock in the town.
!

I think that's unfair and untrue. Not everyone is a fanboy. I bought into Sony recently after 10 years with Nikon. I had it half in my head that I'd maybe switch back to Nikon in my next camera cycle (around 2021) if their mirrorless system delivered. I desperately wanted this Z6/7 to be fantastic but early indications are that they aren't as good as Sony where it matters. I (and many I've read on here) are not afraid to criticise the systems they use. I'll happily switch to Canon mirrorless in the future if they produce the best mirrorless tech.

I think if I could Frankenstein the best bits from Sony/Nikon/Canon/Fuji I could just about cobble together a camera that would 100% satisfy me. Sony A9 inside the body of a Z6 with two card slots, the A7III battery life and a few other things missing in the a9, Fuji splitscreen MF, Canon Colours, Nikon lossless compressed RAW I'd hand over my chequebook without question*

*I don't have a chequebook

Well, just read a report that says Nikon are producing 20,000 Z(ed)7s a month and that people on preorder may not get one as they're selling like hotcakes and that based on that they may produce a D5 type mirrorless. Can't be too much of a dog. I'll try and find it... This wildlife shooter seems to be liking it. http://www.michellevalberg.com She has some great wildlife shots from her kayak on her instagram.

https://petapixel.com/2018/08/28/nikon-is-sorry-that-the-z7-is-selling-so-quickly/
https://fstoppers.com/gear/nikon-plans-release-flagship-mirrorless-camera-similar-d5-282510

Selling quickly in pre-order to people that haven't tried it does not mean it isn't a dog. It makes it a well-marketed camera. It could well be good, but we don't definitively know just yet. To me, the D800 was an absolute dog and it had similar pre-order hype.

Your linked photographer is a Nikon ambassador who's been given a loan camera. Is a Nikon ambassador who represents the company and gets kickbacks a good impartial reviewer?

 

[Fraser Euan White]

I think that's unfair and untrue. Not everyone is a fanboy. I bought into Sony recently after 10 years with Nikon. I had it half in my head that I'd maybe switch back to Nikon in my next camera cycle (around 2021) if their mirrorless system delivered. I desperately wanted this Z6/7 to be fantastic but early indications are that they aren't as good as Sony where it matters. I (and many I've read on here) are not afraid to criticise the systems they use. I'll happily switch to Canon mirrorless in the future if they produce the best mirrorless tech.

I think if I could Frankenstein the best bits from Sony/Nikon/Canon/Fuji I could just about cobble together a camera that would 100% satisfy me. Sony A9 inside the body of a Z6 with two card slots, the A7III battery life and a few other things missing in the a9, Fuji splitscreen MF, Canon Colours, Nikon lossless compressed RAW I'd hand over my chequebook without question*

*I don't have a chequebook



Selling quickly in pre-order to people that haven't tried it does not mean it isn't a dog. It makes it a well-marketed camera. It could well be good, but we don't definitively know just yet. To me, the D800 was an absolute dog and it had similar pre-order hype.

Your linked photographer is a Nikon ambassador who's been given a loan camera. Is a Nikon ambassador who represents the company and gets kickbacks a good impartial reviewer?

That is why I carefully used the word 'majority'. 2021 is three years away; plenty of time for the Nikon mirrorless system to 'grow' into what you feel you need for your job

Regarding the Nikon ambassador - not sure how you become an 'ambassador' but surely it must be something to do with Photographic talent? (Might be completely wrong).

 

[redhed17]

Hi Raymond,

the people with the most experience of actually using the camera to date (DP Review) are infact stating this in their conclusion:

Overall, the combination of high resolution, expansive dynamic range, compact size, comfortable handling and great 4K video with intuitive and decisive autofocus is hard to dismiss. We're confident in saying that, as of now, the Z 7 is Nikon's most well-rounded camera they've ever produced.

This isn't what you and others who haven't even seen the camera in the flesh are saying?

OK, from the same article. Note how some of these things are what people have been talking about, but you have decided to dismiss.

Lastly, we were disappointed by the CIPA rating of 330 images for the EN-EL15b battery that powers the Z7. It's not a woefully bad score, but it's around the rating of Sony's 1st and 2nd gen a7-series cameras for which we regularly recommended carrying a second battery, while Sony's latest Z-series battery is rated for around 700 shots.

As a team, we also agreed on a few aspects - particularly regarding autofocus - of the Z7 that struck us as less-than-polished.

The autofocus tracking implementation is more cumbersome, and there's no provision to change your AF mode with a single button press (AF Area Mode + AF-On) as there is on Nikon's D5, D500 and D850 cameras. As our Science Editor Rishi Sanyal explains, this can make it difficult to adapt to fast-changing scenarios, like moving from a bouquet toss at a wedding to a candid portrait moments later.

Lastly, the Z6 and Z7 are only offered with single XQD cards, which promise incredible read and write speeds as well as better durability when compared to conventional SD cards. But some users will likely be turned off by the lack of dual card slots, and we found the buffer on our pre-production Z7 to clear more slowly than we'd expect (it clears almost instantly on a D5 or D500 once you stop shooting).

 

[photogwannabe]

...Your linked photographer is a Nikon ambassador who's been given a loan camera. Is a Nikon ambassador who represents the company and gets kickbacks a good impartial reviewer?

Don't really care that she's a Nikon ambassador or not; she's taking photos from a kayak with a telephoto lens and the photos seem to be pretty darn good and the single card slot didn't seem to be a problem at all. A little counterpoint to all the doom and gloom being posted here. I'll go back to lurking.

 

[simonbarker]

Hi Raymond,

the people with the most experience of actually using the camera to date (DP Review) are infact stating this in their conclusion:

Overall, the combination of high resolution, expansive dynamic range, compact size, comfortable handling and great 4K video with intuitive and decisive autofocus is hard to dismiss. We're confident in saying that, as of now, the Z 7 is Nikon's most well-rounded camera they've ever produced.

This isn't what you and others who haven't even seen the camera in the flesh are saying?

They also said 12 hours on a single battery, which raises a few warning flags about the accuracy of the article.

 

[Fraser Euan White]

OK, from the same article. Note how some of these things are what people have been talking about, but you have decided to dismiss.

You quoted this from the article

Lastly, we were disappointed by the CIPA rating of 330 images for the EN-EL15b battery that powers the Z7. It's not a woefully bad score, but it's around the rating of Sony's 1st and 2nd gen a7-series cameras for which we regularly recommended carrying a second battery, while Sony's latest Z-series battery is rated for around 700 shots.

The very next sentence clarifies this position which is the 'real world experience' and what I quoted:
while Sony's latest Z-series battery is rated for around 700 shots. All that said, Barney's actual experience with the Z7 put him at ease; over the course of a 12-hour shoot, he recorded 1500+ images and several 4K video clips before the battery warning kicked in at 10% remaining. He wouldn't be opposed to venturing out for a full day in a new city with one battery for the Z7.

Your next chosen quote:

As a team, we also agreed on a few aspects - particularly regarding autofocus - of the Z7 that struck us as less-than-polished.

again the very next sentence from that same article:
And we should stress, the model we used was pre-production using non-final firmware, and there's always a chance that some of these can be addressed via firmware updates later on.

I have quoted the final Conclusion in full and provided a link to the article itself in my original post; not just selective quoting that you have done where the very next sentence in the article changes the whole context of your quotes!

 

[Fraser Euan White]

They also said 12 hours on a single battery, which raises a few warning flags about the accuracy of the article.

See my previous 'rant' where I include this:

If you post a link to a favourable report it is slagged off as 'Paid by Nikon, in bed with Nikon, sell a lot of Nikon, it's staged/scripted etc, etc...... or even just completely ignored!

Q.E.D.

 

[decigallen]

Don't really care that she's a Nikon ambassador or not; she's taking photos from a kayak with a telephoto lens and the photos seem to be pretty darn good and the single card slot didn't seem to be a problem at all. A little counterpoint to all the doom and gloom being posted here. I'll go back to lurking.

It's an important consideration that's she's an ambassador, though. She will be subjective.

Yeah, she showed a couple of great images from her three weeks with the camera. I'd be certain I could get some great images with it too if I had it for 3 weeks - you expect that from a £3500 camera - but it wouldn't be the full story. For example, we still use some images shot with the D800 and D610 in our portfolio, and I'm really proud of them. But both those cameras were utter dogs*** to use, in my opinion. I got great shots with them but they let me down all the time, especially the D610, and I missed many key moments because of crap AF. The D750, by comparison, was generally great to use and I missed less key moments due to the limitations of the camera. Ditto the A7III.

She said she was 'absolutely satisfied' with the AF. 'Satisfied' would hardly be the adjective you'd used if blown away by AF performance. A D750 shooter I know described the A7III as 'f*****g supernatural' when he experienced eyeAF for the first time, for example. She hasn't hung up her D850 nor her D5 just yet.

 

[decigallen]

That is why I carefully used the word 'majority'. 2021 is three years away; plenty of time for the Nikon mirrorless system to 'grow' into what you feel you need for your job

Regarding the Nikon ambassador - not sure how you become an 'ambassador' but surely it must be something to do with Photographic talent? (Might be completely wrong).

And the competition will stay still in that time?

She definitely has photographic talent. But ambassadors are often drawn from people with large online followings. Influencers and bloggers who might not be top of their game - I don't need to give examples here as I'm sure you've all seen them.

I know two photographers who turned down ambassadorial roles with big camera companies because they didn't want to be beholden to a brand even though they currently shoot with it. I also know a Nikon ambassador who wrote great things for Nikon about the Df when released but admitted privately that they hated it and would never use it professionally.

 

[Fraser Euan White]

I had it half in my head that I'd maybe switch back to Nikon in my next camera cycle (around 2021) if their mirrorless system delivered. I desperately wanted this Z6/7 to be fantastic ...................

mmmm............that really doesn't sound convincing TBH - Why would you want the Nikon Z6/7 to be fantastic when you don't intend to change your camera system for the next 3 years?

And the competition will stay still in that time?

Nope; but will the Nikon Z6/7 be the current and only Nikon Mirrorless in three years time? - Hence it reinforces that it really doesn't matter to you how the Z6/7 performs?