Nikon Z* mirrorless

I’m impressed with the high ISO performance on the Z8 and ligthroom AI editing.

This photo is at ISO12800 so I used the AI denoise tool to reduce noise. As there were twigs across its face I was going to bin it but I’d try out the new AI removal in lightroom. I probably spent all of a minute editing it.

Red Squirrel 3 by -Rob'81-


Here’s a screenshot of the unedited photo:

Red Squirrel 3 unedited by -Rob - Nikon-

The AI enhancements has made a huge second DNG stored along with the original RAW file so I wouldn’t use it for every edit.

Image 02-07-2024 at 23.31.jpeg
 
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trevorbray said:
@Stephen L
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Had one but didn’t keep it long as the Zf dragged me in. A good camera - described as for beginners but nothing further from the truth. It does feel a little light and insubstantial though. If I had the choice again though, bearing in mind I don’t know the relevant prices, I would also look at a used Z6ii.
 
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I honestly thought this shot would be binned but there's something calm and relaxing about it that I really like. It's been a cloudy day on the Isle of Wight, too and that helped with this one. Nikon ZF, 14-30mm f/4 with a Heliopan 2.5x polarising filter.

RACECOURSE-FIELD-VP-LO.jpg
 
Bit quiet on here, so thought I would post a couple of test photos with the APO Lanther....Been a long while since I have MF, probably back to the Fuji XE-1 or XPro-1 days when I had a old Vivitar M42 Macro lens.

First one of Hugo our mutt, focus is on the nose and a second which is a huge crop of my wife...I always test my lens for sharpness on how clear I can see eyelashes and eyebrows. This Voigtlander maybe a keeper :)

PS both taken @ f2

Voigtlander APO Lanther 50mm f2.0 by Swansea Jack, on Flickr

Voigtlander APO Lanther 50mm f2.0....Huge Crop by Swansea Jack, on Flickr
 
Ordered my ZF from panamoz on Thur evening arrived Mon :D,
my query is i need to update the firmware from C 1.00 to C 1.20
Does the new firmware have any effect on 3rd party batteries?
as I bought smallrig batteries in feb for myZ5,
 
3804 said:
Ordered my ZF from panamoz on Thur evening arrived Mon :D,
my query is i need to update the firmware from C 1.00 to C 1.20
Does the new firmware have any effect on 3rd party batteries?
as I bought smallrig batteries in feb for myZ5,
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I couldn’t use my Smallrig battery in the Zf even before the update. Others have had no issues. Think this was due to the battery being an older version, but I’ve no idea how to tell. I now use only genuine Nikon - they are cheapest direct from Nikon (at the moment).
 
Took Mrs L to do one of her talks at a nearby WI last night, and decided to have a wander round the neighbourhood whilst I was waiting (not being interested in THAT sport) with the Zf and 40mm f2 lens. A bit damp and dim (not just me but the weather as well). PS all handheld.

To Gargrave by Stephen Lee, on Flickr

Airton Mill by Stephen Lee, on Flickr

Pennine Way, Airton by Stephen Lee, on Flickr
 
Z6 III now available on e-infinity for £2,280, and I imagine it’ll drop in the next few months once early adopters have bought!
 
SsSsSsSsSnake said:
With the gift of the X100V it’s got me shooting again and I’ve now got my eye on a Z5.
Any Z5 shooters in here ?
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Yep, shoot with both a Z5 and a Z7. The Z5 is full spectrum converted but that doesn't affect its usability / functionality. I like it! Doesn't feel like a massive step down from the Z7 (though obviously half the MP) and I do kind of miss the top screen, but hey - just check the viewfinder / back screen. It's not like 24mp cameras have become obsolete and it's a decent entry level full frame camera, and for me, the perfect companion to my Z7, or whatever Z body might replace it. I'd post a pic but not sure an infrared pic is going to sell you the camera unless you like infrared! :D But if you want to see some samples, check out my Flickr - anything infrared from the last 3 or so years will have been on the Z5
 
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James Blonde said:
Yep, shoot with both a Z5 and a Z7. The Z5 is full spectrum converted but that doesn't affect its usability / functionality. I like it! Doesn't feel like a massive step down from the Z7 (though obviously half the MP) and I do kind of miss the top screen, but hey - just check the viewfinder / back screen. It's not like 24mp cameras have become obsolete and it's a decent entry level full frame camera, and for me, the perfect companion to my Z7, or whatever Z body might replace it. I'd post a pic but not sure an infrared pic is going to sell you the camera unless you like infrared! :D But if you want to see some samples, check out my Flickr - anything infrared from the last 3 or so years will have been on the Z5
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Thankyou
 
Got my hands on a Z8 for the first time yesterday and.... well.... not quite what I was expecting! I've been lusting after the Z8 since it came out, and am seriously looking at it as a replacement for my Z7. I knew it was going to be bigger than my Z7 / Z5, but was surprised quite how big and bulky - it felt a lot more like my old D810 than it does to my 2 existing Z bodies. and I'm not sure I liked that.... I didn't get a chance to switch it on or put a lens on it (LCE very conscious of how hard they are to get hold of and how quickly it was likely to sell, so didn't want it to be used at all) so this was based purely on feel. Next time I'm in town (September) then hopefully they'll have more than 1 in stock and I can have a proper play - I'm sure that'll change my mind a bit....

However I went Z for 2 reasons - the main one being to get my camera and lens weights down (I take both colour and infrared bodies plus appropriate lenses everywhere). In my head, I felt like I'd be OK with a little bit of extra weight and bulk, but in practice, now I'm not so sure!!

I did see a rumour of a Z7III with an 80 or 90-odd mp sensor, but also saw that rumour being talked down as the general consensus was that the Z8 probably replaced the Z7 line. I can't help thinking a Z7III type body is probably the camera I'm looking for (landscapes mostly) but have to date purposely overlooked the Z7II as just too similar to the Z7 to be worth the upgrade.

So I'm a bit lost in how to relieve my Nikon shaped GAS now! :ROFLMAO:
(well other than a 20mm F1.8 for astro and a 28-400, which is apparently the holy grail do everything infrared lens I've been looking for)
 
Just to add some thoughts from the other benches, I handled my first Z8 at the recent Wales and West photography show and was pleasantly surprised how manageable and comfortable it was. I shoot with a Z6, which now has an L bracket and feels more substantial, but the Z8 just felt right in my hands. I tried the 135 Plena with it and whilst I wouldn't go trekking up a mountain holding it, I felt it would be more than ok to wander around a town or get up close and personal with some automotive work.

It has done nothing to swerve my thoughts from upgrading from the 6 to the 8, although I would probably keep the 6 as a backup and maybe a smaller travel camera.
 
I was holding out for the Z8 for ages, but was astonished at the launch price in the U.K. so got a Z7ii and 24-120 from Panamoz for less than the cost of the Z8 and still saved over a grand. It felt a little too small in the hand for my liking so I put a hand grip on it and it feels perfect now. But there are a number of features on the Z8 that appeal, although they aren’t game changers and wouldn’t significantly change how I do my photography.
I still wouldn’t mind a Z8 but it’s still bigger and heavier than the Z7ii and hand grip. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing - the reason I changed from the D810 and F mount was to save weight and I’ve done that. But I feel I’d be going backwards with a Z8, although I’m mindful that the Z lenses are smaller and lighter than the F’s.
And yes I do realise the contrarinesses of buying a smaller camera and then making it bigger with a handgrip……..
 
James Blonde said:
Got my hands on a Z8 for the first time yesterday and.... well.... not quite what I was expecting! I've been lusting after the Z8 since it came out, and am seriously looking at it as a replacement for my Z7. I knew it was going to be bigger than my Z7 / Z5, but was surprised quite how big and bulky - it felt a lot more like my old D810 than it does to my 2 existing Z bodies. and I'm not sure I liked that.... I didn't get a chance to switch it on or put a lens on it (LCE very conscious of how hard they are to get hold of and how quickly it was likely to sell, so didn't want it to be used at all) so this was based purely on feel. Next time I'm in town (September) then hopefully they'll have more than 1 in stock and I can have a proper play - I'm sure that'll change my mind a bit....

However I went Z for 2 reasons - the main one being to get my camera and lens weights down (I take both colour and infrared bodies plus appropriate lenses everywhere). In my head, I felt like I'd be OK with a little bit of extra weight and bulk, but in practice, now I'm not so sure!!

I did see a rumour of a Z7III with an 80 or 90-odd mp sensor, but also saw that rumour being talked down as the general consensus was that the Z8 probably replaced the Z7 line. I can't help thinking a Z7III type body is probably the camera I'm looking for (landscapes mostly) but have to date purposely overlooked the Z7II as just too similar to the Z7 to be worth the upgrade.

So I'm a bit lost in how to relieve my Nikon shaped GAS now! :ROFLMAO:
(well other than a 20mm F1.8 for astro and a 28-400, which is apparently the holy grail do everything infrared lens I've been looking for)
Click to expand...
I've suggested this before, but I wouldn't read too much in what Nikon have done in the last few years, because it's only now that they are settling into what looks like a long term model structure. You have seen this before with Nikon. when they "sort of" used the D7xxx range as an interim model for the never produced D400.

My thoughts are that both the Z9 and Z8 are underpriced at the moment, but needed to be, because the Z6/Z7 range didn't compete with Canon and Sony for AF, and Nikon desperately needed Pro level mirrorless replacements for the D6/D850. At the moment the Z8 is bridging the Pro and ProAm space to compete with both the Sony A1 and A7, when really it should only be competing with the Sony A1. As a gripless Z9.

As Nikon get their model structure together. (there are currently three new models registered in China) I expect to see a Z8II and a Z9II with big price increases, which will leave a gap for a higher res Z7III to compete directly with the sony A7 series (size, spec and cost).

But, I also think that in the short term, we will see a Z9II (to compete with Canon R1) before the Z8II, and that the Z8 will stay as a Z7III substitute for a while yet. For me it would make sense for NIkon to release a Z8II and Z7III at the same time.

Having said that, I think the full retail price for the Z8 is still £4000, so there still seems room for a Z7III coming in at around £3000, which feels about right at £400 more than the Z6III. That would also seem to work for Nikon, as it gives a more direct competitor for the A7 satisfies those who feel the Z8 is too big, and it allows Z8 sales to slowly run down, in preparation for a Z8II.

My guess is that will only be a 60mp sensor, maybe a little higher. Nikon have apparently dismissed a very high resolution sensor because of diffraction issues ie they say a 100mp (36mm x 24mm) sensor is diffraction limited at around f4 and don't see that as a workable limitation.

Finally, these are obviously, just my idle thoughts on this, but I feel we need to just wait and see. I also wonder if the same people who are saying the Z8 is the Z7III are the ones who insisted the Z7 was the D850 replacement, when it clearly wasn't..

I like the size of my Z8, and currently, my first choice of a backup Nikon body would be a Zf, It's obviously the first of the Nikon "3rd generation" full frame mirrorless bodies, and doesn't overlap with a future second Z8 body, or maybe Z7III body.
 
I have both the 7 and the 8. The 8 is noticeably heavier and bigger.
IMO you buy the 8 for sports or wildlife. The 8 AF is a lot better than the 7 and is ideal for those 2 uses paired with a big lens.
The 7 is my walk around / general camera mainly combined with the 24-120.
For me the 7ii was not enough of an upgrade to change.
 
James Blonde said:
Got my hands on a Z8 for the first time yesterday and.... well.... not quite what I was expecting! I've been lusting after the Z8 since it came out, and am seriously looking at it as a replacement for my Z7. I knew it was going to be bigger than my Z7 / Z5, but was surprised quite how big and bulky - it felt a lot more like my old D810 than it does to my 2 existing Z bodies. and I'm not sure I liked that.... I didn't get a chance to switch it on or put a lens on it (LCE very conscious of how hard they are to get hold of and how quickly it was likely to sell, so didn't want it to be used at all) so this was based purely on feel. Next time I'm in town (September) then hopefully they'll have more than 1 in stock and I can have a proper play - I'm sure that'll change my mind a bit....

However I went Z for 2 reasons - the main one being to get my camera and lens weights down (I take both colour and infrared bodies plus appropriate lenses everywhere). In my head, I felt like I'd be OK with a little bit of extra weight and bulk, but in practice, now I'm not so sure!!

I did see a rumour of a Z7III with an 80 or 90-odd mp sensor, but also saw that rumour being talked down as the general consensus was that the Z8 probably replaced the Z7 line. I can't help thinking a Z7III type body is probably the camera I'm looking for (landscapes mostly) but have to date purposely overlooked the Z7II as just too similar to the Z7 to be worth the upgrade.

So I'm a bit lost in how to relieve my Nikon shaped GAS now! :ROFLMAO:
(well other than a 20mm F1.8 for astro and a 28-400, which is apparently the holy grail do everything infrared lens I've been looking for)
Click to expand...
Have you looked at the z6iii or are you wanting more megapixels?
 
viewfromthenorth said:
I was holding out for the Z8 for ages, but was astonished at the launch price in the U.K. so got a Z7ii and 24-120 from Panamoz for less than the cost of the Z8 and still saved over a grand. It felt a little too small in the hand for my liking so I put a hand grip on it and it feels perfect now. But there are a number of features on the Z8 that appeal, although they aren’t game changers and wouldn’t significantly change how I do my photography.
I still wouldn’t mind a Z8 but it’s still bigger and heavier than the Z7ii and hand grip. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing - the reason I changed from the D810 and F mount was to save weight and I’ve done that. But I feel I’d be going backwards with a Z8, although I’m mindful that the Z lenses are smaller and lighter than the F’s.
And yes I do realise the contrarinesses of buying a smaller camera and then making it bigger with a handgrip……..
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This - exactly this!!! Although I'm ok with my Z7 without the hand grip, but interesting that it's still smaller!

@trevorbray I think that's my fear, and because I do strap carry so much, I think it would be a step back from what I'd been looking for - so thanks for validating my thought process! :D

@JonnyWhitters I don't think I'm quite put off it completely yet - think I need to have a proper play and compare against my Z7, but need to either hire or find a shop I can get to that has a demo model in stock, and remember to take my Z7 / Z5

@Peter123 I bought my Z7 used after the Z7II came out, and in hindsight that wasn't the best move. My plan at the time was to move to 1 full spectrum body, and my Z5 was the test bed for that (and the Z7 was a stopgap colour body), but it's never really worked out the way I hoped and still actively use both bodies.

@dcash29 hmm.... Do I want more megapixels? Meh, not necessarily - quite happy with 48 (and 24 on the Z5). I think I perhaps want the latest gen innards and faster everything rather than the first gen? Z6III, but especially the Zf (perhaps bizarrely!) are appealing but I don't think I'd want to lose the 48mp I've got. I'd have been all over a 48mp Zf! I do print panos on 24" roll paper, so (excuse the pun) it's more than just a paper exercise (or it's completely a paper exercise - whatever!)

@myotis I think I just wish the Zf was a 48mp body and I'd have been all over it! But I like your analysis - though pushes the Z7III out a bit further than I'd perhaps want to wait. BUT.... is this just a bad case of GAS, and I can somehow avoid scratching the itch, or just buy a lens instead? it's hard to find infrared compatible Z lenses... hmmm! :ROFLMAO:
 
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James Blonde said:
This - exactly this!!! Although I'm ok with my Z7 without the hand grip, but interesting that it's still smaller!

@trevorbray I think that's my fear, and because I do strap carry so much, I think it would be a step back from what I'd been looking for - so thanks for validating my thought process! :D

@JonnyWhitters I don't think I'm quite put off it completely yet - think I need to have a proper play and compare against my Z7, but need to either hire or find a shop I can get to that has a demo model in stock, and remember to take my Z7 / Z5

@Peter123 I bought my Z7 used after the Z7II came out, and in hindsight that wasn't the best move. My plan at the time was to move to 1 full spectrum body, and my Z5 was the test bed for that (and the Z7 was a stopgap colour body), but it's never really worked out the way I hoped and still actively use both bodies.

@dcash29 hmm.... Do I want more megapixels? Meh, not necessarily - quite happy with 48 (and 24 on the Z5). I think I perhaps want the latest gen innards and faster everything rather than the first gen? Z6III, but especially the Zf (perhaps bizarrely!) are appealing but I don't think I'd want to lose the 48mp I've got. I'd have been all over a 48mp Zf! I do print panos on 24" roll paper, so (excuse the pun) it's more than just a paper exercise (or it's completely a paper exercise - whatever!)

@myotis I think I just wish the Zf was a 48mp body and I'd have been all over it! But I like your analysis - though pushes the Z7III out a bit further than I'd perhaps want to wait. BUT.... is this just a bad case of GAS, and I can somehow avoid scratching the itch, or just buy a lens instead? it's hard to find infrared compatible Z lenses... hmmm! :ROFLMAO:
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How do you do your panos? Just a crop, or are you doing multi-image. I think the Zf, probably suits 24mp as in my mind a sort of street photography camera, but....

For pano, pixel shift and (not at the same time) a proper pano rig (e.g. https://novoflex.co.uk/panorama/) possibly negates the need for more pixels, and makes the Zf more generally useful.

If you don't have a posh pano rig, maybe getting one would fill the gas void.

I keep on meaning to try the pixel shift with the Z8 using long exposures, so the blurring of movement looks more like a long exposure rather than the weird multiple imaging you see..
 
@myotis maybe I do need to have a closer look at the Zf. I might also have a look at a pano head. My problem is that I'm the laziest of lazy photographers ever - I generally shot them hand held (multi shot) and then crop. I'm also the person who carries a ton of stuff in my camera bag and then never uses it. Partly through necessity (my wife hates me stopping to take photos) and partly through sheer laziness.
 
James Blonde said:
@myotis maybe I do need to have a closer look at the Zf. I might also have a look at a pano head. My problem is that I'm the laziest of lazy photographers ever - I generally shot them hand held (multi shot) and then crop. I'm also the person who carries a ton of stuff in my camera bag and then never uses it. Partly through necessity (my wife hates me stopping to take photos) and partly through sheer laziness.
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I have some sympathy with that. My photography is fairly well segmented.

1. "Proper" photography, whatever that actually means, which is when I'm on my own doing landscape photography with a tripod and prime lenses. This is when I do my limited pano work, and would use pixel shift. I like the process of taking photographs, I like spending time exploring the subject, weighing up composition options, setting up the tripod, working out the best exposure, deciding on what lens I am going to use, etc etc. This ritual is an important part of making a photograph for me.

2. Bird and other wildlife, Ideally, I would like do this on my own, but as this is shared interest, and something my wife and I do together (the watching bit). With this I'm mainly restricted to grabbing shots while birdwatching, even though we do spend short periods of time in the same spot. I nearly always have a monopod for this and usually a single camera (now the Z8) +long (ish) lens along with a Fuji X100s in my pocket for grabbing landscape/people shots.

If I want to spend a bit longer in one place than she does, she has a poetry book in her bag that she pulls out, assuming there is a place to sit.. But, I can't concentrate on the photography unless I'm on my own. My wife knows this and encourages me to go out on my own for wildlife photography, but as it's something we have done together since before we were married, and the real interest is the wildlife rather than the photography, I feel guilty about going out on my own.

3. Everyday photography, which again is usually with my wife while shopping, visiting gadens, historical properties, walking along the coast etc, This is also grab shots, normally with either with a Fuji X100s, or one of my Nikons with a 24-120 f4. (I ofen carry a 300mm f4 as well, just in case there is a wildlife opportunity). This is nearly always handheld and I carry as little kit as possible. This is In stark contrast to my "proper photography" and I rather enjoy this minimal kit, grab shot approach.

I have had two attempts at using an Olympus outfit for this Everyday stuff, but never managed ot warm to it, and my latest m43 outfit, based on an EM1.3, was traded in for the Z8.
 
James Blonde said:
@myotis maybe I do need to have a closer look at the Zf. I might also have a look at a pano head. My problem is that I'm the laziest of lazy photographers ever - I generally shot them hand held (multi shot) and then crop. I'm also the person who carries a ton of stuff in my camera bag and then never uses it. Partly through necessity (my wife hates me stopping to take photos) and partly through sheer laziness.
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I too only shoot my panos hand-held. But I hold the camera vertically to give the best resolution when stitched. OK, you have to take more shots, but it works. This was about 15 shots, but with some cropping at each end once stitched. Zf with 24-200.

Loch Spelve Panorama by Stephen Lee, on Flickr
 
Stephen L said:
I too only shoot my panos hand-held. But I hold the camera vertically to give the best resolution when stitched. OK, you have to take more shots, but it works. This was about 15 shots, but with some cropping at each end once stitched. Zf with 24-200.

Loch Spelve Panorama by Stephen Lee, on Flickr
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Although, I've never done a handheld pano, I have always used the camera vertically. Isn't using the camera vertically, the "standard" approach?
 
myotis said:
Although, I've never done a handheld pano, I have always used the camera vertically. Isn't using the camera vertically, the "standard" approach?
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Should be, but I've seen some doing otherwise.
 
myotis said:
Thanks, I only occasionally do a pano and not really paid much attention to how people do it.
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I use both but with the Fuji cameras you can use in either vertical or horizontal mode and it makes a passable panorama in handheld mode. For critical work I would use my Nikon Z7 or Z9 in either orientation on a tripod.
 
jknights said:
I use both but with the Fuji cameras you can use in either vertical or horizontal mode and it makes a passable panorama in handheld mode. For critical work I would use my Nikon Z7 or Z9 in either orientation on a tripod.
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In my ignorance, I'm not sure I knew you could do panos in-camera.

I started out with the camera vertical purely to keep it level, while still keeping taller things in frame. But then I'm not doing grand vistas, but closer up things where I don't like the perspective from wide angle lenses, and prefer a pano - effect.
 
myotis said:
In my ignorance, I'm not sure I knew you could do panos in-camera.

I started out with the camera vertical purely to keep it level, while still keeping taller things in frame. But then I'm not doing grand vistas, but closer up things where I don't like the perspective from wide angle lenses, and prefer a pano - effect.
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I believe some cameras, and most mobile telephones, have that feature but it's only for Jpegs, which I never shoot.
 
Stephen L said:
I believe some cameras, and most mobile telephones, have that feature but it's only for Jpegs, which I never shoot.
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I was aware of it in mobile phones, and thinking about it a bit more I was probably also aware t was available in some camera, but wouldn't have paid much attention if it was jpeg only. Coming from the days of film, taking and processing are all rolled into one for me, so I am strongly wedded to raw.
 
James Blonde said:
This - exactly this!!! Although I'm ok with my Z7 without the hand grip, but interesting that it's still smaller!

@trevorbray I think that's my fear, and because I do strap carry so much, I think it would be a step back from what I'd been looking for - so thanks for validating my thought process! :D

@JonnyWhitters I don't think I'm quite put off it completely yet - think I need to have a proper play and compare against my Z7, but need to either hire or find a shop I can get to that has a demo model in stock, and remember to take my Z7 / Z5

@Peter123 I bought my Z7 used after the Z7II came out, and in hindsight that wasn't the best move. My plan at the time was to move to 1 full spectrum body, and my Z5 was the test bed for that (and the Z7 was a stopgap colour body), but it's never really worked out the way I hoped and still actively use both bodies.

@dcash29 hmm.... Do I want more megapixels? Meh, not necessarily - quite happy with 48 (and 24 on the Z5). I think I perhaps want the latest gen innards and faster everything rather than the first gen? Z6III, but especially the Zf (perhaps bizarrely!) are appealing but I don't think I'd want to lose the 48mp I've got. I'd have been all over a 48mp Zf! I do print panos on 24" roll paper, so (excuse the pun) it's more than just a paper exercise (or it's completely a paper exercise - whatever!)

@myotis I think I just wish the Zf was a 48mp body and I'd have been all over it! But I like your analysis - though pushes the Z7III out a bit further than I'd perhaps want to wait. BUT.... is this just a bad case of GAS, and I can somehow avoid scratching the itch, or just buy a lens instead? it's hard to find infrared compatible Z lenses... hmmm! :ROFLMAO:
Click to expand...
Yeah, the dreaded wish list. We'll all be dead before the ideal camera comes along.
 
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