Nikon Z* mirrorless

chris321 said:
How d

How different did you find the bird specific mode vs the regular animals mode (which I think still recognised birds anyway if I remember correctly) ?
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Hi @chris321 I went into the hills and switched between Auto and Bird modes. Whilst I have plenty of photographs, I can not remember which is which. BUT I will say that the Bird setting picked up the bird every time. It was noticeably different to the Auto setting. Sorry to be so vague.
 
Phiggys said:
First image with z24-200mm lens not to shabby
View: https://flic.kr/p/2mtTj7c
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I use the 24-200 all the time. I'd buy a different lens if I felt I needed it, but for now, I think it is great. Love the Schnauzer.

Here is Domino, heralding from American stock.

54787622837_772ea6ded8_b.jpg
 
I had the 12-200 for a short while (swapped it for the 24-120 F4). However whilst I did have it, I found it to be a really nice walkabout lens, especially on the 1st Gen bodies (il.e. Z6 (I & II) and the Z7 (I & II), as these smaller and lighter bodies were ideally suited to a superzoom. Its was a very decent lens.
 
Going to Tanzania early next year, i have a z50 ii , z6iii, z7. Now, do i get a sigma 100-400 and take my 500mm pf +tc for anything where i need longer reach or just get the 180-600? Really in a dilemma with this one
 
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The 180-600 (at least my copy), is a superb lens and mine is very sharp across all focal lengths, my only issues with it are that a) it's a big unit and only one of my camera bags will accommodate it with a body attached, and two) it's a heavy old beast.

If I'm going somewhere will the sole purpose of shooting wildlife and I need the versality of a zoom, then even with the aforementioned points, it's the one I'll go to, but for everything else it will either stay at home or I'll use my Nikon Z 400mm F4.5 and perhaps the 1.4x converter to get me to 600mm (ish) still at F6.3. That lens is much lighter and smaller (1950g vs 1160g, and 316mm long vs 235mm long without the hoods respectively). The 400mm F4.5 is a sharper lens and slightly quicker to focus without the converter and about the same as the 180-600 with the 1.4x converter at 560mm.
 
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Sootchucker said:
The 180-600 (at least my copy), is a superb lens and mine is very sharp across all focal lengths, my only issues with it are that a) it's a big unit and only one of my camera bags will accommodate it with a body attached, and two) it's a heavy old beast.

If I'm going somewhere will the sole purpose of shooting wildlife and I need the versality of a zoom, then even with the aforementioned points, it's the one I'll go to, but for everything else it will either stay at home or I'll use my Nikon Z 400mm F4.5 and perhaps the 1.4x converter to get me to 600mm (ish) still at F6.3. That lens is much lighter and smaller (1950g vs 1160g, and 316mm long vs 235mm long without the hoods respectively). The 400mm F4.5 is a sharper lens and slightly quicker to focus without the converter and about the same as the 180-600 with the 1.4x converter at 560mm.
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I got blocked from a Facebook Z9 group because I mentioned about the 180-600 lens having known issues regarding how sharp it was. The admin who ran it asked me to produce data to back up my statement and I just laughed it off with a comment. I then got blocked from using the group which I found even funnier. It's one of the reasons why it's stopped me from buying it.
 
It took me 2 copies to get me an acceptably sharp one. My first (weirdly direct from Nikon UK), was never totally tack sharp at the long end (fine at the shorter end).

The second version some weeks later from WEX, was more than acceptable to me. Sure it's no 400mm F2.8 level of sharpness but then it's about 1/7th the cost !!

Here's a couple from mine on a Z9 at 600mm. Sure, it's not prime sharp, but for a sub £1600 non S Line zoom, it about what I expected and required.



 
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Sootchucker said:
It took me 2 copies to get me an acceptably sharp one. My first (weirdly direct from Nikon UK), was never totally tack sharp at the long end (fine at the shorter end).

The second version some weeks later from WEX, was more than acceptable to me. Sure it's no 400mm F2.8 level of sharpness but then it's about 1/7th the cost !!

Here's a couple from mine on a Z9 at 600mm. Sure, it's not prime sharp, but for a sub £1600 non S Line zoom, it about what I expected and required.



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Dont think my F mount 400mm f2.8 AFS would have been any sharper.
Great work, that is the Z mount 180-600?
 
This is an interesting announcement, might look to pick one of these up when they're available:

nikonrumors.com

Venus Optics Laowa 180mm f/4.5 APO CA-Dreamer 1.5X ultra macro full-frame autofocus lens for Nikon Z-mount - Nikon Rumors

The previously reported Laowa 180mm f/4.5 APO CA-Dreamer 1.5X ultra macro full-frame autofocus lens for Nikon Z-mount by Venus Optics is now officially announced. The price is $499, and pre-orders are now open at B&H Photo. International shipping is available on the official Laowa online store...
nikonrumors.com nikonrumors.com

I've resisted the temptation to invest in a Z-mount macro lens up to now as there's nothing in the current or announced Nikon options that would replace my F-mount 105mm macro + TC's adequately (and they often get left at home as the weight distribution/balance isn't great via the FTZ). Price and weight both seem reasonable given the focal length
 
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Sootchucker said:
It took me 2 copies to get me an acceptably sharp one. My first (weirdly direct from Nikon UK), was never totally tack sharp at the long end (fine at the shorter end).

The second version some weeks later from WEX, was more than acceptable to me. Sure it's no 400mm F2.8 level of sharpness but then it's about 1/7th the cost !!

Here's a couple from mine on a Z9 at 600mm. Sure, it's not prime sharp, but for a sub £1600 non S Line zoom, it about what I expected and required.
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Nice shots - how do you feel it compares with the 500mm PF?
 
I must have been lucky with the 180-600 as mine is sharp wide open.
 
Gold said:
Nice shots - how do you feel it compares with the 500mm PF?
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Perhaps not quite as sharp as the 500PF and the 500mm is quite a bit smaller and nearly half a kilo lighter !

So whilst the 500 in real terms is probably a better lens, sometimes you can’t beat the convenience of a zoom (and the extra 100mm of length).
 
Sootchucker said:
The 180-600 (at least my copy), is a superb lens and mine is very sharp across all focal lengths, my only issues with it are that a) it's a big unit and only one of my camera bags will accommodate it with a body attached, and two) it's a heavy old beast.

If I'm going somewhere will the sole purpose of shooting wildlife and I need the versality of a zoom, then even with the aforementioned points, it's the one I'll go to, but for everything else it will either stay at home or I'll use my Nikon Z 400mm F4.5 and perhaps the 1.4x converter to get me to 600mm (ish) still at F6.3. That lens is much lighter and smaller (1950g vs 1160g, and 316mm long vs 235mm long without the hoods respectively). The 400mm F4.5 is a sharper lens and slightly quicker to focus without the converter and about the same as the 180-600 with the 1.4x converter at 560mm.
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That’s a good comparison/review. A friend got the 180-600 and seems to like it too. For me it’s too long and heavy. After having the Nikon 200-400 f4 years ago and having a love/hate relationship with it due its long length and weight that’s now a big part of my decision making on kit.

I originally picked up a 100-400 (which is a good alternative to the 180-600 if you want a zoom that’s smaller and lighter) but later swapped to the 400mm f4.5. I do at times miss having a zoom, but the size and weight of the 400mm f4.5 makes up for it. It’s sharper and gives a good background.

It surprises me that I can hold it low to the ground and use the rear screen yet still get get sharp images even below 1/focal length rule on the Z8.


I’ve been out this morning photographing wildlife for nearly the first time in a year. I’m totally out of touch setting up the Z8 for wildlife having mainly done landscapes.

Trying to find how to reset the Z8 to auto iso took a while! I swear I had an easy way to change to animal AF with eye AF. Ive manage to get it set to the lens button again but I thought I’d had it set up another way. I’m not sure if I should set the camera to large area Af with animal AF set and use the lens button to quickly change to a single point/small area AF in case the animal AF isn’t working out. I use back mutton focus so I can’t use a button on the camera. What do others do?
 
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Sootchucker said:
Perhaps not quite as sharp as the 500PF and the 500mm is quite a bit smaller and nearly half a kilo lighter !

So whilst the 500 in real terms is probably a better lens, sometimes you can’t beat the convenience of a zoom (and the extra 100mm of length).
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I looked at the 500mmPF as it’s known to be a great and high performing lens. The only thing that stopped me was that it wasn’t a native Z mount lens. Shame really.
 
But to be honest the 500pf with the FTZ adapter on my Nikon Z bodies works better (quicker to focus and no front/back focussing) than it ever did on my F mount DSLR’s
 
On the Nikon Zf, is there a way of running playback from the menu?

I want to use the playback button as a function button to open to "my menu", but can't figure out how to then run playback. It's not something I do very often, but it can still be useful occasionally.

I am having the same issue with the "display cycling" button. It is another one of the few customisable buttons on the Zf, but I can't work out how to change the display if I use this button for something else. Again, it's not something I do very often, but still something I want to change occasionally. Though, I could probably work out a "single" display option that could be a permanent compromise.

However, ideally, I would like to access both functions through the "i menu" or "my menu"
 
Sootchucker said:
But to be honest the 500pf with the FTZ adapter on my Nikon Z bodies works better (quicker to focus and no front/back focussing) than it ever did on my F mount DSLR’s
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It’s more of a longevity thing on my part than any slight on the lens. When I was buying back into Nikon I had no F mount lenses so it didn’t feel right buying older F mount lenses. If I still had F mount lenses when i bought into the Z mount I probably wouldn't have bothered buying Z mount equivalents for those F mount lenses.
 
A couple of Red Deer stags taken at my local deer park this morning.

Red Deer Stag 1 by -Rob'81-

Red Deer Stag 2 by -Rob'81-

It was nice to get out early with the camera photographing wildlife having not spent much time doing so in the last year.

The mornings are definitely starting to get cooler, although not as cold as I remember in previous years.

Every time I pick up the Z8 and 400 f4.5 it still amazes me how good and easy it makes photography.
 
Sootchucker said:
But to be honest the 500pf with the FTZ adapter on my Nikon Z bodies works better (quicker to focus and no front/back focussing) than it ever did on my F mount DSLR’s
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Mine works better from an AF performance perspective on the Z8 than it ever did on a D500/D850. The only issue I have with the longer lenses on the FTZ is that it alters the balance a bit. Still, the 500 PF is excellent VFM given the silly low used prices
 
rob-nikon said:
That’s a good comparison/review. A friend got the 180-600 and seems to like it too. For me it’s too long and heavy. After having the Nikon 200-400 f4 years ago and having a love/hate relationship with it due its long length and weight that’s now a big part of my decision making on kit.

I originally picked up a 100-400 (which is a good alternative to the 180-600 if you want a zoom that’s smaller and lighter) but later swapped to the 400mm f4.5. I do at times miss having a zoom, but the size and weight of the 400mm f4.5 makes up for it. It’s sharper and gives a good background.

It surprises me that I can hold it low to the ground and use the rear screen yet still get get sharp images even below 1/focal length rule on the Z8.


I’ve been out this morning photographing wildlife for nearly the first time in a year. I’m totally out of touch setting up the Z8 for wildlife having mainly done landscapes.

Trying to find how to reset the Z8 to auto iso took a while! I swear I had an easy way to change to animal AF with eye AF. Ive manage to get it set to the lens button again but I thought I’d had it set up another way. I’m not sure if I should set the camera to large area Af with animal AF set and use the lens button to quickly change to a single point/small area AF in case the animal AF isn’t working out. I use back mutton focus so I can’t use a button on the camera. What do others do?
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There's a Steve Perry YT video on Z8 setup for wildlife which is worth a watch. I've got one of the function buttons set to take me into that particular menu item and use the video record button to cycle through the AF area modes
 
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Anyone tried that new Tamron 16-30mm G2 lens for Z?
 
OK, this might seem a strange question, but when I'm shooting video on my Sony Cameras, I'm usually shooting in their S-Cinetone picture mode, which gives a really nice out of camera cinematic look with very little post processing required.

I know I can't 100% emulate this on Nikon Z cameras, but I was wondering if anyone knew where I might start developing a new picture profile that matches something similar on my Z bodies ?
 
Sootchucker said:
OK, this might seem a strange question, but when I'm shooting video on my Sony Cameras, I'm usually shooting in their S-Cinetone picture mode, which gives a really nice out of camera cinematic look with very little post processing required.

I know I can't 100% emulate this on Nikon Z cameras, but I was wondering if anyone knew where I might start developing a new picture profile that matches something similar on my Z bodies ?
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The neutral picture profile is quite close I think, as a starting point. That or the flat picture profile.
 
@mav That’s a lovely sharp picture.
 
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A couple of ‘action shots’ taken this evening. It wasn’t a proper fight as these two are quite young. Sadly they were in the nice light at appeared in places.

Training fight 1 by -Rob'81-

Training fight 2 by -Rob'81-

I’m still getting used to the Z8 & 400 f4.5 but it still amazes me how good the results it can give. Animal AF has totally changed how to shoot compared to DSLR days.
 
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Son_of_Thor said:
Another from our Summer Scotland trip, Torren Lochan around lunchtime. Z8 and Z 14-24 S

Torren Lochan Summer reflections by Simon Lundbeck, on Flickr
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Some excellent photos with the 14-24 f2.8.

You give me some excellent advice on the 14-24mm lens a good few weeks ago on here. Anyway I ordered the lens from Cotswold Cameras on 21/8 and I had a notification from DHL the lens was due for delivery the following Thursday 28th. I checked the tracking on the 27th to find the lens had been pulled and was being returned to supplier. Contacted Cotswold and they advised PayPal had blocked the payment. Contacted PayPal and they advised the payment had gone to Cotswold. Cotswold stated they hadn't received the money, back and for for nearly two weeks as we were going on holidays for a fortnight on Sept 13th.

@phinix Due to it being so close to the holidays I ended up buying the Tamron 16-30mm f2.8 lens from Carmarthen Cameras and had next day delivery on Sept 11th so just in time for my holiday. From initial impressions it seems it will be a good lens and I'll keep it. So will save a few quid and buy from Panamoz the Nikon Z 24-70mm f2.8 V2 lens when the prices start to fall.

I had my refund from PayPal on 1/10 after raising a dispute not sure what the problem was but very annoying for me. Anyone else having or had similar problems?
 
pete 1 said:
Going to Tanzania early next year, i have a z50 ii , z6iii, z7. Now, do i get a sigma 100-400 and take my 500mm pf +tc for anything where i need longer reach or just get the 180-600? Really in a dilemma with this one
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I would get the 180 - 600mm thats the lens I use 90% of the time the other 10% I use 600mm f/6.3 and the 24-120 f/4
 

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NP3 "recipe" files. Having difficulty getting them onto my Zfc. I seem to follow all the right steps by placing them on the root path on the SD card, but when I go into the menus and try to upload from memory card, it keeps saying nothing found?

I've also downloaded and made an account for the Nc Studio software, but can't see on there where the official Nikon marketplace for NP3 files are?

Any help gratefully appreciated.
 
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