Nikon Z* mirrorless

imattersuk said:
If you’re buying in the UK speak to the guys at Chiswick Cameras, they are both into bird photography big time, I think one uses a Z8 and the other OM System. I’ve seen some huge prints of their work, very impressive.
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Andy Sands at Chiswick is a top bloke, but I am not sure whether they deal with Nikon much... if they don't I would suggest Cambrian in Colwyn Bay, Sarah and her team always strive to give us the best deals.
 
Z9 firmware v5.30 updated but as yet untested.
 
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I've not got a mirrorless, but out of interest does the latest firmware change to the d6iii and z5ii allow AI/AIS lenses to focus at a lower aperture than you take the picture with (like a DSLR does).
 
Done my Z9 as well - all seems well, and it's so nice to have the subject detection options on a button now.
 
Erty said:
I've not got a mirrorless, but out of interest does the latest firmware change to the d6iii and z5ii allow AI/AIS lenses to focus at a lower aperture than you take the picture with (like a DSLR does).
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No. It’s a feature that’s mechanical not firmware driven. Not supported by the FTZ adapter. Use of these lenses is fully manual. You can set up non CPU lenses in the Menu. As indeed you can with DSLR Nikons.
 
trevorbray said:
No. It’s a feature that’s mechanical not firmware driven. Not supported by the FTZ adapter. Use of these lenses is fully manual. You can set up non CPU lenses in the Menu. As indeed you can with DSLR Nikons.
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I was hoping that the camera could operate the aperture link as the mechanical control to do this is identical on lenses going from AI to AF-S. If it works on a AF-D or AF-S lens then it could work on an AI lens for accurate focussing.

New Custom Setting: a14 “Maximum Aperture Lv”

onlinemanual.nikonimglib.com onlinemanual.nikonimglib.com
 
Erty said:
I was hoping that the camera could operate the aperture link as the mechanical control to do this is identical on lenses going from AI to AF-S. If it works on a AF-D or AF-S lens then it could work on an AI lens for accurate focussing.

New Custom Setting: a14 “Maximum Aperture Lv”

onlinemanual.nikonimglib.com onlinemanual.nikonimglib.com
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It’d be good. But sadly not to be. Unless someone makes an adapter that supports it…haven’t looked to see.
 
Nikon version Viltrox 35mm f1.2 LAB @ £911 with discount code.
 
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trevorbray said:
It’d be good. But sadly not to be. Unless someone makes an adapter that supports it…haven’t looked to see.
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It should be possible to get the FTZ adaptor to do it (and put a "wide open" option on a function button) but since Nikon don't sell manual lenses any more, why would they.
 
Tested out the Z9 yesterday at lunchtime with the new 5.3 firmware. Didn't have much time, and I don't know if it's me wanting to see a difference, but I spotted 2 Jays in a gorse bush, heavily covered by lots of branches, and not only did the Z9 pick them up, but immediately went straight to the eye. It might just me me having not used the Z9 for about a month or so, but I don't recall it's bird detection being that tenacious and sticky. Even the supposed king of AF i.e. Sony (with my A7RV), didn't fair any better and in fact lost the bird more than once due to the branches. To be fair though, the bird was slightly smaller in the frame on the A7RV, due to me not having as long as lens with me at the time (I had the Z 400mm F4.5 with the 1.4x Converter on the Z9 at the time).

Like I say though, it could be a placebo affect and I'm just looking for improvements (not that it was ever bad of course) ?
 
Sootchucker said:
Tested out the Z9 yesterday at lunchtime with the new 5.3 firmware. Didn't have much time, and I don't know if it's me wanting to see a difference, but I spotted 2 Jays in a gorse bush, heavily covered by lots of branches, and not only did the Z9 pick them up, but immediately went straight to the eye. It might just me me having not used the Z9 for about a month or so, but I don't recall it's bird detection being that tenacious and sticky. Even the supposed king of AF i.e. Sony (with my A7RV), didn't fair any better and in fact lost the bird more than once due to the branches. To be fair though, the bird was slightly smaller in the frame on the A7RV, due to me not having as long as lens with me at the time (I had the Z 400mm F4.5 with the 1.4x Converter on the Z9 at the time).

Like I say though, it could be a placebo affect and I'm just looking for improvements (not that it was ever bad of course) ?
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My friend has the Z9 and updated the firmware. He told me last night that he tested it out and for him, he felt there was an improvement in both acquiring and maintaining focus.
Hopefully this focus improvement makes it way to the Z8 soon.
 
Speaking of Viltrox, has anyone got the Viltrox 135mm f/1.8 LAB?
It can be had for a very reasonable amount of money (£619 from Cotswold) and was wondering about real world use.
Has the AF improved with recent firmware updates, aquiring and maintaining focus?

Having had the Sigma 135mm ART for my D850 and seeing that it wasn't used an awful lot, I wouldn't want to be buying the Plena.
 
wilt said:
Speaking of Viltrox, has anyone got the Viltrox 135mm f/1.8 LAB?
It can be had for a very reasonable amount of money (£619 from Cotswold) and was wondering about real world use.
Has the AF improved with recent firmware updates, aquiring and maintaining focus?

Having had the Sigma 135mm ART for my D850 and seeing that it wasn't used an awful lot, I wouldn't want to be buying the Plena.
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Actually a bit cheaper at Park cameras £598.40 with code
Park Cameras
 
What would be your choice and why? Nikon Z 85mm f1.8, Nikon 85mm f1.4 AF-S NIKKOR or Viltrox 85mm f1.4 Pro. I just cannot decide… leaning towards the Viltrox but reviews say the older NIKKOR version was the danglies. I want to use mostly for street portraiture and general street work. TIA.
 
Gandalf said:
What would be your choice and why? Nikon Z 85mm f1.8, Nikon 85mm f1.4 AF-S NIKKOR or Viltrox 85mm f1.4 Pro. I just cannot decide… leaning towards the Viltrox but reviews say the older NIKKOR version was the danglies. I want to use mostly for street portraiture and general street work. TIA.
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F1.8. Lighter version for on the street. The 1.4 is large and heavier and the older Nikon needs adapter
 
Gandalf said:
What would be your choice and why? Nikon Z 85mm f1.8, Nikon 85mm f1.4 AF-S NIKKOR or Viltrox 85mm f1.4 Pro. I just cannot decide… leaning towards the Viltrox but reviews say the older NIKKOR version was the danglies. I want to use mostly for street portraiture and general street work. TIA.
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The fabled Nikkor 85mm Cream Machine is AF-D and won’t auto focus on Z bodies.
I’d opt for the Viltrox.
 
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Just been reviewing the Z50 mkii , thinking about replacing the D500 with it . I currently have quite a few F mount lenses with it and it should give me faster fps (15) and bird I.d ..any users on here , the price range is attractive to Wex are doing a good deal for one with two lenses but there website is currently down grrrr .any advice welcome
And yes I know al about Cotswold etc prices
 
I have one. It’s smaller and lighter than the D500. It does not have IBIS.
I have a Z8 so I’ve not used it for wildlife.
Af is not as fast as Z8. Still, it has bird ID.
I’ve just tried it with the FTZ 2 and 70-300 Vr attached and it picked up a crow flying past very quickly.
 
the black fox said:
Just been reviewing the Z50 mkii , thinking about replacing the D500 with it . I currently have quite a few F mount lenses with it and it should give me faster fps (15) and bird I.d ..any users on here , the price range is attractive to Wex are doing a good deal for one with two lenses but there website is currently down grrrr .any advice welcome
And yes I know al about Cotswold etc prices
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I can't say all that much about the Z50II, as I've not used it all that much. I bought it with the 50-250 as an "easy carry" with other gear, to grab opportunistic wildlife pictures. In particular, dragonfly pictures to help with ID.

It does well for this, and the subject detection seems pretty good. It has also grabbed some flying dragonfly pictures, which I don't think I would have got at all with the D500. Not great pictures but perfectly good enough to clearly identify the species (dragonfly. too far away, dull weather and 50-250 at 250 and wide open. Overall with birds and dragonflies it seems to track pretty well.

I haven't made any direct comparisons with my Z8 (which replaced my D500), but the Z50II isn't obviously that much worse than my experience with the Z8. My feeling is that it won't be as good as the Z8 when pushed. but with the 50-250 Z lens, and the 300mm f4 PF +FTZ it comes across as being very competent.

I find it a bit small and fiddly compared to the D500, but that was the same reason I couldn't get on with the Olympus EM1 mk III. I miss the top LED to see my settings and I also miss having memory banks available. Neither matters all that much for what I use the Z50II for, but I would badly miss them if the Z50II was my main camera.
 
the black fox said:
Just been reviewing the Z50 mkii , thinking about replacing the D500 with it . I currently have quite a few F mount lenses with it and it should give me faster fps (15) and bird I.d ..any users on here , the price range is attractive to Wex are doing a good deal for one with two lenses but there website is currently down grrrr .any advice welcome
And yes I know al about Cotswold etc prices
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I had a couple of D500's through the years as they were fantastic cameras and built very well.
I have a Z50II and it's a great camera but by moving you'll miss the rear joystick for moving autofocus points, 1/8000th sec shutter speed, dual card slots, battery life, build quality and size.
Not that the Z50II isn't built well, it's just the D500 felt tanky in the hand and this is brings me to my pet peeves of the Z50II, it's tiny size. Good for weight but very awkward to hold and with no offical grip, it's too small in my opinion and it's poor battery life.
You will gain better autofocus and open the door to the fantastic Z mount lenses.

I bought my Z50II through Nikon UK as refurbished and when it arrived it had never been used.
They often run a refurbished discount offer every so often and it's a bit of potluck whats available.
 
Cheers already been warned re the non blackout issues , still keeping my olympus
gear so it won’t be a main camera anyway , will also be looking through alternative Z models later before doing anything price range and specs wise
 
discounted that one now looking at a Z6mkii instead … ANY COMMENTS PLEAS
 
the black fox said:
discounted that one now looking at a Z6mkii instead … ANY COMMENTS PLEAS
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Bought the Z6 III and 400 f/4.5 to go along with the Z8, great combo for low light with what is quite a cheap f/4.5 lens, Z6 III better in low light due to fewer megapixels, light combo to carry around. Russ.
 
russellsnr said:
Bought the Z6 III and 400 f/4.5 to go along with the Z8, great combo for low light with what is quite a cheap f/4.5 lens, Z6 III better in low light due to fewer megapixels, light combo to carry around. Russ.
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Yeah. But Jeff is looking at the MKii. It’s sensor has no stacking.
 
Given up on the idea now ,just having madcap ideas swmbo just put her foot down with a big No no more cameras ,,
Said sfa about computers though LOL
 
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