Nikon Z* mirrorless

Speaking of Viltrox, I just bought the 16mm f/1.8 direct from Viltrox UK with the discount code that splashes up on their website, valid for the whole of January, saved nearly £80 off the list price of £533. Makes the 2nd-hand ones at MPB seem a tad over-expensive:D Delivery is Wednesday, and I'm off to the Alps at the weekend. Should be a fun trip!!
 
Sootchucker said:
HI all. Before I go to the effort of creating new for sale threads for the below items, I wanted to gauge if there was any interest in the below. If so, please state which and I'll create a for sale thread with all relevant photos etc. I'ave already had sale prices from various companies, and if no interest here in a week or so, I'll ship them off.

So I have for sale

Nikon AF-S 500mm f5.6E PF ED VR Lens - Boxed with all accessories - hardly used and purchased by me new in the UK. About as mint as you are going to find this lens and razor sharp.

Nikon AF-S 300mm f4E PF VR Lens - Boxed with all accessories - hardly used and purchased by me new in the UK. About as mint as you are going to find this lens and razor sharp.

Nikon TC 14E III - Teleconverter - In excellent condition. Purchased new in the UK by me some years ago. Currently unboxed by I do think I have the box in theft (I'll look)

Nikon Z30 with 16-50 lens kit. In mint condition. Fully boxed with all accessories and including 3rd party battery charger and 2 aftermarket batteries (as well as the original Nikon one). Also has the SmallRig hot shoe mounted wind muffler for the microphones.

Nikon 12-28mm f3.5-5.6 PZ VR DX Z lens - this was an impulse purchase by me brand new 18 months ago for the Z30 above, and the lens has never left the house. Absolutelty mint and fully boxed etc.

Just let me know please and I'll create a proper for sale thread in the Nikon section for anything anyone is interested in ?

​

Click to expand...
Please list all items ,both me and my son use Nikon
 
my thoughts on A/F with the Z6ii after a couple of weeks .... I have to admit that I have been struggling to pin down the best way to do b.i.f with the z6ii im currently using a 200-500 vr with FTZii adaptor which is a big lump hand held but finally getting there .. the combo is sharp no doubt about that but its not intuitive I realised a major problem today with the EVF in that it was turning off every time I took my eye off it ,so have now extended the keep on time to 30mins hope this cures it , I find that as long as you lock initial focus it tends to stay locked on ..tracked . the images are nice and sharp and this is just a small selection .. hopefully I will be getting a 180-600 in the near future to increase /better my results . still can't make up my mind on front or BBF or which focus points work best once inhale mastered it I will input to a couple of custom modes . I also find that despite what I was told that sport mode i.s is the best for moving targets as the e.v.f tends to jump in normal mode .. but so far I'm loving this camera . any hints or tips from long term users welcome
anyway here's three from today
screamers by jeff cohen, on Flickr
fly by by jeff cohen, on Flickr
turd bird by jeff cohen, on Flickr
 
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the black fox said:
my thoughts on A/F with the Z6ii after a couple of weeks .... I have to admit that I have been struggling to pin down the best way to do b.i.f with the z6ii im currently using a 200-500 vr with FTZii adaptor which is a big lump hand held but finally getting there .. the combo is sharp no doubt about that but its not intuitive I realised a major problem today with the EVF in that it was turning off every time I took my eye off it ,so have now extended the keep on time to 30mins hope this cures it , I find that as long as you lock initial focus it tends to stay locked on ..tracked . the images are nice and sharp and this is just a small selection .. hopefully I will be getting a 180-600 in the near future to increase /better my results . still can't make up my mind on front or BBF or which focus points work best once inhale mastered it I will input to a couple of custom modes . I also find that despite what I was told that sport mode i.s is the best for moving targets as the e.v.f tends to jump in normal mode .. but so far I'm loving this camera . any hints or tips from long term users welcome
anyway here's three from today
screamers by jeff cohen, on Flickr
fly by by jeff cohen, on Flickr
turd bird by jeff cohen, on Flickr
Click to expand...

Nice and sharp. Lovely light today.
 
the black fox said:
my thoughts on A/F with the Z6ii after a couple of weeks .... I have to admit that I have been struggling to pin down the best way to do b.i.f with the z6ii im currently using a 200-500 vr with FTZii adaptor which is a big lump hand held but finally getting there .. the combo is sharp no doubt about that but its not intuitive I realised a major problem today with the EVF in that it was turning off every time I took my eye off it ,so have now extended the keep on time to 30mins hope this cures it , I find that as long as you lock initial focus it tends to stay locked on ..tracked . the images are nice and sharp and this is just a small selection .. hopefully I will be getting a 180-600 in the near future to increase /better my results . still can't make up my mind on front or BBF or which focus points work best once inhale mastered it I will input to a couple of custom modes . I also find that despite what I was told that sport mode i.s is the best for moving targets as the e.v.f tends to jump in normal mode .. but so far I'm loving this camera . any hints or tips from long term users welcome
anyway here's three from today
screamers by jeff cohen, on Flickr
fly by by jeff cohen, on Flickr
turd bird by jeff cohen, on Flickr
Click to expand...
To add to what @seadog99 said, I've found Steve Perry's books well worth the money, to which he regularly provides free updates as the cameras get firmware upgrades.

There is a general Z AF guide


But there are also specific guides. As well as the above, I have the birds in flight guide and the Z8?Z9 setup guide.


They are a relatively cheap way of really getting to grips with getting the best out of these cameras.

But just looking at his videos and reading his blog is still useful.
 
seadog99 said:
Have you had a look on Steve Perrys site Backcountry Gallery, he has a wealth of videos on using Nikon for wildlife including the z6ii. This is just one for menu setup.

Z6ii menu setup

There are loads more though.

Jas
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Tried some of his settings , but don’t seem to work that well for me . Thanks anyway getting there slowly but surely based on my own experience .. and getting surprisingly good results plus some that simply don’t work for me ..
I’m rather lucky in that it’s less than five minute drive down to the estuary where I have a steady stream of gulls etc to practice b.i.f on . So I can keep honing my skill set daily and changing my settings till it’s second nature
 
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the black fox said:
Tried some of his settings , but don’t seem to work that well for me . Thanks anyway getting there slowly but surely based on my own experience .. and getting surprisingly good results plus some that simply don’t work for me ..
I’m rather lucky in that it’s less than five minute drive down to the estuary where I have a steady stream of gulls etc to practice b.i.f on . So I can keep honing my skill set daily and changing my settings till it’s second nature
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I’m sure you will have seen it but the Mirrorless Comparison site also lists his best settings for BIF for the Z6i but it’s so similar to the z6ii.

Mirrorless Comparisons Z6 settings
 
My understanding with the Z6ii/Z7ii is to use AF-C with dynamic AF (the square with the assistant points) in burst mode.

In fairness, I don’t shoot birds or BIF, so no idea how well this works.
 
wibbly said:
My understanding with the Z6ii/Z7ii is to use AF-C with dynamic AF (the square with the assistant points) in burst mode.

In fairness, I don’t shoot birds or BIF, so no idea how well this works.
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Yes it works extremely well as do other modes , my problem was when removing my eye from the EVF and it turning off thereby losing the bird , which I have hopefully cured now .
 
Nikon 28-400 or the Tamron 50-400?

F4-8 vs f4.5-6.3.

Looking at a smaller lens than the 180-600 for general walk around (wildlife parks/zoo etc) and these two come up the most.

I have the 24-200 but sometimes I need more reach but don’t always take the 180-600 with me.

Anything else to consider?
 
Kieran_89 said:
Nikon 28-400 or the Tamron 50-400?

F4-8 vs f4.5-6.3.

Looking at a smaller lens than the 180-600 for general walk around (wildlife parks/zoo etc) and these two come up the most.

I have the 24-200 but sometimes I need more reach but don’t always take the 180-600 with me.

Anything else to consider?
Click to expand...
Same situation as you.
I find my 24-200mm a great all rounder but wanted something longer.
I went for the 100-400mm.
Not got the flexibility of the 28-400m but a better performer overall.
 
Kieran_89 said:
Nikon 28-400 or the Tamron 50-400?

F4-8 vs f4.5-6.3.

Looking at a smaller lens than the 180-600 for general walk around (wildlife parks/zoo etc) and these two come up the most.

I have the 24-200 but sometimes I need more reach but don’t always take the 180-600 with me.

Anything else to consider?
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Couple of interesting lenses there I will be looking into both of these further
 
I sold my 24-200 and got the 28-400. Love having a 400mm lens that you can carry all day and is so unobtrusive.

I don’t think I’d take a lens with a widest length of 50mm as a ‘walkabout’ lens, so the Nikon was the obvious option for me. Obviously it has compromises, but for me being able to take it anywhere makes up for those (‘the best camera/lens is the one you have with you’ etc)
 
Skypilot said:
Same situation as you.
I find my 24-200mm a great all rounder but wanted something longer.
I went for the 100-400mm.
Not got the flexibility of the 28-400m but a better performer overall.
Click to expand...
What body you using the 100-400 with? Is the weight manageable for all day carry?

I’m using the Z8 which is already almost a kg in weight, adding another 1.5kg lens to that seems on the heavier side.
 
Kieran_89 said:
Nikon 28-400 or the Tamron 50-400?

F4-8 vs f4.5-6.3.

Looking at a smaller lens than the 180-600 for general walk around (wildlife parks/zoo etc) and these two come up the most.

I have the 24-200 but sometimes I need more reach but don’t always take the 180-600 with me.

Anything else to consider?
Click to expand...
The Tamron sounds like the best option unless planning to shoot wider than 50. Sharper at the long end than the Nikon's from what I've read. Goes to almost macro level at the wider end too. The last time I went to the zoo I took that with me.

Red Kite by Jonathan Howes, on Flickr
 
chris321 said:
I sold my 24-200 and got the 28-400. Love having a 400mm lens that you can carry all day and is so unobtrusive.

I don’t think I’d take a lens with a widest length of 50mm as a ‘walkabout’ lens, so the Nikon was the obvious option for me. Obviously it has compromises, but for me being able to take it anywhere makes up for those (‘the best camera/lens is the one you have with you’ etc)
Click to expand...
This is my thinking too, watched loads of reviews of the 28-400 and there’s not many negatives towards it other than f8 @ 400mm, you need good light to get the most out of f8 but it does seem a good buy.
 
addicknchips said:
The Tamron sounds like the best option unless planning to shoot wider than 50. Sharper at the long end than the Nikon's from what I've read. Goes to almost macro level at the wider end too. The last time I went to the zoo I took that with me.

Red Kite by Jonathan Howes, on Flickr
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Very nice. :)

Anything wider than 50mm I would use my 24-120.

I’ll have to find somewhere that has both in stock so I can get hands on with them.
 
Looking for a bit of advise from long lens shooter on here. So for my Z system I currently have the following "long lenses"

NIkon Z 100-400 S
Nikon Z 400mm F4.5 S
Nikon Z 180-600

I also have the Nikon Z 1.4x Converter and have recently (for the sakes of lightness and size), started using the 400mm F4.5 more and more (with the 1.4X Teleconverter), in favour of carrying the 180-600 which although my copy is a real nice and sharp copy, is a big and heavy beast.

It got me wondering. First would the Nikon Z 600mm F6.3 be a better long term bet that the 400mm F4.5 with converter (which gives me 560mm also at F6.3 - so pretty much identical to the 600mm). The 400mm with converter is nice and sharp still, but it does have me wondering if a native 600mm lens would be better (which can then also use the 1.4 converter when absolutely needed for a 840mm albeit at a dim F9). Or would I be better keeping the 400mm and just save up and go for the 800mm PF F6.3 as I have the 600mm F/L covered already by at least 2 lenses ?

The other possible fly in the ointment is minimum focus distances. My 400mm F4.5 is 2.5m and the 180-600 at 600mmm is very similar at only 2.4m

The 600mm F6.3 MFD is 4m and the 800mm F6.3 is 5m - I'm not 100% if that would be overly restrictive ?

Any thoughts please ?
 
I have all three of the lenses you have. Since getting the 400mm f/4.5, the other two don't get the same use that they used to. I've both the 1.4tc and 2.0tc, I've used them both on the 400mm f/4.5 and although there's a drop of in quality with the 2.0tc, it's certainly workable. The cropping power of the Z8/Z9 is another factor, as sometimes cropping can achieve similar results. For me 800mm would be very limiting, not only for close distance, but also subject matter. Finding and tracking is also difficult at such a long focal length. Ultimately it's down to what you shoot and if the other options can't get you close enough. I regularly thought about selling them all for the 400mm f/2.8 TC, but the 400mm f/4.5 is just so light, sharp and easy to handle.
 
Well I have the 100-400, 400 4.5 and 600 PF.
Weight is my problem - I've had a disc removed from my neck and the Z8 with the 600 is my carrying limit. In a hide I can add the 1.4 tc if decent light.
Nikon launched the 400 4.5 before the 600 and 180-600, which is why I have it. It produces lovely images and is not too heavy.
The reviews I've seen say that the 180-600 performs nearly as well as the 600 PF at 600. But not as well with a tc.

If I was you (and weight was not a problem) I'd keep the 100-400 (good close focussing), the 180-600 and buy the 800 which gives you 6.3.

Good luck with your choices.
 
Kieran_89 said:
Nikon 28-400 or the Tamron 50-400?

F4-8 vs f4.5-6.3.

Looking at a smaller lens than the 180-600 for general walk around (wildlife parks/zoo etc) and these two come up the most.

I have the 24-200 but sometimes I need more reach but don’t always take the 180-600 with me.

Anything else to consider?
Click to expand...
I'd say it depends whether you want a telephoto lens or an all in one lens. I have the 28-400mm and it's probably the lens I use the most simply because I can take that one lens with me because it's relatively compact for the range so it's easy to carry around plus it's flexible enough to cover a wide mix of uses even if it's not optimal.

I have an F-mount Sigma 150-600mm which I use for longer range and better telephoto quality than the 28-400mm but it's far too heavy a lens to carry around and even just handholding it for a bit I find it a bit much. I was a big fan of the Sigma 100-400mm on FE-mount because I found it was a good balance of size, range, cost and image quality which isn't available in Z-mount but I've been considering the 50-400mm which from what I've read is a similar lens despite the wider range but I'm not sure I'd use enough to get my money's worth.
 
Thanks all - good food for thought. I mean I didn't specifically mention trying to reduce weight, but as I'm 63 and not getting any younger, any added lightness would be a benefit but not absolutely essential. I've recently purchased the Cotton Carrier G3 harness and tried it out the other day, and I have to say I'm impressed. I had the 180-600 and the Z9 attached to it (so a not inconsiderable 3.3kg), for over an hour of walking about, and to be honest never really felt it at all.

Interestingly I've just seen that using a 600mm F6.3 with my Z8 shaves off nearly 1kg in weight (3290g vs 2380g) compared to the Z9 and the 180-600. To put that into perspective, I had considered in the past getting the "Big White" (150-400mm F4.5 TC) for my Olympus OM-1. Looking at the Camera Size website, it seems that an MFT OM-1 with this lens weighs in at 2474g. Sure the Olympus lens extends to 1000mm effective FF Equiv. (with the TC engaged at F5.6), and has the convenience of being a zoom, but shooting on the Z8 or Z9 in APSC mode, gives generally the same number of pixels (20mp) and 900mm F/L at just a third of a stop slower (F6.3 vs F5.6). I hadn't realised that !

For me really it's more about if I'm using the 400mm F5.6 with the teleconverter most of the time, (which I seem to be), am I better keeping the 180-600 for flexibility and selling the 400mm and replacing it with a 600mm, regarding ultimate image quality ? (problem is the 400mm is so damn portable). I also agree with what wilt says as well in that keeping your subject in the viewfinder whist using a super telephoto in the 800mm F6.3, might be a real challenge. So I can shoot in FF 45mp mode on the Z9 and Z8 with the 600mm, giving plenty of room around the subject, and then crop to APSC dimensions afterwards if I like ?
 
Kieran_89 said:
Nikon 28-400 or the Tamron 50-400?

F4-8 vs f4.5-6.3.

Looking at a smaller lens than the 180-600 for general walk around (wildlife parks/zoo etc) and these two come up the most.

I have the 24-200 but sometimes I need more reach but don’t always take the 180-600 with me.

Anything else to consider?
Click to expand...
I got the 28-400 and keep it on my Z6iii as a lightweight walk around lens. I have read that some people find it soft but mine is sharp even wide open. A good copy I guess.
 
JohnMcL7 said:
I'd say it depends whether you want a telephoto lens or an all in one lens. I have the 28-400mm and it's probably the lens I use the most simply because I can take that one lens with me because it's relatively compact for the range so it's easy to carry around plus it's flexible enough to cover a wide mix of uses even if it's not optimal.

I have an F-mount Sigma 150-600mm which I use for longer range and better telephoto quality than the 28-400mm but it's far too heavy a lens to carry around and even just handholding it for a bit I find it a bit much. I was a big fan of the Sigma 100-400mm on FE-mount because I found it was a good balance of size, range, cost and image quality which isn't available in Z-mount but I've been considering the 50-400mm which from what I've read is a similar lens despite the wider range but I'm not sure I'd use enough to get my money's worth.
Click to expand...
I have other lenses that i use so i'm not looking for an all in one lens, just something smaller and lighter than the 180-600 that i wouldn't mind walking around the local zoo with but still being able to zoom in enough to get nice sharp images.

I thought about renting the Nikon Z 100-400 and see how it gets on when i visit London Zoo on the 7th of Feb, the last time i went i took the 70-200 2.8 with me and it was around 100mm short in order to fill the frame, i didn't have 45mp then either so cropping didn't look great either.

Now i have the Z8 i can afford to crop in and not lose too much sharpness.
 
Icee said:
I got the 28-400 and keep it on my Z6iii as a lightweight walk around lens. I have read that some people find it soft but mine is sharp even wide open. A good copy I guess.
Click to expand...
From what i've read on Reddit and Youtube comments, it leans more towards being sharp than it does being soft so i wouldn't worry about potentially getting a soft lens when the odds seem to favour sharpness.
 
Sootchucker said:
Looking for a bit of advise from long lens shooter on here. So for my Z system I currently have the following "long lenses"

NIkon Z 100-400 S
Nikon Z 400mm F4.5 S
Nikon Z 180-600

I also have the Nikon Z 1.4x Converter and have recently (for the sakes of lightness and size), started using the 400mm F4.5 more and more (with the 1.4X Teleconverter), in favour of carrying the 180-600 which although my copy is a real nice and sharp copy, is a big and heavy beast.

It got me wondering. First would the Nikon Z 600mm F6.3 be a better long term bet that the 400mm F4.5 with converter (which gives me 560mm also at F6.3 - so pretty much identical to the 600mm). The 400mm with converter is nice and sharp still, but it does have me wondering if a native 600mm lens would be better (which can then also use the 1.4 converter when absolutely needed for a 840mm albeit at a dim F9). Or would I be better keeping the 400mm and just save up and go for the 800mm PF F6.3 as I have the 600mm F/L covered already by at least 2 lenses ?

The other possible fly in the ointment is minimum focus distances. My 400mm F4.5 is 2.5m and the 180-600 at 600mmm is very similar at only 2.4m

The 600mm F6.3 MFD is 4m and the 800mm F6.3 is 5m - I'm not 100% if that would be overly restrictive ?

Any thoughts please ?
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Close focus distances are crucial for me, and it's important to look at maximum magnifications as well as the minimum focus distance.
It's also not always clear with zooms where the maximum magnification lies, for example the normally quoted max magnification for the Tamron 50-400 is x 0.5, but at 400mm it's only 0.25.

Most lenses, especially those with internal focus and zooms, get shorter in focal length as focus closer, so the working distance for any particular magnification may not match what you might expect

Nikon 100-400 x0.38
Nikon 180-600 x0.25
Nikon 28-400 x0.35
Nikon 400mm f4.5 x0.16
Nikon 600mm f6.3 x0.15
Nikon 800mm f6.3 x0.16

** zooms at maximum focal length

So, in terms of filling the frame with small birds or dragonflies, there isn't much to choose between the 400/600/800 albeit with different working distances.
 
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Kieran_89 said:
What body you using the 100-400 with? Is the weight manageable for all day carry?

I’m using the Z8 which is already almost a kg in weight, adding another 1.5kg lens to that seems on the heavier side.
Click to expand...
I'm mainly using my light Z6II.
I did buy a good quality monopod for every day use but have hardly used it. My combination is light enough that even though I'm in that "senior" age group, I don't have a problem.
Can highly recommend the Monopod https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/156317489024

The 100-400mm is great for close focus too.
 
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Kieran_89 said:
I have other lenses that i use so i'm not looking for an all in one lens, just something smaller and lighter than the 180-600 that i wouldn't mind walking around the local zoo with but still being able to zoom in enough to get nice sharp images.

I thought about renting the Nikon Z 100-400 and see how it gets on when i visit London Zoo on the 7th of Feb, the last time i went i took the 70-200 2.8 with me and it was around 100mm short in order to fill the frame, i didn't have 45mp then either so cropping didn't look great either.

Now i have the Z8 i can afford to crop in and not lose too much sharpness.
Click to expand...
I think the 100-400mm would be a great choice for the use you mention. I find it a good range for the reasons you mention that it's viable to carry around and use all day which I can't with a 600mm lens but still gives a long reach.
 
JohnMcL7 said:
I think the 100-400mm would be a great choice for the use you mention. I find it a good range for the reasons you mention that it's viable to carry around and use all day which I can't with a 600mm lens but still gives a long reach.
Click to expand...
I've hired it for 3 days to use in Feb so if i'm happy after that weekend i'll go ahead and order it.
 
Hmmmm sending my Z6ii back due to A/F problems and thinking of getting a z6iii has anyone done the same move and is it better or just marginal , could stretch to a Z8 but think it might be to heavy
 
the black fox said:
Hmmmm sending my Z6ii back due to A/F problems and thinking of getting a z6iii has anyone done the same move and is it better or just marginal , could stretch to a Z8 but think it might be to heavy
Click to expand...
Significantly better af than the ii
 
the black fox said:
Hmmmm sending my Z6ii back due to A/F problems and thinking of getting a z6iii has anyone done the same move and is it better or just marginal , could stretch to a Z8 but think it might be to heavy
Click to expand...
You'll get the Expeed 7 processor which is faster AF and has bird I/D. The same as the Z8.
 
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