Nikon Z6 II + Sigma 500mm F4 - Need some help/advice

[Longimanus]

Ive just purchased a Z6II and have been putting it through its paces over the past few weeks, but this weekend Ive noticed a few things and Im not sure if I am doing something wrong, or its just something to do with the camera or lens

First off, the camera has the latest firmware, this was updated as soon as I received it. I never used it before 1.20.

Second thing, lightroom doesn't recognise my lens now with any image from the Z6II, it used to be recognised as 500.0 mm f/4.0, Sigma 500mm F4 DG OS S016 (Lens profile), now its a VR 500mm f/4E and it is unable to locate a matching profile automatically. I can see this with the Nikon 200-500mm as well, different name, but it does automatically select the lens profile. This isn't a deal breaker, but it seems a bit strange. Lightroom seems to be on the latest update as well.

Third thing is a bit strange. I got the Z6II to give me the option of silent shutter, its already helped out in some images, but yesterday I got home from a shoot and noticed some weird things from images in a sequence.

Adjacent shots seem to be distorted, e.g. shot 1 fine, shot 2 distorted, shot 3 fine. In the case below, the middle one seems distorted. Its not the easiest to see here, more visible as I flick through lightroom from image to image. Now I know the focus is a bit off on 2 of the images, but I don't think this should affect the distortion (happy to be corrected though)


The second strange thing that I noticed was that I have some strange blur/out of focus areas. If you look at the images above the foreground looks ok, but the image below it looks strange, almost like it has its own blur going on



Anyone got any ideas?

I was shooting in silent mode, VR on, 1/250 second with a 500mm lens (I know this may be pushing it a bit, but the light was low), these are all at about 10000 ISO with no PP.

I can only think that its something to do with VR or silent shooting, but I would like to try and understand so I know the limitations going forward

Thanks in advance to any replies

Just for info, Ive been shooting this lens with a D850 in the past and never noticed these things before.

 

[ah5168]

Is it possible that the shots are taken while the lens is in the process of focusing. If you don't have a lot of light the lens may be hunting backwards and forwards. I don't have a Z6 but all the other Nikons I have allow you to set the shutter actuation on focus acquisition or as the shutter button is pressed. I suspect it may be set to as the shutter button is pressed.

 

[pooley]

I don't know much about your camera Lee so I may be off the mark, but could the shutter issue be down to the 'rolling shutter' effect on silent shooting. My R5 can suffer from this.

Might be barking up the wrong tree but worth a quick google

Mike

 

[Longimanus]

Is it possible that the shots are taken while the lens is in the process of focusing. If you don't have a lot of light the lens may be hunting backwards and forwards. I don't have a Z6 but all the other Nikons I have allow you to set the shutter actuation on focus acquisition or as the shutter button is pressed. I suspect it may be set to as the shutter button is pressed.

Not sure if it makes any difference, but Im a back button shooter. I will look into it, but Im not convinced this is the issue as I thought I would have seen the same from previous multiple shots taken using the same settings

 

[Longimanus]

I don't know much about your camera Lee so I may be off the mark, but could the shutter issue be down to the 'rolling shutter' effect on silent shooting. My R5 can suffer from this.

Might be barking up the wrong tree but worth a quick google

Mike

Cheers Mike, as soon as I had posted it, I thought about the rolling shutter effect, need to google it.

Spooky thing is, I cant see the same happening on shots where I had the camera on a tripod, or I have not noticed it yet

 

[faungrapher.au]

Unrelated question. How is your autofocus performance with FTZ adapter?
I am currently using a D7500 instead of my z6ii because of focus issues with nikon 200 500

 

[Longimanus]

Unrelated question. How is your autofocus performance with FTZ adapter?
I am currently using a D7500 instead of my z6ii because of focus issues with nikon 200 500

Hi

I only use it with the FTZ adapter, I dont have any Z lenses so cannot compare.

I think there is a learning curve, but I only use it in situations where the action is on the slower side

HTH

 

[NickD]

I'd also guess at a rolling shutter issue. When out in the street, in silent mode (albeit on Fuji) distortion occurs if I shoot while I'm moving, if I'm still and the subject is moving that's ok. Given the relatively low SS considering focal length of the lens, I'm guessing there is movement at your end, hence the rolling shutter issue.