I've been waiting for Z6, but I keep my eyes on Z7 for now, the cameras are very similar.
What I see so far, it deserves way more than some reviews came out like. Some of those focused on weaknesses and that's all they can say.
Every camera on the market has some weakness, but they're all great tools in now days.
For example, I haven't seen anything even close about A7III having old LCD and EVF, or missing battery charger,
I don't see anyone bitching so hard on X-T3 because it still uses the same battery which you need to replace after 300 or less shots (my own experience, not by the spec, I owed X-T2 for 2 years).
Major issue here with Z7 is the price tag, and people are looking for any kind of opportunity to slam on Z7, to make as bad as possible, beside the point, it's a fantastic camera.
I'm not any kind of expert, but the colours I see from that sensor, either video or stills, are the best I've seen so far from any camera. It could be too subjective, but it's very pleasant to my eyes.
Hopefully Z6 gets similar in that department, but it's a different sensor, so who knows.
As there are no electrical contacts on the base or in the battery compartment, a separate grip with controls doesn't seem possible.
You can pretty much find a review to back up any biased notion that you want - they are all over the map. I think there is some consensus on the following:
It is probably the best Nikon video implementation so far.
The manual focus crowd seems very pleased.
The sensor IQ is pretty much identical to the D850 for 99.9% of daily uses.
Continuous focus seems perfectly fine for most uses.
Focus tracking seems to give people problems.
The FTZ adapter works nearly seamlessly with Nikon lenses and some (most?) 3rd party lenses.
EVF is best-in-class.
When used properly, battery life is generally not an issue.
Fit/finish and sealing are praised.
If you are looking for a high action, deep buffer, best-in-class sports/wildlife machine, this isn't it. The start-up is too slow, the tracking is too vague, and the buffer is too shallow. When set-up properly and used skillfully, it is certainly capable of some fine action photography - it's just not the best-in-class.
But if you are looking for high resolution, relatively compact travel camera that allows you to use your current F-mount glass, the Z7 is a great choice. If you want some of the advantages of an EVF (perfect DX mode, on-screen histogram, focus peaking, magnified view, DOF pre-visualization, B/W view, etc.) with a pretty uniformly praised 'kit' lens and relatively effective IBIS (and again access to your current F-mount glass), then again, the Z7 is a great choice.
"Focus Lock
The center of the sub-selector can be used to lock focus on the current subject when AF-C is selected for focus mode. When using focus lock, choose an AF-area mode other than auto-area AF."
I went out yesterday with the following kit and used every lens in the bag on a variety of subject matter just to try out a range of lenses and situations for the AF and general use. My kit: Z7, 31 f1.8s, 24-70 f4s, 105 f1.4E, 80-400 f4.5-5.6G VR, 500 f5.6 PF. Loved the whole Z7 experience and all the lenses worked flawlessly. When the AF gets focus, which is nearly 100% of the time for non fast action subject matter, the focus is *perfect* and the resolution is just amazing. I think I actually end up with more keeper shots from the Z7 than the D850 for non fast action subject matter. Yes, the Af is *that* good at nailing perfect focus.
1) Ibis. Had a bit of trouble using the focus tracking mode and how to set it up successfully. I need more practice at this! It is also a bit difficult to use and implement. Nikon needs to address this with a firmware update.
Z7 + 500 f5.6 PF, 1/2000s f/5.6 at 500.0mm iso320
2) Royal Spoonbill. Now, that's sharp! And from a lens which is not well received, but I think is very underrated.
Z7 + 80-400 f4.5-5.6G VR, 1/800s f/6.3 at 400.0mm iso125
3) Black Swan
Z7 + 500 f5.6 PF, 1/640s f/5.6 at 500.0mm iso320
4) Purple Swamp Hen. How about that detail!
Z7 + 500 f5.6 PF, 1/640s f/5.6 at 500.0mm iso180
5) Purple Swamp Hen and chick
Z7 + 500 f5.6PF, 1/640s f/5.6 at 500.0mm iso1000
6) Bronte Beach. Wall to wall sharpness. This kit lens is amazing.
Z7 + 24-70 f4s, 1/320s f/8.0 at 24.0mm iso64
7) Sculptures by the Sea Exhibition, Tamarama Beach
Z7 + 35 f1.8s, 1/6400s f/1.8 at 35.0mm iso72
8) Sculptures by the Sea Exhibition, Tamarama Beach. This is a favourite, just live the IQ from that 35.
Z7 + 35 f1.8s, 1/8000s f/2.8 at 35.0mm iso64
9) Sculptures by the Sea, "St George Slaying the Dragon"
Z7 + 35 f1.8s, 1/5000s f/2.0 at 35.0mm iso64
10) Surfer at Bronte Beach. No issue getting focus on these surfers.
Z7 + 500 f5.6PF, 1/1250s f/5.6 at 500.0mm iso220
11) Z7 + 105 f1.4E, 1/4000s f/1.4 at 105.0mm iso80
Lance,
These are crazy sharp. It looks as if the on sensor AF really does eliminates the inconsistencies that are inherent in SLR AF systems. I am looking forward to the release of the Z6, as I think that the sensor resolution will be the perfect compromise between number of pixels and noise for a guy who likes to shoot in low light... it is too bad that Nikon decided to put a low pass filter on the sensor... I hope that this does not reduce the apparent sharpness.
OwlsEyes wrote:
Lance,
These are crazy sharp. It looks as if the on sensor AF really does eliminates the inconsistencies that are inherent in SLR AF systems. I am looking forward to the release of the Z6, as I think that the sensor resolution will be the perfect compromise between number of pixels and noise for a guy who likes to shoot in low light... it is too bad that Nikon decided to put a low pass filter on the sensor... I hope that this does not reduce the apparent sharpness.
cheers,
bruce
Thanks, Bruce.
I also think it greatly diminishes the inconsistencies of DSLR AF.
I think it was a good move that Nikon is releasing these two bodies, a mid MP sensor and a high Mp sensor as it means that people can choose their best option.
24 FX does need an anti-alias filter to prevent aliasing, all manufacturers include it at this level of inter-photosite spacing, wheras it has been dropped from the 20-24MP DX models (which have even smaller spacing between photosites) and most 36MP and higher FX, with the exception of the D800 and Canon 5Ds which do include it. AA free sensor output looks crisp but some of it is false detail that is not subject detail but an artifact of the imaging process.
I got occasional moire in 36MP D810 shots but have not seen it with the 45MP of the D850, which suggests that for most practical applications it is not needed at the higher resolution level, but some specialists may still need it. As the lens resolution increases it may become more common again in the future.
Lance, great series !!! Love the variety and sharpness is superb. My favorite is the surfer on the wave and I really don't need the 500PF as least I need to convince myself
Just picked up M to Z mount adapter yesterday on my way to dinner with some friends.
So just a couple of quick shots at a mall near the restuarant with Leica 50/2 apo @f2.
Lance points out one of the main advantages of the mirrorless cameras. I believe that they do win for focusing accuracy and it's nice to not need to do micro adjustments.
