Archive 2023 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III
berimbolo Offline • • • [X]
p.33 #1 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III
Douglas L wrote:
Even though I have the 600 GM, I use the 200-600 a lot for airshows and hummingbirds (I usually shoot hummers at close distance, the 600 GM's MFD won't do it for me). I don't understand why Nikon doesn't even put a stabilization switch on the lens. The Sony sure has more bells and whistles but its hood sucks. While it's a big deal for Nikon shooters, their 180-600 is not the lens that would remotely tempt me to look at Nikon, it's their 600 TC. If I started new now and focused primarily in sports/wildlife, I would pick the Nikon system over Sony in a heart beat for the lens selection and the more affordable price of the Z8....Show more →
I think the 180-600 (like the 200-600) is a good gateway lens for people who are not ready or able to spend the money on a 600mm F4. I don't think its a lens to switch systems for, but, like you, if I were starting from scratch, a Z8 + 180-600mm would probably be my choice.
I priced out switching to Nikon recently. I estimated that the cost of switching to something that roughly matches my Sony wildlife setup would cost me an additional $8000 (that is the additional cost after selling my Sony gear). Ultimately, I am currently better off putting that money into a 600mm F4 fund, or using it for a couple of wildlife focused trips. Once I have enough money saved for a big prime, I will reevaluate the cost of switching systems. By then, there will likely be an A1mkII and hopefully some new glass from Sony.
p.33 #2 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III
MARKFER wrote:
Nikon Z lenses are black and they get a respectable nod, but the 'Ikea' look of some the new Z mount lenses is pretty unflattering if you ask me. Opinion of course, but Nikon makes some ugly lenses.
I don't disagree. As a long-time Nikon guy, the only good looking Z lens is the 28SE. Just like the last generation of Zeiss lenses (Batis & Milvus) the aesthetics of the Z lenses is not awesome.
Frankly, for new lens lines, I think OM System makes the best looking lenses in their Pro line.
p.33 #3 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III
berimbolo wrote:
I think the 180-600 (like the 200-600) is a good gateway lens for people who are not ready or able to spend the money on a 600mm F4. I don't think its a lens to switch systems for, but, like you, if I were starting from scratch, a Z8 + 180-600mm would probably be my choice.
I priced out switching to Nikon recently. I estimated that the cost of switching to something that roughly matches my Sony wildlife setup would cost me an additional $8000 (that is the additional cost after selling my Sony gear). Ultimately, I am currently better off putting that money into a 600mm F4 fund, or using it for a couple of wildlife focused trips. Once I have enough money saved for a big prime, I will reevaluate the cost of switching systems. By then, there will likely be an A1mkII and hopefully some new glass from Sony....Show more →
I am not switching right now but I keep looking at their 600TC and unfortunately, keep looking at my wallet. I have some very good shorter Sony/third party lenses in addition to the long teles. I am not fully convinced the Z9 Z8 AF is quite as good as the A1 yet in situation with busy background, maybe Geoff can comment with authority after he gets to shoot the Z8 Z9 with the latest FW. I do like some of the features in the Z9 Z8 that are not in the A1 (for me, bulb mode, focus stacking, ISO64, multiple exposure) but these features are not enough for me to jump ship. I do like how customizable the A1 is, it makes it more fun to shoot with, for me of course. I don't shoot at 30 FPS with my A1 often but a fair bit so 30 FPS in raw is kind of important for me too.
Jun 22, 2023 at 08:47 AM
berimbolo Offline • • • [X]
p.33 #4 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III
Douglas L wrote:
I am not switching right now but I keep looking at their 600TC and unfortunately, keep looking at my wallet. I have some very good shorter Sony/third party lenses in addition to the long teles. I am not fully convinced the Z9 Z8 AF is quite as good as the A1 yet in situation with busy background, maybe Geoff can comment with authority after he gets to shoot the Z8 Z9 with the latest FW. I do like some of the features in the Z9 Z8 that are not in the A1 (for me, bulb mode, focus stacking, ISO64, multiple exposure) but these features are not enough for me to jump ship. I do like how customizable the A1 is, it makes it more fun to shoot with, for me of course. I don't shoot at 30 FPS with my A1 often but a fair bit so 30 FPS in raw is kind of important for me too. ...Show more →
Yeah. If someone like Geoff confirms AF matches the A1, I will definitely consider it in 8-12 months when I've put the money away for a 600 F4.
p.33 #5 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III
mawz wrote:
I don't disagree. As a long-time Nikon guy, the only good looking Z lens is the 28SE. Just like the last generation of Zeiss lenses (Batis & Milvus) the aesthetics of the Z lenses is not awesome.
Frankly, for new lens lines, I think OM System makes the best looking lenses in their Pro line.
Do people actually buy lenses (or avoid lenses) because of how they look instead of the photos they produce?
p.33 #7 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III
Nikon isn't trying to make ugly lenses, I believe that their design team has different aesthetics in mind. Only reason I pointed it out is the white lens/black lens debate.
p.33 #10 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III
I wanted to get a Nikon Z8 to a) enjoy it over the summer, b) keep the brand and competition alive :-), but I've changed my mind.
As much I enjoy the color science on Nikon as well as the ergs/UI, I don't think I can move from a Sony A7RV to a Nikon Z8 as I have gotten used to the 9 mdot EVF, the flip-screen, the custom button flexibility and of-course that AI-powered AF performance. Add to that lenses like the 24GM, 35GM, 50/1.4GM and 70-200GMii... no way I'm walking away from that, not right now, at least.
I'm really happy Nikon is playing the prosumer value winner card and that they have largely caught up on performance, but if anything, I think Canon's response with the R5 Mk II will be a really interesting entry to the market (I'm guessing Fall announcement and shipping before Xmas).
p.33 #11 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III
patotts wrote:
I wanted to get a Nikon Z8 to a) enjoy it over the summer, b) keep the brand and competition alive :-), but I've changed my mind.
As much I enjoy the color science on Nikon as well as the ergs/UI, I don't think I can move from a Sony A7RV to a Nikon Z8 as I have gotten used to the 9 mdot EVF, the flip-screen, the custom button flexibility and of-course that AI-powered AF performance. Add to that lenses like the 24GM, 35GM, 50/1.4GM and 70-200GMii... no way I'm walking away from that, not right now, at least.
I'm really happy Nikon is playing the prosumer value winner card and that they have largely caught up on performance, but if anything, I think Canon's response with the R5 Mk II will be a really interesting entry to the market (I'm guessing Fall announcement and shipping before Xmas). ...Show more →
I was going to try Z8 even though I tried a Z9 last year and after a year gave it up. I traditionally shoot Sony and returned to Canon RF system along side it and decided that waiting to see what the Canon R5 Mark II is like was the best case scenario. There is very little the Z8 offers me that I can’t achieve with my Alpha 1 and it’s excellent glass. It’s a very nice product but it’s got no unique capabilities, for what I shoot. So let’s see the new R5 Mark II.
p.33 #12 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III
I’d personally be surprised if Canon offers an R5 II with a stacked sensor. Is there some indication that it will offer anything unique or that will beat Sony’s AI augmented AF?
p.33 #13 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III
Exactly, the Z8 is all catching up in terms of performance and package - BUT Nikon put a great stacked 45MP sensor in a sub-$4K package, and that is really upping the ante in the value category. Well done. Unless you are shooting sports at 20 fps, there isn't really new ground there.
I doubt Canon will put a stacked sensor in the R5MkII, they'll reserve that for the R1, probably with a quad AF system and double or triple resolution tech senshout or, but where does that leave the R5 MkII. Two versions, one at 45PM and one at 60MP-something? OK, we are all speculating here, but I'm not sure that an R5 update like the R6 Mk II without a sensor with quicker read-out speed would be well received. What else? Solve the over-heating, new Sony-style flip screen, update the EVF? R3's AF system? New processor?
Oh well, you know how they say you only utilize 10-15% of your brain's capacity? I can draw a parallel to that and my use of the Sony A7RV + lenses - happy to stay here over the summer and focus on light, composition and story telling :-)
p.33 #14 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III
People criticize Nikon for “catching up” to Sony with the Z8 and Z9, but I very much doubt there are going to be big jumps in AF going forward. It’s more likely to just be incremental improvements. In fact, my money is on the R1 being about as good as the A1, and the A1ii being the A7RV with a stacked sensor. Practically speaking, there’s very little left to be gained.
p.33 #15 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III
groob wrote:
People criticize Nikon for “catching up” to Sony with the Z8 and Z9, but I very much doubt there are going to be big jumps in AF going forward. It’s more likely to just be incremental improvements. In fact, my money is on the R1 being about as good as the A1, and the A1ii being the A7RV with a stacked sensor. Practically speaking, there’s very little left to be gained.
You mean we can now just concentrate on taking photos rather than chasing technology. 😗
p.33 #16 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III
groob wrote:
People criticize Nikon for “catching up” to Sony with the Z8 and Z9, but I very much doubt there are going to be big jumps in AF going forward. It’s more likely to just be incremental improvements. In fact, my money is on the R1 being about as good as the A1, and the A1ii being the A7RV with a stacked sensor. Practically speaking, there’s very little left to be gained.
Yeah, of course the technology trend is still better MP, fps, and AF. But by how much and when, it's getting questionable. I guess the silver lining is that, there will be less incentive to upgrade the current camera we have, and extra money in the pocket is always welcome.
p.33 #17 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III
RoamingScott wrote:
Do people actually buy lenses (or avoid lenses) because of how they look instead of the photos they produce?
Admittedly, I'm more hung up of ergonomics, but my feeling is a great performer can make me forget an ugly aesthetic or poor ergonomics. My continued love/hate relationship with the Milvus 18, where I hate the aesthetics and have complaints about the ergonomics, but continue to use it because there's no other lens like it, is proof of that. Conversely, if I don't like either of those things on an average performing lens, then they do have greater weight in my overall opinion. Also, when given a choice in color, I'll always default to black, even if I have to pay a little more for it, like I did when I picked up my Contax G 21/2.8 to convert to M-mount, and that's entirely because I find silver/titanium/gold lenses tacky.
So, yes, with the caveat that I can get over it for the right lens.
Jun 23, 2023 at 07:46 PM
berimbolo Offline • • • [X]
p.33 #18 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III
groob wrote:
People criticize Nikon for “catching up” to Sony with the Z8 and Z9, but I very much doubt there are going to be big jumps in AF going forward. It’s more likely to just be incremental improvements. In fact, my money is on the R1 being about as good as the A1, and the A1ii being the A7RV with a stacked sensor. Practically speaking, there’s very little left to be gained.
I hope you're right. It will save me a lot of money to not have to upgrade
p.33 #20 · The new Nikon Z8 vs the Sony A7RV and potential A9III
There are plenty of areas for imaging devices to improve upon. Heck, our mirrorless cameras haven't even become "smart cameras" yet, with all the iphone camera features built into full frame cameras. Those features will trickle in over years, and they'll all be called "game changers" again.
. If I started new now and focused primarily in sports/wildlife, I would pick
