kwalsh wrote: Ai_Print wrote:
I have been running some DXO exported improvement tests from the 24-120S and honestly they look great, just far greater FOV range than my X2D can achieve with even 3-4 lenses.
Everyone has their own way of shooting and composing of course.
For me, however, when it comes to landscape, where you stand and what you frame are what matters more than anything. There is no such thing as "zoom with your feet" as that changes perspective. So all you are really left with is "zoom with a crop" (or "zoom with a pano stitch" if trying to zoom out more).
That leads me to value focal length flexibility above the absolute last little bit of sharpness. If I have to crop the sharper lens it is no longer the sharper lens. In addition I'm also increasing effective image noise when I crop. If I tell myself "I'll just compose differently so I don't have to crop" then what I'm really saying is "I'm compromising my composition chasing sharpness" or as Ansel Adams put it, making a "sharp photo of a fuzzy concept".
So if the 24-120S is meeting your IQ threshold and giving you more focal length flexibility then in my opinion it is the thing to take before even considering the size/weight benefit.
I would like to bring my Z8 to keep the sensor far cleaner than the Z7II can but the Z7II just looks better in terms of dynamic range.
It doesn't sound like you'll need to change lenses very often though. I've shot a Z7 in the desert a lot and with a fair number of lens changes. A bulb blower has really been all I needed for the occasional dust issue though I also carry a sensor brush which I've used once in the field.
It is actually a bit of an open question to me whether the sensor cover really helps or not. As I understand it a good bit of dust comes from the back of the lens after it is attached to the camera which the sensor cover doesn't help with.
Anyway, you probably know your environment and dust experience better than me!
For now, the end use case of much of my gear varies a lot...
A few weeks ago I did an aerial stitch commission that needed to fill a space 4.6' feet high by 36' feet long. I used the Z9 for speed and accuracy with the 70-200 2.8, it worked great. The Winter season that I first used the Z6 & Z7 I told NPS that they really needed to get a sensor shutter by some mode to safely change lenses in snowy conditions for ski area work on those cameras, the Z9 and Z8 work exceptionally well in this regard and I find I have far less dust on images in general with them.
Everything is very light and effective with the Z7II and 24-120S combo, I use that kit a lot for ski area work and found it really does hit a lot of the landscape points well and yet I am comfortable ripping fast lines down double blacks with it in a small pack. It's not as sharp as either the 24-70 2.8 or 70-200 2.8 in ultimate terms but it is just too close to criticize it given the amazing range-in-package aspects of it.
I think the Z7II / 24-120S with the new 35mm 1.4 and a 2lb tripod and I will be more than golden for this first ever foray into the Himalaya. A second trip would likely see custom guiding and portage and the X2D with the proper complement of lenses...that is next league image making.
Jul 08, 2024 at 09:39 PM
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