Geoff_L

I'm establishing a list of appealing lenses to pair with a Nikon z6. So far, I have noted some ais and afd primes (35 f2, 35 f1.4, 85 f2...), third party primes like voigtlander, helios, samyang, and zooms like Nikkor 17-35 f2.8, 28-70 f2.8 etc.
But, I'm now looking at telephoto lenses, and I wonder if someone ( @BTM_Pix ?) knows the Nikkor 300 f4 afs (the version before the new PF) ? I've found an example here, and is seems to be really great, even paired with the 1.4ii teleconverter. The new 100-400 telezooms from Sigma and Tamron are good, but may lack the old Nikkor's character.

2 hours ago, Jordan Drake said:

Yeah, I'm really unhappy with how I delivered that conclusion. The point I was trying to make is that if you only want to carry the camera, the GH5 and X-T3 are much more full featured. If you add an external recorder, however the Z6 and to a lesser extent the Z7 become extremely compelling. The audio issues can certainly be worked around as well, but I remember shooting with Canon DSLRs and occasionally being forced to use an underpowered mic. 

I do think the main purchasers for video will almost exclusively be people with a large selection of Nikkor AF glass. 

Yes, and I know some photographers that are asked by clients to dive into video, so the Z line might be attractive, instead of switching to Sony. It also could sparks an interest among a larger audience ; I'm reading more and more comments on forums (video oriented, or photo specialized with a dedicated video section), from video shooters that are really intrigued by 10bit/FF/ibis/robust construction.

Personally, despite having no Nikkor lenses, I've chosen the z6 over the a7iii, primarily for build quality and handling. Better evf, lcd and touchscreen, great ibis, desirable Nikkor G line-up and lovely colors are a plus. I will also attach a lot of non AF lenses, as I would've done with Sony. Won't be a problem to share it later with a bmpcc4k or a gh5s. But, if it had not been for the Z line, I would not be back to Nikon today (or only for stills).

A quick follow-up on my previous first impressions, + issues found on the web :

- As mentioned everywhere, the AF starts to really struggles as the available light decreases. Absolutely not a deal-breaker for my type of stills shooting (maybe with wildlife though), but surely for sport shooters.

- Ibis during video recording with the adapted 50 1.8G impresses me.

- Ibis with the native 24-70 s is really good at the wide and normal focals, but clearly less effective near 70mm. I've tried to shoot handheld in DX mode, so at around 105mm ; it was cold, windy and, despite trying my best to stay steady and avoid shakiness, the result is just OK. At full screen on my monitor, you clearly see the micro-jitters. I've repeated the same test, but with my gorilla pod as a stabilizer, and it's working a lot better. I will try with a Tamron 150-600 and other lenses, to understand what work better, between ibis, lense VR etc. I also think that it's related to me and my previous video experience : shooting APSC fuji with the stabilized 50-140 f2.8 was really great (even more with the 50-230 OIS), while full-frame is a lot less forgiving with long focal lengths.

- The 24-70 is a lot more silent than my 50 1.8G. I've read somewhere that they have design the new motorisation with this goal in mind

- Did not try the audio pre-amps, but the first reviews show that they really suck. I will use my zoom H5 or the Ninja V.

- Image quality straight out of the camera with the tweaked standard profile (noise reduc disabled, sharpness dialled down etc.) is lovely ; I've shoot a  cloudy sunset until dusk, so not an extreme dynamic range, and this profile was sufficient. Next time I will use the flat one.

- I'm really happy to work again with Nikon's colours (and the Jpgs SOOC are great)

- I want to buy some Samyang lenses (135 f2, 24 f1.4...), and it seems that there is an issue with the Nikon version : they include an electronic chip, and it appears to "bug" with FTZ. A guy successfully "masked" with tape the involved contact of a similar manual lens (Voigtlander if I remember), and it worked. I think I will try the VDSLR versions of those lenses, as it seems they are not equipped with electronic.

Sorry, I'm limited in my tests latitude, but it's already night when I come back home... Can't wait for the week-end.

DPReview TV's review is out :

Hi all,

Very long time lurker, first time poster.  I’ve got my z6 in hands since the beginning of the week, and thought I could share some first impressions. Bought it in kit with 24-70s + ftz + a free XQD card, and a 50 1.8G. There was a good sale in a big French store, and I managed to buy it with almost a 550€ saving (regular price was 3099€ ; xqd reg price = around 180€ ; sale was a lense + a mirrorless = non negligible discount % ; 50€ cashback for the 50 1.8G).

Here are some first impressions, after a couple of short hands on tests:

        PROS:

• Handling is great, especially the grip. Its feels like a “mirrorless dslr”. It’s build like a tank, and I’ll certainly feel more confident with it in the field, compared to my former fujis
• Button layout is OK: I can operate with only the right hand (“i” button, menu, iso etc.)
• The viewfinder is gorgeous, big and bright. Same for the rear lcd screen
• Touchscreen function seems well implemented, but I need to use it more
• The AF seems OK for my use, which implies landscape/nature and documentary photography.
• Manual focusing is really great, both in photo and video
• Video AF is great with the native 24-70s, but I did not explore it much, so I can’t tell more. It seems less effective with the 50 1.8G adapted with FTZ
• The dedicated video and photo modes that keep the settings in memory is just perfect !
• The 24-70s kit lens is really a bargain! Very sharp, small form factor, convenient etc. For longer lenses, I believe the 300PF, the new 500 and zooms like the sigma 100-400 will pair wonderfully with Z serie cameras.
• Image quality in video surprised me in a good way. I quickly tweaked the picture profiles, and it appeared to be wonderful, even at high iso. I’m used to fuji gorgeous output right out of the camera, in video mode, but I think this one will be a step above. Really.
• The IBIS is quite effective, in fact more than I hoped for. With the 50 1.8G adapted, which is supposed to lead to only 3 axis, I manage to obtain a really steady image. Impressive in fact. I watched videos on youtube, with awful funky stuffs, like wobbles, kind of warp effects etc. and people in the comments moaning about how bad the ibis is compared to the sony a7iii. I've tried to replicate this... with success :  with the Electronic VR turned on ! With IBIS alone, it's perfect. And I don't know why, but in those videos I saw, they said the Electronic VR was turned off. I don't think so...

        CONS:

• The FTZ design is… questionable! The bottom with the tripod screw attachment is longer than the camera body. Thus, making the use of arca swiss plate on the camera with the FTZ attached complicated. A turn around seems to use a Peak Design “micro” plate, which appears to be just well sized. Anyway, I’ll attach my arca plate to the FTZ, and won’t bother much.
• In video mode, you can’t have both the histogram and the horizon level at the same time. I have to press the “disp” button to bring on the histogram, set my exposure, and press again until the level appears. I hope for a firmware update politic à la fuji ; a dpreview forum member explained that he talked with a Nikon Z development team member, during and event, and they are aware of the fuji successful firmware politic, and will try to offer the same. Fingers crossed!
• Another firmware-able fix problem (i hope): zebras only work in autofocus mode. If I switch the lens on manual focus, zebras disappear… I need to read the manual more, to check if it is setting relative or not.
• A lot of people are complaining about hot or white pixels on the sensor on brand new Z cameras. I got that too. An easy fix is to launch the sensor cleaning via the menu, two times in a row. It seems to trigger the pixels mapping stuff. Worked for me!
• Others are complaining (see the photographylife’s review of the Z7 and dpreview forum) about the coating of the grip peeling where the fingers are, close to the 2 function buttons. From what I understand, it affects people with large hands and long nails. Personally, my fingers don’t even reach this area… so, I hope it’ll be OK !
• Video AF with the 50 1.8G attached, as I said before, is not really good. But, it’s a right out of the box test that I did, so maybe if I dive into the menu and the manual, I’ll find a way to make it better. Anyway, as a result, the 50 1.8G is always trying to focus, and seems to fail a lot, which leads to a lot of loud “buzzing” noises.

That’s all! Before I choose the Z6, I was shooting with only a fuji X-T2. And, before that, with an X-T1 + a GH4 (and before that… only photography with a Nikon D610). I’ve been shooting  with my backup LX100 since the beginning of 2018. Not enough time and a will to spend my energy to learn more about editing, grading etc. leads me to be cameraless for months. I ditched my X-T2 because I was unhappy with the photo output (as a landscape photographer), not very fond of fuji colors (except for video… don’t know why, but love the colours of the video output, but hate the photo files). More important, I ruined a lot of video shots, because of crappy bug at that time (wobbles and “warp” effects due to the image distortion correction etc.). So, as I started again to think of buying a camera, helped a lot with all of your great contributions here, my choices were: a7iii, gh5, bmpcc4k and Z6. Gh5 and bmpcc4k were ruled out as a first “hybrid” camera (maybe next year, as a second cam), as photo is equally important as video to me (for the moment!). Then I choose Z over a7, because I operate mostly in the mountains (I live in the French Alps and spend a lot of time in northern Scandinavia), with cold, snow, bad weather, and I knew, because of my previous Nikon cameras, that  Nikon do not disappoints on the “toughness” side.  I’ve read too much stories of dead Sony A7’s during trip with similar conditions as what I operate in (and, to be fair, I've read the same with big 5dmiii and Nikon d810). I know, weather sealing is not such a big deal, but, still… a wide bottom opens on the sony would really scare me! And I’m no Chris Burckard, I do not have 200 sony a7 waiting to replace the ones you ruin during an arctic trip!

So, here I am with this little Z. Next step is to buy and Atomos ninka V, and some lenses. I’ll read posts from @Geoff CB and @IronFilm, I think I’ll find some great Nikkor lenses ideas

Sorry for this long and first post. Hope it’ll help some of you. I’ll be happy to answer questions or try things on the camera if you want. I’ll also share footages. But, for now, I’m taking the camera outside, because it’s sunny and the snow has arrived.