Z6 ii and Z7 ii

mhedges

Is it confirmed that Z6ii ships on Friday? I've seen that date floating around but haven't seen anything for sure about it.

photobunny

mhedges said:

Is it confirmed that Z6ii ships on Friday? I've seen that date floating around but haven't seen anything for sure about it.

Tuesday 24th is what I am seeing in Scotland as the first available date.

mhedges

Just got an email from Nikon confirming Z6II will ship tomorrow.

photobunny

another solid wee review, this time up against the R6.

photobunny

another wee chap doing a AF review, just a human, but it looks solid.

WestEndFoto

My view is a little different. I can't imagine that trying a camera out would change my view on whether to buy it. The closest that I have come is holding a Z7 in my hands and concluding that even with a grip it is not a D850 replacement, shooting the Noct through a Z7 and realizing that focus peaking will breath new life into my AIS lenses (and now I am buying more in anticipation of buying a ZZ - just got the 105 2.5, 200 4.0 and 85 1.4D, which is mf on a Z) and after holding the Z50, deciding that if Nikon releases a full frame version I will buy it.

It goes back to an earlier comment that I made. I buy lenses and decide which photon detector to put on it (a vast over simplification, but work with me). If Steve Perry can get sharp BIF shots with Camera X, then so can I - perhaps with some practice. And if 7 out of 10 are sharp, I won't conclude that Nikon is dying because Camera Y nailed 8.

But feel welcome to disagree with me. I am on the ends of a few spectrums, so my view may not apply to many.

photobunny

@WestEndFoto who's view are you different too?

WestEndFoto

photobunny said:

@WestEndFoto who's view are you different too?

Well, I think that lots of people feel that playing around with alternatives helps in their decision making - and there is nothing wrong with that. And I also think that lots of people really focus on the cameras and neglect the lenses more than I would. Again, nothing wrong with that. And a good example is Pstnbroke above. He is fretting over what I would call are trivial matters. But that is not bad. They are just trivial matters to me.

PB_PM

I don't think many people do that, just Youtubers looking for hits. Most people cannot afford to buy two or three cameras and a bunch of lenses from different brands just try them out.

snakebunk

I would love to try out a set of long prime lens and mirorrless camera from Sony, Canon, Nikon and Panasonic/Sigma, one week each. But I need to wait for the last two sets. It would also be too expensive for me to rent them.

I think that lenses (photon collectors?) are important, but I look more towards the detectors when I think about which mirrorless mount to choose. There seems to be greater differences between cameras than long prime lenses, and af is very important to me.

I really don't have any gear problem though. My current problem is that I don't have very much time for photography. It is almost two weeks since my last photo excursion, but the D810 and the Sigma 500/4 worked great. In general I value time more than money.

Pistnbroke

I have multiple problems to resolve . The wife loves her D7200+ Tam 100-400 so selling that and giving her the D850 may not be feasable. Buy a Z7ii and giving that to her would please her but where does that get me? Sell the D850 and replace with an unknown Z7ii ? Well OK but then she will want one ( $$$$$ ) With the wedding business totally shut down and not having been out due to covid to shoot birds since march do I need a camera at all. Only highlight ( ??) on the horizon is the daughters wedding which is post covid 2022 but I could be dead or senile by then, other option is to buy a second hand camera from MPB and send it back after the wedding. Watch this space !!

spraynpray

Pistnbroke said:

other option is to buy a second hand camera from MPB and send it back after the wedding.

Buy a Z7II used? They are barely out yet.

Pistnbroke

no spray a real camera like a D810 or a D850 ( PS we are talking 2022)

Steve on back country gallery just got his Z6ii and after initial tests he reported "It's no D6 or D850, " So thats another one down the tubes.

WestEndFoto

Where does Steve say that Pistnbroke? I can’t see it on his site. And in what respect was he referring to?

Pistnbroke

his forum back country gallery
https://bcgforums.com/index.php?threads/first-z6ii-af-impressions-very-preliminary.4046/#post-35374

photobunny

Pistnbroke said:

his forum back country gallery
https://bcgforums.com/index.php?threads/first-z6ii-af-impressions-very-preliminary.4046/#post-35374

You skipped over "Still, I think from strictly an AF standpoint, it's looking good.". It isn't going to compete with a D6, and shouldn't be expected to. A D850 on the other hand, aye that should be long in the dust and for a lot of cases the Z6/Z7 already surpassed the D850. But not on everything. We'll likely need a new processor, more programming time, and perhaps even new sensors.

But I am more interested in a Z replacement of the 500mm PF to make it just a wee bit shorter to fit in my bag, newer Z bodies will come, the current ones limit no wildlife subjects.

Edit: "Also, I was able to leave Apply Settings To Live View turned on and performance was great." that is a big plus for the MK2 as well as the improved start up time. Start up time and EVF lag are likely going to be the big features of the D6 replacement.

WestEndFoto

I think he thinks it is pretty good, not just quite as good as a D850 or D6. And remember how close the D850 and D6 are.

We should note that the Z6 and Z7 were not really intended to be D850 level cameras. We are waiting for the Z8/9 for that.

I would also note that Nikon will almost certainly be upgrading their processors and likely their sensors next year. There will be further improvements.

photobunny

WestEndFoto said:

I think he thinks it is pretty good, not just quite as good as a D850 or D6. And remember how close the D850 and D6 are.



We should note that the Z6 and Z7 were not really intended to be D850 level cameras. We are waiting for the Z8/9 for that.



I would also note that Nikon will almost certainly be upgrading their processors and likely their sensors next year. There will be further improvements.

I take the Z6/Z7 the same way as I saw the R and RP. These are capable cameras but really they are for building up your lenses on. As it stands there isn't any native Z lens that needs more than these bodies.

The Z6ii and Z7ii are beta test cameras to write new software on while providing users a markable improvement in startup time, AF speed, and usability. I think the Z6 and Z7 series will be very popular lines for years to come. The mark ii and future iii versions will be very mature I think and the entry point for many people.

Pistnbroke

So I am going to spend twice as much as a D850 on a box that takes a picture but has more problems with the AF ...I dont think so

Searcy

I do need to hold the camera in my hands and shoot with it before I drop any money on a new camera. That said, I have only owned 3 cameras since I switch from point and click pocket cameras to DSLRs. Those have been the Nikon d3200, the d7200 and the Z6. When I tried out the Z6 it was clear to me that my hands were going to have a hard time adjusting to the much smaller mirrorless and the difference in shooting style required with the newer camera.

Eventually I plan to rent a Z6ii or Z7ii and see if it improves my focus rate. Honestly, I don't expect to buy a new camera until there's a mirrorless that's more like a D6 and I don't think we are close to that yet.

photobunny

I think you'll get more from a Z6iii or Z9. When it is a generation or two change in processors. Though the Z6ii already has improvements in startup time and AF performance, I like the bigger jump you get from sticking to even or odd number jumps.

mhedges

Z6III (or possibly Z7III) is my plan as of now. Z9 will be big and expensive IMO.

photobunny

mhedges said:

Z6III (or possibly Z7III) is my plan as of now. Z9 will be big and expensive IMO.

I think the Z9 will be about £6500, but it will be my route. Z9 -> Z9iii -> Z9v etc. A fast sports body is also a wildlife body and something I can trust to handle a tumble or handle me trying to photograph some rather too dangerous a snake from a boat in the middle of a jungle while a crocodile is hopping this stupid idiot will fall in, camera and all.

Pistnbroke

I think you are right Spray the focus experience on a mirrorless is not like a D850 without the mirror its a new concept and you have to bend your mind to it.
At present they are all hung up on the eye focus which does not interest me but I have yet to see any video reviews in AF-c or whatever for wildlife.
Then for me, I have no intention to buy new lenses which then makes me say just keep D850 ( < 2000 sc) I have and maybe buy another for £1900. Unless I buy a Z8 ? what do I gain?

Searcy

I'm not one to try to predict the future but if I had to try to call it, I suspect that my next body will be something like a pro level "Z9". The Z6 is something I have learned to use to meet requirements of what I do. All I need now is more battery capacity and always faster focus lock. I don't think I'll be moving up in bodies for 2 or 3 years. Until them I'll grabbing 2 or 3 more lenses and work on being a better photographer.