Looking at the dropping prices of my 4 F mount cameras I decided to sell and change to Z mount.
Fortunately, my wife does not know one camera from another though she takes great wedding and bird photos so I will need to buy two Z cameras one for me and one for her. Would like to keep my 100-400 and use FTZ but what camera to buy? Zfc is cheap at present at £669 with E-infinity and in stock but I am not sure how it would go with the birds.
Any suggestions before I do the swap?
Comments
October is the expected time to see the Z6iii and Z7iii with Expeed 7 processors and over 2023 we should see the lower end bodies getting upgrade to.
If you are going to perched birds the Z6 or fc are both fantastic options. If you are going bird in flight then I highly recommend holding off for an Expeed 7 model as while the older models can work great for bird in flight and action, you'll get way more hits with the fancy eye AF and improved frame rates.
One note on all Expeed 6 generation bodies is that they are all 5.5 FPS regardless of what they are marketed as. The higher FPS mode is a slideshow which is a miserable experience.
https://lensesforhire.co.uk/product/nikon-z6-with-ftz-adapter About £130 to have delivered and picked up from your door for 3 days. The Z fc has mostly the same AF and EVF feel.
Common gull - Nikon 1 J4 with 10mm lens
Black-capped Chickadee in ice storm - Nikon 1 V2 body and 30-110 zoom lens
Immature bald eagle - D750 and Nikon's 200-500 zoom at 1/1250 sec.
Male and female red headed house finches - D800 and Nikon 300mm f4 lens
Red Cardinal in snowstorm - D500 and Nikon 200-500 lens
Egret with young - D500 with Nikon 70-200 f4 zoom.
Flying egret - D500 with Nikon 70-200 f4 zoom at 1/6400 sec
The current prices right now, Nikon Z6 Body €1499.-, FTZ adapter €218.-, Sony XQD card €128.- Total €1845.-. Although it is still a great camera I would not buy the 1st version. The Z6 II and 7II are of course great cameras, but the Z6 II body is €2349.- and all prices are periodically going up now and of course you don't buy XQD cards anymore but CFexpress.
Note: the total amount of my lenses went up €3000.- from end 2021 till now, but that is because of the insane world we live in at the moment.
I would totally pick what I want and wait for a deal on "black friday" in November.
My 70-200mm f/4 with FTZ works perfectly on the Z6, I kept that, but for all other lenses I bought the native Z lenses.
The macro 105 f/2.8 S is unbelievably good and can be used for everything. The 24-120 f/4 S is an excellent pro lens for everyday use, skip the 24-70mm f/4 S, or buy it dirt cheap 2nd hand or bulk version. From the f/1.8 prime lenses you get an image quality that stands out above everything else.
To go out very light I always have the 24-50 f/4.5-f/6.3 on the Z6, price now for the 24-50mm is between €400.- and €500.-, but I would buy the "bulk version". In normal light this combo makes great pictures.
In my small Peak Design bag, I have some stuff, the 40mm f/2.8, the 28mm f/2.8, for darker circumstances and 3 small round Rollei LED lights (which were discounted from €99.- to €29.-, further I catch myself, that I more often have the Z6 with the 24-120mm f/4 S on my belt.
On my wish list the 400mm or the 100-400mm.
This is what I build up in the last 4 years, hope it is some help.
@Pistnbroke, I moved from the D810 and your biggest problem is to get use to the new camera. Keep that lens and change the body, is a good one.
Not only did they offer me hundreds less after "inspection" but wanted me to pay for a repair to the D810 before I got the silly price . The lens was full of dust ( ? ) and a grey import despite the markings on the box.
I had used both at a wedding a week ago with perfect results so its all coming back and I am rethinking. They are not on my happy list.
Problem is you dont get the same quality with 24 mp DX as you do with FX unless you have the best lenses ...the samyang 14mm has spoilt me for quality images.
So it illustrates time to get shot and probably via ebay
One of my issues is sports shooting in lower light situations, so I could use a body that has cleaner high ISO at the needed higher shutter speeds. What are the best Nikon bodies for that, either F or Z mount?
edit: and since I can't remember how to edit my sig text, my current equipment list also includes a D500 and D7200 body - so that's where I am, sensor-wise.
As far as which FF camera - that's a bit of a trickier proposition. Honestly, I'd probably wait for the Z6III and see how it is. I do OK with the OG Z6 but I can't really recommend it as a sports camera. And to me it's hard to recommend any of the current F mount cameras either - D850 is good for AF but not as good for low light. D780 is decent but overpriced IMO. D6 is of course great but $$$