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Associated Press Switches to Using Sony
- Thread starter Clix Pix
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Their failure to get on the mirrorless camera body and lens bandwagon a long time ago is also a major contributing factor, inasmuch as they are now scrambling to catch up. One reason many people have switched to Sony is because Sony has the products available now -- the camera bodies and lenses many people want now. If a brand doesn't offer the native long lenses or other types of lenses that a photographer wants and/or needs, he or she is going to go to the brand that does. It's about availability as well as quality.
Despite your personal dislike for the adapter, I haven't talked to any current Z user who objects to the adapter and the vast majority, if not all, fact appreciate the fact that as a Nikon user they have immediate access to over 360 Nikkor F mount lenses with over 90 using full auto-focus.You can switch to Nikon mirrorless and use your existing lenses. Then add in the new Z mount lenses being released that consistently rate among the highest performing lenses ever created. Nikon has more than enough lenses NOW. If you are a Nikon user and switch to Sony you have to buy a new body AND new lenses to use NOW.
Sure the Z mount cameras were late to the ball game. That really isn't debatable, and Nikon certainly lost market share early on. But I maintain that if Nikon had a better marketing department, the adapter wouldn't be an issue for anyone. Nikon needs a better push to the influencers and youtubers to get themselves seen like Sony does. Again, Nikon has a marketing problem, not a product problem.
Pardon for asking, but I haven't bought a camera or lens in nearly 20 years...
For as long as I can remember, Nikon and Canon dominated 35mm photography. And pardon my bias, but Nikon was superior to everyone in that segent.
With the advent of digital SLRs, in the early 2000s I think Canon started to get an upper leg on Nikon because they started offering "full frame" sensors on their DSLRs.
Also, even though there was a long debate about whether Canon's CMOS was better than Nikon's CCD, eventually I think Canon one out.
So here we are now in 2020, and I'm curious was has changed that Sony has become the top dog??
When I was a "serious" amateur photographer (i.e. $10,000 - $15,000 in equipment), Sony was a joke in the professional camera arena.
Apparently things have changed?
So can any of the "experts" out there please enlighten me??
Am curious to know, because 1.) my world-class equipment packed away in storage now probably competes with my iPhone in may respects, and 2.) I am starting a company and part of that involves becoming a journalist and a videographer, so if AP is making a switch, then I suppose I should listen up and try to learn!
For as long as I can remember, Nikon and Canon dominated 35mm photography. And pardon my bias, but Nikon was superior to everyone in that segent.
With the advent of digital SLRs, in the early 2000s I think Canon started to get an upper leg on Nikon because they started offering "full frame" sensors on their DSLRs.
Also, even though there was a long debate about whether Canon's CMOS was better than Nikon's CCD, eventually I think Canon one out.
So here we are now in 2020, and I'm curious was has changed that Sony has become the top dog??
When I was a "serious" amateur photographer (i.e. $10,000 - $15,000 in equipment), Sony was a joke in the professional camera arena.
Apparently things have changed?
So can any of the "experts" out there please enlighten me??
Am curious to know, because 1.) my world-class equipment packed away in storage now probably competes with my iPhone in may respects, and 2.) I am starting a company and part of that involves becoming a journalist and a videographer, so if AP is making a switch, then I suppose I should listen up and try to learn!
Addressing Molly's comments, which I forgot to quote:
Even though I've switched, I still hang out on Nikon Cafe (which accepts people using any gear, not just Nikon) and yes, many of those who have gone into the Z system are quite happy with their new gear and some are indeed using it with their older F-mount lenses and the FTZ adapter, while others are waiting impatiently for more native lenses to come trickling out. Some are still sticking with their DSLRs and are using both those and the mirrorless Z bodies, while others have pretty much shifted totally to mirrorless. However, not everyone is all that happy with the FTZ adapter and having to use older lenses with limitations as opposed to being able to simply put a native lens right on the body. Some have tried the Nikon Z system, found it didn't meet their needs and have swapped it for another brand instead, whether it be Sony or Fuji, whatever....
As for Sony pushing to the Youtubers and so-called "influencers," I don't pay attention to that, and I don't watch YT so-called "reviewers" babbling away. Actually my first introduction to Sony and the quality of its products was through a fellow Nikon user who several years ago handed me his new Sony NEX-7 mirrorless camera and I immediately was intrigued. Back then mirrorless was still getting underway. I bought a NEX-7 and later a couple of Sony RX100 compact cameras and in 2018 the RX10 M4, so had a fairly good idea of how Sony would suit me, plus also became familiar with their menu system, which so many users complain about. It took a few years for me to get from that NEX-7 to the A7R IV, and a lot of thought and decision-making!
Yes, when I switched to Sony I indeed traded in all my old (and some were really old) Nikon lenses and bodies and started fresh from scratch, and I have been greatly enjoying the experience! (My bank account has moaned and groaned more than a few times, though!). Some of the kinds of photography I have been doing since November 2019, especially after I purchased the 200-600mm ("The Bazooka") simply would not have been possible in the past since the longest lens I had was the 300mm f/2.8 plus 1.4x TC and I had sold that a few years ago when I wasn't shooting much at all. Never dreamed I'd be getting back into the long lens thing again!
These days it wouldn't have made sense to me to buy long F-mount lenses from Nikon to slap on the FTZ and a Z body, although those newer, lighter weight long PF lenses sound pretty nice. One bird shooter I know is quite happy with his 500mm PF, the FTZ and the Z6 -- works great sitting in his backyard firing away at the neighborhood birds. I never used or owned the Nikon 200-500mm but wouldn't purchase one in 2020, as that lens is pretty old now, if it is even still offered on the current market. I am not a fan of compromising by buying and using third-party lenses, and, well, I don't need to do so, as the types of lenses that I prefer are available from Sony right off the shelf.
Sony macro lenses (50mm, 90mm): check.
Sony 200-600mm Zoom: check.
Sony 100-400mm Zoom: check.
Sony 400mm, 500mm, 600mm primes: check. (Available, but more than a little out of my financial range! LOL! It sure would be nice, though.....)
The 90mm, 100-400mm and 200-600mm are the lenses I've been using most frequently and each serves a specific purpose and need. I eventually decided that a 1.4x TC would be a good idea, too, and of course Sony offers that as well as a 2x TC to specifically use with those two long zoom lenses plus their long primes.
Maybe in another year or two Nikon will get around to releasing a few native long mirrorless lenses (zooms and primes) plus a macro or two. I know that these will be more than welcomed by more than a few Nikon shooters!
We each make our own choices for our own reasons.....
Even though I've switched, I still hang out on Nikon Cafe (which accepts people using any gear, not just Nikon) and yes, many of those who have gone into the Z system are quite happy with their new gear and some are indeed using it with their older F-mount lenses and the FTZ adapter, while others are waiting impatiently for more native lenses to come trickling out. Some are still sticking with their DSLRs and are using both those and the mirrorless Z bodies, while others have pretty much shifted totally to mirrorless. However, not everyone is all that happy with the FTZ adapter and having to use older lenses with limitations as opposed to being able to simply put a native lens right on the body. Some have tried the Nikon Z system, found it didn't meet their needs and have swapped it for another brand instead, whether it be Sony or Fuji, whatever....
As for Sony pushing to the Youtubers and so-called "influencers," I don't pay attention to that, and I don't watch YT so-called "reviewers" babbling away. Actually my first introduction to Sony and the quality of its products was through a fellow Nikon user who several years ago handed me his new Sony NEX-7 mirrorless camera and I immediately was intrigued. Back then mirrorless was still getting underway. I bought a NEX-7 and later a couple of Sony RX100 compact cameras and in 2018 the RX10 M4, so had a fairly good idea of how Sony would suit me, plus also became familiar with their menu system, which so many users complain about. It took a few years for me to get from that NEX-7 to the A7R IV, and a lot of thought and decision-making!
Yes, when I switched to Sony I indeed traded in all my old (and some were really old) Nikon lenses and bodies and started fresh from scratch, and I have been greatly enjoying the experience! (My bank account has moaned and groaned more than a few times, though!). Some of the kinds of photography I have been doing since November 2019, especially after I purchased the 200-600mm ("The Bazooka") simply would not have been possible in the past since the longest lens I had was the 300mm f/2.8 plus 1.4x TC and I had sold that a few years ago when I wasn't shooting much at all. Never dreamed I'd be getting back into the long lens thing again!
These days it wouldn't have made sense to me to buy long F-mount lenses from Nikon to slap on the FTZ and a Z body, although those newer, lighter weight long PF lenses sound pretty nice. One bird shooter I know is quite happy with his 500mm PF, the FTZ and the Z6 -- works great sitting in his backyard firing away at the neighborhood birds. I never used or owned the Nikon 200-500mm but wouldn't purchase one in 2020, as that lens is pretty old now, if it is even still offered on the current market. I am not a fan of compromising by buying and using third-party lenses, and, well, I don't need to do so, as the types of lenses that I prefer are available from Sony right off the shelf.
Sony macro lenses (50mm, 90mm): check.
Sony 200-600mm Zoom: check.
Sony 100-400mm Zoom: check.
Sony 400mm, 500mm, 600mm primes: check. (Available, but more than a little out of my financial range! LOL! It sure would be nice, though.....)
The 90mm, 100-400mm and 200-600mm are the lenses I've been using most frequently and each serves a specific purpose and need. I eventually decided that a 1.4x TC would be a good idea, too, and of course Sony offers that as well as a 2x TC to specifically use with those two long zoom lenses plus their long primes.
Maybe in another year or two Nikon will get around to releasing a few native long mirrorless lenses (zooms and primes) plus a macro or two. I know that these will be more than welcomed by more than a few Nikon shooters!
We each make our own choices for our own reasons.....
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I started with digital interchangeable lens cameras with a Sony a58 that I found for a very good price.
It works well enough, but I wanted to try a true "moving mirror" DSLR before their era ended, so I went looking at the 80d, and then picked the (new at the time) 77d because I liked it's "heft and feel" better.
But what really won me over to the Canon brand was the smooth, seamless operation of the Canon menus and interface, particularly the touchscreen back panel that flipped around 180 degrees if you wanted.
On the basis of that, I ended up with a Canon EOS R last year, when I found one for a very good price.
Sony has a way to go before they equal the Canon experience (at least to me). I also found the small, angular, "blocky" design of the SONY a7 series uncomfortable to hold.
If I was going to recommend something to the texas toast, it would be a Canon R6 with an RF24-205L 4.0.
BUT... WAIT a while until they're not "brand new" and it's no longer a seller's market (because it's new).
canonpricewatch.com is a good place to monitor Canon prices.
It works well enough, but I wanted to try a true "moving mirror" DSLR before their era ended, so I went looking at the 80d, and then picked the (new at the time) 77d because I liked it's "heft and feel" better.
But what really won me over to the Canon brand was the smooth, seamless operation of the Canon menus and interface, particularly the touchscreen back panel that flipped around 180 degrees if you wanted.
On the basis of that, I ended up with a Canon EOS R last year, when I found one for a very good price.
Sony has a way to go before they equal the Canon experience (at least to me). I also found the small, angular, "blocky" design of the SONY a7 series uncomfortable to hold.
If I was going to recommend something to the texas toast, it would be a Canon R6 with an RF24-205L 4.0.
BUT... WAIT a while until they're not "brand new" and it's no longer a seller's market (because it's new).
canonpricewatch.com is a good place to monitor Canon prices.
@Fishrrman (others),
So why is Sony so "special" now?
Like I said, in the past, you owuld have been laughed out of the room choosing SOny over Nikon or Canon. (Of course, times change...)
In the past, I think one main reason to go with Nikon was "the glass". (Likewise, Canon had good optics.)
So why are you still with Canon?
So why is Sony so "special" now?
Like I said, in the past, you owuld have been laughed out of the room choosing SOny over Nikon or Canon. (Of course, times change...)
In the past, I think one main reason to go with Nikon was "the glass". (Likewise, Canon had good optics.)
So why are you still with Canon?
I would suggest that if any member wants actual, specific recommendations for digital camera and lens use and purchase that it probably would be a better idea for him or her to start their own thread specifically requesting that. Admittedly this thread did get a bit off-subject (which started out being about the Associated Press now going to be using Sony products exclusively).... It wasn't really meant to slide into a Sony vs Nikon vs Canon type discussion! Easy to see how that happened, though. LOL!
Sony has done well primarily with the move to mirrorless cameras, where they have been very successful. Canon is now catching up with the R5 which is an impressive mirrorless camera, although it appears the new R5 has some overheating problems which Canon is trying to solve (Sony's cameras can also suffer from this as well). Mirrorlesss cameras are smaller and lighter than traditional Digital SLR's.
Part of the allure for Sony also stemmed from their sensors being used by so many other companies in all manner of devices, whilst the better versions of said sensors were apparently being held only for Sony use! Nikon and Canon have both used them over the years, Canon in the smaller cameras and Nikon in the fullframe line (& possibly elsewhere too, I have no idea there, I've never followed what happens in Nikonland). Panasonic have too.
Nearly 70% of mobile phones have Sony sensors in them and almost all drones have Sony sensors in them too! The resulting image differences come down to the companies own tweaks to imagery applied on camera. So the same sensor used in different devices has a different look, some favour one look and others favour another look and others favour a neutral influence with them having absolute control of the output!
So it's not that surprising that Sony are regarded so highly these days, really.
Nearly 70% of mobile phones have Sony sensors in them and almost all drones have Sony sensors in them too! The resulting image differences come down to the companies own tweaks to imagery applied on camera. So the same sensor used in different devices has a different look, some favour one look and others favour another look and others favour a neutral influence with them having absolute control of the output!
So it's not that surprising that Sony are regarded so highly these days, really.
Not all Sony's, just the a6300 and RX100 IV's from memory. I haven't heard of any others having those issues.
My Qoocam 8K 360 camera overheats stupidly, to such a point that it defocuses after about 5 minutes of being turned on! Apparently this is the same issue with the Canon R5 & 6 models. The answer for my camera is to simply power it externally! I hope it's that simple for Canon.
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I haven't experienced overheating with any of the RX100 cameras that I've had over the last several years....nor the RX10 IV. When I'm shooting extensively for a long period of time, especially in bursts, sometimes my A7R IV will get a little warm but it doesn't actually overheat.
In this day and age, we're spoiled for choice and it literally (at least for me) comes down to personal preference and style. I don't find the specific box of electronics (mirror box, no mirror box, etc) to be particularly relevant to a nice image, all things being equal.
Some people prefer Sony boxes, lenses, menus and others Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Panasonic, Hasselblad, Phase One, Blackmagic, Arri(or whatever). Maybe you have to work a little harder or differently in one camera than you would on another for a certain task but that's not too terribly important, really. And mostly, it's more heavily weighted on "work different" than "work harder" in the grand scheme of things.
The larger differentiators are probably glass - optical characteristics tend to be fairly unique - and menu systems. Other differentiators can be autofocus systems, but everyone tends to have great autofocus systems if you take the time to learn them. If you can't get focus on a given camera in a given situation, it's your own fault of course.
I use four different camera makers for my tools (one is Apple). I do so because I like them and they help me accomplish whatever my silly photographic vision happens to be at any given time.
I don't think we'll find that the images spewed out from AP at 20 fps at political press conferences will be any better or worse because of manufacturer choice. The only body that matters is the one doing the snapping.
Some people prefer Sony boxes, lenses, menus and others Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Panasonic, Hasselblad, Phase One, Blackmagic, Arri(or whatever). Maybe you have to work a little harder or differently in one camera than you would on another for a certain task but that's not too terribly important, really. And mostly, it's more heavily weighted on "work different" than "work harder" in the grand scheme of things.
The larger differentiators are probably glass - optical characteristics tend to be fairly unique - and menu systems. Other differentiators can be autofocus systems, but everyone tends to have great autofocus systems if you take the time to learn them. If you can't get focus on a given camera in a given situation, it's your own fault of course
.I use four different camera makers for my tools (one is Apple). I do so because I like them and they help me accomplish whatever my silly photographic vision happens to be at any given time.
I don't think we'll find that the images spewed out from AP at 20 fps at political press conferences will be any better or worse because of manufacturer choice
. The only body that matters is the one doing the snapping.When recording 4K video my RX100 IV overheated after a few minutes. Record in short clips, with slight breaks between and it was golden!
Ah, that explains it -- I never shoot video! I usually don't shoot the RX100 VII extensively in lengthy bursts, either, come to think of it. Actually, I really don't use that camera much, which is too bad, it's a lovely little camera! I tend to use that camera when traveling and when going to concerts (where photography may or may not be permitted), and of course this year I haven't done much traveling or concert-going. When I walk around the lake I usually have the A7R IV with me these days, but I really should just tuck the RX100 VII into my pocket and take it with me instead.....
The AP has been using Canon cameras for several years already.
While I use Canon cameras, I don't plan to switch to the R-series, nor any other mirrorless camera from Sony and the rest. I was waiting for Canon to produce a 5D V, and use it for photographing wildlife. The 1Dx-series would be perfect for me, but not the latest model Dx-III since I don't need so much performance from a camera. Since Canon is not going to produce the 5D-series any longer, I will probably buy a 1Dx-II and used it for about ten years.
There usually are a few problems with the first models produced, regardless of brand. That why I usually wait a while before buying a brand new camera. It seems that Sony is doing quite well at the moment, but the others will catch-up to Sony soon enough.
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Moose wrote:
"I don't plan to switch to the R-series, nor any other mirrorless camera from Sony and the rest. I was waiting for Canon to produce a 5D V, and use it for photographing wildlife."
Have you been following the reviews and user discussions for the new R5 and R6?
The "animal eye detection" is so good, that some users reported it would "find" and lock onto the animal (eye) before the shooter even SAW the animal in the frame.
Also, the R6 has the same sensor (actually it sounds like a slightly re-worked and improved version) as does the 1dx3. It's pretty much a 1dx3 without the optical viewfinder, with all the "live view" features the 1dx3 has, in a more compact package.
If things keep going the way they're going, in 4-5 years the major camera makers are going to discontinue DSLR's altogether in favor of mirrorless...
"I don't plan to switch to the R-series, nor any other mirrorless camera from Sony and the rest. I was waiting for Canon to produce a 5D V, and use it for photographing wildlife."
Have you been following the reviews and user discussions for the new R5 and R6?
The "animal eye detection" is so good, that some users reported it would "find" and lock onto the animal (eye) before the shooter even SAW the animal in the frame.
Also, the R6 has the same sensor (actually it sounds like a slightly re-worked and improved version) as does the 1dx3. It's pretty much a 1dx3 without the optical viewfinder, with all the "live view" features the 1dx3 has, in a more compact package.
If things keep going the way they're going, in 4-5 years the major camera makers are going to discontinue DSLR's altogether in favor of mirrorless...
Great reviews, no doubts about that. But I have already invested enough on long EF lenses (from 200-600mm). But then, I may be able to use an adapter (have to do some research on this subject).
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The only possible problem I could see is the older lenses maybe not being up to par for the new sensors in focus ability and IQ. I have seen results of what are ordinarily stellar lenses on the high MP sensors looking like kit lenses for Sony, Nikon and Canon and also struggling with slow focus and focus hunting! In the same breath, I have also seen some older lenses keeping par with some of the new glass, but they were used manually!
This was exactly a big concern that I had when I was in the process of making decisions about where I wanted to go next in photography; I had a lot of older Nikon lenses and I was able to determine early-on that most of them would not AF with the FTZ adapter. Aside from that, I had my doubts as to how well any of them, AF or MF, would perform on a shiny new Nikon mirrorless camera anyway. Sure, I really need AF, but setting that aside, I really wondered about what would happen if I stuck an old Nikkor lens on a Nikon Z6 or Z7 and if the resulting images would be at all satisfactory to me...... Camera body and lens technology has changed a whole lot since the 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, 1980's and 1990's..... Sure, I had some real gems, golden oldies, including the famed original 58mm Noct Nikkor, but..... I suspect that one reason Nikon brought out its new Noct as a mirrorless lens is for just that reason, that they wanted a lens that would work in dependable, stellar fashion with their new Z camera bodies.
For me the answer has been to set the past aside, let it go and move into the present and the future. Back in late 2019 I could already be pretty well assured that an established and decent range of native mirrorless lenses meant to go with a current mirrorless system would work well with the cameras in that system. Although there are other systems, I chose Sony.
And, yes, the availability of said lenses, the ones I wanted for the types of shooting I like to do, a few months ago and right now, was and still is important to me. Sorry, but I don't have two or three years to futz around with some stupid adapter and to wait while Nikon, even though I used that brand since the late 1980's and loved it for many years, gets around to releasing the native lenses that I would have wanted in their newly-developing mirrorless system of bodies and lenses. [Good luck to you guys who are waiting and (my guess) will still be waiting beyond the end of 2021 for a couple of native macro lenses and a couple of nice long native zooms, not to mention long prime lenses from Nikon to mate with its Z system.]
IMHO the FTZ adapter is nothing more than a compromise, a sop thrown to the loyal fans and the masses to try and keep them happy during the several-years delay of developing and releasing new native lenses. My guess is that for the most part the resulting images are just not going to be the same. Native lenses really work best with native bodies. Younger, people may have that time to wait for new mirrorless lenses to trickle out from Nikon; I don't. Instead, I didn't and don't need to wait and moved on....
The way I am looking at things, my energy and time for the next however many years I can continue shooting any sort of camera and lens(es), regardless of brand, would be much better spent in enjoying the use of a current camera body and the current native lenses meant to mate with it now, not impatiently waiting for lenses delayed by a manufacturer's time frame......
I'm 75 years old; maybe if I were 45 I'd have a whole different perspective on things since I'd also have a whole lot more time to spend in enjoying my chosen hobby as the years flow by. Frankly, I seriously doubt that ten years from now I'll still be submitting photos to this site or any other and I can pretty well predict that I won't be hoisting around the Bazooka or even the 100-400mm lens; it's even possible, depending upon my physical and mental health status in ten years that I'll not be able to even be picking up a camera and taking pictures at all. Thankfully I'm doing fine right now (I'm blessed there!) and, yes, I'm taking advantage of it, as who knows what the future may bring?
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Moose wrote:
"I have already invested enough on long EF lenses (from 200-600mm). But then, I may be able to use an adapter (have to do some research on this subject)."
The EF lenses will work as well as using their native mounts, and may actually work BETTER on the R-series with the EF/RF adapter, than they do on native EF mount cameras.
If you get the control ring adapter, it gives you "one more point of control" when using EF lenses than you would have "native".
There's also an EF/RF adapter with a "drop in" filter housing, but it's more $$$.
"I have already invested enough on long EF lenses (from 200-600mm). But then, I may be able to use an adapter (have to do some research on this subject)."
The EF lenses will work as well as using their native mounts, and may actually work BETTER on the R-series with the EF/RF adapter, than they do on native EF mount cameras.
If you get the control ring adapter, it gives you "one more point of control" when using EF lenses than you would have "native".
There's also an EF/RF adapter with a "drop in" filter housing, but it's more $$$.
I know that @Clix Pix 's fangs come out when speaking of Nikon's FTZ adapter and approach to mirrorless . I agree that it would have been nice if Nikon had started on full-frame mirrorless somewhat earlier so that their lens lineup would be more mature today. Alas, they did not. My own approach is that their DSLRs still work fantastically well and many of those F-mount lenses are absolutely stellar so there's no absolutely compelling reason to buy into the mirrorless line just yet, or if I do, as an addition. I've not found a reason to ditch the d850. Thom Hogan seems to also think there's not a mirrorless camera that can touch the autofocus performance of the new D6 and I appreciate his perspective as he actively shoots both Sony and Nikon (and can be critical of both where warranted). It may be large and the shutter might be louder, but when you need to get the shot, use the right tool for the job.
To be fair, by all accounts, the new S-line lenses are stellar and I've had the opportunity to test a few on friends' Z7 and Z6 bodies and agree with that assessment. It bodes well for the future of the Z ecosystem. The performance of the F-mount lenses on the adapter (a nicely engineered bit of kit, by the way), at least my particular lenses, is great, with focus performance (mostly) on par with relevant native lenses. I also find the manual focus capabilities to be superior on the Z mount to almost anything I've used. Additionally, I like that I've got at least some level of lens stabilization capabilities on gazillions of F-mount lenses that didn't previously offer it. When the system matures over the next year or so, I'll likely buy in. In the meantime, DSLRs work great.
Maybe the FTZ adapter is a "sop", I don't know. But it's a well engineered one and given that they did not start early on FF mirrorless, it's a sop I appreciate and is one way that gets the mirrorless ball rolling quickly and offers amazing flexibility and a lot of options.
@mollyc is absolutely right: Nikon's marketing department is atrocious. Their logistics capability is equally a failure - they're almost always out of the basic accessories and can't get newer lenses out the door in quantities that keep them on the shelves (witness the 70-200 2.8 S). They're a much, much smaller company than the behemoths Canon and Sony so hard to say how they'll do as the market contracts, but I like underdogs. I also so love the lenses and body ergonomics that I can't see them not being my 35mm manufacturer of choice. I totally get though why someone would choose Sony. I have shot several of their bodies and they're great and perform exceedingly well! Stupendously, even.
Like I mentioned earlier, it's hard to go wrong these days - we're all spoiled for choice. All of it is personal preference and each manufacturer has an area in which their tech excels or their optics shine. How fun that is! We make our choices and I don't think any of us are the poorer for them either. Let's go enjoy our truly excellent cameras!
. I agree that it would have been nice if Nikon had started on full-frame mirrorless somewhat earlier so that their lens lineup would be more mature today. Alas, they did not. My own approach is that their DSLRs still work fantastically well and many of those F-mount lenses are absolutely stellar so there's no absolutely compelling reason to buy into the mirrorless line just yet, or if I do, as an addition. I've not found a reason to ditch the d850. Thom Hogan seems to also think there's not a mirrorless camera that can touch the autofocus performance of the new D6 and I appreciate his perspective as he actively shoots both Sony and Nikon (and can be critical of both where warranted). It may be large and the shutter might be louder, but when you need to get the shot, use the right tool for the job.To be fair, by all accounts, the new S-line lenses are stellar and I've had the opportunity to test a few on friends' Z7 and Z6 bodies and agree with that assessment. It bodes well for the future of the Z ecosystem. The performance of the F-mount lenses on the adapter (a nicely engineered bit of kit, by the way), at least my particular lenses, is great, with focus performance (mostly) on par with relevant native lenses. I also find the manual focus capabilities to be superior on the Z mount to almost anything I've used. Additionally, I like that I've got at least some level of lens stabilization capabilities on gazillions of F-mount lenses that didn't previously offer it. When the system matures over the next year or so, I'll likely buy in. In the meantime, DSLRs work great
.Maybe the FTZ adapter is a "sop", I don't know. But it's a well engineered one and given that they did not start early on FF mirrorless, it's a sop I appreciate and is one way that gets the mirrorless ball rolling quickly and offers amazing flexibility and a lot of options.
@mollyc is absolutely right: Nikon's marketing department is atrocious. Their logistics capability is equally a failure - they're almost always out of the basic accessories and can't get newer lenses out the door in quantities that keep them on the shelves (witness the 70-200 2.8 S). They're a much, much smaller company than the behemoths Canon and Sony so hard to say how they'll do as the market contracts, but I like underdogs. I also so love the lenses and body ergonomics that I can't see them not being my 35mm manufacturer of choice. I totally get though why someone would choose Sony. I have shot several of their bodies and they're great and perform exceedingly well! Stupendously, even.
Like I mentioned earlier, it's hard to go wrong these days - we're all spoiled for choice. All of it is personal preference and each manufacturer has an area in which their tech excels or their optics shine. How fun that is! We make our choices and I don't think any of us are the poorer for them either. Let's go enjoy our truly excellent cameras!