Last of the holdouts goes Mirrorless (a Nikon Z6 III story)

[Strider64]

I’m a Sony user now, but I started with Nikon, which I loved. I almost purchased the original Nikon Z6 by placing a preorder, but after doing some further research, I realized that Sony was leading the way in mirrorless cameras, especially in terms of autofocus and other features at that time. The main reason I’ve stayed with Sony is that I have a lot of lenses for my current cameras, the Sony A1 and the Sony A9 (which I still love). Switching to another brand would mean losing money, and I'm not wealthy. In my opinion, the major camera manufacturers—Canon, Nikon, and Sony—are all excellent choices, and you can't go wrong with any of those systems. Before anyone criticizes me, I acknowledge that other camera brands may be just as good; I just haven't had much experience with them outside of the big three.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I’m a Sony user now, but I started with Nikon, which I loved. I almost purchased the original Nikon Z6 by placing a preorder, but after doing some further research, I realized that Sony was leading the way in mirrorless cameras, especially in terms of autofocus and other features at that time. The main reason I’ve stayed with Sony is that I have a lot of lenses for my current cameras, the Sony A1 and the Sony A9 (which I still love). Switching to another brand would mean losing money, and I'm not wealthy. In my opinion, the major camera manufacturers—Canon, Nikon, and Sony—are all excellent choices, and you can't go wrong with any of those systems. Before anyone criticizes me, I acknowledge that other camera brands may be just as good; I just haven't had much experience with them outside of the big three.

I don’t disagree with your logic.
For me there was a saving to be had by staying with Nikon. I didn’t need to replace my 200-500mm or my 105mm macro. Also the work discount was significant. We sell Nikon, Canon and Fuji, not Sony.
I think there is nothing wrong with any camera choice these days. They all make good cameras and glass.
I’ve tried Sony and the egomaniacs didn’t feel right to me.
The Z6iii has a nice big grip which suits my large hands. I’m also far too lazy to try and learn a different system!

 

[r.harris1]

I don’t disagree with your logic.
For me there was a saving to be had by staying with Nikon. I didn’t need to replace my 200-500mm or my 105mm macro. Also the work discount was significant. We sell Nikon, Canon and Fuji, not Sony.
I think there is nothing wrong with any camera choice these days. They all make good cameras and glass.
I’ve tried Sony and the egomaniacs didn’t feel right to me.
The Z6iii has a nice big grip which suits my large hands. I’m also far too lazy to try and learn a different system!

Yes, these days, there's no clear leader (as in "objectively better" - whatever that is ) in camera body capabilities across manufacturers. Every autofocus system can identify a cat, it seems. Maybe there are nuances on the video side? Even that's less true, I feel. The differentiator tends to be ergonomics in physical feel, menu systems, and the like. Glass can be a differentiator too.

 

[smirking]

I'm currently shooting a D780 with a D750 as a backup. Recently I've had the need to shoot the two in tandem more often and it's making me realize how much better of a camera a D780 is to the D750. I never realized how much better the D780 was because the resulting images look similar, but the shooting experience is way better on a D780.

It surprises me to say this, but if I continue to need to haul two bodies, I'm actually considering a second D780.

I have a mirrorless camera as my fun side camera. The release of the Nikon Z8 had me thinking it's time to start making the transition so I've been using it more to get acclimated into going fully mirrorless. The experience is actually convincing me to go the other way and stick to dSLR for as long as I can. The EVF just doesn't do me right in the way I shoot. When I'm under pressure, I find myself cursing the EVF.

I really feel at home with the dSLR format so I'm fine with sticking with the old stuff. My only regret is that there are a couple of really sweet Z mount lenses that I would love love love to use.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I'm currently shooting a D780 with a D750 as a backup. Recently I've had the need to shoot the two in tandem more often and it's making me realize how much better of a camera a D780 is to the D750. I never realized how much better the D780 was because the resulting images look similar, but the shooting experience is way better on a D780.

It surprises me to say this, but if I continue to need to haul two bodies, I'm actually considering a second D780.

I have a mirrorless camera as my fun side camera. The release of the Nikon Z8 had me thinking it's time to start making the transition so I've been using it more to get acclimated into going fully mirrorless. The experience is actually convincing me to go the other way and stick to dSLR for as long as I can. The EVF just doesn't do me right in the way I shoot. When I'm under pressure, I find myself cursing the EVF.

I really love shooting the dSLR format so I feel fine with sticking with the old stuff. My only regret is that there are a couple of really sweet Z mount lenses that I would love love love to use.

I know what you mean. I’m still not used to a EVF. But depending on which mirrorless camera you use the EVF’s have improved significantly from the first Z6 I picked up.

But if you are happy with the DSLR format, then enjoy. They are all tools. Just because something new comes along doesn’t mean the previous technology is suddenly redundant.

Just look at film cameras!

 

[smirking]

I know what you mean. I’m still not used to a EVF. But depending on which mirrorless camera you use the EVF’s have improved significantly from the first Z6 I picked up.

They have indeed improved a lot. I need to actually get my hands on a Z6III or a Z8 and see how they perform, but my recent epiphany was that my issues had less to do with what's lacking in EVFs as with how they actually work. It wasn't a bug that I had difficulty with. My problem was with the actual feature.

I'm in a weird intersection of photography where I rely on full manual controls with moving subjects and often in harsh lighting conditions. If a bright light source crosses my vision while I'm tracking a subject, the EVF loses a lot of detail or blows out entirely and I sometimes lose track of my subject.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I tend to shoot in manual exposure mode. Sometimes with auto ISO sometimes without.
I’ve always done it that way (or at least for a long time).

 

[smirking]

I tend to shoot in manual exposure mode. Sometimes with auto ISO sometimes without.
I’ve always done it that way (or at least for a long time).

I'd be interested in hearing how your adaptation goes and if you have techniques for compensating for when the EVF isn't doing you favors like in the scenario above.

 

[mtbdudex]

Nice, enjoy the new “stuff”.
While many say “it’s not the gear it’s the person behind it”, having new gear can reinvigorate one.

I’m 2.5 years into my Canon R5, use it here and there but not as often as I’d like. With retirement in 4-5 months that will change, I’m committed to a July-2025 photo exhibition.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Nice, enjoy the new “stuff”.
While many say “it’s not the gear it’s the person behind it”, having new gear can reinvigorate one.

I’m 2.5 years into my Canon R5, use it here and there but not as often as I’d like. With retirement in 4-5 months that will change, I’m committed to a July-2025 photo exhibition.

Retirement? That sounds nice. I have a few years to go yet.
For me it’s about enjoying the photography time I manage to squeeze into my week or month. I’m never going to be out shooting everyday. Not until I’m retired.

 

[OldMacs4Me]

I can't really speak to the Z6 as when I entered the fray I chose the Z50. I can relate my EVF impressions of that camera. For framing it is more than adequate. I mostly use the single small block auto focus. Almost always bang on, very few subjects create any sort of issue.

To use manual focus however would pretty much mean doing it on a tripod. You need to digitally zoom in to be sure of a solid focus. That sadly is done by touching the screen and goes in 4x, then requires another touch to zoom out see the actual framing. The Z6 might or might not have a way to magnify just the focus point. The Z50 as far as I can tell does not. Without that, handheld manual focus would be awkward at best or even impossible if you are close to the subject. I did try the peaking setting and found it too distracting but that may just be me.

I would not under any circumstances attempt to critically evaluate an image in the viewfinder. I shoot 1/3rd stop under and if I have any doubts about highlights blocking or being too dark I do a bracket series to be sure.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I can't really speak to the Z6 as when I entered the fray I chose the Z50. I can relate my EVF impressions of that camera. For framing it is more than adequate. I mostly use the single small block auto focus. Almost always bang on, very few subjects create any sort of issue.

To use manual focus however would pretty much mean doing it on a tripod. You need to digitally zoom in to be sure of a solid focus. That sadly is done by touching the screen and goes in 4x, then requires another touch to zoom out see the actual framing. The Z6 might or might not have a way to magnify just the focus point. The Z50 as far as I can tell does not. Without that, handheld manual focus would be awkward at best impossible if you are close to the subject.

I would not under any circumstances attempt to critically evaluate an image in the viewfinder. I shoot 1/3rd stop under and if I have any doubts about highlights blocking I do a bracket to be sure.

That’s interesting. Why would you not evaluate an image in the viewfinder? I’ve not had any issues.

The only time I manual focus is for some macro. I haven’t done much of that yet. Been busy with work then the rain is constant at the moment.

Hopefully next week when I’m off (after a weekend working the Paris Photography show).

 

[mollyc]

I can't really speak to the Z6 as when I entered the fray I chose the Z50. I can relate my EVF impressions of that camera. For framing it is more than adequate. I mostly use the single small block auto focus. Almost always bang on, very few subjects create any sort of issue.

To use manual focus however would pretty much mean doing it on a tripod. You need to digitally zoom in to be sure of a solid focus. That sadly is done by touching the screen and goes in 4x, then requires another touch to zoom out see the actual framing. The Z6 might or might not have a way to magnify just the focus point. The Z50 as far as I can tell does not. Without that, handheld manual focus would be awkward at best or even impossible if you are close to the subject. I did try the peaking setting and found it too distracting but that may just be me.

I would not under any circumstances attempt to critically evaluate an image in the viewfinder. I shoot 1/3rd stop under and if I have any doubts about highlights blocking or being too dark I do a bracket series to be sure.

On the Z6s there is are two physical buttons for zooming (one in, one out) but it does zoom the whole screen (EVF and LCD), which it sound like it does with your Z50 as well. I'm not sure how else zooming in would work. But I manually focus all the time on the Z6s without a tripod. I set my composition the way I want, put my focal point over the area that I'd like to zoom in on, then use the zoom button. Yes, it blocks out the entire rest of the frame, but because I set up my composition before zooming in, I'm dialed into the focus box and I won't stray too much from the desired composition.

I don't see why your camera wouldn't work similarly, other than you are activating the zoom from the screen vs a dedicated button.

Focus peaking is really difficult to dial in at first, but once you get the hang of it it's really helpful. I admit to wanting to give up on focus peaking initially, but when you figure out the right settings (which vary from person to person) it's really quite helpful.

 

[OldMacs4Me]

On the Z6s there is are two physical buttons for zooming (one in, one out) but it does zoom the whole screen (EVF and LCD), which it sound like it does with your Z50 as well. I'm not sure how else zooming in would work. But I manually focus all the time on the Z6s without a tripod. I set my composition the way I want, put my focal point over the area that I'd like to zoom in on, then use the zoom button. Yes, it blocks out the entire rest of the frame, but because I set up my composition before zooming in, I'm dialed into the focus box and I won't stray too much from the desired composition.

I don't see why your camera wouldn't work similarly, other than you are activating the zoom from the screen vs a dedicated button.

Focus peaking is really difficult to dial in at first, but once you get the hang of it it's really helpful. I admit to wanting to give up on focus peaking initially, but when you figure out the right settings (which vary from person to person) it's really quite helpful.

It would, if I could break my rather bad habit of cropping exactly they way I want in camera. Back in the days of film I always left a bit around the edges to compensate for printer or slide mount cropping. The APS-c format is certainly capable of withstanding considerable cropping. Unfortunately that is not as true of the little Oly waterproof that I use as or more frequently than the Z50. I like to keep cropping to the absolute minimum on that camera.

Still I have as yet to fool the auto-focus, so I am content to let it do its thing. I just have to make sure I know where my point of focus as I do occasionally find a way to knock it off center, or fail to return it the center position.

Edit: I keep forgetting about the fn buttons. Have now set fn1 to do an extreme zoom. Push it once you zoom in, second time zooms out.

 

[OldMacs4Me]

That’s interesting. Why would you not evaluate an image in the viewfinder? I’ve not had any issues.

The only time I manual focus is for some macro. I haven’t done much of that yet. Been busy with work then the rain is constant at the moment.

Hopefully next week when I’m off (after a weekend working the Paris Photography show).

I said critically evaluate. I routinely do a rough evaluation, specifically to make sure there was no camera motion that I have not over cropped, and that the horizon line looks level. If it seems highlites could be blown or shadows blocked, I don't waste time zooming in to be sure, I just do a 5 frame bracket.

 

[bunnspecial]

I'm still pretty much an SLR/DSLR user, although my one concession has been a Fuji X-T5 and I have been extremely happy with it. At the time I bought it(May 2023) I was looking for APS-C for size consideration, and wasn't particularly impressed with any of the APS-C Nikon offerings.

I go through phases of what I use, and my DSLRs still get a lot of use, but the X-T5 definitely comes out when I want something smaller/lighter.

One thing I will say is that I always feel like I'm spending way too much time making my D850 files look like I want them to. My X-T5 gives me files that need little to no post processing, especially if I pick the film profile that I think will fit. With that said, my D5 gives me results I like even better most of the time for portrait/people work. So does the D4 and D3X. The D8xx cameras(I have all three of them, or now I guess all four after an impulse D800E purchase back in July) never give me color-popping results out of the camera like setting "Velvia" on my X-T5, but they are really easy to get there. Unfortunately "Velvia" on the X-T5 still doesn't actually look like Velvia! I probably owe it to myself to try one of the newer Nikon 24mp sensors to see if they're more to my liking...

 

[Apple fanboy]

So a bit of an update. So obviously no issues with the 24-120mm f4 Z lens. Really like the extra reach compared to the 24-70mm f2.8 I used to carry around. Also not missing the weight. Given this is primarily my landscape lens, I'm not really missing the wider aperture either.

200-500mm f 5.6 works perfectly on the FTZ ii adapter. It is as far as I can tell no different. The main limitation being the numpty with his finger on the shutter.

So the last lens I got round to using at the weekend was my 105mm Macro, also on the FTZ ii adapter. So the big change for macro work is the focus peaking. It's a game changer. As are the improvements to focus stacking in PS compared to when I last tried it some years ago. It really is idiot proof (I should know!).

So for anyone wondering how the f mount lenses work on Z bodies I can (as many others have said before me) they work exactly as expected. No loss of AF speed or any other issues I have noticed.