Thanks for sharing...I am only a hobbyist.at 78 yrs old and still love my Nikon.D500...at this point of time I am not yet considering upgrading to the mirrorless system... love your video & comments... cheers 😀
I'm from old school photography, I'm older than you smile, I used my moms kodak brownie, my first focus camera was my dads Berkie and James 4x5 press camera. My dad did weddings in the 50's. I used Fujica ST801, Canon AE, Canon AE1P, Canon A1. Im currently using a Canon D300. Yes, I'm looking for a new camera but I'm waiting for now. I'm a Canon user. My old Journalism teacher from high school can't believe I did not become a professional photographer. I won a few contests. I just joined your channel enjoyed it a lot.
I went a long long time between my D5300 workhorse and then had the D750 in the shopping cart to upgrade. Luckily, started looking around and decided if I was going to make a move, now is the time. Didn't want to switch away from Nikon as I'm old and hard of learning, so I put a Z7ii in the cart instead and very very happy I did - very easy to adapt to. The Z lenses are amazing and adding them here and there. Got the 14-30mm and 24-200mm to start and love them, then added a few S primes and waiting on the 105mm macro. When the 100-400mm S comes out that will complete my kit I believe.
Hudson, thank you so much for all of the information you share. I shoot a D850 now but want to switch to the Z system at some point. I plan to wait to see what the Z9 looks like and go from there. I would assume there will be a Z8 that will have some of the tech from the Z9 but not as expensive 😀. Videos like this one really helps me going forward in making decisions. Thanks again for all you do…I truly appreciate it.. Greg
Great video again Hudson. I got my Z7II a couple of weeks ago and I'm loving it. I started with the D90 en switched to the D700 and used it for years. But the Z series is 'mind blowing' it's so much better. I have ordered the Z 105 VR (I have to wait for another couple of weeks till it arrives) and I can't wait to shoot with it. Reviews of that lens are amazing. When Money will let me I will also go for the Z 24-70. Again, thanks for spreading your thoughts and knowledge. Your teaching and explaining is done in such natural and pleasant way, I have no issue at all watching your video's for hours and hours. And run them all again to make sure I don't miss anything :-)
We're so fortunate to have all these amazing options available from these innovative manufacturers. Too many people get stuck in pointless brand war debates and specs arguments, instead of celebrating what's cool and unique about each system (like you do here 🙏🏻). I also appreciate the weather sealing demonstration, despite all my cringing 😬😆
I appreciated the weather sealing demo as well. I remember well the episode years ago when a sea wave drenched my Minolta SRT 101. Totally destroyed the camera.
Respect that you uploaded this video before offloading your D850. It will be interesting to see if the Nikon Z telephotos will also be that much better than the F glass equivalents. A stellar 100-400 will be a compelling reason to upgrade for many wildlife shooters.
It’s always interesting to watch videos from people like yourself who have taken the time to learn the autofocus system and use it on a regular basis, then watch other videos from other people who obviously don’t take time time to learn the system and constantly complain about Nikon’s focus system. I became a believer there first time I put my Z5 up to my eye. I’m “all in” with the Z system and loving my lowly Z5
Hell of a video, thanks for posting it.. I've been shooting Nikons over 50 years now. I stated with a used F2 in the 7th grade back in the film days. Slowly went digital later on and through the years accumulated a stable of cameras and lenses. I purchased the Z6 when it came out and later added several (mostly prime) Z lenses. As a result (except for one) I sold my old DSLR collection. Yes, I've gone mirrorless all the way and will never look back. That's my 2 cents worth.
Hello Hudson, I am feeling very old, I was a film guy from my first camera back in the 1970's processing and printing. What amazing times. Yes i was luck to work in top studio's in the UK though the 80's 35mm, medium format, 5x4 and 8x10 film. Some time in the 90's i left photography and went it to software development. Then in the 2010 I went digital so nice to process and so much more fun. Not sure when I go my first mirrorless camera it was the Hasselblad X1D, still have it and it results are just out standing. Focus peeking, EVF and handling suit my style so well. I have the Nikon Z7ii although very nice I lake my D850 in some areas and other the Z7ii just nicer to use. All that from a old guy. Keep well, keep safe and find time for fun.
Great story John! I shot 35mm, 645 and 4x5 before digital too. Not quite as long as you, but I am so glad I have that experience in the back of my head. :-)
I have sold off my D750 + 6 F mount lenses and purchased the Z7ll + the 2.8 trinity. Love them all. The colour rendition is so superior, and the 45 megapixel sensor is a dream. I find it so much easier seeing my exposure in the EVF. It is far quicker to dial in to exactly what I want. I hung onto my 105 1.4 and my 200-500. Will consider trading those in if and when the 85 1.2 arrives. It has been a learning curve for sure, but the results are worth the effort. Thank you again for a wonderful video.
I was watching this on Friday and paused it to check out the MPB site you mentioned. Rather impulsively, I agreed to trade in my D4S and (5) F lenses for a Z6 with two lenses and $500 back which will go toward a third lens. MPB offered fair pricing on both the trade and purchase. I'll let you know how it turns out, but I dropped my gear at Fed-Ex yesterday so this ball is rolling. Thanks for the tip! Best to you and your family!
Well, bad news. Apparently a D4S with under 118,000 actuations is considered 'well used' by MPB. The camera is rated for 400,000. They are listing one in 'Good' condition with 243,000 actuations. They discounted their offer by $500 so I asked them to send everything back. We will see how long it takes for it to arrive. I wouldn't recommend them.
If the cameras get much better we won't even have to be there when they take the pictures! I can hardly wait to have all that extra time for mowing lawns, taking stuff to the dump, etc.
Hi Hudson - I love the Z system for what it is and I have all the Z glass except for that 0.95 58mm Noct 😉. However, when I’m shooting BIF or anything erratic (dragonflies), my hit rate with the Z6M2 using the same lenses (800, 600, 180-400) is abysmal compared to my D6, D850 or D500. So, I think that while the a1 and R5 are there with erratic wildlife and fast panning sports, the Z system is not. I look forward to the Z9, but for now, if I need my 800mm prime for bald eagles, I’m going with my D6. BTW, Mark Smith “accidentally” tested his a1 in a saltwater dunk and it was fine. His D850 had to be sent in after the same “test.” So, Sony seems to have really improved the sealing for the a1 over what they had on their earlier bodies. All the best - stay safe!
I am also a budget photographer and still use my eos 7Dii ! Most of my kit is purchased used and when the Canon R5 becomes cheaper or in a sale. I will be getting one as tge human / animal eye AF is bloody amazing ! What a camera !
I'm with you! I shot with Nikon SLRs, (beginning with the F2) and later, digital SLRs. (most recently, the combination of a D810 and D500) I've sold all my F-mount gear, and now have a Z6II and a Z7, along with 5 "Z" lenses, and agree with all you said. It IS different, and takes some getting used to. Now though, I'm happy to have made the switch. Take care!
Great video which should drive some thoughts out there. I've shot Canon since 2009 starting with the 5DM2 and a couple of years ago I upgraded the the 5DM4. At time I had looked at the Canon mirrorless cameras but none had the qualities I was looking for. I mostly shoot wildlife especially birds but I do dabble with landscape. When the R5 came out I read and looked at every review I could find and earlier this year I moved to the mirrorless world. I never had doubt I would make that move to mirrorless, I just had to wait till the technology I was looking for was there. The animal eye focus, 20 frames electronically, the EVF with no lag where just some of what finally got me to mirrorless. I still am using my EF lens, my main lens is the EF 400mm, 2.8 Ver II with he 1.4 converter Ver III but hope to pick up a couple of TF lens in the near future.
I consider myself a budget photographer, if there is such a thing. When the second iteration of Z cameras came out I jumped at the opportunity to pick up a good used Z6. I was blown away by the quality of the images so I traded off my D750 for a Z5 when they offered the $400 discount. Saving for a telephoto now. I’d love the 100-400 if I can afford it. Looking forward to seeing this system mature.
I'm a budget photographer, too. The used camera market for DSLR camera and lenses is extensive and affordable for me. I'll have to wait 5 years or more before I can begin to think about buying into the mirrorless equivalent of what I own in DSLR gear.
@@b.a.p.4718 Yeah it was a tough decision switching due to the lack of used lenses. The only thing that is easy to find right now used is the 24-70 F4. I pulled the trigger though knowing that the cameras that I had still had decent value. I've got the 24-70 F4 and the 50 f1.8 now. I'll splurge on a telephoto next and probably live with that for a while along with a few F lenses.
A friend of mine tried out the Z6 but went back to his trusy Olympus cameras and sold me his nearly new Z6 with two lenses for the same price KEF would have given him! That is how I fell into the Z world. I was a Pentax SLR user before this. Still one of the best dslr companies out there.
Currently using Fuji xt3 but been thinking if I should switch to canon or Nikon. Kinda feel like Fuji doesn’t have the lenses for wildlife. I’m just a hobbyist so I’ll probably stick with Fuji for now since I have over 3 grand invested into it
@@gosman949 I had one of the original EM-5’s that I bought for a couple hundred dollars. It was nice and small to take on trips but the evf was awful. I found that I hardly ever touched it when I had my dslr available. I sold it to help pay for my Z6. I don’t regret it one bit. It’s nice that your friend sold it to you for that price. He could have gotten significantly more even if he priced it aggressively.
I feel lucky to have the DSLRs and F-mount lenses that I do have today. Though, there are times when I wonder if a Z7ii would push my photography to that next level... eye-af and EVF real-time metering seem like game-changers for portraiture work. I could interact more with my client and trust the system's AF tracking and know when I see is what I get from the EVF... The D850 hasn't let me down yet, but there are definitely times (particularly when shooting outside for a client) that I'm trying to keep my subject smiling and feeling calm and relaxed while fidgeting with settings and exposures and AF points. This video nails a lot of the points I've been considering too! Milky way and nighttime shooting - I hadn't even thought of those benefits! The only hesitation I have is with my wildlife photography, which is really the genre I am most passionate about. When it comes to paid work, I don't take on much. But the jobs I do take are typically portraiture, real estate, and architecture. I sell landscape and wildlife photos occasionally too at markets or fairs. Is the Z7ii a lateral movement in comparison to the D850 when talking specifically about AF performance on fast-moving subjects?I don't use 3D tracking on my D500 or D850, I usually set up single point AF and use Pv and Fn1 buttons for group AF when I really need help grabbing a subject that's moving too fast for me. I keep reading about the Z7ii not being up to par with the D500/D850 tracking, but maybe that's irrelevant to me? The only other concern would be high frame rate shooting and EVF blackout. I've yet to see this for myself, but there seems to be a general consensus that it can be problematic for sports/action/wildlife shooters... My thoughts at the moment are to just grab a Z7ii (used with FTZ if possible), see if it can replace my D850 for everything but wildlife, and maybe keep the D500 to use primarily with my 500pf. Maybe also keep the 104/1.4 since that lens is simply remarkable. Would love to hear some other opinions; I know this is so subjective, but I like to just hear other people's take! Great content as always!
Your concern about EVF blackout are real. I was an early adopter of mirrorless and while it was great for static subjects tracking flying birds felt like trying to find a subject in the dark using only a disco strobe. Granted the EVFs have improved but all except Sony are still reported to suffer jitters when used a high frame rates. Until Nikon solve this I don't see myself switching for wildlife. Like you, I use single point and group AF but no doubt my hit rate would improve with one of these top flight animal/eye subject tracking systems. The subject tracking, silent shutter and potential for a superior long tele lens are currently the most compelling reasons for me to adopt Nikon's mirrorless. For the time being and possibly longer the D850 remains an exciting camera for me and I'm even considering picking up a D4s as these start to appear at previously unheard of prices.
The eye AF and silent shutter is just going to make your paid portrait work so much easier. Keep the 500 till you get the learning curve on the EVF and auto area with subject tracking or until the next gen when the blackout will be gone. Sony's cured it with the A9 and A1 series. It reduces the resolution to up the frame rate during high speed capture. Works amazingly well even at 30fps. Nikon will clearly follow suit in the next Gen. I've gotten used to shooting a bit wider and anticipating my subject's motion to compensate and I rarely reach for the D500 now, but it's nice to have still as you switch if you love wildlife and sports. I think the z9 and what comes next will put the action AF and blackout issue to rest.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto first, thank you for taking time out of your day to reply. Much appreciated! When it comes to blackout on the z7ii, is that merely a factor of hardware (ie: stacked sensors vs single sensor?) or is there hope that a firmware update could remedy the issue later on? I’m guessing it’s more hardware limitation otherwise they would have addressed it with firmware already? I agree with your statement on eye AF and silent shutter helping with my portrait work. If I can find a good deal I might pick up the z7ii and keep shooting the D500 for strictly wildlife. The problem with waiting is I likely won’t be able to justify the z9 purchase, and any chance of a z8 is far off in the distant future. Again, appreciate your time and content here!
I started my "mirrorless journey" 6 years ago, with a Fuji system, then eagerly bought into the Nikon Z system (because I still had my Nikon DSLRs and F-mount lenses). I'll soon be selling the last of my DSLR gear.
I agree. I am a Canon shooter and I love my 5DIV but after I bought my EOS R5, I don't use it anymore. I also have a 5DIII that I need to sell but will probably always keep my 5DIV as a go to camera if I have to send my mirrorless R5 to the shop. I loved the feel of my 5DIV but am very used to the R5 and love it now. Right now I only have one lens for the RF system but use my EF lenses with an adapter and love them with the R5. I bought the RF 100mm f/2.8 L MACRO IS USM and it is a great lens so far. It even has the SA Control but so far I have not used it that much.
The holdout for me was using the d500 for sports and birding but really I found that once I learned the new system I was able to get nearly the same keeper ratio, and with much better resolution and image sharpness on the Z7. I've since sold off all my f-mount cameras and all but 3 lenses for f-mount ( Sigma 105 art, Tamron 150-600 G2, and Sigma 8mm Fisheye ). I've also done comparisons with f-mount glass vs the z-mount and it's easily noticeable the improvements. I had zero issues selling off my Zeiss, Sigma Art and Nikon f-mount glass. I'm lookin forward to the new 105 macro lens and really enjoying using my Z5, Z6, & Z7.
Very good review of your decision path. I switched in 2019 from a D7200 to the Z6 and then later to the Z6II, I love the Nikon Z System. The Z Mount lenses are really sharp and light, even with F4. Next invest will be the 70-200 f/2.8 S Lens. But with the FTZ adapter the 70-300 f/4.5-5.6, a Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 and Tamron 150-600 f/4-6.3 are working perfect. Robustness of the Z system is also been proofed by Morten Hilmer. Down to -40 degree C the camera was working. I‘ll never go back to a DSLR because of the advantages of mirrorless.
Great video. I was a big skeptic, until I got my hands on a Z7ii. I had to wait for that camera, as I'm a 2-card-slot nut. Is it absolutely necessary? For some people, no, but it makes me more comfortable to have that 2nd slot, so . . . But what a difference, for all of the reasons you mention -- lighter, brighter VF (I love being able to see a nice bright viewfinder in rather dark conditions), etc. Made a believer of me. As soon as finances allow, I'll move from f-mount to Z-mount glass, but for now, I'm getting much, much sharper. clearer images from the same f-mount lenses on the Z7ii as I ever got on a DSLR. Now to talk my wife into giving up her D800 . . .
I whined to you a while back that the 500PF was on back order and then you scored on one on NPS. Bugger! Then, when stock came in I saw the writing on the wall with the new Z glass and decided against any new F mount glass. The 150-500mm still does good work, but I hope to get one of the Z big zooms when they come out. Just got the 105mm macro (I shoot more macro than anything else) and it is a super lens. Works extremely well for dog portrait work too. :)
DSLR's and mirrorless ff cameras might be yesterdays format but they're both still terrific options if you don't mind incurring at least double the weight penalty & double the cost outlay, compared with some of the super slick micro 4:3rds gear available. The latter having equal (and sometimes even superior) real world performance, image quality & intelligent focus tracking for demanding applications like sports & wildlife shooting.
My current camera is the D850. It is an amazing and awesome camera. I use it for everything from Autosport to music to volleyball. Someday I’d like to go mirrorless, but, I doubt that will happen unless the image quality is better, autofocus better, ergonomics are better, and dynamic range is better. The D850 just fits in my hand as an appendage or part of my hand. In dark classical music venues Q shutter is quiet enough so I don’t have to use “silent’ mode. When mirrorless are better and produce better higher Rez images I’ll switch but keep d850 until my last frame is shot. I have high hopes for a higher Rez Z8 for detail work.
I felt that same exact way in 2018 when I shot the mount Rainer video excerpted here. Exact. When you do switch, you'll be mind bent how wonderful the EVF and low light AF are in dimly lit venues or night street shooting. One gig and the D850 will be hard to imagine ever using again in low light. 5 gigs and it will feel huge and awkward in your hand. That's my experience as well as everyone I know who's made the switch recently. You'll also adore the silent shutter. The 24mp sensor in the 6 series is an insane low light weapon. I've gotten good images at 20,000 ISO. The 7s image quality is identical to the 850. Keep it under 3200 and it's wonderful. Ultra high resolution sensors just get noisy when you crank the gain. It's not so much about image quality as it is ease of use, particularly in low light.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto as said below I’m almost convinced. The hardest thing I shoot os actually indoor volleyball. Hard because of the low light in the gyms. The speed of hands and ball can be difficult to catch without motion blur at 5000 iso. The outdoor sports no problem. Basketball is easy. But clean shots of volleyball are tough. I’ll have to try a z in that situation
I had a d3000 for the longest time and loved it for what it was… given the opportunity I leaped to the z50 and then the z5, now I used the z50 and z5 in tandem and it’s blew my passion for photography 10 fold! My poor d3000 hasn’t seen the light of day in awhile…
Just bought a D810!!! All is good New toys are great but its not what photography should be about. Using and recycling dslr's is good for the planet too.
With respect to mirrorless vs. DSLR, I have both camera types and enjoy shooting both as a low-level hobbyist. I would love to dive fully into the newer Canon mirrorless bodies and RF lenses but for two things: 1) I no longer have as much discretionary funding as I did before SARS Covid 2. 2) I am waiting for the technology to mature a bit further (stacked sensors for Canon). Photographers should shoot with the gear they want to shoot with. Keeping in mind how advanced mirrorless cameras are already, this is where many of us will be the further we travel this path.
Great youtube channel. Thanks for the hard work bringing it together. I'm about to retire. I did a lot of amateur slr photography as a young guy. Life got busy and for the last 20 years I have been using point and shoot and iphones basically for snap shots. I want to get back into some more serious photography when I retire in a years time, when I will have the time. My focus will likely be mostly landscapes and wildlife, some wilderness stuff, some local. I skipped the digital slr thing nearly entirely. I have the resources to get some high quality equipment. I have no old lenses to use. I have no history with the DSLR thing. Tabula rassa as far as the digital SLR stuff. I never even used the auto exposure and focus stuff on the old film cameras I used. But, I do have some skills as far as exposures and depth of field and shutter speeds etc. Not doing video. So, I take it a guy like me should go mirrorless? Nikon is my preference. Will the Z6 with the 24/70 f4 as a starter lens (more to come later) meet my amateur photographer needs? Or, should I be looking at a 7? This will likely be my last hurrah. I want to get on a really good platform so my energy on the learning curve will take me through about 10-15 years when I'll likely hang up the cleats.
Hey Hudson with the Covid thing it's hard but after Covid are you ever going to do a workshop in British Columbia, I think that would be cool as you are just a little ways south of us! What do you think?
I bought my Z7 with the 24-200 Z glass in April and am still learning how to use it. What I like about it so far, besides what you already said, was the ease of focus shifting. I can just set the camera for focus shifting, put it on a tripod, and it automatically takes your specified shots.
Bought into the Z-system with the Z5. Have been adapting all kinds of different manual lenses. They're all performing amazingly on the Z5. Got the 50mm f1.8 and 24-70mm f4, and I'm blown away, what amazing lenses. Definitely not regretting going with Nikon Z
Great video, Hudson. As you said, Nikon's Z system features the largest mount diameter at 55mm. I'd always been told that the lack of f/1.2 primes on the F-mount was due to its much smaller 47mm diameter and the challenge of fitting both glass and electrical contacts into it. Interestingly, the Sony E-mount, originally designed for APS-C, is only 46.1 in diameter and they do have some impressive f/1.2 glass. Also interesting is that Canon's RF-mount diameter of 54mm is unchanged from their EF mount. This really reflects well on the design choices Canon engineers made back in the early 80's as the EF-mount was being created.
I’m buying a film camera because part of me really misses the days when photography required specialized knowledge and experience and research and experience. I miss the days when you needed to know how: to use a light meter, what film emulsions to use, how to zone focus, how to dodge and burn, when to push your film, you had to know how to photograph the moon or fireworks, etc. today it is more about computer science and programming. That said I will still buy a Z camera at some point and never sell my D850.
Nothing wrong at all with any of that sentiment. I shot medium and large format for years and put in that time. My joy comes from the highest image quality possible. I love 400MP panos that look great printed huge. The same thing that drove photographers of old to use 8x10. I still find plenty of challenges with digital. Noise free sharp milky way work, time lapse, long exposure. As the tools get better, it expands the horizon of what practiced photographers can dream and accomplish. I predict you'll change that tune on the 850 in the years ahead. I remember saying the same thing about my F100 long ago.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto I hear you. There is a lot to love about the evolving digital universe. A lot to love about the film universe. At this point film is for fun and digital is for work. Wether it is sport, chamber music, news, or portraits or any of the other things I shoot for hire, digital is my go to today. But film is fun.
Love the vid Hudson and I too have the D850/500 and am now loving my Z6. Lens question. I have the 14-30 f4 and absolutely love it. You have raved about it and say the 14-24 2.8 is your favorite lens ever. Is it that much better than the 14-30? If so, how. Love to know your thoughts…
It's a lot like back in the early digital days when my 17-35 was a workhorse I loved and then I tried the 14-24 F mount. Nikon does really special lenses sometimes. They always nail 20s, 105s and 14-24s. It's just lovely how it renders contrast, color and sharpness edge to edge wide open. Every complaint ultra high resolution sensors exposed in my old 14-24 F was addressed and then some. It's a dream to use for stars too. No coma or chromatic aberration and razor at the edges wide open. That said. The 14-30 is razor sharp too. The edges are crazy stopped down a touch. It doesn't have that indefinable character I love in the bigger lens, but it's crazy crazy good. I still have mine. Why the 2.8 then? I love milky way work and wide angle portraits with blurred backgrounds, so the bigger lens is a dream for me. Not everyone needs it. For sure.
I don't have any mirror less. The reason I would get one is the ability to adapt vintage lenses from a variety of camera brands. D7000 and D700 bodies work very well with Nikon AFS lenses for what I do. I like the large flange size of the Nikon mirror less bodies. That has got to be an advantage.
Love your explanation, I still am holding onto my D500, but almost exclusively use my Z6ll. Still have my 200-500, but. As soon as there is a Z replacement it’s gone. Thinking I better sell my older stuff soon while it has some value.
I am whenever I don't need the extra crop-in-reach from the apsc sensor. I can't wait for an apsc Z camera with a D500-like or better sensor. My 500mm pulls in distant subjects like a 750mm. To be honest I haven't felt the need to use it in a year though. I used the Z50 a few times this past year instead with 500pf on the FTZ with great results up to about 2000 iso. It's hard to go back to a dslr after significant time with the Zs. Dslrs just feel so clunky and less capable by comparison.
A thing I always found interesting about the DSLR vs mirrorless debate, especially where autofocus and weather sealing are concerned, is that some people seem to feel that DSLR is somehow intrinsically better. Like... something about being mirrorless makes it harder to seal or makes autofocus not work. The early mirrorless struggled because they were working out the bugs, and(I believe) weather sealing wasn't a huge priority for Sony. Matt Granger(RUclipsr/Photographer/long time Nikon guy) called the Olympus E-M1x the toughest, best weather sealed camera he'd ever used, and said the E-M1 mk ii wasn't far behind. I use a Sony A7Riii, and I feel like it's pretty good, although I feel less confident about it that I did my old Nikon D500. That said, I consider it superior in every other way, including autofocus.
Great as usual, I try to shoot daily, retired not a lot of $ fairly happy with my D750 n Nikkor F glass (not as much as before video) ,, Did I hear You say may be wait for next iteration of Nikon Mirrorless body's ????? Thanks Again
If birds in flight are your main focus then you might want to wait on whatever blackout free burst mode and insane AF tracking tech bleeds down from the upcoming z9. If people, low light, still life and landscape are your thing, then you'd adore the z6ii now. The big take home is to really think before buying more f glass. You're right the 750 is a great camera with a wonderful low light capable sensor.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thanks Again ,, stopped buying glass 2yrs ago... been shooting Nikon over 50yrs.. just waiting so they can do a catch up with Sony n Canon.. no birds or animals but maybe Race cars 5 times a yr (but ok with D750 burst rate n continuous AF) chasing my grand daughter around n documenting life pix (40 yr Photojournalist n Freelance) Thinking Z6II n 24-200mm....Truly appreciate You :) !!!!!!!!
Thank you for another great video, Hudson. At one point, you said something to the effect that if someone likes their current Nikon or Canon DSLR, there is no compelling reason to switch to another brand because they are all great. But what if you didn't have any investment or loyalty to one of these brands? I'm looking to upgrade to FF from Olympus, and having a hard time deciding which system to buy into. If you were starting from scratch, would you choose Canon, Nikon, or Sony mirrorless, and why?
It's tough to go wrong right now to be honest. The Sony and Nikon have a slight edge in image quality I think (dynamic range and such). I prefer Nikon's color science. Sony has a bit of an edge with AF tracking and frame rates for the birding obsessed, but I doubt that lasts. I prefer Canon and Nikon's lenses and the big wide open mount gives the engineers more room to design the kind of mind bending lenses they have been doing. I'm not a fan of Sony's ergonomics and menu design/user interface. I like Nikon's the best, but Canon is really good too. If it were me right now today, I'd take Sony if my full time job was sports and wildlife, but Nikon for landscape, travel and general work. I just love the glass, ergonomics, ease of use and image quality. I don't doubt the bodies coming in the next 18 months from both Canon and Nikon will be astounding. All three brands are competing like mad and creating fabulous machines. My best bit of advice would be to pick a price point and demo/rent each brand's camera in that price category to see which you like best. Get a equivalent lens with each, (say a 24-70 F4).
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thank you so much for your detailed reply! It's very helpful to hear what you like and dislike about each system. I've been concerned about the Nikon AF system and the Sony ergonomics. They both have some great lenses, with a much bigger selection for Sony. I do some wildlife and dance photography, but not exclusively, and I'm not a professional. It's important that I like the camera I buy now, but I also want to look long term, trying to discern which system I'll like the most years from now. I probably will need to try them out to get a feel for each camera. The cost of renting three cameras and lenses adds up quickly though, and the closest camera store is a 5-hour round trip. Maybe it's time to plan a vacation near the camera store . . .
Nice consideration of factors. Keep the Canon in the mix, please. I considering my next upgrade, and will probably stay in the Conan-verse. Although the Nikon is looking really good.
Hey Hudson I have a question to see if you know anything about this! I own a D500 and I love it but just recently it came up with an error message and my camera has become inoperable and it's only 2 years old! Do you know what this is and is there a way to fix this problem at home without having to send my camera away! I am very frustrated with this issue and for right now I'm using my very long in the tooth d7200! I would appreciate any feedback thank-you and keep up the awesome work
Great video. The electronic viewfinder clearly offers great advantage and challenges, to the mirrorless line. Let me note that the 500 PF is clearly the sharpest and most contrasty lens Nikon makes and is based on the DSLR longer flange distance. It is also comparatively and relatively the most compact and lightest lens in the Nikon lineup. Perhaps flange distance is a bit hyped.
I think flange distance is not that crucial for telephoto lenses where you have a lot of physical space for lens elements, but is a game changer for wide angle lenses and zooms where the rear element is moving
Exactly and the 500pf is amazing on the FTZ. No real performance shift I can find. I use it all the time. Epic lens. It along with the 70-200 FL ED are epic modern f mount lenses that adapt wonderfully. The 300 and 500 pf along with the 105 1.4 and 16mm fisheye are the only f mount lenses I'm keeping.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto I have also found that the Z 70-200 S, although not as sharp as the 500mm PF, when pared with the 1.4TC and 2.0TC on the Z7ll provides unmatched versatility for slower action under 400mm with high resolution cropping potential. Must be willing to shoot with a bit more weight and size but delivers exceptionally clean images, especially in lower lit conditions.
I'm a bit confused - I thought mirrorless negated the need to do focus adjustments since the focusing is on the sensor rather than a separate focusing system (the mirror sending the light to a different part within the camera body). But I'm rapidly coming to the realization that mirrorless is in my future :-). Thanks for an informative video and the history of your move to mirrorless.
From the perspective of an older hobby-photographer (age of Nikkormats) who uses rather a mid-range or even lower-range bodies, I have to say, none of the EVF's on the Z50, Z6 II or Canon RP come close to the OVF in the bright sun light. But they are getting there, so the future is probably obvious to every "holdout" DSLR user in this aspect. The reason for OVF performance is simply the fact that the energy of light passing through the penta-prism is always exactly proportional to the energy of ambient light. Every EVF is a micro-TV in fact, and the electronics must keep up with the external light conditions, but what battery can compete with the Sun! I am more annoyed by the readiness to shoot. The Z50 has a nasty lag before one can really wake it and shoot. The D7500 which uses virtually the same sensor seem to be always ready in milliseconds. Still, my wife felt in love with the Z50. She shoots again a lot, and her keeper rate has improved.
For me the greatest thing mirror less offered me is the EVF as l had come to hate the OVF. l think it was a Pentax problem but there was always dust and grime getting inside the OVF l know it doesn't affect the image but just distracted me immensely. l too have accidentally tested the Z6 weather sealing on many occasions and it is stellar, oh Hudson that wind is full of salt lol. Life is about moving forward dslr are great but have peaked, mirror less is where tech can keep moving forward.
I really enjoy my using my Sony mirror less system.I have two hulking Nikon D4s bodies and it now feels so unnatural holding them,especially with the 300mm f2.8 bolted to it.My dslr days are over.
What is the link to where you are selling your camera equipment to? Enjoying wildlife photography, I am concerned about Nikon's (actually all of the major manufacturers) lag in getting long glass out (granted, a relatively small market). According to the NIKONUSA site, they are planning 400mm and 600mm S primes (not replacing the 500PF), 100-400mm S zoom but the 200-600mm zoom is not S. No dates as to when those will be released. Tamron and Sigma not bringing out long Z mount. So not a lot of options in the near future for mirrorless long glass (400-600mm). So will have to stay F mount with FTZ for now, Just hard to wait for mirrorless glass without any roadmap in the works.
Craig, it's a list of the things I use with a blend of direct links as well as Amazon or B&H affiliate links. Check it out. Www.hudsonhenry.com/atslinks The pf lenses are great on the FTZ. I agree they should update the roadmap with what's planned for next year, but I also feel they should do a lot of marketing things that they don't. I'm sure the 70-200 F4, and 200+ zoom will be priorities after the big pro primes. I expect pf like primes too alongside some more accessible lenses for the ZFc.
IMO we are living in a transitional period like the period we humans had more than a hundred years ago where we transitioned from riding a horse to riding a car. In the beginning or that era people used to think that cars will never replace the horse, and few decades later nobody used a horse to go to work even though you could still do that. Mirrorless is in its first steps and it is moving ahead at fast pace. Maybe the DSLR won't die soon, but they will definitely die out just like using a horse to go to work is not even an option right now. Technology is advancing so fast and the transition period will be relatively short. One of the advantages of mirrorless is that you see the image as you would shoot it BEFORE you even take the picture whereas in the DSLR you take the picture then you view it to see if it had the correct exposure. Not to mention that DSLR is a piece of HW that takes photos. Any further firmware updates aren't going to introduce anything new rather than bug fixes and maybe support for new memory cards. Mirrorless on the contrary is both hardware AND software piece of equipment, and the most interesting part is the software part. An example is the Z6. When the Z6 was released, it didn't have any Auto-Eye detection. With a firmware update (I believe version 2.x and above) they introduced via software the eye-auto focus feature, and boom the camera would pick the closet eye to the camera and you no longer move your focus point! This might seem a regular update but it is a huge advantage over DSLR. Who knows what else would come as a software part! Mirrorless is the future, get over it!
Hi Hudson With Olympus and Nikon's financial situation I think the topic title would be more appropriate in saying having more than one brand is the future. I know some photographers who have started using a second brand of camera because of the uncertainty. Mirrorless might be the future for professional photographers but not for the consumers mostly because of the cost and a different lens systems unless you have the FTZ adapter. I've had a Z50 for two years and it has sat for almost two years and only has 250 pics taken on it. Worse buying decision I ever made!! Poorly designed as far as button placement. I will say the EVF is nice. Other than the nice EVF it makes a nice paper weight! I am happy to hear that the Z series is working great for you. Best wishes Duane
Different opinions make the world more interesting. Rest assured though, Nikon will be just fine moving forward. Olympus I'd worry more about that's true.
Nikon just released their latest financial results for the last quarter today. They exceeded all their projections and made a nice profit. Also camera sales as a whole are up again across all manufacturers. I really don’t wanna sound like a Nikon loyalist, but I don’t think there is much reason to worry about Nikon’s financial situation at the moment
nice vid, great comprehension. i agree that its not the gear, its the person behind it. we can get wonder shots with everything. just like u i use pf500 on d850. its magic. a short while ago got a z6ii as everyday and tested it if a few hundreds of shots. not a lot, i know, but my impression is: on wildlife in general, aspcialy fast small or distant targets, the 850 is better. i disagree about the z viewfinder. updated to latest firmware, it still a bit slow, unalive and bulky for me. the blackout really most annoying. the z tracking system is good in close range. after u pull your hair 5 times till u get to know it a little. the 850 do have a very good track system for big objects. so for street and general work or view, id go for z. but with the 500mm, i still go for the 850. when the z8 will go, i might go there for the z9 will be much to expensive and the z7ii is not there yet. i also disagree about the f4 sharpness. i think they are not as sharp as the 2.8. nor as any prime, even 3rd side. for me the 24-70 f4 is moderate at best and former ff f4 had been a disappointment.
What are thoughts on the AF performance of the D500 VS Z50/Z6ii/Z7ii in terms of acquisition time and tracking through high frame rates 10 fps. ?? That's my main concern mirrorless vs DSLR. I know frame coverage is more extensive on the mirrorless chip BUT I am mainly concerned about performance - acquisition and tracking accuracy. I don't care about super high frame rates 10 fps is enough for me, especially on the D500 with the deep buffer.
If you're one of those folks who live to shoot little birds in flight, or sideline sports then the D500 in Group Area AF will probably make you happier till the Z9 and it's inevitable tech bleed down. For everything else the Z50 thumps it let alone the Z6ii and Z7ii. The eye detect for people, the low light AF and composition ability, the accuracy of locked focus? The ability to ascertain what is important to you in the scene without you picking a point? The subject tracking over-ride that visibly follows a subject through the frame? I almost never reach for the D500 and when I do, it's really more for the extra reach that APS-C sensor gives me than AF ability. It's different. It takes time to learn the Z cameras Auto Area AF with Subject Tracking override and the remnant screen blackout takes practice to get used to at the high frame rates, but with a little practice, I'm getting better results than I did with my DSLRs and I'm having more fun in the process. I have zero doubt that the next gen will leave the DSLR's ability in the dust and the lenses already leave the F-mount lenses way back there performance wise.
Hudson, I recently picked up the 112mm Kase filter set. Is there any way I can use my 24-200mm Z lens with the large Hood that accepts these filters? I'd love to have a fast way to swap filters between these two lenses in the field. Thanks!
Currently, I'm a Nikon user, but since the future of Nikon is uncertain I started to look at my options. Fujifilm came up and it's being hard not to love it. Had you tried any of them? like X-T4 or X-T3? It would be nice to have your comments on Fujifilm cameras. Take care
I dig the fuji cameras. They're a lot of fun to shoot and the film emulations create really nice jpegs in camera. I really enjoy using them, but I'd miss full frame for wide angle work. I'm a ultra-wide junkie and I prefer not having to drop to 10mm to get that 14mm full frame field of view I love. At 10mm your background looks a world away. I'd also morn losing the epic new S glass I'm using. Nikons latest lenses are astoundingly amazing. Nikon's future is not uncertain though. It will be just fine. There's a lot of clickbait out there to the contrary, but in the very unlikely scenario that current management didn't turn things around, you'd see new management. Not collapse. The company history, brand loyalty and engineering quality are simply too large and important to the photographic community as well as the Japanese nation. Its funny when all the negative nikon stories starting hitting I bought a modest amount of thier stock. Im up now over 25‰. :) Now all of that said. If nikon somehow magically disappeared overnight. I'd go canon.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Hi, I understand your point. Your case can be solved with the GFX series. I never used Jpeg mode for capturing images, so I don't have any experience with them. For the glass, Fujifilm also has a great glass. The line of glass is not so extensive as Nikon but is capable to cover most of the glass needs of everyone. Maybe I'll keep my current full frame Nikon and and glass but dive in the mirrorless world with Fujifilm. At least for the next 2/3 years and see how things will go. Thanks and be safe
My Z6II has the worst viewfinder access of any camera I've owned. I'm talking about eye relief, not image quality. Eyeglasses wearers have difficulty seeing the whole frame. For any camera, the viewfinder is arguably its most important feature.
Hmmmmm, I adore the viewfinder on the Z's, but I diopter adjust to avoid glasses. Have you tried an eyecup replacement like this: amzn.to/3dQd5HG I use those on mine.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto I did try an eyecup, but it made the eye relief problem worse. The eyecup was good at eliminating spurious light intrusion, but if offered zero help with eye relief. My Swarovski binoculars solve this problem with intelligent optical design. This problem is crucial with video shooting. You need to see ALL the frame, ALL the time. A simple firmware change would solve this, Nikon. Just shrink the viewfinder image slightly on demand by the operator. Adjusting the VF diopter setting makes the VF image sharp and temporarily eliminates the need for eyeglasses, but it doesn't help when you remove the camera from your eye and need to see all those tiny settings. For that, you need your eyeglasses. Just wait until you're a little older. :)
Same sensor. Slightly improved processing in the ii. Maybe a half stop noise improvement. The real unparalleled low light champ is the z6ii. I've gotten surprisingly good images out of it at 20,000 ISO and 3200 is very close to the 850s 800 iso output. The 850 and z7 sensors are dual channel iso ramping with the step at 400, the 6 models' step is at 800. 800 iso on the 6ii is about the same as the base iso, just less dynamic range. It's nuts. They're promising great things from the new stacked sensors debuting later this year in the 9. I can't wait to test it.
Canon will be angry, by watching your video. After 16 minutes you showed the R5 and presented it like a Sony camera.😉 May be the sensor is made by Sony..... PS: I changed to mirrorless in 2012 and was sure, that this is/will be the future. I did not expect that Samsung exit the production of mirror less cameras..
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Might have no choice than too. It is the wildlife thing & my budget. Wait for a 600f4VR2 for 5-6k or less. Thanks for getting back so quick. When you were talking Nikon Z, the first thing I thought of & mentione on somebody's u-tube video , was how smart Nikon was with the wideest mirrorless flange mount. Hope they knock it out of the park with their Z9 autofocus /shutter lag thing. Another great vid
And I totally hear that. Just remember the film to digital transition. At least you can bring the good f mount glass with you in a future transition via the FTZ, but eventually you'll try the new S glass and comparing results will be shocking. The F4 S lenses are seriously better than the F mount 2.8s.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Not for nothing, coming from the D810, I probably wouldn’t loose anything moving to a Z2 camera except a little weight in my wallet!
I suppose that was as true of glass plates as it was of film as it was of candles and horse drawn carriages. Things that make your job easier and more precise tend to eclipse past technology. I'd be willing to bet you're right about cmos sensors and evfs too one day. :)
yes, mirrorless is the futur.. but for me it's false to say mirrorless will take better images. I can do ( photo ) everything with a DSLR as with a mirrorless ( have both ). the real deal today is not dslr or mirroless. it's how to improve your photo, how to get better, no matter dslr or mirrorless. 90% of the best photos of all time where taken by films camera.... nothing else need to be said.
Totally agree. It's all about your skill and practice. A point I preach constantly if you scan through this channel's feed. I predict that eventually you'll spend more time with the latest mirrorless gear and change that other opinion. I find it makes every type of photography I do more precise and that's without even accounting for the unbelievable engineering advancements the shorter wider mounts enable. I heard so many film photographer friends say exactly the same thing when I started shooting digital 25 years ago, but few still shoot much film today.
Thanks for sharing...I am only a hobbyist.at 78 yrs old and still love my Nikon.D500...at this point of time I am not yet considering upgrading to the mirrorless system... love your video & comments... cheers 😀
I'm from old school photography, I'm older than you smile, I used my moms kodak brownie, my first focus camera was my dads Berkie and James 4x5 press camera. My dad did weddings in the 50's. I used Fujica ST801, Canon AE, Canon AE1P, Canon A1. Im currently using a Canon D300. Yes, I'm looking for a new camera but I'm waiting for now. I'm a Canon user. My old Journalism teacher from high school can't believe I did not become a professional photographer. I won a few contests. I just joined your channel enjoyed it a lot.
I went a long long time between my D5300 workhorse and then had the D750 in the shopping cart to upgrade. Luckily, started looking around and decided if I was going to make a move, now is the time. Didn't want to switch away from Nikon as I'm old and hard of learning, so I put a Z7ii in the cart instead and very very happy I did - very easy to adapt to. The Z lenses are amazing and adding them here and there. Got the 14-30mm and 24-200mm to start and love them, then added a few S primes and waiting on the 105mm macro. When the 100-400mm S comes out that will complete my kit I believe.
Hudson, thank you so much for all of the information you share. I shoot a D850 now but want to switch to the Z system at some point. I plan to wait to see what the Z9 looks like and go from there. I would assume there will be a Z8 that will have some of the tech from the Z9 but not as expensive 😀. Videos like this one really helps me going forward in making decisions. Thanks again for all you do…I truly appreciate it.. Greg
100% agreed. Ive been shooting the z6 since it came out never looked back.
Great video again Hudson. I got my Z7II a couple of weeks ago and I'm loving it. I started with the D90 en switched to the D700 and used it for years. But the Z series is 'mind blowing' it's so much better. I have ordered the Z 105 VR (I have to wait for another couple of weeks till it arrives) and I can't wait to shoot with it. Reviews of that lens are amazing. When Money will let me I will also go for the Z 24-70. Again, thanks for spreading your thoughts and knowledge. Your teaching and explaining is done in such natural and pleasant way, I have no issue at all watching your video's for hours and hours. And run them all again to make sure I don't miss anything :-)
We're so fortunate to have all these amazing options available from these innovative manufacturers. Too many people get stuck in pointless brand war debates and specs arguments, instead of celebrating what's cool and unique about each system (like you do here 🙏🏻).
I also appreciate the weather sealing demonstration, despite all my cringing 😬😆
I appreciated the weather sealing demo as well. I remember well the episode years ago when a sea wave drenched my Minolta SRT 101. Totally destroyed the camera.
Thanks, Hudson, great video, as always. I am still struggling with the decision to switch from DSLR; but I think you're convincing me.
Respect that you uploaded this video before offloading your D850. It will be interesting to see if the Nikon Z telephotos will also be that much better than the F glass equivalents. A stellar 100-400 will be a compelling reason to upgrade for many wildlife shooters.
Another epic Hudson Henry video! Your boundless passion for Nikon and photography is inspiring. Thanks for sharing your vast knowledge too! 📷😎👍
It’s always interesting to watch videos from people like yourself who have taken the time to learn the autofocus system and use it on a regular basis, then watch other videos from other people who obviously don’t take time time to learn the system and constantly complain about Nikon’s focus system. I became a believer there first time I put my Z5 up to my eye. I’m “all in” with the Z system and loving my lowly Z5
The point of autofocus is that it works automatically, you learn how to manually focus a camera.
Hell of a video, thanks for posting it..
I've been shooting Nikons over 50 years now.
I stated with a used F2 in the 7th grade back in the film days.
Slowly went digital later on and through the years accumulated a stable of cameras and lenses.
I purchased the Z6 when it came out and later added several (mostly prime) Z lenses.
As a result (except for one) I sold my old DSLR collection.
Yes, I've gone mirrorless all the way and will never look back.
That's my 2 cents worth.
Hello Hudson, I am feeling very old, I was a film guy from my first camera back in the 1970's processing and printing. What amazing times. Yes i was luck to work in top studio's in the UK though the 80's 35mm, medium format, 5x4 and 8x10 film. Some time in the 90's i left photography and went it to software development. Then in the 2010 I went digital so nice to process and so much more fun. Not sure when I go my first mirrorless camera it was the Hasselblad X1D, still have it and it results are just out standing. Focus peeking, EVF and handling suit my style so well. I have the Nikon Z7ii although very nice I lake my D850 in some areas and other the Z7ii just nicer to use. All that from a old guy. Keep well, keep safe and find time for fun.
Great story John! I shot 35mm, 645 and 4x5 before digital too. Not quite as long as you, but I am so glad I have that experience in the back of my head. :-)
I didn't think I'd prefer the Z6 for sports, and yet, here I am with it as my primary. Bring on that 100-400!
Hows fast panning going for you?
@@purehuman9056 I haven't done a *ton* but I've been fairly happy with the results. Doing IndyCar in a couple weeks, though...
@@DarrenLloydPDX Be interesting to hear how the rolling shutter is.
I have sold off my D750 + 6 F mount lenses and purchased the Z7ll + the 2.8 trinity. Love them all. The colour rendition is so superior, and the 45 megapixel sensor is a dream.
I find it so much easier seeing my exposure in the EVF. It is far quicker to dial in to exactly what I want.
I hung onto my 105 1.4 and my 200-500. Will consider trading those in if and when the 85 1.2 arrives.
It has been a learning curve for sure, but the results are worth the effort.
Thank you again for a wonderful video.
I was watching this on Friday and paused it to check out the MPB site you mentioned. Rather impulsively, I agreed to trade in my D4S and (5) F lenses for a Z6 with two lenses and $500 back which will go toward a third lens. MPB offered fair pricing on both the trade and purchase. I'll let you know how it turns out, but I dropped my gear at Fed-Ex yesterday so this ball is rolling. Thanks for the tip! Best to you and your family!
Well, bad news. Apparently a D4S with under 118,000 actuations is considered 'well used' by MPB. The camera is rated for 400,000. They are listing one in 'Good' condition with 243,000 actuations. They discounted their offer by $500 so I asked them to send everything back. We will see how long it takes for it to arrive. I wouldn't recommend them.
Superb honest conversation 👍🏼
Okay, okay! I’m almost ready to switch. Your arguments are quite convincing.
If the cameras get much better we won't even have to be there when they take the pictures! I can hardly wait to have all that extra time for mowing lawns, taking stuff to the dump, etc.
Hi Hudson - I love the Z system for what it is and I have all the Z glass except for that 0.95 58mm Noct 😉. However, when I’m shooting BIF or anything erratic (dragonflies), my hit rate with the Z6M2 using the same lenses (800, 600, 180-400) is abysmal compared to my D6, D850 or D500. So, I think that while the a1 and R5 are there with erratic wildlife and fast panning sports, the Z system is not. I look forward to the Z9, but for now, if I need my 800mm prime for bald eagles, I’m going with my D6. BTW, Mark Smith “accidentally” tested his a1 in a saltwater dunk and it was fine. His D850 had to be sent in after the same “test.” So, Sony seems to have really improved the sealing for the a1 over what they had on their earlier bodies. All the best - stay safe!
I am also a budget photographer and still use my eos 7Dii !
Most of my kit is purchased used and when the Canon R5 becomes cheaper or in a sale. I will be getting one as tge human / animal eye AF is bloody amazing !
What a camera !
I'm with you! I shot with Nikon SLRs, (beginning with the F2) and later, digital SLRs. (most recently, the combination of a D810 and D500) I've sold all my F-mount gear, and now have a Z6II and a Z7, along with 5 "Z" lenses, and agree with all you said. It IS different, and takes some getting used to. Now though, I'm happy to have made the switch. Take care!
Great video which should drive some thoughts out there. I've shot Canon since 2009 starting with the 5DM2 and a couple of years ago I upgraded the the 5DM4. At time I had looked at the Canon mirrorless cameras but none had the qualities I was looking for. I mostly shoot wildlife especially birds but I do dabble with landscape. When the R5 came out I read and looked at every review I could find and earlier this year I moved to the mirrorless world. I never had doubt I would make that move to mirrorless, I just had to wait till the technology I was looking for was there. The animal eye focus, 20 frames electronically, the EVF with no lag where just some of what finally got me to mirrorless. I still am using my EF lens, my main lens is the EF 400mm, 2.8 Ver II with he 1.4 converter Ver III but hope to pick up a couple of TF lens in the near future.
No longer needing to bring along my reading glasses was big reason for me to move from the D850 to Z7 for landscape shooting! And the Z glass rocks!
I consider myself a budget photographer, if there is such a thing. When the second iteration of Z cameras came out I jumped at the opportunity to pick up a good used Z6. I was blown away by the quality of the images so I traded off my D750 for a Z5 when they offered the $400 discount. Saving for a telephoto now. I’d love the 100-400 if I can afford it. Looking forward to seeing this system mature.
I'm a budget photographer, too. The used camera market for DSLR camera and lenses is extensive and affordable for me. I'll have to wait 5 years or more before I can begin to think about buying into the mirrorless equivalent of what I own in DSLR gear.
@@b.a.p.4718 Yeah it was a tough decision switching due to the lack of used lenses. The only thing that is easy to find right now used is the 24-70 F4. I pulled the trigger though knowing that the cameras that I had still had decent value. I've got the 24-70 F4 and the 50 f1.8 now. I'll splurge on a telephoto next and probably live with that for a while along with a few F lenses.
A friend of mine tried out the Z6 but went back to his trusy Olympus cameras and sold me his nearly new Z6 with two lenses for the same price KEF would have given him! That is how I fell into the Z world. I was a Pentax SLR user before this. Still one of the best dslr companies out there.
Currently using Fuji xt3 but been thinking if I should switch to canon or Nikon. Kinda feel like Fuji doesn’t have the lenses for wildlife. I’m just a hobbyist so I’ll probably stick with Fuji for now since I have over 3 grand invested into it
@@gosman949 I had one of the original EM-5’s that I bought for a couple hundred dollars. It was nice and small to take on trips but the evf was awful. I found that I hardly ever touched it when I had my dslr available. I sold it to help pay for my Z6. I don’t regret it one bit. It’s nice that your friend sold it to you for that price. He could have gotten significantly more even if he priced it aggressively.
I feel lucky to have the DSLRs and F-mount lenses that I do have today.
Though, there are times when I wonder if a Z7ii would push my photography to that next level... eye-af and EVF real-time metering seem like game-changers for portraiture work. I could interact more with my client and trust the system's AF tracking and know when I see is what I get from the EVF... The D850 hasn't let me down yet, but there are definitely times (particularly when shooting outside for a client) that I'm trying to keep my subject smiling and feeling calm and relaxed while fidgeting with settings and exposures and AF points.
This video nails a lot of the points I've been considering too! Milky way and nighttime shooting - I hadn't even thought of those benefits!
The only hesitation I have is with my wildlife photography, which is really the genre I am most passionate about. When it comes to paid work, I don't take on much. But the jobs I do take are typically portraiture, real estate, and architecture. I sell landscape and wildlife photos occasionally too at markets or fairs.
Is the Z7ii a lateral movement in comparison to the D850 when talking specifically about AF performance on fast-moving subjects?I don't use 3D tracking on my D500 or D850, I usually set up single point AF and use Pv and Fn1 buttons for group AF when I really need help grabbing a subject that's moving too fast for me. I keep reading about the Z7ii not being up to par with the D500/D850 tracking, but maybe that's irrelevant to me?
The only other concern would be high frame rate shooting and EVF blackout. I've yet to see this for myself, but there seems to be a general consensus that it can be problematic for sports/action/wildlife shooters...
My thoughts at the moment are to just grab a Z7ii (used with FTZ if possible), see if it can replace my D850 for everything but wildlife, and maybe keep the D500 to use primarily with my 500pf. Maybe also keep the 104/1.4 since that lens is simply remarkable.
Would love to hear some other opinions; I know this is so subjective, but I like to just hear other people's take!
Great content as always!
Your concern about EVF blackout are real. I was an early adopter of mirrorless and while it was great for static subjects tracking flying birds felt like trying to find a subject in the dark using only a disco strobe. Granted the EVFs have improved but all except Sony are still reported to suffer jitters when used a high frame rates. Until Nikon solve this I don't see myself switching for wildlife. Like you, I use single point and group AF but no doubt my hit rate would improve with one of these top flight animal/eye subject tracking systems. The subject tracking, silent shutter and potential for a superior long tele lens are currently the most compelling reasons for me to adopt Nikon's mirrorless. For the time being and possibly longer the D850 remains an exciting camera for me and I'm even considering picking up a D4s as these start to appear at previously unheard of prices.
The eye AF and silent shutter is just going to make your paid portrait work so much easier. Keep the 500 till you get the learning curve on the EVF and auto area with subject tracking or until the next gen when the blackout will be gone. Sony's cured it with the A9 and A1 series. It reduces the resolution to up the frame rate during high speed capture. Works amazingly well even at 30fps. Nikon will clearly follow suit in the next Gen. I've gotten used to shooting a bit wider and anticipating my subject's motion to compensate and I rarely reach for the D500 now, but it's nice to have still as you switch if you love wildlife and sports. I think the z9 and what comes next will put the action AF and blackout issue to rest.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto first, thank you for taking time out of your day to reply. Much appreciated!
When it comes to blackout on the z7ii, is that merely a factor of hardware (ie: stacked sensors vs single sensor?) or is there hope that a firmware update could remedy the issue later on?
I’m guessing it’s more hardware limitation otherwise they would have addressed it with firmware already?
I agree with your statement on eye AF and silent shutter helping with my portrait work. If I can find a good deal I might pick up the z7ii and keep shooting the D500 for strictly wildlife. The problem with waiting is I likely won’t be able to justify the z9 purchase, and any chance of a z8 is far off in the distant future.
Again, appreciate your time and content here!
I started my "mirrorless journey" 6 years ago, with a Fuji system, then eagerly bought into the Nikon Z system (because I still had my Nikon DSLRs and F-mount lenses). I'll soon be selling the last of my DSLR gear.
Great video Hudson - any chance of seeing the NYC pictures?
I agree. I am a Canon shooter and I love my 5DIV but after I bought my EOS R5, I don't use it anymore. I also have a 5DIII that I need to sell but will probably always keep my 5DIV as a go to camera if I have to send my mirrorless R5 to the shop. I loved the feel of my 5DIV but am very used to the R5 and love it now. Right now I only have one lens for the RF system but use my EF lenses with an adapter and love them with the R5. I bought the RF 100mm f/2.8 L MACRO IS USM and it is a great lens so far. It even has the SA Control but so far I have not used it that much.
The holdout for me was using the d500 for sports and birding but really I found that once I learned the new system I was able to get nearly the same keeper ratio, and with much better resolution and image sharpness on the Z7. I've since sold off all my f-mount cameras and all but 3 lenses for f-mount ( Sigma 105 art, Tamron 150-600 G2, and Sigma 8mm Fisheye ). I've also done comparisons with f-mount glass vs the z-mount and it's easily noticeable the improvements. I had zero issues selling off my Zeiss, Sigma Art and Nikon f-mount glass. I'm lookin forward to the new 105 macro lens and really enjoying using my Z5, Z6, & Z7.
Very good review of your decision path. I switched in 2019 from a D7200 to the Z6 and then later to the Z6II, I love the Nikon Z System. The Z Mount lenses are really sharp and light, even with F4. Next invest will be the 70-200 f/2.8 S Lens. But with the FTZ adapter the 70-300 f/4.5-5.6, a Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 and Tamron 150-600 f/4-6.3 are working perfect. Robustness of the Z system is also been proofed by Morten Hilmer. Down to -40 degree C the camera was working. I‘ll never go back to a DSLR because of the advantages of mirrorless.
Great video. I was a big skeptic, until I got my hands on a Z7ii. I had to wait for that camera, as I'm a 2-card-slot nut. Is it absolutely necessary? For some people, no, but it makes me more comfortable to have that 2nd slot, so . . .
But what a difference, for all of the reasons you mention -- lighter, brighter VF (I love being able to see a nice bright viewfinder in rather dark conditions), etc. Made a believer of me.
As soon as finances allow, I'll move from f-mount to Z-mount glass, but for now, I'm getting much, much sharper. clearer images from the same f-mount lenses on the Z7ii as I ever got on a DSLR.
Now to talk my wife into giving up her D800 . . .
Great to hear Don. Do you have the 24-70 F4 at least? You won't believe what that lens does.
I whined to you a while back that the 500PF was on back order and then you scored on one on NPS. Bugger! Then, when stock came in I saw the writing on the wall with the new Z glass and decided against any new F mount glass. The 150-500mm still does good work, but I hope to get one of the Z big zooms when they come out. Just got the 105mm macro (I shoot more macro than anything else) and it is a super lens. Works extremely well for dog portrait work too. :)
DSLR's and mirrorless ff cameras might be yesterdays format but they're both still terrific options if you don't mind incurring at least double the weight penalty & double the cost outlay, compared with some of the super slick micro 4:3rds gear available. The latter having equal (and sometimes even superior) real world performance, image quality & intelligent focus tracking for demanding applications like sports & wildlife shooting.
The writing was on the wall when the Sony A9 came out.
My current camera is the D850. It is an amazing and awesome camera. I use it for everything from Autosport to music to volleyball. Someday I’d like to go mirrorless, but, I doubt that will happen unless the image quality is better, autofocus better, ergonomics are better, and dynamic range is better. The D850 just fits in my hand as an appendage or part of my hand. In dark classical music venues Q shutter is quiet enough so I don’t have to use “silent’ mode. When mirrorless are better and produce better higher Rez images I’ll switch but keep d850 until my last frame is shot. I have high hopes for a higher Rez Z8 for detail work.
I felt that same exact way in 2018 when I shot the mount Rainer video excerpted here. Exact. When you do switch, you'll be mind bent how wonderful the EVF and low light AF are in dimly lit venues or night street shooting. One gig and the D850 will be hard to imagine ever using again in low light. 5 gigs and it will feel huge and awkward in your hand. That's my experience as well as everyone I know who's made the switch recently. You'll also adore the silent shutter. The 24mp sensor in the 6 series is an insane low light weapon. I've gotten good images at 20,000 ISO. The 7s image quality is identical to the 850. Keep it under 3200 and it's wonderful. Ultra high resolution sensors just get noisy when you crank the gain. It's not so much about image quality as it is ease of use, particularly in low light.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto as said below I’m almost convinced. The hardest thing I shoot os actually indoor volleyball. Hard because of the low light in the gyms. The speed of hands and ball can be difficult to catch without motion blur at 5000 iso. The outdoor sports no problem. Basketball is easy. But clean shots of volleyball are tough. I’ll have to try a z in that situation
@@HudsonHenryPhoto thank you!
Start at 14:30.
ruclips.net/video/31n0NJiFcvM/видео.html
I had a d3000 for the longest time and loved it for what it was… given the opportunity I leaped to the z50 and then the z5, now I used the z50 and z5 in tandem and it’s blew my passion for photography 10 fold! My poor d3000 hasn’t seen the light of day in awhile…
Just bought a D810!!! All is good New toys are great but its not what photography should be about. Using and recycling dslr's is good for the planet too.
With respect to mirrorless vs. DSLR, I have both camera types and enjoy shooting both as a low-level hobbyist. I would love to dive fully into the newer Canon mirrorless bodies and RF lenses but for two things:
1) I no longer have as much discretionary funding as I did before SARS Covid 2.
2) I am waiting for the technology to mature a bit further (stacked sensors for Canon).
Photographers should shoot with the gear they want to shoot with. Keeping in mind how advanced mirrorless cameras are already, this is where many of us will be the further we travel this path.
Great youtube channel. Thanks for the hard work bringing it together. I'm about to retire. I did a lot of amateur slr photography as a young guy. Life got busy and for the last 20 years I have been using point and shoot and iphones basically for snap shots. I want to get back into some more serious photography when I retire in a years time, when I will have the time. My focus will likely be mostly landscapes and wildlife, some wilderness stuff, some local. I skipped the digital slr thing nearly entirely. I have the resources to get some high quality equipment. I have no old lenses to use. I have no history with the DSLR thing. Tabula rassa as far as the digital SLR stuff. I never even used the auto exposure and focus stuff on the old film cameras I used. But, I do have some skills as far as exposures and depth of field and shutter speeds etc. Not doing video. So, I take it a guy like me should go mirrorless? Nikon is my preference. Will the Z6 with the 24/70 f4 as a starter lens (more to come later) meet my amateur photographer needs? Or, should I be looking at a 7? This will likely be my last hurrah. I want to get on a really good platform so my energy on the learning curve will take me through about 10-15 years when I'll likely hang up the cleats.
I held off on buying digital until it surpassed film, with the Z9 coming out I will be buying it as my main body, and my D850 as my secondary body
Hey Hudson with the Covid thing it's hard but after Covid are you ever going to do a workshop in British Columbia, I think that would be cool as you are just a little ways south of us! What do you think?
Great informative video … love this channel … completely agree with everything … Yes the Z mount glass is phenomenal…
I bought my Z7 with the 24-200 Z glass in April and am still learning how to use it. What I like about it so far, besides what you already said, was the ease of focus shifting. I can just set the camera for focus shifting, put it on a tripod, and it automatically takes your specified shots.
Oh by the way, I don't know how I stumbled into your website, but it is one of my favorites!
Bought into the Z-system with the Z5. Have been adapting all kinds of different manual lenses. They're all performing amazingly on the Z5. Got the 50mm f1.8 and 24-70mm f4, and I'm blown away, what amazing lenses.
Definitely not regretting going with Nikon Z
Great Video! Thanks for sharing! 🙏🏼
Great video, Hudson. As you said, Nikon's Z system features the largest mount diameter at 55mm. I'd always been told that the lack of f/1.2 primes on the F-mount was due to its much smaller 47mm diameter and the challenge of fitting both glass and electrical contacts into it. Interestingly, the Sony E-mount, originally designed for APS-C, is only 46.1 in diameter and they do have some impressive f/1.2 glass. Also interesting is that Canon's RF-mount diameter of 54mm is unchanged from their EF mount. This really reflects well on the design choices Canon engineers made back in the early 80's as the EF-mount was being created.
Agreed on all points.
I’m buying a film camera because part of me really misses the days when photography required specialized knowledge and experience and research and experience. I miss the days when you needed to know how: to use a light meter, what film emulsions to use, how to zone focus, how to dodge and burn, when to push your film, you had to know how to photograph the moon or fireworks, etc. today it is more about computer science and programming. That said I will still buy a Z camera at some point and never sell my D850.
Nothing wrong at all with any of that sentiment. I shot medium and large format for years and put in that time. My joy comes from the highest image quality possible. I love 400MP panos that look great printed huge. The same thing that drove photographers of old to use 8x10. I still find plenty of challenges with digital. Noise free sharp milky way work, time lapse, long exposure. As the tools get better, it expands the horizon of what practiced photographers can dream and accomplish. I predict you'll change that tune on the 850 in the years ahead. I remember saying the same thing about my F100 long ago.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto I hear you. There is a lot to love about the evolving digital universe. A lot to love about the film universe. At this point film is for fun and digital is for work. Wether it is sport, chamber music, news, or portraits or any of the other things I shoot for hire, digital is my go to today. But film is fun.
Love the vid Hudson and I too have the D850/500 and am now loving my Z6. Lens question. I have the 14-30 f4 and absolutely love it. You have raved about it and say the 14-24 2.8 is your favorite lens ever. Is it that much better than the 14-30? If so, how. Love to know your thoughts…
It's a lot like back in the early digital days when my 17-35 was a workhorse I loved and then I tried the 14-24 F mount. Nikon does really special lenses sometimes. They always nail 20s, 105s and 14-24s. It's just lovely how it renders contrast, color and sharpness edge to edge wide open. Every complaint ultra high resolution sensors exposed in my old 14-24 F was addressed and then some. It's a dream to use for stars too. No coma or chromatic aberration and razor at the edges wide open.
That said. The 14-30 is razor sharp too. The edges are crazy stopped down a touch. It doesn't have that indefinable character I love in the bigger lens, but it's crazy crazy good. I still have mine.
Why the 2.8 then? I love milky way work and wide angle portraits with blurred backgrounds, so the bigger lens is a dream for me. Not everyone needs it. For sure.
I don't have any mirror less. The reason I would get one is the ability to adapt vintage lenses from a variety of camera brands. D7000 and D700 bodies work very well with Nikon AFS lenses for what I do. I like the large flange size of the Nikon mirror less bodies. That has got to be an advantage.
love the nikon z system
Love your explanation, I still am holding onto my D500, but almost exclusively use my Z6ll. Still have my 200-500, but. As soon as there is a Z replacement it’s gone. Thinking I better sell my older stuff soon while it has some value.
Dead on. We're in the same boat there.
Same here. Holding on to the 200-500, but as soon the Z 200-600 arrives that‘s out the door
Are you choosing the Z6ii over the D500 for active wildlife?
@@tc6912 I use Z6ll for larger birds, and in flight. For small fast birds, I still grab D500.
I am whenever I don't need the extra crop-in-reach from the apsc sensor. I can't wait for an apsc Z camera with a D500-like or better sensor. My 500mm pulls in distant subjects like a 750mm. To be honest I haven't felt the need to use it in a year though. I used the Z50 a few times this past year instead with 500pf on the FTZ with great results up to about 2000 iso. It's hard to go back to a dslr after significant time with the Zs. Dslrs just feel so clunky and less capable by comparison.
A thing I always found interesting about the DSLR vs mirrorless debate, especially where autofocus and weather sealing are concerned, is that some people seem to feel that DSLR is somehow intrinsically better. Like... something about being mirrorless makes it harder to seal or makes autofocus not work. The early mirrorless struggled because they were working out the bugs, and(I believe) weather sealing wasn't a huge priority for Sony.
Matt Granger(RUclipsr/Photographer/long time Nikon guy) called the Olympus E-M1x the toughest, best weather sealed camera he'd ever used, and said the E-M1 mk ii wasn't far behind.
I use a Sony A7Riii, and I feel like it's pretty good, although I feel less confident about it that I did my old Nikon D500. That said, I consider it superior in every other way, including autofocus.
Great as usual, I try to shoot daily, retired not a lot of $ fairly happy with my D750 n Nikkor F glass (not as much as before video) ,, Did I hear You say may be wait for next iteration of Nikon Mirrorless body's ????? Thanks Again
If birds in flight are your main focus then you might want to wait on whatever blackout free burst mode and insane AF tracking tech bleeds down from the upcoming z9. If people, low light, still life and landscape are your thing, then you'd adore the z6ii now. The big take home is to really think before buying more f glass. You're right the 750 is a great camera with a wonderful low light capable sensor.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thanks Again ,, stopped buying glass 2yrs ago... been shooting Nikon over 50yrs.. just waiting so they can do a catch up with Sony n Canon.. no birds or animals but maybe Race cars 5 times a yr (but ok with D750 burst rate n continuous AF) chasing my grand daughter around n documenting life pix (40 yr Photojournalist n Freelance) Thinking Z6II n 24-200mm....Truly appreciate You :) !!!!!!!!
Thank you for another great video, Hudson. At one point, you said something to the effect that if someone likes their current Nikon or Canon DSLR, there is no compelling reason to switch to another brand because they are all great. But what if you didn't have any investment or loyalty to one of these brands? I'm looking to upgrade to FF from Olympus, and having a hard time deciding which system to buy into. If you were starting from scratch, would you choose Canon, Nikon, or Sony mirrorless, and why?
It's tough to go wrong right now to be honest. The Sony and Nikon have a slight edge in image quality I think (dynamic range and such). I prefer Nikon's color science. Sony has a bit of an edge with AF tracking and frame rates for the birding obsessed, but I doubt that lasts. I prefer Canon and Nikon's lenses and the big wide open mount gives the engineers more room to design the kind of mind bending lenses they have been doing. I'm not a fan of Sony's ergonomics and menu design/user interface. I like Nikon's the best, but Canon is really good too. If it were me right now today, I'd take Sony if my full time job was sports and wildlife, but Nikon for landscape, travel and general work. I just love the glass, ergonomics, ease of use and image quality. I don't doubt the bodies coming in the next 18 months from both Canon and Nikon will be astounding. All three brands are competing like mad and creating fabulous machines. My best bit of advice would be to pick a price point and demo/rent each brand's camera in that price category to see which you like best. Get a equivalent lens with each, (say a 24-70 F4).
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thank you so much for your detailed reply! It's very helpful to hear what you like and dislike about each system. I've been concerned about the Nikon AF system and the Sony ergonomics. They both have some great lenses, with a much bigger selection for Sony. I do some wildlife and dance photography, but not exclusively, and I'm not a professional. It's important that I like the camera I buy now, but I also want to look long term, trying to discern which system I'll like the most years from now. I probably will need to try them out to get a feel for each camera. The cost of renting three cameras and lenses adds up quickly though, and the closest camera store is a 5-hour round trip. Maybe it's time to plan a vacation near the camera store . . .
Yay, First! Hudson, Perseid Meteor Shower next week!
Nice consideration of factors. Keep the Canon in the mix, please. I considering my next upgrade, and will probably stay in the Conan-verse. Although the Nikon is looking really good.
They're both fabulous. :)
Hey Hudson I have a question to see if you know anything about this! I own a D500 and I love it but just recently it came up with an error message and my camera has become inoperable and it's only 2 years old! Do you know what this is and is there a way to fix this problem at home without having to send my camera away! I am very frustrated with this issue and for right now I'm using my very long in the tooth d7200! I would appreciate any feedback thank-you and keep up the awesome work
Great video. The electronic viewfinder clearly offers great advantage and challenges, to the mirrorless line. Let me note that the 500 PF is clearly the sharpest and most contrasty lens Nikon makes and is based on the DSLR longer flange distance. It is also comparatively and relatively the most compact and lightest lens in the Nikon lineup. Perhaps flange distance is a bit hyped.
I think flange distance is not that crucial for telephoto lenses where you have a lot of physical space for lens elements, but is a game changer for wide angle lenses and zooms where the rear element is moving
@@bernhardjost RIGHT ON.
Exactly and the 500pf is amazing on the FTZ. No real performance shift I can find. I use it all the time. Epic lens. It along with the 70-200 FL ED are epic modern f mount lenses that adapt wonderfully. The 300 and 500 pf along with the 105 1.4 and 16mm fisheye are the only f mount lenses I'm keeping.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto I have also found that the Z 70-200 S, although not as sharp as the 500mm PF, when pared with the 1.4TC and 2.0TC on the Z7ll provides unmatched versatility for slower action under 400mm with high resolution cropping potential. Must be willing to shoot with a bit more weight and size but delivers exceptionally clean images, especially in lower lit conditions.
I'm a bit confused - I thought mirrorless negated the need to do focus adjustments since the focusing is on the sensor rather than a separate focusing system (the mirror sending the light to a different part within the camera body). But I'm rapidly coming to the realization that mirrorless is in my future :-). Thanks for an informative video and the history of your move to mirrorless.
From the perspective of an older hobby-photographer (age of Nikkormats) who uses rather a mid-range or even lower-range bodies, I have to say, none of the EVF's on the Z50, Z6 II or Canon RP come close to the OVF in the bright sun light. But they are getting there, so the future is probably obvious to every "holdout" DSLR user in this aspect. The reason for OVF performance is simply the fact that the energy of light passing through the penta-prism is always exactly proportional to the energy of ambient light. Every EVF is a micro-TV in fact, and the electronics must keep up with the external light conditions, but what battery can compete with the Sun! I am more annoyed by the readiness to shoot. The Z50 has a nasty lag before one can really wake it and shoot. The D7500 which uses virtually the same sensor seem to be always ready in milliseconds. Still, my wife felt in love with the Z50. She shoots again a lot, and her keeper rate has improved.
Good morning...
For me the greatest thing mirror less offered me is the EVF as l had come to hate the OVF. l think it was a Pentax problem but there was always dust and grime getting inside the OVF l know it doesn't affect the image but just distracted me immensely. l too have accidentally tested the Z6 weather sealing on many occasions and it is stellar, oh Hudson that wind is full of salt lol. Life is about moving forward dslr are great but have peaked, mirror less is where tech can keep moving forward.
I really enjoy my using my Sony mirror less system.I have two hulking Nikon D4s bodies and it now feels so unnatural holding them,especially with the 300mm f2.8 bolted to it.My dslr days are over.
What is the link to where you are selling your camera equipment to? Enjoying wildlife photography, I am concerned about Nikon's (actually all of the major manufacturers) lag in getting long glass out (granted, a relatively small market). According to the NIKONUSA site, they are planning 400mm and 600mm S primes (not replacing the 500PF), 100-400mm S zoom but the 200-600mm zoom is not S. No dates as to when those will be released. Tamron and Sigma not bringing out long Z mount. So not a lot of options in the near future for mirrorless long glass (400-600mm). So will have to stay F mount with FTZ for now, Just hard to wait for mirrorless glass without any roadmap in the works.
Craig, it's a list of the things I use with a blend of direct links as well as Amazon or B&H affiliate links. Check it out. Www.hudsonhenry.com/atslinks The pf lenses are great on the FTZ. I agree they should update the roadmap with what's planned for next year, but I also feel they should do a lot of marketing things that they don't. I'm sure the 70-200 F4, and 200+ zoom will be priorities after the big pro primes. I expect pf like primes too alongside some more accessible lenses for the ZFc.
Great video
IMO we are living in a transitional period like the period we humans had more than a hundred years ago where we transitioned from riding a horse to riding a car. In the beginning or that era people used to think that cars will never replace the horse, and few decades later nobody used a horse to go to work even though you could still do that. Mirrorless is in its first steps and it is moving ahead at fast pace. Maybe the DSLR won't die soon, but they will definitely die out just like using a horse to go to work is not even an option right now. Technology is advancing so fast and the transition period will be relatively short. One of the advantages of mirrorless is that you see the image as you would shoot it BEFORE you even take the picture whereas in the DSLR you take the picture then you view it to see if it had the correct exposure. Not to mention that DSLR is a piece of HW that takes photos. Any further firmware updates aren't going to introduce anything new rather than bug fixes and maybe support for new memory cards. Mirrorless on the contrary is both hardware AND software piece of equipment, and the most interesting part is the software part. An example is the Z6. When the Z6 was released, it didn't have any Auto-Eye detection. With a firmware update (I believe version 2.x and above) they introduced via software the eye-auto focus feature, and boom the camera would pick the closet eye to the camera and you no longer move your focus point! This might seem a regular update but it is a huge advantage over DSLR. Who knows what else would come as a software part! Mirrorless is the future, get over it!
Hi Hudson
With Olympus and Nikon's financial situation I think the topic title would be more appropriate in saying having more than one brand is the future. I know some photographers who have started using a second brand of camera because of the uncertainty.
Mirrorless might be the future for professional photographers but not for the consumers mostly because of the cost and a different lens systems unless you have the FTZ adapter.
I've had a Z50 for two years and it has sat for almost two years and only has 250 pics taken on it.
Worse buying decision I ever made!! Poorly designed as far as button placement. I will say the EVF is nice.
Other than the nice EVF it makes a nice paper weight!
I am happy to hear that the Z series is working great for you.
Best wishes
Duane
Different opinions make the world more interesting.
Rest assured though, Nikon will be just fine moving forward. Olympus I'd worry more about that's true.
Nikon just released their latest financial results for the last quarter today. They exceeded all their projections and made a nice profit. Also camera sales as a whole are up again across all manufacturers. I really don’t wanna sound like a Nikon loyalist, but I don’t think there is much reason to worry about Nikon’s financial situation at the moment
nice vid, great comprehension.
i agree that its not the gear, its the person behind it. we can get wonder shots with everything.
just like u i use pf500 on d850. its magic.
a short while ago got a z6ii as everyday and tested it if a few hundreds of shots. not a lot, i know, but my impression is:
on wildlife in general, aspcialy fast small or distant targets, the 850 is better.
i disagree about the z viewfinder. updated to latest firmware, it still a bit slow, unalive and bulky for me. the blackout really most annoying.
the z tracking system is good in close range. after u pull your hair 5 times till u get to know it a little. the 850 do have a very good track system for big objects. so for street and general work or view, id go for z. but with the 500mm, i still go for the 850. when the z8 will go, i might go there for the z9 will be much to expensive and the z7ii is not there yet.
i also disagree about the f4 sharpness. i think they are not as sharp as the 2.8. nor as any prime, even 3rd side. for me the 24-70 f4 is moderate at best and former ff f4 had been a disappointment.
What are thoughts on the AF performance of the D500 VS Z50/Z6ii/Z7ii in terms of acquisition time and tracking through high frame rates 10 fps. ?? That's my main concern mirrorless vs DSLR. I know frame coverage is more extensive on the mirrorless chip BUT I am mainly concerned about performance - acquisition and tracking accuracy. I don't care about super high frame rates 10 fps is enough for me, especially on the D500 with the deep buffer.
If you're one of those folks who live to shoot little birds in flight, or sideline sports then the D500 in Group Area AF will probably make you happier till the Z9 and it's inevitable tech bleed down. For everything else the Z50 thumps it let alone the Z6ii and Z7ii. The eye detect for people, the low light AF and composition ability, the accuracy of locked focus? The ability to ascertain what is important to you in the scene without you picking a point? The subject tracking over-ride that visibly follows a subject through the frame? I almost never reach for the D500 and when I do, it's really more for the extra reach that APS-C sensor gives me than AF ability. It's different. It takes time to learn the Z cameras Auto Area AF with Subject Tracking override and the remnant screen blackout takes practice to get used to at the high frame rates, but with a little practice, I'm getting better results than I did with my DSLRs and I'm having more fun in the process. I have zero doubt that the next gen will leave the DSLR's ability in the dust and the lenses already leave the F-mount lenses way back there performance wise.
Hudson, I recently picked up the 112mm Kase filter set. Is there any way I can use my 24-200mm Z lens with the large Hood that accepts these filters? I'd love to have a fast way to swap filters between these two lenses in the field. Thanks!
Currently, I'm a Nikon user, but since the future of Nikon is uncertain I started to look at my options. Fujifilm came up and it's being hard not to love it. Had you tried any of them? like X-T4 or X-T3? It would be nice to have your comments on Fujifilm cameras. Take care
I dig the fuji cameras. They're a lot of fun to shoot and the film emulations create really nice jpegs in camera. I really enjoy using them, but I'd miss full frame for wide angle work. I'm a ultra-wide junkie and I prefer not having to drop to 10mm to get that 14mm full frame field of view I love. At 10mm your background looks a world away. I'd also morn losing the epic new S glass I'm using. Nikons latest lenses are astoundingly amazing.
Nikon's future is not uncertain though. It will be just fine. There's a lot of clickbait out there to the contrary, but in the very unlikely scenario that current management didn't turn things around, you'd see new management. Not collapse. The company history, brand loyalty and engineering quality are simply too large and important to the photographic community as well as the Japanese nation.
Its funny when all the negative nikon stories starting hitting I bought a modest amount of thier stock. Im up now over 25‰. :)
Now all of that said. If nikon somehow magically disappeared overnight. I'd go canon.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Hi, I understand your point. Your case can be solved with the GFX series. I never used Jpeg mode for capturing images, so I don't have any experience with them. For the glass, Fujifilm also has a great glass. The line of glass is not so extensive as Nikon but is capable to cover most of the glass needs of everyone. Maybe I'll keep my current full frame Nikon and and glass but dive in the mirrorless world with Fujifilm. At least for the next 2/3 years and see how things will go.
Thanks and be safe
Hay buddy the eye piece you are using on your Z cameras where can I get it for my z6 an 7 thank you
I keep all my gear in a big list on the website. You'll find the eye up here: www.hudsonhenry.com/ats-list/#mirrorless.
My Z6II has the worst viewfinder access of any camera I've owned. I'm talking about eye relief, not image quality. Eyeglasses wearers have difficulty seeing the whole frame.
For any camera, the viewfinder is arguably its most important feature.
Hmmmmm, I adore the viewfinder on the Z's, but I diopter adjust to avoid glasses. Have you tried an eyecup replacement like this: amzn.to/3dQd5HG I use those on mine.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto I did try an eyecup, but it made the eye relief problem worse. The eyecup was good at eliminating spurious light intrusion, but if offered zero help with eye relief. My Swarovski binoculars solve this problem with intelligent optical design.
This problem is crucial with video shooting. You need to see ALL the frame, ALL the time.
A simple firmware change would solve this, Nikon. Just shrink the viewfinder image slightly on demand by the operator.
Adjusting the VF diopter setting makes the VF image sharp and temporarily eliminates the need for eyeglasses, but it doesn't help when you remove the camera from your eye and need to see all those tiny settings. For that, you need your eyeglasses.
Just wait until you're a little older. :)
How does noise at higher ISO's compare between the D850 and theZ7II?
Same sensor. Slightly improved processing in the ii. Maybe a half stop noise improvement. The real unparalleled low light champ is the z6ii. I've gotten surprisingly good images out of it at 20,000 ISO and 3200 is very close to the 850s 800 iso output. The 850 and z7 sensors are dual channel iso ramping with the step at 400, the 6 models' step is at 800. 800 iso on the 6ii is about the same as the base iso, just less dynamic range. It's nuts. They're promising great things from the new stacked sensors debuting later this year in the 9. I can't wait to test it.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Thank you!
Canon will be angry, by watching your video. After 16 minutes you showed the R5 and presented it like a Sony camera.😉 May be the sensor is made by Sony.....
PS: I changed to mirrorless in 2012 and was sure, that this is/will be the future. I did not expect that Samsung exit the production of mirror less cameras..
16:01 you misspoke, you said "Sony's new R5"...
I saw that in the edit, but I figured you're smart enough to figure out what I meant. ;)
Don't tell my D810 it is out dated & it is time to buy a Sony A1 Mirrorless. (just joke'n on the Sony part)
810 is a great camera. Just don't invest in new f glass without some deep thought. :)
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Might have no choice than too. It is the wildlife thing & my budget. Wait for a 600f4VR2 for 5-6k or less. Thanks for getting back so quick. When you were talking Nikon Z, the first thing I thought of & mentione on somebody's u-tube video , was how smart Nikon was with the wideest mirrorless flange mount. Hope they knock it out of the park with their Z9 autofocus /shutter lag thing. Another great vid
Or my D850 and D800. I've got plenty of great lenses too. Someday I'll convert, but it will be many years still.... too much $$$ to re-invest.
And I totally hear that. Just remember the film to digital transition. At least you can bring the good f mount glass with you in a future transition via the FTZ, but eventually you'll try the new S glass and comparing results will be shocking. The F4 S lenses are seriously better than the F mount 2.8s.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto Not for nothing, coming from the D810, I probably wouldn’t loose anything moving to a Z2 camera except a little weight in my wallet!
Sony's new R5? Sacrilege sir!
Kidding of course.
Did I say that? If so, mea culpa. I've been spending time with the A1 and R5. My tongue might have slipped! :)
Better to sell all the dinosaur-DSLR equipment. Soon it will be worth nothing. The Z9 does all for me now. All.
And then, when the mirrorless being the standard, there will be another system replacing the mirrorless camera...
I suppose that was as true of glass plates as it was of film as it was of candles and horse drawn carriages. Things that make your job easier and more precise tend to eclipse past technology. I'd be willing to bet you're right about cmos sensors and evfs too one day. :)
36:17 * *disavow* _you of that opinion_ - I know what you mean ;-)
Mirrorless has only a future inside your phone))))))) These revamped compact redundant cameras are a disgrace
yes, mirrorless is the futur.. but for me it's false to say mirrorless will take better images. I can do ( photo ) everything with a DSLR as with a mirrorless ( have both ).
the real deal today is not dslr or mirroless. it's how to improve your photo, how to get better, no matter dslr or mirrorless.
90% of the best photos of all time where taken by films camera.... nothing else need to be said.
Totally agree. It's all about your skill and practice. A point I preach constantly if you scan through this channel's feed.
I predict that eventually you'll spend more time with the latest mirrorless gear and change that other opinion. I find it makes every type of photography I do more precise and that's without even accounting for the unbelievable engineering advancements the shorter wider mounts enable. I heard so many film photographer friends say exactly the same thing when I started shooting digital 25 years ago, but few still shoot much film today.