Worth switching to mirrorless?
Discussion
You know mirrorless is going mainstream when the BBC report about it!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-45627055
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-45627055
Craikeybaby said:
You know mirrorless is going mainstream when the BBC report about it!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-45627055
I think I'd call it an evolution rather than a revolution though.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-45627055
My Z7 has landed.
First impressions:
Body is smaller than I was expecting, but the 24-70 kit lens makes it quite chunky overall. Much better than hauling an FX DSLR around though obviously.
Boot up time almost instant, so no worries about missing a shot if it's turned off.
Viewfinder very good, but perhaps not quite as close to an optical VF as I was hoping. Minimal lag but some persistence when panning as you'd expect.
The FTZ adapter is large enough that even if you fit a small DX prime to it, you still end up with quite a lump. There needs to be at least one Z mount small, stubby lens.
Shooting in 10fps continuous mode whilst saving 14 bit NEF+JPG and still being able to track the subject makes this almost as usable as a D500 for action stuff. I need to do more tests with the focus modes and my DX lenses to see how fast the focus tracks, but it seems pretty good.
Not all my lenses which auto focus on a D500 do the same on the Z7, but that wasn't unexpected.
Here are 3 quick snaps taken with DX lenses just now. Taken with the camera on auto everything and with minimal processing.
This is a full frame using a Tokina 100mm macro. Auto focus doesn't work with this lens.
DSC_0132 by Kaspar Kitson, on Flickr
These two are approx. 60% cropped using an 18-300 ED Nikkor, so not the greatest lens in the world but I wanted to see how well auto focus worked with it and how much I could crop the end result.
DSC_0098 by Kaspar Kitson, on Flickr
DSC_0108 by Kaspar Kitson, on Flickr
I've briefly tested video and the results look very good.
So far even an older EN-EL15 battery is holding up well and video usually kills them in my D500.
Need to test some timelapse and low light/star photography later tonight, then give it a good bashing on a trip I'm going on next week.
So far, so good.
First impressions:
Body is smaller than I was expecting, but the 24-70 kit lens makes it quite chunky overall. Much better than hauling an FX DSLR around though obviously. Boot up time almost instant, so no worries about missing a shot if it's turned off. Viewfinder very good, but perhaps not quite as close to an optical VF as I was hoping. Minimal lag but some persistence when panning as you'd expect. The FTZ adapter is large enough that even if you fit a small DX prime to it, you still end up with quite a lump. There needs to be at least one Z mount small, stubby lens. Shooting in 10fps continuous mode whilst saving 14 bit NEF+JPG and still being able to track the subject makes this almost as usable as a D500 for action stuff. I need to do more tests with the focus modes and my DX lenses to see how fast the focus tracks, but it seems pretty good. Not all my lenses which auto focus on a D500 do the same on the Z7, but that wasn't unexpected. Here are 3 quick snaps taken with DX lenses just now. Taken with the camera on auto everything and with minimal processing.
This is a full frame using a Tokina 100mm macro. Auto focus doesn't work with this lens.
DSC_0132 by Kaspar Kitson, on FlickrThese two are approx. 60% cropped using an 18-300 ED Nikkor, so not the greatest lens in the world but I wanted to see how well auto focus worked with it and how much I could crop the end result.
DSC_0098 by Kaspar Kitson, on FlickrDSC_0108 by Kaspar Kitson, on FlickrI've briefly tested video and the results look very good.
So far even an older EN-EL15 battery is holding up well and video usually kills them in my D500.
Need to test some timelapse and low light/star photography later tonight, then give it a good bashing on a trip I'm going on next week.
So far, so good.
Edited by FurtiveFreddy on Monday 1st October 17:40
The Z7 is a good camera, but when will Nikon take external power seriously?
There's no way it's going to be useful enough for timelapse or video unless there's a simple way to power it from a big battery.
Tried an Ex-Pro dummy battery and it doesn't like it at all. Not sure why, maybe there's some intelligent thingy stopping it from working.
I had to build my own solution for the D500 but of course that's not compatible with the Z7.
Annoying.
There's no way it's going to be useful enough for timelapse or video unless there's a simple way to power it from a big battery.
Tried an Ex-Pro dummy battery and it doesn't like it at all. Not sure why, maybe there's some intelligent thingy stopping it from working.
I had to build my own solution for the D500 but of course that's not compatible with the Z7.
Annoying.
So, I had a chance a few days ago to test drive the EOS R + lenses.
The camera itself is brilliant but obviously not aimed at full time pros- it lacks a lot of buttons, you have to piss about in menus and it would be a ballache to operate with gloves on but the AF performance excels IMO the 5DIV for what I was doing today. Using the EOS R then picking up a 5DIV felt like taking a step back, but the 5D was a lot quicker to change settings with dedicated buttons for everything. With EF lenses the R focuses probably twice as fast as a 5D3 and would have the edge over a 1DX2.
While these example images are fairly well controlled they aren't perfect. The twirling ribbon was shot under some LED ceiling lights, giving an unflattering light designed for conference attendees to read notes, not photograph gymnasts under. The second one had a lighting right set up by a Canon Ambassador using 6 EX600 II speedlights and Lastolite softboxes. The rear flashes were set by him and the front was on E-TTL -0.7 on the example given. I have a full pile of RAW images at a variety of ISOs which I can sent to those who care. The RF 50 1.2 is an absolutely killer lens, dead sharp wide open with incredible AF performance. They didn't have any of the 28-70 f/2 available. I'm quite excited to see the future of the RF system and what they bring out for the pro users. If you've any questions, give me a shout!
Cons: It's a little slow to turn on and get ready, the image review lag was quite painful, no buttons for ISO,WB etc.
Pros: AF was less easily confused than a mirror camera, it produced lovely in camera colour, the servo focus was fab, when using big fast lenses it aims to pick out the eye and nail focus on that. Very respectable high ISO performance. Fantastic AF speed.
Canon EOS R - EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM - 130mm - ISO 1600 - f/2.8 - 1/200
Canon EOS R - EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM - 200mm - ISO 800 - f/2.8 - 1/60
Canon EOS R - EF85mm f/1.2L II USM - ISO 400 - ƒ/1.2 - 1/200
The camera itself is brilliant but obviously not aimed at full time pros- it lacks a lot of buttons, you have to piss about in menus and it would be a ballache to operate with gloves on but the AF performance excels IMO the 5DIV for what I was doing today. Using the EOS R then picking up a 5DIV felt like taking a step back, but the 5D was a lot quicker to change settings with dedicated buttons for everything. With EF lenses the R focuses probably twice as fast as a 5D3 and would have the edge over a 1DX2.
While these example images are fairly well controlled they aren't perfect. The twirling ribbon was shot under some LED ceiling lights, giving an unflattering light designed for conference attendees to read notes, not photograph gymnasts under. The second one had a lighting right set up by a Canon Ambassador using 6 EX600 II speedlights and Lastolite softboxes. The rear flashes were set by him and the front was on E-TTL -0.7 on the example given. I have a full pile of RAW images at a variety of ISOs which I can sent to those who care. The RF 50 1.2 is an absolutely killer lens, dead sharp wide open with incredible AF performance. They didn't have any of the 28-70 f/2 available. I'm quite excited to see the future of the RF system and what they bring out for the pro users. If you've any questions, give me a shout!
Cons: It's a little slow to turn on and get ready, the image review lag was quite painful, no buttons for ISO,WB etc.
Pros: AF was less easily confused than a mirror camera, it produced lovely in camera colour, the servo focus was fab, when using big fast lenses it aims to pick out the eye and nail focus on that. Very respectable high ISO performance. Fantastic AF speed.
Canon EOS R - EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM - 130mm - ISO 1600 - f/2.8 - 1/200
Canon EOS R - EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM - 200mm - ISO 800 - f/2.8 - 1/60
Canon EOS R - EF85mm f/1.2L II USM - ISO 400 - ƒ/1.2 - 1/200
Well, I bit the bullet.
Sony A7III on the way to me along with a Zeiss 55mm f1.8 and a Samyang 14mm. I get the kit lens with it too, which I'll probably flog on ebay and buy the 24-70 f4.
I'm still hunting for a long lens, but I'm leaning towards the Tamron 150-600mm. It's not so expensive, although not cheap, and it seems to be the only option unless you go with an adapter.
Sony A7III on the way to me along with a Zeiss 55mm f1.8 and a Samyang 14mm. I get the kit lens with it too, which I'll probably flog on ebay and buy the 24-70 f4.
I'm still hunting for a long lens, but I'm leaning towards the Tamron 150-600mm. It's not so expensive, although not cheap, and it seems to be the only option unless you go with an adapter.
leglessAlex said:
Well, I bit the bullet.
Sony A7III on the way to me along with a Zeiss 55mm f1.8 and a Samyang 14mm. I get the kit lens with it too, which I'll probably flog on ebay and buy the 24-70 f4.
I'm still hunting for a long lens, but I'm leaning towards the Tamron 150-600mm. It's not so expensive, although not cheap, and it seems to be the only option unless you go with an adapter.
Weeeey congrats. I'm loving mine.Sony A7III on the way to me along with a Zeiss 55mm f1.8 and a Samyang 14mm. I get the kit lens with it too, which I'll probably flog on ebay and buy the 24-70 f4.
I'm still hunting for a long lens, but I'm leaning towards the Tamron 150-600mm. It's not so expensive, although not cheap, and it seems to be the only option unless you go with an adapter.
One thing, stay away from new Sandisk SD cards though. They don't work in slot one. Sandisk have changed something. I just sent a bunch back to Amazon and found this: https://briansmith.com/sony-a7-iii-warning-sandisk...
I know it affects Extreme/Extreme Pro at least and in 128 and 64 at least.
As for long end, my next purchase is gonna be the Sony 100-400 and an adapter. Great glass usually holds its value really, really well so it's not such a big deal.
Phunk said:
I've just gone and ordered an open box Fuji XT3 with Kit lens for £1499.
Really looking forward to selling off all my Canon full frame gear and actually having a camera I can take around everywhere with me. Bloody UHS-II memory cards are expensive though!
Yes! That is what I thought too! I'm still using an old SD card that I bought for the second slot in my 1Dmk2 (so at least 10 years ago) and it is a bit slow. I need to sell a few more bits of my old Canon kit before I can splash out on a £70 SD card!Really looking forward to selling off all my Canon full frame gear and actually having a camera I can take around everywhere with me. Bloody UHS-II memory cards are expensive though!
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