Nikon Z* mirrorless

Seem to have bought a Z8 just with the 24-120 s atm, mostly shoot family/land scape and dog action shots.
Any recommended info/you tube on setup with the 2.0 firmware.
TIA
 
Steve Perry at Back Country Gallery has a set up vid.
It's angled towards wildlife. Maybe you've got a wild dog!

Also, check out Hudson Henry. His vid is comprehensive.
 
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Peter123 said:
That's very good for a handheld shot at 1/15 Stephen.
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Thanks Peter. I’m impressed with the IS from this combination; whilst not up to the levels of the latest m4/3 it’s good enough for me as I’m not normally a great fan of very silky water - I want to still show a degree of sparkle. And the IQ of the 24-200 is fine for me., which helps.
 
Peter123 said:
So, after resisting for ages I gave in and bought a Zf.
I also bought the original Nikon grip from Japan (from the site Duncan used).
It doesn't suit me at all, so it's up for sale.

Looking forward to trying out some manual focus lenses when I get used to the set-up.
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Is it the thumb rest you dislike? If so I can recommend the Neewer one. But congrats on your new camera!
 
No, it's where my 4th & 5th finger go. It just feels better without.

My first proper camera was an FM2 so I should cope.

I need to explain that the arthritis in my fingers means they are not at all flexible.
 
Peter123 said:
So, after resisting for ages I gave in and bought a Zf.
I also bought the original Nikon grip from Japan (from the site Duncan used).
It doesn't suit me at all, so it's up for sale.

Looking forward to trying out some manual focus lenses when I get used to the set-up.
Click to expand...

I’m actually not totally keen on the position of the thumb rest on this grip so I have a separate one coming. I’m used to my thumb resting higher up. The rest of it I like a lot.
 
I recently stayed near Bempton Cliffs and got a chance to try out the Z8 and 400mm f4.5 with the gannets. Sadly I only got one evening as fog rolled in the second evening. That meant I didn’t try out the 1.4 Z TC I wanted to get bare lens vs TC lens to check out the performance.

Still a good chance to put the Z8 through its paces with birds in flight. I thankfully I got enough mobile data signal to download the 2.01 firmware update to get the bird AF update (first time I’ve ever updated firmware away from home sitting in a camper van. I really thought I’d brick the camera doing it there with poorish signal).

Quite impressed with bird AF in how a grey box tracks a bird across the frame without even the focus previously been locked onto.

Northern Gannet Greeting by -Rob'81-

Northern Gannet in flight by -Rob'81-
 
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rob-nikon said:
I recently stayed near Bempton Cliffs and got a chance to try out the Z8 and 400mm f4.5 with the gannets. Sadly I only got one evening as fog rolled in the second evening. That meant I didn’t try out the 1.4 Z TC I wanted to get bare lens vs TC lens to check out the performance.

Still a good chance to put the Z8 through its paces with birds in flight. I thankfully I got enough mobile data signal to download the 2.01 firmware update to get the bird AF update (first time I’ve ever updated firmware away from home sitting in a camper van. I really thought I’d brick the camera doing it there with poorish signal).

Quite impressed with bird AF in how a grey box tracks a bird across the frame without even the focus previously been locked onto.

Northern Gannet Greeting by -Rob'81-

Northern Gannet in flight by -Rob'81-
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Nice shots. Love the two Gannets “fencing”.
 
nog said:
Seem to have bought a Z8 just with the 24-120 s atm, mostly shoot family/land scape and dog action shots.
Any recommended info/you tube on setup with the 2.0 firmware.
TIA
Click to expand...
There’s a 2.01 firmware update now. I gather there were a few issues with the 2.0 firmware causing a green colour cast on some photos.
 
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rob-nikon said:
There’s a 2.01 firmware update now. I gather there were a few issues with the 2.0 firmware causing a green colour cast on some photos.
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Thanks Rob, my mistake it was the 2.01 firmware I updated with. Been setting up the banks etc and Nikon’s system is interesting though will get accustomed to it I’m fairly sure
 
OK, here's my thumb rest setup now. This separate rest is spot on for me as it puts my thumb exactly where I'm used to it being and provides good support for heavy lenses. It's not an easy one to source, however, and the company in China I ordered it from put it on a slow boat.. My apologies for the iPhone images but I only keep one camera body and I can't use that to take pics of itself. The battery case is an interesting one. It's actually an old Zippo case. It worked brilliantly with my Z FC batteries but was way out for the ZF batteries.. I learnt via YouTube how to stretch leather and it now works.

THUMB-ZF-1.jpg

THUMB-2.jpg
 
trevorbray said:
L

Love It. Got the next frame ?
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Thanks Trevor. It was more of a grab shot, I had just pulled up on my mobility scooter and I heard the noise of the goose and managed to grab this one and the couple of next shots were OOF or my framing wasn't good enough.
 
THIRTYFIVEMILL said:
OK, here's my thumb rest setup now. This separate rest is spot on for me as it puts my thumb exactly where I'm used to it being and provides good support for heavy lenses. It's not an easy one to source, however, and the company in China I ordered it from put it on a slow boat.. My apologies for the iPhone images but I only keep one camera body and I can't use that to take pics of itself. The battery case is an interesting one. It's actually an old Zippo case. It worked brilliantly with my Z FC batteries but was way out for the ZF batteries.. I learnt via YouTube how to stretch leather and it now works.

View attachment 423061

View attachment 423063
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Proper pimping going on there......nice !!!
 
Swanseajack said:
Thanks Trevor. It was more of a grab shot, I had just pulled up on my mobility scooter and I heard the noise of the goose and managed to grab this one and the couple of next shots were OOF or my framing wasn't good enough.
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Actually a smashing grab. (Pun intended)
 
Peter123 said:
So, after resisting for ages I gave in and bought a Zf.
I also bought the original Nikon grip from Japan (from the site Duncan used).
It doesn't suit me at all, so it's up for sale.

Looking forward to trying out some manual focus lenses when I get used to the set-up.
Click to expand...
Yes! Another Zf user in! :D
 
The only thing I dont like on my Zf is the MP, if a Zfs came out with 45MP then I would be supremely happy as while 25MP is good for most jobs I can use 45MP for landscapes. I currently need to carry my Z7 to cover this need.
 
jknights said:
The only thing I dont like on my Zf is the MP, if a Zfs came out with 45MP then I would be supremely happy as while 25MP is good for most jobs I can use 45MP for landscapes. I currently need to carry my Z7 to cover this need.
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Fair comment, though 24Mp is fine for me. If they did issue one with 45Mp I suspect they would want or have to use CFexpress cards, the size of which couldn’t be fitted into the current body.
 
jknights said:
The only thing I dont like on my Zf is the MP, if a Zfs came out with 45MP then I would be supremely happy as while 25MP is good for most jobs I can use 45MP for landscapes. I currently need to carry my Z7 to cover this need.
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My original thinking was similar to yours, once you get used to that 45MP sensor it’s quite addictive, however currently I don’t think a Zf with a larger sensor would offer anything over the Z7 in landscape/woodland conditions.
 
ndwgolf said:
Have you had a look at the Small Rig hand grip for the ZF.......I find it very comfortable and half the price of the Nikon Grip
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I have the SmallRig grip on my Zf and find it very comfortable. It came free from Park Cameras as part of the launch deal on my Zf .
 
Stephen L said:
Fair comment, though 24Mp is fine for me. If they did issue one with 45Mp I suspect they would want or have to use CFexpress cards, the size of which couldn’t be fitted into the current body.
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wibbly said:
My original thinking was similar to yours, once you get used to that 45MP sensor it’s quite addictive, however currently I don’t think a Zf with a larger sensor would offer anything over the Z7 in landscape/woodland conditions.
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Yes indeed putting CFexpress card in the camera would change its form factor. Mind you my Fuji GFX100s uses two SD cards and that works well but doesnt have the burst rate of a Z7/8/9, so I would expect a CFexpress card in any enhanced Zf model.
 
jknights said:
Yes indeed putting CFexpress card in the camera would change its form factor. Mind you my Fuji GFX100s uses two SD cards and that works well but doesnt have the burst rate of a Z7/8/9, so I would expect a CFexpress card in any enhanced Zf model.
Click to expand...

In fairness, if Nikon incorporated a grip into the body they'd have space for the CF Express cards. I don't personally need 45mps but that would surely be the way to sort that. Obviously, it means it's no longer a true copy of the FM2 but everyone and their dog purchase an aftermarket grip anyways, so...
 
THIRTYFIVEMILL said:
In fairness, if Nikon incorporated a grip into the body they'd have space for the CF Express cards. I don't personally need 45mps but that would surely be the way to sort that. Obviously, it means it's no longer a true copy of the FM2 but everyone and their dog purchase an aftermarket grip anyways, so...
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I see what you’re saying, and yes I too purchased a grip, but really the whole idea of a grip is a “modern” development. In the olden days none of my cameras, including my Nikon FM original, incorporated finger grips and we never gave it a second thought. There will be thousands of photographers who really like originality. Nikon will have researched the ergonomics and seen fit to give us the option.
 
Stephen L said:
I see what you’re saying, and yes I too purchased a grip, but really the whole idea of a grip is a “modern” development. In the olden days none of my cameras, including my Nikon FM original, incorporated finger grips and we never gave it a second thought. There will be thousands of photographers who really like originality. Nikon will have researched the ergonomics and seen fit to give us the option.
Click to expand...

True. I started out with an FM2N and don't remember feeling the need for a grip. I also disliked the extortionate prices of CF cards when I had the Z6.
 
jknights said:
Yes indeed putting CFexpress card in the camera would change its form factor. Mind you my Fuji GFX100s uses two SD cards and that works well but doesnt have the burst rate of a Z7/8/9, so I would expect a CFexpress card in any enhanced Zf model.
Click to expand...
Just spotted this on NikonRumors webpage.
Nextorage NX-F2PRO added to the Nikon approved list of UHS-II SDXC memory cards: Z8, Z6II, Z7II, Z5, Zf, D850, D780.

Read more: https://nikonrumors.com/2024/05/16/...-uhs-ii-sdxc-memory-cards.aspx/#ixzz8aaxkEytd

So a 45MP sensor could be supported by an SD card.
Bring it on, money ready and waiting.
 
I recently ordered a new Z8 and 180-600mm lens from Panamoz.

The Z8 I have now used a few times in different shooting scenarios and I'm very impressed with it.

Yesterday was the first opportunity for me to properly test my new lens - 7 hours spent shooting in a wildlife hide.

It wasn't long before I realised that the images were soft. I tested at various apertures and using various focus methods including spot and eye detect. I was still convinced the sharpness was poor. My friend was beside me using a Sigma 150-600 C on his Sony and was getting significantly better results on the same subjects.

Interestingly enough, I tried with VR both on and off and it made no discernible difference even at maximum magnification. I had read elsewhere that this was one particular lens where turning off the VR when. it was tripod mounted made a huge difference.

Yesterday I carried out my own side by side testing in my garden, using tripod and gimbal (same as yesterday) and swapping between my own Sigma 150-600c and the Nikon. The Sigma outperformed it on every setting.

I can only assume that I have a 'bad' copy as I've read so many glowing reviews of the lens.

I've contacted Panamoz and requested a replacement but I am outside of their normal 14 day return policy so I know they will just offer a repair at best.

Very disappointing.
 
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