Nikon Z users, what are you rocking?

Hardware
1

Hi,

after an extensive research and thinking, I plan to switch from the DSLRs to the mirrorless world, and I wanted to ask… what Z camera and lenses do you use? What for?

I currently own a D3500 with a couple of lenses:

  • AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DX VR kit lens
  • AF-P 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 DX ED VR kit lens
  • SIGMA 105mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM MACRO
  • SIGMA 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM

but I’m thinking about switching to the Z5 II paired with the Z 24-70mm f/4 S. This change is rather radical, but it is mostly driven by problems with the last of the named lenses – the 17-50 f/2.8…

The thing is, it’s theoretically a great lens. Perfect central sharpness, constant f/2.8 aperture, physical switches… but there are a few problems that really frustrate me.
I bought it as an upgrade over the kit lens that seemed to suffer field curvature in a few scenarios… but uhh… the Sigma seems to suffer the same, but on top of that also has a severe back and front focusing issue at the same time (depending on the focal length and focus distance combo) – which is where the field curvature really starts to creep in, e.g. focusing the center point on ∞ (with the whole scene at ∞ distance) gives me bokeh on one side… I tried to fine-tune it (D7500), but had no success at all – it was always wrong in some scenario. It could theoretically be calibrated under a warranty repair, but that didn’t feel like the best option.
It’s also really old and there are, to my best knowledge, no newer 17-50mm range f/2.8 lenses. The AF is also pretty slow, but comparing it to the AF-P kit lenses is quite unfair.

Since DSLRs are discontinued (I don’t want to use the word ‘dead’, heck I’m still using one), even if I got it working there’s nowhere to go, really. No future-viable upgrade path besides perhaps going with full-frame Nikon DSLRs. I thought I could perhaps make it work for a little longer, but idk, I don’t feel good about it.

As I said, the Z5 II really got my appeal. The latest AF system being equally capable in the viewfinder and using the LCD screen, BSI full-frame 24Mpx CMOS, IBIS, 11fps, fully articulating screen, etc. etc. … oh and also being brand new. The 24-70mm f/4 S seems like a solid universal lens that should cover majority of my needs (as per my analysis of the lenses I’ve used in the past two years) till I’d be able to afford more lenses. I also considered the Z 24-120mm f/4 S, but it’s very expensive compared to the kit I’m getting and the Z 24-200mm has too many compromises.

I thought of getting an FTZ II for the SIGMA 105mm MACRO (the only full-frame F-mount lens I own), but in comparison to selling it that could be a net difference of €500 or even more, for not a whole lot of macro that I was shooting. As a native replacement, the Z 70-180mm f/2.8 is particularly interesting:

  • max. magnification of 0.48x would most likely suffice, as I struggled to get a good photo beyond 0.5x anyways: in too little light I had to deal with either too shallow DoF or a lot of noise (stacking outdoors is out of question)
  • f/2.8 – I love a constant aperture and it seems like a much more affordable option to the Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S, as it’s about half the price
  • I’d have to get a macro flash if I wanted to keep the SIGMA 105 as the Z full-frames don’t have on-board flashes… welp!
  • 70-180 range is a lot less than I’ve previously had (105-450mm equiv.), but I might not need much more, given that I don’t shoot wildlife.

… but if I did, there’s a third lens to complete the set, the Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR. That would give me the 24-600mm range without gaps… Perhaps one day? If those two wouldn’t fit me, there’s still the affordable Tamron Z 70-300mm Di III RXD f/4.5-6.3, which would give me a cheaper lens with a longer reach. Although I’d probably need some sort of macro lens, as I like to take photos of details and neither the 24-70 or the 70-300 would do that well enough I’m afraid.

And lastly, there’s an the advantage of the Z mount where you should theoretically be able to adapt almost any mount and make it work reasonably well – Sony E to Z adapters are pretty interesting, since there are a lot of great FE lenses. I’d probably stay native on lenses where I’d like to have maximum speed and reliability, but for other occasions it seems like a viable choice of extending my kit.

The NIKKORs 24-70, 70-180 and Tamron 70-300 are fully supported in the current lensfun (the 180-600 is in develop version), so I’d only have to shoot the noise sample set for the Z5 II and I should be good to go.

So what do you use? Do you have any adapters, perhaps FTZ and still rock your older F-mount lenses, or did go already switch to all Z-mount? I’m curious what you use…
Also, if you made it this far, thanks for reading :sweat_smile:

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You seem like you’re into zooms, so my kit probably doesn’t help you a lot.

I have a Z7ii body, its alright, of does the job. I like prime lenses, so:

  • Voigtlander 15mm f4.5 (I think) - this lens is sharp for a 15mm and has a lot of contrast. And really little distortion for something so wide. I haven’t shot it a lot, but I like it.
  • Nikon Z 24mm f1.8 S - haven’t shot this lens a lot, just not shooting wide as much. I had the F mount 24mm f1.8 which I shot a lot and really liked, and this lens is certainly better than that one, but not by much.
  • Nikon Z 50mm f1.8 S - I love the rendering of this lens and its the one on my camera the most. For the price, I feel like its a steal.
  • Nikon 105 f2.8 macro - I like this too, but I don’t shoot a lot of macro. It’s sharp and has a very flat field, as a macro should.
  • Nikon Z 100-400mm - I like the reach, but it feels a bit soft at the long end of it. Maybe I just need to focus a bit better. I’d consider the 180-600mm heavily if I had to buy again, but I got this one before the 180-600 was released.

If you haven’t read the reviews at https://www.zsystemuser.com/ I’d suggest it, Thom is a long time Nikon users and gives clear, concise reviews. He has a recommended Nikon gear list on that site, and his recommendations seems solid to me.

4 Likes
3

Yes, i really like versatility, as my shooting style (at least now) involves changing the focal length a lot to adjust my composition. As some like to say zooming with my feet doesn’t work as I’d either be run over by a car or change the perspective too much so that the shot doesn’t work anymore.

If I’m ever buying something else than a zoom, that’d be a prime candidate for me (ba-dum-tss). It’s said to be a lot better than the f/1.4 non-S version and really cheap. Or perhaps the Tamron 90mm macro lens.

I was thinking about some fast ultrawide like Viltrox 16mm f/1.8 for astro or street photos, but given I don’t shoot much of either, it’d probably be a waste of money.

Really? I’d think that an S lens wouldn’t suffer that, but I haven’t researched it (wayyy out of budget), so I have no idea.

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I can’t rule out tripod shaking or my own stupidity, I haven’t shot many times all the way out a 400mm. I should test it in the yard…

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Yeah, might’ve been a subtle motion blur, perhaps you also had the VR or IBIS off

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I am pretty sure I had them off, but I dunno. I’ve only started shooting longer lenses in the last several years, so I have some stuff to learn still.

7

Yay, I can finally post in this thread! As of yesterday, I’m the happy owner of a Z50II with the 18-140 kit lens. It’s heavier, more solid than I thought it’d be, and I really need to relearn a lot of things that kind of atrophied in the last decade and a half of me not shooting with cameras anymore. Loving it so far!

I got the Peak Design Slide Lite strap with it, which I really enjoy right away; the tripod mount point for a strap to keep the camera at your hip, pointing down, is great.

Still need to figure out my workflow a bit, I thought I’d really enjoy the fact that I can hook up the camera and my phone for location data, but the app is slightly clunky, it seems to want me to switch between BT and Wifi all the time, and it drains the camera battery at a prodigious rate. Will have to fiddle with that some more, I think.

But most importantly, I’ll get out and shoot some pics. :wink:

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Niiiice. Z50 ii with that 18-140 lens is probably the best starter Z camera out there. Somebody already contributed the noise profiles to lensfun, so it should be available soon.

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Ah, yes, was still missing the profiles in DT, I still need to install or update lensfun, good to know the profiles will be there soon.

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About 5 years ago my Pentax K5 was stolen out of my truck so new to the Nikon world and just picked up a Z6II with a 24-120,. I will say this is a beast of a camera that compares favorably to the Z9 (according to reviews)

I have not even had much time to actually use it yet but I will say it blows away my old Pentax. I have some old Minolta glass that I plan on getting a converter for so my lens collection will markedly increase (albeit mostly manual mode most likely.

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Welcome to the forum!

I was considering that lens, but that would make an already expensive purchase even more expensive, so I went with 24-70 instead and got a free original battery

In manual focus mode, the camera should make the focus point green when it detects sharpness based on the PDAF points

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I just got a Z6III with the 24-120 f/4 and I’m very impressed with the body and the lens. My partner has a Zfc with a 24mm f/1.7 prime. She likes that a lot, especially how light it is.

I do have the adaptor for my old F lenses and adaptors for OM (analog) and M42 mount, but I’ve not tried them yet. I do note that the F lens adaptor does take a lot of space and shifts the centre of balance forward from where it would be with F lenses on an F body.

edit: added lens detail.

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I would think carefully about why you want to switch. For me it was the autofocus performance above anything and I’ve found that being able to autofocus at full performance using live view to be particularly useful with small active children. I can more easily shoot from their level or below that way. With a DLSR (I have a D750), live view is only suitable for static subjects.

If I were mostly shooting landscape or less active people I would have been quite happy to stay with the older camera. F lenses are also available in great condition second hand for very reasonable money. I bought a slightly fussy, but optically perfect Nikon F 70-200 f/2.8 for I think £250 about 6 months ago.

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I was debating which lens, reviewing most of my old pics my sweet spot is about 80mm on average. I believe I got a $600 discount on the B&H holiday sale.

My dream kit is probably going to be adding the 24 prime and the 100 Macro, but it will take time :slight_smile:

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Unfortunately my Pentax kit was stolen from my car about five years ago, so this is my reentry point. I really wish Pentax had kept up, but it it does not appear they will.

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I copy that coming from a d700 and d3100. I’m very happy with the same kit. The 24-120 is impressive with a capital I
However… I’m thinking seriously about a…d5300 again.

Why a ‘step back’? I have a Sigma 10-20 from 2006 that renders a very nice 15mm FF view. I cannot use it with an FTZ, but I also don’t have anything wider on the FF Z6iii. (well, not completely, I also have a fringer adapter with a 17-40 f/4 Canon lens for the Z)
Also the weight. The Z6iii is heavy compared to an old d5300 and tbh, at iso100 you won’t see much difference.
Bu anyway, you can’t go wrong with the z50ii or the z5ii

oh one thing: for long exposures, a mirrorless is great. I can still see something through the EVF with a 64x filter where the OVF is black

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I’m coming from m43 Olympus to Nikon.In the past I had used nikon and olympus bodys. Last year Santa gave me a Nikon Z5 II together with the 24-70/4 zoom and the fine prime lens 40/2.

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Don’t know how I missed this thread, 'cept that it was during one of our travels.

I got the Z 6 when it was first introduced, singularly for the dynamic range. I later discovered what goodness IBIS brings, made the tripod stay home more. I purchased it with the 24-70/f4 “kit” lens, which is arguably the best zoom in its class. Back then, I missed the reach of my DX super-zooms, so I bought the F-mount AF-P FX 70-300 and the FTZ adapter to scratch that itch. Nice lens on the Z 6, but changing lenses wasn’t working well in my train shooting so I recently bought the Z-mount Nikkor 24-200. Not near as resolute as the 24-70, but I can mitigate that for my small web-size photos with a bit more output sharpening. I’ll put the 70-300 on my old D7000 and carry it as a backup/reach camera.

The above will likely be my kit until they kick me to memory-care. The one lens I still jones is the 24-120mm for the IQ, and maybe the 105mm macro for the macro.

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I’m considering Nikon FF for my next “serious” camera because I think they offer good value for money, and the image quality from their bodies and lenses seems top notch. But the size and weight always give me pause. Along with Panasonic, their cameras always seem to be among the heaviest, whereas Sony tends to be more compact. Ideally, I want something in the 600g range. If I’m going to get something heavier, then I want it at least to offer something special, such as a GFX. But 700g for a Z5II is a tougher sell for me personally when lighter options exist.

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I am using NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S (maybe even to sharp lens) and thinking about NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S, or Viltrox alternative to it - Viltrox AF 85mm F2.0 EVO.