Was the Nikon Z7 II The Right Choice for Landscape Photography?
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- čas přidán 25. 04. 2023
- 8 months ago I switched from my Fuji GFX 50r to a Nikon Z7 II. Was this a good switch and am I happy with the Nikon camera? I still have my Fuji GFX and I do have some complaints about the Z7 II. All is explained in this video. 10% off your first Squarespace website or domain: www.squarespace.com/heaton
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My Z9 resolves pretty much all of your cons so fully expect the Z8 to do the same in fairness. I think
the price the z7 and z7ii offer such fabulous value for money and especially when you buy used. I’m also pretty sure the next iterations of z6/7s will also rectify some of these as well. I certainly wouldn’t be disappointed with any camera on the market and think that all brands offer something unique so a little bit of cross pollination never does any harm either.
one reason on the price is marking, more a company is doing marking someone will need to pay for the price
I’ve read the Z9 overpowers the focus shortcomings with its processor.
I use the Z7 and never felt the need to upgrade to the Z7II as I shoot mainly portraits and landscapes. I agree with all you points although the only one which seriously annoys me is the lack of a tilting screen in portrait format, Z8 maybe???
Thanks Tom I have been waiting for a response. I am relieved to hear you still have your GFX. Thanks for an honest review which I knew you would do .
I totally agree with you on the sensor shield. I have to clean mine ALL the time! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for the feedback on the Z7. It's another brilliant video, very entertaining and informative. Love your style and honest approach. Always grateful when you publish your content.
Original Z7 user and agree with some of your points, especially committing to the crop and the screen that only tilts in one plane. As far as AF goes, though, I purchased Thom Hogan's excellent Z7 guide and he goes into great detail about how the AF system works and how to make the most of it. The Z cameras have AF systems that require a little more input from the user but they're very, very capable once you understand how to make the best use of them. Thom's guides are highly recommended.
Steve Perry, wildlife photographer, has a book on Nikon's auto focus system on their mirrorless cameras. I found it very helpful to understand what is going on under the hood so to speak.
I have the Z6ii (two of them), and have just bailed from Fuji after a decade of solely using their crop-sensor cameras. I'm amazed I didn't bail sooner, because the images from the Nikon RAW images are phenomenal. My clients have even commented on the increase in the quality of my images of late. I'm really not sure why so many people bag out the AF of the Z6ii or Z7ii. It may not be cutting edge, but if you know your camera well and use it properly (with the correct settings), I find the AFC really quite good. I had a big shoot a few days ago (ANZAC Day parade, Perth city). The marchers and people were moving quite quickly, there was action happening around me at every turn.
I took over 500 images and probably had 5 or 6 that were out of focus, and they may have been user error. Everybody is chafing at the bit to hurriedly change over to the new Z8, or whatever, but I could care less. I'm in this system for the marvelous Z lenses, and the gorgeous sensor. As a working pro I do not find anything about the camera or lenses frustrating. I shoot 3x2 RAW and crop in C1. I have two bodies, each with a lens glued on and never need to change them. I've shot thousands of images on each body and never had to clean the sensor. I don't shoot vertical much so the screen is fine. Door flipping open accidently for me has probably happened 6 times in the last year - not a problem. I think we live in such a throw-away society now that people are unable to live with something that is a few percent less than perfect. These cameras cost me a lot here in Australia and I want to run them into the ground to get my money's worth. Not to have to flick them off now and spend thousands more to get something a few percent better.
Good video. Happy Birthday...hope you enjoy your family visiting.
Totally agree with your conclusion. Looking forward to the Z8 announcement!
Had the Z7 since it came out and love it for landscapes. Agree with focus and sensor shield. Got a Z9 and amazing camera. I think you’ll love the Z8, should meet all of your needs.
Thanx. An honest review that’s useable. I mean, choose what’s right for you, about price and performances. It’s not all about the best camera or censor you can get.
Totally fair assessment. I agree with everything said, including the assessment that the works are worth putting up with to get the fantastic results possible with this sensor and Nikon Z glass.
I really like 'the humble Heaton' approach in tech review. So much more useful for photography dudes than the tech-spec deep discussions addressing only R&D and what to buy 5 years from now
Thanks for the video, Thomas. I posted a comment yesterday that has not appeared in the comments section that I can see. If it’s there, I apologize for double posts. I have owned the Z7II for a little over two years, and it’s a great fit for me and my style of photography. image quality is exceptional, with fantastic dynamic range. I don’t need a flip out screen, don’t need video capability and I have not had any of the issues with the card door that you have had. In my two years of ownership I have had to clean the sensor twice due to dust (visible spots on light areas of images). The Z7II has a great grip, feels great in my hands and does what I need it to do. Autofocus is actually pretty good for landscape photography, portrait photography, architectural photography, and general photography. It does, as is well documented, fall somewhat short of its competitors for speed and accuracy which is most noticeable with sports, action and fast moving objects. I have had some success with flying birds but the shortcomings of the autofocus system are most apparent in this type of scenario. No camera is perfect. The Z7II certainty isn’t but for me it’s strengths outweigh it’s weaknesses. I hope the Z8 is a worthwhile, meaningful step up from the Z7II but if the leaks, rumors and info already out there are true, it won’t be enough to make me want to upgrade. I would have liked to see a better, higher res viewfinder, a mechanical shutter alongside the digital one, and a sensor cover when the camera is off (which it may have). Especially at a significantly higher price point than the Z7II. The Z7II is a great camera value for its current selling price.
Great content as always :) I have the Z7ii and agree with your points, limited screen movement and autofocus are my bugbears. I love the image quality and dynamic range though.
I went from Nikon F mount, to the Z mount, to the GFX mount, back to the Z mount in large part due to the Z lenses. For me, the optical quality, price, size and versatility (focal ranges and budgets) sold me on the ecosystem. The well-regarded 24-120 f4 was what finally brought me back (surprised you weren't happy with yours). I absolutely love that lens. I agree with all your complaints about the z7II (which is the camera I shoot with) and anxiously await the Z8, as it looks like it will address most of them.
Out of interest, the first 24-120 f4 that I received was quite badly decentered in the 24mm to 50mm range. I sent it back, waited 10 weeks to get another copy, and found that to be very sharp with no significant defects throughout the range. I have also had problems with the memory card door, but not with the crop pixel binning as I normally crop in post. Still love my Z7 for landscape and general use, and use my Z9 for action and wildlife.
The price was a huge consideration for me getting into the Z system. They have the primes that I want at an affordable price, and the bodies are priced competitively. Some of the other brands have ludicrous prices, to the point you might as well just buy a GFX camera
When it comes to Canon, the prices are absolutely insane. With Sony, the GM lenses are very expensive, but Sigma delivers very good lenses and Samyang also has some lovely cheaper optics. The GFX 100 for me has a terrible sensor where if you brighten the shadows by several stops, very noticeable banding is visible (plus I like to not have to focus stack every single shot and medium format gives an even shallower depth of field)
I am impressed with how often you have changed camera systems since I started watching your channel 🤔😎
I actually switched from Nikon to Canon when changing my system to mirrorless. I always loved the Nikon sensors but the AF of the Z7II was beyond miserable in comparison to Canon and Sony. Hated the menu and the ergonomics on Sony so I went for R5 and couldn't be happier. Probably one of the most well balanced cameras still today. Just my 2c
Are you a pro and shooting fast action for living?
@@deanjelcic9299 yes and yes!
@@deanjelcic9299 Sony and Canon are just so far ahead that it's literally a question of "Do you want more green (sony) or do you want more warm (canon)". L and GM glass are unparalleled.
Thanks, I’ve sold all my Nikon d750 and lenses- mostly too old to work with the ftz. So I’m free to change system after 48. Years.
Z6ii, too many people disappointed with it, Canon R6-2 invariably good reviews, but not much cheaper than the z7ii, very tempting to get the quality high pixel count and hopefully the focus is good enough for general use. But this review and your comment has just about settled it for me, against Nikon- all those years of buying their gear, sadly come to an end.
@@1davidpeter all the best in this case and congratulations!
You can setup your R5 as if it's a Nikon, it's extremely customisable. After 2,5 years I have 300'000 actuations on the clock with not one failure. The focus hit rate is at 95%. If you need some good set videos check out Roberto Valenzuela his has some of the best tutorials for this workhorse! 😀
My gripes with the Z7II are spot on with yours. I haven’t had issues with auto focus but I’m a slow shooter. I found if I left my camera on while changing lenses, I often get more sensor dust. If I remember to turn off my camera while changing lenses, not so much of a problem. I’ve been a Nikon shooter for a long time so that’s my primary reason for still shooting Nikon. I do love the files I get. Thanks for your take.
From what I've read in Thom Hogan's book, the sensor attracts dust when the camera is on.
Upgraded from an intro DSLR to the Z7 and I love it. I also shoot landscapes and went with the 24-70 F/4, that S class glass is fantastic. Haven't had any issues with the AF. I actually wish the LCD screen flipped all the way around so I could store it protected. I hike a lot so I worry about the exposed screen in my bag even with a screen protector on. I love shooting in 45MP large format, do all my cropping in post and it's almost like it sees more color in a scene than I do, especially muted colors- and I still have 20/20 vision!
i appreciate the honest thoughts on your gear. everything is a compromise in one way or another. I love my Sony gear but even I admit when it comes up a bit short in something i would like it to do better. Much appreciated brother!
I use the Z6ii for bird photography and love it. I also frequently open the memory card door by accident when I pick up the camera. It's annoying but not a big deal for me. I have a similar list of cons about the camera but I upgraded from an ancient Nikon D3300 so the Z6 feels like a really good camera to me.
More of these please, I’m sure many of your subscribers will agree that your opinion on kit is highly valued…
You can take amazing shots with any camera, you're great at what you do.
I have the Z7II, which I have no regrets in buying it. The image quality is truly incredible, and definitely a step above the image quality I got out of the D850. However, I do agree with all of your complaints about the Z7II camera. The 'locked in' aspect ratio is probably my biggest complaint. I knew going in that the screen wasn't fully articulating, and can live with that. I have the same problem with the memory card slots cover, and the sensor dust issue...took me a while to get brave enough to clean the sensor with a wet swab.
Thomas, great vlog.
I agree with you 100%. The pixel loss or the memory cards door opening up by accident ... yap you nailed that. But I love the camera, and the images are so nice with very little post processing. Lessens actually feels lighter and sharper than the original ones. I am waiting to see the new Z8.
I shoot Fuji X-T5 & X1D (same sensor as Fuji 50) I'm happy, particularly with the X-T5 as an allrounder, The X1D is a joy for me. I've never owned a Nikon. However the new Nikon Z8 looks to be an amazing camera, with specs that should envy any new camera on the market. Good luck with your future choices. I really enjoy your channel because of your sincere attitude to photography. Nice work, thank you.
The X-T5 does not have the same sensor as the 50R. X-T5 is crop and the 50R is medium format. Maybe the same or similar megapixel count, but drastically different sensors overall
I wouldn't say the gripes were cynical Thomas. It's human nature to look, compare and contrast and would honestly say the ones you have raised are based on practical experience. Was speaking to a friend yesterday and he made the exact same comment about the lack of a curtain protecting the sensor when changing lenses. One of the reasons I changed from the 5div to the EOS R was the fully articulating screen as it assists me immensely for shooting architecture so can understand why you would like this option. Definitely can't fault the image quality as there are plenty of good photographers out there including yourself knocking out some incredible images with the Z7ii
On my Z6ii you can force a curtain over the sensor by doing this: camera on, remove battery, camera off, replace battery. This places a curtain over the sensor that will stay there until you power the camera back on and you will receive a message to press the shutter release to open the curtain. A bit cumbersome but great for changing lenses in the field.
Wow I didn't know that - hope it works on my Z6! Thanks!
@@MrSimonj1970 yes it does as I have the z6 and it works
@@timwellsphotography brilliant, thanks Tim!
I was just going to suggest that! It's a great trick, the only caveat is that well... That's the shutter curtain you have to be extremely careful with it, it is very delicate.
I'm a multi system user but have the Z7II and your negatives list are spot on. The crop problem is especially aggravating when you compose in 1:1 then have to remember to switch back to 3:2 before you take a shot and I've had the card door fly open accidentally in the snow and rain. Compared to the other systems I have and use Nikon mirrorless is my least favourite user experience but I absolutely love the images from the camera and native lenses. That said I really enjoy your videos, regardless of whatever camera system you use.
Out in Snow and Rain, you should be using gaffers tape over card doors/ battery doors! Solved that problem for ya. Please leave a quarter in the jar! Hah! Peace
@@georgedavall9449 Or buy a Pentax, best weather sealing on the market.
Thank you for everything you do!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the R-5!!!!!! I know you’re not an equipment channel per se, but I enjoy your critiques they answer the questions that I have!!!! Thanks Thomas, and tell Mum and Dad I said “Howdy”!!!!
I've been using the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II lens on the GFX 100S with the Fringer adapter. The image circle projected by the lens doesn't cover the full 44x33mm sensor in the GFX, and there is some serious vignetting, but popping the rear baffle off the lens takes care of nearly all of the vignetting. When I want or need more reach, I can activate the 35mm Format Mode on the GFX, which then uses the 24x36mm portion of the sensor resulting in a 61-megapixel image.
2 things that took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out with my own Z cameras:
Viewfinder framerate increases when the shutter is half-pressed.
AF performance noticeably improves when "apply settings to live view" is turned off.
last point isnt valid anymore with the z6 mark 2. Dont know about the z7 ii tho.
Dont beat ya self up Kyle. Go grab ya a copy of Thom Hogan’s book on the Z6/Z7 series. 😉
That second point is a piss off. Half the advantage of mirrorless is that you can see the effects of your settings in the EVF.
@@thephotoyak mirrorless as a system has it's flaws.
@KevInKobe not many. Battery life is somewhat less but still not an issue. I shot film SLRs, went digital in 2005 and mirrorless in 2022. Mirrorless is awesome.
Nailed it Thomas. I too would have chosen the Z7ii but i shoot wildlife too so went with the Canon R5. Yes it's pricy and so are the lenses but it is a joy to use - not something that could be said when I tried a Sony A7Riii a few years ago.
The choice of camera is whatever floats your boat. I don't spend much time thinking about it. I'm still shooting my D850 that I preordered, however long ago that was. Probably at least 60,000 activations. I shoot mostly birds and wildlife and do almost all of it in manual mode, except for the focus. When I'm shooting birds in the woodlands I use auto ISO, otherwise it is all manual. Thank goodness for autofocus. I have aging macular degeneration in my camera eye and images are a bit warped and blurred. Anyway, I do have occasions where I could really appreciate the silent electronic shutter and have thought some about a mirrorless Nikon. They just don't have one that "floats my boat" yet. Thank you for your views on the Z7II. That helps a good bit.
Great comment Clifton. Nothing wrong with staying with DSLR, if it works for you. I will tell ya, I ma due for cataract surgery soon, and when I put my Z7 up to my eye, the image is crystal clear, compared to D850/500. I still love an OVF, but something about the EVF that makes the image appear “in focus?” I posed this to my eye dr, and all they can say is “ When do you want to have your surgery? 💵 Geesh. Stay safe and Happy Shooting!
Glad you are happy with your choice Thomas. I personally decided I wanted to get into some wildlife shooting as well as landscapes and got an R5 grey import from Panamoz for over £1200 less than UK price and it's come down even lower now!! It also comes with a 3 year warranty and they are a UK based company with good reviews so although I could have got a Z7II cheaper I thought the R5 was a better choice and meant I could keep some EF mount lenses and spread the replacement costs. Out of the things you mentioned the pixel-binning would really annoy me tbh. I don't think anyone would go wrong with a Z7II, A7RIV/V or and R5 so really it does come down to cost, and personal priorities. The GFX never interested me due to the limited lenses.
COMPLETELY AGREE on aspect ratio thing. It would be amazing to have a chance to reset the crop later in post if desired. :)
I purchased my Z7 to replace a D600 in Jan or Feb 2018. I had at the time a D500 for action/wildlife. The D600 was my everything else camera and the Z7 filled that role quite well. I have had the card door open a few times but not lately. I have noticed the dust. It doesn't seem any worse than the D600 (which had a bad habit of spitting oil on the sensor from the mirror assembly). But I am not out in as challenging conditions. I have replaced the D500 with a Z9, but the Z7 is still the camera I grab if the subject is going to be mostly friends and family. For landscapes I might grab either camera but mostly the Z9 (incase there is wildlife present). If the Z8 is everything some are claiming it might be an answer to your woes. I really like the shutter shield on the Z9. I hope Nikon puts this on all its cameras going forward. It does not completely stop dust but it helps a bunch. I change lenses in the field equally with both the Z7 and Z9. The Z9 stays a lot cleaner. I still dust off the sensor once in a while. I suspect my lenses carry dust from one camera to the other.
With modern cameras out there today, it's the camera that works for you that matters. No one camera can do everything best, but each has a purpose and place. Some fit one person better than another. It's up to you to figure that out. I had been using Pansonic MFT for years, but switched to Olympus, I guess OM Systems, this last year. It's really incredible what they can do with the technology. We all find the niche that fits us. That's what counts. We share a love for photography. So we should support one another in that. It's such a small group of people compared to what it used to be. It's best to stick together and help each other. All the tech has its drawbacks. Yet it's so amazing compared to what it was 10-15 years ago. I love to see each person's take on a camera, why they chose it, how they use it, what does and doesn't work well for them, etc. It makes me reflect on my own choices.
I have been shooting landscapes with the Z7 since October 2020. The things that I miss (and I hope for in the Z8) is;
Sensor shield to protect the sensor when changing lenses (like in the Z9), longest exposure time changed from 30" to 900" (like the Z7 II, and not talking about bulb) and an LCD-screen that flips both ways (like the Z9). Give me those and I am a happy customer. Everything else related to better AF etc. will just be icing on top.
Thanks for the video and greetings from Denmark, Thomas! :-)
Having always shot Nikon and now Z7, I never knew there were cameras that would save the uncropped image. Now I know why you sometimes crop in camera as it was a mystery to me before. Good analysis of the camera Thomas.
With the R5 I can choose a crop, and when I import to lightroom it autocrops it to what I set in camera, but all the other pixels are still there if I need them.
@@garyrowe58 Really handy feature Gary. I wold crop in camera if I had this on my Z7.
The Z7II sensor has a higher DXO score than the Z9 and R7. Its an amazing landscape camera. If you use pin focus mode it focuses very well. It does not have the best eye focus. Works ok on people, but not real well with animals. I really don’t have problems with the memory card door, and I do my cropping in post. I figure if you plan to adjust the crop, you shouldn’t crop the picture in camera. The dynamic range of the sensor and image quality is amazing. Colors are fantastic Nikon colors which is what drew me to the brand. I use the Jpeg whenever I can as the camera produces outstanding colors.
I do have the very annoying card door problem: when taking the camera out of the camera bag or putting it back in then the card door opens accidentally pretty often. Out of many cameras this is the first one I'm having the problem with. The lock is not very strong and requires only very little force along the direction of pulling your hand out of the camera bag. So if your finger grab the grip and your palm touches the card door, then it requires only little movement and force between your fingers and palm to pop the card door accidentally open.
If you're taking your time with your images and not shooting 1,400 in one go, you should be shooting RAW + JPG. Sports photographers are the only ones who should be dedicated to JPGs
@@AustinRoss I do shoot RAW + Jpeg and choose from both.
I don't think you need side by side comparisons of different models to review. Your "feel" of the tool that you use is a huge part of any industry. Same with computers, hand and power tools, cars. Your interpretation of how a product feels to you is always important.
Love the channel and happen to shoot Nikon Z's. I really like the Z7.2 but for reasons you failed to mention. The Nikon lenses are the best I have ever used. The 14-24 f 2.8S and the 24-70 f 2.8 S along with the 100-400 S are some of the best glass on the market IMHO. I used to shoot Fuji but the issues of Fuji and Lightroom were just too much for me, so sold all the Fuji gear, and went for Nikon Mirrorless. I know the Z8 will fix all your issues you mentioned, but I may wait till they have the Z90 or what ever the crop sensor mini Z9 turns out to be. I shoot mainly travel, landscape and wildlife. The Dx crop would be perfect for wildlife along with the e100-400 lens. I do love the Z7.2 for landscape shooting. Plus the size of the body is terrific and if it is paired with the f 4 version of lenses,( all of which I own as well) , it is a small and light kit. Actually lighter than my full Fuji kit.
Am with you 100% on the binning of pixels in crop mode. Went to the outer Hebrides and shot a whole day on 16 x 9 as Id forgotten to reset it. Also the one way flippy screen thing is a real pain,
As an R5 shooter, I'm happy to see so many great cameras from so many different companies. Choice is good.
All seem like valid gripes. I am personally using Sony A7RIII which offers good all around quality and is good value for money now, I think. Very happy with its performance for landscape and wild life photography. Sensor dust sucks!
Very useful perspective. A big thumbs up.
I have been teetering on the edge of trading my DSLR body and lenses for the Z7II for a long time, for a lighter system whilst retaining high resolution. I am glad you posted this as I realise what I would have lost for a small gain at huge expense.
And that is?
Ive been using the Z7ii for landscape for a year and a half now and have the same list of negatives. Additionaly, I wish Nikon would make a lighter weight telephoto option. Other than that Im happy with it. It looks like the Z8 will be a mini Z9, so I will be very tempted to trade in when that becomes available.
So happy you corrected yourself. Zed it is.
@ThomasHeatonPhoto there is a trick for the Z7 I that should work as well with the Z7 II. Take out the battery with the camera still on and the shutter closes letting you change lenses protecting the sensor. Reduces the times you have to clean your sensor significantly.
Wow, never heard of the crop binning. That’s actually a deal breaker. Thanks for the info.
Been a long time Nikon shooter, and have always been happy with their gear. The LCD Display… ugh, you hit a nerve Thomas, every new model, I think, okay, they’ll add a vertical tilt to this one… … nope.
I can also concur, the card slot cover flips open all the time lol. Lastly, you said “Z” 7 , man did I love that! Zed sounds so much better but us Americans use the flat boring “z” pronunciation. Too funny. Great video for sure! 👍🏼
Great video Tom. I feel the same about the camera. I've even written to Nikon to ask why they discard our pixels when doing the in-camera crop. I got a less than acceptable answer. "We can't comment on 3rd party manufacturers" really ticked me off. I vowed to write back to someone who knows better, but I've kind of dropped that ball. You've encouraged me to pick it up again. I'll see what I can find out. It should be as easy as a firmware update. Fingers crossed 🤞!!
Totally agree with the dust issue. My main gripe with the Sony I use
First professional camera I’ve ever owned. I did some umming and ahhing about it, but when I saw you had one I knew it was a good choice and I wasn’t disappointed.
Hope this comment does not get missed but I have a tip on helping keeping the sensor protected when changing lens.... It is a bit of a pain to do if changing lens a lot. Step 1. power off and remover cards.... Step 2. turn power on and remove battery.. (this brings up the sensor curtain). It works on my z6 I am looking at the z7ii but I might just wait a little longer for the Z8 but still 70% sure I want the z7ii.
Just tried it on my son's Z6 II. Cool trick and will try it on my other Nikons.
Smart and logical rationale - would love for you to dive a little deeper into the lens catalog comparison between competitors as I’m sure that influenced your decision.
Hasselblad 500c/m and linhof master technika are my weapons of choice.... Got a nice fuji digital for 'snaps'! I know it seems retro but film helps me sit and think!
I have a Z7ii and the Z9. Z7ii comes with me if i`m hiking with the chance of photography but the Z9 comes with me for everything else. Love them both for different reasons and have a decent collection of Z and some historic F glass for my different type of photography. Cannot really complain to be honest.
I struggle with the noise on the Z7II. Love the rendering and depth and richness of colors. Love the accuracy of colors rendering.
Thomas, One point about shooting in RAW and then selecting a specific aspect ratio courtesy of ChatGBT: "The Nikon Z7 II, like the Fujifilm X-T3, captures the full sensor resolution when shooting in RAW format. When shooting with the Nikon Z7 II in RAW and later selecting a 1:1 aspect ratio in post-editing, you will not lose any pixels.
The RAW format preserves all the data captured by the camera's sensor, allowing for flexibility in post-processing without any loss of quality or resolution. When you select a 1:1 aspect ratio in post-editing software, it will digitally crop the image to a square format without discarding any actual pixels from the original RAW file.
So, similar to the Fujifilm X-T3, the Nikon Z7 II allows you to shoot in RAW and retain the full resolution, enabling you to later crop to different aspect ratios without losing any pixels in the process."
MY THOUGHT: This is different than "Cropping" a photograph. I don't think there is any digital camera that retains all of the pixels after a crop to a different size is made. Look forward to any thoughts you might have. Thank you.
Hi Thomas!. I totally agree with you on several issues. I have the same set-up as you. Even down to the Small-Rig L-bracket! ;-). I never crop, so the binning is not an issue for me. However the card-slot door flipping open when i reach for my camera is really annoying. And the lcd-screen not flipping sideways is also an issue (it does on the Z9, and probably also on the upcoming Z8). I use a tall Gitzo tripod. Apart from that i really love my Z7ii.... Great video!
Agree wholeheartedly! My memory card door often pops open and yes, that focus is not the best and I have missed focus a couple of times, then had to turn to AI software to correct it, which I really don't like doing, but when a paying client is expecting images they prefer them to be sharp. Fingers (and everything else) crossed the Z8 solves these issues, and more.
Gaffers tape on the door, Mike! I doubt you change your card that often? Maybe you do, I dont know? Peace
Good call. Gaffer tape to the rescue again!
Z 7II owner since December! I've not noticed a particular sensor dust issue, at least compared to my Leica Ms. However, I *completely* agree about the memory card door - it is far too easy to flip open, even if you have the camera in the bag and reach in to get something else. It's also the only thing on the camera that feels a bit cheap. I find the AF to be fine for the occasional event or action shot (It was fine for a wedding I shot in February.), but no, this isn't an event/sports/birding camera!
BUT it is a fantastic value! The IQ is outstanding and Nikon is on a roll with excellent Z glass. I expect the price to drop further post Z8 announcement, so if you're on the fence, wait a few weeks 😁
Yes. I have a Z7 and the storage door flips open at odd times. I also find the sensor dirty way more often than I would like. I sure hope the Z8 fixes that problem. And yes, I have found shooting vertical when the camera is down low, is a pain in the arse. Your major complaint, meh. Doesn't bother me at all. The thing I do love about the Z7, its weight, and like you said, the phenomenal lenses that accompany the wonderful new Z mount. Great video, I hope Nikon is listening.
I have the Z6 and the test said that its autofocus is faster than the one in the Z7. I have no problem with the card door. Regarding the ratio I often shoot in standard 2x3 and choose 1:1 or 3:4 in Lightroom if I want to. Sometimes I try 1:1 already on location, but make 2:3 version at the same time. Kind regards from Sweden /Wolfgang
Woah that camera drawer is great!
I have had Sony since 2016 A7R2 - A9 - A1 - A7R4 x 2 A7R5 GRX100S x 2 Olympus OMD E1 Mk2 over this time and recently made the decision to move back to OMD Systems (Olympus) OM-1 this latest incarnation is an eye opener in terms of performance and image quality. I never thought I would move down to 20Mp from 61 or 100 but - the results are stunning - I don't know what magic OM Systems have done but this is such a light capable system and if i want more pixels - with the PRO lenses I can easily upside using Topaz Photo AI and I cant really tell the difference from a native 70Mp file and of course it has 50Mp handheld hi res mode also. Worth a second look if, like me, you want small and light (ish) kit - I have the 8-25 Pro f4 and the 40-150 Pro f2.8 IS lenses and love all of them - stunning image quality.
I still use my second hand D850.
When I bought it, the Z6+7 just came out. The guy i bought it from already had one and when i hold it in my hands, it was clear that it would be the D850.
For someone like me, with bigger hand, many of the mirrorless cameras are just too small. And still am really happy with my purchase.
Due to the PF tele lenses i was considering the Z9, but it was just too heavy to carry around skitouring and hiking etc.
So now i am eager to see where the Z8 will actually end up regarding weight. This might be a great choice for someone like me...
I think the thought on the 1:1 crop is, if you are going to change the crop on your image in post anyways just shoot native. I'm not saying either way is right or wrong but that makes the most sense for the choice they made.
When researching my camera purchase I found that the Z7II did not have the best AF. Since I did want/need a fast and accurate AF, and love Nikon, I purchased the Z9. It's a lot of camera for strictly landscape photography. You mentioned in the video your trip capturing the white fox. I just went to a party our border collie breeder invited us to. She wanted to see all of her dogs she breed over the years. There were over 31 border collies. I had my Z9 with the Z100-400mm. I captured over 400 amazing images. The AF system on the Z9 is absolutely phenomenal. Love watching your videos.
I think your list of negatives is excellent! None of them make the camera impossible to use, just a little more difficult. Are they enough to justify the price savings? For many, I’m sure. Now that you have that excellent Nikon glass, I have to believe that the next body you get, will please you.
I can only fully agree. The irreversible cutting away of pixels has always annoyed me as well. Another weakness is that you have to press a button for an adequate DOF preview (Z7). Finally, I would like to have the 4:3 format and the 21:9 format available. In my eyes, these would be just minor software adjustments after all, not witchcraft. However, I no longer believe that Nikon will change anything in this Z generation. Nevertheless, the Z7 is and remains an excellent camera, with a few small but annoying weaknesses. On this occasion: Thanks for your always interesting and entertaining videos!
Moved from Fuji x-t to the z7... All the important things are amazing (although wouldn't be first choice for events or wildlife), but 3 different annoyances...
1. The level indicator blocks too much of the screen yet the useful bit (the level) is fiddly. Just give me a single line across the screen!
2. I want to set up my LCD and EVF with only the information I want (exposure info, level and histogram), not be forced to use presets which all have something missing and all have things I don't want.
3. Auto bracketing... Let me choose bracketing and automatically take the shots without going into continuous shooting mode. Also, I expose to the right, so let me take -2, -1, 0 and not just -1, 0, +1.
Still love the images that come out, but it could be so much easier to get them!
Totally hear you about the memory card door thingy. Accidentally open that thing every time I grab my camera out of the bag
As a z7ii owner I completely agree with you. For anything like landscape, travel and slower moving subjects the camera is dynamite and often under appreciated because of the over-focus on subject tracking / Eye AF that other brands have. That's not to say that isn't an issue but given it is 1st gen technology from Nikon (I don't count the ii as a genuine second generation) its impressive. Hopefully the trickle down from the z9 (and upcoming z8) will mean the tracking/AF will be put to bed in the z6/7iii models - I also suspect the 7 will get a 61mp sensor next time around as it gets firmly positioned as the studio/landscape offering
That said your list of "grumbles" aligns with mine - the sensor dust is annoying as hell but the biggest change I have found myself wanting is the new z9 screen. Low portrait shots are super difficult hand held unless you are a contortionist. I am hoping that the z9 screen is now the standard as that is as high up my Wishlist in the next camera as the chip/sensor and tracking capabilities. I suspect the memory card door will have the z9 lock on it (although that gets a few grumbles so Nikon can't really win)
Happy shooting!
Thanks for sharing Thomas. Doing a lot of landscapes lately, may I add to the cropping issue - personally I would prefer to have grids that reflect the crop mode, but raw files would then still at full resolution / sensor size. Ideally the grid's should be customizable to your preference. This would help to compose more easily some custom crops, e.g. used by clients for web sites. And it should be rather easy for Nikon, as there is no optical viewfinder...
Concern no2 is battery life - just awful. Especially doing landscape, you just cannot turn everything off. You need the monitor, you need some sort of wireless connection for remotes, IBIS or VR when not on tripod... And of course battery will be depleted when you stand in a river shooting a waterfall ;)
Issue no 3, remote connections do not offer the same functionality depending on the actual setup. E.g. shooting with the Nikon iOS app, camera menu is not accessible anymore, but you get continuous shooting when pressing the shutter release in the app (very handy for bracketing). On the other hand using an ML 7 remote, you get full access to the menu, heck you can actually navigate through the menu using the remote. But no continuous shooting and the remote disconnects after one minute of inactivity, no way to change this parameter, so you constantly re-connect again...
At least some of the software related issues, Nikon could tackle them and make a difference to its competitors to the benefit of us.
Wow that pixel binning would be super annoying. I would never use it for that reason alone. It's great to go back later and change the crop slightly if needed. Also, I just picked up a GFX 50S II and use the 20-35 and 45-100 for most photos with it, but then adapt the Canon 100-400 II for longer reach. Only the native 4:3 full size has much vignetting, otherwise when you do the in camera crop to square or 65:24, etc, it looks good as a native lens. Something to try out/consider!
Hey Thomas, Nikon shooter here. I have a D850, which is my main camera, a Z6II and a Z50. The Z50 is my take anywhere, walk around camera. The Z6II is for anything not landscape, although I sometimes do landscape with it. The Z6II is fantastic in low light conditions. Anyway, about your negatives, I agree on the images cropping thing and the tilting screen. As a D850 user I would add the illuminated buttons, or the ack thereof, on the Z6 and Z7's. I would like to see Nikon implement an "overlay feature". this feature would let you preview you composition in a different ratio (say 1:1, 4:4, 3:1, custom, etc) but still capture the full 3:2 image in the raw file. And add the tilting screen of the Z9. It is great that and influencer such as yourself share these "complaints" so that Nikon can catch up on those. And as far as AF goes, it works very well but you need to spend some time with the different modes. I suggest you look up Hudson Henry's videos. He has several great videos where he sets up and explains how he uses the different modes and how he quickly switches between them in different situations. And if you are into wildlife then the Z9 is the better camera.
I have a Leica D-Lux Typ109 Tom which also dumps the pixels when I choose different aspect ratios and I actually like that it does it kinda makes me commit to the aspect ratio much like choosing a certain film aspect ratio. I also have the original GFX 50S and because I am not a lover of the long lens landscapes I am more than happy with it and the selection of lenses for it (and the screen tilts both ways plus there's that really cool tilt/swivel adapter for the evf).
Good to watch
Thanks for sharing Thomas. I also have found both the colour science and dynamic range of the Z7/Z7ii to be very good. I have been a long time Nikon shooter and have owned the Z6, Z6ii, and the Z7, and currently own the Z9. I also own a Fujifilm GFX 100S, which I mainly use for portraiture, landscape, architectural/cityscape, and even street photography at times. While the autofocus certainly is not where the Canon R5 or Nikon Z9 are on either the Z6 or Z6/7ii, I have found that with both the Z6ii and Z6/7 the AF is much better than the GFX50, and even better than the GFX 100S, which has much better AF than the GFZ 50. As far as the exposed sensor, this is common with most mirrorless cameras, including the GFX 100S, with the exception being the Z9, which has a sensor curtain that comes down when the camera is turned off. While there are times when I do find I need to clean the sensor on the GFX, and with the Z6/7 cameras, even with multiple lens changes during the day, I will, for the most part, need to clean the sensor maybe once a month. This was the same when I had the Z6/7 cameras. I liked the Z6 and Z6ii cameras so much, I will buy the replacement Z6iii(?) when it comes out as the smaller size, great low light capability, and Z mount glass, makes it a good compliment to the Z9.Happy shooting!
Just out of interest, why the need for so many bodies owned at once?
@@warrenswales5693 I haven’t owned them all at once. I currently have a Nikon Z9 and the Fujifilm GFX 100S. I normally have a backup to my main camera, but I recently sold my Nikon Z6ii in anticipation of the Z8 coming out soon.
I recently moved up from the Canon R to the R3 absolutely blown away by it
I appreciate this more than I thought I would. I remember your previous GASness with the 5D IV to D850 messiness. This isn't that. I have a Z7II and yes, I agree with everything you said, which surprises me. Now to go find my rocket blower.
Z8 is around the corner wink wink
For a landscape photographer it won't be a significant leap. Nor would the Z9 to be honest
@@davidellinsworth3299 It would solve every one of his issues, aside from the pixel binning. Assuming it's a small Z9
@@MichaelCortese1 What I heard already is that the Z8 might cost 4599€ which is more what the Canon R5 and the Sony a7RIV cost, right?
Why do you think he did this video? He knows what's coming (wink wink)
@@TheTS1205 I'm prepared to eat my word, but going by how Nikon has been pricing things, I think it is going to be sub $4000. Z9 is priced extremely well in that market, I think the Z8 will follow. Prob be the best bang for your buck camera, which I think is why Thomas has made this video and kept pushing that the value for money on the Z7II was so important
I’ve never bought a Nikon, but they are looking like great all-around cameras. So many lens choices. I like that Voigtlander is coming out with lenses for Nikon. I would like to see more mirrorless cameras with internal GPS. I think Nikon has one, but it’s too expensive for me…
Here in Iceland you can get a used EF 500mm f/4 IS and 1DXII body for about the same or less than a new Z7II body. That way you can keep the medium format system for probably 99% of what you shoot and use the old trusty Canon combo for that 1% when you encounter a wild animal. Then you can of course use the Canon 500L on your GFX with slight cropping or in 35mm mode for slower subjects.
I have a Z7 for landscapes and a Z9 for wildlife. The Z7 reduced size and weight is key on walking shoots, otherwise the Z9 does everything better. Where the Z8 will sit in the scheme of things will be revealed on May 10th.
I have a z6_2 and love it but I can agree that the card door bugs especially when using the camera as a carry round and suddenly the door pops open. Equally I’d like the screen to flip both ways.
I do have to say the files come out of the camera amazing and the lenses are outstanding.
GFX shooter here. Thomas, you are a landscape photographer, so autofocus is not paramount. Consider using the Pentax 645AF lenses adapted to GFX. They are excellent quality glass, and can be rather long. I have the 45-80, 80-150, and 150-300. They also have a 300mm f4. They all retailed for $2000+ 10 years ago, now they can be had for a few hundred each!
I've been looking at the Nikon Z7 II as a possible upgrade to my Canon EOS R, but now I think I'll give it a pass, thanks to your honest assessment of the camera after eight months of hands-on, in-field experience. I, too, primarily shoot landscapes, but I also enjoy shooting flowers, macros and ICM, as well as wildlife, if the opportunity presents itself, so, for me, your list of cons, when taken in toto, are pretty much deal breakers. So, thank you for that. I'll probably stick with Canon. Cheers from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada!
Fwiw sensor dust is non existent for me. Only bad negative is the crop issue but imo taking full size photos then cropping in post is superior anyways.
I have a Z5 and I love the Z system for its adaptability. I use an EF to Z adapter regularly and I've also been trying the Megadap Sony adapter and they work amazing for what they are. Sony lenses on the Nikon look almost native.
Hello, what brand do you use in the EF to Z adapter? Does it have AF?
@@Mr.Deeds. I use the Fringer adapter. In my experience it has the best autofocus. When I had the z50 I used the Viltrox speed booster.
Thanks god, someone finally talking about Nikon cropping raw files ! It drives me creasy, I want to be a Nikon user, but it's a total deal breaker for me ! Had to sell my Z6, and now I want to die with my sony camera that I hate. I don't know what to do anymore, please Nikon fix this and let me come home.
My Z7 with a 24 to 30 wide angle zoom, a 24 to 120 medium range zoom, and a 100 to 400 mm telephoto zoom, meets my needs in a very nice light weight package. Because of the wide dynamic range, I often shoot multiple images, but only have to use one. My auto focus seems adequate for all the sporting scenes I’ve taken in terms of its rapid focusing ability. My biggest complaint is the fact that the viewing screen can only hinge in one direction.
Thomas your comments are as valid as all others. If it suits you (and it seems to) then that is all that matters ... offering a point of view as you have done is also fine by me as I watch your channel for entertainment and more importantly the education aspect which helps me be a better photographer and person. Do I have Nikon, no. Do I have Fuji, no. Me I committed to a full sony system that I love because it works for me. Maybe locations has something to do with my choice as I am in Australia where we don't get the weather you have or have the scenery as well. Here it is dryer for the most part and different colour palettes which need different thought patterns sometimes.. (more than happy to show you one day) . Now negativity. Ok it may sometimes seem that way but there is a lesson behind it all and we grow by learning And taking it all with that proverbial pinch of salt.. keen am coming. Cheers from down under
Hmmm…. Lens choice? I use GFX 100S with canon 100-400; Fuji gf 35-70 or 32-64, 20-35. For architecture I use Laowa 20mm shift, canon 24TSE, Canon 50mm TSE, both canon lenses with 1.4 extender which means I have 35mm shift and a 70mm shift.
I can a lot of reasons to use Nikon Z but not really lens choice.
Reach is definitely an issue some times and the fact that the crop mode on the GFX is 60MB means you can crop way way in and don’t really need the 600mm or the 800mm.
Still, if you have two photographers discussing camera systems, you’ll probably end up with three opinions.
Fun video. Very glad to see Nikon making a come back. Flange distance and mount size is a really big deal. Time for Nikon to come out with a serious architecture set up.
Lastly, having screen that does not really work in portrait mode on a tripod: not cool at all.