NikonGear'23
Gear Talk => Camera Talk => Topic started by: David H. Hartman on May 03, 2021, 21:27:31
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The other day I almost fumbled my D850 into a koi pond. The fish have been carping at me ever since. :D
No harm, no foul but the incident scared the hell out of me. I feel a need for an alternate camera that is newer than my D800 and especially my D300s.
I’ve been reading the Nikon Z6/7 Mirrorless System discussion but I’ve only finished page 14 of 55. I’m learning a lot but it takes forever.
I’m considering buying a Nikon D500 but it uses a non-BSI image sensor. The D500 is a 21MP (almost) DSLR. The lack of an AA filter is very welcome. The D500 works well with all of my Nikkor lenses bought from about 1977 to date and some AIS, AI and AI(ed) lenses I’ve acquired sense. The viewfinder magnification is 1.0x and it accepts a DK-17M but I doubt that I can use the magnifying eyepiece while shooting with glasses. The D500 is a bit long in the tooth today. If the price is low enough it may be worth buying.
The Z 7II is priced out of reach so I’m considering the Z 6II. I might be able to stretch to buy it with the 24-70/4.0 in Z mount. I’d be buying it with the ZTF adapter. The ZTF adapter seems a quite limited option as it seems to offer nothing to AI and AIS lenses but the ability to mount them. The ZTF adapter is also limited in that it does not offer AF to AF and AF-D Nikkors. I own six of these lenses and the loss of AF is not welcome. I understand the limitations of the ZTF adapter for legacy manual focus lenses but Nikon seems lazy to not adapt AF-D lenses to allow AF to the Z series camera considering that they are still selling AF-D Nikkors new. The Z 6II uses an AA filter on it’s BSI image sensor. I really don’t want an AA filter but perhaps it is needed. My current AF-S lenses are only a 20/1.8, 50/1.8 and 105/2.8 Micro.
I’m concerned that I’ve become a Megapixel Slut. I’m used to the D850 and the ability to crop quite deeply if my technique is tight and the lens and aperture used are up to it. Also the ISO used can limit my ability to crop. I wonder if either camera is going to be satisfying to me. I’m finding my aging eyes are limiting my use of AI and AIS lenses on my D850 even with the improved viewfinder. The 0.75x viewfinder magnification is an improvement over the viewfinder of my D800 but i’m finding it’s not enough.
Probably the camera I should buy is the Nikon Z 7II or wait for a D500 replacement if one is coming. Given concerns over the future value of US Dollar and possible hyper inflation I’m loath to sit on cash. Please don’t drift in to political discussion here.
When my primary cameras were the Nikon F2As I wanted a Leica M4 with a 28 or 35mm lens and with a 50mm lens and possibly a 90mm lens. I wanted this to quite operation for candid photos of people.
I probably will not have the finances to buy a collection of Z mount lenses. The inability of AF and AF-D lenses to AF on the Z series Nikons is problematic.
I injured my back so I’ve sold my pickup truck. I have a window of opportunity to buy something new. I’m weighing many options.
Thank you for entertaining this rambling post.
Dave
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The D850 is currently deeply discounted in the US, B&H price $2497.
That's what I would get and am planning on getting a second D850 myself some time this year.
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I understand the limitations of the ZTF adapter for legacy manual focus lenses but Nikon seems lazy to not adapt AF-D lenses to allow AF to the Z series camera considering that they are still selling AF-D Nikkors new.
They may still be selling new AF-D Nikkors, but they were recently discontinued, along with the last remaining AI-S lenses. But yes, there clearly is a market for an screw-drive AF FTZ adapter which Nikon has missed.
As for a backup camera, is there reason you only mentioned the Z6II and Z7II? The original Z6 or Z7 cameras are good cameras and are cheaper than the II models. There is also the Z5 which is a competent camera by all accounts.
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At the present stage, I don’t see any advantage of getting into a mirrorless system. Unless you make also videos. For the moment, the D850 is (still) the best all round camera money can buy.
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I’m finding my aging eyes are limiting my use of AI and AIS lenses on my D850 even with the improved viewfinder.
Focus peaking, magnified viewfinder (plus IBIS) should be a big advantage of the new mirrorless system for these lenses. But you also have to live with much greater battery usage...
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David, if going down the Z6/7 route versus the newer Z6-II/Z7-II alternatives, you will need to factor in the cost of XQD and/or the newer CF-Express cards.
Here in Australia these are much more expensive than pro quality SD cards.
This card cost issue may erode the price difference between the older Z6/7 and their newer Z6/Z7 II successors. This may not be an issue for you if you have already opted for XQD and/or the newer CF-Express cards for your D850, but it may be if you are using SD cards in the D850.
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As for a backup camera, is there reason you only mentioned the Z6II and Z7II? The original Z6 or Z7 cameras are good cameras and are cheaper than the II models. There is also the Z5 which is a competent camera by all accounts.
My thinking since the Z7 and Z6 were rumored was I'd wait for Nikon's second offerings so maybe some bugs would get worked out.
Dave
BTW back in the mid '90 Nikon offered a mirroless camera with instant blackout like a Hasselblad 500CM. I wasn't much impressed. I don't remember what it was called.
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The D850 is currently deeply discounted in the US, B&H price $2497.
If I still had a humble PR photography business I'd want a spare D850. Back in the day I owned three F2As bodies. One for Kodachrome, one for Tri-X and one for customers. I always carried two bodies to a job.
Dave
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At the present stage, I don’t see any advantage of getting into a mirrorless system. Unless you make also videos. For the moment, the D850 is (still) the best all round camera money can buy.
I remember my D2H was not too bad for focusing even a 50/1.2 AIS. You are guessing a bit where prime focus is as the bright focus screen may only show f/2.8~f/2.5 but It was doable. The D2H with DK-17M gave a 1.0x magnification viewfinder. The D500 offers 1.0x viewfinder so I'm thinking it was be easier to focus and I'd get more use out of my AI and AIS Nikkors.
In the day I complained bitterly about the loss of my 105/2.5 AIS but with a D850 and the huge AF-S 105/2.8G IF-ED VR I'm sort of covered. FX is my first choice but I do think DX has some advantages for some use.
As for an advantage for mirrorless silent or near silent and perhaps shooting with the LCD at waist level like a TLR seem like advantages. Even when people know you are taking their picture not having the camera at eye level is less aggressive and one might be ignored like the fly on the wall. In camera VR would be another advantage.
I shoot home quality videos but don't even own a basic video microphone as yet.
Dave
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David, if going down the Z6/7 route versus the newer Z6-II/Z7-II alternatives, you will need to factor in the cost of XQD and/or the newer CF-Express cards.
This is a good point: currently I only have SD and CF cards so I'm making do with a 64GB mid-level SDXC card for my D850. I could buy a 128GB CF-Express B card but I'm holding on to my cash as I contemplate another body.
Dave
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The Z5 is a disaster in low light. I read about it before I bought one, even after seeing the literal flood of Z5 bodies being sold on the main Japanese used-camera shops. It is a fine camera, until the available light is even just a little dodgy. Then the LCd screen becomes a terrible blotchy and ‘artistic’ = mess of pixels. Effectively a useless camera unless in bright light, Of course the actual images don’t show the defects of the live view LCD screen, but if you are using manual lenses you may as well give up. If you like Doctor Who special effects from 40 yers ago, you will live the Z5. Otherwise, do not buy it.
I kick myself for buying it, even though I could factor in a lot of rebates and trade ins, but however cheap, the Z5 should be avoided at all costs.
A Z6ii is the minimum to buy,
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If I still had a humble PR photography business I'd want a spare D850.
Right, but is there a specific reason you want something other than a second D850? A Z6 II with adapter is not going to be much less expensive and it won't autofocus screwdriver lenses. However, it does provide manual focus tools (peaking, which I find incredibly distracting by the way, and zoomed viewing, which is very unstable when hand-holding IMO) in the viewfinder which the D850 does not (I mostly use manual focus when working on a tripod, so for me this is not a major issue).
I too wish that Nikon would make an enhanced FTZ which would provide at least some screwdriver lens autofocus and wide open metering and focusing of manual focus lenses. However, Nikon seem unlikely to provide this (not that I expected Sony to make a new adapter for A mount lenses but they did, even though reports are all over the place as to whether it works or not depending on particular camera bodies).
I don't think it makes much sense to get a Z body unless you also intend to get Z lenses at least over a period of time if not immediately. In my opinion, the major advantages are in video and availability of lenses designed for a short flange back distance. There is also improved AF accuracy in some situations especially reported for longer distances (which is where DSLR AF tends to be more variable in result).
You could of course try the Z6II at a shop (are brick and mortar shops open to customers in your area?) and see how it works for manual focus for your needs, if it does then at least you get an advantage in that. But none of your camera bodies will really be 1:1 backups for each other in that case, so I don't know how that would work. What if you drop that Z6 II in the pond and by that time relied on its features as essential part of your kit?
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Focus peaking, magnified viewfinder (plus IBIS) should be a big advantage of the new mirrorless system for these lenses. But you also have to live with much greater battery usage...
This has been a true "game changer" for me. I know the expression has almost lost its meaning lately in the photo business but I use it here heartfelt. All types of manual lenses have a new and vastly improved life in the Z6 body.
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The Z5 is a disaster in low light.
Thank you for the warning. The current rebate had made it tempting for use with my AI Nikkors.
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David
I too enjoyed and used my D850 until a big intro sale of Z cameras in Australia made me look at getting a Z6. Unfortunately they were out of stock when I turned up at my local shop and I ended up getting Z7+24-70/f4+FTZ+XQD card+reader at a very good price.
I was less concerned with AF/D compatibility as I was shooting Leica more and was keen on getting a good sensor on a camera to use with my lenses including Leica M mount, M42 and Nikon.
Within 6 months I had sold my unused D850, Leica M10 and only kept D200IR and Df. Since then I have added another Df (black NOS for work) and a bunch of film cameras going cheap (F6, F3/T, Pentax Super A).
I found new life in my Nikon Noct and other old Nikkors surprise me almost always. Although FTZ won’t give full EXIF, it does give focal length. Using Leica and other makes not limited to F mount was quite liberating. The camera is light so I bring it with me everywhere. It is a great tool. And as others have said, focus via magnified live view with IBIS is truly a game changer.
JJ
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Let me just throw this out for consideration. It may be completely meaningless to most folks here but....
I'm unable to use EVF mirrorless cameras in bright light. My eyes are extremely sensitive to light. After being outside on a bright sunny day and then coming inside to a normally lighted room, I'm partially blind for a few minutes. When I try to use a camera with an EVF outside, the irises in my eyes have closed down so much the image in the viewfinder is too dim to see fine detail. Inside, it's okay but outside the cameras become useless to me.
I've tried using Fuji, Olympus and Panasonic cameras with EVFs and I get the same effect. When a neighbor bought a new Z7 he brought it by to show me and the image was too dim outside for me to see when I tried it outside.
One more thing. Gotta be careful with sunglasses. Polarized lenses on sunglasses do strange things to the EVF image. It's not there anymore. Along with Nikons I also use Fuji X-Pro cameras--in OVF mode, not EVF mode. Tried using an XP2 one day with my over-the-eyeglasses sunglasses in place and thought the camera had died (the displays in the OVF are all electronic). Blank viewfinder, blank rear screen. But of course it was the polarized sunglasses. I felt like an idiot. Bottom line for me is EVFs are not acceptable.
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However, it does provide manual focus tools (peaking, which I find incredibly distracting by the way, and zoomed viewing, which is very unstable when hand-holding IMO) in the viewfinder which the D850 does not (I mostly use manual focus when working on a tripod, so for me this is not a major issue).
I've tried focus peaking with the D850 in live view and I also find it very distracting. Also I didn't find it useful for nailing the focus with shallow DoF. I haven't found focus peaking useful at all.
I've used 100% pixels in live view to focus a 20/2.8 AIS on my D800 then shifted back to the viewfinder to take a static photo of an atrium in a rehabilitation hospital. A tripod was not allowed. This worked but was clumsy and difficult.
I don't think it makes much sense to get a Z body unless you also intend to get Z lenses at least over a period of time if not immediately. In my opinion, the major advantages are in video and availability of lenses designed for a short flange back distance. There is also improved AF accuracy in some situations especially reported for longer distances (which is where DSLR AF tends to be more variable in result).
I would be limited to just a 24-70/4.0 lens for sometime so I'm afraid a mirrorless camera doesn't make sense for me so your point is well taken.
Since I don't have a business anymore and haven't for a number of years I don't need a 1:1 backup. I need an alternate to my D850 something to augment it. I'm wishing for a way to make more use of my legacy manual focus Nikkor lenses. I'm finding even the 0.75x viewfinder of the D850 isn't enough for my aging eyes.
What if you drop that Z6 II in the pond and by that time relied on its features as essential part of your kit?
That would be very difficult for me. At least I'd still have the D850. I came close this time but no harm, no foul. I haven't dumped a tripod since I kicked over my tripod in 1970 with a Nikon F and 55/3.5 Nikkor P. In that incident the standard prism on the F was damaged but still functional. The older one gets the more clumsy one gets. My mother used to say, "Your father is a bull in a china closet, but you're not that way." Well I'm getting clumsy like my father was at this age.
I'm toying with a number of options. A Z body probably doesn’t make sense for me. Maybe I need to consider F mount AF lenses for the D850. At least I could fall back on the D800. I came close to needing to replace my D850.
I’m an OK photographer, nothing great but photography is my passion. I’ve been hoping to make more use of my legacy Nikkors, AI and AIS.
Thank you for your reply.
Dave
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David, if the Z series is not for you, have you considered the 24MPx D750 and D780 as your backup machine?
I have not used either, but they look like dammed good DSLRs to me and the D750 is pretty good value for money just now.
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I would be limited to just a 24-70/4.0 lens for sometime so I'm afraid a mirrorless camera doesn't make sense for me so your point is well taken.
I am surprised nobody considers a (refurbished) Z7. What are your objections?
In late 2018 I replaced my Df with a Z6 for a) getting better/easier/reliable focus due to ageing eyesight and b) give new life to all these beautiful Ai and AiS lenses. I didn't look back and features like focus peaking work like a breeze. My D800 started to collect dust and is now relegated to slide copying. With all the amazing things surrounding the D850 I continued to lust for more megapixels. Nikon US had a recent promotion on Z bodies and I finally got a Z7 with that same great sensor. Brand new w full warranty for $2150 all inclusive. That's $350 + tax cheaper than the now discounted D850 and provides all mirrorless advantages. For me the DSLR era is closed. If you prefer a slower transition you could get a D780 now discounted at $1997 + tax. Not really cheaper than what I paid for the new Z7. Food for thought?
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Second hand Nikon Z7 are very affordable here on the used marked, actually super cheap compared to a new Z7 II
Same goes for used D850!
However Z7 is not a 'true back up' for all the things a DSLR like D850 is capable of,,,
Z7 is wonderful with the native lenses and acceptable with CPU modified Nikon Ai Ais etc.
The electronic viewfinder is acceptable bright and clear and it's lots of fun to use except for the slight lag when panning or shooting action - IMHO
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The range of opinions around the Z cameras is quite wide it seems. A refurbished Z6 or Z7 would seen to be a good option. If you are mostly using manual focus AI/AIS lenses, then no need for the FTZ, you can use a dumb adapter.
I find that with viewfinder magnification my Z6 makes use of old lenses easier than anything else. I prefer it over the DF (though the DF handles exif information better).
The first month I had it, I thought I had made a big mistake. But then I figured out how best to set viewfinder, controls etc. and now I'd not go back.
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David, if the Z series is not for you, have you considered the 24MPx D750 and D780 as your backup machine?
Probably not: the viewfinder magnification isn't high enough and the control arrangement is quite different from the D850. The D500 viewfinder is a 1.0x finder and the control arrangement is pretty close to identical to the D850.
Dave
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None of my AI and AIS Nikkors are chipped so if I understand correctly the metering option with Nikon Z cameras and FTZ adapter are very limited.
Only three of my lenses are AF-S, G type. Four are AF-D type and two are AF (non-D). A mirrorless Nikon camera doesn't look like a good option for me since I can't afford a set of Z type Nikkors.
I recently sold a truck but the small amount I sold it for looks like it will go to legal fees as I have an illegal lodger living in my house.
Dave
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None of my AI and AIS Nikkors are chipped so if I understand correctly the metering option with Nikon Z cameras and FTZ adapter are very limited.
Only three of my lenses are AF-S, G type. Four are AF-D type and two are AF (non-D). A mirrorless Nikon camera doesn't look like a good option for me since I can't afford a set of Z type Nikkors.
I recently sold a truck but the small amount I sold it for looks like it will go to legal fees as I have an illegal lodger living in my house.
Dave
Not sure what you mean by metering options being limited. I have no chipped AI/AIS lenses and metering works just fine. The thing it doesn't do is screw-drive AF. The in-body image stabilization is also magic for handholding old lenses.
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Not sure what you mean by metering options being limited. I have no chipped AI/AIS lenses and metering works just fine. The thing it doesn't do is screw-drive AF. The in-body image stabilization is also magic for handholding old lenses.
My understanding is that AI and AIS lenses have no mechanical or electronic communication through the FTZ adapter.
No auto aperture function. Auto aperture has been a feature of almost all Nikkor lenses since original Nikon F.
No aperture indexing of any kind, no f/5.6 Rumba and no AI, Auto Indexing.
No EXIF data on what aperture was used for an exposure.
No Program or Shutter priority exposure modes.
I thought I read that matrix metering does not work with AI and AIS lenses only center-weighted and spot. Functionally there seems to be no difference between an AI and AIS lens and a Leica or Nikon rangefinder lens. It may be fun to use old rangefinder lenses on a mirrorless camera but I don't see them as practical for candid photography or any kind of action.
It seems to me that the FTZ adapter is only really useful for AF-S G and E type lenses.
I guess I knew that there was no auto-aperture but didn't think this out in a practical way.
Dave
I'm out doors with the sun bouncing off my laptop keyboard so there may be a lot of typos. I'll clean this up later.
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I'm thinking I would probably like a Nikon Z 7II if I could afford maybe three Z type lenses and use my existing AF-S G lenses with the FTZ adapter. Otherwise fun with rangefinder lenses that can't be used with a single lens reflex, at least not to focus to infinity is not my interest. I might use my 135/5.6 and 150/5.6 EL-Nikkors and my 55/3.5 Compensating and 105/4.5 Micro-Nikkor with my PB-4 and or tubes not much else.
I just don't have the money for a Z system at this time.
Dave
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My understanding is that AI and AIS lenses have no mechanical or electronic communication through the FTZ adapter.
No auto aperture function. Auto aperture has been a feature of almost all Nikkor lenses since original Nikon F.
No aperture indexing of any kind, no f/5.6 Rumba and no AI, Auto Indexing.
No EXIF data on what aperture was used for an exposure.
No Program or Shutter priority exposure modes.
I thought I read that matrix metering does no work with AI and AIS lenses only center-weighted and spot. Functionally there seems to be no difference between an AI and AIS lens and a Leica or Nikon rangefinder lens. It may be fun to use old rangefinder lenses on a mirrorless camera but I don't see them as practical for candid photography or any kind of action.
It seems to me that the FTZ adapter is only really useful for AF-S G and E type lenses.
I've always used aperture priority and so I must be used to it. I have no problem using the Z6 with AI lenses for candids and action. Set the aperture, set shutter if desired - or use A mode, let auto-ISO do the rest.
AI lenses never worked for shutter priority did they?
Anyway, I understand why you would hesitate to invest in a new system, but I do use mine extensively with AI and pre-AI lenses without difficulty. I just have 2 Z lenses and don't think I'll be getting any more lenses in the near future.
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I've always used aperture priority and so I must be used to it. I have no problem using the Z6 with AI lenses for candids and action. Set the aperture, set shutter if desired - or use A mode, let auto-ISO do the rest.
AI lenses never worked for shutter priority did they?
Anyway, I understand why you would hesitate to invest in a new system, but I do use mine extensively with AI and pre-AI lenses without difficulty. I just have 2 Z lenses and don't think I'll be getting any more lenses in the near future.
if only there were a Brick and Mortar camera store within reasonable driving distance. I might be able to touch a Nikon Z 6II at Best Buy. Back in the day I had open accounts at Gayson's Camera in Glendale, CA and Lee-Mac Camera in Pasadena, CA.
I use Aperture Preferred or Manual most of the time. Funny, I don't know if AI lenses work on my D850 in Shutter Priority or Auto? Back in the day I used a Pentax Digital Spotmeter and a simplified zone system for B&W and classic Nikon center-weighted metering for Kodachrome or Provia.
I'm wondering about a Nikon D500 if I could us one with a DK-17M and still see the complete frame. That would offer a 1.2x viewfinder to focus on the matte screen.
What about shooting from the waist with a tilted rear monitor. The shutter lag with the D850 makes this impractical. Is it practical with a Nikon Z 6II and an AF-S G lens?
Dave
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I use my D500 with DK-17M the whole time. With my sunglasses on I can see the whole frame and the numbers if I press the viewfinder to my face (just tested), but I would not use the expression see it comfortably. I tend to push the sunglasses up in practical use, also because the darker view without that action. I suspect geometry of the face and glasses will affect the outcome, so the only way to be sure is if you can do a practical test.
D500 is an ergonomic dream, likely as good or better than your D850 in that respect and they would very much match each other in the layout. If you can live with or take advantage of a fast DX sensor body paired with you D850 (think though the wide side if used as backup), I personally would not care about the D500 being released quite a few years ago. It is still the best DX/APS DSLR body out there that has yet to be matched by anything, and at much better prices than when it was released. Sensors have pretty much plateaued since its release. With a Z6 (non-II) you could experience occasional banding, and there is still the issues of dealing with two lines of lenses or adapters. I could be wrong, but somehow i sense you want a D500... ;D
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Of course buying a dk-17m will be the sticky point, as they seem to be discontinued.
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I use my D500 with DK-17M the whole time. With my sunglasses on I can see the whole frame and the numbers if I press the viewfinder to my face (just tested), but I would not use the expression see it comfortably. I tend to push the sunglasses up in practical use, also because the darker view without that action. I suspect geometry of the face and glasses will affect the outcome, so the only way to be sure is if you can do a practical test.
Thank you for the reply!
This pretty much describes how I used a Nikon FE2. In those days I shot through glasses for the astigmatism correction. I could see the complete frame but I didn't roll my eye to see the corner or I'd have to shift the camera. I had a editor who occasionally did his own PR photography. He had to shift his FE2 to see the corners. I think his facial structure made this a requirement.
Best,
Dave
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Of course buying a dk-17m will be the sticky point, as they seem to be discontinued.
I own a DK-17M and have two on order that are listed as backordered. I doubt that these back orders will ever be filled. I checked eBay and found a few at highly inflated prices. Eventually the price of the DK-17M will probably fall to something reasonable. Until then I'll wait.
Dave
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D500 is an ergonomic dream, likely as good or better than your D850 in that respect and they would very much match each other in the layout. If you can live with or take advantage of a fast DX sensor body paired with you D850 (think though the wide side if used as backup), I personally would not care about the D500 being released quite a few years ago. It is still the best DX/APS DSLR body out there that has yet to be matched by anything, and at much better prices than when it was released. Sensors have pretty much plateaued since its release. With a Z6 (non-II) you could experience occasional banding, and there is still the issues of dealing with two lines of lenses or adapters. I could be wrong, but somehow i sense you want a D500... ;D
The control layout of the D500 is a definite plus bing so much the same as the D850.
I prefer the FX format for the ablity to blur background more easily and to a greater degree than DX. For example a 105/2.5 lens with a subject at 2 meters offers nicely blurred backgrounds for candid portraits. A 70/2.8 used to give the same perspective and framing blurs background but not enough to make then less distracting but there are situations where blurring the background may not be desirable. In such case the DX format would be preferred.
"Reach" without teleconverters is an advantage for DX. Sure one can shoot a D850 in DX mode but then the OVF is masked to a small area which is not particularly functional.
A couple of years ago I was pushing a friend in a wheelchair in a horticulture outing. I had a D800 with an AF-S 105/2.8G IF-ED VR around my neck. This was an example of too much equipment for the situation. I intended to take plant sample photographs for her. I took almost none. At the time I was thinking a D500 with a 105/2.8 AIS would have been much easier on my neck. I had a smart phone but I don't like using it to take photographs as it's too clumsy for such use.
I note that a lot of photographers like the D500 for birds in flight and also read that amateur sports photographers use a D500 with 70-200/2.8 zoom to photograph school sports. The D500 seems to be the best choice at this time.
Dave
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Funny, I don't know if AI lenses work on my D850 in Shutter Priority or Auto?
They won't, unless they have a CPU added, and even then you should only use Shutter Priority or Auto with AI-S lenses. If you try with AI CPU lenses you are likely to get exposure errors as the can't be stopped down predictably except by using the aperture ring, in which case you are back to Aperture Priority or Manual :)
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They won't, unless they have a CPU added, and even then you should only use Shutter Priority or Auto with AI-S lenses. If you try with AI CPU lenses you are likely to get exposure errors as the can't be stopped down predictably except by using the aperture ring, in which case you are back to Aperture Priority or Manual :)
I checked an AI or AIS lens. When my D850 is set to S or P the large letter, S or P, blinks and the camera is functioning in Aperture Preferred mode. I remember the aperture actuation of the AI v. AIS lens.
Yes, it's all coming back to me. I knew this once. :-X
Dave
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They won't, unless they have a CPU added, and even then you should only use Shutter Priority or Auto with AI-S lenses. If you try with AI CPU lenses you are likely to get exposure errors as the can't be stopped down predictably except by using the aperture ring, in which case you are back to Aperture Priority or Manual :)
Exactly.
Also metering becomes much more reliable with a CPU chipped lens, especially for full frame fisheye and wide angle lenses.
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Maybe I'm chasing a silver bullet? Maybe I need to give up on any kind of hand held or action photography with AI and AIS lenses? Maybe my eyes aren't up to the task anymore?
I was experimenting with my D850, a Kirck macro flash braket FB-9 and an SB-800 for close up hand held. Using a 105/4.0 AI Nikkor I had focus failure after focus failure. In the past where I could not use a tripod I could get a few good shots out of a dozen or so with my D800. Now zero! Next I tried my AF-S 105/2.8G IF-ED VR. With a single focus sensor over the prime target and holding down the AF-ON button with my D850 set to AF-C I (well the D850 and 105/2.8G) nailed the focus time after time. With the flash capped with a diffusor the light looks quite natural and the flash freezes motion. This technique works with ambient light also if the shutter speed can be kept high enough to freeze the subject and camera motion.
Hand holding at high magnification with manual focus has always been a crap shoot but by winning occasionally this gambler kept coming back. With the 105/4.0 AI at 1:2 I was getting nothing. With the AF-S 105/2.8G IF-ED and 1:1 or near I was getting many focused shots.
Dave
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Dear David,
Too much choice is the bane of all of us :)
Owning currently D850-D810-D500, I would first let go the 850 and just maybe the 500 (if a gun was put to my head).
So I would propose you to consider (if you have not already made your mind up) the D810 as the back up, unless you need the reach, speed and buffer for wildlife and/or sports in which case the 500 cannot be beat.
As to how to best utilize your ai ai-s arsenal I strongly propose going mirrorless, but on a different route. Olympus EM1-II with either simple or speedbooster type adapter. Imagine the best IBIS making your lenses instantly stabilized with excellent EVF assists and for close up macro one of the highest pixel densities available, especially if coupled with the amazing high res mode (works also with any Nikon I believe).
That is how I use my 55 3.5 and 2.8 macros as well as the 50 1.2 ai-s and all my Zeiss glass.
Let us know what you ended up with.
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I guess I'm still sitting on the fence.
My other two DSLR(s) are a D300s (lost) and a D800. I should have bought a D800E as I use color color moiré reduction constantly with the D800. Does the D810 have issues with color moiré?
Dave
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The theory is that since it doesn't have AA filter it should exhibit similar moire issues as the 800E.
In practice I do not have the knowledge to spot them if they happen so I cannot help you.
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I guess I'm still sitting on the fence.
My other two DSLR(s) are a D300s (lost) and a D800. I should have bought a D800E as I use color color moiré reduction constantly with the D800. Does the D810 have issues with color moiré?
Dave
The D800 has an anti aliasing (AA) filter to counter moiré where the D800E did not, as a nature photographer I never regretting buying the D800E as I did not encounter a moiré issue once.
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The D800 has an anti aliasing (AA) filter to counter moiré where the D800E did not, as a nature photographer I never regretting buying the D800E as I did not encounter a moiré issue once.
I never found the AA filter in the D800 to be the silver bullet to kill color moiré.
Dave
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After all the questions about the D500, Z6 II as well as AF-S Nikkors I'm still sitting on a the money I got selling a pickup truck. I'm currently thinking a Z7 II is the camera I should buy to augment my D850 but the proceeds from the pickup won't cover it.
Thank you to everyone for the advice.
Dave
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I've had some significant cases of moire and other kinds of aliasing with the D810 but the higher resolution of the D850 makes this less common. On the D810 would see it with f/1.4 lenses wide open. With the D850 I have seen it only with the 500 PF which is a very high resolution lens. As the sensor resolution increases, aliasing becomes less frequent and less noticeable. If you want high resolution images and are concerned about aliasing, then 45 MP is definitely preferred over 36 MP. Higher would be still better.
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Thank you!