The new Nikon mirrorless system

[MILLIREHM]

Why start with a 6? Does it mean there will be no D6? Is this the end of the D dinasty?

Had thought about that as well
originally i was thinking the Z7 and Z6 are middle class and ther will be a premium Z1 with some room in between for upgrades, but the Z6 Z7 ranking order appears to be the other way round

[Birna Rørslett]

Off the record I was informed the Z6/Z7 are not endpoints of Nikon development.

[MILLIREHM]

Maybe there will be a Z8 then with some 20 fps aimed at the Sony A9

[Erik Lund]

Z

[Birna Rørslett]

"My aim is true" -- Elvis Costello

[MILLIREHM]

OK NAS is starting

I still wonder how the AF systems compare to the SLR series in terms of speed and accuracy, so better start with a Z7

[richardHaw]

from what I can see, AF seems pretty solid 

it's the styling that's a bit off at least for my taste

[atpaula]

No crop factor. Thank you very much Nikon!

[charlie]

Perhaps I'm mistaking but I was under the impression that, generally speaking, mirrorless cameras could allow faster flash sync speeds than DSLR's. I see both the X cameras are rated at x=1/200s, which is slower than Nikon DSLR's.

Does anyone have any insight as to why that might be the case here?

[Eddie Draaisma]

The new lenses feature "Focus by Wire", not completely unexpected and in line with the mirrorless competition The "focus" ring however can be configured for other purposes like aperture control and exposure compensation and is therefore called "Control Ring". So combining AF and manual focus is a software feature, hopefully Nikon has implemented this properly if at all.

[gryphon1911]

Perhaps I'm mistaking but I was under the impression that, generally speaking, mirrorless cameras could allow faster flash sync speeds than DSLR's. I see both the X cameras are rated at x=1/200s, which is slower than Nikon DSLR's.

Does anyone have any insight as to why that might be the case here?

For these kinds of cameras, the x-sync is a function of the shutter.  Usually when cameras have better than 1/250 or 1/320 with flash, they are using some kind of high speed sync feature or they have leaf shutters built into the lenses.

It is very difficult if not impossible right now to get a flash pulse to play well with a fully electronic sensor without the use of the shutter. 

Being mirrorless does not automatically mean that you gain unlimited flash use at all shutter speeds.

[gryphon1911]

OK, so some of my own questions I didn't see listed anywhere else.

1)  Can you actuate the shutter by pressing the rear LCD like you can with the D500 or most m43 cameras?  Just a curiousity.
2)  Can anyone confirm or deny if the AF performance is better on the Z6 than the Z7?  I know there is anecdotal posts out there that despite the D5/D500/D850 having the same AF module, that the AF on the cameras, performance wise is slight different, being the D5 the best of the bunch and then going down the line.
3)  12fps continuous shooting on the Z6.   Is that full AF and metering or is that only available when shooting at 5.5fps?

Just out of my own observation - why are all the other outlets so "ga-ga" over and comparing everything else against the Z7?  It's almost as if the Z6 doesn't exist.   I see the Z6, though as the more compelling option for a lot of people like me.  Now that I know that the f-mount 24-70/2.8G is fully functional on the Z cameras, I'm doubting my need to grab the 24-70/4 kit lens.  Just the Z6 and the FTZ adapter to start with, then wait and see what else?

I'm also curious if my Tamron 70-200/2.8 VC will work.

Good times ahead!

[Birna Rørslett]

There is full touch-screen availability on the rear panel. This feature can, of course, be switched off.

The fuss about the Z7 simply is due to the camera being at pre-production sample level now, with sufficient quantities of it to soon beginning to be distributed to testers. Sales of Z7 will commence end of September. The Z6 is scheduled to be available in November, so far fewer units are available at present. Thus Z7 outnumbered the Z6 by a tenfold or larger factor at the Nikon pre-release event.

I did handle the Z6 briefly, but with native lenses at least there were no obvious difference in focusing. This merits more in-depth testing later when my review camera(s) arrive.

[gryphon1911]

There is full touch-screen availability on the rear panel. This feature can, of course, be switched off.

The fuss about the Z7 simply is due to the camera being at pre-production sample level now, with sufficient quantities of it to soon beginning to be distribute to testers. Sales of Z7 will commence end of September. The Z6 is scheduled to be available in November, so far fewer units are available at present. Thus Z7 outnumbered the Z6 by a tenfold or larger factor at the Nikon pre-release event.

I did handle the Z6 briefly, but with native lenses at least there were no obvious difference in focusing. This merits more in-depth testing later when my review camera(s) arrive.

Thank you so much for the response.  It is much appreciated.  Makes sense about the availability, which didn't dawn on me initially until you just pointed that fact out.

I guess my thoughts then are to this:  Will the optical, stabilization and AF performance of the 24-70/4S z-mount lens be equal to or better than an adapted 24-70/2.8G.
From what I do know right now:

I am not going to go off of DPReview image samples of pre-production firmware JPG or them running and gunning shots on the street.
There is a difference between f/2.8 and f/4 (obviously), but I can count on my hand the number of times I needed f/2.8 on my current 24-70/2.8G.
From what I've read, the adapted f-mount lenses get 3 axis IBIS (potentially only 3 effective stops), while z-mount get the benefit of the full 5 axis (5 effective stops).  Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to overlook the fact that I get an unstabilized lens new life with stabilization!

I could save a few hundred dollars and just get the Z6 body and FTZ adapter, but I fear I would be missing out on the benefit of the new mount without at least one native lens.  At launch it appears that the only choice is going to be the 24-70/4.

Decisions, decisions!   lol

Then again, nothing says I have to be an early adopter, either.  I could wait a bit and see how it all shakes out, especially after the awesome resources here get their hands on the camera!

On top of it all, I am going to a Nikon open house on September 7th to see it in person At Midwest Photo here in Columbus, OH.

[Erik Lund]

One interesting point will be, how much does the firmware do to the files, will they be like the D cameras or will it change distortion etc,,,