The new Nikon mirrorless system

[Birna Rørslett]

Since the adapter doesn't have an Ai tab, aperature can only be set with the thumb wheel, not the aperature ring, correct? If this is the case, then non-Ai lenses will have exposure issues due to the non-uniform spacing of f-stops correct?

In theory, correct. However, there are options for the camera to correct for such non-linear issues *if* the lens is marked as pre-AIs in the menus.

Since there is no aperture follower on the FTZ adapter, this implies even the oldest non-AI lenses should in principle work. I have kept a few of those ancient designs mainly for testing purposes and that is what they will be used for again with the Z-cameras once my review sample(s) arrive.

[Ilkka Nissilä]

Let me turn it around, if the Z7 is the premium model at 3400 bucks you are getting a whole lot of camera for 2000 bucks with the Z6 as the only difference seems to be the sensor

It's not a "premium" model; it's simply the high resolution model.

D3 vs. D3X also differently priced, the build was the same.  5Ds R is similar to 5D III but for the sensor, but more expensive.

It's not due to features, build, difficulty of manufacture etc. but simply that the high resolution is seen to be valuable to the user and hence the user is charged more. Most users do not need it therefore a lower price is easy to justify simply because the cost of R&D per unit is smaller.

Similarly, e.g. Panasonic and Canon charge extra for Log recording. It's a lookup table thing and costs absolutely nothing to add. It's valuable to the specialist user, but most users don't need it, and hence they ask money for it.

[Ethan]

A lot of debate about the lack of a second card slot. Personally, I don’t care. I never had a card failure when shooting, and I take about 15’000 shots / year. My question is: is this not a remain of older times, where cards were less reliable ? A little bit in analogy with the many nowadays cars lacking a spare tire.

I concur. Never used the OCD second card for backup but only for overflow.

[Ilkka Nissilä]

Hmm. Specifications list:
* higher fps rate in extended mode
* better low light AF sensitivity
* higher Bluetooth power

as slight advantages to the Z6. And the full-pixel readout for full-frame 4K.

So one could argue that apart from the resolution (and AF point count) the Z6 is the better model.

Because of its lower price and advantages in video and low light, most users are expected to choose the Z6. The Z7 is then a more specialised camera for high-resolution work.

[Jan Anne]

Exactly my point whereas with the a7RII you did get the better camera compared to the a7II for all the things mentioned above but also got the better ISO performance due to the backlit sensor which changed the traditional low res is better than high res sensors for high ISO performance.

Btw my comments are not meant to nitpick on the Z7 as the differences are small but just to emphasise that the Z6 is one hell of a camera for the price 

[golunvolo]

My point as well. It also happens to fill my needs better so I'm not going to complain 😊

[Jan Anne]

I expect that can be disabled?

Yes

Available shutter modes:
- Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane mechanical shutter (click to open and clack to close)
- Electronic front-curtain shutter (only the clack)
- Electronic shutter (silent)

On mirrorless the electronic front curtain is my preferred setting as there is no real negative impact on the IQ but one does eliminate any mechanical vibrations before the image is taken which is rather nice feature on these high res lightweight cameras.

The fully electronic shutter should only be used when you want to be silent, on the Sony's there are some negatives involved like limited ISO range and performance (from memory) but have no idea yet what the impact will be for the Zee cameras.

A global shutter would fix the negatives and also enable extreme frame rates but there should always be something left to desire I guess

[Frank Fremerey]

From all I read and see so far I am not slightly interested in that system. In fact I am really happy with the D500/D850 combination and hope to aquire a used D5 anytime soon to form a "holy trinity" with one hi iso, one silent operation and one low iso high resolution body.

[Jack Dahlgren]

I'd be interested in finding out which buttons have secondary functions not printed on the button, and if some of these controls actually don't have their own dedicated button at all.

I have set up my DSLRs to use the Fn buttons as:
- non-CPU lens selection
- image area

and the Z6/Z7 seem to have only two Fn buttons.

This leaves at least these 6 dedicated buttons missing from the Z6/Z7
- flash compensation
- bracketing
- DOF preview
- metering mode
- white balance
- quality

I'm sure they are as secondary functions in some buttons and only the label is not printed on the camera body or button. Will be hard for an old geezer like me to remember which is where. 

Is the user manual available for download somewhere? I couldn't find it.

I’m glad to see the camera is not covered in buttons as I use many of them so infrequently that I forget where they are and have to go searching for them (bracket for example).

The other thing I like is the U1 - U3 settings. These seem to be an easy way to combine a number of settings for easy reuse. For example, for panoramas I like to lock down shutter speed, aperture and ISO as well as fixed focus. Bracketing for HDR is also involved.Turning on artificial horizon or grid in viewfinder is also helpful. Combining all those as one of the user settings allows me to take a quick pano, then setting back to M with auto-iso to continue what I was doing. Seems much easier than pushing a whole bunch of buttons.

With all the video functions too, it seems there will never be enough space on the camera body for all things to have a button. Seems the touchscreen can hold a few user configurable buttons too.

[Eddie Draaisma]

Yes
On mirrorless the electronic front curtain is my preferred setting as there is no real negative impact on the IQ but one does eliminate any mechanical vibrations before the image is taken which is rather nice feature on these high res lightweight cameras.

Jan, with faster than 1/1000s shutter speed there can be a considerable influence on bokeh (and skew) by using the electronic first curtain. See this link:

https://phillipreeve.net/blog/limitations-of-the-electronic-shutter-function/

[Jacques Pochoy]

While I'm still clinging to my Df for most uses, I find this new system interesting !
Even if I don't have the cash yet for it, I can't really make my mind on which camera  . On one side the Z6 should be perfect (low light), but I'm still fascinated by the 46Mpix Z7 (or D850) while I don't really have the use of so much definition 

I'm mostly wary of the heavy side of those big files in post, as even the 16Mpix Nefs aren't so easy to load on the iPad (takes some time). As I'm trying to go light and mobile on all counts (Df, Wireless My Passport and iPad Pro) even if I have a iMac and numerous Hard disks.
But these new simple lenses seem fantastic (S35/1.8 and S50/1.8 with a future S85/1.!!!

[Eddie Draaisma]

As it seems Nikon will keep the mount "closed" for the time being, making it very difficult for third parties to make compatible lenses.

For example just look at the MF Voigtlander (Sony) e-mount 40/1.2 thread at Fred Miranda, extremely popular lens and it would be nice to have that one on the Z-mount too.

[richardHaw]

i noticed that the EVF DOESN'T FLICKER in artificial lighting

did anybody notice this? there is also no lag or "freeze frame" when you activate the AF

is it just me!?

the XT2 and the a7III both have terrible flickering with the XT2 being the worse of the 2.

[Jan Anne]

Jan, with faster than 1/1000s shutter speed there can be a considerable influence on bokeh (and skew) by using the electronic first curtain. See this link:

https://phillipreeve.net/blog/limitations-of-the-electronic-shutter-function/

Thanks, guess I need to do some testing for myself then as I haven't seen any issues yet.

[Eddie Draaisma]

i noticed that the EVF DOESN'T FLICKER in artificial lighting

did anybody notice this? there is also no lag or "freeze frame" when you activate the AF

is it just me!?

the XT2 and the a7III both have terrible flickering with the XT2 being the worse of the 2.

Both the X-T2 and X-Pro2 have terrible flickering with the artificial light in our living room. The A7rIII however is flicker free. I see no reason the Nikons cannot be the same.