Nikon Z6/7 mirrorless system

[Birna Rørslett]

Testing ISO 51200 on the Z6. Looks quite useful to me.

By the way, the screen image is of the 50/1.8S I'm collecting tomorrow.

[Eddie Draaisma]

My 50/1.8S arrived yesterday. Some limited testing inside the house only, but it became already clear that it is already very very good over the whole field wide open. The thicker barrel (compared to the 35/1.8S) handles imho a little better, and surprisingly the hood is a little shorter compared to again the 35.

[Birna Rørslett]

The MTF graph already published for the 50 indicates it ought to be an excellent performer. I'm looking forward to learn its good or bad properties tomorrow. I wonder what its concave front element means in terms of highlight blur shapes, in particular into the corners.

An extension tube for the Z range seems a useful gadget to have, if it is equipped with pass-through contacts.

[fish_shooter]

Stopped precipitating today for a bit. Did some more testing of my Z6 with Leica M lenses. This time with a 35mm Summilux ASPH. Summilux is (or was as they recently released an f/1.7 Summilux lens for micro4/3) Leicaspeak for f/1.4 lenses. This lens came out in the 90s and was Leica's first lens with molded aspherical elements - denoted by ASPH in the name. There is a newer version out with floating elements but I have the older one. Pix shot at either f/1.4 or 5.6 in auto-ISO which I used to reconstruct aperture used. The shot with the dead alder leaf in the center was done at 0.7 meters which is the minimum focus distance and one disadvantage of using Leica M lenses. Shots can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tomkline/with/31341114667/
BTW the fallen tree I shot a few days ago (WATE lens test shot) has been removed except for the stump which was righted to fill the hole.

[Jack Dahlgren]

An extension tube for the Z range seems a useful gadget to have, if it is equipped with pass-through contacts.

I’m wondering about the possibility of a Teleconverter designed for F lenses but with Z flange distance and mount. It would require different optics, but it might keep length down.

[fish_shooter]

We seem to have negative teleconverters already. Kipon just announced- https://nikonrumors.com/2018/12/11/kipon-announced-8-different-baveyes-focal-reducers-for-nikon-z-mount.aspx/
A long time ago (decades) I had a Hasselblad to Nikon F adapter. Even with just the 80mm lens it was ungainly and heavy so got rid of it. Maybe if I owned a Superachromatic things would have been different, ROTFL.

[Hugh_3170]

A set of modern day metal extension tubes with pass through contacts for the F range would also still be most useful.

Whilst third party providers have such F range extension tubes, the mechanical fit and quality of the ones that I have seen are woeful to say the least and many of them are made of plastics that lack the necessary rigidity to carry heavier lenses without flexing.

...................................

An extension tube for the Z range seems a useful gadget to have, if it is equipped with pass-through contacts.

[Alaun]

JUST UPDATED, ACR can now handle the Z6 

[Frank Fremerey]

A set of modern day metal extension tubes with pass through contacts for the F range would also still be most useful.
Whilst third party providers have such F range extension tubes, the mechanical fit and quality of the ones that I have seen are woeful to say the least and many of them are made of plastics that lack the necessary rigidity to carry heavier lenses without flexing.

Dr. Lens makes full contact Nikon extension tubes from Nikon teleconverters: http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php?topic=4544.0

I own two of these and find the 23mm (TC14E deboned) very very useful, esp in combination with the Nikkor 4/300PF

[Wally]

First review of the new Z 50mm, compared against the Zeiss Otus:
https://www.cameralabs.com/nikon-z-50mm-f1-8s-review/
My GAS has jumped up after reading this test 

[Nikfuson]

One gotta test for the dreaded "stripes" when pushed. Here +5EV in ACR...good enough for me. 24-70/4 @ 70mm. EXIF: ISO 100, f/7.1, 6s, -0.67EV.

[Hugh_3170]

Thanks Frank.  Yes, I was aware of Erik's solution to this issue.

Actually 23mm is a useful intermediate extension between that of the PK-12 and the PK-13 tubes.

(BTW, the extensions of Nikon's metal tubes being PK-11 / PK-11A with 8mm, the larger PK-12 with 14mm, and the PK-13 with 27.5mm.  The PN-11 is larger again at 52.5mm.)

Dr. Lens makes full contact Nikon extension tubes from Nikon teleconverters: http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php?topic=4544.0

I own two of these and find the 23mm (TC14E deboned) very very useful, esp in combination with the Nikkor 4/300PF

[Birna Rørslett]

Picked up my copy of the 50/1.8 S-Line Nikkor last night and had occasion to pull off some shots in the darkness on my return home.

Short story, this is probably the best 50mm ever made by Nikon. Really wets my appetite for getting to know the 58mm f/0.95 Noct S due to arrive in early 2019 (and pre-ordered).

Sharpness extends all over the frame even with lens set to f/1.8, more or less the same behaviour as my 35/.8S. Handling of point light sources is excellent and coma is very low - my first impression is the new lens trounces the old faithful Noct-Nikkor 58/1.2 in this respect. Early days yet, but I am enthusiastic about the 50.

Nikon Z6, 50/1.8S, f/1.8, 1/160 sec, 2500 ISO

[Frank Fremerey]

Nikon Z6, 50/1.8S, f/1.8, 1/160 sec, 2500 ISO

Are you happy with the high iso of the Z6? I mean really high 36k, 51k, 80k or 100k?

[Birna Rørslett]

Are you happy with the high iso of the Z6? I mean really high 36k, 51k, 80k or 100k?

ot really done any in-depth testing for the high ISO speeds yet, plus Photo Ninja hasn't been updated to process Z6 NEFs (only does Z7 files). Thus I have to fall back on the jpgs and who knows how these have been doctored by the EXPEED 6 machinery inside the z6.

50K (51200) ISO is a calibrated setting and works pretty well as assessed from the jpgs.  Same can be said for the Hi ISO's, however colour saturation starts to decline and image noise is more visible. Still, the 100K(102400) ISO would be useful for the odd shot if required.