Nikon

Nikon Firmware 3.0.

Inspiration, Nikon, Nikon Z7, Q&A, Teaching point

For those of you photographing with Nikon Z cameras, update your firmware to 3.0 if you haven’t already done so.  There are major autofocus improvements — with respect to both implementation (ease of choosing a subject) and efficacy (ability to “hold on” to a subject).

This update is making me question why I’m holding on to my Nikon D500 for sports… the improvements are that significant.

Well done Nikon!

—Peter.

Some thoughts on Nikon’s Z7.

Inspiration, Nikon, Nikon Z7, Q&A, Teaching point

I’ve long avoided switching into mirrorless but I’m now photographing primarily with the Nikon Z7 (though I’ve kept the D500 for my baseball work).

The reluctance to go into mirrorless was consequent to a few things:

  1. EVFs.  I prefer optical viewfinders.
  2. Ergonomics (or lack thereof). The camera-as-computer feel of most of the mirrorless offerings seemed to get in the way of taking photos.
  3. Speed (also lacking).  Most of the early mirrorless cameras were very laggy in operation.

So what’s changed?

Well, I warmed up a little to EVFs after using the Fuji GFX earlier this year, and obviously mirrorless cameras have been progressively evolving with respect to both their ergonomics and speed.  Though what really won me over was Nikon entering the market with the Z6 and Z7.

For the first time, a mirrorless camera felt like I a real camera (to me).  Ergonomics — check.

And I don’t know the resolution or refresh rate of Nikon’s EVF, but in use it feels more natural than the others I’ve tried (including some of the “best in class”).  I still prefer the window of an optical rangefinder, but I have little to criticize in the Z7‘s EVF.

The Z mount has also been a positive and significant development.  It has freed up Nikon’s engineers to design truly outstanding lenses while balancing size and cost.  Win, win, win.

Lastly — and this has simply been a revelation to me — though the tracking ability of the AF has been much maligned (and is overblown), the precision and accuracy of focus on stationary subjects have been noticeably improved over DSLRs.  Whether using a single focus point or the “eye-tracking” function, critical focus on a person’s eyes at wide apertures is easily achieved.  Critical focus at wide apertures was one of the reasons I preferred rangefinders over DSLRs, but now mirrorless has improved upon even that.

Mirrorless? 

I’m in.

—Peter.

 

 

Cousins – Happy Easter, 2019.

2011, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, Beyond 200 feet of My House™, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 21mm Super-Elmar ASPH f/ 3.4, Leica 35mm Summilux ASPH FLE f/1.4, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Leica M10, Leica M9(P)/M-E (CCD Lives!), Nikon, Nikon 58mm f/1.2 NOCT, Nikon D3, Portrait, Prosophos Custom Lightroom Presets

↑Leica M10 + Leica 35mm Summilux ASPH FLE f/1.4.

–

The Cousins, from years-gone-by:

Cousins, Easter 2018 (the only year we had a sunny Easter):

↑Nikon D850 + Nikon 28mm f/1.4 E.

–

Cousins, Easter 2017:

↑Leica M9 (CCD Lives! – Prosophos Open Letter to Leica) + Leica 21mm Super-Elmar ASPH.

–

Cousins, Easter 2015:

↑Leica M9 (CCD Lives! – Prosophos Open Letter to Leica) + Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH.

–

Cousins, Easter 2012:

↑Leica M9 (CCD Lives! – Prosophos Open Letter to Leica) + Leica 35mm Summilux ASPH FLE.

–

Cousins, Easter 2011:

↑Nikon D3 + Nikkor-Noct 58/1.2.

Nikon: “We cannot beat the optical viewfinder”.

Inspiration, Nikon, Q&A, Teaching point

Recently, dpreview interviewed three top-level Nikon executives, and one of them said:

“In terms of hardware, it is likely that mirrorless will catch up with DSLR.  But one thing that is a challenge is the time lag of electronic viewfinders. Even though we have a great mirrorless [solution], we cannot beat the optical viewfinder.”

—Nikon (March, 2019).

It’s refreshing to see someone from a major camera manufacturer speak the truth.

On the other hand, many camera reviewers have erroneously made claims over the last few years that EVFs are now just as good (or almost as good) as optical viewfinders.

Although there’s no doubt that EVFs will continue to improve, I’m sticking with OVF-equipped cameras (for now) so that I can continue to see the world clearly and in real-time.

—Peter.