If you would like to post, you'll need to register. Note that if you have a BCG store account, you'll need a new, separate account here (we keep the two sites separate for security purposes).
Ha, I have both, so luckily no reason to pick one over the other. Both have pros and cons, as you have indicated.
You have smaller and lighter already and doing some fine work with it ... Zf to the rescue!
You know I was just teasing/joking, right?
Have you held or used either the Z8 or the Z9 ? For me my D300, D500, D810, D850 I had purchased the vertical grips, D4. The feel of those bodies and the benefits when shooting vertical and the larger battery you could shoot all day. I realize that not everyone likes the extra weight and larger size. I did consider the Z8 but by the time you add the cost of the grip and the battery and charger plus at the time the Z9 was on sale, it just didn’t make sense. For me the Z9 just felt right and works, so happy and pleased I just recently purchased a second Z9.
What would make the Zf any worse than the Z6iii? Both look weather sealed to the same extent on the diagrams.
I’ve heard a few sources state the Zf was just as weather sealed as the others.
I have one of each and definitely choose the Z8 in most of my day to day shooting over the Z9. Solely because of the weight. On trips I take both and use them depending on the lens on each. And put the lenses on depending on what I am shooting. Bottom line I don't think you would regret it. But at this point I will stick with one of each.
No need to apologize, and your comment is not far-off either. I own 2x ZF's, and both have been surviving really well in Asian heat and humidity. If it can live through high heat and humidity in Ho-chi Min /Vietnam, it can survive Africa. It's a great body, far more robust and substantial than product-photos on the Interwebz would indicate. If used with a weather- sealed lens, it makes for a very decent setup. Just IMHO.
Yep, the grip would be required for the 70-200 f/2.8. Possible to shoot without, but significantly more comfortable with it, using larger lenses.
I think the Zf is a capable backup option but obviously differs quite a bit from an ergonomic and controls standpoint with far less customizable buttons. If you end up going this way, my recommendation is to put the iso dial on C and shutter dial on 1/3 stop and control the camera with the command dials to keep the operation as similar to your Z9 as possible. Also, practice with using the touch screen as a trackpad for moving focus points ahead of time or d-pad so you’re used to it so you don’t end up missing shots trying to figure it out when the action starts. The Zf is way more capable than the older Z6ii and just takes a little getting used to for using as an action camera.
This is just a PSA for anyone who has the Zf and doesn’t know or is looking at the ISO setup on it. If you like to shoot manual and auto ISO, you set the Zf to Auto in the menus and lowest ISO (200) and then when you’re in M the ISO wheel is now the max ISO range setting. The camera will always select the lowest ISO possible. This is how it works in M/S modes, A/P don’t work the same so you need to switch to C and bind the record button to ISO and you can use that to switch auto on/off and adjust auto range like a normal Nikon DSLR if you use those modes. I use mine nearly exclusively in M with auto ISO.
I bought the Z9 right when it first came out. I liked the camera, but disliked the size and weight of it. When the Z8 came out I bought one right away and loved it, great camera. Then I bought a second one and have been shooting with the Z8 since then. I sold the Z9 to a friend who wanted a second Z9 as a back up. If you don't mind the weight and have really large hands the Z9 is a great camera for you, but if you'd like something a little lighter and easier to handle then the Z8 might be the right choice. I love my Z8s and my 600PF, great combo. You could try renting one first to see if the camera will work for you.
I think there is a lot of confusion on the internet regarding the iso dial and auto iso due to how people think it should operate and some of the things that seem to work in one shooting mode but not others. It technically works the exact same way as all other Nikon cameras. If you set the auto iso range in the menu to use 100 through 6400 and set the ISO dial to any value, that becomes the minimum ISO value. This is the same if you set the same values in the menu on the Z8 and then change the iso value using the ISO button + command dials. If you are in manual mode with auto ISO the iso will adjust to the lowest iso value available for correct exposure.
Thanks for reminding me about using the screen as a touchpad to move the focus area. I tried it out when I got the camera, loved it, then didn't use the camera for several weeks and totally forgot about it.
