My husband and I were Nikon all the way until 2 years ago. We have switched to Olympus and are very happy with it. The weight got to be too much--my backpack was overwhelming me! We sold our Nikon stuff and banked the money until we decided what to do. We have no regrets. I know people are worried because the Olympus camera division was sold, but we havn't seen any problems with that. The new 150-400 lens is light (kind of) and has a built in 1.25 teleconverter and is very sharp. With the 12-100 and 150-400 we have the equivalent of 24 to 800 in a backpack that I can carry.
Nikon Shooters - Would you switch to another brand (or have you?)
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wild-pics
Member
Good logical explanation. A question: I am also down to D850/D500/500PF/300PF. I noticed that you have kept the D500 over the D850, what was the reason for your preference for the D500?. Thanks, Shane
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I sort of switched, part of the time (mealy-mouthed, hey?) I have acquired a full-on M43 rig, Olympus-Panasonic gear that I find simpatico for overseas travel, especially. It performs quite well and is easy to tote around. I just don't feel ok about trying to bring a 600mm f4 tele on an overseas jet anymore, given increasing restrictions on carry-on baggage. But I still shoot Nikon, as I have since (gasp) 1968. I really like the Z7 for my bird photography, despite its well-known weakness in terms of AF tracking functions, as compared with the competition. The 500mm f5.6PF is a complete winner, great for travel, and it performs magnificently with teleconverters. I have assumed up until very, very recently that Nikon will come out with a socko Z9 model that will bring it up the performance level of Sony and Canon, and all will be well. However, given the current slowdown in high-tech manufacturing generally, I now fear the Z9 won't be available (at least to most of us) for another year, maybe more. The frustration of not having all of the latest AF bells and whistles is definitely a First World Problem, but I still experience it at times. I could see, possibly, branching out to a small, non-Nikon rig (Sony, most likely) for some uses, but actually, I probably won't do this; I'd rather spend the money on travel.
You actually have a 150-400mm zoom in hand? You are soooooo lucky! Many, many of us (did I say many?) have been on waiting lists for this lens since last November, with little prospect of getting the lens for another year, perhaps. The 150-400mm is an optical masterpiece; I want it!
eaj101
Well-known member
I'm not in the market for a 150-400 ($$$) but I agree about Olympus. I had a chance to try an OM-D E1M1X and the bird AI AF was almost magical. Picked the bird out of the air and nailed the eye automatically. Handheld high-res (basically pixel shift) and pro capture were fabulous. It actually does what other vendors claim. Not replacing the Nikons, but I don't feel handicapped when I take them somewhere (OM-D E1mii). I'm looking at the 40-150 Pro....
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arbitrage
Well-known member
Main reason was because the D850 was more money sitting on the shelf and I figured I wasn't going to be using the DSLRs all that often. I liked the D850 over D500 for a few things but overall found the D500 did everything I needed it to do for bird photography.
Darwin
Well-known member
If the Nikon z9 AF doesn't equal or surpass the Sony A1 I plan to switch.
wild-pics
Member
Thanks. Agree. I do find the 500PF/D500 pretty much as my go to for birds.
Well this might be a different perspective...I was the only on in the blind banging away with my D850 and my 600mm. Everybody else was silent with their R5's, A1 and Olympus mirrorless. How much longer will all that noise be allowed in the blind?? Yep, the birds flinched and some flew off when I was shooting. This is deal breaker for this bird nerd if the rules of the blind change. Even Qc caused flinching.
All that said, here is why I am waiting for the Z9 and even then may not make the leap: I am a senior and muscle memory matters to this old bird. Money too. The Olympus shooter was 83...so maybe in a few decades weight will force a decision. In the meantime I will watch the bleeding edge of mirrorless for a bit longer.
All that said, here is why I am waiting for the Z9 and even then may not make the leap: I am a senior and muscle memory matters to this old bird. Money too. The Olympus shooter was 83...so maybe in a few decades weight will force a decision. In the meantime I will watch the bleeding edge of mirrorless for a bit longer.
Agree about the noise difference. I was shooting with my Z7II + FTZ + TC + 500 mm PF at a local heron rookery recently and a guy near me (shooting some kind of Canon DSLR), asked me what camera I was shooting because he was impressed with how quiet it was. And I was using the mechanical shutter. I also found this summer, shooting from my kayak, that I seemed to be able to photograph waterbirds with the combination closer than in the past. I suspect the lower noise helped.
At the moment, I have kept my D500 and D850. I think they are better for BIF and fast action than my Z7II and Z6II, unless you need to use a TC. (I have the 500 mm PF, so even the 1.4x TCIII puts you at f8, while the 1.7x TCII puts you at f9.5 and the 2x TCIII puts you at f11.). The ZIIs are better than the ZIs for this and reasonably good for the slower, larger birds that I mostly photograph (eagles, swans, herons, egrets, geese, cranes and the like).
Keeping the D500 and D850 is not a perfect solution to the BIF and action issue. I’m not sure what the percentage of my shots are that involve BIF and fast action, but it is not always predictable. So it would be nice to have one camera that did both very well. And for me, I’d like more megapixels than the D6, as I often need to do some cropping.
And I find that the ZIIs are better than the D500 and D850 for me in enough ways that simply using the DSLRs all the time is not ideal. For me, I find having focus points covering the full frame, seeing my exposure in the EVF, more accurate focusing on stationary and slowly moving subjects, and working better with TCs, make me choose my ZIIs more than my DSLRs at this point.
I’m hoping that the Z9 is a significant improvement. And that it will actually be available to those of us who are not NPS in a reasonable period of time.
eaj101
Well-known member
Does the D850 'silent' shutter help at all?
On my recent trip to Colorado for grouse photography there was one person in the blind next to mine with a Nikon D6. She tended to shoot at high continuous and yes, it sounded like a machine gun :-0. I did shoot video a few times, and the rat-a-tat-tat of her camera definitely spoiled the mood :=(. On the other hand, the guy sharing the blind with me was shooting Olympus and hence has a quieter shutter, but he had never turned off the "ding" that sounds by default every time you focus the camera. Ding, ding, ding, DING! I remarked, "You can turn that sound off if you like, you know." A suggestion, not a demand. His answer was, "It doesn't bother me." Ker-thunk!
There are increasing situations where silence is required. I've noticed it at press events, golf, wedding ceremonies, etc. It's only a matter of time before it's required for some birding and wildlife. I've had birds spook and fly away with a single frame of a mechanical shutter. A high frame rate with a DSLR makes some bird photography pointless, but others are indifferent. It's species and situation specific.
I have the Z cameras as well as a D850. The D850 has Quiet mode - which is better - but still not the same as Silent. I have had situations where I chose Mechanical or Electronic Shutter over Silent Shutter - usually because of flash, rolling shutter, or something similar.
It's great to hear that ZIIs are enough better that the DSLR is not ideal. I guess. Those long primes (which I need for my type of photography) are so danged expensive and the adapter not ideal. So start over with Sony? Or wait and hope the Z9 shines?
I agree about the availability of those that aren't NPS...I actually put myself on the list for one with a smaller camera shop when it was first announced. I think the switch is inevitable as time goes by. Parts, repair availability will be an issue.
Yes it does for the majority of birds....but now you are down to 2 fps. Kidding. But it feels like it. Not sure of the numbers in the Q mode. And your blind mates have 20+ fps.....I see the difference in choices when I use the D850 and D5. If I know I won't need to crop, it's the D5 for it's high fps.
I really can see noise becoming an issue. Peer pressure or competition will make the decision for many. It appears mirrorless gives an edge in sharpness and detail, more fps, more opportunity since you didn't startle the subject with your camera...the list goes on. Other than money already invested, this isnt a complaint. I am happy technology offers us better images. Just wish the money tree hadn't died.
I have been pretty happy with the focusing speed of various F mount lenses on the FTZ with a ZII body — mainly the 500 mm PF (with and without a TC), but also the 300mm PF (with and without a 1.4x TCIII), 70-300 AF-P FX, and 70-200 f2.8 E. These are reasonably fast focusing lenses on a DSLR and I am also not normally trying to go from minimum focus to infinity. The Z mount 24-70 f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8 are also very quick to focus and optically excellent.
The ZIIs may not be the right thing for you. But at some point, if you get a Z body, I’d try your long primes on an FTZ before buying a new 600 or 400 mm lens in Z mount, given the likely cost of the new exotics.
I am mostly concerned about weight. I may well get a Z9, but am particularly looking forward to the 100-400 mm in Z mount and, while not on the road map, I’d love to see a 400 mm and 600 mm PF in Z mount.
Woody Meristem
Well-known member
As a noise sensitive person I really prefer the silence of my MFT cameras (Olympus and Panasonic) on electronic shutter. The sound of a DSLR really annoys me; although I've never said anything to a DSLR shooter, and doubt I ever would, I have a tendency to move on.
D
Deleted member 115
Guest
Nikon 600mm PF Z mount? that might get me to stay awhile.
I imagine the Z9 will have decent animal eye tracking before it is released. Add a 600 PF lens and that would be awesome, theoretically
I imagine the Z9 will have decent animal eye tracking before it is released. Add a 600 PF lens and that would be awesome, theoretically
ninog
Well-known member
Después de pensar mucho y leer las inquietudes del foro, decidí comprar Z7II .. Actualmente tengo D5 y D850, muy contento con ellos, especialmente D5, realmente lo mejor hasta ahora de lo que tenía y tengo para la fotografía de acción. Pero también quedé muy satisfecho con muchos de los anteriores, D700, D3, D4s, D800, .. D300 más atrás .. y con todos tomé muchas fotos de acción .. el Z7II no puede ser peor que esos .. y es difícil renunciar a mis lentes largos, 600 f4 ..300 f2.8 .. ya veré como va .. una oportunidad en Z .. esperando a Z9. Traductor de Google, lo siento. mi idioma es español, argentina. Saludos
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Melco
New member
I voted that I'll never leave Nikon. (Never say Never)
I have a lot (for an enthusiast) of $$$ invested in Nikon cameras and lenses so the cost of switching is too much for me to consider.
I hear a lot of good things about the Sony A1 and lenses but my photography skills are nowhere near taxing my existing equipment.
I have waaay more equipment than I need for what I do. (D500, D850, Df, Z7II, Z50 plus a various assortment of mostly Nikon prime and zoom lenses.
(Nikon 200-500mm, 500mm PF, 300mm PF, 105mm macro, 104 f/1.4, Zeiss 135mm, 50mm makro, damn near all the Z lenses, etc, etc).
It's downright embarrassing!!!!!
If I can't get the shot I want with the equipment I have.................Sony won't be able to help me!!
The only other non-Nikon camera I have is a Sony RX100 VII. It fits a very special slot for me.
So, that's my story. I ain't switching. I've placed my bet with Nikon and I'll go down with Nikon.
Mel
Where I can put my name on the list. 600PF that plays well with extenders, a Z 180-400 F4, and Z9 that matches, if not exceeds the A1. I will be a very happy (and much poorer) camper.Nikon 600mm PF Z mount? that might get me to stay awhile.
I imagine the Z9 will have decent animal eye tracking before it is released. Add a 600 PF lens and that would be awesome, theoretically
I’m new to Nikon gear and love my D500 and 500pf. I don’t have a lot invested financially in camera gear like the rest of you but from my perspective, I always felt that down the road I would purchase a full frame camera , so I’ll just see how things shake out. I can see myself purchasing a mirrorless full frame camera to complement my D500 and play it out from there. Whether it’s a Nikon, Canon, Sony or some other brand remains to be seen. Time will tell.
We got on the waiting list 2 years ago at Hunt's, as soon as it was announced.
Wow, well before preorders even opened, which was last November 17. OTOH, I preordered at Amazon right away (based on the mistaken notion that part of Amazon's rapacity is its ability to get scarce items for its customers, stupid, stupid) , and then a few months later (!) Amazon abruptly canceled my order, stating that "the item is not available." Whoa! To make matters more infuriating, I could NOT get through to anyone at Bezos, Incorporated, to protest or argue what the heck, keep the order open, why not? It was like a chapter out of Kafka. I had to reorder at another store, a smallish outfit in Texas that gave slight priority to people willing to put in partial prepayment. Even now, there are still people who preordered the lens on November 17 and have not received theirs. This is just in case you aren't counting your blessings and feeling good enough about having pre-preordered.
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