Steve Mattheis - Sold Sony gear and went all Z9

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I just read through this entire thread, and I think a few agree that Steve M made his choice based on one thing... comfort with ergonomics. While he cites a few preferences with the Z9, those might be mute based on user settings. The Z9 feels more like a D5, and this (w/ the D850) was his camera for years.
I have contemplated a move to Sony... A9II + A73S, but have stuck w/ Nikon's mid-tier stuff (Z6II/Z7II/D500) because of my own comfort with the gear.
I am currently in South TX visiting a few of the better known photo ranches, and have often cursed my gear choice, as the Z9 or A1 or A9II or R5 would be better at catching the fast flirty birds that I am trying to photograph. However, this is not what I usually photograph. I like to photograph large lumbering birds, mammals, and landscapes. While I will continue to pine for a Z9, it is more likely that I will replace my D500 w/ gently used D5, as this and my Z-bodies are well suited to what I photograph.
 
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Steve said:
Our previous time at MIWR was in Dec and was quite good. I find that area is hot and miss, but usually worth checking out. CB is different though - it was also slow in Dec. I does seem that I'm seeing far fewer birds there than in the past. However, it's easy to fall into the "rosy retrospection" cognitive bias trap sometimes too - we often remember things as being better than they actually were.
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The last time I visited C-B-B was March of 2021, and I talked to some locals after being out on the trails all day and they told me that the bird populations were down significantly and had been so for a while. One of the locals said that the reserve management was trying to get rid of some invasive species, especially snails, and had applied chemicals to reduce/remove the invasive snails. That explained why I only saw one Limpkin there last year, as opposed to a multitude of them in previous visits. I usually visit the reserve in either late February or early March, so seasonal fluctuations in populations shouldn't have been a factor in the disparity of wildlife numbers. As far as MINWR, my experience with it confirms that your experience of it being hit or miss is accurate. But when it's a hit, it can be a really good one.
 
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RikWriter said:
Yeah that's the part that boggles my mind. I know too many people who've decided that one lens or another that hadn't come out yet was the answer to their problems and to a person, they've all wound up selling them because they weren't living up to the hype they'd built up for them. If it were me, I would hold onto my 600 f4 until after I'd shot for a while with the new 400.
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RikWriter said:
Yes, you did not understand because what I said was nothing like that. I am saying he has lenses he knows work very well and he sold them in anticipation of a lens he's never used. Maybe it will be the greatest lens ever, but it's new and very few people have had the chance to try it and what if it disappoints him? Is he going to turn around and buy those other lenses back? If it were me, I would have waited until I had the 400 in my hand and tried it out a few times before selling my 600 f4.
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The part in bold is where I took my interpretation. I get that and it makes sense. If for some reason, Nikons most expensive Z lens to date is the first flop, I’m sure he will be incredibly disappointed and will replace it with a Z600mm when available.
 
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abc123brian said:
The part in bold is where I took my interpretation. I get that and it makes sense. If for some reason, Nikons most expensive Z lens to date is the first flop, I’m sure he will be incredibly disappointed and will replace it with a Z600mm when available.
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The part in bold is referring to people I know personally who went to Africa or Lake Clarke and bought a brand-new lens that they hadn't had a real chance to try out (one of them was the Canon 200-400 f4 with the built-in TC, and I think the other was the Nikon 180-400 with the built in TC) and then came back and were disappointed because the lens hadn't fit their needs the way they thought it would. Not saying the 400 2.8 Nikon Z lens will be a flop, just that he doesn't know until he tries it if it's going to be the one big lens he needs.
 
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BLev65 said:
I just read through this entire thread, and I think a few agree that Steve M made his choice based on one thing... comfort with ergonomics. While he cites a few preferences with the Z9, those might be mute based on user settings. The Z9 feels more like a D5, and this (w/ the D850) was his camera for years.
I have contemplated a move to Sony... A9II + A73S, but have stuck w/ Nikon's mid-tier stuff (Z6II/Z7II/D500) because of my own comfort with the gear.
I am currently in South TX visiting a few of the better known photo ranches, and have often cursed my gear choice, as the Z9 or A1 or A9II or R5 would be better at catching the fast flirty birds that I am trying to photograph. However, the is not what I usually photograph. I like to photograph large lumbering birds, mammals, and landscapes. While I will likely pine for a Z9, it is more likely that I will replace my D500 w/ gently used D5, as this and my Z-bodies are well suited to what I photograph.
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That's a very good way to assess what you need vs. what you want. If really fast action of subjects like birds in flight is a high percentage of your photography, the Z9, A1, or R3 cameras have an advantage that would likely be meaningful. But if you have a large proportion of large animals, wading birds, or landscapes, other cameras are likely as good as the flagship models.

All of these flagship models are likely to have "siblings" released this year to deliver alternatives for enthusiasts and professionals. I'm not sure that has to be a DX camera to be effective, and another full frame camera may well do the job. There are hardware components that go with high performance cameras. Traditionally DX/APS-C is associated with smaller and lighter cameras and lenses, but that is much less the case today. Likewise mirrorless full frame cameras in crop mode can deliver many of the benefits of a DX/APS-C camera so it will be interesting to see how high performance is extended. At a $2000-3500 price, demand for an action camera will be sufficient to provide economies of scale that meaningfully reduce cost of the new technologies for action cameras.
 
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BLev65 said:
I just read through this entire thread, and I think a few agree that Steve M made his choice based on one thing... comfort with ergonomics. While he cites a few preferences with the Z9, those might be mute based on user settings. The Z9 feels more like a D5, and this (w/ the D850) was his camera for years.
I have contemplated a move to Sony... A9II + A73S, but have stuck w/ Nikon's mid-tier stuff (Z6II/Z7II/D500) because of my own comfort with the gear.
I am currently in South TX visiting a few of the better known photo ranches, and have often cursed my gear choice, as the Z9 or A1 or A9II or R5 would be better at catching the fast flirty birds that I am trying to photograph. However, the is not what I usually photograph. I like to photograph large lumbering birds, mammals, and landscapes. While I will likely pine for a Z9, it is more likely that I will replace my D500 w/ gently used D5, as this and my Z-bodies are well suited to what I photograph.
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As @EricBowles said your right on track. I shoot a lot of birds in brush for birding ID and Birds in Flight for the same thing or just fun. My most used lens is a 600mm f/4 E. Ergonomically I am used to D4s, D500 and D850 with grips and D6. To me the Z9 looked to be ergonomically about the ideal fit for me why I sold D6 and D500 when I ordered the Z9 on 10-28 ... still waiting and pining for it :)
 
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Steve W said:
Nothing to read into this really. He has made a choice based on his needs. He has found features on the Z9 that he believes warrant the expense of switching. The Sony fans shouldn’t feel offended and the Nikon fans shouldn’t see it as some sort of validation of their choice.
Most of us make a choice based on what’s the best fit for us (ergo’s, features, lenses etc) and adapt to the minor shortcomings. I for one can’t afford to jump back and forth between systems because one manufacturers screen tilts a bit different to another’s or the battery lasts a bit longer.

The fact is that all the latest generation cameras are so good that they manage to elevate many photographers to a level previously beyond their ability. Choose what fits you best, go out, take photos and enjoy.
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EXACTLY..well put,

For me I get stunning images from the D850, DF, D3X, D4s, D5, D6, D700, D7100, D300, F2.8 glass, 70-200FL 28-300, 300 F2.8, 50mm 1.4, 24-70 F2.8 etc etc
My friends say they cant tell the difference between the event images from the Z9 and D850 images, so why do i have a Z9.

Ok, i answered ................ i got one because of focus attack speed, 45mp at 12, 15, 20, 30 120, FPS, Video capability, well i am not there yet.......................adaptability to FX lenses..........

What do you miss....................the D6 for ease of use and stickiness in challenging sports action situations, i can like on the D850 D3X D5 D4s D6 make adjustments in the dark so to speak, the learning curve on the Z9 is steep. the tracking is well i am no expert in it yet but needs to be a lot more reliable in challenging conditions, but thats not just what i baught it for.

Mirror less, Not fussed so much about the tracking, never been high on my list but will use it in easy applications where it can work reliably............i mean really, a snow owl flying in the snow towards you has to be the easiest challenge for any camera shot properly.
On the D4s D5 D3X If i wanted to I could put the focus points on the eye or face of a bird, and without blinking i could wind back the shutter speed to create movement in the wings as the ISO was floated.........now the Z9 can do this as well and automatically...............as long as the tracking sticks which in ideal cases its dose, ideal being the difference.

I hope the new update resolves a list of challenges.

Brand Canon, Sony, Nikon, doesn't matter, its what works for you, I like the Nikon files and always have, Some people shift to Sony from Nikon, others move from Sony to Canon, who cares.

What ever floats your boat, i mean we spend so much time and effort on the tech aspects of the gear, bells and whistles, when its only about 10-20% of the equation......the other 80-90% should be about photography............yes will a mirror less camera make you a better photographer ?, i don't think so it will however give you more options,
a camera is only a tool.
Will i invest into expensive Z Glass......NO............ i have the 50mm 1.8 Z, i will hire exotic Z glass as and when needed and use the FX wholly trio, plus 200-500, D850, DF that fits in my coat pocket with a 50mm 1.4 D, blees it..a gem and joy to use..........its makes me slow down, think, compose, and make a photograph, not take one.

Light is the greatest tool, time and speed completes the equation...........good light makes lenses and camera more equal..............

We should spend more time looking at what we achieve, not what we have.

Only an Opinion.
 
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Not sure what he meant by Bluebird Season almost over ? I have photographed them at similar altitude and latitude from March to July. This one is from Yellowstone Park on 5-10-2018 D500 and 150-600 Tamron G2. Yup the learning curve on Z9 is steep started setting mine up 4-18-22 then 4-20 firmware update hit ... just getting "a very tiny bit" settled in. I went from D500 to D850 in a few hours and ditto from D4S to D6. Z6II was not to bad but Z9 is another beast.
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Steve said:
FWIW, I think Steve M made the choice he felt the most comfortable with and that's fine. We all have different needs and should use the systems that work best for the types of photography we do and the way we're wried. As someone said earlier, his using Nikon doesn't invalidate those using Sony or Canon and vice versa. For what I shoot, it's the a1 every day and twice on Sunday. While I'm also happy using the Z9, gun to my head if I had to choose, I'd go Sony. However, I don't have to choose so I can happily shoot both, using each system where it's strongest. (The Z9 and 500PF is one of my favorite setups for instance and Sony has no counterpart to the 500PF, on the other hand, the Sony customizations are far superior).

IMO, each photographer should shoot the brand that works best with how they are wired and worry a hell of a lot less about gear and WAY more about fieldcraft and technique. :)
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I only wish I had some way to justify and pay for the Sony and Nikon systems for an old retired dude :)
 
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Stephen Berger said:
I just leave mine on as it always has the 600 f/4 attached and action can happen at any moment. I did the same with my D850 and 500f/4. I don't mind running through batteries (always have extras) but do mind missing a shot because I had the camera off.
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My camera is on whenever I am in the field with whatever lens is attached ... is with Z6II or D850 also and D6 and D500 in the past. Biggest battery burn I have experienced has been GPS turned on with D6 and monitor on a lot while setting camera up :) Still glad I have 3 D batteries and some a's and c's used in D850 grip and D6.
 
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