Well Sh*t just got real...now what to do?

[Steve]

I will say the buffer kind of sucks at 14 bit. You get 4.5 seconds until the buffer is full and I’m guessing a few seconds to clear it. View attachment 13728

Most of the time, 2-3 seconds is plenty. However, I have had occasions where I needed longer bursts. With my D850 (a somewhat limited buffer as well) I usually was able to mange with careful controlled bursts. My understanding is that it does clear fast. So, if there's a chance to let off for a moment during the burst, you can get a lot of buffer back (same with Nikon).

Another thought is this - I use my a9ii at 10FPS quite a bit. For "lighter" action that's plenty of FPS (like an egret lazily flying by). However, for more active subjects there certainly is a benefit to going to 20FPS - even at that high frame rate, every shot will be different.

 

[jeffnles1]

I must disagree and be the voice of impulse buying. I bought the D500 and the 500mm PF on their announcement days and they were both great purchases. Sometimes you just know its right. The problem I have is that my wife and I talked it over and as far as the outlay to switch to Sony, well, I'm just not worth it. Its better have that money in the bank than to have it out here generating fun, enthusiasm, and happiness.

My loving wife of 38 loooong.... oops wonderful years has much the same assessment of my net worth vs. the cost of switching to Sony.

 

[fcotterill]

No top-panel LCD/information display? I find this essential to check a swathe of camera settings.

Strange, and in fact many photographers will probably rate this omission unacceptable: especially in a 'flagship' camera

 

[Steve]

No top-panel LCD/information display? I find this essential to check a swathe of camera settings.

Strange, and in fact many photographers will probably rate this omission unacceptable: especially in a 'flagship' camera

It's funny, I never really noticed it with the a9ii. However, I don't shoot macros or landscapes with it (I use the Z7) and I do use the top LCD in those cases. Good observation

 

[Ian]

Guess you could always pull the screen out and tilt it upwards. It works for me on my A7Riii

 

[FB101]

All this sounds very much like cheap used gear in the near future
Considering how fast Sony is moving on technology I can probably hang on to my Nikon F, skip mirrorless altogether and jump onto the cameraless bandwagon in a decade

 

[MartyD]

Amazing specifications, but at my age, with my skill level, my photographic needs, and my wallet, I can't see myself changing camera brands. I have been using Nikon gear purely as a hobbyist for almost 50 years and it still gets the job done for me.

What I am hoping is that there will suddenly be a glut of long Nikon AF primes on the market from photographers jumping to other brands. Maybe I will be able to afford those lenses that I always thought were way out of my price range.

 

[DavidT]

I preorder and paid for an a1 this morning. I had just bought a 500PF that’s in its return period so got an RMA to return it. Once the a1 ships in hopefully March if it’s what I’m expecting it to be I’ll make the full transition to Sony. Kind of makes me sick to my stomach thinking about it as I really like Nikon but knowing I usually shoot 500MM plus and knowing I want a new 600f4 by June I think Sony is the right camera system for now. I think it’s going to be years for Nikon to catch up to what they have now let alone advancements Sony makes. The 600 will anchor me into a system and frankly Sony is the only one with a native lens and will likely be for the next year or two. Hope it’s the right choice.

 

[Steve]

I preorder and paid for an a1 this morning. I had just bought a 500PF that’s in its return period so got an RMA to return it. Once the a1 ships in hopefully March if it’s what I’m expecting it to be I’ll make the full transition to Sony. Kind of makes me sick to my stomach thinking about it as I really like Nikon but knowing I usually shoot 500MM plus and knowing I want a new 600f4 by June I think Sony is the right camera system for now. I think it’s going to be years for Nikon to catch up to what they have now let alone advancements Sony makes. The 600 will anchor me into a system and frankly Sony is the only one with a native lens and will likely be for the next year or two. Hope it’s the right choice.

If nothing else, that means Nikon will announce an even better camera sometime late March

In all seriousness though, I do tend to agree. I don't know that Nikon is going to catch up for awhile and who knows where Sony will be my then?

 

[WildBill]

I preorder and paid for an a1 this morning. I had just bought a 500PF that’s in its return period so got an RMA to return it. Once the a1 ships in hopefully March if it’s what I’m expecting it to be I’ll make the full transition to Sony. Kind of makes me sick to my stomach thinking about it as I really like Nikon but knowing I usually shoot 500MM plus and knowing I want a new 600f4 by June I think Sony is the right camera system for now. I think it’s going to be years for Nikon to catch up to what they have now let alone advancements Sony makes. The 600 will anchor me into a system and frankly Sony is the only one with a native lens and will likely be for the next year or two. Hope it’s the right choice.

I've also been weighing the pro's and con's. I settled with this method: treat each company like I would if I were investing in it's stock. Which stock would I be most comfortable holding long term? In order: Sony, Canon, then Nikon. This made the transition choice easier for me. I'm going to miss this 500 PF so much though. I hope Sony eventually makes some PF glass... or maybe I'll just get a 600 F4. Any tips on finding one? Local shop said 8 month wait.

 

[Steve]

I've also been weighing the pro's and con's. I settled with this method: treat each company like I would if I were investing in it's stock. Which stock would I be most comfortable holding long term? In order: Sony, Canon, then Nikon. This made the transition choice easier for me. I'm going to miss this 500 PF so much though. I hope Sony eventually makes some PF glass... or maybe I'll just get a 600 F4. Any tips on finding one? Local shop said 8 month wait.

Sony does have some kind of patent for PF style glass. I can't remember what lens, etc, but I do remember seeing something about it.

I like that stock investment analogy.

 

[eaj101]

On that basis, you should be buying Nikon and Canon since their values are depressed and shorting Sony, waiting for the inevitable stumble

 

[kimball]

For folks lamenting the loss of their 500PF as they switch to Sony, you might want to read up on the various 3rd-party F-to-E mount adapters, for example:

https://briansmith.com/nikon-lens-adapters-sony-e-mount-cameras/

I doubt they'd be fast enough for BIF, but maybe large mammals?

 

[eaj101]

For folks lamenting the loss of their 500PF as they switch to Sony, you might want to read up on the various 3rd-party F-to-E mount adapters, for example:

https://briansmith.com/nikon-lens-adapters-sony-e-mount-cameras/

I doubt they'd be fast enough for BIF, but maybe large mammals?

My experience with them was very iffy. None worked really well, some could set aperture, some could (sometimes) trigger AF, some could (reliably) lock up the camera, requiring a hard reset. There wasn't anything consistent about it, either. I tried several (3) different AF capable adapters, and some G lenses worked and others didn't, different ones on each adapter. Several lenses worked flawlessly, a number (including some E lenses) didn't work at all. Of course, D screw drive lenses didn't AF at all (they don't with the FTZ either). However it's possible that in the year and a half since I gave up that the adapters and their firmware have evolved. I'd make sure I have a fallback plan.

 

[JP Onstwedder]

$4-5k cost to switch? Systems seem to leapfrog each other every 3-5 years, I guess. By sticking with one brand you’d save the cost of a 180-400/4 or 600/4 every decade...Maybe I should realise how much money I’ve saved by not switching from Nikon since 2006 and my D200 and buy that expensive lens

 

[fcotterill]

For one locked into a largish Nikon system, I see the best of this new launch is the impetus to the other two (startling them hopefully!) , who both deserve a hefty kick to hurry along, and expand and improve their systems - Nikon especially.

I'm quietly informed Nikon engineers are re-tuning their 45mp sensor towards better low light performance (besides 8K). As we know, such a high-resolution sensor will have major implications in wildlife photography. Pushing sensor IQ into uncharted "design space' will be the real innovation; most of the other features rank as expected and/or overdue progress ie incremental (30fps, 8K, and even vastly improved shutters).

This rumour of "Lowlight 45mp Sensor" might explain the increases of new sensor patents from Nikon. Possibly some new sensor tweaks will trickle out into the anticipated Z8 this year, or alternatively, Nikon will hold them back to package with the EXPEED7.

What Does II Say About III? | Thom Hogan

What can we predict about the Z6 III and Z7 III

www.zsystemuser.com

 

[Owney]

"but right now Nikon just doesn't have an answer to this and I doubt we'll see anything even this year (I'd love to be wrong though). Don't worry though - my Nikon gear isn't going anywhere (well, most of it's not )"

Steve, just wondering what your guesstimate is for an upcoming Nikon pro mirrorless camera?

 

[Steve]

"but right now Nikon just doesn't have an answer to this and I doubt we'll see anything even this year (I'd love to be wrong though). Don't worry though - my Nikon gear isn't going anywhere (well, most of it's not )"

Steve, just wondering what your guesstimate is for an upcoming Nikon pro mirrorless camera?

I'd guess very late this year at the earliest but more likely next year. However, I'm historically terrible at guesses like this!

What I'm more concerned about is if they'll meet the a1 head-on, try to go even better, or if they'll just put out a nice third-place showing like they did with the D6.

 

[fcotterill]

i just read Steve's list [here] of the string of innovations, with which the a1 opens up new opportunities/fixes problems. This raises the bar for CaNikon to match a large suite of features in shutter performance, EVF and digital processing....

So this shoves up the pressure for the R system and especially the Z system to raise their respective ceilings

For one locked into a largish Nikon system, I see the best of this new launch is the impetus to the other two (startling them hopefully!) , who both deserve a hefty kick to hurry along, and expand and improve their systems - Nikon especially.

I'm quietly informed Nikon engineers are re-tuning their 45mp sensor towards better low light performance (besides 8K). As we know, such a high-resolution sensor will have major implications in wildlife photography. Pushing sensor IQ into uncharted "design space' will be the real innovation; most of the other features rank as expected and/or overdue progress ie incremental (30fps, 8K, and even vastly improved shutters).

This rumour of "Lowlight 45mp Sensor" might explain the increases of new sensor patents from Nikon. Possibly some new sensor tweaks will trickle out into the anticipated Z8 this year, or alternatively, Nikon will hold them back to package with the EXPEED7.

What Does II Say About III? | Thom Hogan

What can we predict about the Z6 III and Z7 III

www.zsystemuser.com

 

[FB101]

The scary thing about Nikon is that they will likely completely ignore the cheapest, fastest (and likely easiest) thing to do that would not eliminate but slow down the move over to Sony (and canon more immediately) - fix the performance of the FTZ adapter and add some functionality to it (filter holder like canon or even better, built-in 1.4x multiplier etc...).
Imagine a $500 F to Z adapter, with a 1.4x multiplier built-in that can be activated with a simple switch on the side and no penalty on AF speed? It doesn't negate all the qualities of the A1 but ~$2500 to "wait" (Z6II + adapter) versus $20,000 to "swap" - for non-pros that's a much more enticing option.

 

[Anjin San]

What we really want is a camera that gets up before dawn to get the shots so we can stay in bed longer!

The best idea yet...

 

[thelordofthelight]

Thom Hogan seems to be doing stuff that Nikon should be doing Some hints on what we can expect from Nikon

For Those With Sony Paranoia | Thom Hogan

What does the Sony A1 mean to Nikon?

www.zsystemuser.com

 

[Anjin San]

If nothing else, that means Nikon will announce an even better camera sometime late March

In all seriousness though, I do tend to agree. I don't know that Nikon is going to catch up for awhile and who knows where Sony will be my then?

One thing we might be overlooking...is it really worth spending the cash to catch up. Don’t forget...better is the enemy of good enough...and there are few of us with both the skills and an actual need to spend that much on a body and associated fast long glass. Like all of you...I would love to that from a GAS standpoint...but it just doesn’t make sense. I’m sure that the Sony 600/f4 is a great lens...as are Nikon and Canon equivalents...but the likelihood of me spending 13K on a single lens is zero...and while we all make our own financial decisions I think that anybody with a net worth of less than $10 million or so who spends that kind of money on a lens when they make nothing from their hobby is making a poor decision, but it’s theirs to make and I won’t and aren’t judging them for it as it might be their priority.

Like the brouhaha over Nikon going out of business...our gear still works and if it meets our needs and a 20K switch won’t materially improve our images since our skills won’t change...maybe just stay with good enough and quit chasing better. Of course...this from the buy who’s getting a 7II and 500PF...maybe my it’s too expensive is different from yours. I can see that my planned purchases will (a) improve my image capabilities a bit and (b) start the inevitable move into the mirrorless world.

I would love to spend unlimited money on gear...and to be honest I really could afford the 20K to go all Sony A1...but even if our net worth was 20 million I don’t think my psyche would let me do it...it’s just not us.

 

[eaj101]

I try and keep a couple of general rules: 1) I skip generations, such as going from the D800 to the D850, and 2) I try and articulate a reason, something the new gear will clearly impact. For example, going from 36 to 46mp didn't mean much, but the thumbstick to drive the focus point was big (I use small focus areas mostly). The PF lenses were a huge benefit, because their small size and light weight means I'm more likely to have them out, use them, and get shots. The 24mm f/1.8 got a lot of night/milky way shots. (Sometimes I just want it, like the Z7 ). This is mostly why the a1 underwhelms me. 20 fps? Don't want it. Eye AF? Won't use it. If Nikon had really put the entire D850 feature set into the Z7 I might never buy another camera (p.s. Nikon's not going out of business. Unless Apple buys them. Not unthinkable).

 

[WildBill]

I’m sure that the Sony 600/f4 is a great lens...as are Nikon and Canon equivalents...but the likelihood of me spending 13K on a single lens is zero...and while we all make our own financial decisions I think that anybody with a net worth of less than $10 million or so who spends that kind of money on a lens when they make nothing from their hobby is making a poor decision, but it’s theirs to make and I won’t and aren’t judging them for it as it might be their priority.

The 600 F4's hold their value well. Your money doesn't disappear when you purchase these. If someone has a $10 million net worth and is good with their money... they're making at least $1 million a year in PASSIVE income. I promise ya, 13k for a lens is a trivial amount to them if it's their main hobby.