mrz1342
New member
then Z50ii would be fine.
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Z8 and best 2nd body for traveling and hiking
- Thread starter mrz1342
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O
Well-known member
I sold my Z9 after 2 years and basically got back almost what i paid for it, i got a Z8 for hiking and travel as i wanted lighter smaller and less attention.Currentely, I own Z8 (1000 gr with L bracket and battery with cards) and Z lenses. For light traveling and hiking, I set 14-30+28-400 (= 1300 gr) and essential accessories and very light bag pack: Total 3.5kg minimum. for my age of 60, still its heavy for hiking and traveling (and bulky). Before I set Sony a7Cii and R with small lenses but I was not satisfy because of file quality and very small body that confused me to put my fingers in right places, besides very small VF. Earlier I set Fujifilm with lighter and smaller lenses with perfect picture quality but worms-issues! Finally I moved to Nikon Z series and I amazed for DR, IQ, and all in one features. Even non-S lenses are identical for quality performance. (Z lenses are heavy but worth to carry for best creating high quality). If I want to pack my gear for a project seriously I prefer to buy another Z8 to keep muscles memory and keeping same files for post. BUT, as I mentioned, I need higher body for hiking and traveling. Z6iii doesn't provide same DR as Z8 for photography and its with less MP resolution (although has same Prosecco tech). Z7 ii has older processor but same MP as Z8. Z5 ii full frame and 26 MP with all latest features is coming soon which is 600 gr only (Body) which is 500 gr less than my Z8 and with combination of 14-30+28-400 and essential accessories into light bag pack will be: 2.5 kg Max. (Just to save space and weight). I will be happy if anybody share opinion with me. Thank you
Also the Z9 replacement is not far away, as well as my Z9 was out of warranty. I far prefer the Z9 over the Z8 just need the Z8.
Well that's on my radar for now, I am waiting for the Z7III in the hope its also a 60mp sensor. Its about as light as i can go in FF Nikon at 45 or 60 mp.
Lens wise 24-120 is 710 gms, the 28-400 is 725gms 100-400 is 1.4kgs, i would carry my 16mm fish eye in my pocket and use in manually for landscapes at wide angles.
Other than that a I phone 15 or 16 is defiantly very usable.
yes its good choice. As I mentioned in another post (Z-traveling/Hiking) my final selection would be coming Z7iii+ 17-28 and 28-400 to cover full range of wide to telecom. and with lightweight bag pack with essential accessories will be in total 2.5 to max. 3 kg.I sold my Z9 after 2 years and basically got back almost what i paid for it, i got a Z8 for hiking and travel as i wanted lighter smaller and less attention.
Also the Z9 replacement is not far away, as well as my Z9 was out of warranty. I far prefer the Z9 over the Z8 just need the Z8.
Well that's on my radar for now, I am waiting for the Z7III in the hope its also a 60mp sensor. Its about as light as i can go in FF Nikon at 45 or 60 mp.
Lens wise 24-120 is 710 gms, the 28-400 is 725gms 100-400 is 1.4kgs, i would carry my 16mm fish eye in my pocket and use in manually for landscapes at wide angles.
Other than that a I phone 15 or 16 is defiantly very usable.
O
Well-known member
I do 3 and 4 day hikes, hence selling the Z9 for a Z8, i don't want less than 45mp in fact i want more.yes its good choice. As I mentioned in another post (Z-traveling/Hiking) my final selection would be coming Z7iii+ 17-28 and 28-400 to cover full range of wide to telecom. and with lightweight bag pack with essential accessories will be in total 2.5 to max. 3 kg.
The Z8 is heavy similar to the D850, 4/3rds options are truly wonderful today and worthy of more serious consideration, just not going there as many club members have done that journey and often come back to the 35mm FF, maybe its psychosomatic.
Sony has the weight down well like the A1 around 730 gms.
My favourite travel camera for holidays and street shoots is my 710 gram DF brilliant on a 50mm Ziess, or 28-300, yes its only 16mp but gee its fun to use and just delivers outstanding images even in mono.
My biggest issue with the Z system is battery life, when hiking with the Z8 i need to carry 4 batteries minimum with the Z8 to last 3 -4 days, The batteries on the Df lasts more than three times as long, hence i have often taken on multi day hikes the DF and 28-300 with just 1 spare battery.
Only an opinion
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thank you for sharing. I sold my sony a1 since lake of colour accuracy. Also sony a7cr and ii both are good but small body and uncomfortable agronomy. eventually I found nikon Z series for the best image quality.I do 3 and 4 day hikes, hence selling the Z9 for a Z8, i don't want less than 45mp in fact i want more.
The Z8 is heavy similar to the D850, 4/3rds options are truly wonderful today and worthy of more serious consideration, just not going there as many club members have done that journey and often come back to the 35mm FF, maybe its psychosomatic.
Sony has the weight down well like the A1 around 730 gms.
My favourite travel camera for holidays and street shoots is my 710 gram DF brilliant on a 50mm Ziess, or 28-300, yes its only 16mp but gee its fun to use and just delivers outstanding images even in mono.
My biggest issue with the Z system is battery life, when hiking with the Z8 i need to carry 4 batteries minimum with the Z8 to last 3 -4 days, The batteries on the Df lasts more than three times as long, hence i have often taken on multi day hikes the DF and 28-300 with just 1 spare battery.
Only an opinion
yes, Z8 is bulky and heavy for hiking and traveling, that is why I am planning to but a second body (Z7iii or Z5ii, coming in Q1 2025) + 17-28 and 28-400 as 2 lens kit with max bag pack weight 2.5 -3 kg, and keeping my Z8 and other S lenses for serious projects and back of my car wherever I go without working for size and weight.
O
Well-known member
thank you for sharing. I sold my sony a1 since lake of colour accuracy. Also sony a7cr and ii both are good but small body and uncomfortable agronomy. eventually I found nikon Z series for the best image quality.
yes, Z8 is bulky and heavy for hiking and traveling, that is why I am planning to but a second body (Z7iii or Z5ii, coming in Q1 2025) + 17-28 and 28-400 as 2 lens kit with max bag pack weight 2.5 -3 kg, and keeping my Z8 and other S lenses for serious projects and back of my car wherever I go without working for size and weight.
Excellent choices, all makes sense, i am intrigued about the 17-28 F2.8 or the 20 1.8, maybe a step forward or back may reach the 17 or 28 position ?, i was also wondering about the 14-30 F4.
Agree with you on the Nikon colour files, many people say but you can tweak images in post to look the same, maybe but not in my experience.
Yes but i don't do much post, i also shoot 95% of the time in JPEG Fine. I have access to camera raw that deals also with JPEGs. I mean files are very subjective.
I also find the glass makes a big difference in contrast and colour,
I often tweak the settings in camera re sharpness saturation contrast etc in a given or known environment.
The synergy of Nikon glass and camera is well matched.
I am still with Nikon for the image files and local service that has tremendous support.
For myself Nikon's files are clearly very accurate, and to my taste, i see many images in competitions as well as during judging, they usually have been very well processed delivering really great outcomes, they look stunning but once you see what i see in the Nikon images the signature look is still there all the time.
I like the files out of the D850 but gee the Z glass really makes the Z cameras look good LOL.
I sold my sony a1 since lake of colour accuracy.
Did you not try creating custom color profiles for your a1 with the Colorchecker Passport?
I'm a bit color blind so have used one for a long time on all of my cameras to ensure that my colors are accurate. It only takes a couple of minutes to do and I label them as to the conditions so in Lightroom I have a few to choose from that match the conditions I shot in. I always carry the Colorchecker Passport in case I find myself in an unusual situation so I can make a new profile as needed.
yes of course, but still overall Nikon processor creates IQ with better colors and DR, no need to manipulate in post. Even I believe it's better than Fujifilm film simulations!Did you not try creating custom color profiles for your a1 with the Colorchecker Passport?
I'm a bit color blind so have used one for a long time on all of my cameras to ensure that my colors are accurate. It only takes a couple of minutes to do and I label them as to the conditions so in Lightroom I have a few to choose from that match the conditions I shot in. I always carry the Colorchecker Passport in case I find myself in an unusual situation so I can make a new profile as needed.
Did you not try creating custom color profiles for your a1 with the Colorchecker Passport?
I'm a bit color blind so have used one for a long time on all of my cameras to ensure that my colors are accurate. It only takes a couple of minutes to do and I label them as to the conditions so in Lightroom I have a few to choose from that match the conditions I shot in. I always carry the Colorchecker Passport in case I find myself in an unusual situation so I can make a new profile as needed.
I've tried this and you can get close ish but the Nikon color profiles are still better. If you just want both to look the same then you can use the color checker to match but the Nikon profiles are really hard to match and also a lot of work to tweak all the time in different conditions. I've attempted this and always just come back to using Nikon profiles and cameras. I've owned Fuji, Sony, Pentax, Olympus and Nikon now and really prefer the Nikon colors the most, Fuji would be second, Olympus, Pentax and Sony last.
Sony colors just look off to me all the time, like weird blue/oranges/green colors. The latest ones do look to have improved though for color science/looks. But I still prefer the Nikon colors and Fuji.
I agree. Nikon's got the best color profiles and in camera processing out of any system I've used to date for my tastes.yes of course, but still overall Nikon processor creates IQ with better colors and DR, no need to manipulate in post. Even I believe it's better than Fujifilm film simulations!
O
Well-known member
Try before you buy has become very very important these days, i rent first if i have any doubts.