To upgrade or not; that is the question.
Fri 30-Oct-20 12:03 PM
I recently spoke with my local camera store about the improvements to the Z7 with the Z7ii. They advised to keep the Z7 because I am not a wedding photographer, nor a fashion photographer and I am also not a videographer. Given that logic I intend to agree. They suggested that if I continue to have NAS then consider instead upgrading the 24-70 f/4 or waiting for the 24-105; or pick up the 35 f/1.8. PS Jackson Taylor did a phenomenal review of the new Z6ii which sparked me recent urge to consider upgrading my Z7 to the Z7ii. https://apple.news/A3hXL2Eu3NsCrRk3Pc4y7hA. Kent in VA
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"A poor worker always blames his tools" Anonymous
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#1. "RE: To upgrade or not; that is the question." | In response to Reply # 0
Fri 30-Oct-20 01:03 PMKent they gave you super advice. As I already said use the gear you have to get all the pictures you wanted to take.
When this is done buy the new camera for the next step.
Egbert
www.allmondo.com
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#3. "RE: To upgrade or not; that is the question." | In response to Reply # 0
Fri 30-Oct-20 01:51 PM
My expectation is the improvements to AF speed and accuracy are the main reasons to upgrade the Z7ii and Z6ii. I suspect it is more important for the Z6ii because that camera is more common for action or sports.
The wild card is the use of the second processor. On the D500 and D850 the separate AF processor resulted in 20-25% improvement in in focus images for my equestrian work. I expect a the Z6ii and Z7ii will likewise have a nice jump in performance, although a 20% improvement is not possible. But issues related to AF speed will largely be a thing of the past.
I've got the Z6 and probably won't get the Z6ii or Z7ii - but I am thinking about the upgrade. I shoot enough action that the step up in AF speed will be useful. I've also thought about the Z7 over the Z6 anyway, and I already have the Z lenses to support high resolution. My D850 is getting less and less work.
My take is an upgrade will cost about $1000/$1200 - selling the old Z6/7 and getting the new Z6ii/Z7ii. For someone buying new today, the price difference will be around $500 between Z6 and Z6ii after the Z6 price settles.
The question in my mind is whether Nikon will continue to upgrade firmware with meaningful improvements the way they have the Z6/7 updates. If so, the hardware in the Z6ii/Z7ii creates a more advanced platform that won't be available for the Z6/7.
My current thought is the D850 is my last DSLR - and I plan to keep it long term. I will be selling most other DSLR cameras but keeping a basic set of high quality lenses where performance justifies an F-mount.
The wild card is the use of the second processor. On the D500 and D850 the separate AF processor resulted in 20-25% improvement in in focus images for my equestrian work. I expect a the Z6ii and Z7ii will likewise have a nice jump in performance, although a 20% improvement is not possible. But issues related to AF speed will largely be a thing of the past.
I've got the Z6 and probably won't get the Z6ii or Z7ii - but I am thinking about the upgrade. I shoot enough action that the step up in AF speed will be useful. I've also thought about the Z7 over the Z6 anyway, and I already have the Z lenses to support high resolution. My D850 is getting less and less work.
My take is an upgrade will cost about $1000/$1200 - selling the old Z6/7 and getting the new Z6ii/Z7ii. For someone buying new today, the price difference will be around $500 between Z6 and Z6ii after the Z6 price settles.
The question in my mind is whether Nikon will continue to upgrade firmware with meaningful improvements the way they have the Z6/7 updates. If so, the hardware in the Z6ii/Z7ii creates a more advanced platform that won't be available for the Z6/7.
My current thought is the D850 is my last DSLR - and I plan to keep it long term. I will be selling most other DSLR cameras but keeping a basic set of high quality lenses where performance justifies an F-mount.
Eric Bowles
Director - Nikonians Academy
Nikonians Team Moderator
My Gallery
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#6. "RE: To upgrade or not; that is the question." | In response to Reply # 3
Sat 31-Oct-20 12:47 AMERic, if I would have purchased the D850 instead of the Z7, I'd be buying the Z7ii right now. But, I do miss the D750 because it autofocused my D lenses. If I had the D850 I would keep it so I could focus stack my 200mm AFD and 70-180 AFD Micro Nikkors.
I'm not going back to DSLRs, plain and simple. The Z7 is such an incredible tool that it continues to amaze me a year and half later. Only last month did I discover live-view double and triple exposure mode. Nearly blew my mind.
PS, no battery problems with my Z7. I agree, if you do studio work it would make sense to tether it to a constant power source.
Kent in VAVisit my Nikonians gallery.
"A poor worker always blames his tools" Anonymous-
#7. "RE: To upgrade or not; that is the question." | In response to Reply # 6
Sat 31-Oct-20 12:15 PM | edited Sun 01-Nov-20 09:16 AM by rchandler46Actually, the D850 requires an AF-S or AF-P lens for focus shift. It won't work with a screwdriver lens. I wanted to use my 200 AFD micro for focus stacking as well, but no deal.Visit my Nikonians gallery
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#9. "RE: To upgrade or not; that is the question." | In response to Reply # 7
Mon 09-Nov-20 11:40 AMDick, I just want to thank you for pointing out that auto stacking doesn’t work with AF-D lenses on the D-850. I had no idea; it was one of the reasons I struggled when deciding to upgrade to the Z-7 over the D850. Really glad to know because it had been bugging me. So one cook aspect of the Z-7 is that I can auto focus stack with the 50-250 Dx Z lens. The 50-250 is super sharp and with a 6T diopter serves well as a macro lens.
thanks again. KentVisit my Nikonians gallery.
"A poor worker always blames his tools" Anonymous-
#10. "RE: To upgrade or not; that is the question." | In response to Reply # 9
Mon 09-Nov-20 04:51 PM | edited Mon 09-Nov-20 04:51 PM by rchandler46Hi, Kent
Glad it was useful.
Best. DickVisit my Nikonians gallery
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#8. "RE: To upgrade or not; that is the question." | In response to Reply # 3
Sun 01-Nov-20 09:52 AM
>I've got the Z6 and probably won't get the Z6ii or Z7ii - but
>I am thinking about the upgrade. I shoot enough action that
>the step up in AF speed will be useful. I've also thought
>about the Z7 over the Z6 anyway, and I already have the Z
>lenses to support high resolution. My D850 is getting less
>and less work.
Didn't I see somewhere that the blackout time between frames has been reduced as well? I haven't seen the early (pre-production) reviewers comment on this; I don't imagine the difference is a large one. Still, for action shooting any reduction in blackout time would be welcome.
>I am thinking about the upgrade. I shoot enough action that
>the step up in AF speed will be useful. I've also thought
>about the Z7 over the Z6 anyway, and I already have the Z
>lenses to support high resolution. My D850 is getting less
>and less work.
Didn't I see somewhere that the blackout time between frames has been reduced as well? I haven't seen the early (pre-production) reviewers comment on this; I don't imagine the difference is a large one. Still, for action shooting any reduction in blackout time would be welcome.
-- Jon
Wethersfield, CT, USA
Connecticut High School Sports Photos
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#4. "RE: To upgrade or not; that is the question." | In response to Reply # 0
Fri 30-Oct-20 02:05 PM
Sounds like good advice. For me and my work, battery life is the top thing. Additional memory is nice, but battery life reigns supreme on my list because when my Z7 battery wants to die, it often does it unexpectedly.
I have two D850's I use in my studio. They work great!
Now you may ask why that is. I watch my battery level on the Z7 all the time.
I have had it die unexpectedly within a 4 minutes of seeing at 50% while shooting straight, no live view, no multiple frame shots and no Wifi or anything else that drags down battery life. It is aggravating. Fresh charged, brand new Nikon EN-EL15b batteries make no difference.
That why it's not used at work, but it is my favorite landscape hobby camera. Now if the Z7ii turns out to have significant battery life, I might change my mind.
I have two D850's I use in my studio. They work great!
Now you may ask why that is. I watch my battery level on the Z7 all the time.
I have had it die unexpectedly within a 4 minutes of seeing at 50% while shooting straight, no live view, no multiple frame shots and no Wifi or anything else that drags down battery life. It is aggravating. Fresh charged, brand new Nikon EN-EL15b batteries make no difference.
That why it's not used at work, but it is my favorite landscape hobby camera. Now if the Z7ii turns out to have significant battery life, I might change my mind.
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#5. "RE: To upgrade or not; that is the question." | In response to Reply # 4
Fri 30-Oct-20 02:28 PM | edited Sat 31-Oct-20 08:57 AM by ericbowlesThe Z7ii and EN-EL15c battery allow USB charging. So you can mount the camera on a tripod, plug in the power, and shoot without any worry about the battery being drained.
I'm consistently getting 1000 photos or more on a charge with my Z6. I have noticed using the FTZ and a lens with VR can lead to battery drain. The camera keeps VR running until it goes into sleep mode - so the viewfinder is stabilized. But that does drain the battery faster.
In case you are wondering, the new grip for the Z7ii and Z6ii will not work with the Z6/7. There is a physical connection required that the Z6/7 does not have. But if you have the Z6ii/7ii, you can use the grip with two batteries and hot swap the primary battery. The second battery operates in standby mode until the first battery is exhausted or removed for a swap. After a swap, the primary battery is used again so the backup battery is always as fresh as possible.Eric Bowles
Director - Nikonians Academy
Nikonians Team Moderator
My Gallery
Workshops and Private Instruction
Nikonians membership — my most important photographic investment, after the camera
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