Okay, Okay, Okay, I'll Buy One

The Z7 on DPReview, a go-to site for breaking news about new cameras*

I logged in to DPReview this morning along with the rest of the photo-enthusiast world to get the scoop on the new Nikons, and found not one, not two, not three...[fast forward zzzt zzzt zzzt]...but what appears to be sixteen articles on the Z6, the Z7III, and their related accessories and lenses and so on.

That's pub, baby. When buzz becomes an eardrum-piercing, jet-taking-off roar? Takes me back to second grade on the playground when Bob Church was sitting on my back twisting my arm yelling "say 'uncle'!"

Calm down, they're just cameras
For those able to remain placid amidst the noise and haste, though, here's maybe the most salient feature of the new Nikon Sony-killers:

Nikon FTZ: essential

It's called the FTZ, it costs $250, and here's how B&H Photo describes it: "Enabling the use of nearly any Nikon F-mount lens on Z-mount mirrorless camera bodies, the FTZ Mount Adapter is a sophisticated means for expanding the range of usable lenses. While compatible with approximately 360 distinct F-mount lenses, this adapter is especially ideal for use with over 90 E, G, and D-type lenses, where it fully maintains autofocus and auto-exposure capabilities for seamless use of the SLR lenses on the mirrorless body. The adapter, which is built from magnesium alloy and is weather-sealed, also incorporates a 1/4"-20 mount on the base to provide a more balanced means for working on a tripod with longer, heavier lenses."

Redeployment
B&H says the FTZ is a means for "expanding the range of usable lenses," which it is, but I'd put that backwards: it's a means for putting back into service the Nikon lenses you might already have. Nikon can't have failed to notice and be dismayed by the fact that not only were A7[x] cameras stealing sales from FF DSLRs, but it was becoming conventional to use Canon SLR lenses on Sony A7[x] FF mirrorless bodies via adaptors.

Now there's a remedy for that, in the form of the Nikon Z6 ($1,996.95) and Nikon Z7 ($3,396.95) with an FTZ. Assuming you live at the proper budgetary level, it makes the purchase of a Z camera into more or less a no-brainer if you've amassed a large number of Nikon F-mount lenses over the years...even if you've already mostly moved to a different format of mirrorless and your once-beloved Nikkors are half out to pasture. For the guy who mainly shoots with a Fuji X-E3 or a GX85 now but still has eight or 13 or 21 perfectly good Nikkors in the closest from a past life, there's now a natural move to a compact full-frame body.

I'd wager there are lots and lots of people out there who have some Nikkors lying around, and would like a compact body to make them more useful again. Heck, I don't even shoot Nikon right now and I have no fewer than four F-mount lenses in my own closet. (Although one belongs to John C.)

The avalanche isn't ended
This is the sixth post on the new Nikons here on TOP. Shall I keep going until I get to sixteen? Actually, I guess I'll probably do what I always do: just keep talking about whatever interests me. (Old bull.) For however long it seems to interest you.

I never did say uncle, by the way. What was Bob going to do, actually break my arm? We were second graders. He wasn't Luca Brasi. Although, since I was snarky about the Z7III the other day, it probably does mean I'm going to end up shooting with one. So I can regularly be encouraged by Nikonians to break my teeth on my own salty words. That's the way that works.

Now, back to DPReview**.

Mike

*Note that in DPReview's illustration at the top of this page, the shooter's nose-hairs are shown in super-high resolution but the front end of the lens, like a dog's nose in a canine portrait on flickr, is out of the d-o-f. Which is full-frame in a nutshell if you ask me.

**With which I have no affiliation, by the way. In fact, I was banned once.

Original contents copyright 2018 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Malcolm Myers: "I was so excited about the launch that I dreamt about the cameras in my sleep. In my dreams the Z6 could only do JPEGs whereas you needed the Z7 to shoot raw. However, both cameras came with a nifty FM radio installed, with a horizontal dial on the back and an extendable antenna on the top, à la a 1970s transistor radio. It reminded me that my marketing skills may need a little work."

Doug C: "I find the FTZ adapter quite disappointing. Contrary to what B&H suggests, it does not autofocus with the older D-type lenses or the earlier simply 'AF' lenses. And it has no aperture connection to the AI manual focus lenses. So a Z series camera is a much more limited platform for users of older lenses than the current Nikon DSLRs. Not a surprise, but a disappointment. But no worse than the Sony competition. Otherwise it looks to be a very solid offering and I may well buy one instead of the Sony a7RIII that I was planning to buy."

Dave Van de Mark: "With an exciting year-long project ahead for me, I will be ordering a Z7—plain, simple, period. I have simply no doubt the optics will be fine and the 24–70mm focal range is where 98+ percent of of my 54 years of photography have been. Prior to Nikon’s announcement, I was drooling over the third-gen A7R. It has only taken a few glances at the first few articles and illustrations to clearly confirm Nikon’s supremacy in ergonomics. The ability to use a camera easily is as important as its specs. I’m sure the Nikon wins handily in the former and at least equals Sony in the latter."

Mike Plews: "I wasn't going to get excited about this but they got me with the adapter. It's nice to know that if I do go mirrorless my beloved 105mm ƒ/2.5, 24mm ƒ/2.8 and 50mm ƒ/1.4 will still find a home. Now all I need is a large envelope full of cash. Well played Nikon, well played...."

JG: "Canon lenses aren't the only ones being adapted for use on Sony cameras. Thanks to Leitax, many venerable Leica R, Contax/Yashica, and Olympus lenses can be converted to the Nikon F-mount bayonet and for not a lot money, too! I am certain it will be only a short time before all the Chinese lens adapter manufacturers are offering adapters that will allow all of these lenses (and many more!) to be adapted directly to a Nikon Z-mount body. And Leitax will no doubt also be offering bayonet mount conversions as well."

John Camp: "I'm in. I thought the most interesting image on the Nikon site was the side-by-side view of the Z camera with the D850. This thing is small. But a bit bigger than my Panasonics, which is fine with me. Five-axis VR. And how about that Noct? The ad touts its bokeh...I have about a thousand Nikon F lenses, so how could I not jump in?

"I do think with the F-adapter, it will quickly kill off the Nikon F DSLR bodies...there'll be a few mirror-slap aficionados who'll hold out, but I think the writing is on the wall."

Mike replies: That is probably not what Nikon wants.

Roger Bradbury: "Banned from DPReview? Did you praise a Pentax instead of a Nikon or Canon?  :-)  "

Mike replies: Actually, it's kind of relevant. I got banned for throwing cold water on all the ecstatic swooning over the launch of the original Canon 5D, just like I've kinda been throwing cold water on the ecstatic swooning over this launch. I guess I just don't like all the uncritical breathless wide-eyed excitement drummed up for product launches.

Or movie launches, either—word-of-mouth is a better, more dependable system.

FWIW I ended up really liking, and approving of, the original 5D, which I would now say is one of the most significant dozen or two dozen cameras of the digital era. But they didn't know that then.  ;-)

Michael Tapes replies to Mike: "Ah, yes. The good old days of being banned by Phil Askey, and begging for reinstatement. I think I was banned three times, and once by Rob Galbraith. And yet, I survived it all. Fond memories of the young Internet."

David Lee: "I don’t think anybody will switch from their present system to Nikon because of this camera. This camera was designed to keep Nikon users from switching to other mirrorless systems."

Peter Wright: "I'm one of those people with a collection of Nikon F lenses (seven in my case) siting in semi-retirement. They only get used on my F2 or F100. and that only occasionally—I don't own a DSLR. Unfortunately they are all AF-D lenses or manual-focus AIS lenses and the FTZ adaptor does not allow full functionality on the new Z cameras. And I don't want to throw away a ton of money getting a camera and adaptor just to use the relatively cheap lenses I have had for ages. So no Z for me.

"However! Now with all those unfilled D850 orders being redirected, and D810s going on the block, I should be able to pick up a low cost (and excellent) D810 to play with my old lenses in the not too distant future!"

Jim Richardson: "I'll buy. No question about it. Don't know how the future will play out regarding ongoing use of DSLRs like the D850 but for a while, at least, I'll have both at hand. I suspect it's going to be the same transition that happened to me with going from film to digital. I was doubtful about digital until I got out in the field with my first Nikon D100—while I was still shooting a story on film. Eureka moment. After that I never shot another story on film. Done deal. Already my limited experience with mirrorless cameras has been this: I'm never going back if I can avoid it. Now I can avoid it and I suspect my DSLRs will gather dust. And I think they have already gone down in resale value since the Nikon mirrorless announcement. If I was going to sell them I should have done it last week."

Comments

[James]

I was wondering about the entry level price - seems that Nikon has gained some common sense and pitched the Z6 at just under 2K.
A good additional move would have been to price the adaptor at about $150 though.

[Kenneth Tanaka]

Looks and specs pretty mich as expected: like a Sony A7 going to Photokina in drag. Nikon people should be pleased!

[Dave in NM]

Is nose hair recognition in the new features list?

[psu]

I have some Nikon stuff because I never sold it when I bought the Olympus.

I can't stand the thought of actually slogging around the world with it though. It's all too big and heavy compared to the Olympus.

I doubt these new Z bodies would change my mind. The size of the body was only ever a secondary problem. It's the lenses that are too big. But who knows. Maybe for the next eclipse, since Nikon telephoto lenses can manually focus to infinity and the 4/3rds stuff does not seem to.

[Doug C]

I just looked at the link to B&H's listing on the FTZ.

I think they meant to say "this adapter is especially ideal for use with over 90 E, G, and S-type lenses" rather than D-type.

After all a D-type is a Jaguar not a Nikon.

[Joe in L.A.]

Sifting through all the Nikon Z news yesterday, I can't honestly figure out why I would want to ditch my current Nikon full-frame DSLR for these. The main reason I would want to go mirrorless would be to shed a lot more weight, probably to the levels of the lighter Fujifilm cameras.

What really caught my eye among yesterday's news, therefore, was the announcement of the new Panasonic Lumix LX-100 II.

I thought about getting the previous version as a travel camera when I don't want to lug my heavy DSLR kit, but thought it needed some kaizen-type small improvements before I would be moved to purchase one.

Internet posters seem to think this new version hits the mark (except for its EVF that could have used a bit more kaizening).

Mike, I would love your take on this camera -- perhaps in between some of your sixteen articles on the Zs?

[Dave Levingston]

I'm disappointed.

I'm a Nikon guy who switched to Panasonic a while back. I've been thinking about getting a "big gun" for the times I want more resolution/quality/megapixels...however you want to describe it. I'm thinking of it as the equivalent of medium format vs 35mm from the bad old film days.

So, since I have been saying for more than 10 years that mirrors and prisms in digital cameras is a stupid design, and being someone with a bunch of Nikon glass in the cabinet, I was looking forward to seeing what Nikon would do.

Meh.

A Sony A7R with a Nikon nameplate for an extra $400. There's going to have to be something extra special revealed in the future to get me to jump on this.

So, maybe after the price drops because of whatever unforeseen problem pops up with the new model, and then the updated version with that problem corrected comes out...and then another price drop...well, maybe.

But I keep wondering what Pentax might do next with the K1...

[David Cope]

The story of how you got banned from DPReview is much more interesting to me! But I will admit to catching most of the live launch over breakfast (UK Time) and will be very pleased for those who will be able to make the most of these stunning tools.

[Mike R]

I think that, for the once-Nikon demographic, the company ought to include the adapter in the kit, to woo back those folks who might be inclined to FuTZ around with their old lenses.

[Manuel]

Oh my God you're right. The dude in the photo should do something about those nose-hairs.

[Michael Perini]

I thought Thom Hogan’s early take was helpful

[sfmurph]

The difference between buzz and hype is that others are talking for buzz — and you're talking yourself for hype. This Nikon press feels like hype. The original Fuji X100 had buzz. We'll see.

[David Brown]

Speaking as one of those GX85 shooters, it's looking better and better (financially as well as photographically). I use my stable of legacy lenses, Minolta A mount, on my full frame Sony body. FWIW, all of my enlarger lenses are Nikon ...

[Moose]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz *

However, I am sometimes a compulsive reader, hence:

"The adapter, which is built from magnesium alloy and is weather-sealed, also incorporates a 1/4"-20 mount on the base to provide a more balanced means for working on a tripod with longer, heavier lenses."

Watch out for this one! I have a similar design adapter for different mounts. Excellent in theory. But, mount a QR plate on either body or adapter, one that protrudes the least bit beyond the thing it's mounted to, and the adapter can't be mounted or dismounted without removing the plate.

Terribly frustrating! If I needed to use it more than once in a Blue Moon, I'd replace it with one sans tripod mount on the bottom.

This one will be fine if using only F-Mount lenses, but if considering a mix of F and Z mount lenses, check your QR plates against Z body and adapter.

Unfortunately, as with the P1000, there are no photos of the bottom of the camera that I can find on the web.
-----------
* I do have an early '60s Nikkor-Q 200/4 F-Mount. Optically wonderful, but it's pre-AI**, fully non-electronic.

** When AI meant Auto-Indexing, for the exposure meter.

[Stephen Scharf]

I watched the entire launch presentation by Nikon Corporate on a YT channel that captured it live in its entirety. It was, in a word, awful. A clumsy marketing presentation that clunked around a like an old Ford Model T, bordering on amateurish. A set of graduate students at the Stanford Design School could have blown this away.

The other point of note is that Nikon only put ONE, yes, 1 card slot in the camera. They're already getting slammed for this by the YT pundits, one of whom read Nikon the riot act.

Regardless, I expect the Z-series will take some significant degree of FF mirrorless market share from Sony; the installed base of Nikon users is just too large. While YT review pundits tend to focus on the criticality of absolutely maximal levels of performance or functionality for virtually all features, the reality is that for many of these features, practically significant is all what is required, not statistically significant. In other words, for many foks, "good enough" is good enough.

Me, I'm not headed over to DPReview; I don't read their reviews anymore as they "lost the plot" a while ago as far as I am concerned (for reasons I won't go into here).

But, I do read Thom Hogan for thoughtful, practical, and intellectually very well-considered reviews and commentary, so I'm headed over to Sans Mirror.

[Stan B.]

I shot film Nikons for a good 30 yrs, still got the lenses- and am not at all tempted. Add that adapter and you pretty much negate the size differential. I might get a X-T2 when they go under a grand. I'm not a pro, don't need a 0.95 lens, or anything else along those price tags...

[David Goldenberg]

Why were you banned on DPreview? *That* sounds like an interesting story!

David

[Omer]

I hope Voigtlander makes some good quality, small, and manual focus lenses for these cameras. The high resolution electronic viewfinder in these cameras should mark a return to manual focus. Well, I hope so.

[eric erickson]

Mike, for what it is worth I thought I would comment. I am a 30+ year Nikon user with a full set of F2.8 and F4 glass as well as a D750. I love the D750 and the 24-70 f2.8 lens. It is magic on the camera. I also shoot for travel an XT2 which is a great camera. I had originally thought that I could sell the Fuji and use the new Nikon mirrorless for my travels and keep the 750 for my serious work. After looking at the camera and lenses there is no way I can give up my beautiful gold ringed lenses for a small plastic kit lens. If the adaptor actually works well that may change my mind; however, I have become a fan of the two card slots especially the SD cards. I always use one of the cards with JPEGs which I keep and never clean off after a major trip. I can't see how Nikon can actually think that serious amateurs or professional shooters can get away with only one card. Anyway I am a no go on the Z at this point and will continue to use the Fuji and Nikon in parallel for my different photographic purposes. My two cents Eric

[John Krumm]

Well, I do like it. I like the A7III too (and the R version) but these Nikons appeal to me a little more, not sure why. Probably the grip and the brand. Maybe in a few years when I drop my K1 and break my foot I'll buy one.

Okay Canon, your turn!

[Doug C]

I should add that I really don't know how the adapter will work with the old, manual aperture rings. Lacking the AI ring seems like a problem, but it does have a stop-down lever. Maybe they made it work somehow?

Interesting that none of the reviewers have addressed this issue, though one reviewer was shooting with an AF-D 14mm, so...... Maybe?

In any case they have backed off from the functionality of the current crop of semi-pro DSLRs. A step in the wrong direction IMHO. I am a small segment of the market but I do have cash in hand and am ready to buy, either a Nikon or a Sony. I was planning to buy the Sony A7RIII but the Nikon rumors have had me on hold for 3 months and counting.

[Not THAT Ross Cameron]

Speaking of pouring cold water, Thom is in the process of doing that to the FT-Z adapter, including Moose’s comment. All those AI & AI-S lenses may remain in the closet a while longer, unfortunately.

[SteveW]

I'm pleased with the form factor of the new Z cameras. They look to share the form of a D750 and are about a half inch smaller in depth, width and height. And they only weigh about 0.4 pounds less than the D750, so not a lot of difference in that regard. I love my D750, so this presents itself as a slimmed down mirrorless version. However, with the adaptor attached the size/weight difference becomes even closer.

That all said, I'm not taking the plunge. There aren't any mirrorless features that I'm in need of for the kind of photography I enjoy. I don't need hundreds of autofocus points, or an EVF, or any of the other mirrorless features that my D750 does not possess. I'm also happy with my current AF-S lenses (which are actually smaller and lighter than the new S versions) and have no desire to use any of the old manual focus classics. Also, in my opinion I don't think there is going to be any difference in image quality between a D750 and the a Z6; both of which have 24mp sensors. In my estimation the only reason to buy one of these is to gain features and capabilities that my current DSLR does not have that I am in need of, and for me there just isn't any.

The most intriguing aspect (to me) is not the camera, but the Z-Mount. I don't really care to use an adaptor in order to use my F-mount lenses on o Z camera. But I will be tracking the reviews and performance of these new S-Lenses as they are produced. That might cause me to change my mind down the road a few years when there is a more fully formed S-lens family.

I'm glad Nikon finally produced a top-end mirrorless camera, but I'm still of a mind the primary objective is competition with the Sony A7 series, nothing really transformational here, other than perhaps that Z-Mount.

The one thing that could swing me over is the in-camera stabilization. I may need that in a few years, but I'm okay for now.

[Mark]

Perhaps in a few months I’ll see some photographs that were shot using the Z6 or Z7 that impress me and/or make me curious about the camera. Until then, I’m hoping that I’ve finally gotten to the point where the photographs are more interesting than the camera. (Until I get seduced by the next round of technology, at least.) At least for now, the Z7 doesn’t appear to solve any problems that are keeping me from making photographs that I like using my existing a7r2.

If you’re a Nikon shooter and the Z6/Z7 are exciting to you, great! Enjoy the heck out of them.

[Joe Holmes]

Someone's going to have to explain something to me. Because I'm on the same page with Joe from LA (above).

I love my D850. It's amazing. The images are astounding, it's ergonomically transparent, it's got every feature I've ever wanted...

So why would I (or anyone) drool over the Z7 which shares the D850's IQ, ergonomics -- even the lenses?

The only major advantage I see (with mirrorless cameras in general) is that they're smaller and lighter.

I'd consider switching to any camera and lens system that shared my D850's image quality, features, and ease of use if it was, say, half the weight of my typical D850 bag with spare lens. I just weighed the bag I carried with me today (D850, Sigma 50mm Art, Sigma 24mm Art) and it's almost 9 pounds. I'd love to carry only four or five pounds.

But the Z7's body isn't half the weight of the D850. It's 3/4 the weight. And then add a few ounces for the FTZ lens adapter, and then consider that my lenses will all weigh just as much. And my carry bag today with the Z7 would weigh, I'm guessing, about 6 ounces less.

What am I missing?

[Grant]

Mike, your marketing skills are slipping. This is the GX85 link that you should be showing: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1398407-REG/panasonic_dmc_gx85wk_lumix_dmc_gx85_mirrorless_micro.html

Grant

[Nah, 'cuz I have that 45-150mm sitting on my desk and it's an expletive deleted as far as I'm concerned. Don't like the lens at all. Not going to recommend what I don't like.... --Mike

P.S. Cheap zooms have a lot of sample variation and some people like the lens. I just don't like the one I have is all.]

[nextSibling]

Isn't the big selling point of mirrorless supposed to be smaller and lighter cameras for the same resolution? I was hoping for something capable and portable to compete with Fuji. Instead we get more big black bricks.

[MikeR]

A guiding principle from my corporate IT career: Never acquire version one of any software or hardware.

[Stephen Scharf]

Well, my hypothesis was correct: Thom Hogan has the best information, insights, and understanding of the FF and FF mirrorless market and market dynamics of the Z series market launch I have read so far: http://www.sansmirror.com.

Highly recommended for interested parties.

[Richard Man]

Nikon?! Ha... Now, THAT M10-P looks enticing. I used a Leica M7 with an M9 for a project because the M7 is much more quiet and that's important in some situations. Ah... if only I have the $$$$.

[Kodachromeguy]

The new 58mm Noct lens sounds like an impressive optical achievement, a halo-type of optic to compete with Leica. I bet it will be superb optically. But the techno-dweebs (note, I did not say "photographers") on Dpreview have gone ballistic about the lack of autofocus. I must have missed something over the last two decades. When did focussing a lens manually become something that digital camera button-pushers no longer do?

[Steve Jacob]

The big question is, who will it appeal to apart from Nikon users with existing lenses.

Canon users are waiting for their own announcement, Sony users have little reason to regret their choice.

So where do Nikon get new customers from? You know, those folks that used to start with a D5xxx and upgrade over time.

[Craig Yuill]

The uncritical fawning only occurs BEFORE the official announcement. You have to wait until AFTER the official announcements to read/hear the avalanche of critical comments proclaiming it to be a "Major Disappointment!" or an "Epic Fail!".

As for the FTZ adapter - based on my years of experience with the FT-1 adapter for the Nikon 1 system, I would say that it should work well for most users. Other than not being able to AF older "screw drive" AF lenses, and not being able to use AF sensors other than the center one with AF-S lenses, my FT-1 has worked well for me. I have had no problem with using old MF lenses on my Nikon 1 bodies thanks to the FT-1. The FTZ should be even better - I expect it should allow AF-S lenses to work with all AF sensors on the new "Z" bodies, and operate more or less as swiftly as they would on a contemporary DSLR.

[John McMillin]

Small? Yes, comparatively, but that's a low bar to hurdle. Nikon's pro cameras are sized to balance their fast zooms and long teles, with plenty of mass to match. So we get a mirrorless FF camera that's almost a half pound heavier than my Pentax K-1. And unlike with the venerable Pentax mount, there are few compact and lightweight Nikon lenses of recent vintage and top quality. None of that matters to the pros, but it's important to tourists, hikers, adventurers. This will outsell Pentax a hundredfold, of course. But I expect it will inspire a bevy of third-party lensmakers to fill in this gap.

[Terence Morrissey]

As a long time Nikon user i was planning on buying the Z7 but changed my mind and getting the A7R111.
The big advantage to the A7R111 is Eye AF, Face Detection on the Nikon does not come close.

[David Seelig]

ergonomics might be better then sony but no eye af a killer for people shooters once you have used it no going back

[A. Dias]

Yes Nikon mirrorless is here and Canon soon will be too. And yes it's good, because those who must have a mirrorless body now they have a real camera, not a computer with a lens mount. But why? Because it is smaller? Only with the smallest pancake lenses... Mount a 70-200/2.8 and the diff to a mid-size DSLR is miniscule. But it's good to have choices.

[Mani Sitaraman]

The Nikon F mount has a flange focal distance of 46.50 millimeters. The new Nikon Z mount has a flange focal distance of 16 mm (according to the Wikipedia table of flange focal distances , which some busy person has already updated).

Is it correct to assume that the new Nikon FTZ adapter, with 30.5 mm to play with, will not affect the minimum focusing distance of any legacy F mount lens mounted on a Nikon Z camera?

[Mahn England]

I'd like to suggest that I am smarter than my camera....easily proven wrong.

[Get Lawlor]

Waiting for canon. (Ducking to avoid incoming fire)

[Rob Campbell]

"When did focussing a lens manually become something that digital camera button-pushers no longer do?"

Posted by: Kodachromeguy | Thursday, 23 August 2018 at 09:48 PM

I suggest that we do it because/when we have to, but the screens on digital cameras don't lend themselves to it very well. Offer a screen with split-image and problem solved.

To test, I tried focussing solely via screen, camera on tripod, and then using the focus confirmation light. The shots via the confirmation light were noticeably better focussed than those shot just using the screen for focussing.

The fault of my eyes or otherwise, the results are what count.

[Tom]

Well, I actively try to avoid DPReview so I've probably overlooked this, but in amongst the fuss over the single card slot I haven't read any mention of wifi in this camera. Surely that was one of the 'essentials' in a new camera? I'm sure it's there and I've just missed it. But I'm just sayin'.

[Mark L]

Well I've been away from digital for a while, got a bit excited about this.
Then I bought a mint Nikon Df and slung my Ai lenses on it.
AAAAAH, happiness, love that D4 sensor......
Screw mirrorless.
(Incidentaly I bought 3 different Fuji's new, each time thought they looked the part, rubbish to use, never again thank you)

[Nigel]

The appearance of the Z7 and Z6 is great news, but for a particular reason.

I presume there will be an avalanche of hype and exhortations to buy/pre order these two cameras on many sites and blogs that deal with photography and which have a particular emphasis on “gear”, especially as the click through has become an important if not crucial source of revenue for many sites/blogs.

But for me it is good news as I suspect there will be a very strong demand for this camera and we see the “I must have the latest and greatest” guys trade in their Nikon DSLR’s for these two cameras. I want to pick up a nice Ff D750 or 8** cheaply as these cameras quickly become relics of the past in the eyes of many photo enthusiasts.

I am having fun with an ancient D700 that I picked up in perfect condition for peanuts at the moment. I have to wonder sometimes about this frenzy to have ever more powerful cameras.

BTW. I have been banned several times from DPR, mostly for simply (energetically) stating that a 2.8 lens is always a 2.8 lens. Advising some to read a good photo textbook such as Langford does not go down well.

[Patrick Dodds]

@James: I think the adapter is $150 when purchased with the camera, or at least I could have sworn I read that somewhere.

[David Lee]

I find the FTZ a perfect match for the new nikon. They’ re both ugly.

[Robert Roaldi]

Never mind the nose hairs, what's he doing with his left hand? It looks like he's resting the lens on the back of his thumb, doesn't it.

[Helcio J. Tagliolatto]

I miss the days when manufacturers were always disputing who would produce the most elegant, posh SLR (and Contax used to win the dispute).

This is an ugly camera.

[s.wolters]

I have been waiting for this beauties for ten years. But in the meantime I am happily married the sweet Micro Four Thirds system (I know what I have and don't know what I will get).
Wondering also who is making the decisions at the Nikon Design Headquarters. Like to meet the people who insist on producing those big, bigger, biggest lenses even for small bodies and hear their arguments.
Unless Nikon produces some kind of mirrorless system camera under $1000 with an affordable line up of lenses I think they will be moving into a dark future.

[Tom R. Halfhill]

I was hoping for something truly earthshaking, like a digital Nikon SP system. Instead Nikon gives us copycat mirrorless camera bodies slightly smaller than DSLRs with the same oversize lenses.

[Richard Jones]

As a happy Sony user, I have no interest in the new Nikon mirrorless, and haven't even been tricked into clicking on any of those "sixteen articles" on DPR. (although I did read a brief article on another site)

From all of the complaints about Sony ergonomics, I'm probably one of a few that love the feel and handling of my A7Rii.

Nonetheless, I'm happy for the Nikon users who want to try mirrorless and have the opportunity to use their existing lenses via adapter on the new mount.

Happy photographing (no matter the system)!

- Richard

[Jason T. Miller]

While I wouldn't trade my current "everyday carry" kit — D800 + 45mm PC-E tilt/shift — for a Z7 paired with any one of the lenses on the roadmap, a D8xx-series DSLR with IBIS would be tempting; add a conveniently attachable version of the new EVF as an available option, and it'd be hard to resist.

[Chan]

I dunno.. Z6 is basically a cheaper version of D850, with 5 stop VR. Whats not to like.. except for the huge lens. We'll see.. if my wallet permit.

[Mike Jones]

Is the retro-focus design of the 35mm to solve the problem Leica had and still have? Namely, mounting wide-angle lenses close to the sensor causes colour distortions. Looking at the latest LFI Magazine they still have a “magenta” issue- even in post production. Maybe they’ve just become inured to it?

[Khürt L. Williams]

IMHO, it’s much to do about nothing.