@@russandloz I don’t really think in terms of improvements unless a camera is blatantly lacking. I have a Z6 and I just work with it for whatever I’m trying to do. The improvement game can be like going down a rabbit hole leading to perpetual distraction and dissatisfaction.
@@russandloz For me personally I would like FF camera without EVF. I do not have thousands of euros for expensive body. If they release some kind of "baby" Z9 for around 3000e I would consider buying it. But as you mentioned in video there is a big price difference between Z6 and Z6II which is not justified per features.
Great video guys! I love the dialogue between the two of you, very informative. We own the Z6 and we've loved our experience with it. We continue to use the single point as our work revolves around shooting interiors and architecture therefore the eye-AF does not affect our workflow. Even when shooting any kind of portraits we don't usually bother with the eye-AF. That said when shooting video with this camera we love the Pro-Res upgrade on our cameras and the firmware upgrades have held us back from upgrading to the Z6ii as I am still waiting for Nikon to release a camera that can shoot 4k 60 without a crop. The Z9 is on our radar but I need a rich uncle to purchase it.
I had both the Z6 and Z6ii and like many others I too felt the focus was letting me down. I still have the Z6ii and only use it in subject tracking > function button then large yellow box which works well. Seriously, there was no difference between the two. For critical work I rely on the D850 which gives me more reliability. A great channel guys, definitely my favourite
I came from using a D850 but can't remember what it's like to use. Least the mirrorless are lighter and have a EVF. Let's hope for an affordable Z8 or Z6iii
@@russandloz The 850’s are a fair but heavier and for a word, clunky but they’re still a great camera in so many ways. I think for me, certainly at this time I’ll continue with them, maybe until this rumoured Z8 shows up. Ultimately however, what I would dearly love is a Z9 but being a two body shooter the cost would be way too high right now.
I own a Z7II, and the only reason I got the Z7II over the Z7I is the ability to attach a grip with controls as I've been relying on one for vertical shooting since 2012 and never looked back. This small thing is very important to me. If this was not the case, I would have happily bought a Z7I. None of the other features mean anything to me, it's mostly just marketing hype which is a shame. I hope Nikon does not disappoint with the next gen of these bodies.
Agreed with this discussion. I sold my Z6i for a Z6ii before it got the significant firmware 3.4. I appreciated the faster start-up time of the ii as I had to keep the i 'on' all the time when wildlife shooting, and the action-tracking of the ii was usable. This year I got a well used Z7i (with v3.4) for the high MP cropping ability. But was surprised that the 3.4 firmware brought the i on par with the ii for start-up time, and the AF tracking was now as good as the ii. I found myself comfortably using the Z7 for action wildlife shots on safari. I never use H*, so the buffer difference is irrelevant for me at 5.5fps. Didn't need 2nd card slot, in fact it was an annoyance as it seemed to pop open accidentally more often with the ii. I bought the grip for the ii, but rarely shoot in portrait, and I prefer just swapping out a battery on the go rather than holding the extra weight, so sold that. I rarely used the animal eye detect in the other focus modes, so for me when I saw a new old stock Z6i on sale I sold my Z6ii and used the funds recovered towards the awesome 105 f2.8S MC lens. That's my experience, should have stuck with the Z6i... Z6 forte is it's useable at high iso 12800, whereas the Z7 up to 6400 (a bit like the D500 upper limit -not surprisingly as similar pixel size).
Yeah I can understand your strategy there. It's a shame Nikon seem to have let the mark 2 users down so far. Some people don't seem to have issues but I think a lot of us do. Especially when I see equivalent brands and price points doing something better,
I've had a much different experience with Eye AF - it works very well on both my Z6 and Z7II. The only exception is a fast moving subject coming straight at the camera (like my dog running towards me). The advantage the Z7II gas over the gen 1 is the Wide Area with Eye AF. This is incredibly useful in wedding or event scenarios where there are many faces from which the camera must choose. Wide Area with Eye AF solves this problem.
@@russandloz It seems to have more to do with the distance of the subject and the aperture. For example, both cameras can nail fast moving motorcycles coming straight at them using the 500mm f/5.6PF and Wide Are AF Large or Dynamic Area with High Speed Extended, provided they are out in the distance (thus increasing depth-of-field). Using the 70-200 f/2.8FL E at f/2.8 or the 85mm f/1.8S at f/2 and relatively close to my dog, neither camera can lock focus more than 10% of the time...and I've tried every combination of fast shutter speeds and frame rate, for both NEF (12- and 14-bit) and JPEG. Most of the frames are slightly back-focused, even though I can see the AF detect the dog's eye some of the time. By contrast, the Z9 I tested this past week hits almost 100% of the time with every lens I've tried.
I should clarify that I was thinking of AF performance overall. For Eye AF, I have found both F-mount and Z-mount lenses to work well. However, for the Z6 (1) I use longer focal lengths when photographing crowds so I can isolate the person I want in focus, thus restricting the eye detect. With the second gen bodies, I'm free to use shorter focal lengths because they offer the Wide Area AF with Eye Detect. Aside from that, though, I agree the AF speed and EVFs are essentially the same between gen 1 and 2.
@@russandloz Definitely. In fact, I'm debating Nikon's trade up program to turn my Z6 into a Z6II, or possibly the Z7II so I will have two matching cameras. The other option is wait for the Z8. If rumors are true that it will have the Z9 sensor and Expeed 7, then its Eye AF will likely be on par with the Z9, which is spectacular.
moving from DSLR D700 to mirrorless mostly for use with my vintage and recreation of vintage lenses, and maybe some video.. (I have BMPPCC4K with 064x speed booster for near full frame video) I did pick up a Z30 creator kit for fun.. so far only a few hours of time on it, and for working with vintage lenses with focus peaking it's a joy compared to green dot in the bottom of the viewfinder and moving the square around the viewfinder to get a focus point. So looking forward to a Z6 or Z7.. and some day later a Z8 or Z6III or equivalent.. at this point I'm wondering about Z6 vs Z7 used. Z7 megapixel will be wasted on my vintage glass, but possibly better for new Nikon Z S lenses especially fixed focal. mostly z7 to future proof top tier glass. which might really be just kidding myself. when ready get a Z8 and S glass and get a z6 now and continue using some of my vintage and full frame Nikon AF and slowly acquire more Z glass.. sounds more reasonable. any thoughts?
I bought the Z6 when it was released hoping that we would get amazing AF (I realize AF is not everything), but it was mehhhh...just upgraded to the Z6II and I don't see a huge improvement...I think that if Sony and Canon can give amazing AF to even the lower tier cameras, so could Nikon, if they wanted to...not all of us have $5,500 of so to burn on a Z9, so hope Nikon will support those of us with lower budgets. Love the intergenerational exchanges between y'all!
@@russandloz, and that Z6III better have a sensor guard, for peace of mind and efficiency in changing lenses in challenging environments. Nikon has to start listening to us the customers.
Focus is weak in comparison to the Z9 and the competition. Agreed, as a Wedding Photographer I don't see a difference between Z6 and Z6ii. As for video, I heard it is better. I agree, I had higher hopes for focusing with the dual processor thinking it would be much faster than the Z6i. Nikon needs to up their game or people will impatiently leave despite their firmware upgrades. I bought a 50mm Nikon 1.2 but hesitated as looked at the Canon 50 1.2 with a new Canon body. I want the best tools and am loyal to brand but this is a looong process...Nikon...I'm waiting....
Yes I also have the 50 1.2, its a great lens but too often too big considering other brands have it smaller and lighter. Maybe the mark 3's will make up for it?
@@russandloz quite a change for less than 1lb difference. My arms are strong...All this weight thing does not really bother me on a wedding. Keeps the camera secure. I use to shoot Medium format. This is still light stuff.
I recently came across your channel when researching the Nikon mirrorless cameras. You’ve both helped me in my decision making and I had narrowed the search down to the Z6ii or Z7ii... well, until I saw this video! I had decided to buy the Z6ii, now I'm wondering whether to buy a Z6 or Z6ii. I've also been looking at the Z series lenses and thought the 24-70mm f/4 S would be a good first lens to test out before buying any others. I'm also tempted by one of the 50mm! Have you tried any compatible lenses with the Nikon Z series?
Hi Claire, what features of the z6ii would make you pick that one over the z6i? You can get the 24/70 f4 and 50 very cheap on the used market. The 50 1.8 is an incredible lens.
@@russandloz I bought the Z6ii + 24-70 f4 S and started to test it out. I'm currently testing the lens ability on close up subjects and I've switched to 'AF-ON only'. I think I'll soon be adding a 50mm to get better close up shots!
I'll be holding onto my Z6 original. I'll only upgrade when Z6 III or Z8 comes out. no point in going Z6 II at this stage in the game. My original Z6 does everything I want it to do and gives me excellent photos. Not that it matters but my camera body was made in Japan. Won't be seeing that on any of the new models sadly.
@@russandloz Not really - still basically same menu/OS etc and I use the two in such different use cases that although settings and functions are different, it's like more or less just like having different set ups on the same camera. Size and weight is a bit different of course
I've never really got the Z cameras, I've still got my 2014 D750, still back button focus. 1080p is great so no problems with social clips. Maybe when a Z63 or a Z8 finally come out ill buy one. But at the moment Im probably going to move to Sony, mainly because I want a Tamron 20 - 40mm, Im thinking on a A7R5.
The Z6II have been kind of a letdown . I purchased the Z6II thinking that I would see a meaningful upgrade to the AF. I also thought I would also get the Z7II . However , after seeing Nikon would not do much with dual processors I purchased the original Z7 used for 1300 euros . I feel the Z7II did not offer much improvement to justify the cost .
I brought the 7ii because of the duel memory cards. I personally feel that the main reason they were brought out. If you remember all anybody was talking about was the single memory slot and they got a tremendous amount of flack about it.
@@russandloz I shoot weddings and commercial work so just needed the back up. I also shoot my weddings on medium raw which the z8 doesn’t have which is disappointing because it’s so useful.
@@russandloz only a compressed large raw file apparently. I also think when they released the z9 they had to make the flagship camera shine so lost interest in the older cameras. So hopefully they Will return to them now the z9 has been such a financial success.
Nikon must have a cupboard full of camera improvements just waiting to appear, Nkon knowing that many photographer's just have to keep up with the latest technology even if the latest edition has a built in anxiety twiddle button..
@@russandloz a bigger built in memory for the days when your over keen to get out and forget the memory cards lol as I've done on numerous occasions lol 😆
Two much focus is on auto-focus and eye detection. I am not pro and photography is kind of hobby - but if everything is automated where is the challenge and joy. Imagine having a camera with AI that even decides (based on algorithm) to take/choose photo for you - all you have to do is point the camera move it up-down and lef-right and eventually camera will choose what to do. Call me old-fashioned but I still can and do not want to accept that couple of millimeters of plastic can replace proper lens. I would like to see from Nikon 104/1.2 and 135/1.4 - and I have gut feeling that those lenses (or at least one of them) may come. And if z8 or Z7III goes on high MP and Z6III goes more towards high ISO I guess Nikon will have whole spectrum on the market.
I get your point about the camera doing everything for you taking away from the fun and technique. But, for event photography such as weddings, it's good to have a reliable focus system in such an intense scenarios.
I still have a z6i. Very capable camera for some things. Great image quality but just doesn’t have auto eye focus for people or birds. But I’d you don’t need that it’s great and a good used price on the market now. What will you use it for?
Do you guys recommended Z6 w 24-70mm for ~US$2000 in 2023? Directly from Nikon USA, body only Z6 is the same as the Kit! Was looking at Z50, Z FC and a used Z6 to replace my D3000 and get back to photography.
I'd still get the z6 mk1, it's performance is the same. Nikon really screwed the people who bought the mkii cameras. I feel conned, makes me so mad, I'm probably going to jump ship
@@russandloz it was on Amazon and the seller was Nikon ... anyways now I have watched z6/z6ii and the z6 vs z7 videos how does the z5 fit in to this :o) ??
