I rented the D6 this weekend and I was very impressed, outside of video and eye autofocus I’m not sure if the d6 can be best in regards to AF and high iso performance. @Taylor have you used the d6 yet?
So impressed with the new Z6II now for people who were looking into the Z5, what are we missing with the Z5? Still good enough for primary for wedding? I would like to eventually see a comparison for a wedding photographer.
Thank you so much for this video. The highlight for me was when you explained that the lag in the eye-box does not mean the camera hasn't autofocused correctly yet. The software simply prioritizes autofocusing, and lands the box on your eye afterwards (so the subject's eyes will be in focus even though the box takes a little while to get there). I've seen a lot of people trashing the camera in the comments of other YT videos, always pointing out how bad and laggy AF still is on the new Z IIs. But this is exactly the danger in talking about something you haven't even tested yourself: you just don't know what you're talking about, and risk making a fool of yourself. Under this perspective, your video is quintessential in that it lays all these comments by naysayers and trolls to rest. I simply don't get what the deal is with all this hatred towards the new Nikon Z lineup. I understand some people may prefer Sony or Canon or Fuji or what have you, and each person is free to choose whatever they like best -- but why are people so pissed off all the time? The Nikon Z cameras are a great tool, and getting better every year. There is no need for so much anger in the world.
Yes 100%!! And brand loyalty is ultimately bs - the better the competition, the more companies feel incentivised to innovate! Also, for the togs that are so heavily dependent on eye and face detect, what do they think the photographers used before this feature ever existed?.. Even if it works 99% well, I'm sure I'm not the only shooter who still feels more comfortable not relying on a computer to track subjects for me.
There's a saying - empty vessel sounds more. Just think these guys who keep ranting all the day are like those empty vessels. The people who are great in this art form, just take every camera as a tool and teach about technique. :)
Great real life usage demonstration! So glad the Z is getting better. I probably won't upgrade from my Z6 but am so glad that Nikon listened to what was lacking and released a complete product at a killer price! I really don't think there is much lacking in the Z6ii and the Z7ii. I also hope people stop ranting about Nikon so much. I have used my Z6 extensively in the harshest of environments... heavy rainfall, heavy snowfall, extremely cold temperatures (minus 35 degrees celsius), high temperatures (almost 46 degrees) and the Z6 has never let me down.
I don't know why people hate on Nikon so much. All my friends are Canon and Sony shooters and they do the same thing. They have never even shot with a Nikon lol
Canon finally has something decent so I guess it's a bit of "revenge". Sony attracts a lot of young photographers. Being able to see the image and take a photo that looks like how it appeared in the screen is very reassuring to new photographers. They tend to be younger and more immature. Hopefully they grow out of it. This is only the 2nd iteration of MILC for Nikon. I think they have done a good job so far.
I have friend who only shoot Canon and Sony. I have a Nikon D7100 and shoot with a prime lens and my work looks similar to theirs (or even better at times) since I always shoot RAW and post process in Lightroom.
@@UcheEzeoke Not switching but if I see a nice AF boost, I want to pick one up for the channel for the ability to record the EVF for educational purposes.
I feel Jared Polin is responsible for hatred towards Nikon, having a solid presence is camera marketing, if something is not according to his shooting style, doesn't mean its bad, bashing a product stupidity. He used his influence , making sublimal messages to leave Nikon. I feel this.
No its totally Tony Northrup's fault, that p r i c k is still saying its really bad, and shows video clips of him using the Z6/7 when it was preproduction! He's never used one since! Nasty man, fake and horrible! That guy is a snake with an agenda!
@@airjaff toneh 😂 i don't watch him😅 so don't know anything about that, but if its what u said, then he is a complete jerk. He is a jerk with bad photos Jared is too but with good photos😂😂
I unsubscribed to both T Northrup and Jared. Not sure why they are slamming Nikon so hard but I suspect there is something financial happening with them and Sony and or Canon
I totally agree with you. I own a Z6 and I'm very happy with it. Great to see the Z6 II with all the improvements. The only thing that I felt missing is shooting full frame 4K 60 fps.
My recent post was deleted by an admin because I said something slightly negative about Nikon. But I do really like my Z6 and I plan on getting the Z6 ii as soon as the price drops.
I love the positive outlook on the Nikon z ( or zed) series. I believe that it gets a bad rap, specially from photography (tech) RU-vidrs. Thank you for your channel on not only review cameras but talking about how you use your cameras.
@@TaylorJacksonPhoto Again your word/work is incredible man!! Even though this is a preproduction model if you can what% would you estimate how much better AF is?
Can't wait for all the RU-vid experts (to judge this camera purely on the Box and not check the images. I see a lot of auto focus videos where they just judge the AF on the rear screen and never look at the images. Thank you for giving an honest first look.
You're one of the few creators who aren't disapointed with the z6/7 ii its refreshing to see an opinion from someone who enjoys working with the 'Z' system
I've had the Z7 since release and honestly it's amazing. either with S glass or the F mount...using the 105 1.4 has been a joy. Personally I don't see a need to upgrade but will do when prices settle and some deals are about.
So glad you got your hands on one! I really like the little innovation of combining the wide area with face/eye focus. That looks like it’ll be so helpful in chaotic environments. I’m also more excited than necessary for the ability to completely clear all information from the screen 🤓 I just want my screen to show nothing at all. In fact it can just be black.
It comes defaulted to the video record button when you’re in photo mode, so it acts as a bit of an idiot buzzer when you try to record a video clip in photo mode haha
Ricci Talks-a Nikon UK ambassador-has similar autofocus pre-release review results as well as a breakdown of the new Menu “Easter Eggs.” Check out for comparison. I will now buy the Z6 II. Thanks, Taylor for this and all your YT posts.
As someone who's pre-ordered the Z6II this is great to see! This is just one of many videos now which shows amazing AF tracking capability. I do hope though that for the production model there is reduced lag time with what the EVF shows and what the camera is doing - would be a better user experience.
Love that ending Taylor, Sometimes I have the same problem with my vids. :) I think you love Nikon as much as I do. :) Can't wait to get my hands on a Z6 II and Z7II and test it out in the real world :) Cheers Matt
You guys are lucky...coz you will get your copies before people like me... :-D heheee.... just kidding... you guys should get your copies before so that we have more info and tips n tricks to use this tool... :)
I doubt that they will do that! I will definitely will be adding the Z6 II to my collection. I also have the Z5 and I'm hoping that they give that the wide face eye detect in a firmware update since the release between them was so close! @Taylor Jackson what do you think? Will the Z5 get this update?
Sounds amazing. This really ought to shut up some of the big-mouthed RU-vidrs. (But it won't.) Having jumped from a D750 to a Z 6 a few months ago, my concern is whether Nikon will now be less interested in firmware updates for the Z 6 and Z 7.
I’m curious about this as well. I think part of the reason for the new body is because they pretty much hard the hardware maxed out on the Z6 and needed more power to take firmware further. That said, if the scripts get more efficient it could easily be part of the Z 6. We’ll have to wait and see
I wouldn't expect huge firmware updates like before, just minor fixes and adding support for new lenses. But as Z6 owner sure hope to be pleasantly surprised.
I currently shoot D750’s and am really considering going mirrorless. I have not made the switch because of my Nikon 58mm 1.4. I’m a hybrid photographer who shoots medium format film with my D750 and my 58mm has been my closest film match. Is there a way to continue to use that lens with these bodies?
I’ve got to say that yes, Nikon has step up and I’ve owned the z6 since it came out as well and I got to say I loved it! Now the z6 II sounds like it’s gonna be an amazing camera!
This is a very welcome video that should have been released by Nikon from launch day! I bet @Jared Polin and @Tony Northrup have seen this video by now. 😁. Question-- does eye AF work in wide area (S) or only L? The only side by side comparison that I want to see when the production unit comes is of Z6, Z6ii, A7iii, R6
No. Also, Jared and Tony just react to spec sheets. Taylor is a content creator who is talking about the best tools for his work. They’re kind of just pushing the mirrorless war stuff.
Finally, someone who doesn't dislike de Z! I would love to change my d810 for the Z6ii. I am a wanna be professional, just starting his business and having the mirrorless would greatly improve my efficiency as you can see the exposure right away! Do you think the f4 lenses are worth is for a starting professional?
Depending on your needs, the f4 glass is really great. If in the portrait space, I’d find a used z 50mm f1.8 to get started with as well. I’ve found a few for sale at a good savings from new
Thanks for your good down-to-earth reviews. I am getting fed up of certain RU-vid stars, not being in touch with real users, and trashing camera's without even holding one in hand, let alone taking a few photos with it.
Thanks. Your opinions track mine to a shocking degree. And you answered my number one question: how’s the AF. As you pointed out, the release downplayed it and that concerned me!
I actually had a call with one of the product training specialists and he confirmed that if they can’t quantify something, they don’t promote it as heavily. Or come up with adjectives and words to try to amp it up
Thanks Taylor for the number of real life examples. Funeral photographer needs focusing which can follow objects in dimmer circumstances too without trouble and looks that Z6II could manage that pretty well.
@@TaylorJacksonPhoto Just don't expect the loudmouth, controversy-seeking YT reviewers who earn money from overblown hype and rage and not actually taking pictures to agree... I expect clickbait headlines about the death of Nikon starting in about a week....
Looks great. The eye-AF still doesn't seem to grab as far out as Sony and Canon. But at the distance the Z6ii switches from eye-AF to face-AF, does the difference even matter? I'd argue not that much. 🤙
It for sure doesn’t. I’m curious if it’s intentional. It’s nice that my R6 gives me eye detect at a big distance with my 85. But in that situation, so much is in focus that face detect would be fine. Why waste the extra battery/processor trying to track something that’s not actually needed? I’ll ask more next time I talk to someone that would know. It seems to me like a choice
Is it not because of the number of focus points in Nikon is lesser than on sonys and canons. More points would mean precise eye detection even from far distances because of how precisely the location of eye can be aligned with focus points. Am I misisng something??
@@neerajr3134 I think that is a major factor, but the Z7 didn't seem any better with its higher AF point count. I'd be interested to see if the Z7ii has noticeable improvements over the Z6ii.
Thanks for this video. It's always a pleasure when a real working pro photographer give a fair view about his working gear based not on some abstract opinion but on facts and practice.
I bought my Z6/FTZ July 2019, trading in my 24-70mm f2.8 to offset the cost. Having used a D700 until then (an iconic model) was extremely happy with the camera - ergonomically brilliant with unbelievable high ISO performance. I toyed with the idea of converting the D700 to IR but chose to trade it in plus all my old lenses for Z series ones, including the Z 24-70mm f2.8S. With yours, Matt I's & Rikki's observations, I'm going to convert my Z6 to IR after buying the Z6II. I will keep the FTZ to use with my recently purchased 70-300mm & wait for the 105mm macro to be launched. Nikon were often criticised for not listening to their customers - not true with the Z series!
Looking good 👍 The Eye AF "lag" isn't lag, I think. Couldn't it just be that Z6 have fewer and therefore bigger AF-points than Sony and Canon FF cameras and there the AF box looks more jerky and less precise?
Yet another great video about the drastically improvedNikon AF focusing and various eye detect options on the new Z6 II, even on the pre-production model. Thanks for sharing, I really appreciate reviews from photographers that have product understanding and extensive real life professional usage. Nothing beats that sort of experience and your views on the improved model is greatly appreciated. It's really interesting what you said about how great the first Z6 was, especially after all the firmware upgrades which turned it into an even better camera after all the seemingly unjustified reviews came out. What stands out for me after seeing all the various videos about Nikon new Z lineup that have surfaced recently is Nikon's commitment to solid firmware upgrades and added features down the line. Something that the other manufactures could really learn from. Now I am considering dumping all my Canon gear and the only question is do I go for the full works i.e. the Z6 II or perhaps try an older Z6 with the latest firmware first? Hmmm ... Oh another question that's still on my mind is the low light performance or rather the difference between the Z6 and the Z6 II. Is there much difference and what was your overall impression of the low light performance of the original Z6?
Great video. In my opinion, it is a minor increase in price over the original Z6 at $200 USD higher priced for body, (add 35 percent for Canadian dollars), and with that you gain advantage of extra SD slot and superior faster autofocus and dual processors. As lots of us have fast SD cards already, I won't likely have to buy as many QXD cards, unless I want backup on certain jobs commercially. QXD cards are priced about 100 or 200 dollars for 64GB and 128GB compared to SD Sandisk Extreme Pro at $20 USD at B&H Photo for 32GB, (bit more money for 64GB) so vast price difference. Why save money buying the original Z6 when Z6ii simply makes more sense with saving money on memory cards and getting the latest tech BSI sensor and updated video features (full frame 4K that the new Z5 does not have as it is cropped 4K in Z5).
Thx for a very informative video. I'm a Zed6 Neekon shooter and found it to be a great camera with firmware 3.0. This looks like an improvement in all the functionality that was previously criticised. Used together with the Z lenses I think that this is a great system! I use it a lot for underwater photography with my Nikkor 105mm micro and the Z 14-30mm f4 lenses and it is great to use. I also use it for landscape, travel and the occasional party and it works well. I find the eye AF great for the parties as I don't shoot many of these types of events.
Nice review. I’m excited for this camera and will soon be making the switch to mirrorless. Also Taylor I’m interested in offering video to my clients and doing hybrid photography as well. Just curious what size cards do you recommend I use for shooting stills and video? And how many do you go through during a typical wedding? Thanks great work as always. Can’t wait for full review!
Thank you Taylor. Very informative and interesting review. I do not shoot weddings or events. I am mostly a travel, and wildlife photographer. I am very iunterested in how quick the auto focus responds and how accuratly it adjust to moving animals, such as birds in flight. You did use lots of sujects moving, which is very interesting. I'd love to test this camera before I purchase it. I do have many F mount lenses, and I'd sure like to use them on the Nikon mirrorless cameras. Thank you for your help and review. I am looking forward to learning more from you.
I agree with you regarding the lovers and haters thing. I am in the "I love this camera" group. I did have to spend some time in the manual and work with different settings but it was not so difficult to learn. I am happy with my original, but your review made me a bit more interested in the mood to upgrade.
Super dank vid! Literally connected to tv from phone before I got out of bed; went made a cup of tea and sat through. Sticky AF. Loving it. Still torn between the two to pre order as I really want the pixels for architecture. I remember you saying in the past the extra pixels aren’t needed and can be a bit unflattering With the super detail into skin tones. HELP!!! 😂 Can’t wait for the extended review. Thanks for the teaser.
@@eldindokara7868 Not really concerned with the savings aspect of things. As I stated its more of a concern having more work in post with the MP on people but laking when I need for massing buildings and architecture print. Already have primes and the 24-70mm 2.8 (S) The lenses aren't as much of a concern for me. (Purchase wise)
Nice to see that the focus very well even if the yellow box overlay is lagging behind or not shown. Nikon should work on improving the real-time movement of the yellow box, because it currently isn't very confidence inspiring with the delay.
Thanks for your great 1th video about the new Z6II. I'm very curious and if you test the production model, it would be great to see something about how it works for nature, animal and birds photography. Hopefully you live close by fantastic Canadian scenery as I remember it from my amazing trips :). That's the environment I would love to photograph with a Z6II in the future again!
What I really like to know: are we now able to program a different autofocus mode to the joystick (button press) like on the D850/D500/D5? So for example, you‘re in af-c single point with your af-on button and if you press the joystick the focus mode switches to wide area (as long as you hold it)? That’s one important feature for wildlife I really miss from the D500
I hope they add the new AF modes to the original Z6 and 7. I don't think they would need better hardware do to that and I know the AF wouldn't actually be 'better', but having a limited area for eye and face AF would be an improvement anyway.
Looks great i think i will be looking at Z6II and Z7II after Covids up, AF for sports i am waiting for before replacing, plus as my income vs expenditure at present with covid cant justify the change until my events are back up and it pays for itself again, like my 850s. I am not suffering GAS, so 850 will get my shots still at present, but i will switch to mirrorless once i see more work and more about these 2 options(6&7). Great content Taylor.
Great test, thank you! I'm a weeding ph too so I'm following your videos. Just a note: you don't show the final RAW as it appears on Lightroom (or other editing software) so that you can zoom and we can see actual focus peaking and sharpness. Other RU-vidrs does this and I think it's extremely useful. By the way, keep up the good job!
Great video. I just got a new Z6 for 2300 bucks less than my D850 cost me two years ago. I'm so pleased with it that I'll be selling my D850 and picking up a Z6ii in a few months.
I’m curious why you prefer the Z6 over the 7. Is it because the 6 is better for video? I’m curious on your thoughts behind your choice. Wouldn’t the extra oomph from the Z7 benefit you at all or are they overkill for your needs? Less processing time time with lower memory hungry files maybe?
Taylor I just love your videos (fellow Ontarian). I love your real opinion. I’m really debating between z6ii (used) or a zf. But seems I could be fine with z6ii and save the rest for good glass.
I will definitely will be adding the Z6 II to my collection. I also have the Z5 and I'm hoping that they give that the wide face eye detect in a firmware update since the release between them was so close! @Taylor Jackson what do you think? Will the Z5 get this update?
Still frustrated that I can't backup my video files. Even if Nikon could make that available in 1080p that would be enough for me. Agreed on the photo/video switch - its so crucial.
@@TaylorJacksonPhoto quick tip: just drop the camera, it will cover the sensor with the shutter curtain, hahahaha. it works every time, guaranteed. It will show you shutter error message, to press shutter button, before you use camera.
