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Nikon Strikes Back At Sony With First Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras (theverge.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the first-of-its-kind dept.

After weeks of teases, Nikon has unveiled its first brand new full-frame mirrorless cameras to challenge Sony in the mirrorless market. As The Verge notes, the Z7 and Z6 are "basically a tit-for-tat response to Sony's A7III and A7RIII, and Nikon is aggressively going several steps beyond what Canon has attempted with mirrorless cameras." From the report: The Z7, coming on September 27th, has a 45.7-megapixel sensor, 493 focus points, and 64-25600 ISO. The Z6 will follow in "late November" with a 24.5-megapixel sensor, 273 focus points, and 100-51200 ISO. The cameras bring with them an all-new Z mount system that will debut with a 24-70mm f/4 "kit" lens. With the lens bundled, the Z7 will run $3,999.95, with the Z6 at $2,599.95. The lens runs $999.95 on its own and has a minimum focus distance of under 12 inches across its zoom range. A 35mm f/1.8 prime ($845.95) will be available at launch as well. There's also a 50mm f/1.8 prime ($599.95) coming in October that Nikon tells me has astounded some of its engineers with sharpness and edge-to-edge clarity. The company is releasing a $250 FTZ adapter that will allow these cameras to support Nikon's F-mount lenses. The adapter offers "full compatibility" (support for autofocus and auto exposure) with over 90 lenses. "Nikon is promising basic compatibility with approximately 360 existing F lenses for those that don't mind handling focus and exposure," reports The Verge.

11 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. Looks like a solid effort by OYAHHH · · Score: 2

    Straight outta the chute for Nikon. As an avid photographer, Canon gear here, it is nice to see some competition in what I think is a bit of a stagnant market.

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    1. Re:Looks like a solid effort by OYAHHH · · Score: 2

      I would love to have one of those f0.95 50mm primes they plan on releasing in 2019. Now that would be a fun toy to say the least.

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    2. Re:Looks like a solid effort by Brett+Buck · · Score: 3, Informative

      You don't really need that, with current-day levels of ISO performance, you can literally take hand-held pictures of stars at night with a F3.5 lens, and little degradation of the quality.

        You may have needed F-.95 lenses in 1960, when Tri-X was as fast as it got, but not when you can easily operated at 5- and even 6-digit ASA levels.

    3. Re:Looks like a solid effort by OYAHHH · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I want it for the depth of field performance which is certainly not achievable with f3.5.

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  2. I'm waiting for the Panasonic GH6s by future+assassin · · Score: 2

    and their organic sensor. My GH5s already does awesome video in ISO 12800 and is just as good or better in stills than my A7s was. In video at high ISO it walks on the A7s.

    Some GH5s iso 12800/Zuiko 8mm FE 1.8 video in nightclub/rave

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

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    by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
    1. Re:I'm waiting for the Panasonic GH6s by OYAHHH · · Score: 3, Insightful

      My gut says we are talking apples and oranges. You're obviously interested in video performance which is fine. And I am sure your Panasonic is a great machine for that purpose.

      Myself I am interested in stills photography. So the Panasonic just has never proved all that appealing.

      To each his own I suppose.

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  3. Finally! by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can pursue my hobby of photographing vampires with D/SLR quality results ...

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    1. Re:Finally! by Solandri · · Score: 4, Informative

      I realize this is an attempt at a funny. But the mirror was only used for the viewfinder. The light path to the film/sensor was always straight from the lens. And if you really wanted a SLR without a mirror which needed to flip up, you could always get a rangefinder even back in the film days. (Actually, the B&H article on rangefinders is a lot more informative and interesting than the wiki article.)

      Those use a small mirror or prism in the light path to generate the image in the viewscreen. Contrary to most people's concept of how light works, blocking the light path in an out-of-focus plane does not create a hard shadow at the in-focus plane. It creates a soft shadow (look at the edge of the shadow of your head vs your leg in sunlight). And if the obstruction is small enough, the soft shadow only appears as a slight dimming of the overall image.

  4. NEED vs want by Somervillain · · Score: 2

    NEED and want are 2 different phenomena. I can find plenty of jerks who will tell me that all you need is an iPhone. I am confident a lot of people WANT a 50mm f 0.95 lens and would be happy to pay whatever Nikon asks.

    I use a full frame DSLR with nice Sigma Art Prime Lenses because I WANT to take nice photos. This is not directly relevant because I am a Canon guy, but when they release their full frame mirrorless body later this year, if they offer a f 0.95 lens, I will be very interested. I take a lot of photos at f 1.4 now at dusk of my children playing when I get home from work. If it was sharp at f 0.95, I would be very intrigued by what it could offer. Also, I live in New England. Our days are shorter than a lot of the country and light is scarce when we're not working, so while you are right that we don't NEED a lens that fast, I would happily pay for one to get lower ISO photos in dim light (assuming it is actually sharp and usable at f 0.95. Sigma Art lenses are sharp wide-open, but lot of Canon lenses need to be stepped down for maximum sharpness).

  5. Re:Start Over? by siege72 · · Score: 2

    First: the Pentax is still a DSLR, not a mirrorless. Apples and oranges.

    Nikon made the correct decision. The F mount has a number of limitations, especially with wide-angle and large aperture lenses. The large mount and short flange distance _theoretically_ means most DSLR lenses could work with an adapter (Canon, Pentax, Minolta). I've also read that the Z mount's size may allow for better IBIS.

  6. Wait for the reviews by nehumanuscrede · · Score: 2

    Personally, I don't really have any major need for a mirrorless system since the body size reduction is rendered moot
    once I start connecting up the big glass. In fact, the weight difference may alter the balance quite a bit on the bigger
    tele-photos ( 300mm f/2.8 and larger ).

    I suppose the on sensor stabilization would be a benefit for some of my lenses, but the majority already have VR and
    those that don't I typically use with a tripod anyway. It's nice Nikon retains the use of F mount glass ( to the relief of all
    the folks invested in it ) but an adapter is just another piece of hardware that can go bad on you.

    In addition, since the sensor is always active during composure ( like all mirrorless and / or live view on a DSLR ) I
    suspect it's going to burn through batteries at an accelerated rate necessitating the need to carry several of them.
    ( Heh, so much for weight reduction :D )

    The lack of a secondary card slot is going to turn a lot of folks off to it. ( Though it does have Wi-Fi and Blutooth on
    camera without external adapters ) Since they went with the XQD format ( not an issue for me as my bodies already
    use it ) I can see why Nikon is offering their own branded versions of the card now.

    Not bad for a first attempt at it I guess.

    Will have to wait and see what the field reviews say.