I thought my fellow UHHer's might be interested in my observations and thoughts on my Nikon Z7. First a little about me and the photography that I do. I pretty much only photograph landscapes of serious backcountry. The more remote the Wilderness the happier I am. However I am now 67 and though I am still doing remote, difficult and technical backpacks the sand is running out which is indeed one of the main reasons I chose to get a Nikon Z7. This coming spring I'll be doing a 12 day backpack on the Navajo Nation on a spot that most probably has never been photographed from the ground and then a 25 day backpack along the top of the Waterpocket Fold starting in southern Capitol Reef N.P. and continuing out of the park to the Waterpocket Fold's terminus at Lake Powell. This will be mostly on top of Navajo domes 300-500 feet above the canyon floors where those very few who ever hike here would be backpacking. I have been doing this sort of Wilderness travel for over 45 years now, photographing it first with a Pentax MX (lightest 35mm SLR at the time) with a host of prime lenses (28, 40, 50 macro and 100 with an occasional 200mm thrown in). From there I switched (after a climbing accident destroyed my camera and did a number on my arm) to a Nikon FM2 with a 24-120 mm zoom lens (age was taking it's toll). I then switched to my dream camera a Mamiya 7 with a 80mm lens ("normal" for that format, lens). Loved the incredible sharpness of those images but it just got too expensive per shot and then impossible to find 20 exposure rolls of Ektachrome 100 VS - and the dusty desert is no place to be opening your camera every 10 shots. So I went to digital, a full frame Nikon D 750 with a 24-120 VR lens. I have print shows and have been exhibited in museums as well as sell prints so I needed a full frame camera. Because of the nature of my photography ( I can't afford the 2 plus pound weight of a tripod nor the time to set it up while keeping up with my climbing /backpacking partners) I pretty much only shoot handheld so I love vibration control. At the time it came out the D750 was the lightest full frame camera out there- a D 800 was just too damn big and heavy (my Mamiya 7 with it's prime 80 was no heavier than the D750 with 24-120). I was pretty happy with this set up and had no real thoughts of switching when, for a lark, I went to a demo night at Hunt's camera featuring the Z system. The second I held it in my hand I was seduced. It fit perfectly and would save me over a pound over my D 750 rig (to put this in perspective my sleeping bag is good to 10 degrees and weights just 2 pounds). I was also blown away by the clarity of the electronic viewfinder (poor quality viewfinders were one of the reasons I hadn't been interested in going mirrorless. My reasoning for the Z7 over the Z6 was if I was going to spend a lot of money to upgrade my camera I might as well get more megapixels (occasionally I do print as large as 24x30 and the D 750 did a superb job at that size) - as long as there wasn't a weight penalty. I got the 24-70 f4 lens, the 2.8 24-70 wasn't out yet but I would still pick the f4 lens over it as the 2.8's size defeats the main reason for changing to the Z system. That was one of the big reasons why the Sony Mirrorless never appealed to me, their lenses are too big defeating my main reason for wanting to go mirrorless.
I shoot a fair number of close up images (check out my mud portfolio at
www.harveyhalpern.com) and have been really happy at how close the 24-70 f4 focuses and how sharp it is edge to edge. Besides, weight, size and optical quality, I was swayed by the 5 axis stabilization because of my avoidance of tripods (except where necessary i.e. Buckskin Gulch).
Before I got the camera, the internet was awash with stories detailing the downsides of the Z: just one slot and slow auto focus. As primarily a landscape photographer neither concerned me - I never used my second slot on the D 750 for backup photos and I rarely shoot wildlife and never shoot sports. The only real downside I've seen is the battery life. I haven't been out for longer than 4 days yet (Death Hollow and Fish and Owl Creek in Utah) so I haven't really figured out how much of a problem this will be. I don't have the back screen turned on (remember I'm used to film) to save battery life but the real test will be my upcoming 25 day expedition. I will carry 3 batteries and my hiking group carries a very light solar panel to recharge peoples kindles so I suspect I'll be hogging it's use a bit. By the way I didn't buy an adapter for my Nikon lenses as the main point was to save weight and that sweet 24-70 weighs so much less than my 24- 120 (especially so if you add the weight of the adapter). I am looking forward to a 70-200 f4 (I'll be headed up to the Arctic Petroleum Preserve in northwestern Alaska in the summer of 2012) coming out (will there be one)- as once again the 70-200 f 2.8 is just too damn big.
In retrospect I would not have switched to mirrorless from a SLR if I weren't someone who backpacks on multi week trips (or if I were 30 years younger). But if you do the sort of Wilderness photography that I do the Z7 seems like the ideal camera. In the next few days I'll be posting photos from my Fall trip to Utah. Stay tuned!
There wasn't a lot here that fit the title, "Nikon Z7 Thoughts and Observations".
The best thing about this post was that it prompted me to look at the photos you have posted. They are impressive!
--
wilderness wrote:
I thought my fellow UHHer's might be interested in my observations and thoughts on my Nikon Z7. First a little about me and the photography that I do. I pretty much only photograph landscapes of serious backcountry. The more remote the Wilderness the happier I am. However I am now 67 and though I am still doing remote, difficult and technical backpacks the sand is running out which is indeed one of the main reasons I chose to get a Nikon Z7. This coming spring I'll be doing a 12 day backpack on the Navajo Nation on a spot that most probably has never been photographed from the ground and then a 25 day backpack along the top of the Waterpocket Fold starting in southern Capitol Reef N.P. and continuing out of the park to the Waterpocket Fold's terminus at Lake Powell. This will be mostly on top of Navajo domes 300-500 feet above the canyon floors where those very few who ever hike here would be backpacking. I have been doing this sort of Wilderness travel for over 45 years now, photographing it first with a Pentax MX (lightest 35mm SLR at the time) with a host of prime lenses (28, 40, 50 macro and 100 with an occasional 200mm thrown in). From there I switched (after a climbing accident destroyed my camera and did a number on my arm) to a Nikon FM2 with a 24-120 mm zoom lens (age was taking it's toll). I then switched to my dream camera a Mamiya 7 with a 80mm lens ("normal" for that format, lens). Loved the incredible sharpness of those images but it just got too expensive per shot and then impossible to find 20 exposure rolls of Ektachrome 100 VS - and the dusty desert is no place to be opening your camera every 10 shots. So I went to digital, a full frame Nikon D 750 with a 24-120 VR lens. I have print shows and have been exhibited in museums as well as sell prints so I needed a full frame camera. Because of the nature of my photography ( I can't afford the 2 plus pound weight of a tripod nor the time to set it up while keeping up with my climbing /backpacking partners) I pretty much only shoot handheld so I love vibration control. At the time it came out the D750 was the lightest full frame camera out there- a D 800 was just too damn big and heavy (my Mamiya 7 with it's prime 80 was no heavier than the D750 with 24-120). I was pretty happy with this set up and had no real thoughts of switching when, for a lark, I went to a demo night at Hunt's camera featuring the Z system. The second I held it in my hand I was seduced. It fit perfectly and would save me over a pound over my D 750 rig (to put this in perspective my sleeping bag is good to 10 degrees and weights just 2 pounds). I was also blown away by the clarity of the electronic viewfinder (poor quality viewfinders were one of the reasons I hadn't been interested in going mirrorless. My reasoning for the Z7 over the Z6 was if I was going to spend a lot of money to upgrade my camera I might as well get more megapixels (occasionally I do print as large as 24x30 and the D 750 did a superb job at that size) - as long as there wasn't a weight penalty. I got the 24-70 f4 lens, the 2.8 24-70 wasn't out yet but I would still pick the f4 lens over it as the 2.8's size defeats the main reason for changing to the Z system. That was one of the big reasons why the Sony Mirrorless never appealed to me, their lenses are too big defeating my main reason for wanting to go mirrorless.
I shoot a fair number of close up images (check out my mud portfolio at
www.harveyhalpern.com) and have been really happy at how close the 24-70 f4 focuses and how sharp it is edge to edge. Besides, weight, size and optical quality, I was swayed by the 5 axis stabilization because of my avoidance of tripods (except where necessary i.e. Buckskin Gulch).
Before I got the camera, the internet was awash with stories detailing the downsides of the Z: just one slot and slow auto focus. As primarily a landscape photographer neither concerned me - I never used my second slot on the D 750 for backup photos and I rarely shoot wildlife and never shoot sports. The only real downside I've seen is the battery life. I haven't been out for longer than 4 days yet (Death Hollow and Fish and Owl Creek in Utah) so I haven't really figured out how much of a problem this will be. I don't have the back screen turned on (remember I'm used to film) to save battery life but the real test will be my upcoming 25 day expedition. I will carry 3 batteries and my hiking group carries a very light solar panel to recharge peoples kindles so I suspect I'll be hogging it's use a bit. By the way I didn't buy an adapter for my Nikon lenses as the main point was to save weight and that sweet 24-70 weighs so much less than my 24- 120 (especially so if you add the weight of the adapter). I am looking forward to a 70-200 f4 (I'll be headed up to the Arctic Petroleum Preserve in northwestern Alaska in the summer of 2012) coming out (will there be one)- as once again the 70-200 f 2.8 is just too damn big.
In retrospect I would not have switched to mirrorless from a SLR if I weren't someone who backpacks on multi week trips (or if I were 30 years younger). But if you do the sort of Wilderness photography that I do the Z7 seems like the ideal camera. In the next few days I'll be posting photos from my Fall trip to Utah. Stay tuned!
I thought my fellow UHHer's might be interested in... (
show quote)
Your link took me to an expired domain, so I couldn’t view your pictures!
GrandmaG wrote:
Your link took me to an expired domain, so I couldn’t view your pictures!
Just Google "Harvey Halpern" - you'll find his pics easily.
Have you considered the Olympus EM1 Mark 11, an excellent landscape camera with the 12-100 F-4 pro lens. I quit shooting a Nikon D750 for the Olympus EM1 Mark ll and I absolutely love this camera and have never looked back, for the record I have the Nikon Z6, but rarely use it. Check out why some pros have switched to the Olympus system.
I've read that dust on the sensor of the Z6 and Z7 has been a problem. I rented the Z6 for two weeks and I could see that the sensor is close to the lens mount and the shutter does not close in front of the sensor when changing lenses. The sensor is very much exposed when changing lenses. I only had the camera for two weeks so I didn't really notice a dust problem. Has that been an issue with your Z7?
wilderness wrote:
I thought my fellow UHHer's might be interested in my observations and thoughts on my Nikon Z7. First a little about me and the photography that I do. I pretty much only photograph landscapes of serious backcountry. The more remote the Wilderness the happier I am. However I am now 67 and though I am still doing remote, difficult and technical backpacks the sand is running out which is indeed one of the main reasons I chose to get a Nikon Z7. This coming spring I'll be doing a 12 day backpack on the Navajo Nation on a spot that most probably has never been photographed from the ground and then a 25 day backpack along the top of the Waterpocket Fold starting in southern Capitol Reef N.P. and continuing out of the park to the Waterpocket Fold's terminus at Lake Powell. This will be mostly on top of Navajo domes 300-500 feet above the canyon floors where those very few who ever hike here would be backpacking. I have been doing this sort of Wilderness travel for over 45 years now, photographing it first with a Pentax MX (lightest 35mm SLR at the time) with a host of prime lenses (28, 40, 50 macro and 100 with an occasional 200mm thrown in). From there I switched (after a climbing accident destroyed my camera and did a number on my arm) to a Nikon FM2 with a 24-120 mm zoom lens (age was taking it's toll). I then switched to my dream camera a Mamiya 7 with a 80mm lens ("normal" for that format, lens). Loved the incredible sharpness of those images but it just got too expensive per shot and then impossible to find 20 exposure rolls of Ektachrome 100 VS - and the dusty desert is no place to be opening your camera every 10 shots. So I went to digital, a full frame Nikon D 750 with a 24-120 VR lens. I have print shows and have been exhibited in museums as well as sell prints so I needed a full frame camera. Because of the nature of my photography ( I can't afford the 2 plus pound weight of a tripod nor the time to set it up while keeping up with my climbing /backpacking partners) I pretty much only shoot handheld so I love vibration control. At the time it came out the D750 was the lightest full frame camera out there- a D 800 was just too damn big and heavy (my Mamiya 7 with it's prime 80 was no heavier than the D750 with 24-120). I was pretty happy with this set up and had no real thoughts of switching when, for a lark, I went to a demo night at Hunt's camera featuring the Z system. The second I held it in my hand I was seduced. It fit perfectly and would save me over a pound over my D 750 rig (to put this in perspective my sleeping bag is good to 10 degrees and weights just 2 pounds). I was also blown away by the clarity of the electronic viewfinder (poor quality viewfinders were one of the reasons I hadn't been interested in going mirrorless. My reasoning for the Z7 over the Z6 was if I was going to spend a lot of money to upgrade my camera I might as well get more megapixels (occasionally I do print as large as 24x30 and the D 750 did a superb job at that size) - as long as there wasn't a weight penalty. I got the 24-70 f4 lens, the 2.8 24-70 wasn't out yet but I would still pick the f4 lens over it as the 2.8's size defeats the main reason for changing to the Z system. That was one of the big reasons why the Sony Mirrorless never appealed to me, their lenses are too big defeating my main reason for wanting to go mirrorless.
I shoot a fair number of close up images (check out my mud portfolio at
www.harveyhalpern.com) and have been really happy at how close the 24-70 f4 focuses and how sharp it is edge to edge. Besides, weight, size and optical quality, I was swayed by the 5 axis stabilization because of my avoidance of tripods (except where necessary i.e. Buckskin Gulch).
Before I got the camera, the internet was awash with stories detailing the downsides of the Z: just one slot and slow auto focus. As primarily a landscape photographer neither concerned me - I never used my second slot on the D 750 for backup photos and I rarely shoot wildlife and never shoot sports. The only real downside I've seen is the battery life. I haven't been out for longer than 4 days yet (Death Hollow and Fish and Owl Creek in Utah) so I haven't really figured out how much of a problem this will be. I don't have the back screen turned on (remember I'm used to film) to save battery life but the real test will be my upcoming 25 day expedition. I will carry 3 batteries and my hiking group carries a very light solar panel to recharge peoples kindles so I suspect I'll be hogging it's use a bit. By the way I didn't buy an adapter for my Nikon lenses as the main point was to save weight and that sweet 24-70 weighs so much less than my 24- 120 (especially so if you add the weight of the adapter). I am looking forward to a 70-200 f4 (I'll be headed up to the Arctic Petroleum Preserve in northwestern Alaska in the summer of 2012) coming out (will there be one)- as once again the 70-200 f 2.8 is just too damn big.
In retrospect I would not have switched to mirrorless from a SLR if I weren't someone who backpacks on multi week trips (or if I were 30 years younger). But if you do the sort of Wilderness photography that I do the Z7 seems like the ideal camera. In the next few days I'll be posting photos from my Fall trip to Utah. Stay tuned!
I thought my fellow UHHer's might be interested in... (
show quote)
I've done it. Lived in Page. Wonderful photo ops.
wildweasel wrote:
Have you considered the Olympus EM1 Mark 11, an excellent landscape camera with the 12-100 F-4 pro lens. I quit shooting a Nikon D750 for the Olympus EM1 Mark ll and I absolutely love this camera and have never looked back, for the record I have the Nikon Z6, but rarely use it. Check out why some pros have switched to the Olympus system.
I would not want to reduce my sensor size - remember I was using a Medium format film camera at the end.
I'm just using the 24-70 f4 lens so I haven't been changing lenses. For my Wilderness travels that will be all I'm taking. Heck I got by with a prime 80mm lens (Normal for a 6x7) on my Mamiya 7 so I feel like I have as many choices as I need (until I go to northern Alaska)
wilderness wrote:
I thought my fellow UHHer's might be interested in my observations and thoughts on my Nikon Z7. First a little about me and the photography that I do. I pretty much only photograph landscapes of serious backcountry. The more remote the Wilderness the happier I am. However I am now 67 and though I am still doing remote, difficult and technical backpacks the sand is running out which is indeed one of the main reasons I chose to get a Nikon Z7. This coming spring I'll be doing a 12 day backpack on the Navajo Nation on a spot that most probably has never been photographed from the ground and then a 25 day backpack along the top of the Waterpocket Fold starting in southern Capitol Reef N.P. and continuing out of the park to the Waterpocket Fold's terminus at Lake Powell. This will be mostly on top of Navajo domes 300-500 feet above the canyon floors where those very few who ever hike here would be backpacking. I have been doing this sort of Wilderness travel for over 45 years now, photographing it first with a Pentax MX (lightest 35mm SLR at the time) with a host of prime lenses (28, 40, 50 macro and 100 with an occasional 200mm thrown in). From there I switched (after a climbing accident destroyed my camera and did a number on my arm) to a Nikon FM2 with a 24-120 mm zoom lens (age was taking it's toll). I then switched to my dream camera a Mamiya 7 with a 80mm lens ("normal" for that format, lens). Loved the incredible sharpness of those images but it just got too expensive per shot and then impossible to find 20 exposure rolls of Ektachrome 100 VS - and the dusty desert is no place to be opening your camera every 10 shots. So I went to digital, a full frame Nikon D 750 with a 24-120 VR lens. I have print shows and have been exhibited in museums as well as sell prints so I needed a full frame camera. Because of the nature of my photography ( I can't afford the 2 plus pound weight of a tripod nor the time to set it up while keeping up with my climbing /backpacking partners) I pretty much only shoot handheld so I love vibration control. At the time it came out the D750 was the lightest full frame camera out there- a D 800 was just too damn big and heavy (my Mamiya 7 with it's prime 80 was no heavier than the D750 with 24-120). I was pretty happy with this set up and had no real thoughts of switching when, for a lark, I went to a demo night at Hunt's camera featuring the Z system. The second I held it in my hand I was seduced. It fit perfectly and would save me over a pound over my D 750 rig (to put this in perspective my sleeping bag is good to 10 degrees and weights just 2 pounds). I was also blown away by the clarity of the electronic viewfinder (poor quality viewfinders were one of the reasons I hadn't been interested in going mirrorless. My reasoning for the Z7 over the Z6 was if I was going to spend a lot of money to upgrade my camera I might as well get more megapixels (occasionally I do print as large as 24x30 and the D 750 did a superb job at that size) - as long as there wasn't a weight penalty. I got the 24-70 f4 lens, the 2.8 24-70 wasn't out yet but I would still pick the f4 lens over it as the 2.8's size defeats the main reason for changing to the Z system. That was one of the big reasons why the Sony Mirrorless never appealed to me, their lenses are too big defeating my main reason for wanting to go mirrorless.
I shoot a fair number of close up images (check out my mud portfolio at
www.harveyhalpern.com) and have been really happy at how close the 24-70 f4 focuses and how sharp it is edge to edge. Besides, weight, size and optical quality, I was swayed by the 5 axis stabilization because of my avoidance of tripods (except where necessary i.e. Buckskin Gulch).
Before I got the camera, the internet was awash with stories detailing the downsides of the Z: just one slot and slow auto focus. As primarily a landscape photographer neither concerned me - I never used my second slot on the D 750 for backup photos and I rarely shoot wildlife and never shoot sports. The only real downside I've seen is the battery life. I haven't been out for longer than 4 days yet (Death Hollow and Fish and Owl Creek in Utah) so I haven't really figured out how much of a problem this will be. I don't have the back screen turned on (remember I'm used to film) to save battery life but the real test will be my upcoming 25 day expedition. I will carry 3 batteries and my hiking group carries a very light solar panel to recharge peoples kindles so I suspect I'll be hogging it's use a bit. By the way I didn't buy an adapter for my Nikon lenses as the main point was to save weight and that sweet 24-70 weighs so much less than my 24- 120 (especially so if you add the weight of the adapter). I am looking forward to a 70-200 f4 (I'll be headed up to the Arctic Petroleum Preserve in northwestern Alaska in the summer of 2012) coming out (will there be one)- as once again the 70-200 f 2.8 is just too damn big.
In retrospect I would not have switched to mirrorless from a SLR if I weren't someone who backpacks on multi week trips (or if I were 30 years younger). But if you do the sort of Wilderness photography that I do the Z7 seems like the ideal camera. In the next few days I'll be posting photos from my Fall trip to Utah. Stay tuned!
I thought my fellow UHHer's might be interested in... (
show quote)
The whole deep wilderness thing=my idol. After retirement in a couple of years I am hoping to do this on a much smaller scale. Overnite-3-4 days round trip at the most. I am guessing you mean summer 2021? If you need the lite weight I guess the f4 is the way to go. Some successful landscape photogs shoot with a f4 lens. Have you tested the 2.8 at all? Nothing wrong with the Z series cameras. It depends what you want or need them to do. For what you want the camera to do & your weight needs, I think you have made a great choice. Checked out your pics, great work.
There is one major Z camera downside that you did not discuss... I don't know if the Z7 is prone to this very annoying problem - but since it shares the same exact housing with the Z6 - you may find that the camera will shut down when it overheats. I shoot outdoors with the Z6 in the summertime during hot sunny weather at Renaissance Faires. The camera was purchased in June of last year and was put to immediate use at a local Faire. The first day was a hot sunny day - and the camera shut down after a few minutes of shooting during an action packed human chess match!!? I turned off the camera immediately and turned it back on after a few minutes - and it operated normally for another few minutes - until the shutoff problem again reoccurred.... when I figured out that it was the overhead sun beating directly down on the camera that caused the shutoff - I took precautions to cover the camera when not in use and the problem went away... You might have a similar issue when backpacking in high desert country during particularly sunny hot days... Also, lately the camera has had way too many error messages during a shoot... You either re press the shutter or turn the camera on/off to clear the error and it then continues to function normally until the next error.... Maybe I have a lemon - or maybe this camera is just quirky... BUT!
ratjones wrote:
There is one major Z camera downside that you did not discuss... I don't know if the Z7 is prone to this very annoying problem - but since it shares the same exact housing with the Z6 - you may find that the camera will shut down when it overheats. I shoot outdoors with the Z6 in the summertime during hot sunny weather at Renaissance Faires. The camera was purchased in June of last year and was put to immediate use at a local Faire. The first day was a hot sunny day - and the camera shut down after a few minutes of shooting during an action packed human chess match!!? I turned off the camera immediately and turned it back on after a few minutes - and it operated normally for another few minutes - until the shutoff problem again reoccurred.... when I figured out that it was the overhead sun beating directly down on the camera that caused the shutoff - I took precautions to cover the camera when not in use and the problem went away... You might have a similar issue when backpacking in high desert country during particularly sunny hot days... Also, lately the camera has had way too many error messages during a shoot... You either re press the shutter or turn the camera on/off to clear the error and it then continues to function normally until the next error.... Maybe I have a lemon - or maybe this camera is just quirky... BUT!
There is one major Z camera downside that you did ... (
show quote)
I have run into none of those problems. I don't hike in canyon country in the summer (that would be crazy in my opinion) and have not found it to be a problem in the mountains in the summer. I suspect you've got a lemon.
That is my current thought as well - although the overheat problem seems to be prevalent amongst mirrorless owners... I have several photographer friends who have Sony cams and they have reported issues with that brand.... No matter - the problems I have are at least avoidable until I can get the thing looked at. I love the camera despite those problems as it produces excellent images when behaving! (which is most of the time)...
I also love my Z7, which I purchased just a few month ago. But no matter what I do, I can not turn on the back panel. Also, using the adapter and the 24-120 lens, it is practically impossible to work without a tripod, at least for me. Thank you for the great post.
wilderness wrote:
I thought my fellow UHHer's might be interested in my observations and thoughts on my Nikon Z7. First a little about me and the photography that I do. I pretty much only photograph landscapes of serious backcountry. The more remote the Wilderness the happier I am. However I am now 67 and though I am still doing remote, difficult and technical backpacks the sand is running out which is indeed one of the main reasons I chose to get a Nikon Z7. This coming spring I'll be doing a 12 day backpack on the Navajo Nation on a spot that most probably has never been photographed from the ground and then a 25 day backpack along the top of the Waterpocket Fold starting in southern Capitol Reef N.P. and continuing out of the park to the Waterpocket Fold's terminus at Lake Powell. This will be mostly on top of Navajo domes 300-500 feet above the canyon floors where those very few who ever hike here would be backpacking. I have been doing this sort of Wilderness travel for over 45 years now, photographing it first with a Pentax MX (lightest 35mm SLR at the time) with a host of prime lenses (28, 40, 50 macro and 100 with an occasional 200mm thrown in). From there I switched (after a climbing accident destroyed my camera and did a number on my arm) to a Nikon FM2 with a 24-120 mm zoom lens (age was taking it's toll). I then switched to my dream camera a Mamiya 7 with a 80mm lens ("normal" for that format, lens). Loved the incredible sharpness of those images but it just got too expensive per shot and then impossible to find 20 exposure rolls of Ektachrome 100 VS - and the dusty desert is no place to be opening your camera every 10 shots. So I went to digital, a full frame Nikon D 750 with a 24-120 VR lens. I have print shows and have been exhibited in museums as well as sell prints so I needed a full frame camera. Because of the nature of my photography ( I can't afford the 2 plus pound weight of a tripod nor the time to set it up while keeping up with my climbing /backpacking partners) I pretty much only shoot handheld so I love vibration control. At the time it came out the D750 was the lightest full frame camera out there- a D 800 was just too damn big and heavy (my Mamiya 7 with it's prime 80 was no heavier than the D750 with 24-120). I was pretty happy with this set up and had no real thoughts of switching when, for a lark, I went to a demo night at Hunt's camera featuring the Z system. The second I held it in my hand I was seduced. It fit perfectly and would save me over a pound over my D 750 rig (to put this in perspective my sleeping bag is good to 10 degrees and weights just 2 pounds). I was also blown away by the clarity of the electronic viewfinder (poor quality viewfinders were one of the reasons I hadn't been interested in going mirrorless. My reasoning for the Z7 over the Z6 was if I was going to spend a lot of money to upgrade my camera I might as well get more megapixels (occasionally I do print as large as 24x30 and the D 750 did a superb job at that size) - as long as there wasn't a weight penalty. I got the 24-70 f4 lens, the 2.8 24-70 wasn't out yet but I would still pick the f4 lens over it as the 2.8's size defeats the main reason for changing to the Z system. That was one of the big reasons why the Sony Mirrorless never appealed to me, their lenses are too big defeating my main reason for wanting to go mirrorless.
I shoot a fair number of close up images (check out my mud portfolio at
www.harveyhalpern.com) and have been really happy at how close the 24-70 f4 focuses and how sharp it is edge to edge. Besides, weight, size and optical quality, I was swayed by the 5 axis stabilization because of my avoidance of tripods (except where necessary i.e. Buckskin Gulch).
Before I got the camera, the internet was awash with stories detailing the downsides of the Z: just one slot and slow auto focus. As primarily a landscape photographer neither concerned me - I never used my second slot on the D 750 for backup photos and I rarely shoot wildlife and never shoot sports. The only real downside I've seen is the battery life. I haven't been out for longer than 4 days yet (Death Hollow and Fish and Owl Creek in Utah) so I haven't really figured out how much of a problem this will be. I don't have the back screen turned on (remember I'm used to film) to save battery life but the real test will be my upcoming 25 day expedition. I will carry 3 batteries and my hiking group carries a very light solar panel to recharge peoples kindles so I suspect I'll be hogging it's use a bit. By the way I didn't buy an adapter for my Nikon lenses as the main point was to save weight and that sweet 24-70 weighs so much less than my 24- 120 (especially so if you add the weight of the adapter). I am looking forward to a 70-200 f4 (I'll be headed up to the Arctic Petroleum Preserve in northwestern Alaska in the summer of 2012) coming out (will there be one)- as once again the 70-200 f 2.8 is just too damn big.
In retrospect I would not have switched to mirrorless from a SLR if I weren't someone who backpacks on multi week trips (or if I were 30 years younger). But if you do the sort of Wilderness photography that I do the Z7 seems like the ideal camera. In the next few days I'll be posting photos from my Fall trip to Utah. Stay tuned!
I thought my fellow UHHer's might be interested in... (
show quote)
Just red somewhere that a third party has released a much smaller and much liter adapter for the Z7. Does anybody has suggestions for that, please?
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