CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

Some thoughts about going mirrorless, which I did about a month and 3000 pictures ago. (Nikon Z611). The mirrorless viewfinder is both good and bad. While composing the shot, pre-exposure, the screen looks a bit wimpy and “digital”. It is not rich and saturated as a mirrored viewfinder and the contrast range is limited. The brights can look washed out even when the histogram (the little one in the viewfinder which I really like) is telling you the exposure is fine. The jpeg from your RAW file that you see after making the exposure looks great. It’s just that pre-exposure shot that lets me down.

I like seeing the exposure change when I manipulate the controls, particularly in dark situations. The thing I miss the most on this camera, is not having a focus point lock. My last three Nikon digital cameras had a little toggle switch to lock the focus point to where I want it to be, but my Z611 has a mind off its own and I keep finding the focus point has shifted from where I left it. This is one of the biggest complaints about this camera I’ve on various NIKON forums.

The number one most annoying thing for me is the “Sub selector” (joy stick). It’s placed right where your thumb hits it when you pick up the camera, and, for the most part does the exact same thing as the “Multi Selector” which is right below it. It sticks up and wiggles and you end up moving it by accident and that shifts the focus point all over the view finder. There is nothing it does that other controls don’t do, and I would disable it if that was an option. It’s not.

The day I received the camera our Symphony Orchestra called me to shoot part of their live concert that had changed in the one day since we shot the rehearsal. This camera has a silent mode that doesn’t make a sound. This was great to use in a situation where I had to deal with an audience. No one even knew I was taking pictures. This is great.

Also, on the plus side, this camera focuses blisteringly fast with my fast, professional lenses. It is the fastest focusing camera I have ever had. The manual for this camera was obviously written by someone who already knew all about it and thought they could leave out information and no one would be bothered. I’ve wasted lots of time trying to figure out things that were barely or incompletely explained.

Regrets about going mirrorless? No. It was time to go full frame and chuck the mirrors. Is it as great as some say? No. It gobbles batteries, the EVF has room for improvement, there are too many controls on the body and no focus lock. In time I will master it and use its many strengths to make great picture. I’m always up for a challenge.

What do others think?

User ID

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mffox Loc: Avon, CT

Enjoy the ride.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

For battery life, consider your usage actions and some of the configuration options. Some ideas:

Have the camera go to sleep quickly.
Minimize your use of image review. Just capture, delete later after offloading the images.
Set the review display of the last captured image to a minimum time.

Some of your usage issues are not 'mirrorless' but relate to this model from Nikon. Other brands, and even other Nikon MILCs, have different designs and control layouts.

ruzbynik Loc: Victoria BC

For the focus shifting problem the use of BBF might be your solution. The focus will not shift on its own but requires a push of the back focus button.

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

BBF is all I ever use. Sometimes when I am waiting for the cello player to start or a whale to surface, my fingers will fiddle with the controls or ill push the BBF button and the camera will focus on something I dont want, then when the action starts and I lift the camera to my eye I find the focus point is not where I think it is going to be. Often when watching whales I want to lock the focus location so I know where it is going to be to catch the action. My D7500 and D300s have a toggle switch to lock that point in place. Not so on my new Z6. I guess I have to stop fiddling with the controls. Tough to do. I'm a fiddler.

User ID

How is that different than an SLR ? Seems the same to me but I havent used an SLR in ages.

But OTOH the OPs complaint isnt really focus shifting and much as I love the Z, just like the OP I also wish I could nail that AF target into its position in the frame !

ruzbynik Loc: Victoria BC

Too much fiddly business.

ruzbynik Loc: Victoria BC

My experience is so far limited to SLR cameras. I will consider the z6iii when it finally shows up.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

I find that BBF with focus tracking (for moving subjects) works well on the Z6ii and Z7ii. For focus tracking I use the assigned FN1 button up front to activate.

neillaubenthal

There are EVF controls in the menus to allow customization of the screen.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

My Sony's are close to perfect.

photoman43

Welcome to mirrorless. If you have not already done so, download the free guides from Nikon for your camera.

https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/products/556/Z_6II.html

And consider getting a guides written by a third party, like Thom Hogan:

https://www.zsystemuser.com/z-system-books/complete-guide-to-the-nikon-5.html

On my Z9, I use Back Button focusing (AF-ON) to lock in the focus point.

Zooman 1

Should have got a Canon!! Have fun with your new camera!

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

I'm just starting to play with those.