mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

Have you considered trading in for a new full-frame mirrorless Zf? Upgraded sensor, 24.5 mp ad 30fps (plenty for wildlife), Z8 and Z9 AF capability. Good price at $1999 minus your Z6ii trade value. Now here's the kicker... I checked with Nikon (for free) and you can lock the focus point.

Kevin answered:
"You can assign a control to lock your focus point with [focus-point lock] in the custom controls (shooting) menu option f2. You can read more about this within the reference guide for the Z f camera body.

https://onlinemanual.nikonimglib.com/zf/en/csmf_custom_controls_shooting_guid-57b970f2-f4e8-dd7e-5b02-e178bced40c6_219.html"

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

And you’re giving up a lot of other control options to get that ability.

awesome14 Loc: UK

The fee-based tech-support is telephone support. For those who need an answer immediately, there is a fee. WHY?, because a company can handle 50-100 email support inquiries in the time it takes to solve one phone inquiry. There is no way to organize and track telephone support, or to include links to documentation that contains the answer.

Email support is free, because that is how every company performs tech-support. Support agents can read an email at 30x the speed of listening to a voice call. The entire tech-support system is set up for email. The agent reads the incoming email, looks in his support database, and with a mouse click, all the resources needed to solve the prolem are automatically inserted into a reply email.

Subsequent messages pertaining to the same problem can be added to the support ticket. The same agent handles the ticket from beginning to solution, so they're familiar with the case. You normally must get a free log in to the compqny website, so it can generate lots of personalized features where all your information is stored.

You register the products you own, supplying the information on the product registration form. Then the company knows the exact product, including serial number, because products can change slightly, and those changes are tracked by serial model and number.

If you just call on the phone, they have no information, and the agent has to ask specific questions to even start giving support. Email support with 24-48 hour service is free.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

You jump in without reading the thread, and you are wrong. The OP thought he was talking to Nikon, but it turned out it was a scam outfit who tried to charge him. He started a new thread to say that he called Nikon's actual number and they helped him without charging. Apple and Adobe also provide free telephone support to their customers.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

I love these people that jump in when the thread is several pages long with all the wrong answers without bothering to find out that the right answers were in the first two pages.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

Such as? It looks like a Z6 with an Expeed 7 processor to me. Please elaborate.

BebuLamar

The Zf is great for those who like its controls but many would considered is an ergonomic disaster. The Zf is not for everyone.

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

Buying new equipment isn't the answer always.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

But using equipment you're not happy with is?

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

In everything you can always buy bigger and better.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

I’ll let Thom Hogan, Z system guru, explain:
“ The Zf is now hitting users’ hands, and a lot of questions are coming up again, just as they did with the Zfc. Many of these questions have to do with “ignoring the dials” and “customizing the camera."

Here’s my basic problem with the Zf design: if you don’t want to use the ISO, shutter speed, and exposure compensation dials, you don’t get a lot of benefit by skipping them. Setting those dials to C and 1/3 step lets you use the button+dial and Front/Rear Command dial approach to things, but the lack of other customizable buttons on the camera means that you still have a “slow working camera.”

Nikon, of course, will point to the i button as a shortcut to the menus, but this is just a medium speed in setting things, not a fast working speed. Moreover, it can only point to 12 places in the menu (and one that isn't!). Have you counted how many places you might want to go? ;~)

Let me put things a different way. In the Z System, we have two highly configurable cameras: the Z8 and Z9. We have three somewhat crippled cameras in terms of configuring: the Z5, Z6 II, and Z7 II. And we have two cameras with highly limited customization: the Zf and Zfc. ”

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

I like Hogan's reviews generally. But I don't take them as gospel. He was slow to recognize the inevitable coming of mirrorless and could not get past the D850 and D5 for a long time. Nevertheless, his reviews tend to be technically thorough, but from an engineer's viewpoint and Quiote-ish.

IMHO, the Z6, Z5, and Z7's were always a stepping-stone series at low cost to hold market share with a large, loyal Nikon audience. I'm not as hamfisted as the OP and can generally keep my Z6 focus point centered. I hope to see a Z6III soon and will trade my current Z6 in for one. But I shoot with my Z9 80% of the time anyway.

I don't see ultimate customization as the question here. The OP wants to lock his focus. If you have followed his rants before, you know he doesn't want to spend $4k or $5400 on a Z8 or Z9. Zf is the minimal-cost camera to get that done. Compromise is to be expected.

Limited customization does not mean it won't get the job done. As a Z9 holder, I can tell you that some of that is overkill. Everyone likes to imagine themselves in the field, eyes glued to the viewfinder, never looking up as their tactile fingers make a dozen adjustments every minute or so like a rapid-fire programmer. But the truth is, once you set SS, F-stop and Auto ISO plus a preferred AF method, two command dials and a function button to hand off focus lock to 3-D covers 95% of your session.

Bonnie Jay Loc: SOUTHERN OREGON ... UNFORTUNATELY

I am a professional photographer and have been shooting Nikon .... since 1968. Have you tried a reputable camera shop who can likely provide an answer. Or google it.. .

This is an outrage. Who did you call at NikON. I have not called in lately but if this is a new policy I have other places I can ask.

Good luck

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

It’s generally a good idea when seeing a forum post almost a month after it was originally posted to read the thread before commenting. Number one, at that point the issue is probably resolved. Number 2, and more importantly, by only reading the initial few posts you make assumptions that aren’t true.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Welcome to the Hogg!