There’s currently a used Nikon FTZ on eBay for $150.00

I’m Teacup, and I look forward to getting to know you all. My uncle gave me a new Kodak Brownie every single Christmas from the time I was 6 years old (1952) until I graduated from high school. I’ve loved ‘picture taking’ ever since. Still a hacker; just have better equipment.

I’m in Oklahoma. Here and in Texas, we experience high levels of dust in the air at different times. The saying in the central corridor is, the more dust, the redder the sunset. I agree also with those who have spoken about volcanic ash, a superfine dust.

My husband was fishing on a private ranch with 22 small lakes, high and on the west side of the Ragged Mountains, west and south of Aspen. I tagged along with my Nikon Z7. It was a glorious three days.

I bought a 2019 15” MacBook Pro and loaded it to the gills. The Retina display makes a noticeable difference. It’s all expensive, but I’ll use it as long as I can update the operating system. I love it and recommend it.

Hi, Candi, when you were a sophomore in high school, I would have been a junior. We could have been friends and learned photography together. You have been given so many excellent suggestions. Take your time and do your homework. If you have a good local photography store, I would encourage you to shop there for several reasons. They will be able to answer all the questions you have for them after digesting all the suggestions you’ve received. They’ll be willing to spend time with you. They’ll probably be willing to let you rent some models which peak your interest, if that appeals to you. Once you purchase a camera from them, they’ll probably make time to help you anytime you have questions or have a problem. They will be willing to help you do software updates on your camera. They will probably have small class opportunities for you or private classes, if you wish. My store also offers monthly camera walks. My local store has a sign that says, “If you buy your camera from us, we’ll be happy to take time to help you any time. If you don’t buy your camera from us and need help, we’ll be happy to help you for $140.00 per hour. Once again, just take your time and do your homework. You’re going to have so much fun!

Thanks so much for the question and all the UHH replies. This is the only entry I’ve ever saved for future reference. One more spot I might recommend is American Basin, just outside Lake City, Colorado. Abundance of gorgeous wildflowers create a magnificent carpet of blooms across the basin. The road, if you can call it that, definitely requires four wheel drive. You’ll also need to plan for plenty of time for the drive up the mountain. Some years the snow melt is so heavy that it carries thousands of downed Aspen trees into the basin. That can totally wipe out the spring flowers, but it’s an amazing sight to see all those trees covering the basin, too. Still worth the drive up the mountain.

Last summer, 2019, I passed a man coming out of a store with his 850. I was carrying my wonderful Z7. As we passed, I noted his camera and said, “Oooh, you have the magnificent 850.” Simultaneously he said, “ Oooh, you have that great Z7!” Maybe it was “the grass is always greener” syndrome for both of us. You have the whole camera world from which to choose, and you already have an amazing combination. Just enjoy the hunt. I think you’re using wisdom to try out different options. You’ll know when you find your camera. Let us know what you decide.

My thoughts exactly. The 2.8 has performed beautifully for me. I traded in the f4 to defray the cost of the 2.8.

My first DSLR was the Nikon 7000. I shot with it from 2011 until 2017. At that time, after three major surgeries in three years, the camera plus many of my lenses became too heavy for me to carry for extended periods. I bought the Nikon 5600 as an interim camera; it allowed me to enjoy and continue shooting. By the time I could carry my 7000 again, I began having trouble achieving accurate focusing results; it was Macular Degeneration. I bought the Nikon Z7 shortly after it was introduced. Two of my main reasons, among many others, were it’s lighter weight and it’s amazing preview/live screen. Even with the adaptor ring, it was still easier to handle for extended periods than the 7000. It was the live preview screen that was the big game changer. The colors are exactly what the final picture will show, and I find focusing the Z7 to be very user friendly. Now I didn’t say the automatic focusing is the fastest kid on the block. It’s absolutely not, but I’m not a pro, I don’t have to make money with it, and rarely are my subjects moving too quickly for my needs. You’ll need to test that for yourself. I love my Z7 and the Z S glass lenses have been a real game changer for me. I think they are amazing. I’ve added Z lenses slowly over the last couple of years. I’ve traded some of my DX lenses, and I’ve
kept others. My photography skills have continued to grow and I’m more enamored with the art than ever. That’s a part of my experience. I’m delighted with my choice. You’ll choose your own path, and I look forward to knowing what you decide. Some people like to rent contenders for a couple of weeks each and see which one works for them the best. That might be a good idea for you. Happy shooting; it’s going to be a whole new adventure for you!

Are you maybe confusing the FTZ adapter with teleconverters?I have the Z’s FTZ adapter, and all it does is allow the mounting fittings on older Nikon lenses to then be connected to the new mounting system on the Z cameras via the adapter The adapter has no kind of lens in it. It has an opening in it. The Z’s have a new mounting system that without the adapter are incompatible with the mounting system on older Nikon lenses.
The adapter works just fine with many of my older Nikon lenses(my older lenses are less than 10 years old). I don’t think you need to be leery of it, although there are some disadvantages if working with lenses older than 10 years. Why don’t you just order it from Adorama or another good company? It started at $250, but I now see it for $150.00+/-. Even with postage from U.S., you won’t pay $400.00.

I’m pretty much a hacker, and I have fought my way through LR for a good while now. At one point, I had become quite comfortable with Aperture, but it was sadly discontinued. My main frustration with LR has been that it takes so darn much time to get through a whole group of photos that need editing. That brings me to the one thing that I believe I can share to make your journey at least one step easier. Learn how to create your own presets. Give them each a name that means something to you. I shoot a lot of tablescapes for entertaining archives. I shoot north, south, east, west exposures of the tables, and that is my hint for naming your presets. Say I name my set of pics Garden friends, Birthday 5.30.20. I would choose a name abbreviation and add the direction N, S, E, or W. The first one might be GFBD5.20N#1. Each pic with a northern exposure would then be GFBD5.20N#2, etc. If your photos have been shot within a relatively short period of time, the light exposures from each direction should be pretty consistent. Also, I try to shoot shots from each exposure in a block. I realize I’m shooting four sides of a dining table, so mine is pretty easy to control. You can certainly develop your own protocols as you go. It saves me hours in processing each group of pics. Basically, I only have to fight my way through four photos in the batch. The rest becomes easy peasy, and after applying the preset, I can always add or subtract on any of the elements if I choose. Sometimes I’ll keep a group of Presets, and sometimes I’ll dump them. Maybe I can reuse a set of Presets as a jumping off place for a new group of pics, if the lighting situation is the same. I just might change the name, so I don’t become confused. It’s maybe an amateurish approach, but it sure works for me. Stay after it and happy shooting!

I love my Z2.8. The S glass will definitely make a difference. The lens is one of my favorites. Happy shooting!

Agreed.

I have the current Z7, and I have pre-ordered the 24-200. I hope to receive it within the next month or two. I am very excited about the new lens, and I adore my Z7. I am a lady and a hacker. I hear some people denigrating the Z7; I love mine, and it produces amazing pictures. I am thrilled with it. The Z7 is very user friendly, and it has helped me steadily improve my skills. Of course I still have much to learn, but I enjoy the learning and I approach it with eagerness. The adapter, which is very easy to use will allow you to use your DX lenses(with cropped results) with the Z, and you could gradually add FX lenses to your arsenal, Z lenses and regular FX lenses, if you choose. The Z7 was the 1918 and 1919 Camera of the Year. It is a great camera, and I would recommend renting one for a week or two, and renting the Sony for a week or two before you make up your mind. My store allowed me to try the Sony when I thought I wanted to travel with a smaller camera. To my eye, it didn’t compare to the color produced by Z. I know both are great cameras, and you’ll be pleased with whatever you choose. Happy hunting.