Lens Selection and Z9
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Re: Lens Selection and Z9Reply #1 on: October 12, 2023 at 5:42 am
Hi Jeff,
I have the Z9, alongside the Z7II (and at times a Z5) in use and the following lenses:
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S (Great and unique lens that I often take alone with the Z7II. For the focal length range well image edges over the zoom range.)
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S (Excellent lens which I use for sports, wildlife and landscape. Soon I will also try it with the TC1.4x.)
- NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S (Very good macro but also portrait lens, like pretty much all macros in the range ;). )
- NIKKOR Z 20 mm f/1.8 S (Excellent throughout from open aperture)
- NIKKOR Z 35 mm f/1.8 S (Excellent throughout from open aperture)
- NIKKOR Z 85 mm f/1.8 S (Excellent throughout from open aperture)
From time to time I still had the following lenses in use, but I gave them away again:
NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S; The lens is optically excellent, but quite large and heavy, i.e. almost identical to the Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S. I then almost always took the latter with me, since I rarely need the higher speed and would have much preferred a 4/70-200mm, which Nikon unfortunately does not have. The Nikon (Tamron) 2.8/70-180mm I find a bit short on top and it unfortunately has no function buttons which I use intensively. We have in our NPO pool a Sony a7IV with the two f4 G lenses 20-70mm and 70-200mm which I often take as an alternative if it suits what I am shooting. Furthermore I had the Nikon (Tamron)NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8. It is quite good but was replaced by the 4/24-120mm. The NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR was also very decent on the Z5 at 24MP. Above 24MP, however, the drop-off at the edges becomes quite noticeable, so that too was ultimately replaced by the 24-120mm.
I had further ordered the NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR, which is hardly available here in Germany. With the announcement of the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S, however, I canceled the 180-600mm the other day, since the 600mm (plus Z-TELEKONVERTER TC-1.4x) fits my needs better. I plan to purchase it in 2025.
In 2024, the Z-TELEKONVERTER TC-1.4x and the NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S will be added.
I still had a 135mm in focus and was very curious about the NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena. However, I find the price of just under 3000€ clearly too high compared to the Sony FE 135mm F1.8 GM. Therefore, I use the latter from our NPO pool when necessary.
The costs are of course considerable, especially if you are starting from scratch. I had previously used the Canon RF system for almost two years, which is also very good but had a few points that I didn’t like quite as much. After the last price increases, it was more expensive than Nikon or Sony for most lenses.
Maybe instead of the Nikon 100-400mm the Tamron 150-500mm F/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD is an alternative for you, which is now also available for the Nikon Z mount? Unfortunately, it also has no function buttons. We have it in the NPO pool on the Sony a7IV and it’s very good, although the Nikon 100-400mm is a bit better at the edges.
The inexpensive Nikon/Tamron lenses, such as the 17-28mm, the 28-75mm, and the 70-180mm are all not bad, but never quite approach the level of the S-Line lenses and are functional and/or reduced in focal length. On the other hand, they are less expensive.
AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR is good, I used to have it on the Nikon D850 but I wouldn’t take it today as the F lenses are slowly being phased out.
The Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports is supposed to be quite good, but I don’t know it from personal experience. You might have to compare it with the Tamron 150-500mm mentioned above.
Oliver
https://www.riwodot.de
https://vero.co/riwodot
https://www.instagram.com/riwodot/
Re: Lens Selection and Z9Reply #3 on: October 15, 2023 at 8:04 amI have had the Z9, Z 24-120mm f/4 S, and Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S for about a year-and-a-half now. It is a wonderful system and a vast improvement over my APSC system. The quality of my work improved after purchasing this system.
These two lenses make a good combination for the landscape and wildlife work that have been my focus for the last few years. I would still love to add a wide angle lens such as the 14-24mm f/2.8, 14-30mm f/4, or 20mm f/1.8, and a telephoto like the NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S, but even with the additional lenses I expect that more than 50% of shots would be with the lenses I have now.
Despite how good the Z9 is, I would not carry it in a situation where I could not devote a significant part of my time to photography. It is too bulky and heavy to carry just in case I want to take a picture. My iPhone now fills this need fairly well, but small cameras like a Leica Q3 would be nice for casual travel photography. Someone might suggest a Z8 as lighter alternative, but I think I would still get the Z9 today. The built-in GPS in the Z9 is important to my workflow, the battery lasts a very long time, and it never overheats with video.
Kevin, I would be glad to write another article for you, but need to find a good topic – there are more than enough Z9 reviews. I purchased the Z9 and lenses from Roberts.
Re: Lens Selection and Z9Reply #4 on: October 15, 2023 at 10:08 amHello Jeff,
I also think that the Z8 doesn’t end up saving so much weight and size that it would be worth trading it in. But that’s why for everyday or city photography I mostly use the Z7II with the 4/24-120mm or the Sony a7iv with the 4/20-70mm from our NPO pool instead since the set is then lighter and more compact in each case.
Btw. good pictures :).
Oliver
https://www.riwodot.de
https://vero.co/riwodot
https://www.instagram.com/riwodot/
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