Would you go for this camera?

[NikonAIS]

I guess all the guys who prefer this layout are still shooting film. ;-)

What is wrong with still shooting film? I shoot medium format often with my Hasselblad. Digital has caught up to film in color but it still falls short of film in Black and White. Especially medium format in film like T-Max 100 and printed in Oriental Seagull G3

 

[Smaug]

What is wrong with still shooting film? I shoot medium format often with my Hasselblad. Digital has caught up to film in color but it still falls short of film in Black and White. Especially medium format in film like T-Max 100 and printed in Oriental Seagull G3

I too find that it is not as good, shooting B&W in digital. There is a certain depth to the image for B&W negative film that is missing from B&W digital.

Even a simple shot with a simple camera, then simple scanning, inversion and basic editing. (leveling, cropping and contrast adjustment)

Now since posting this the Zf is out and doing quite well, it seems, as there are all kinds of "flavors" available.

I'm still debating this: Z5 II vs. Zf. (as an upgrade for my Z5) The Z5 II would be superior for sports, but the Zf would be more fun the rest of the time. Both are damned expensive, as The Orange Man has really taxed us on them. Maybe a Black Friday sale is forthcoming?

 

[dirk]

I'm still debating this: Z5 II vs. Zf. (

This depends on your use cases. What would you like to do with it and how much percentage of your photo time is used for each scenario/use case?

 

[Smaug]

This depends on your use cases. What would you like to do with it and how much percentage of your photo time is used for each scenario/use case?

Probably 80% sports photos, indoors (swimming) and outdoors. (soccer) Then some get-togethers of family & friends. For example Miata club party, evening party at a friend's backyard biergarten.

I feel like the Z5 II is the better choice technically, but its looks don't stir the soul like the Zf's do. Would I mind paying a bunch more for that and giving up some nice handling features too?

 

[dirk]

That is not easy.

As a general rule, I only would buy a camera you like to take in your hands. If your stomach feels like "meah" with the Z5ii in your hands, but your heart rate goes up with the ZF in your hands, that could be already a strong indication.

But with sports at 80% of the use cases, this is more difficult. Also the sport genre plays a big role here. The differences in the AF systems. You should test it beforehand.

For swimming, every AF will have problems because of the water drops flying around. As a consequence, you need more DOF to be sure that the head of the swimmer is still sharp in case the AF picks on waterdrops.

Due to this you might need higher ISO. Light at swimming events is probably not the best one. Soccer outside is not a problem. Neither for modern AF nor for high ISO.

I do not know the AF of ZF and Z5ii. But it will be likely equal or better than the AF of my Lumix S1R2.

I have no problems to take pictures of field hockey outside with that camera and the Sigma 70-200/2.8 DG DN Sports.

But the lens plays a big role here. With the Sigma 100-400 DG DN, my hit rate is not as high.

For the other 20%, you do not need AF at all. Therefore it does not matter what you pick.

Which lens are you using for soccer and which lens for swimming? Maybe it is better to buy a second hand body and invest in a better lens?

• Panasonic - DC-S1RM2
• 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS | Sports 023
• 171.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/2000 sec
• Pattern
• Manual exposure
• ISO 200

• Panasonic - DC-S1RM2
• 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS | Sports 023
• 200.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/1600 sec
• Pattern
• Manual exposure
• ISO 125

• Panasonic - DC-S1RM2
• 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS | Sports 023
• 200.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/1600 sec
• Pattern
• Manual exposure
• ISO 100

• Panasonic - DC-S1RM2
• 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS | Sports 023
• 191.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/2000 sec
• Pattern
• Manual exposure
• ISO 200

 

[Smaug]

That is not easy.

As a general rule, I only would buy a camera you like to take in your hands. If your stomach feels like "meah" with the Z5ii in your hands, but your heart rate goes up with the ZF in your hands, that could be already a strong indication.

But with sports at 80% of the use cases, this is more difficult. Also the sport genre plays a big role here. The differences in the AF systems. You should test it beforehand.

I think that will prove either impossible or impractical, as rentals are expensive. It might cost me $200 to rent the two cameras, which is a significant part of the purchase price.

For swimming, every AF will have problems because of the water drops flying around. As a consequence, you need more DOF to be sure that the head of the swimmer is still sharp in case the AF picks on waterdrops.

Due to this you might need higher ISO. Light at swimming events is probably not the best one.

Right. Continuous AF has not been useful at all on swimming. What I've been doing is using single AF to focus on the water ahead of the swimmer, then trip the shutter when she arrives. Continuous exposures are needed so I have extra images to cull out the ones with water drops in the wrong places.

Soccer outside is not a problem. Neither for modern AF nor for high ISO.

Yes, it is more about timing and my location relative to the ball.

Which lens are you using for soccer and which lens for swimming? Maybe it is better to buy a second hand body and invest in a better lens?

This one. I have thought about buying a 70-200/2.8, but aside from the cost, losing 100 mm worth of focal length would mean a heavier crop, which would take away most of that image quality I gained from having a nicer lens. I am often up on a balcony pretty far away...

I think I will stick with this lens and accept the noise. AF seems to work fine: single AF for swimming (due mostly to water droplets) and single or continuous AF as needed for soccer. Now that I think of it, the subject tracking would not help much in soccer. There are too many kids running beween the subject and me. Maybe swimming, but maybe not.

I understand the AF is about the same on either one of them. Maybe I should rent just one of them and consider it representative of the other, AF-wise...

 

[dirk]

Maybe it would make more sense to look for a cheap second hand Nikon Z7.

I think you will have more benefits with the better crop capability of 40+ MP than with a faster AF or better noise level.

The step up from 24MP to 46MP was for my sport photography a game changer - all else equal.

But of course the Z7 is not as sexy as a ZF. But you wouls save money and can hunt on the used marke for a ZF.

Your Tamron zoom is quite good. I had the equivilant zoom of Tamron in the old days for my Nikon D800.