Photography News Issue 68

Photography News | Issue 68 | photographynews.co.uk

13 Techniques

Sony lenses

Nikon

The Z factor Nikon’s Z series full-frame mirrorless bodies are already a hit with Nikon users and the system is growing well

Amature system Just as with its bodies, Sony has had the time to build an impressive range of lenses, and the range is almost complete. At one end there are affordable zooms and at the other are Zeiss and Sony designed pro-level GMaster zooms and primes – up to the 400mm f/2.8. The pro-spec lenses aren’t small or light, and that means adding a 70-200mm f/2.8 GMaster zoomwill prettymuch negate the body’s advantages in size andweight. Of Sony’s own lenses, there are plenty of fabulous options, but look out for the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master, which is a superb landscape option and supports filters more readily than the 12-24mm f/4. For portraits and street work the FE 135mm f/1.8 GMaster and FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA Planar T* Lens both excel in sharpness and for sports and action the FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 OSS G Master is a versatile option. When it comes to third-party lenses, there’s plenty of support too. For example, Zeiss with its Batis and Loxia lenses and Sigma with its Art and Sport ranges both offer excellent build and image quality.

It’s now nearly a year since the launch of the Z 6 and Z 7, but fair to say that Nikon, like Canon, was a latecomer to the full-framemirrorless party, allowing Sony to rip through several generations of camera, while the Z series is still on its first. It’s a testament to the engineering then, that both cameras are actually really competitive, and this makes switching seemvery attractive, especially if you’re an existing Nikon user. There’s no doubting the Z series’ quality though, and in some aspects it’s themarket leader. For instance, for our money, the Z 6 and Z 7 have the best electronic viewfinders out there, being closest to an optical viewfinder in feel, but with all the benefits of mirrorless design

like focus peaking and exposure preview. Taking to an EVF can be a sticking point for DSLR users, but the Z series 3690k dot EVF is bright, clearer and only begins to stutter at very high frame rates. Nikon clearly worked hard to get this right, and it shows. The Z series cameras function and feel very similar to high-end Nikon DSLRs, even down to themenus, somoving from one to another is very straightforward. And in a nod to playing catch-up, Nikon introduced the an FTZmount converter at launch (bundling it with some cameras for only about £100more) to aid the transition, so Nikon’s Fmount lenses work seamlessly on its new bodies with full AF and AE functions.

Above The Z 6 is externally identical to the Z 7 but has a lower resolution and is more suited for video shooters

Outwardly, the Z 6 and Z 7 are identical, but they’re very different beasts aimed at different users. The £3099 Z 7 uses a 45.7-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, which is proven to have great dynamic range, work very well in low light, and designedwithout an optical low-pass filter andmatchedwith themount’s native lenses – or high-end F-mount glass – detail is immense. The Z 7 has an ISO range of 64-25,600 and on-chip phase-detect AF has 493 points covering 90%of the frame, so anyone coming froma DSLRwill notice an instant improvement there. As well as the usual modes, at launch the systemhad only face detection, but eye detection has just been added via a firmware update. Continuous shooting is decent, though the top rate of 9fps means working without AE and avoiding 14-bit Raws. The Z 7 also packs in handy features, such as an in-camera 4K time-lapsemode, which can be shot using the electronic shutter to save actuations. The £1900 Z 6 is lower resolution but faster, andmore of an all-rounder. Like the Z 7 it uses a back-illuminated sensor, this time of 24.5-megaapixels and with an optical low-pass filter to reduce moire. Despite the lower pixel count,

stills are brilliant and noise performance is excellent through the 100-51,200 ISO range. You can also shoot up to 12fps, though, again, this is without AE and in 12-bit Raw. AF options take a slight hit from the Z 7, but you still get 273 points with on-chip phase-detection and 90% coverage. Focusing is speedy, but can struggle a little in low light. Back to the similarities and both cameras use in-body image stabilisation, which is compatible with existing F-mount lenses, so you get benefit there. Build and handling wise, the Z series makes no compromises, operating in the refined and intuitive way you’d expect fromamanufacturer of such pedigree; they’re weather sealed, too. Battery life is quoted at over 300 shots, which doesn’t sound likemuch, but in our experience, they’ve gone near double that. Both cameras use a single XQD slot, and this has split opinion. Many photographers are now used to the security and expandability of two-card recording, but XQDs are theoretically much tougher than SDs and faster, too. Overall, froma standing start it’s fair to say Nikon has done a lot right.

Above The Z 7 is Nikon’s flagship mirrorless model

nikon.co.uk

Nikon lenses

New glass, better pictures

Nikon launched three lenses along with its Z series bodies, which felt a bit anaemic at the time. Now the range has grown a little though, and with third party support also arriving, there’s plenty to enjoy now and look forward to. It’s by nomeans complete though, so you really need Nikon’s FTZmount converter to fit your F-mount lenses while you wait for dedicatedmirrorless versions to arrive. Specifically designed for the new Z mount, there are currently 24-70mm f/2.8 and f/4 zooms, a wide-angle 15- 30mm f/4 zoom, and 35mmand 50mm f/1.8 primes. Optically, all of the lenses are superb, boasting excellent sharpness wide open which is well held in the

corners. The f/2.8 zoomalso features an L-Fn function button on the lens barrel, as well as an integrated OLED lens information panel. This year should also see a 24mmand 85mm f/1.8, a 70- 200mm f/2.8 and a 58mm f/0.95 lens. In 2020we can expect a 50mm f/1.2, 20mm f/1.8 and 14-24mm f/2.8 zoom. Samyang is the first well known third-party name to produce lenses for the Zmount, and currently fills two holes in Nikon’s own line-up with the 14mm f/2.8 Z, and 85mm f/1.4 Z. There’s also the delicious-soundingMitakon Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 III, and five lenses fromKipon all with an f/2.4 aperture covering focal lengths from 24mm to 90mm.

Above More lenses, including third party options, are coming out for Sony E-mount

Above The Z mount lens choice is growing, fromNikon and third party brands too