Nikon Enters the Full Frame Mirrorless Market with a Bang. introducing the Z7 and Z6 !
Nikon Z7
After a long wait by Nikon fans the Company has finally introduced its first full frame mirrorless offerings the Z7 a high resolution model with 45 Megapixels and the Z6 a low light high frame rate model with 24 Megapixels.
The Internet has been abuzz in anticipation of this launch and I must admit even though I'm primarily a Canon user have been waiting eagerly for this announcement. I know if Nikon entered the market it would only be a matter of time before Canon does too.
The Specifications
Z7
45.7MP FX-Format BSI CMOS Sensor
EXPEED 6 Image Processing Engine
UHD 4K30 Video; N-Log & 10-Bit HDMI Out
493-Point Phase-Detect AF System
Built-In 5-Axis Vibration Reduction
0.80x 3.6m-Dot EVF with NIKKOR Optics
3.2" 2.1m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD
9 fps Continuous Shooting; ISO 64-25600
Z6
24.5MP FX-Format BSI CMOS Sensor
EXPEED 6 Image Processing Engine
UHD 4K30 Video; N-Log & 10-Bit HDMI Out
273-Point Phase-Detect AF System
Built-In 5-Axis Vibration Reduction
0.80x 3.6m-Dot EVF with NIKKOR Optics
3.2" 2.1m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD
12 fps Shooting; ISO 100-51200
My Initial Impressions
The Z7 and Z6 Bodies
Appearance 8/10
The bodies look true to the Nikon design language which has evolved over a lot of trial and error. They are not the best looking cameras in the market but look very functional.
Ergonomics 8/10
The bodies look sturdy and are supposed to have weather sealing to the level of the proved D850 which a great thing. The grip is nice and deep and DSLR users will find it handy and superior to the ones on Sony Cameras
Specs 8/10
The specs of the two bodies are spot on to compete with other class leaders in the market namely the Sony A7R 3 and the A7 3. They are also on park with Nikons DSLR offering the D850 and the D750 respectively. The pecs look goo for both still photography and videography.
The 5- axis images stabilisation stands out for me. Plus all the bells and whistles expected of pro level mirrorless camera are there.
The one feature that is glaringly missing is a 2nd memory card slot. I have been shooting to multiple memory cards for all my photography for the last several years. This redundancy gives me peace of mind that I have my images safe in a 2nd card, in case one card gets corrupted or broken.
Price 9/10
The prices seem reasonable and logical based on what the camera offer. Long term value for money is something only time will tell.
The Native lenses
The 24-70 kit lens and the 50mm f 1.8 and 35mm f1.8 I am not fancy about their appearance. Compared to the fantastic designs we have been seeing from Sigma Art Line or even to the F line from Nikon the lenses seem ungainly and not well proportioned. But what matters most is optical performance and that I can comment about only after first hand shooting with the system.
The FTZ LENS ADAPTOR
Its great that Nikon has brought out an adaptor that makes all their F mount lenses compatible with these new bodies. That means current Nikon users can continue to use their existing lenses albeit with slightly lower performance compared to the native lenses being developed for teh system.
Summary
Nikon has entered the full frame mirrorless arena with an impressive system that is of Pro quality and is only going to get better from here. Cant wait to see what Canon comes up with now and what Sony responds with.
Launch Prices for the new Z system Cameras and S Lenses in US
Nikon Z7 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 24-70mm Lens and FTZ Adapter Kit -$4,146.90
Nikon Z7 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 24-70mm Lens - $3,996.95
Nikon Z6 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 24-70mm Lens and FTZ Mount Adapter Kit - $2,746.90
Nikon Z6 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 24-70mm Lens - $2,596.95
See the Full Press release below
Nikon releases the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S, NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S, and the Mount Adapter FTZ, and develops the NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct
August 23, 2018
Designed exclusively for the Nikon Z mount system, featuring a new, larger-diameter mount
TOKYO - Nikon Corporation (Nikon) is pleased to announce the release of three new lenses compatible with the Nikon Z mount system's full-frame (Nikon FX format) mirrorless cameras, for which a new larger-diameter mount has been adopted, as well as the Mount Adapter FTZ. The three new lenses are the standard zoom NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, the wide-angle prime NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S, and the standard prime NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S.
NIKKOR Z lenses pursue a new dimension in optical performance, by taking advantage of the superior design flexibility made possible by the combination of the larger Z mount with its inner diameter of 55 mm, and a short flange focal distance of 16 mm. The lenses offer sharp resolution with both still-image and movie recording capability, and are equipped with functions that include: compensation for focus breathing (the shifting of the angle of view when focus is adjusted), quiet operation, smooth exposure control, a control ring, and performance that are all well suited to movie recording.
The NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S, and NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S are S-Line interchangeable lenses. The S-Line is a newly designated grade of NIKKOR Z lenses that adhere to a new benchmark in optical performance, creating new definitions of design principles and quality control. These lenses realize a rendering performance that surpasses that of conventional f/4 standard zoom lenses and f/1.8 wide-angle or standard prime lenses. From maximum aperture, clear and sharp resolution can be achieved as well as beautiful bokeh characteristics.
Additionally, the Mount Adapter FTZ has been designed to allow users of Nikon SLR cameras to utilize their existing NIKKOR F mount lenses with the Z mount system and enjoy taking advantage of an even wider variety of lens characteristics with their photography.
Development of the NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct
Nikon is currently developing the NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct, the fastest lens in Nikon's history*, a standard prime manual focus lens. The design of the Noct lens exemplifies Nikon's mission to pursue the ultimate optical performance in the mirrorless category. As the result, the Noct is positioned it at the top of the S-Line. In addition, Nikon is planning on releasing a variety of new lenses that will continue to expand its line of attractive, high-performance NIKKOR Z lenses that further extend photographers' creative expressions.
*Within interchangeable lenses for Nikon SLR cameras and Advanced Cameras with Interchangeable Lenses.
NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S primary features
Standard focal-length range from wide-angle 24 mm to medium-telephoto 70 mm can effectively cover a wide variety of scenes and subjects with rendering performance that will change the perception of zoom lenses with a maximum aperture of f/4
Optical design that suppresses variations in aberrations from shooting distances of close-up to infinity, demonstrating sharp resolution even in the peripheral areas of the frame from the maximum aperture, and fine point-image reproduction
Achieved a minimum focus distance of just 0.3 m across the zoom range
Adoption of an ED glass element, an aspherical ED lens element, and three aspherical lens elements
Nano Crystal Coat adopted to suppress ghost and flare
Has the size needed to deliver an extremely high standard of optical performance, yet provides outstanding portability; employs a retracting mechanism that can be set on/off without pressing a button and reduces total length for a compact lens that can easily be taken anywhere
In consideration to a dust- and drip-resistance, the entire lens, including moving parts, has been sealed
Fluorine coat applied to front lens surface
NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S primary features
Rendering performance that redefines perceptions of what a 35 mm f/1.8 lens can do
Sharp resolution even in the peripheral areas of the frame from the maximum aperture, provide effective suppression of sagittal coma flare that enables superb point-image reproduction when capturing point light sources in night landscapes, and the soft and natural bokeh characteristics expected of a fast (bright) lens
Adoption of a new multi-focusing system achieves quiet, fast, and accurate AF control, as well as high image-forming performance at any focus distance
Adoption of two ED glass elements, and three aspherical lens elements
Nano Crystal Coat adopted to suppress ghost and flare
In consideration to a dust- and drip-resistance, the entire lens, including moving parts, has been sealed
NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S primary features
Superior rendering for exquisite image expression that redefines perceptions of what a 50 mm f/1.8 lens can do
Thorough suppression of axial chromatic aberration ensures superior resolution with faithful reproduction of the fine textures in subjects, even from maximum aperture
Sharp and clear rendering of details from the center of the frame to the peripheral edges, regardless of the shooting distance
The soft and beautiful bokeh characteristics at any shooting distance possible only with a fast (bright) lens
Adoption of two ED glass elements, and two aspherical lens elements
Nano Crystal Coat adopted to suppress ghost and flare
Adoption of a new, powerful stepping motor (STM) enables quiet and accurate AF control with both still-image and movie recording
In consideration to a dust- and drip-resistance, the entire lens, including moving parts, has been sealed
Mount Adapter FTZ primary features
Shooting with AE, or AF/AE, is available with approximately 360 NIKKOR F lenses from AI type onwards*
The unique characteristics of NIKKOR F mount lenses can be applied to Z mount system image quality
In-camera VR (Vibration Reduction) available when attaching a NIKKOR F lens without built-in VR; in-camera VR also performs well with movie recording
When attaching a NIKKOR F lens with built-in VR, lens VR and in-camera VR effectively work together to compensate for camera shake by enabling three-axis VR
Various sections of the adapter are effectively sealed to ensure dust- and drip-resistant performance equivalent to that of NIKKOR F lenses
Designed to be lightweight yet tough, with consideration for superior operability as a part of a complete system
*Shooting with AF/AE is not possible with some lenses
Development of the new NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct lens that pursues ultimate optical performance
The NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct that Nikon is currently developing will be a large aperture, standard 58 mm prime focal-length, the fastest lens in Nikon's history*, manual-focus lens positioned at the very top of the S-Line. It will symbolize the Nikon Z mount system's new dimension in optical performance.
It has inherited the design concept behind the original AI Noct-Nikkor 58mm f/1.2, a standard prime lens released in 1977, named for "Nocturne" (a musical composition inspired by or evocative of the night), and popular for its ability to finely reproduce point light sources as point images. This new Noct lens that is currently in development will take advantage of advanced design flexibility, afforded by the Z mount, pursuing ultimate optical performance. Development continues with the goals of achieving an extremely fast maximum aperture of f/0.95, offering the ultimate in NIKKOR rendering performance with superior detail and sharpness. Additionally, the goal is to achieve beautiful blur characteristics, or bokeh, with good continuity, while ensuring outstanding point-image reproduction capabilities for more compelling, three-dimensional imaging.
*Within interchangeable lenses for Nikon SLR cameras and Advanced Cameras with Interchangeable Lenses.
·Information regarding the release of this product will be announced at a later date.
The NIKKOR Z Lens Roadmap
*Information in the roadmap, including release dates, are subject to change. Product names after the NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct are not yet finalized.