What would take for you to go back to DSLR's

please ignore the slightly provocative title, its purely tongue in cheek but slightly copying the thread next door (but in reverse)

quite a few of us here took up the Z system quite early (2 1/2 years+) and have had the experience of initial disappointment, as , at first the Z6/7 were not quite as good as they could have been on launch , however we weathered the storm and several firmware updates later and a new generation (ii models). and we have been joined by some newer "Z" adopters.

I acknowledge that the Z system is an expensive one and cost plays a big part in determining a users choices. so this thread is aimed at the above early adopters who have had a fair chance to have formed an opinion, based on experience.

my question to those early adopters, is really , are you satisfied enough with your venture into the "Z" to be confident that (a) Nikon is on the right track and things can only get better , and (b) given the Z9 due later in the year , with the likelihood that the tech, will trickle down into the next gen, would you consider backtracking to the DSLR world again.

personally , I still have a D500, D810 and 2 DF's and an absolute shedload of lenses from 1959 to present day. but the Z lenses have been a revelation 200 plus F mount lenses and none of them can better any of the Z equivalents. I have both Z6 and 7 first versions and apart from rapid movement (tracking scenarios) they beat the DSLR's I own comfortably for focus accuracy in all cases, with the exception of fast tracking, and you all know about other mirrorless features that make shooting a better experience , I am hanging on to my older models but I really do not use them , I have not picked up the D810 or d500 since getting the Z models , the DFs gave me tons of pleasure and as I have a vast collection of old glass I will keep them , though currently I am not using them either.

I remember Nikon stating that they would continue to support the DSLR community ,but I fear they (and we) have been the victim of the perfect storm . if it was not bad enough that they launched the Z mount during a very difficult time in the camera industry , but the recent double whammy of Covid and the (components and chip) shortages world wide. I fear that Nikon have no choice but to use all of their currently very limited resources on the Z mount , and won't be able to commit to DSLR for the foreseeable future , the danger is , that if the Z9 is as good as we would expect , then it will supersede both D6 and D850 in performance , in which case how can Nikon then justify spending any more time and money on the DSLR line.

I am certain I wont be buying any more DSLR's , but would feel gutted if I was in that group and the line got dropped completely.

off to get some popcorn now and a flame retardant screen for my monitor.

I switched to Z7 II as soon as I realized how good the Z-lenses are. The lighter kit is a bonus.

No going back to F-mount!

--
Kind regards
Kaj
http://www.pbase.com/kaj_e
WSSA member #13
It's about time we started to take photography seriously and treat it as a hobby.- Elliott Erwitt

TITCHY said:

I am certain I wont be buying any more DSLR's , but would feel gutted if I was in that group and the line got dropped completely.

off to get some popcorn now and a flame retardant screen for my monitor.

Click to expand...

I shoot both DSLR and Mirrorless, well, mainly a DSLR user ( few 1D bodies , D850, D500 and a Sony 7R IV), so I am not " going back" to DSLR, more of a question how much longer I will stay with DSLR, and the answer is will be very very long time.

Not saying DSLR is better but I just don't see any issue with it, and I love how those camera feel in my hand and its ergo, never have problem with its size, instead, love the 1D/D3 style body, unless I am on backpacking or really long hike, that's where the tiny Sony 7R IV with few MF Zeiss and Voigtlander primes come in handy, other than backpacking and long hike, I still prefer and always go back to my D850 when shooting landscape, and for events and portrait, I always grab my 1D bodies. i do not duplicate everything, I selected the lens and body that I like for the specific application, so owning multiple brand is not that much more expensive than owning just one brand.

Maybe after I tried the R3 and Z9 my opinion may change, who knows, so far I am no big fan of those small ML bodies, well, the Canon and Nikon ML are already day and night better than those Sony in the ergo department but still no comparison to the DSLR in my eyes, so instead of answering what does it take for me to go back to DSLR, I would answer this differently, I will say most likely it will take a Z9 and R3 type of camera body with high resolution sensor for me to get rid of my DSLR like D850 with Vertical grip. the R3 /Z9 can most likely replace my 1D bodies.

I do understand this is a Z forum so most of the user here is Z system fans so you probably won't see that many saying they will still use DSLR. just like when yo go to the Sony forum, you would think the only good ML out there is Sony, LOL.

I still have the D850 and D500. But they are unused. The Z7 and the Z lenses are too good.

The F mount lens I still use is the 500PF - which has the FTZ permanently attached. If available I would let the lens convert to Z mount. That‘s telling, isn‘t it?

TITCHY said:

please ignore the slightly provocative title, its purely tongue in cheek but slightly copying the thread next door (but in reverse)

quite a few of us here took up the Z system quite early (2 1/2 years+)

Click to expand...

Would you go back to shoot film and focus manually? I would not.

In my case, I bought a Z6 with the 24-70/4 S kit lens as soon as that was available in November, 2018. Since then, I have added 5 more Z lenses and a Z6ii.

I started using Nikon film SLRs in 1977, and I am still using DSLRs today. A couple of months after I had bought the Z6, I also bought a D850 and a 500mm PF in January 2019. However, I realized back then that those could well be the last F-mount products I would ever buy. Now two and half years later, that is still holding true (haven't bought anything in the F mount since then).

TITCHY said:

I remember Nikon stating that they would continue to support the DSLR community

Click to expand...

"Continue to support" could mean a lot of different things. Nikon introduced the ill-fated Nikon 1 mirrorless system in September 2011, almost to the date exactly ten years ago. Nikon may still be "supporting" the old Nikon 1 products by providing repair service, as long as parts are still available, supplying batteries, etc.

However, if there is insufficient demand, Nikon is not going to introduce more new DSLR models and new F-mount lenses and end up losing money on R&D. They may continue to produce existing DSLR models and F-mount lenses for a little while, but the F-mount is clearly winding down. No company can continue to pour money into money-losing products indefinitely. You'll go bankrupt.

Unlikely. I grabbed a Z6 with the 24-70 f4 S as soon as it came out. It ticked all the boxes, and the output is all I wanted. Only gripe is I'd like to be able to lock the focus point. The so-called shortcomings were of no importance to me at all.

I do like both my Df and D3100; nothing wrong with such DSLRs. I haven't used them since I bought the Z6, and I don't like to think I'll never use them again. Maybe I will, just to see how I feel about them. But for my sort of landscape shooting the Z6 is outstanding. And I like the EVF and IBIS.

It would not take much. Yes, I've given this too much thought! IMO Nikon fell behind by not updating the DD750 or D500 for over 4 years. That has to cost some lost sales. Nikon never released a camera body with every feature I wanted, but existed on other Nikon cameras throughout the line-up. The D780 couldn't even replace the D500 (focusing, XQD/CFE support, responsiveness) or D750 (flash size.)

Z equipment sells well and is more than I need, but overall more finicky and cumbersome to use. I tried Canon and Sony for 2mo each recently, and still prefer Nikon ML/DSLR.

I also think every new f-mount lens sold should be updated with coatings and stepper focusing. (Unless linear has an advantage for sports as I've read.)

• Z6 sensor (maybe 33mp)
• D500's focusing abilities
• D5xxx sized (with articulating screen and built-in flash)
• D750 button layout (I miss those 2way switches and release dial!)
• IBIS
• Additional AF area coverage
• CFE and SDHC support
• USB-C + WIFI + Control
• More user modes (replace "i" with custom modes and labels)
• Integrated Arca Swiss (bottom and left side) beveled body (dreaming)

Nothing would make me go back to DSLR. I bought a Nikon Z6 with 24-70/4 in December 2018. Later on I purchased the S-line lenses 35 and 50. I've been shooting with Nikons since late 1980, my last DSLR was the D600. I must say that one was a very, very good camera. But my Z6 exceeds everything. The files it produces are amazing. the AF is to me more than enough. What's not to like?

I can't go back. Reviewing images in my viewfinder is awesome!!! Making menu changes with the viewfinder, also awesome. And of course, seeing exactly the image you're about to take, before taking it is incredible.

I have not completely left DSLR's.

I retain a D850 for sports photography - though there has not been much of that in the UK with 3 lock-downs :-(

For me the one Z7 weakness is no group size flexibility in Dynamic-area AF.

If the rumoured Z6/7 II September upgrade sorts this out (lets wait and see) my D850 will soon be sold - before D850 second hand prices collapse.

If anybody had said in September 2018 when I got the Z7 that less than 3 years later I would have 9 Z lenses - I would have laughed.

Some (as distinct from all) current F lenses are not up to the standard of the best other brand competition.

The Z lenses I have enable me to use Nikon lenses that equal or beat Canon and Sony ML equivalents - and show how sticking so long with the F/EOS mount has somewhat held Nikon and Canon back.

I will still retain the F mount 300 PF, the 500 PF, 180-400 and my "fun lens" the 8-15mm fisheye.

Once the 24-105 and the 2 "affordable" telephoto zooms arrive Nikon will have a comprehensive for many photographers line-up.

Never, for the simple fact that I can’t use my Z mount lenses on them.

Nothing could make me go back to F-mount. The lenses are the reason I gravitate to any camera system, and once I'd used Z lenses I was hooked. I celebrate when we get focus system firmware updates, I check out each new lens, but there's very little I'm lacking now as far as a complete system (for me). I also check out 3rd party lenses when they're released, but they're not going to lure me with price, they're going to have to beat the particular Z lens and that's a tall order.

Flash is working well for me, but I only use Nikon speedlights, so I haven't had to deal with firmware upgrades. The only thing I'd like to see is some sort of workaround on the infrared focus assist that worked on F but not on Z (and I understand why). In certain really dark venues, it was a lifesaver. I've been coping by selecting the perfect perch and using 1.8 Z lenses. Not the best, but it works.

Very happy with Z, and patiently waiting for the longer teles that I'm sure will be optical marvels and wallet drainers.

Got my z6 and a few Z lenses for most stuff - great system and camera.

Kept my D500 for fast action / birds ( and macro )

No point in even considering an MILC for the latter now or soon.

The D500 just works.

If it broke I would get another unless Nikon came up with an equivalent aps-c or high mpx milc with the same or better AF-C AND for less than 800 gbp ( current price of used D500 )

If it can take Z mount lenses, then I don't mind (viewfinder agnostic). Not going to happen though ;-)

Nothing I can think of. The size of the Z bodies is much better for me than Nikon's FX DSLRs, the ability to show a histogram in the viewfinder is something I use most of the time, as is live exposure preview, while magnification and peaking are nice options to have, and focus accuracy is clearly better. And IBIS makes better sense in a MILC than a DSLR (and having all lenses stabilised is nice). Plus I can use F lenses with a Z but not the other way round.

The remaining advantages of DSLR will be reduced with time (though it will always have the edge in battery life), but most of these are things that DSLR cannot do.

Nothing. I left Nikon for Fuji X-E2, X-T1 and some others...

Only came back to Nikon after they went mirrorless.

I mean maybe if I was a sports or wildlife photographer or something, but otherwise, no.

I get that the question is not quite serious. I still think that the premise is a bit silly.

First, if you’re shooting with a Z body and you’re still here, then what would change at this point to make you go back?

So what would make someone go back at this point? Nikon stops making Zs. Z bodies all become as large as a DSLR. Nikon stops filling in the lens lineup right where it is now. Nikon never gets the AF on a par with DSLR for sports/action shooting.

I don’t think those things will ever happen.

DSLRs that I have owned include: D1H, D70, D40x, EOS 5D, D700, D300s, D810 and D500. I still own the D500.

Early buyer of a Z7, which has now been replaced with a Z7ii. The Z glass is phenomenal and it would be incredibly hard to give up the improved IQ of these lenses. When Nikon releases a Z body that can equal D500 AF performance for BIF photography, I will be buying one and my D500 will be up for sale.

Without question the DLSR is as dead as yesterdays fish sandwich. Just the fish doesn't necessarily know it yet. When I purchased my Z7 I owned 2 D850s, and a D4s. I was immensely disappointed with the the 7's performance compared to the DSLR's, but saw instantly that mirrorless was the future. Think back - "if you are old enough" to the beginning of personal computers. My starter kit was a Kaypro running CPM with 180K floppy disks. Before Bill Gates even thought about writing an operating systems. From there we went to Dos, windows, MacOSX, first 360 K floppy disks, then 720 semi hard Disks, 5 meg HD's and the march continued until now we have MacPro's, unlimited memory and storage. Not to mention iPhones, and iPads. Unthinkable in the beginning. That is where we stand with Mirrorless cameras, at the beginning of an adventure that no one is capable of imagining. DSLR's on the other hand are at the ending. There are no more advance's coming for them, they have reached their peak. Now I have a Z7ii, and the original Z7 as a backup. Sold my two D850's, and D4s. Could the D850 still hold its own in the photography world against the Z7ii? Of course it could, will it be able to stand against the Z8, Z9, Z10, Z11, Z12....... NO. Technology moves on relentlessly. You can be one of those people that are rediscovering LP records, or 8 track stero, but I had all those and threw them away for a reason.

Mike

I traded away a D300, D600, D500 and all of my F-Mount lenses for the Z6 and six lenses (4 Zs and the 300 PF & 70-300 AF-P) plus extra cash. Since then I’ve added the Z50 and four more Z lenses.

I have zero/nada/zilch desire to return to any DSLR.