From my own personal experience shooting demanding 8K video as well as this review, I’d disagree and say the 28-400 is quite encouraging. I really enjoy it for both its versatility and its overall quality. Personally I don’t care which lens the OP takes, but I think people need to see a balanced review of the 28-400 before assuming its quality is lackluster. It is not.
That's the other thing... the Z8 feels (in my hands at least) quite a bit larger (the grip mainly) because it is and for normal shooting where I might be shooting for an hour and then taking a break, but not carrying it around all day, it's fine. However, I don't know if spending $2k makes sense to get a slightly smaller grip either. Unfortunately used Z7 II's are not really cheaper than the current Z7 II promo so no point in buying used either.Recently, we established that the weight difference between a Z8 and a Z6ii is about 200 grams, around 7 ounces. I believe that I forgot to remove all the memory cards from the cameras before putting them on a scale, although I took out the batteries. In any case, you won't save much weight going from a Z8 to a Z6/Z7. The Z8 is a bit larger, though.Well it was more about size/weight but after reconsidering this (and looking at the Zf which is about the same weight) I'm not going to bother. I really don't need 45MP cameras, and the difference wasn't as a big as I had thought it was. So I'll leave it as it is and just take the Z8 and Zf with a lens on each. I guess then again, there are going to be days I will HAVE to carry all the camera gear with me while I'm moving between hotels....Sounds like your real issue is GAS, which can only be cured, at least temporarily, by buying something. Just go ahead and get a Z7ii with a 24-200 as kit lens.I am sure Nikon will announce a Z7iii after your trip.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/67683627
As enticing as the 24-120 is... I've had it in my cart several times... I still find 120mm too short to be my longest lens when traveling.
I didn't like the size of it when handling nor do I need those type of features that a Z8 has. 45mp is realistically overkill as is 8k vid, burst rate, etc. I do want the AF though...
Personally I would say you already have the perfect travel lens set, no need to add more. TBH I would just take the 24-120 on the Z8 and your phone.
Actually I find the Z6 somewhat too small for my taste, and the Z6ii/Z7ii are essentially the same. I prefer the Z8 and also like the Z9. I can certainly understand that plenty of people don't like the size and weight of the Z9, not to mention the price, but I come from the F4s, F5, D2X, and D5 .... I am used to such size and at least for now, I can still carry it, but obviously I have been using Nikon for decades and not that young any more.
Seriously, if you prefer small camera bodies, Sony should be your brand. They also use (physically, not necessarily capacity) memory cards such as CFexpress Type A, instead of Type B.
Oh I've totally looked at them, I just kind of dread switching. The A7cii and A7CR cams are both enticing as are the 20-70mm f4 and 70-200mm f4 for me. All things Nikon doesn't really offer unfortunately.
The grass is often greener. My photo buddy is a Sony guy. He actually likes my Z8, and complains about the ergonomics and interface on his A7's all the time - but says he's used to it now and doesn't want to switch.
Yeah I get it... I'm just really itching for a new camera over Z6...
My wife and I recently returned from a 3 week trip to the Netherlands. We took our Z6-II, Z 24-200, and Z 14-30. Other than sometimes wanting a faster lens in museums, the 24-200 worked great. Of 2100 images, 1650 were shot with the 24-200, and of those images, 620 were shot at 24mm; I seldom wished I could reach beyond 200mm.
Carrying and having the equipment ready when an interesting view comes up remains a challenge. If you like to walk with a small backpack, then you might keep one camera (the 24-120mm) ready, attached to your left backpack strap (for right hander) with a holster. The neck strap serves just for safety backup, without load. If you have another camera and water-bottle (+ wind-jacket, picnic...*) in your backpack, you nicely equilibrate the load over your shoulder with the upfront camera.
Thank you very much for your feedback.
Thank you very much for your feedback! I am now determined to sell my Z 24-200 in favor of the Z 24-120. I don't know why I waited so long! The purchase of the Z8 with its 45 megapixels finally convinced me. Thanks again for your advice.
I highly doubt that a cropped in 120 would be as good as 200mm native. I’ve yet to see any type of proof of that also but several ppl claiming that. Yes the lens is sharper but not that much sharper. There’s quite a diff between 120 and 200. I have the 24-70 and 24-200 and have used 7 other Nikon z mount lenses and the gap is not that big as ppl make it seem. Esp when shooting travel and landscape photos that are typically stopped down to f8/f11.
Yeah I'm sort of leaning towards a 24-200 (might just buy one) versus trying to use crop mode on the Z8 with the 24-120 (which is an option) mainly for the sake of lost resolution ,as I may need to crop further in post so I'd like to keep as many pixels as possible (on either camera). Thinking about what I'll be shooting and when, I will mostly be out during the day, and any shooting at sunrise/sunset will be on a tripod anyway so the slower aperture of the 24-200 is not likely going to become an issue. Also, while the Z8 is a great camera, I'm not sure I want to carry it around all day for 7 days.
Again, be careful of FOMO. The 24-120mm is going to give you 19mp at essentially 180mm crop, so exactly how big a print are you thinking you're going to do from a telephoto subject?
