Vince P
Veteran Member
Just a heads up for anyone waiting my ZR has arrived at the store for me to collect today. Still waiting for the ME-D10 microphone.
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ZR arriving (UK)
- Thread starter Vince P
- Start date
How is it?!
Vince P
Veteran Member
Not really used it yet. However setting it up is requiring a different approach. The hybrid memory bank/user group, seem far more flexible but different to either of the previous systems.
A handful of odds and ends which I didn't notice in advance:
It has built in dehaze - only for stills. It's odd as it's far from ideal as a stills camera.
Frame-rates have been improved with the option for true 23.976/29.97/59.94 fps.
It has a video time delay.
No autocapture.
Only 4 monitor display options.
The power button will take some getting used to and seems like a waste of real estate. A three position off/video/photo switch could have been used instead.
The joystic push can't be assigned to af-on.
At first glance the battery door is fixed so not easy to use a dummy battery.
Oddities aside I like the form factor for video, and I think it's going to work out, for my use.
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I expect some compromises for a smaller camera designed around video.
Thank you for your initial comments. I see that it does NOT have recall settings with the four user modes, but it also doesn't have enough buttons as they are already taken up by display, mode, and compensation. I think those standard buttons around the power switch are second nature for me after so many years.
I generally only use two, limited and summary, and sometimes clear/nothing.
I mostly leave my camera on with 1 minute timeout, accept this makes clicking noises when it hits, so I have to account for this in churches, and deal with the battery hit (EVF/LCD.) I can't remember if both can be off, but I don't think so as that isn't logical.
I've always found the center button difficult to press without moving the AF area anyway. I only use it to recenter the joystick. I'll keep complaining about Nikon's redundant multi-pad that can't be customized, when I could customize them on most point and shoot cameras.
That is surprising.
Nice, I'm a little less excited having gone through the manual a bit. I'll watch out for FW 2.x. I'm more curious to see the CIPA battery life compared to the Z6III with the larger LCD.
How does it feel size and weight wise compared to the Z6III with the 24-120F4S, 26mm, and other lenses? I think it will store a lot easier in a bag, and makes a nice companion for the Z6III. But so would a 45mp ZFII.
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Andre Yew
Veteran Member
One thing I've been enjoying on the Z6III is assigning the joystick push to peaking: I have zebras on by default to check for highlight clipping, and this setting lets me quickly switch between the peaking and zebras, which are mutually exclusive. I usually manual focus my videos even with native Z-mount lenses, so this is a very useful function for me.
Vince P
Veteran Member
It doesn't do that either. It's very limited compared to other Nikons.
Once I got used to it (which takes about as long as BBF did) for stills, I am an evangelist for using it for AF-on. Move the focus point and focus without moving your thumb. On my cameras without it, I realise how much better it is. Yes, at first, it's annoying as you move when trying to push but you get past that pretty quickly to the point it's muscle memory, even with thick gloves.
However the ZR having no EVF, the way you hold the body is different anyway. The on screen touch controls are a big step up, so that, especially for video, is a win.
When I get some time, I am going to see how it works with the MC-N10 handle as that has more conventional buttons and controls.
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Vince P
Veteran Member
Whilst noticeably smaller and lighter than the Z6iii it feels heavier than I expected. For the way, I will use it, the lack of a grip isn't an issue and I find it quite comfortable to hold.
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Can you do a side-by-side battery life comparison between the two? I know the battery will need a few cycles to "let the chemicals get to know each other" after the discharged shipment. I think 1500 photos (in green/auto) would be enough. If you have an AFS VR lens (300PF-F4) it would put a little more stress on it, and maybe a 30 minute video (doesn't need to be posted.)
JasonMulvern
Leading Member
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Can you expand on this please. Do you mean the door cannot be removed? Is there a small plastic/rubber inset to allow a dummy battery cable to exit?
I'm assuming in a worst case it will work with the battery door left open (I know this is not ideal for those using cages/rigs)?
Vince P
Veteran Member
No small plastic inset and as I said as far as I can see (Unlike other Nikons) the battery door cannot be readily removed. Admittedly I haven't been too violent with it. Yes I suppose it could be left open but that's a what happened next video..
Andre Yew
Veteran Member
Wow, that is a big limitation, but I suppose doubling up that button as the OK button has consequences.
Yes, please let us know when you get to try out the MC-N10 on the ZR, but it sounds like there aren't going to be any good long-duration power choices with the MC-N10 since it uses the USB-C port.
Also a couple more requests if you have the time:
1. Can you check if h.265 10-bit N-log is indeed softer than on the Z6III if you have access to a Z6III?
2. Does the camera overheat in h.265 10-bit N-log in 5k60? The Z6III would shutdown in less than an hour in that mode.
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