Besting My D850

[MrHollywood]

My D850 was just about bulletproof. As a a do everything camera, it only failed in a few areas, such as video. In absolute terms a D5/D6 or d500 could edge it out in some respects, but it was an EDGE and anyone who learned the D850 thoroughly good do everything with it and do it at a professional level, assuming you had skill and talent.

As an all arounder, the D850 was really wonderful, not the least of it being the superb ergonomics.

I resisted mirrorless. Then I picked up a Fuji X100v and I resisted less. ;-)

So I ordered a Z7II with the 24-70 F4 and life hasn't been the same. Action, portraits, candids, wildlife, landscape, VIDEO THAT WORKS! Such an amazing camera. There's no denying the superior AF accuracy, especially with my 3rd party lenses.

Is it some massive improvement over my D850? Let's not be silly. Top cameras across the board are more alike than different these days. But the Z7II does eclipse my D850 in too many important ways to ignore. The only area where I prefer the D850 is the larger body was better for my hands, but I'll reevaluate that if the backordered Z7II ever ships.

I'm very excited to see what Nikon and other companies bring to market next! These are rough times, but photography tech marches onward and upward.

Robert

 

[Ernie Misner]

My D850 was just about bulletproof. As a a do everything camera, it only failed in a few areas, such as video. In absolute terms a D5/D6 or d500 could edge it out in some respects, but it was an EDGE and anyone who learned the D850 thoroughly good do everything with it and do it at a professional level, assuming you had skill and talent.

As an all arounder, the D850 was really wonderful, not the least of it being the superb ergonomics.

I resisted mirrorless. Then I picked up a Fuji X100v and I resisted less. ;-)

So I ordered a Z7II with the 24-70 F4 and life hasn't been the same. Action, portraits, candids, wildlife, landscape, VIDEO THAT WORKS! Such an amazing camera. There's no denying the superior AF accuracy, especially with my 3rd party lenses.

Is it some massive improvement over my D850? Let's not be silly. Top cameras across the board are more alike than different these days. But the Z7II does eclipse my D850 in too many important ways to ignore. The only area where I prefer the D850 is the larger body was better for my hands, but I'll reevaluate that if the backordered Z7II ever ships.

All great points and a good read Robert! Above it sounds like you are using your Z7II, but here it sounds like it has not yet shipped?

I'm also awaiting a back ordered Z7II as are many others. It will be exciting if it shows up before springtime here in the NW.

I'm very excited to see what Nikon and other companies bring to market next! These are rough times, but photography tech marches onward and upward.

Robert

 

[Sara Valentine]

My D850 was just about bulletproof. As a a do everything camera, it only failed in a few areas, such as video. In absolute terms a D5/D6 or d500 could edge it out in some respects, but it was an EDGE and anyone who learned the D850 thoroughly good do everything with it and do it at a professional level, assuming you had skill and talent.

As an all arounder, the D850 was really wonderful, not the least of it being the superb ergonomics.

I resisted mirrorless. Then I picked up a Fuji X100v and I resisted less. ;-)

So I ordered a Z7II with the 24-70 F4 and life hasn't been the same. Action, portraits, candids, wildlife, landscape, VIDEO THAT WORKS! Such an amazing camera. There's no denying the superior AF accuracy, especially with my 3rd party lenses.

Is it some massive improvement over my D850? Let's not be silly. Top cameras across the board are more alike than different these days. But the Z7II does eclipse my D850 in too many important ways to ignore. The only area where I prefer the D850 is the larger body was better for my hands, but I'll reevaluate that if the backordered Z7II ever ships.

I'm very excited to see what Nikon and other companies bring to market next! These are rough times, but photography tech marches onward and upward.

Robert

How has it been an amazing camera when your order is on back order?

 

[sportmaster1]

The ergonomics of the Z72 are much improved with the battery grip, just like the D850.

 

[Jeff Self]

My D850 was just about bulletproof. As a a do everything camera, it only failed in a few areas, such as video. In absolute terms a D5/D6 or d500 could edge it out in some respects, but it was an EDGE and anyone who learned the D850 thoroughly good do everything with it and do it at a professional level, assuming you had skill and talent.

As an all arounder, the D850 was really wonderful, not the least of it being the superb ergonomics.

I resisted mirrorless. Then I picked up a Fuji X100v and I resisted less. ;-)

So I ordered a Z7II with the 24-70 F4 and life hasn't been the same. Action, portraits, candids, wildlife, landscape, VIDEO THAT WORKS! Such an amazing camera. There's no denying the superior AF accuracy, especially with my 3rd party lenses.

Is it some massive improvement over my D850? Let's not be silly. Top cameras across the board are more alike than different these days. But the Z7II does eclipse my D850 in too many important ways to ignore. The only area where I prefer the D850 is the larger body was better for my hands, but I'll reevaluate that if the backordered Z7II ever ships.

I'm very excited to see what Nikon and other companies bring to market next! These are rough times, but photography tech marches onward and upward.

Robert

How has it been an amazing camera when your order is on back order?

I was going to ask the same thing!

 

[MrHollywood]

My D850 was just about bulletproof. As a a do everything camera, it only failed in a few areas, such as video. In absolute terms a D5/D6 or d500 could edge it out in some respects, but it was an EDGE and anyone who learned the D850 thoroughly good do everything with it and do it at a professional level, assuming you had skill and talent.

As an all arounder, the D850 was really wonderful, not the least of it being the superb ergonomics.

I resisted mirrorless. Then I picked up a Fuji X100v and I resisted less. ;-)

So I ordered a Z7II with the 24-70 F4 and life hasn't been the same. Action, portraits, candids, wildlife, landscape, VIDEO THAT WORKS! Such an amazing camera. There's no denying the superior AF accuracy, especially with my 3rd party lenses.

Is it some massive improvement over my D850? Let's not be silly. Top cameras across the board are more alike than different these days. But the Z7II does eclipse my D850 in too many important ways to ignore. The only area where I prefer the D850 is the larger body was better for my hands, but I'll reevaluate that if the backordered Z7II ever ships.

I'm very excited to see what Nikon and other companies bring to market next! These are rough times, but photography tech marches onward and upward.

Robert

How has it been an amazing camera when your order is on back order?

I was going to ask the same thing!

I got my Z7II in early December!

The GRIP is on eternal backorder, though I did get to try one out on a friends camera. A lot of Z stuff is backordered, along with the 50 and 85mm 1.8 S lenses.

Robert

 

[FreemanB]

I just got a Z6 about a month ago. Compared to my D500 & D850, here are the gains:

• More keepers on portraiture. When a subject is walking directly towards me, I can still nail focus and come away with a higher rate of keepers.
• IBIS - I love the output of my manual focus glass. I have a decent set of MF lenses that I can now have greater success with because of the IBIS provided by my Z6.
• High ISO images look much cleaner on the Z - night and day difference for me.
• Obviously, focus peaking is great - the EVF is amazing
• The FTZ adapter is great and it's not celebrated enough. I'm in no hurry to buy new glass because all of my F-Mount lenses are doing just fine (except D lenses).
• Back to IBIS - shooting wide open with my F-mount glass is now an option. You still have to pick your spots, but it's not a non-starter like it used to be.

My immediate wish list for improvements based on early impressions:

• For wildlife shooting, it doesn't approach my D500 or D850. From the reviews I've seen, the Z6II/Z7II don't fare very well either. Better, but not close.
• The gear is lighter, but the size gains aren't that great.