Advice needed, buy a Z6ii now?

[sirhawkeye64]

Nikon needs a revised AF system in its mid range cameras at least as much as Sony needed a better menu system not long ago ...

I'd wait.

They just need to re-implement some of the AF routines they had in the DSLRSs into the ML cameras. Apparently they can do it since the Z9 seems to perform quite well... things like 3D AF which was removed in the other Z cameras, but at the time ,was a probably one of the classleading technologies in the DSLRs. IDK if the movement to on-sensor focusing has made it harder for them to do 3D AF.... and obviously we cna't fix what we have now (ie. the cameras already out) but perhaps one reason we are seeing a huge delay is they are reworking the AF system for future cameras, especially now that they've moved to an Expeed 7 processor (the dual Expeed 6's I think were more or less a "temporary" fix for the problem ,and the Expeed 7 and future processors are the real solution).

OR maybe Nikon has been holding out, and once a Z8 comes out, they'll release a firmware update that can give the Z6/Z7 a kick in the pants in terms of AF...? But perhaps not to the level of a Z8, or they'll differentiate the Z8 to be a high-res 8k video camera with AF that would sit betweein the other Z Ff's and the Z9 (so maybe a watered-down Z9 in a way).

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[Leonard Shepherd]

They just need to re-implement some of the AF routines they had in the DSLRSs into the ML cameras. Apparently they can do it since the Z9 seems to perform quite well...

Perhaps an oversimplification :-(

DSLR's had at least some cross type sensors.

Apart from some Olympus bodies Mirrorless does not.

Mirrorless generally did not equal or exceed DSLR AF ability until the relevantly recent arrival of advanced subject detection AF.

While you can argue Nikon is late getting advanced subject detection (beyond face and eye detection) into lower priced ML, it is less than 2.5 years since the launch of the Z6/7 II

things like 3D AF which was removed in the other Z cameras, but at the time ,was a probably one of the classleading technologies in the DSLRs.

Technically it was not removed - though it did perform to a lower standard in the 6/7 - primarily because the dynamic area part of it was restricted to one small "no choice option" suited to only a small number of common subjects.

3D is perceived by some as having some limitations on the Z9 - which it does relative to the best DSLR's - but the best DSLR's do not have the huge advantage of advanced subject detection.

My view is that those who expect Mirrorless auto focus to work exactly as it did in a DSLR are living in cloud cuckoo land and missing out on an opportunity for distinctly overall better auto focus performance.

If Nikon announce lower priced ML bodies with advanced subject detection by April - they will be on a 2.5 year upgrade cycle.

Perhaps with Covid not yet over in China and still shortages of semi-conductors and similar parts a 2.5 year cycle while not exactly ideal is not too bad either

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Leonard Shepherd
In lots of ways good photography is similar to learning to play a piano - it takes practice to develop skill in either activity.

 

[LiteRider]

Have you tried de AF setup from the YouTube video i mentioned?

Set to Continuous AF. Auto + eye detect. Bind Tracking to one of the front Fn buttons.

Now you’re always in eye AF, and by pressing the Fn button you’re practically in (dslr-like) 3D tracking mode.

To switch AF modes easily: Bind AF switching to te movie record button on top, so you switch in combination with the command dial. I also switched the command dial around so. So mode switching is done by the back command dial.

 

[mrbr]

Well,… I really wonder what an even better AF system will bring….me at least.

Ive yet to test it in sports, I will adapt my 70-300 and compare to my D7200 soon. But at this moment I can’t imagine it doing worse than th D7200, which is more than ample.

The nikon 70-300 fx works without problems on the Z6. It is a very good lens, I am very pleased with it on my D7200 and on my Z6 !

Yesterday a made a video, in really low light (even candle lit at one time) and eye AF worked remarkably. Can’t ask for much more….

I guess I’m saying that once minimal AF needs are met, others thing become more important. Things that (for me) Sony or Canon will never deliver.

But off course I’m not very objective anymore, I’m selling my choice to my self ;-)

 

[Digmen1]

How do you remember all of that?

But Yes I will check out that Youtube video you mention.