I divested from APSC but I (kinda) wish I didn't have to.

[Richard Murdey]

Weird post, but I need to work through some things.

To fund my upgrade from the Z6 to the Z5ii, I decided to sell of my Z30 and the APSC lenses that had accumulated during my recent flirtation with it, as well as my Z6 of course. This was successful, at least in the sense that the money made = the cost of a new Z5ii. I'm also pleased at the reduced gear clutter: -1 camera and -4 lenses cleans up the shelf significantly.

So here's the thing: my favorite camera in Nikon's Z lineup is hands down the Z50ii. That things is just the perfect size and shape, and the perfect feature list if we're being honest. I also really liked the Z30, even if the lack of EVF curtailed the practicality of some use cases and Expeed 6 curtailed the functionality somewhat. I also prefer the size/proportions of the Zfc over the Zf. I'd take an Expeed 7 upgraded Zfc over a Zf.

So I'm all over APSC cameras ... the problem is the lenses don't stack up. The best lenses are the 16-50 kit zoom, the 24/1.7, the 12-28 (for the Z30 in particular), and perhaps the 28/2.8 (SE for pairing with the Zfc). Add the 18-140 as a viable option for the Z50ii since the EVF is essential for telephoto work. Outside of the big FF wildlife teles and telezooms which make some sense paired with the Z50ii, that's pretty much it. Honorable mention to the TTartisan 25/2.

The closest any of these came to clicking with me was the 28/2.8 and 12-28 PZ. I didn't try the 16-50, but I suspect it would also have been ok.. but I also think I would have been disappointed with it vs. the 24-50 FF zoom. And that's the overarching theme: There was never a time when I was out there with my Z30 thinking "my I'm so glad I brought this today instead of the Z6" ... but plenty of instances when I have the Z6 thinking, oh yeah, this lens is so great! or wow these files are spectacular!

The Z5ii will do anything the Z30 could do on the video side, and more, it just buries the older model on features. At the end of the day the Z30 (or even a Z50ii) have nothing for me. I wish they did, but they don't.

 

[Mr Bolton]

Weird post, but I need to work through some things.

To fund my upgrade from the Z6 to the Z5ii, I decided to sell of my Z30 and the APSC lenses that had accumulated during my recent flirtation with it, as well as my Z6 of course. This was successful, at least in the sense that the money made = the cost of a new Z5ii. I'm also pleased at the reduced gear clutter: -1 camera and -4 lenses cleans up the shelf significantly.

So here's the thing: my favorite camera in Nikon's Z lineup is hands down the Z50ii. That things is just the perfect size and shape, and the perfect feature list if we're being honest. I also really liked the Z30, even if the lack of EVF curtailed the practicality of some use cases and Expeed 6 curtailed the functionality somewhat. I also prefer the size/proportions of the Zfc over the Zf. I'd take an Expeed 7 upgraded Zfc over a Zf.

So I'm all over APSC cameras ... the problem is the lenses don't stack up. The best lenses are the 16-50 kit zoom, the 24/1.7, the 12-28 (for the Z30 in particular), and perhaps the 28/2.8 (SE for pairing with the Zfc). Add the 18-140 as a viable option for the Z50ii since the EVF is essential for telephoto work. Outside of the big FF wildlife teles and telezooms which make some sense paired with the Z50ii, that's pretty much it. Honorable mention to the TTartisan 25/2.

The closest any of these came to clicking with me was the 28/2.8 and 12-28 PZ. I didn't try the 16-50, but I suspect it would also have been ok.. but I also think I would have been disappointed with it vs. the 24-50 FF zoom. And that's the overarching theme: There was never a time when I was out there with my Z30 thinking "my I'm so glad I brought this today instead of the Z6" ... but plenty of instances when I have the Z6 thinking, oh yeah, this lens is so great! or wow these files are spectacular!

The Z5ii will do anything the Z30 could do on the video side, and more, it just buries the older model on features. At the end of the day the Z30 (or even a Z50ii) have nothing for me. I wish they did, but they don't.

This is why I kept my Fujifilm X-H1 gear, and got Nikon for full frame and modern autofocus. No one has anything like the first party (and now, additionally third party) lens ecosystem for APS-C as do Fuji.

I still use both, though favor the Zf nowadays. Yet the X-H1 with Fuji's Red Badge XF 50-140mm zoom is still a sublime setup for outdoors usage. So, even while shooting full frame, it won't be me who bags on APS-C, either Fuji or Nikon.

 

[Plankowner110]

Like you, I had both a Nikon Zfc and Z30 for a short time, but after a while I just preferred the size and feel of a full frame camera. My camera is the Z5, and it is all I really need for my casual and travel photography. I'm a gear minimalist now, and the three prime lenses I have serve me well, especially the Nikkor Z 26mm f2.8 pancake lens.

 

[Laqup]

Pro Tipp: If you don't have a lot of "play money" don't make the situation worse by paying the early adopter price.

The Z5 ii will drop a few hundred dollars in the month ahead. Currently a Z5 ii is not too far off from a Z6 III when on sale. Of course it depends on where you live, but in Europe we were as "low" as 1999€ for the Z6 III vs 1899€ for the Z5 ii. I expect the Z5 ii to arrive at 1499€-1599€ by the end of the year.

 

[Ruedon]

Weird post, but I need to work through some things.

...

The Z5ii will do anything the Z30 could do on the video side, and more, it just buries the older model on features. At the end of the day the Z30 (or even a Z50ii) have nothing for me. I wish they did, but they don't.

You bring it to the point. APS-C helped to make digital cameras affordable more than 20 years ago, when full frame sensors were out of reach. Today APS-C still plays a role for entry level cameras. Considering that the Z5 and the Z50II cost about the same, people appear to prefer the overall higher performance of the latter over the larger sensor size of the former at the same price point.

As soon as you want to invest more into lenses, APS-C is not a good idea anymore. Nikon makes this very clear with their product lineup. I think this is not just to earn more money with full frame cameras, but because full frame simply makes more sense.

For instance, you can have the 40mm f/2 as fast and lightweight prime on your Z5II. You would need something like the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 to achieve similar results with the Z50II -- the larger and heavier equivalent APS-C lens negates the smaller size of the Z50II.

The Z5(II)/6(II)/7(II) in particular are having a perfect size -- just compare your Z5II to your D750. It should be easy to build a full frame sensor into the body of the Z50II. This would compromise battery size, a second card slot, IBIS and comfort when holding that camera -- really worth it?

Nikon Z5 vs Nikon Z50 II: Specifications Comparison

photographylife.com

 

[yardcoyote]

Do you like 40mm on crop? The 65mm field of view is quite nice for walkaround and general shooting. If that appeals, the 40mm f/2 might work well for you. It's certainly the lens I would use on a Z50ii if I had one, along with the 50mm MC.

 

[Richard Murdey]

Pro Tipp: If you don't have a lot of "play money" don't make the situation worse by paying the early adopter price.

The Z5 ii will drop a few hundred dollars in the month ahead. Currently a Z5 ii is not too far off from a Z6 III when on sale. Of course it depends on where you live, but in Europe we were as "low" as 1999€ for the Z6 III vs 1899€ for the Z5 ii. I expect the Z5 ii to arrive at 1499€-1599€ by the end of the year.

I rationalized this carefully before preordering.

The z5ii is already only 1430 euro equivalent, preorder, in Japan where I live [link] (232650 yen, which is the Nikon's formal list price of 258500 - the standard 10% retail discount) and based on recent trends of the Zf and Z50ii is unlikely to fall more than 100 euro by the end of the year. Meanwhile my Z6, which I just sold for a pretty OK price, could easily devalue by 100 euro... I expect the arrival of the z5ii to quickly devastate the used market for the z6/z6ii.

 

[Laqup]

Good price and good buy of course. At this price point it's a no-brainer.

This confirms my suspicion that Nikon is milking early adopters in some markets quite heavily.

I'm still a bit salty that the Z6 III was introduced at 3k€ and dropped in price quite a bit pretty fast.

 

[msu79gt82]

Good price and good buy of course. At this price point it's a no-brainer.

This confirms my suspicion that Nikon is milking early adopters in some markets quite heavily.

I'm still a bit salty that the Z6 III was introduced at 3k€ and dropped in price quite a bit pretty fast.

I too was a bit stunned and somewhat salty when the Z6iii price dropped so quickly. However I got it last July and used it on two big trips before the price dropped which mitigated my saltiness somewhat. But that may very well have been my last early adoption.

 

[Schteeks]

So I'm all over APSC cameras ... the problem is the lenses don't stack up. The best lenses are the 16-50 kit zoom, the 24/1.7, the 12-28 (for the Z30 in particular), and perhaps the 28/2.8 (SE for pairing with the Zfc). Add the 18-140 as a viable option for the Z50ii since the EVF is essential for telephoto work. Outside of the big FF wildlife teles and telezooms which make some sense paired with the Z50ii, that's pretty much it. Honorable mention to the TTartisan 25/2.

The closest any of these came to clicking with me was the 28/2.8 and 12-28 PZ. I didn't try the 16-50, but I suspect it would also have been ok.. but I also think I would have been disappointed with it vs. the 24-50 FF zoom. And that's the overarching theme: There was never a time when I was out there with my Z30 thinking "my I'm so glad I brought this today instead of the Z6" ... but plenty of instances when I have the Z6 thinking, oh yeah, this lens is so great! or wow these files are spectacular!

I wish you would have tried the Viltrox 27mm and 75mm f/1.2 Pro lenses for Z Mount. I used them with my Fujifilm X-S20, but ended up selling the Fuji kit for a Nikon Zf. Oddly enough, I still kept those two lenses. They’re my absolute favorite and go toe to toe with any FF lens, but are made for APSC. If Nikon made a pro APSC body I would be so tempted to sell the FF kit just so I could get a more compact APSC body and use those lenses again.

 

[Richard Murdey]

Good price and good buy of course. At this price point it's a no-brainer.

This confirms my suspicion that Nikon is milking early adopters in some markets quite heavily.

I'm still a bit salty that the Z6 III was introduced at 3k€ and dropped in price quite a bit pretty fast.

It's quite a reversal too since up to 2018, pre Covid, Japan was one of the worst places for inflated camera launch prices.

Have a look at z6iii prices. Bounces around a bit, but no real movement. You'll pay today what you'd have paid for a preorder back last Oct.

 

[1000DTL]

So I'm all over APSC cameras ... the problem is the lenses don't stack up. The best lenses are the 16-50 kit zoom, the 24/1.7, the 12-28 (for the Z30 in particular), and perhaps the 28/2.8 (SE for pairing with the Zfc). Add the 18-140 as a viable option for the Z50ii since the EVF is essential for telephoto work. Outside of the big FF wildlife teles and telezooms which make some sense paired with the Z50ii, that's pretty much it. Honorable mention to the TTartisan 25/2.

The closest any of these came to clicking with me was the 28/2.8 and 12-28 PZ. I didn't try the 16-50, but I suspect it would also have been ok.. but I also think I would have been disappointed with it vs. the 24-50 FF zoom. And that's the overarching theme: There was never a time when I was out there with my Z30 thinking "my I'm so glad I brought this today instead of the Z6" ... but plenty of instances when I have the Z6 thinking, oh yeah, this lens is so great! or wow these files are spectacular!

I wish you would have tried the Viltrox 27mm and 75mm f/1.2 Pro lenses for Z Mount. I used them with my Fujifilm X-S20, but ended up selling the Fuji kit for a Nikon Zf. Oddly enough, I still kept those two lenses. They’re my absolute favorite and go toe to toe with any FF lens, but are made for APSC. If Nikon made a pro APSC body I would be so tempted to sell the FF kit just so I could get a more compact APSC body and use those lenses again.

I use my Fuji Viltrox lenses on my Z50ii using the Shoten XTZ adapter. Works great.

 

[Schteeks]

So I'm all over APSC cameras ... the problem is the lenses don't stack up. The best lenses are the 16-50 kit zoom, the 24/1.7, the 12-28 (for the Z30 in particular), and perhaps the 28/2.8 (SE for pairing with the Zfc). Add the 18-140 as a viable option for the Z50ii since the EVF is essential for telephoto work. Outside of the big FF wildlife teles and telezooms which make some sense paired with the Z50ii, that's pretty much it. Honorable mention to the TTartisan 25/2.

The closest any of these came to clicking with me was the 28/2.8 and 12-28 PZ. I didn't try the 16-50, but I suspect it would also have been ok.. but I also think I would have been disappointed with it vs. the 24-50 FF zoom. And that's the overarching theme: There was never a time when I was out there with my Z30 thinking "my I'm so glad I brought this today instead of the Z6" ... but plenty of instances when I have the Z6 thinking, oh yeah, this lens is so great! or wow these files are spectacular!

I wish you would have tried the Viltrox 27mm and 75mm f/1.2 Pro lenses for Z Mount. I used them with my Fujifilm X-S20, but ended up selling the Fuji kit for a Nikon Zf. Oddly enough, I still kept those two lenses. They’re my absolute favorite and go toe to toe with any FF lens, but are made for APSC. If Nikon made a pro APSC body I would be so tempted to sell the FF kit just so I could get a more compact APSC body and use those lenses again.

I use my Fuji Viltrox lenses on my Z50ii using the Shoten XTZ adapter. Works great.

Thank you for the reminder! I think I had looked this up in the past but soon forgot about it. I might grab this just so I can use the lenses again even though they’d be in DX mode on the Zf. ~$230 is fairly cheap in the photography world so I think I’ll try it. Where did you buy yours?

 

[Ruedon]

Do you like 40mm on crop? The 65mm field of view is quite nice for walkaround and general shooting. If that appeals, the 40mm f/2 might work well for you. It's certainly the lens I would use on a Z50ii if I had one, along with the 50mm MC.

I like 35mm on full frame. 50mm too, if space permits. This is why I would consider the 40mm f/2 for full frame primarily -- the largely equivalent Sigma 30mm f/1.4 on a cropped sensor.

 

[Maxx787]

Camera sensor size as the critical question. For full-frame camera sensor at 45MP. For APS-C camera sensor at 24MP. Any higher MP sensor more expensive and not really necessary?

 

[FKS]

I didn't know such an adapter existed. Wish I had before I sold my Fuji 14mm f/1.4 and 56mm f/1.2; those are the two lenses I loved from Fuji. All I'm left with now are the kit 18-55mm, and 35mm f/2.

I use my Fuji Viltrox lenses on my Z50ii using the Shoten XTZ adapter. Works great.

Thank you for the reminder! I think I had looked this up in the past but soon forgot about it. I might grab this just so I can use the lenses again even though they’d be in DX mode on the Zf. ~$230 is fairly cheap in the photography world so I think I’ll try it. Where did you buy yours?

 

[1000DTL]

So I'm all over APSC cameras ... the problem is the lenses don't stack up. The best lenses are the 16-50 kit zoom, the 24/1.7, the 12-28 (for the Z30 in particular), and perhaps the 28/2.8 (SE for pairing with the Zfc). Add the 18-140 as a viable option for the Z50ii since the EVF is essential for telephoto work. Outside of the big FF wildlife teles and telezooms which make some sense paired with the Z50ii, that's pretty much it. Honorable mention to the TTartisan 25/2.

The closest any of these came to clicking with me was the 28/2.8 and 12-28 PZ. I didn't try the 16-50, but I suspect it would also have been ok.. but I also think I would have been disappointed with it vs. the 24-50 FF zoom. And that's the overarching theme: There was never a time when I was out there with my Z30 thinking "my I'm so glad I brought this today instead of the Z6" ... but plenty of instances when I have the Z6 thinking, oh yeah, this lens is so great! or wow these files are spectacular!

I wish you would have tried the Viltrox 27mm and 75mm f/1.2 Pro lenses for Z Mount. I used them with my Fujifilm X-S20, but ended up selling the Fuji kit for a Nikon Zf. Oddly enough, I still kept those two lenses. They’re my absolute favorite and go toe to toe with any FF lens, but are made for APSC. If Nikon made a pro APSC body I would be so tempted to sell the FF kit just so I could get a more compact APSC body and use those lenses again.

I use my Fuji Viltrox lenses on my Z50ii using the Shoten XTZ adapter. Works great.

Thank you for the reminder! I think I had looked this up in the past but soon forgot about it. I might grab this just so I can use the lenses again even though they’d be in DX mode on the Zf. ~$230 is fairly cheap in the photography world so I think I’ll try it. Where did you buy yours?

Off eBay. Took a few weeks to arrive.

 

[yardcoyote]

Not everyone digs the mild tele point of view. I think it's underrated.

 

[1000DTL]

Their website is in Japanese but if you search I think you will find a Petapixel article about it and a link to a PDF file of all the X-mount lenses the adapter supports including Fuji and third party lenses like Viltrox. The adapter is well made of metal and is thin. My only complaint is when it is on my Z50ii it kind of blocks the Fn2 button on the front.

 

[Mr Bolton]

Pro Tipp: If you don't have a lot of "play money" don't make the situation worse by paying the early adopter price.

The Z5 ii will drop a few hundred dollars in the month ahead. Currently a Z5 ii is not too far off from a Z6 III when on sale. Of course it depends on where you live, but in Europe we were as "low" as 1999€ for the Z6 III vs 1899€ for the Z5 ii. I expect the Z5 ii to arrive at 1499€-1599€ by the end of the year.

Sadly for US consumers, it's not gonna get any cheaper for us in the months ahead :-( I'd buy a Z5II now if I had the quatloos to do so.