Interest in Nikon Z9 and the Newer Nikon NIKKOR Z Lenses? (UPDATED with reader comments)
Related: digital sensor, distortion, distortion correction, image stabilization, Nikon, Nikon mirrorless, Nikon NIKKOR Z, Nikon Z9, optics, reader comment, Roderick W
A query to readers about coverage of the Nikon Z9, along with various Nikon NIKKOR Z lenses such as:
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S
- Nikon NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S Macro
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S
Availability (at the same time) remains a problem, particularly of the Z9 which might be tightly back-ordered for some time, but I would hope to get a coherent set of gear together to do some solid coverage of the Nikon Z9 and two or three lenses.
Normally I’d have had most of these lenses covered by now, but the past 18 months were a struggle that made more than modest efforts difficult—trying to get back on track.
Sony, Canon, Nikon, Leica now all have spectacularly good offerings in mirrorless that make the DSLR a dinosaur, though users of the Nikon D850 can still do comparable work with good Zeiss glass. I would not argue for switching unless there are good reasons (and there are, for some but not all).
Kevin S writes:
Yes, I’ve been anxiously awaiting more coverage of the newer Z lenses to see how they compare to Sony’s better lenses. Am straddling both systems (Sony for travel/light, Nikon/Zeiss for ‘local/heavy’ landscape) with mostly prime lenses, but need to update my old fast zooms at some point – and don’t want to invest in both systems for that!
Am also interested in some of the Z primes. I’ve been impressed with the sharpness of the Z 85/1.8, but less so with the other Z /1.8s. The Z 105 macro looks interesting, so I’ve be very interested in your analysis of that.
The Z9 appears to finally bring Nikon’s AF magic (plus some) to mirrorless, but I’m much more interested in a Z8 form factor if/when they can carry over the AF prowess. Still much prefer the Nikon camera ergonomics, though I have to say the newer Sony GM lens ergonomics (size, weight, aperture ring, etc.) are winning me over.
Thanks for all the dedicated analysis you do (and expertise you bring) to help us make smart choices!
DIGLLOYD: Nikon makes some very fine lenses, but I have two gripes with some of them: the aggressive focus shift of lenses like the Nikon Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S, and the mandatory distortion correction of some of the primes. But I am also very impressed with some of the zooms, like the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S.
Smaller and lighter and an EVF are all big plusses, but the loss of an optical viewfinder might be off-putting for those used to a D850. And the Nikon Z9 is neither small nor light; you’d need the Nikon Z7 II. And if using adapted lenses, the weight/size equation is little different.
Roderick W writes:
I use a Nikon D850 and have seen no reason to change to mirrorless yet….
95% of my pictures are taken with Nikkor 24 mm 1.8. Mainly in close up detail. For the rest I use a Tamron 90mm 2.8 as a macro lens in stacking and medium telescopic lens for vegetation. I used to use exclusively Zeiss lenses. Old age and old eyes mean I need AF now.
The Z system lenses look attractive. eg 20 mm 1.8 and Macro 105 2.8. Pity the 24 mm gets lukewarm reviews. But the sensor of the D850 still holds its own – so why change? Can you convince me?
DIGLLOYD: image quality differences are interesting; the Z9 sensor should be better in some ways (newer technology), but the Nikon D850 sensor is free of PDAF banding, so anyone looking to do monochrome conversions in 'post' should stick with the D850 IMO.
OTOH, if a lens like the Nikon Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S can match or exceed the performance of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24mm f/1.8 S then at least for me that would be a powerful argument. I would expect the 24/1.8S to outperform the Nikon AF-S 24mm f/1.8G somewhat, but maybe more in color correction than sharpness (and maybe worse in the outer zones due to mandated distortion correction).
Many of the Nikkor NIKKOR Z primes set the mandatory EXIF-flag to force distortion correction, which guarantees loss of sharpness in the outer zones. For landscape, guaranteed almost-sharp outer zones is hardly appealing. Still, the NIKKOR Z primes offer very high total peformance when all aspects of lens performance are considered, so your mileage will vary depending on what you shoot.
