Nikon Z AF

The cameras that do that at the moment are the R3, A1, A9, and Z9. However, did Sony add the tunable shutter speeds to the A9 (I don't recall)? When you get in some lighting situations or have certain displays in the background, you need to be able to tune the shutter speed to the frequency being used by the lighting or display. The R3, A1, and Z9 have that.

I'd say that it's more likely that the Sonys are being used more ubiquitously because they were the first cameras that allowed the still photographer to roam on set without a blimp. Canon and Nikon didn't get there until far later.

Hi Thom, on the first point you have tunable shutter speeds in silent shutter on the A9II with latest firmware, but not on the A9.

One the second point, yes that’s a fair comment, and of course in a given specific use case you switch to what’s available at the time to meet those needs. That said, wearing two bodies and zooms on set all day every day I’ve come to appreciate the size and weight of the A9 II and especially when paired with the relatively compact and lightweight 24-70mm and 70-200mm 2.8 GMII variants.

I’ve also come to appreciate the aperture drive AF options on the A9 II in the studio (and for low ambient light photography), as discussed earlier in the thread.

That all said, I’m still a Nikon Z fan, I simply switched with a change of career to tools which best fit my niche needs and budget.

If I was making a living off photography I would absolutely want the best most affordable tool for the job.

But since I don't, people like me fall into two categories:

• Brand loyal - either because we love some brands or have investments in a brand
• Switch to latest tech, brand doesn't matter - assuming we have the money

I am in the first bracket. I dislike Sony (did have an A7 for a while while waiting for Nikon) as a brand (no rational reason).
Canon is interesting but a rip off (you pay more for everything IMO).

I sort of fall in between. I do make money from my photography (now) and it presented me with a niche problem to solve on set. By trading in my 2 Nikon Z bodies and 8 lenses I was able to switch to a pair of like new used A9 II bodies and five brand new lenses cost neutrally. Cost does matter to me.

That said, if it wasn’t for this unit stills work I’d still be with Nikon and generally I don’t advocate system switching.

Thom, I understand you have both A1 and Z9. So you are best placed to comment on relative performance at F8 in studio conditions.
Does A1's aperture drive mode help it a lot in low light?
Why do you think Nikon has not implemented it?

Thanks Bob, it’s quite a niche area I’ve ended up involved in professionally.

Primeshooter, I think your initial post was perfectly fine. I'm usually not confrontational, however the tone of AndyMiller's response is totally uncalled for. He probably hasn't used or tried the R5. And, not that it was important for the purpose of his discussion, but he did let us know that he has 2 Z9s. I enjoy a level headed discussion which some people don't seem to get. Not mocking you Andy, just try to respect other people's opinions and voice your own without accusing others of being trolls (whatever that means?)

I think what happens is some folk are genuinely curious to compare features, pros and cons between brands and others are, shall we say, very brand defensive.

I think discussing these pros and cons is healthy. Whether that should occur within brand specific forums (at the expense of things getting "tribal") is another matter.

At least such debate is more open here than on the old place. This is a good thing!

Perhaps in time the old system and buying advice section could be targeted as more beginner oriented, with another section about discussing brand nuances (with a "please leave brand tribalism at the door' rule). Of course that would still result in a punch up, but at least it's not brand specific to start with.

First paragraph of the Primeshooter's OP was bashing Nikon Z 6/7 and Z 6/7 II and DPReview. Second paragraph was a question. People have a problem with first paragraph. The reaction would be different if OP would use just second paragraph.

I thought the entire OP was reasonable and the first sentence was valid as it referred to the way of doing things at the old place.

@BurnImage

Do you think it is reasonable. I do not

My opinion is that the OP used unnecessarily inflammatory language.

dprevived.com/t/nikon-z-af/2911/post/29242/

I like Bob's ability to completely skip over all inflammatory stuff and focus on the actual information content.

I agree with his appraisal as it's factually correct. Maybe we could all learn to choose language that's more diplomatic and doesn't upset people on the other side of the argument (me included).

On that point, you are picking on one side of the argument and glossing over the vitriol of Nikon brand warriors firing even bigger missiles in the other direction (mostly based on emotion not facts).

You can't have it both ways, surely you can see that?

Btw after almost 200 posts, the information content of this thread can be summarized as follows:

• Z6/Z7 cameras have trouble with eye focusing in low light (credit Felbo)
• Z7 has trouble at F9 in studio conditions (credit AnotherMike)
• Sony A9 has aperture drive that helps in low light conditions by keeping aperture open during focusing (credit BurnImage)

Perfect summary. I'm not sure how I feel about threads running and running. Like most thing's there's plusses and minuses. On the plus side a robust debate is allowed. On the minus side there's more chaff to wade through to get to the wheat.

Mind, no proof has been provided of these. It's all "but I've seen this".

At which point I'm happy to report people I know who shoot in the studio don't report the same issues with the z7s they use. So...

Good grief really? Legitimate grown up discussions have been held about low light AF such as in a studio at f8. Aperture drive mode on Sony has been discussed and debated as a solution provided by another brand. What proof do you want? Are you suggesting all that was made up and that Aperture drive mode on Sony does not exist?

Or is your mind simply closed to the possibility that sometimes another brand might have an implemented a solution to a particular requirement in a better way?

AKA.... Nikon is perfect and no other brand is ever better at something?