2025 Goals Update

Nikon Z5II, Nikkor-S.C 5cm f1.4 LTM

Well, I just passed another milestone on my goals, my Likes to Posts ratio on Fred Miranda just passed 65% on my way to my goal of 66%. Another percent is very doable, I started the year at 63.2%.

I'm also up to 5 of 7 Photo trips for the year, with another planned for next week. I expect to hit this goal

In terms of shooting, it's really low this year, I'm not even at 3,000 shots for the year, evenly split between the A7IV and the Nikons. Barring a major shift, I'll be happy to clear 5,000 shots for the year with the majority on the Nikons, and I do expect the Z7 will become the second camera in recent memory to exceed 12 months of ownership in January. Eventually hitting 10,000 without a system change is definitely possible, but no idea if I'll do that on a single body anytime soon. The Z5ii so far is just shy of 600 shots and still working well, but it's definitely still in new toy mode. We'll see where the new year takes us, but I really hope I'm still shooting the Z5ii come next fall, although I could see it demoted to second string if I bought a real replacement for the Z7 (ie if I trip over a deal on a Z8).

 

Z5ii - Initial Thoughts

 

Nikon Z5ii, AF-S Nikkor 24-85mm f3.5-4.5 VR G on FTZII

3 shot/1 stop bracket to HDR

I've got about 400 shots on the Z5ii now, from a couple outings (one minor photowalk, one major outing over the weekend). Definitely still in new toy mode, but it also feels extremely comfortable, I can't remember the last camera I picked up that shooting with felt like coming home. That's probably the very familiar ergonomics (almost identical to my Z7 and even closer to the Z5 I had a few years ago). Oddly the only two recent Nikons I've bought new were the OG Z5 and the Z5II, I generally buy used cameras (the other exception in the last 5 or so years was the OM-1). 

It's no secret I liked the Z5ii on announcement, I called it 'surely the best in class' although at the time I still thought that picking the A7IV better fit my needs (and on paper, I was correct, in practice, well not so much). This is simply a very well sorted camera that brings an absolutely stupid amount of capability for its price and overshadows the competing cameras as a general use camera (S5II is still better for serious video, but lags at everything else largely due to the AF system still struggling, while the R8 offers small size, fast AF and high FPS rates, but lacks pretty much everywhere else as it has a consumer battery, no IBIS and an APS-C grade EVF) and about 95% of my complaints from the Z5 and Z7 have been addressed, and of the two major remaining ones only one could be sorted in software.

So what was fixed? Customizability mostly. All the buttons that I might want to program but couldn't on the Z5 and Z7, I can on the Z5II. Only a few core UI buttons (shutter release, menu, the zoom buttons and delete) are not programmable now. This immediately frees up 3 additional buttons for me if I'm willing to accept differing controls between my two bodies. My limiter on customization now is maintaining UI commonality between the less customizable Z7 and the more customizable Z5ii. Since the Z7 still brings one major item to the table (the amazing 45MP sensor), I want to keep them similar so I don't have to think when swapping between them. That does limit what I can do with Z5ii for now. 

The Non-CPU Lens system got an upgrade, fixing all my complaints. When I test drove the Zf in early 2025 it still offered the old Non-CPU Lens Data UI, where you picked focal length and aperture from a list f pre-populated values, which locked out non-Nikon focal lengths (like 21mm and 25mm) and apertures. It also didn't let you enter the lens name for EXIF like the OM and Panasonic bodies do. Those features were already in the Z8 and Z9 at the time, but had not tricked down to the lower-end EXPEED7 bodies (Zf and Z6iii in particular at that time, even though the Zf had the new MF assist functions it pioneered). With the Z5ii that changed and the new UI is present which addresses pretty much all the shortcomings of the system from the older EXPEED6 bodies like my Z7. It now writes full EXIF with dumb adapters and I can enter specific lens names to differentiate multiple lenses of the same spec (like my two 28mm f3.5's), I do still have to remember which slot is which if using the quick-access selection as that only shows slot ID, focal length and aperture, but it shows up in the full menu UI. My understanding is that the Zf and Z6iii on current firmware also have this now. It's a real value add for somebody who loves mucking about with non-CPU lenses as I do. 

There's also a lot of other Quality of Life updates in the EXPEED7 bodies, they're faster, less gotchas and just very well sorted. Plus it's nice to be using a system without the dust management issues that continue to plague Sony. 

What don't I like?

1. Bracketing Burst is still broken compared to the Nikon DSLR's (and Sony). I cannot set the Z bodies up to just shoot a burst if I have Bracketing enabled. Sony makes it a drive mode which allows this (but locks out combining bracketing burst with a self timer), The Nikon DSLR's had a custom function to set this to always on. I have to assign a button and hold that button down while shooting to get it on the Z's. 

2. That third control point on the body. The Sony bodies actually have 4 control points (which is more than I need, I never used the one around the d-pad), but being able to have exposure compensation on a dedicated dial in M+Auto ISO mode was great and I cannot do that on the Z's unless I put it on the lens ring and shoot only with lenses that have a ring (or a focus ring that can be re-assigned as a control ring). Worse, I can't set the camera up so that Aperture is on the lens and Shutter/ISO or Shutter/exposure compensation is on the body. That's by far the most normal setup I can think of for shooting with the control ring on the lens, especially since I use a lot of manual lenses where I'm basically just wasting a control point.

Overall, I'm really liking the Z5ii. It just feels like home so far. We'll see how things play out, but hopefully it will still be in my bag next September. 

The Nikon System Now

Nikon Z7, Nikkor 105mm f2.5 AI-S

So with my Sony stuff gone, there's a few gaps in my setup to fill, but I still do have a nice selection of glass available to me, especially reasonably compact primes.

So what's in the rotation?

Standard kit:

Zeiss Distagon 2,8/21 ZF - my standard wide-angle lens and an absolute gem.

Z Nikkor 40mm f2 SE - My AF fast/compact prime for walkaround. Rather good, decently small and fast enough

AF-S Nikkor 24-85mm f3.5-4.5 VR G - Very solid and sharp general purpose zoom

Tamron SP 90mm f2.8 N-AF - My macro of choice even though it doesn't AF on the FTZ. 

M mount kit:

7Artisans 35mm f5.6 - Fixed aperture bodycap/small walkabout lens

Nikkor-S.C 5cm f1.4 LTM - Not only my cold dead hands lens, but a solid classic-rendering Sonnar type normal. Some issues with the M mount adapter mean I need to use a different adapter than I do for the other M lenses.

7Artisans 75mm f1.25 - Big, fast monster. Unique rendering and weak wide open, but lots of fun. 

F mount kit:

24mm f2.8 K - Classic Nikkor wide angle.

28mm f3.5 H - Classic low-contrast rendering, muted but beautiful colour, Kinda a PITA to focus due to low contrast, metal focus ring

28mm f3.5 AI - Classic and solid AI mild wide. Got it with the Z5ii in a 1 for 1 swap for my unloved 35/2 AI (a lens I've owned and not loved several times over the years, my least favourite Nikkor 35mm)

50mm f1.8D - Yeah, I have one, it's technically my partner's for her D50. Neither of us ever use it, but we won't sell it at this point

Micro-Nikkor 55mm f3.5 AI - Heirloom, came with my FE from my Aunt (who bought it new from the camera store I worked at as a teen). Will never sell this lens, and I love it, my 3rd one and I always get great results.

Nikkor 105mm f2.5 AI-S - The legendary Afghan Girl lens. Had a few copies previously, sold most foolishly (and broke one). Will not sell this one. 

Nikkor 200/4 Ai - This one needs a teardown, aperture is sticky. Nice lens otherwise and compact.

Nikkor 300/4.5 K AI'd - This thing sucks. But it's also worthless. Won't use or sell.

M42 kit

Super-Takumar 35/3.5 - Longstanding favourite. Keeping

Super-Takumar 135/3.5 - Tiny and decent. Fun and keeping.

I intend to add to all 3 kits. I miss my old (and formerly very complete) M42 kit, there's a few gaps in the F mount kit and I'm really enjoying cheap M glass.

Current priorities are:

1. AF telezoom

2. fast M wides - 28 and faster 35 for sure, then a modern 50 and last a 90. 

3. More ZF/ZF.2 lenses, especially a 35, 50 and 85. I miss my old 85/1.4 ZF.2 in particular. 

More native Z glass and M42 stuff when I can find it for pricing in the budget. 

The goal here is to get to a practical hiking kit quickly (UWA + normal + telezoom, and I just need the telezoom added), then focus on 'fun' lenses including backfilling some old stuff I sold and regret, or always wanted. 
 

So what about the Sony Lenses

Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 FE

This is the lens I'm going to miss the most from the Sony setup. I really liked this one, a great size and solid performance for a very reasonable cost. I will likely buy the Nikon-branded version, but it's literally twice the cost of a used Tamron in FE mount. In the interim I have my 21 Distagon which covers 90% of my needs in this space. 

Sigma 100-400mm f5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary

This one was already on the chopping block. The OS is known to be wonky and randomly just doesn't, which I ran into. A big part of why I was willing to dump all my native Sony glass was my general low-level dissatisfaction with this lens. Optically it's solid but not exceptional, the handling is OK but getting the optional lens foot was basically impossible (shared part with the discontinued 105/1.4) and the OS just didn't right when you needed it to. It was either being replaced with the Sony GM or a different super-tele zoom anyways. Not sure which way I'll go here, maybe an 80-400G or 70-200+TC, or possibly I'll get a smaller zoom + 180-600. 

The final lens in my kit was the Viltrox 40/2.5. This was a great little lens, small & sharp, but I actually never used it outside of some test shots. Since I have the faster Nikkor 40/2 in Z mount, I tended to just use the Z7 when I wanted a lens like that. I carried teh Viltrox around as a gap filler between the 17-28 and 100-400, usually alongside my EF mount Voigtlander 90/3.5 APO-Lanthar on an EF->FE adapter, but the 90 got used for its great close focus and the neat little Viltrox generally sat in the bag and was sad. 
 

Since only one of the three native lenses I had was really used and liked, one needed replacing and I already had a great alternative to the third in Z mount, using those lenses as part of my trade in to get the Z5ii (which I got brand new) made a bunch of sense. 

Post-Summer Updates

Sony A7IV, Tamron 17-28/2.8

Well, it's been a long and busy summer with relatively little shooting. I got out with the camera a total of 3 times, and only shot 6-700 shots total across all of those. The A7IV is now just shy of 1400 shots.

The A7IV has been delivering what I wanted for hiking/landscape work, but I just do not really like using it for adapting lenses, the only adapted lens that's seen any real use is my EF mount Voigtlander 90/3.5 APO-Lanthar, which is fully coupled on my EF->FE adapter. 

This breaks into one of the issues with being dual system. I just like the Nikon more, even though the Sony stuff has been working well overall. I really wish I'd waited and bought the Z5ii instead (or just got that used Zf I was eying instead of the A7IV). Nikon has also solved the light body issue with the new Zr, although it is somewhat expensive (since it's really a Z6iii in a small body, not another Zf/Z5ii sibling, so it costs near Z6iii money, sitting halfway between the Zf and Z6iii in price, which is reasonable for what it is as a video body, but high for light carry).

This is kind of a pisser, since the Sony does work fine for its primary uses, it just has a few minor annoyances that irk me. The biggest one with native glass is how the metering display behaves when in M+Auto ISO. In short, it doesn't do anything even if you are bouncing off ISO limits. Which means you basically have to guess what the heck it's doing in a mode I REALLY like shooting in. The Z7 displays accurate metering in this use case.

The reality is the Sony A7IV spent a lot of the summer next to my desk hoping I'd pick it up, and I rarely did. I didn't shoot the Z7 much either, largely because every time I wanted to, I got indecisive. 

End result - After 6 months of ownership the A7IV and my 3 native lenses got traded back in and a Z5II came home with me. 

Nikon's Z5ii - Certainly the Best in Class.

Nikon Z5, Nikkor Z 24-50 f4-6.3

Nikon announced the new Z5ii last week.

It was exactly what I expected, a Zf in a lightly modded Z5 body. And it's exactly what I would have bought if it had been out a couple months before. I spent a lot of time debating between the Zf, Z6iii, S5ii and A7iv. I eventually settled on the A7iv, and I am happy with that, but if the Z5ii had been out already, I would have looked no further since it met all my original requirements for a body. The Zf only got downchecked because of the weight and ergonomics. 

So what is it - in short it's a pairing of the excellent Expeed7 processing system with the old but outstanding IMX410 24MP BSI Full frame sensor used in a number of different cameras including the Zf, Z6, Z6ii, S5ii, S9, SL3-S and IIRC also the A7iii and A7C. It's a great sensor limited really only by the inability to do full-width 4k50/60 (which I don't care about).

While the price does go up, it remains a huge value and handily the best body in its pricerange for general users, outperforming the A7III and A7C in all regards, the S5II in terms of AF & overall stills performance and the R8 in terms of basic features (better EVF, IBIS, better battery life, dual cards, but much slower and worse 4K video). The Z5ii simply offers the best balanced combination of features, even if most of those cameras (except the aging A7III) beat it in some specific area. 

That said, for my needs I do think the currently more expensive A7IV isn't really overmatched by the Z5ii, but it's currently at least 25% more expensive. I think I made the right choice for my needs, even if it's a choice I probably would have skipped if the Z5ii had been already available last month. 

 

A Couple Weeks Later - A7IV & Z7

A7IV, Tamron 17-28 f2.8

I've had the A7IV for a couple weeks now and put almost 600 shots on it in that time, vs around 800 for the Z7 since I got it 2.5 months ago. The difference in shot count vs time is mostly in being able to get out for one major photo trip after getting the Sony, and I only brought the Sony along for that trip.

Overall, they're both excellent cameras. I generally am preferring the A7IV in actual use for the more flexible control layout, vari-angle LCD and the ability to dedicate a dial to exposure compensation, plus the AF is significantly better. The Z7 however does have a better metering readout for Manual+Auto ISO (As it will tell you on the metering display when it's hit the end of its range for ISO and by how much) and a nicer EVF. Also the Z7 files are still nicer. 

Both are good cameras, both aren't perfect. If I could get the Z7's sensor, EVF, metering readout & Non-cpu lens data system in the A7IV's everything else, I'd be ecstatic. 

In general, if I have to pick just one, I'm usually going to pick the Sony here, it's just better at most of the stuff I care about and more importantly, the system brings me options I simply don't have in Z mount, notably compact bodies and a wider lens selection. But I still do enjoy the Z7 and am planning on keeping it around for now. It's a fun change, the files are nice and I don't have all that much value in Z7 specific stuff that can't also be used via adapter on the A7iv (since all but one of my Z7 lens kit are adapted lenses). 

So overall, my plan to largely dedicate the Z7 to adapted/manual lenses for around town shooting and the A7IV for everyday uses seems to be making a lot of sense. I'm going to continue that way for now.