Scribblings About Things
Overblown Arguments Over Third Party Support of Nikon Z8 Firmware 3.00
As I had mentioned in my post a couple of days back, there have been reports of Tamron lenses not working, either partially or completely disabled, with Nikon Z8’s latest firmware 3.00. Tamron themselves have also posted a service advisory regarding this issue on their official site.
I do get that some users are frustrated over the fact that the native Z-mount Tamron lenses that they own are not fully compatible with the latest Z8 firmware, even though Z-mount Tamron lenses are supposed to be developed under license from Nikon.
In addition to that, several new reports of third party mount adapters from Megadap or Techart are not working as well after the update have also surfaced in the past couple of days.
And this has let to quite a bit of overblown arguments online with regards to who is to blame for this and in more extreme cases, how this firmware update is entirely not up to par, leading to some users calling it a fiasco of an update.
To be honest I do think this is quite a disappointing reaction to see from the users, especially considering the fact that many new features have been implemented in this new firmware update, so calling this firmware update a failure just because third party support is not perfect somehow sounds to me like an entitled user whining.
Before I continue, I think Tamron needs to be given a huge round of applause for acknowledging the issue early (literally the same day the firmware update was released) and letting users know that they are looking into the situation. It is indeed a good move from them to instill confidence in their customers.
So now, we all know that firmware updates (no matter major or minor) have shown time and time again that third party electronic peripherals, be it lenses or batteries, may no longer work as intended due to protocol changes or code changes. This has always been the case, so usage of third party accessories will always bring this risk as manufacturers might update certain safety or security protocols and do not guarantee full compatibility with using said third party accessories; even more so for accessories developed through reverse engineering of the electronic protocols.
I know this first hand - I sent in my D800 for routine maintenance in the past and the service center updated my camera to the latest firmware, which led to my Sigma 35/1.4DG HSM being unable to autofocus at all. It was fixed by updating the Sigma lens via the USB Dock.
The main argument for this current problem right now is that Tamron officially developed the said native Z-mount lenses under a license from Nikon, and because of this the lenses should work as intended with the latest camera body firmware update as it is released.
Unfortunately I think that this argument is not sound at all, since it would mean that Nikon would have to develop its firmware around how Tamron writes their lenses’ firmware, either that or Nikon would have to wait for Tamron to finish up updating their lenses’ firmware before releasing the Z8 FW3.00 penalizing users who are using native Nikon lenses.
Either of these scenarios just sounds improbable from Nikon’s point of view don’t you think?
On top of that, the actual licensing of the lens mount protocol from Nikon to develop the lenses is not a transparent transaction - apart from the manufacturers themselves (and I would argue even so only a handful within the organizations), no one else outside that circle knows what exactly is being licensed and what kind of royalties are in play over here.
If you look over the fence at the E-mount system, Tamron, and even Sigma, release firmware updates for their lenses every now and then when a new body is released or a firmware update for a current body might have changed something. So this is not exactly something new even when things are being developed in partnership or under a license.
Some argued that Nikon should have sent Tamron a beta copy or SDK of the FW3.00 so that they could prepare firmware updates for their lenses when FW3.00 landed. I do agree with this argument, since as partners this should be the case to maintain the relationship down the road, and if Nikon did not send them any prior information or SDK for Tamron to update their firmware, then I do agree that it is a huge oversight on Nikon’s end, especially considering that Tamron does have quite a fair bit of lenses for the Z-mount.
But objectively speaking, no one knows whether Nikon did or did not send them a SDK, and no one knows if Tamron has perhaps already been working on updates for their lenses prior to the release but just unfortunately could not make it in time for the actual release of FW3.00.
The 2-week gap between the announcement of Z8’s FW3.00 and the actual release date might actually be a little hint that there was more going behind closed doors than we are allowed to know.
Also as of now, it is not as if the lenses are bricked totally (since many users do comment that the lenses have no issues working on their other Z bodies), and the main culprit seems to be the newly added Focus Limiter function. Furthermore, Nikon is one of the few camera manufacturers I know of (or in fact, the only camera manufacturer) that allows you to rollback your firmware to an older version if required.
So right now, if you are using Tamron lenses as a main lens on your Z8, you have these 3 options:
If none of the FW3.00 new features are immediately crucial or required, just rollback to FW2.10 (or not update your Z8 if you have not done so) and you will get the full intended compatibility of the lens and body as it always has been.
If you need Focus Limiter, run Z8 on FW2.10 and use Tamron Lens Utility software to customize the custom function and button to map Tamron’s version of Focus Limiter to the lens.
If you need FW3.00 features other than Focus Limiter, update your Tamron lenses, disable all custom functions on the Tamron lenses (especially Tamron’s version of Focus Limiter via the Tamron Lens Utility software), and the lenses should work as intended on Z8 FW3.00. Do note that this might still cause some unintended hiccups here and there since Tamron has not officially come out to mention what other compatibility issues are there.
However if you are in the group which requires both FW3.00 features immediately and the Focus Limiter ability, your only choice is to just sit down and wait for Tamron’s firmware update. And also perhaps ponder over the above 3 suggestions I gave regarding to workarounds right now.
Lastly, regarding other reverse-engineered lenses and mount adapters, the final verdict on their compatibility is still hazy at best, but to play safe it is best to just stick with FW2.10 for now while keeping a lookout on the respective manufacturers’ websites for firmware updates in the coming days.
To summarize everything up, yes the firmware 3.00 for the Nikon Z8 did cause some compatibility issues with 3rd party lenses, even for those developed under license from Nikon. But to be fair we do not know what the license covers, and we also do not know whether Nikon themselves actually did provide SDKs to Tamron prior to the firmware’s release as part of their partnership. It always has been up to the third party manufacturers themselves to ensure compatibility, and if you need your gear working right now you could just rollback the firmware to the older FW2.10 and have everything working as it was.
A little patience goes a long way, so be glad that there are options to make the gear work just as it was. Go out and enjoy shooting!
Nikon Z8 Firmware 3.00 Released
The previously announced Z8 firmware 3.00 is now officially released.
It can be downloaded on their official page here.
Since it is a major firmware update, the list of changes is pretty substantial, and along with it comes a supplementary manual which can be downloaded here.
(They do update the supplementary manual links sometimes so instead of linking directly to the supplementary manual’s PDF I have linked to the manual overview page instead)
I covered in my previous post regarding some of the changes that were announced, so do refer to it if you would like a summary of the changes in the new firmware.
I will update my camera some time later this week after my assignments are over and write a more detailed article on my opinions on the changes after I have tested them out.
Nikon Z50II, Z5II, Z6III and Zf Firmware Updates Released
Nikon has released minor firmware updates for the Z50II, Z5II, Z6III and Zf.
The new firmware can be downloaded directly from their official pages listed below:
This is a minor firmware update which brings about some text changes for Nikon Imaging Cloud connection procedures.
The Z5II’s update also includes some minor changes to SnapBridge and the d13 custom menu item.
Is a New Nikon Lens Announcement Imminent?
Over the past few weeks Nikon has released firmware updates for all of its mirrorless bodies, regardless whether they are running on EXPEED6 or EXPEED7.
With the exception of the Z8 FW3.00 announcement (and the actual firmware download is still unavailable as of writing), most of these firmware updates address operational bug fixes.
However, I cannot help but wonder, with the timing of everything being so coincidental and sequential, perhaps a lens announcement would happen soon?
We all know that in Nikon’s case, when new lenses are released which requires specific instructions for the camera bodies (like forced distortion control etc.), a firmware update is required before said lens can be used.
Fingers crossed here, but I wonder if something would drop together with the official release of Z8 FW 3.00 download link!
Nikon Z8 Firmware 3.00 Announced
Last week, Nikon announced firmware 3.00, a major firmware update, for the Nikon Z8.
Details of the firmware changes can be viewed at the special contents page on their official website (in English here).
For Japanese readers, unfortunately there is no special content page yet, so the information is on the Z8’s product page here, and the press release here.
Interestingly, it is not a development announcement, yet the actual firmware is unavailable for download (both at time of announcement and at the time of this post), which I suspect might be due to last minute ironing out of bugs or wanting to coincide with the Photonext 2025 convention last week.
Being a major firmware update, there are some new features being implemented in this firmware, and some of the more prominent ones are:
Pixel shift combined with focus shift or AE bracketing. This is definitely a big plus for macro shooters or still-life studio shooters since you can eliminate moire and also get high resolution images.
In-camera focus distance limiter. I can see how it would be useful for a wide range of photographers to prevent unnecessary hunting and improve response speeds. It feels like an evolution of the auto-capture feature implemented for the Z9 (and later the Z8), which brings me to wonder if the directional movement detection of the auto-capture feature could be implemented in normal shooting modes too.
Support for flexible color picture controls. This would bring the Z8’s picture control support more in-line with the newer EXPEED7 bodies, though as of writing the announcement did not mention any support for Nikon Imaging Cloud, so I suppose Imaging Recipes are still not supported with FW3.00. With flexible color picture control support, one workaround for this is to use a Imaging Cloud-enabled body (as of writing, Z50II, Z5II, Z6III, Zf), load one of the Imaging Cloud Recipes you like and take a shot, extract the picture control profile using NX Studio, and load it into the FW3.00 Z8.
Custom wide-area AF (C1/C2) have been updated to support up to 135 different patterns (from the initial 20 patterns in previous firmware versions), and also the customizations are enabled to the edges of the sensor (29 x 17) as well, as compared to the previous 21 x 13 maximum area. This is significant as it brings a lot more options for the custom wide-area AF (and more in line with the newer EXPEED7 bodies), and this is the first Nikon body with the 45.7MP sensor with full customization for this, and we can be quite sure that something similar will be available for the Z9 soon enough.
Subject detection is now available in manual focus modes, similar to that of the Zf and Z6III.
There are also other quality of life and workflow improvements, such as higher zoom magnification or voice memo implementations, as well as some video-related upgrades, all of which are detailed in the links provided at the top of this post.
One particular feature that sounds a bit confusing right now is the new a14 option “Maximum Aperture Live View”. In the special contents page it sounds like it would work for autofocus as well by focusing at maximum aperture and stopping down just right before shooting (like how the DSLRs worked) for better accuracy and light gathering during focusing. However, a similar implementation for the Z9 seems to work only for manual focus, so either this feature has been refined for the Z8 (and updated for the Z9 accordingly), or there is some misunderstanding on how the feature would work.
Nevertheless I’m definitely glad that new features are coming!
Nikon Z6II and Z7II Firmware Update 1.70 Released
Nikon has released firmware 1.70 for both the Nikon Z6II and Z7II.
The new firmware can be downloaded directly from their official page here (for Z6II) and here (for Z7II).
Unfortunately no, this is not the unicorn FW2.00 that would miraculously bring the power of the dual EXPEED6 to EXPEED7 levels (running joke in the community just in case anyone gets offended).
It adds Russian language for units sold in the region, and also fixes some operational bugs with regards to touch AF and viewfinder settings.
Nikon Zf Minor Firmware Update 2.01 Released
Nikon released firmware 2.01, a minor firmware update, for the Nikon Zf.
The new firmware can be downloaded directly from their official page here.
It addresses a bug which caused an error in the camera under certain conditions when using Multiple Exposure, so definitely update it if this is a feature you use often.
Nikon Z6 and Z7 Firmware Update 3.80 Released
Nikon released firmware 3.80 for both the Nikon Z6 and Z7.
The new firmware can be downloaded directly from their official page here (for Z6) and here (for Z7).
It addresses a bug which caused the camera to record shutter speeds incorrectly in the Exif when using bulb or time mode for long exposures.
Nikon Z50 and Zfc Minor Firmware Updates and Nikon Software Updates
Over the past couple of days Nikon released some minor firmware updates for the Z50 and the Zfc, together with minor software updates to NX Studio and Wireless Transmitter Utility (WTU).
The firmware can be downloaded from their respective official links here:
Z50 download page
Zfc download page
Similarly, the software updates can be downloaded here:
NX Studio
Wireless Transmitter Utility
The minor updates for the cameras and software are small bug fixes as well as adding support to the Z5II.
However, one particular thing to take note about the new NX Studio is that it now requires logging into a Nikon account in order to use it. I am not sure how the repercussions would be with air-gapped PCs, so it might be a good time to make sure that you keep a copy of NX Studio 1.8.0 (the previous version) which does not require signing in. The official direct download page is here - this link will be archived once the next version comes out so do act fast if you need it.
As for the WTU, even with this update I still cannot get it to work properly (will write a separate post on this), so unless they do a major overhaul on the underlying code and protocols, I cannot recommend it as a reliable way to beam photos to your PC.
Nikon Z50II and Z9 Minor Firmware Updates Released
Earlier this week Nikon has released minor firmware updates for both the Z50II and the Z9.
The new firmware for the Z50II (Version 1.01) can be downloaded here from their official site.
Similarly, the new firmware for the Z9 (Version 5.20) can be downloaded here from their official site.
As mentioned these are minor updates, so I decided to just write about both in one article.
Firstly for the Z50II, FW 1.01 fixes some bugs with remote shooting and Snapbridge, renamed an item in Custom Settings, and added support for pre-release capture with Smallrig’s remote as well as a new language.
As for the Z9, FW 5.20 also tackled with bugs affecting remote shooting and burst shooting operations, as well as renaming the same item in Custom Settings menu.
An interesting note for FW 5.20 is that NX Field, which used to be a paid upgrade, is now available to the Z9 with this firmware upgrade. While I am not the targeted audience for NX Field, this is definitely a generous move for those who use Z9’s in such situations.
On a more interesting note, the particular bug fix regarding pressing playback after shooting multiple bursts could in some instances corrupt images, I actually fell victim to this bug once on the Z7. While I had no issues recovering the files using a file recovery software, I was unable to replicate that error and just ignored it as a one-off event and just attributed it to user error. Quite interesting to see now that a fix is out for it for the Z9, so perhaps the other models might be affected as well?
Just wondering what the exact conditions are to trigger that bug..hmm..
Nikon Long Lens Options for Hobbyists
Recently I have been talking to a few of my friends who have just recently picked up photography as a hobby, and they are dabbling with the thoughts of getting some longer lenses to capture their kids’ events like sports day or drama performances.
As we brain-stormed through the various options available to the Z mount currently, it dawned upon me that the telephoto realm is really a dangerous spot for GAS, as for every option available, there is another option that would compensate the former’s weaknesses or compromises.
I thought that maybe it would be a good idea to do a very brief summary of long lens options that would not require incur the wrath of bankruptcy. So long-term GAS affected patients, please do not start bombarding me about the missing Z 400/2.8 TC or the Z 600/4 TC lenses in my list below.
Since technology would evolve over time, if any one happens to find this post in the future, please do take note of when this article was posted before you start to flame me with an option that was not available at time of writing.
Let’s start with bodies first. (Yeah I know the title said lens but, there are DX lenses too.)
With the introduction of the two EXPEED7 siblings, the Z50II and the Z5II, I think pretty much anyone looking at getting a new camera for kids’ sports should definitely consider either body. They share the same autofocus system, which itself is inherited from the bigger EXPEED7 siblings, so in terms of subject detection, autofocus tracking and focus accuracy they are just limited by their own sensor readout speeds.
Tight budget: Z50II. It is the most affordable EXPEED7 camera body now. And also being an APS-C camera, it would give extra reach with attached lenses, which is useful for our said scenario. Pairing it with the DX 50-250/4.5-6.3 VR could make a really compact telephoto set.
Some wiggle room for budget: Z5II. While it sits at the bottom of the full-frame camera line, it sports a very capable 24.5MP BSI sensor, which when coupled with the EXPEED7, delivers beautiful files and great autofocus performance.
Even more room for budget: Z8. It comes with a fully stacked 45.7MP sensor, which is a speed demon itself. The camera delivers blackout free shooting, which is very helpful for framing fast action shots. The 45.7MP also gives a lot of room to crop, which is beneficial if getting extra long telephotos is not feasible.
(I know the Z6III is omitted here. As of writing, I just cannot recommend the Z6III for such use case now due to its lack of customizations (due to be fixed in a firmware update), and the Z5II just provides a way better cost performance when compared to the Z6III)
Next let’s look at the lenses.
Tight budget: Nikon Z DX 50-250/4.5-6.3 VR. This lens when fully zoomed in would result in an equivalent 375mm lens, and when paired with the fast Z50II it should be able to tackle most outdoor sports events with no issues. However this option should only be considered if the Z50II is used.
Tight budget (FX version): Tamron 70-300/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD. It is the most affordable native Z-mount telephoto lens right now, although it only ends at 300mm. While might not be long enough for some outdoors sports events, its f/6.3 aperture will help tame the ISO a bit in indoor venues. It does not come with any optical stabilization system, so I highly suggest that you do not pair this lens with any of the current DX cameras.
Some wiggle room for budget: Tamron 150-500/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD, or Nikon AF-S 200-500/5.6 VR via FTZ. Both of these lenses go up to 500mm, with the Tamron being a native Z lens and slightly lighter at the expense of a slower aperture, and the Nikon requiring a FTZ adapter making the set front heavy. The Nikon should have no issues indoors as well with its faster aperture in the tele range.
More wiggle room for budget: Tamron 50-400/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD or Nikon Z 28-400/4-8 VR. While both of these are 400mm class lenses, their starting focal length and aperture ranges are very different. The Tamron has a slightly tamer maximum aperture range, and goes down to a normal 50mm view. The Nikon on the other hand goes all the way down to 28mm, but at the expense of a small aperture at telephoto ranges. The Nikon could be a one lens solution since it covers the wide angle range too, but its slow aperture means that it would struggle really hard in indoor situations.
Even more room for budget: Nikon 180-600/5.6-6.3 VR. I’d say just treat this as a constant f/6.3 lens. It’s an upgrade everywhere as compared to its predecessor, the AF-S 200-500/5.6 VR, and the only lens on this list that goes to 600mm, but ultimately as compared to all the other options here it is the heaviest and longest so that itself might be a concern too.
Image quality priority at non-bankruptcy budget: Nikon Z 100-400/4.5-5.6 VR S or Nikon Z 400/4.5 VR S. I think this should most probably be the reasonable budget limit for most users, and while they are both 400mm class lenses, their fast aperture (especially with the prime) would give the best image quality as compared to the other options here. It boils down to if you treasure flexibility (100-400/4.5-5.6) or pure speed and clarity (400/4.5).
One thing that was intriguing to me was how Tamron seems to be helping cover Nikon’s consumer telephoto range quite a bit, and I for one am glad that such options are available for the system, since most of Nikon’s own solutions cater to the slightly higher end of the spectrum.
I think that it would be nice to see more APS-C specific telephoto options, since now with the Z50II we now have a highly capable DX body. Perhaps it would launch with the unicorn Z80?
Nikon Z5II Hands-On Experience at Nikon Plaza
Earlier today I managed to try out the new Nikon Z5, which was announced last week (my writeup on the announcement here), at Nikon Plaza in Tokyo.
I made some very interesting observations, and also managed to get some confirmation regarding the specifications from the ground staff at the showroom.
Usually before the actual release date, the demo sets placed in the Nikon showroom usually have a strict policy of prohibiting bringing back the shooting data (be it RAW or JPG) as sometimes the sets are still based on pre-production firmware and they do not want such data to be floating around.
However the Z5II’s demo sets were all unrestricted so to speak - you could bring your own SD card and test it out with the camera, after which you could bring the shooting data back home. Hence I am quite certain the demo sets in the showroom now, even though it is before the official release date, are all on final firmware version (Ver 1.00 when I checked the camera settings).
So to start my little report, I think the Z5II is as what most people expect it to be: very simply put it is a Zf in a modern body.
It comes with the BSI 24.5MP sensor used in the Z6, Z6II, and Zf, and couples it with the EXPEED 7 so it gets all the new autofocus goodies as well as speed enhancements across the board. Compared to the Zf, the performance (autofocus and image quality) of the two bodies are very similar, if not identical, and most of the differences lie with the exterior hardware - the retro design Zf with all the dials, or the modern Z5II with more buttons and a good comfortable grip.
With that in mind, here are some of my observations:
The Z5II’s viewfinder can go really bright - manual settings can be set from -5 to +8, and extended to Hi 1 and Hi 2
Its firmware is practically identical to that of the Z50II, and also that of Zf’s firmware 2.00 - and yes that particular confusing menu item is also now properly labeled as “Record Camera Orientation”
The picture control button at the top is customizable (same as the Z50II)
The camera has put on a little weight since its EXPEED 6 days, but the grip is a bit beefier and more comfortable to hold.
The IBIS locks down in place (similar to the Z5/6/7/6II/7II) when powered off, unlike the Zf which floats around when powered off.
I mentioned in my Z5II’s announcement post here that I noticed how the length of the base was identical to that of the EXPEED 6 siblings, and was curious about whether the older accessories made for the EXPEED 6 bodies could work with it.
The Z-GR1 grip fits perfectly, and does not have any odd angles of protrusions of any sorts. I guess the reason its compatibility has not been officially announced is because of the VP1 extension - the Z-VP1 attaches without issue but will interfere with the full range of motion of the vari-angle screen. I guess there might be a Z-VP2 in the works? Nevertheless, I am really ecstatic that the Z-GR1 fits as I really like this grip.
The fit of the Z-GR1 means that most of the other baseplate accessories for the Z5/Z6/Z7/Z6II/Z7II should have no issues fitting since the base is the same size. However for L brackets, similar to the Z-VP1, do take note that the vari-angle screen may not get full movements when the vertical portion of the L brackets are attached. Just remember that anything not officially announced or supported do run a risk of slight incompatibility, so do test them out at your own risks.
The MB-N10 is a slightly different story - physically it fits, but since it is not officially supported I was not allowed to try to fit the MB-N10 into the demo sets in the showroom. I guess maybe one of the camera stores may be a bit more adventurous once they get their demo sets in….
Also regarding the other issues that I wanted to confirm,
The SD card slots are both UHS-II compliant. However I was not given actual write speeds capable of the camera - perhaps after the camera is released some of the memory card testers would be able to provide data on write speeds of the camera in single card mode and dual-card backup mode.
The sets in Japan are Japanese only, similar to that of the Z50II. However according to the staff there would be an optional paid service upgrade to add additional languages to the camera. While there is still no official word on this, I am definitely glad that this is an option since well, I definitely prefer to run through my settings in English than having to subconsciously translate everything.
I think this is a really highly competitive camera, especially in its price bracket, and in my short time spent with it I am quite confident that it could make a good replacement for my current Z6II workhorse.
Let me ponder over it a while more and decide during the upcoming lull period.
Nikon Zf Firmware 2.00 Released
Just earlier today, Nikon has officially released firmware 2.00, a major firmware update, for the Nikon Zf.
The new firmware can be downloaded directly from their official page here.
Similarly, the long list of changes and updates implemented in this new major firmware update is listed on the official download page link above, as well as documented in a supplementary firmware update manual (PDF download). I highly recommend going through both the changelog and the supplementary manual to learn more about the changes.
This update came at a really good time - I was just discussing about this firmware and the Z6III’s missing firmware update a few days ago in this post here, and I believed that the updates would come before the Z5II’s official shipping date. (And still believe that the one meant for the Z6III would come adhere to this rule too)
Now as mentioned this is a major firmware update with a long list of changes, so I am just going to list here some of the changes that I am really excited about.
The monitor/AF point bug is fixed! Like finally! (I have documented the bug in my Zf equipment discussion page here)
Cycle-AF area mode can be set to a custom button - this is the one function I use a lot on my Z8, and hence have been waiting for it to come to the Zf ever since the Z50II gave a sneak peek of what to expect. The video record button, being slightly out of the way, is now way more useful since there is no fiddling with dials but just a button press away from an AF area mode change.
Auto ISO capability can be split between “C” mode and when using the dedicated ISO dial to set ISO. Simply put, there is now a very quick, easy (and may I also say, elegant) way to turn on Auto ISO without going into the menus. (I previously discussed this small inconvenience back in this post here and in my Zf discussion page, and although I suggested having a custom function for it, the solution implemented is actually way more elegant and I definitely am thankful I am not the UX designer lol)
By setting Auto ISO to ON when in C mode, and setting Auto ISO to OFF in the dial region, just by a quick turn to the C mode you could easily activate Auto ISO, and switching back to any of the ISO values on the dial would lock it back to fixed ISO at that value.
The “Auto ISO with dial setting the max ISO” trick still works if you set Auto ISO on for both instances.
Ability to change the command dials to represent ISO or exposure compensation when shooting in M-mode - I am not the target audience for this since I prefer to keep my shutter speed dial to 1/3-step and use the command dial for it, but for those who exclusively use the physical shutter speed dial with Auto-ISO I can totally see how this would change the way the camera would work for themm
Nikon Imaging Cloud access is finally here, and I am quite excited to test out all the recipes, especially since some of my work does require me to shoot and deliver in JPG directly this would really be helpful.
Double tap Touch Fn is available, and can be used to set absolute position or reset the AF point. Nice.
Remember this pair of very confusing menu items? Turns out that Nikon did listen to feedback, and it is now properly labeled as “Record Camera Orientation”!
There are also quite a few video-related updates, but truth be told I am not a video person (at least at point of writing) so I am not going to discuss much about them here.
In summary, the Zf is already a very highly performant camera, and all these quality of life changes (and the much needed bug fix) would make this camera a bigger joy to use!
Nikon’s Camera Lineup After Z5II
Now that the Z5II has been announced (post regarding its announcement here), I cannot help but think how the Nikon lineup would shape up to be in the coming years. While it sounds like I am just looking forward to the next new thing (OK I do admit there is a tiny bit of truth in there, but hey I am pretty sure every photographer does have some form of GAS), I do honestly think it is important to look at the lineup from a larger perspective if one is to invest in the ecosystem.
Before I delve any further, I would just like to say these are purely based on my observations and are my own speculations, and hence are by no means a rumor or confirmation of new products.
Let’s start by looking at Nikon’s current lineup of camera bodies. (I will be excluding the RED video-oriented bodies since that is not my specialty and I am unable to speculate anything for those.)
As of writing, for the EXPEED 7 bodies, we have:
Nikon Z9: Flagship model and the only model with integrated vertical grip body; 45.7MP stacked sensor, no mechanical shutter, special AF functions available only to the stacked sensors, dual-axis tilt screen, top LCD, pro controls, dual CFe slots
Nikon Z8: Mini-Z9 (a.k.a Z9 without the grip); 45.7MP stacked sensor, no mechanical shutter, special AF functions available to the stacked sensors, dual-axis tilt screen, top LCD, pro controls, CFe slot + SD slot
Nikon Z6III: All-rounder body that gives a priority to speed and professional video specs; 24.5MP partially stacked sensor, EXPEED 7, vari-angle screen, top LCD, “slightly unfinished firmware” (more on this written here in this post), CFe slot + SD slot
Nikon Zf: All-rounder retro-design body with decent video specs; BSI 24.5MP sensor, EXPEED 7, vari-angle screen, SD slot + microSD slot
Nikon Z5II: All-rounder body with modern video specs; BSI 24.5MP sensor, EXPEED 7, vari-angle screen, dual SD slots
Nikon Z50II: All-rounder APS-C body with decent video specs; BSI 20.9MP APS-C sensor, EXPEED 7, vari-angle screen, single SD slot
And for the EXPEED 6 bodies which have yet to see any replacements, we have:
Nikon Z7II: High resolution body without stacked sensor, and the only FX line not updated to EXPEED 7; BSI 45.7MP sensor, single-axis tilt screen, top LCD, CFe slot + SD slot
Nikon Zfc: Retro-design APS-C body; BSI 20.9MP APS-C sensor, vari-angle screen, single SD slot
Nikon Z30: Compact body without EVF; BSI 20.9MP APS-C sensor, vari-angle screen, single SD slot
So first, let’s deal with the elephant in the room - will there (and should there) be a Z7III?
In my personal opinion, yes. Similar to the Z6II to Z6III upgrade, I highly suspect that the Z7III would come with a new sensor with higher resolution, though not partially-stacked, and definitely not fully-stacked, to keep the Z7-line as the high-resolution line of the Z bodies. Simply put, I think that a theoretical Z7III would be:
Identical body with Z6III; high resolution BSI sensor (61MP? 80MP?), EXPEED 7, vari-angle screen, top LCD, CFe slot + SD slot, slowish (by modern standards) max burst rates, moderate video specs
This would put the Z7III as the high resolution body to go for if high continuous burst speeds and video specs are not the main priority, which is similar to how the 61MP A7RV is marketed for Sony users. By sharing the same body as Z6III, like how Z6II and Z7II were, manufacturing costs can be reduced and many of the accessories can be shared by the two bodies too.
Next let’s take a look at the APS-C bodies.
ZfcII: This is quite a tough one to speculate, because on one hand with the Imaging Cloud and Process Recipes, they do make a retro-styled ZfcII appealing for many of the younger target audience, but on the other hand, a ZfcII, which would theoretically cost a bit more than a Z50II, would be close in price to the full-frame Z5II, and with the cashbacks happening, the Zf as well. In the EXPEED 6 era the Zfc being close to the Z5 in pricing (especially during the latter’s promotions and cashbacks) was still justifiable, since the Z5 had a non-BSI sensor and thus lower maximum burst rates and AF calculations/seconds, resulting in the Zfc being the faster and more responsive camera in addition to its retro looks. However in the EXPEED 7 era, the Z5II has gotten all the speed improvements it needed, and the only selling point of a ZfcII would be its retro design.
If I were to pick a side, I would say the ZfcII is unlikely to happen any time soon, and pretty certain not this year at least. It may come should the market react positively to wanting a retro design EXPEED7 APS-C body, but in my opinion the chances are really slim.
Should a ZfcII arrive within this generation, I would suspect it would just be a Zfc body with Z50II internals (that is to say, same 20.9MP sensor with EXPEED 7, single UHS-II card slot)Z30II: This is an interesting one. I personally like the Z30 for its size and handling, and its autofocus capabilities were actually on the better side as far as EXPEED 6 bodies go, especially for subject detection (Eye-AF). Although being marketed as a camera for vloggers, I had no issues using it for stills and actually really enjoyed having it around me most of the time. (You can read more about my little review on the Z30 here.)
I do not have exact sales numbers of the Z30, but I have definitely heard mixed opinions on this - seems like the larger general electronics retailers do sell quite a bit of them, but the specialized camera stores do not sell as much. Only Nikon would know whether the Z30 was profitable or not - if it was not profitable, I doubt we would see a successor to the Z30.
I personally do believe that a Z30II would happen, and if so, it would be the next APS-C body to be announced. One particular reason I believe so is that there is an increased demand for compact high performance cameras recently, and I think they would be likely to join the bandwagon, especially since the target audience for this would likely to be casual users without any brand preference or brand loyalty, it would make sense to compete for some market share here.
They just have to give the body some minor updates (say a UHS-II slot?), make some button placement changes, and jam all the Z50II internals in it, and call it a day.
Hence I suspect it would have the same vari-angle screen, the same 20.9MP sensor, EXPEED 7, single UHS-II card slot.
Now that I am done discussing my opinions on the remaining EXPEED 7 updates, please allow me to go on to discuss and speculate how else would the lineup shape up to be.
I need to emphasize again, these are really just my speculations, so please do not go around spreading this like wildfire. (At least at time of writing, there are no concrete evidence or rumors or anything)
I think (that is the keyword, think) there would be 2 more camera lines, and I am just throwing out the names here just because it makes sense.
Z3: Compact EVF-less version of the Z5II; similar to how the Z30 is to the Z50. Would feature dual SD slots and use EN-EL15c batteries.
Z80: Think of it as the mini Z8, like how the Z50II is to the Z5II. High speed high performance APS-C camera, featuring 20.9MP APS-C stacked sensor, no mechanical shutter, EXPEED 7, CFe slot + SD slot, uses EN-EL15c batteries. Comes with the pro controls of the Z8.
As for the flagship Z9, I suspect we would see the 45.7MP stacked sensor used for one more generation before it gets a major upgrade, and thus, this is how I think the Z9II (and Z8II for that matter) would look like:
Z9II: Same 45.7MP stacked sensor without mechanical shutter, either dual EXPEED 7 or new EXPEED 8, upgrades include pre-capture RAW, higher stills FPS for RAW (currently maxed out at 20FPS), wide-gamut brighter EVF from the Z6III, dual CFe 4.0 slots. Depending on how the CPUs are built, it may be possible to maintain the dual-stream technology (for blackout-free EVF) and also increase the amount of AF calculations/second. Video wise it should see modern codecs in built, ability to record N-RAW internally, and ability to record to two cards simultaneously.
Z8II: Same as above, minus the integrated vertical grip, and uses EN-EL15c batteries instead. Would have 1x Cfe 4.0 slot + 1x SD UHS-II slot, thus making dual video recording not possible for some modes.
And since we know that the current 20.9MP APS-C sensor is based on the FF 45.7MP FX sensor, when the theoretical Z7III arrives, we should see a new APS-C sensor as well, and that should go into the next crop of APS-C bodies (say Z50III or something)
Final disclaimer: this is not a rumors post, but just my speculations, so yeah, let’s definitely revisit this page some time down the line to see if any of these actually materialize!
Where Are the Zf and Z6III Firmware Updates?
After the Z5II’s announcement last week (details of the announcement on this post here), I took a look at some of the videos and articles done by people who have tried out the pre-production units, and realized that the Z5II would come with a firmware very similar to that the Z50II.
That is to say, it would include a lot of the newer customization options that were added to the Z8/Z9 via firmware updates (such as being able to set “Cycle AF-area mode” to a custom key, or being able to set the “Delete” function to a custom key during playback).
When I tried out the Zf loaded with the pre-release FW2.00 at Nikon’s booth in CP+ 2025 earlier this year, on top of the Nikon Imaging Cloud access options, the “f2: Custom Controls (Shooting)” custom settings also saw many new additions to it, bringing the level of customization to that of the Z8/Z9 (and now, the Z50II and Z5II too), as well as fixing the infamous rear-screen bug of the Zf.
And since Nikon did mention themselves that the Zf would see an update to gain access to the Imaging Cloud, it is only a matter of time before the Zf’s firmware update would land.
Which then raises a very interesting question - why does the Z6III’s firmware feel a bit nerfed as compared to the supposedly lower level Z50II and Z5II?
With the exception of the Z6III (and Zf for now), all the EXPEED 7 based bodies, FX or DX, would come equipped with a dedicated Bird AF in its subject detection options. While I know that for the Z6III the animal detection AF would work for birds too, it just feels strange that the Z6III, supposedly being the top-of-the-line hybrid camera, lacks that option, as well as the other customizations available for setting custom functions to the Fn keys. These customizations can be viewed as quality-of-life improvements, and many of which would benefit working photographers. And if the pre-release Zf FW 2.00 were to be a clue, most of the customizations seen in the Z50II/Z5II are just firmware based and can be added via an update.
There might be issues or difficulties that we do not know about regarding implementing the options in Z6III, or perhaps the presence of some other bugs that they would like to iron out, or perhaps there some are extra additions or goodies they would like to include in the major firmware update of the Z6III - all of which only the Nikon engineers would know and I would like to give them the benefit of the doubt. But nevertheless, I personally think as a sign of good faith Nikon should release the major firmware update for Z6III before the Z5II officially ships, so that current owners of Z6III would not feel left out, or in harsher terms, cheated, that a lower level body would have the improved menu options and customizations.
Final note: these are just my personal observations, opinions and speculations, and are by no means rumors or confirmations of any sorts regarding firmware updates coming any time soon.
** Update 8/4/2025: Zf firmware 2.00 officially released. Details are discussed in my post over here.
Nikon Z5II Announcement and Opinions
The Nikon Z5II has just been officially announced, and camera shops in Japan will begin to accept preorders for the camera from 10 April.
The official press release and specifications of the camera can be viewed here:
As I had expected and anticipated, the Z5II is pretty much a Z5 body updated with Zf internals (plus some nice surprises here and there).
Here is a brief summary of the major changes of the Z5II over the Z5:
24.5MP BSI sensor, ISO 100-64000, similar to that of the Zf
Expeed 7 CPU
Faster and more sensitive AF - claimed to be 3 times faster than the Z5 and being able to focus in -10 EV situations
Subject detection modes similar to that of the other Expeed 7 bodies
7.5 stops of IBIS
Up to 14 FPS RAW with mechanical shutter
3.2-inch 2.1 million dots flip screen, similar to that used in the Zf
3.69 million dots EVF, with improved 3000 cd/m2 brightness (similar to that of the Z8/Z9)
Picture control button (similar to that in the Z50II)
Video improvements include 12-bit N-RAW, FX 4K30p from 6K oversampled video, 4K60p in crop (DX) mode, up to 125minutes of continuous video recording
Some of the features of the Z5 are kept with the Z5II, for better or worse, namely:
Dual SD card slots (but does seem like both are UHS-II capable)
No top LCD panel
No mode dial lock
I think this model is an essential and very important part of Nikon’s Z lineup. On one hand it would be the entry level Expeed 7 FX body, thus attracting new users to the ecosystem with a sleuth of features is a key point in securing these new purchases. On the other hand, for many users (like me) who do not need the high frame rates or video specs, this is essentially the perfect Z6II replacement (although I am a bit sad with the lack of top screen though).
So far on paper it is very much what I expected it to be, and am looking forward to testing it out in the showroom before making a decision to pre-order or not (because you know, the Z8 strap lug fiasco..)
Here are some things that I cannot confirm now, and am planning to check them out when I get to test the camera:
According to the specs sheet, the base length is identical to that of the Z5 (and Z6/Z7/Z6II/Z7II) - and it lists both the MB-N11 and MB-N14 as compatible accessories. Does this mean that the Z-GR1 is a perfect fit for it too? (P.S. it does not fit the Z6III perfectly due to a change in length of the base plate)
Is the set in Japan available in Japanese language only (like the Z50II) or does it have English menus too?
How customizable are the buttons? (Z50II level of customization or the slightly crippled Z6III level?)
Are both SD card slots able to write at full UHS-II speeds?
Weather sealing and weather resistance information [Update: Just checked the press material again and seems like it is properly weather sealed]
I am definitely stoked that for now this sounds like a perfect replacement for my Z6II workhorse (minus the top screen, yeah I know I sound like a broken record), especially so if the Z-GR1 is able to fit it perfectly.
And also I guess I need to reconsider my little APS-C plan too.
Updated Tamron 35-150/2-2.8 Usage Page
It has been about a year since I purchased the Tamron 35-150/2-2.8.
I’ve been using it with the Z6II, mainly for outdoor location-based assignments, and have updated its equipment discussion page with some further observations and thoughts that I have on this lens after using it.
Hope the information may be useful to anyone looking to get the lens (or trying to find out more about the lens).
Evolution of Chinese Lens and Accessories Makers
In recent times there have been plenty of releases of lenses and camera accessories from Chinese manufacturers, and truth be told I am impressed with the rate that they are improving their products and innovating.
I strongly believe that healthy competition would bring about improvements and innovations, so with the rise of Chinese lens manufacturers, I think that us as consumers would benefit as a whole since the entire industry would be competing with each other to bring out more original and interesting products.
There have been several reputable camera accessories brands from China from a while back, such as Godox’s lighting accessories and triggers, Smallrig’s L-brackets and cages, and DJI’s drone systems, just to name a few. However, when we think about lenses, the initial releases of camera lenses from China were, blatantly speaking, clones of older lens designs, and tended to be only manual focus only. Most of the time they were just not up to current standards - usually thought of as cheap lenses to play around with, and could pretty much only take decent images once stopped down to around f/5.6 or so (and even so their performance is still just decent at best).
Fast forward to today, and we can see lenses from several Chinese manufacturers which incorporate modern AF systems tuned for use with mirrorless cameras, and some manufacturers also come up with their original optical designs and innovations (such as incorporating USB ports directly in the lens to facilitate firmware updates) - which is a far cry from the past where they were simply replicating old optical designs. Many of these manufacturers also do tend to cater to a certain niche - some examples include TTArtisan and 7Artisans catering to the general crowd with good price-performance lenses; Laowa (previously Venus Optics) with their probes, high magnification macro lenses and low-distortion ultra wide-angle lenses; Viltrox with product lines catering to compact sizes (Air series) or high performance lenses (Pro and Lab series).
That said, the fast rate of iteration does have certain consequences - namely with so many models flooding the market with similar nomenclatures, it is often quite confusing and difficult to determine if a particular model is the latest design or one from a previous generation, and due to that their resale value do not hold well too since a newer model is always just round the corner. Combined, these make a purchase from a Chinese manufacturer still a sort of a small gamble, even if they are pretty reputable.
However, credit should be given where credit is due, and the fact that they are improving so fast and bringing so much more value to the photography community as a whole is definitely worth commending.
Right now, there are still certain drawbacks from getting lenses from Chinese manufacturers, namely:
The coatings used on their lenses are still pretty simple and do not always eliminate flares and ghosts, even in simple backlit situations.
Quality control is not as stringent, and as such there are quite a bit of sample variance (although this has been improved recently according to most users, but still not up to par as the more established lens manufacturers)
They still do not have a proper track record on their build quality and long-term reliability, especially for the newer offerings with autofocus mechanisms (which is a given since they just entered the autofocus playing field pretty recently).
AF algorithms are reverse-engineered so firmware updates are required for compatibility with newer bodies. However it is hard to predict when support or firmware development would stop for current products.
Customer service is pretty much non-existent according to most users; if you buy from a reputable store they might handle the returns/warranty issues for you, but chances are if you need repairs it might take a long turnaround since they do not have regional repair offices.
Similarly there is no pro-support for their lenses, and thus the risk is too high for working photographers should the lens malfunction.
These drawbacks, especially that on the lack of support, are the main reasons why I have not personally purchased and owned lenses from the Chinese manufacturers, even though some of them are really intriguing to me (like the recently released Viltrox 135/1.8 LAB).
But I think that as these manufacturers grow and improve their reputation, they would start addressing these shortcomings as a way to distinguish themselves from the less reputable brands, and in my opinion that would be the start of a new era of reliable high performance lenses from them.
I have used third party lenses in the past for the F-mount (various lenses from Sigma, Tamron and Samyang), and am still using one now as a workhorse lens on the Z-mount (the Tamron 35-150/2-2.8 Z). It is definitely great to have more options on the table if the lenses from Chinese manufacturers prove to have reliable build quality and start to have proper support for them.
As mentioned earlier in this post, I do believe the rising of the Chinese lens manufacturers would spur healthy competition amongst the other manufacturers too, so I am certainly looking forward to how this industry would shape up in the coming years.