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 Issue With Tamron Lenses
Just like to inform Z8 users out there who are using native Z-mount Tamron lenses that there is an issue with the newly released Z8 FW3.00 with said Tamron lenses.
With the new firmware installed, there have been numerous complaints and feedback regarding Tamron lenses not being recognized by the camera body at all.
Tamron has issued a notification regarding this issue at their official support site here.
Some users have found that by turning off the newly added “Focus Limiter” function, it solved the issue and the Tamron lenses would work as normal, but if you are worried about other functions breaking with the Tamron lenses (like custom Tamron button functions and such), I think it might be safer to just stick with FW 2.10 first until Tamron release firmware updates for their lenses.
I will update this page again when more information becomes available either from Tamron or Nikon.
** Update 3/7/2025
It seems that for the Tamron 35-150/2-2.8, as long as you’re running on firmware 2 on the lens, the lens works without issues on FW3.00 Z8 as long as custom functions are not mapped to the lens via Tamron Lens Utility and the Z8’s new focus limiter is turned off.
I suppose this should be the case for the other Z-mount Tamron lenses too, but I do not own them to test out.
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.
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 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 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.
Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S Announced
A couple of days ago the Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S was announced.
The dedicated special contents page and technical specifications of the lens can be viewed here:
This is a highly anticipated lens by many photographers ever since its silhouette appeared in the Z lens roadmap a few years back, and I would expect that this lens would be in pretty high demand for some time, even though its price tag does lean towards the high side.
When the Z 35mm/1.4 was announced last year, it caused some commotion within the photography community as it lacked the “S” moniker and many were expecting a flagship f/1.2 lens. After the initial commotion had simmered down it became quite obvious the Z 35/1.4 was a new line of large aperture compact(ish) lenses which renders like the more classic F-mount equivalents, and this was further cemented in place by the Z 50/1.4 that was released later that year.
Back to the 35/1.2S itself, it deserves its “S” designation and flagship 35mm status in every sense. Sample images from reviewers around the globe all show that it has very good sharpness within the region in-focus, and the transitions to the out-of-focus regions are smooth and beautiful, with very pleasing rendering of specular highlights in the background.
Nikon gave it all the coatings that were available to them, which helps in delivery high clarity images and highly suppressing ghosting and flaring in backlit situations - again this was nicely documented and shown in many of the images in the sample gallery that were backlit by the sun.
The lens also suppresses focus breathing optically, and seems to work very well for cinematographers or videographers who shoot with the entire width of the sensor and not having to worry about software cropping to compensate for focus breathing issues.
While I personally am not in the market for this lens since I do not shoot with a 35mm focal length much, I am very much impressed with the performance of the lens and am truly excited for anyone who has been anticipating and waiting for this lens ever since it appeared on the roadmap.
It is definitely a no compromise lens (with an equivalent price tag and physical size to go with), and seeing how Nikon devotes itself to correct optical flaws physically rather than via software for a flagship lens is definitely something worthy of praises.
With this release, the 35/1.2S finally completes the Z lens roadmap, and for future products only Nikon themselves know exactly what is cooking in their secret labs. Fingers crossed for a modern version for the Ai-S 105/2.5 with similar physical dimensions!
Nikon Z50II Manual Available
The reference guide for the newly announced Z50II can now be downloaded at the official Nikon pages (English or Japanese).
I was snooping around to see if the new Picture Control button can be reprogrammed, and while it can be reprogrammed, the reference manual only included a complete list of custom functions, but did not have an appendix for which functions are available to which buttons, so I am still not sure how flexible that button is if you do not use picture controls much.
That said, I noticed something interesting in the reference manuals too.
Under Custom Controls (Shooting), “Cycle AF-Area Mode” is an option available; and similarly under Custom Controls (Playback), “Delete” is an option available.
I personally use Cycle AF-Area mode very often on my Z8, and was surprised to see Z6III and Zf omitting this option.
Similarly, a good photographer acquaintance of mine uses the “Delete” function mapped to one of the function buttons of the Z8 for quick review and culling through the EVF, and we were both surprised that the Z6III omitted this option too.
It is sure delightful to see it being implemented in the Z50II, and if I were to make a smart guess, I think the Expeed 7 siblings (Z6III and Zf) would have these options enabled in their next firmware update too.
Nikon Z50II Announcement and Opinions
Last week the Nikon Z50II has been officially announced, and camera shops in Japan today are beginning to accept preorders for the camera.
The official press release and specifications of the camera can be viewed here:
As what most people and I have expected, the Z50II is pretty much an updated Z50 with Expeed 7, USB-C and UHS-II slot.
But I do not mean it in any negative way; on the contrary this update is definitely very welcomed, as Expeed 7 comes with an entire set of benefits which makes it a very prominent update to the Z50.
While it sports the same 20.9MP APS-C sensor from the Z50/Zfc/Z30, the new Expeed 7 CPU in it does squeeze quite a bit of performance out of the sensor, mainly in the autofocus department (which inherits the subject detection modes from the full frame Expeed 7 siblings) as well as low light sensitivity - it can now focus down to -9EV!
Physically the camera also sees a revamp in its button layout, and overall it is slightly larger and heavier than that of the Z50, which may be a detriment for some who are looking for a more compact APS-C solution.
The tilting screen is gone, now replaced by an articulating screen. I personally am not a fan of articulating screens, but I guess with all the new video modes in the camera Nikon is trying to target hybrid shooters or single-man videographers, and hence this design decision.
The button layout has also changed, which makes it much more similar to the Z6III than the original Z50 - definitely a welcome change since there are also now more physical buttons around.
There is also an emphasis on Imaging Recipes and Picture Controls, with a dedicated button present to swap picture controls on the fly. I think the casual users of this camera would definitely appreciate this new feature, as together with the imaging recipes from Nikon Imaging Cloud it allows users to play around and experiment with various looks without having to go through the hassle of post processing the images.
Like always with any announcements, there are definitely some negative opinions floating around - and this time the 2 loudest complaints are about Nikon’s decision to only include a single slot and to exclude IBIS. In my opinion for this price bracket these are definitely acceptable compromises, as IBIS and double card slots would greatly increase the cost and size of the camera. Taking this note positively, it means that there remains an option for a higher end APS-C model if Nikon deems it profitable - one with double slots, IBIS and a perhaps a newer APS-C sensor. Only time will tell I guess.
While I am not in the market for an APS-C camera any time soon, I am glad with the direction they are taking with updating the older bodies and am now looking forward to see how they would proceed with the Z5’s replacement.
Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4 Announcement and Opinions
The Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 has been officially announced.
The official press release and specifications of the lens can be viewed here:
It follows the footsteps of the previously announced Z 35mm f/1.4, providing users with more options for prime lenses.
Similar to the Z 35/1.4, it comes with two rings - one dedicated manual focus ring and one customizable control ring. It also maintains the same 62mm filter thread size, similar to both the 35/1.4, 35/1.8S and 50/1.8S.
In Japan it is priced very similarly to the 50/1.8S, which also follows the design and pricing strategy of the 35/1.4 35/1.8S pair.
And like the wide angle pair, in addition to the aperture differences, the 50/1.4 also does have other features that differs from the 50/1.8S:
The 50/1.8S has the more advanced Nano-crystal coatings, whereas the 50/1.4 has the more standing SIC coatings.
The 50/1.8S has ED glass elements in addition to aspherical elements.
The MTF for the 50/1.4 shows a steeper sharpness falloff when moving out from the central region, whereas the 50/1.8S has a more balanced sharpness profile throughout the frame.
There is no A/M switch on the 50/1.4.
The differences make a nice proposition for the 50/1.4, as the slightly less corrected lens, together with tis wider aperture, gives the lens a bit more character and a touch of softness when used wide open.
Marketing material also mentions their stance on both lenses:
The 50/1.4 is targeted towards users who want to make use of the wider f/1.4 aperture for softer bokeh and more background blur, as well as for users looking to have a touch of soft character in the lens for more flattering natural portrait shoots.
The 50/1.8S is targeted towards users who want to have good sharpness and resolution across the frame at all apertures, yet maintaining a natural looking bokeh and background blur.
And even if the S-line designation is missing from the 50/1.4, it is still built to the robust Nikon standards with weather sealings in place, so it can definitely be a workhorse lens if one desires the character of the images it produces.
With this announcement, Z system users now have several options in the “normal” range:
The 50/1.2S for best subject and background rendition at the expense of weight, size and price
The 50/1.8S for best image sharpness and resolution across the frame at all apertures
The 50/1.4 for thin DOF shots with some character in its sharpness rendition and falloff when used wide-open
The MC 50/2.8 if you want to double your normal lens as a macro lens as well
The 40/2 for a small compact package without much compromises to image quality
This also opens up several possible future product predictions, such as:
If the 85mm focal length follows similar design philosophies, perhaps we could see a compact 85mm f/1.4 to complete the 85mm trio.
Still hopeful for a compact 105/2.5 equivalent, or a 135/2.5 which could complement the Plena 135mm.
Definitely excited to see how this line of compact wide-aperture lenses would play out!
Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 Announcement and Opinions
Just earlier today, the Z 35mm f/1.4 was officially announced.
The official press release and specifications of the lens can be viewed here:
This release came as an interesting surprise in several ways for most people, including me, though not in a bad sense.
As a f/1.4 lens, it is reasonably light and compact, not that different from the Z 35/1.8S itself. They also managed to keep its filter thread size at 62mm, so if anyone is thinking of switching to this from the 35/1.8S at least the filters can be reused.
It also comes with two rings - one dedicated manual focus ring and one customizable control ring. Most of the earlier f/1.8 S-line primes (everything minus the Plena), and the compact 28mm/40mm only come with one ring, so it seems like an new design and handling direction that they are going in.
In Japan the expected street price for the lens at launch is around JPY 95000, which comes in just a little under the Z 35/1.8S. It is indeed a nice change in times where everything just seems to get more and more expensive, so am grateful that they are coming out with affordable wide-aperture lenses.
Its direct competitor would be Nikon’s own Z 35/1.8S (as I have subconsciously compared to above), especially since they are in similar price brackets and size, and based on the specs shown so far, here are some of the key differences:
The 35/1.8S has the more advanced Nano-crystal coatings, whereas the 35/1.4 has the more standing SIC coatings.
Based on MTF curves the 35/1.4 is less sharp wide open with a steeper sharpness falloff, whereas the 35/1.8S is sharper wide open and maintains the sharpness across the frame better.
The 35/1.4 does not employ multi-focusing system found on the 35/1.8S.
Aesthetics wise, the 35/1.4 uses more plastic than the 35/1.8S, which has a metal focusing ring and metal “rear ring”.
There is no A/M switch on the 35/1.4.
With this as a reference, I think here are what are some of the concerns to look out for when reviews of this lens drop in the coming weeks from both reviewers and users:
When closed down to f/1.8, how does the performance of the two lenses compare?
How does the 35/1.4 perform close-up since it does not have close-range correction of the multi-focusing system?
How fast does the lens focus, and how well does it track moving subjects?
How flare resistant is it in backlit situations since it lacks the more advanced coatings?
And on top of this, I think this release also brings forth several questions regarding their lens strategy:
There was a 35mm S-line lens on the roadmap, and is this supposed to replace that or is a S-line 35mm still in the works? (Personal opinion: I think a S-line 35mm is still in the works, but they decided to launch this first to ride on the highly video-capable Z6III)
Does this release indicate the start of a new line of wide-aperture affordable non-S primes?
While I am not in the market for a 35mm lens, I am glad that they are giving users affordable options and sincerely hope that this indeed is the start of a new line of compact lenses - a modern compact version of the AI-S 105/2.5 would be a beautiful piece of work!
Nikon Z6III Announcement and Opinions
Finally, the Z6III is now officially announced.
The official press release and specifications of the camera can be viewed here:
With the embargo finally lifted, the first impression or review articles and videos are all released now, and it seems like most of them are positive about the camera - with regards to both the camera’s new hardware capabilities and image quality. This release also shows the general direction the Z6 line is moving in - that is a more video-oriented hybrid line with a wide range of video recording features.
As I am a primarily stills shooter, I guess most of the newer video specs would not affect me directly, though most of the improvements made in the video space would have some form of improvement impact indirectly on the stills side.
Take for example the partially stacked sensor - to get the sensor fast enough for 6k/60p, it also helps with offloading data to the CPU faster for AF calculations.
Personally, what I find interesting and useful to me with the new Z6III are these features:
Bright EVF that can be used in harsh sunlight
Increased sensitivity in low-light situations
Improved subject detection in backlit situations
Focus point IBIS (similar to that of the Zf)
Improved AF over the Z6II (and seems close enough to Z8’s AF performance)
The biggest drawback of the Z6II in my use case is the AF system - in controlled studio environments I tend to have a bit more misfocused shots than I would like; slightly remedied by using AF-S Pinpoint, but still not 100% foolproof.
The AF improvements alone could justify replacing my Z6II as the main workhorse camera. Truth be told I did ponder quite a bit on whether to get a Zf as my main workhorse, but I just could not get used to its ergonomics with longer and heavier lenses.
Interestingly, there were a few other details that I had noticed, which I think might be good to keep a lookout for.
The Z6III does not come with a battery charger, but only a USB cable. (Similar to the Z30/Zf)
The new battery pack (MB-N14) would work on Z6II/Z7II too, which suggests that perhaps the Z-GR1 could fit as well? But the presence of the articulating screen should affect the Z-VP1 plate though.
The top plate has a new illumination button - I wonder if that button is programmable to other functions?
The situation with the weak Japanese yen has not been entirely friendly to us living here, and an effect of that is a huge jump in the launch price of the Z6III (street price estimated around JPY 390,000) as compared to the launch price of the Z6II (street price roughly JPY 245,000).
While I do want the AF improvements, which can certainly be helpful in my workflow, the steep price increase does not seem very justifiable even as a business cost - especially when a used Z8 may cost just a little bit more than this. Furthermore as I had mentioned in my previous post, Japan usually does not provide much pre-order incentives or benefits, so I guess I would sit out the pre-order phase this time round and ponder about my upgrade paths to replace my aging Z6II workhorse.
**Update: Initial impressions upon trying the camera out and more about flexible color picture control.