BasiliskFilm

As it is new territory one can't be certain, but while the "Maximum aperture" setting is useful for Nikon AI/AIS lenses, in that the aperture data is mechanically transferred via the FTZ adaptor, I doubt that will be the case for other adaptors as they come along. So presumably any non-AI/AIS manual lenses will just record the maximum aperture in the EXIF files not the actual aperture.

I don't see any evidence that the Z6 has inferior video AF to the Z7 - perhaps the extra focus points on the Z7 are helpful in the higher precision required for 42MP stills, but actually for video it is speed and smoothness that are key, and the Z6 seems to have what it takes.

I wouldn't be surprised in the first instance if it just brings full sensor readout to a 42MP camera (A7RIV perhaps?) for 4K. Writing to a card is probably a challenge, and they still don't have 6K output from sensors that do 6K readout. The line skipping on the current A7RIII does compromise quality a bit compared with the A7III, so it would only bring parity with the top end models.

Anyone who has the Z6; does it have digital zoom beyond the APS-C crop for 1080p? In theory 1:1 readout could go in a lot tighter. It would be nice option for filming wildlife etc, without carrying massive glass around. If there is digital zoom, how is the quality, and do you keep AF responsiveness?

Are you planning on getting the Z6 Andrew? Your Log footage on the Z7 is pretty smooth, but jaggies are visible if you look hard.

The 24-70 lens may actually be perfect for on the hoof gimbal/handheld shooting where f4 may give you a better chance of keeping focus, and a moving camera/subject provides for better background separation than a static shot.

So now we are getting some confirmation that the Z6 is not going to show up with many nasty surprises we are perhaps in a position to write a tally sheet of the pros and cons of the "affordable" full frame video options as currently presented. Sony A7III vs Nikon z6: Image quality/resolution/dynamic range - similar sensor means there is not a lot to choose here. Colour science/gradeability - lots of people seem to like what Nikon does here, and 10-bit-to-recorder seems an excellent option, for example, green screen shooting. 8 bit Log internal on Sony seems an advantage but Andrew's Zlog seems a work-around there. Single card vs dual card - 2 slots nice to have, but not a deal-breaker for video Auto focus - Nikon, so far, doesn't look disappointing, and demonstrations with adapted f1.4 glass are very encouraging. Eye autofocus is nice, but for video good face AF is probably where we are at. Sony strong here too, so it would be good to have some proper side-by-side tests in tough situations. Usablility - lots of votes coming on the Nikon side, Sony still not "loved" by many for ergonomics, menu systems, button layouts etc. Lens options - for Nikon shooters with a big investment in modern glass this is a no-brainer, as the adaptor seems to be very solid. Otherwise, Sony has the lead by some margin. Ironically the killer choice for budget/weight conscious shooters is the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8. Still not clear whether/when a Z mount version will be available. Still Sony glass is expensive, and F mount glass seems very useable and more available second hand. Stabilisation - does Nikon have the edge here? More stablized lenses for Sony though. EVF and back screen - (assuming this is the same as the Z7) - Nikon seems a clear winner, as Sony economised on both of these. For run-and-gun MF shooting, this may be a biggie. Stills shooting - yes I want to do this too - keeping settings for stills and video separate as the Z series do, seems to make sense. My main question is - can I ditch the DSLR for shooting action/wildlife etc. Anything else that should be added to the list?

I have plenty of AIS/AI lenses that are ready to fit right on the FTZ adaptor, and my 50mm f1.2 will be a lot easier to focus on mirrorless than my DSLR. Novoflex adaptors are ready already for most mounts, and much cheaper ones will be along as soon as demand ramps up.

Have they started releasing them into the wild eventually?... https://nikonrumors.com/2018/11/05/nikon-z6-coverage-starts-now.aspx/#more-129207

...Unless the Z6 can match it, plus with a decent EVF and backscreen. Admittedly the kit lens is an f4 (no Tamron, yet), which is a shame, but looks pretty good at what it does.

It seems inevitable that the full frame video should be better than the Z7 (so long as rolling shutter is not too bad, though at least we have stabilisation), so lets hope it doesn't screw up somewhere, like slow-mo or AF. I am not saying there is no point comparing the Z7 to the A7III, but the relevant comparison will be the Z6. The Z7 tips towards those whose priority is still photography.

Not sure how a single mirror would work in a lens - a reflex lens needs two? It might be the extreme curvature of the glass, or the high refractive index of an element creates a total internal reflection. As you might surmise, if the light doesn't pass through, but bounces back in the middle, this somehow creates the hole in the bokeh. Technically a fault I guess, and a computer designed lens would no doubt pick up on it before it got off the drawing board. Which is why modern lenses are all so boring!

In these days when cameras are computers and lenses are computers... so much for an open standard like micro 4/3rd. Obsolescence is the flip side of progress. Hoping Nikon has had time to think a long time ahead on the Z mount, so we don't end up with too many compatibility issues too soon. One thing I can guess is that I won't be using any of these electronically controlled lenses in 40 years, unlike some of my AIS Nikkors.

We are whippet people, but salukis would be our other hounds if we lived on our own country estate... Would be interested to hear the DNA, I hear the tests are now getting more reliable than they once were as the databases get larger.

Nice Saluki cross (?) hound, btw. Is it yours Andrew?

At the telephoto end there won't be a lot of size advantage for mirrorless lenses, so I would assume I am going to use F mount lenses for action shooting, where there is, at least, plenty of choice. I agree, smaller glass is part of the appeal of the package, so maybe the 24-70, with a couple of my AIS primes would be a good start.

Kai praises the AF, then has problems with it when filming himself! A bit worrying. On the other hand, this is quite impressive, shooting wetland birds at 120fps via the FTZ. It is almost certainly the best video AF available currently for F mount lenses. He only shows it with the 500mm prime, which is a lens I can confidently say I will never have. It would have been interesting to see it with the slower zoom lens. Living close to some great wildlife havens, I would love to have a useable, affordable video solution.

Conspiracy theorists might suspect that Z7 sales are better than expected, so they are milking the (probably) larger margins on the top end model before releasing the budget model.

Stabilisation is not just down to how the sensor moves, it is also about the quality of motion detection and how rapidly the data is processed and fed back to the sensor. Maybe Nikon is onto the next generation on that side of the equation?

It would be a shame if the Z6 doesn't do a 1:1 4K crop mode, even if it isn't exactly APS-C. It would still provide a useful "digital zoom" option for prime lenses without quality loss, unlike an upscaled 3K mode. Try doing that with manual focus! Pretty smooth and reliable focus transitions. Exposure transitions between inside and outside are a nightmare, so not badly handled, though as you say presumably relying on changing shutter speed so not ideal for film-look. White balance seems to be locked on interior setting; I don't know whether that could also have been set to auto to cover the transition, perhaps best to film in Log and tweak in post. Definitely looking a great little run and gun combo for shooting documentary footage

It would be nice if the budget long lenses (Sigma 150-600, Nikon 200-500) could be used as action/wildlife video lenses with AF. It would be interesting to compare the Sigma on the A7III (with MC11) and N6/7 with (with FTZ)

I think for video it makes sense to wait for the Z6 as in theory full sensor readout must give it the edge - If the Z7 is reading only one pixel in 4 then you are losing, in theory, two stops of light. For slow motion, it is possible that the Z7 is reading only one pixel in 16. With the Z6 it is possible that the 1080p image is at least downsampled from a lineskipped 3K image with should give it better detail.

I saw a video showing that you could set up a list of 20 (compared to 10 on DSLRs) AIS lenses, to give the camera focal length and correct aperture data. Handy for stabilization and EXIF data.

That was probably designed before Nikons even had video? I would be impressed if it could do smooth AF.

My iPhone is pretty good, which may go to confirm that the larger the sensor, the tougher it is to make it respond quickly to camera movement. When the dust has settled it will be interesting to see who has done the best job with FF. Nikon is getting some plaudits, though they have left stabilisation out of the lenses; justified confidence?