[Leica] Nikon et al vs Mirrorless cameras

[geneduprey2015 at gmail.com]

Hi Howard,
I get better results with my D4 than my D500, but that is my experience. With my Z6 I’ve found the AF Area mode does better than Dynamic AF, but am still experimenting to find the best combination. My F lenses with the FTZ adapter work very well. I have gotten good battery life, around 500 or so shots with my batteries in the Z6, it does better with the back display turned off and just using the ref for shooting.  I bought one extra battery when I got my Z, but have others from my D500. A big plus using the same batteries. Good luck with your loaner.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 14, 2020, at 1:32 PM, Howard Cummer via LUG <lug at leica-users.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Frank,
> 
> I am off to the Calgary zoo this sunny afternoon with the Grands and the Z6 with adaptor and the 300 f4.0 Pf. Will see how it performs. It is a warm day in Calgary today (just above freezing) so I hope the batteries will perform well. The two batteries that come with the loan kit are not holding charge particularly well - or perhaps the Z6 is a power hog. I don’t know which - but I have some newish batteries with me for the D500 and I am using them instead so will see how they perform. Kudos to Nikon for not changing the batteries for the Z series.
> 
> About my bird flying photography comment I have cycled through using Nikon D300S, D750, D4, D800E and the best combo for capturing birds on the fly,
> in my experience, is the D500 with whatever zoom (I use the 200 - 500VR) or fixed lens (the 300 f4.0 Pf) works best for the conditions.
> 
> I have tried to give Fuji a chance to be my birder camera. I have the Fuji XH1 and the 100 - 400 Fuji zoom, and have tried several times to use this combo at my usual eagle photo site and the results, compared to the D500, are not rewarding. The Fuji’s ability to lock on to a flying bird is not in the same league as the Nikon’s - despite what one may read on the internet. And locked on follow focus is not as good either, if capture focus is attained.
> 
> Now I have great respect for Fuji’s design and lens quality so perhaps one day they will catch up but I suspect some of the problem is inherent in the way EVF’s work compared to OVF’s.  At one time I was also kitted out with a complete Olympus Micro 4/3rds outfit and I used it, quite successfully, on an African safari - but there weren’t many flying bird shots. I gave up on it when, with each software upgrade, the camera settings defaulted to factory settings and I had to go through and reset all my preferred settings. 
> 
> I don’t want to start a war over which is better and which is dying and what is surging but for me that answer, at the moment, is to keep using the D500 / 300 f4.0
> combo for my birds and (perhaps) try the Z7 for my panos and landscape work - as a replacement for my trusty old D800E. For me I have to use the equipment and form my opinion for my own experience. My comment is not meant in any way to demean anyone’s opinion - It’s just the way I find out what is true for my shooting style. I am sure that EVF cameras will equal and hopefully exceed the D500 standard some time in the future, as you suggest, and I look forward to trying them then, if I’m still around (approaching 77).
> 
> Warm regards,
> 
> Howard
> 
> 
> Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2020 07:45:42 -1000
> From: Frank Filippone <bmwred735i at gmail.com <mailto:bmwred735i at gmail.com>>
> To: LUG <lug at leica-users.org <mailto:lug at leica-users.org>>
> Subject: [Leica] Nikon et al vs MIrrorless cameras
> 
> Peter and Howard have been having a debate on Nikon ( specifically) Z6
> camera progress to replacing all DSLR with Mirrorless models.
> 
> A different perspective....
> First the interchange.....
> The loan program shows how desperate Nikon is to convince Nikon users to
> move from DSLRs to the EVF models. The latter are competent, as you can see,
> but I am not sure that they will be as versatile as the old mirror prisms
> on the DSLRs - especially for the flying bird photography that I do
> 
> . . .
> 
> If you want a bird imaging camera, with the Nikon brand on front, it is
> coming.  As good as the D5 or D500.  Better.  Just wait a couple more
> years....... maybe sooner.....
> Because you ain't going to see new, high end DSLR development in the
> future.  Brand N or C..  Or other.
> 
> Frank Filippone
> BMWRed735i at gmail.com <mailto:BMWRed735i at gmail.com>
> 
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