10 Months with the Nikon Z5 - Good or Bad?
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- Опубліковано 23 лис 2021
- Since February (it's now Nov) I've used the Z5 with my D780 at 36 weddings. I've taken over 17k shots with it - Is it any good? What's the AF like? Any good in low light?
These and more insights ....
I find the whole issue over focusing a tad amusing. I started shooting weddings with a Hasselblad in '88, and until I made the switch to digital, it was all by eye, and hand, in all kinds of light.
As for the Z5 thanks for building on the great things others have said about it.
I no longer shoot weddings but I travel extensively and I think it's the camera for me.
Cheers.
I personally am a crop sensor fanboy, but lured to the z5 as it is the same price as a z50 in some places! My last Nikon was a d5000 and I vowed never to go bigger than that - z5 only a tad bigger. It’s a dream come true.
thank you for taking the time to share this with all of us.
This is the damn best review/opinion video I've seen on a camera. You tell it like it is without all the hoopla. I've seen everyone from Fro to Adorama and I'd rather hear your experiences all day. Thank you for taking the time to make this video.
Thank you 🙂
With the new firmware this cameras af is even better which is awesome. a year later and it's still improving with better algorithms the box in animal eye af has gotten noticeably smaller. It picks up my cats eyes who is all black very quickly and each photo is sharp.
Such a simple and honest review ... glad I discovered you in YT
Thanks for this great video Allen, I'm struggling between z6 and z5. But this may have solidified my decision!
thank you for your video, is just amazing, the way and elegance is in it. and you really help me with my decision about the camara. my big thanks!
Thank you.... Your comments are very helpful and appreciated
Hi
Liked your shots at the introduction, like to see more if you have the time. Great review of the Z5 and your insights of your style of wedding photography.
Insta profile here for my "atry" photos :-) instagram.com/allenrbphoto
Great review. It is informative to hear the perspective of a wedding photographer using a Nikon Z system camera in real world “for the money” situations.
Liked your shots at the introduction, would like to see more if you have the time. Terrific review of the Z5 and your wedding insights.
One of my IG accounts has some similar photos here instagram.com/allenrbphoto/ 🙂
thanks for the effort and sharing. i was thinking a Z5 might be a low cost entry into Nikon mirrorless and this is from a very satisfied D750 and D700 user. thumbs up.
I am mainly an Olympus shooter and bought a used Nikon Z 5 for my many vintage lenses (Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Zeiss) and I am very pleased - real manual focusing on the lens is part of the joy (Olympus pro lenses have a focus clutch to switch to direct in lens manuual focusing).
Yes AF in dark situations with Z lenses is a problem much more than with new Olympus lenses.
great information thanks
Thank you!!
Thanks Allen! Great review!
I am not an experienced photographer - have had the Z5 with the small kit lens and a 50 1.8 lens since last christmas. But I find it really worth the money. If I had a bigger budget I would probably buy the Z6 II. But I wouldn’t get better pictures
Bingo haaha...
YOu woudnt get better pictures with any camera or any lens...
You will make better photos. 😀
@@deanjelcic9299 Thanks a lot for the correction. So lucky You are here 👌👍🔝
thanks for tip with manual focusing ( fn button as zoom)
Thanks Allen , I have not gone “Z way “ yet , I am still deciding , 5 or 6 or 6 ii , yes , 8 would be great , 9 could be Devine ( on a budget )
Thanks. Very nice review. I’m close to swapping my D610 for the Z5. I’d keep my D7500 for action photos. I still like aps-c for wildlife - I can’t afford an exotic telephoto lens.
Honestly the Z5 is so under-rated. Just doesn't have the higher burst rate of Z6ii but as a wedding photographer I think I demand a lot of my gear and the Z5 has always delivered everything I've asked of it.
I subscribed and totally enjoyed your review because it is a POSITIVE review. The camera and lens will cost around $2000 for us in the United States. That’s a lot of money for an entry level camera!!! Keep on making videos accentuating the positive while discussing challenges and how to get around them. Unless a person has $5000 to spend on a camera, nothing is perfect. Even those people complain. Please do some tutorials!!! Especially since it is an entry level camera. I just got a Z5 with the 24-200mm lens. Looking forward to learning how to maximize all this camera has to offer me within my budget.
Thanks and I do plan some more tutorial type vids soon
Loved your review.... I use fn2 to switch Eye-EF to the tracking square... ;) easy to customize and you just need to press the FN2
Ha - that's exactly what I have U2 (my Face and eye af mode) set to. Works brilliantly doesn't it :-)
Thanks for your reply Allen - re image stabilization. And yes, agreed - people do have this quite annoying habit of moving, or even breathing at the most inopportune moment! Best, M
i watched all the video. Watch a master photographics said is better x10 than other youtube. assum : a73 is like the best all round camera, but the grip of nikon will help u shoot more comfort, much more. The AF in nikon will alway the problem when compair with a73, it not perfect, not bad but good enough for most of people. Reson chose z5 over z6 cause dual card slot, u dont want error fomat card and loss everything u shoot. Nikon knew it . If u are pro and want to shoot every kind of picture, try to get z6m2 if money not problem. If u are business man, photographer, get z5 if u want saving some money for good lens. If u are traveler, get z6 is enough cause u something need 4k video and z5 crop 1.7. If money not problem and u dont care about money, get z7m2 or a7m4 haha
It is always ok to change one's mind I guess, as Allen here swore to DSLRs a short time ago.😂 I haven't tried the Z5, but have loved my D700, my D300s as well as my Pentaxes and honestly and very subjective albeat I have mirror less, I still prefer the DSLR mainly for its mirrors and sturdiness. As I remember the gentleman uttered not so long ago.😮
Z5 is Good enough for entry level Full Frame mirorless with Dual Slot, as Still Camera, while i myself waiting for Z5ii which will be comming...or Used Z6ii...
I have the D700 and a D4 ,they both have great colours and character ,the D4 is focusing as soon as its powered up ,oh and it can focus in very low light almost pitch black
I have shot D700 + z5 on wedding and i liked D700 files way better than Z5. If you are master to use D700 + light you can get great results. I may be buy Canon Eos R for mirrorless for its ease of use and for better future :-).
@@PunjabiGymBeats Hi - to everyone who see this - The Nikon D700 is an icon. Make no mistake it produces unique images that I've never had any camera beat. Tech wise it's a dinosaur but if you want art rather than just photos get a D700!
@@CreativePixelPhotos thanks Allen it really wants our skills no excuse at all.
I'm now a Z9 shooter but owned 2 D700s and can say looking back at those images they are the best.
For pro fast action sport there are better choices...Only because amazing next gen eye AF and getting that shots when you really need it.
That being said this could also get you there but not so easy.
But for weedings and events great camera.
And if you are a landscapes or street or any kind of artistic type that doesnt require you to track fast moving subject this is a great camera like any other.
Give this bad boy couple of Z primes and one zoom and you got everything you need to make art.
Just take a look at Nigel Danson testing this little camera with kit lens and printing large photos compared to a Z7 high res with 24-70 2.8 crazy expensive lens, and look at the results.
99% of the people except you wouldn't notice the difference.
I always say... There are two types of people.
One of them getting their dream camera and enjoying it and others talking about the gear on internet
😊
Great video Allen, thank you. Just one question please... How much of an issue do you consider it to be - if one is using the ZTF adapter to then not be able to fully utilise the 5 axis IBS. Apparently it becomes 3 axis capability when the adapter is in place.
As I mostly photograph people - and people have this annoying habit of moving - even just a mm or 2 to breath - I always shoot over 80th sec. As my longest lens is 85mm I really don't need any ibis at all. But - from a few other shots I've done at much slower speeds using both Z mount lenses and F mount I don't see any difference at all. But that's me - some people using the gear to shot other things may have a different view :-) Allen
Sir when i copy the click photo in my pc, image becomes bluish why sir plz help
Brilliant video. I'm seriously considering buying the Z5.
Don't laugh, but regarding inconspicuous documentary style photos at weddings. Even by a second photographer. Have you ever considered a Ricoh GRIII or the X. I've never owned one, I just wondered what your thoughts are.
Hi. Never touched a Ricoh but spec wise similar to Fuji x100v which I have used - and must say it was extremly competent. For those times at a wedding when you just want to mingle it's great. But - I find (or found as I no longer have the Z5) the Z5 or Z6ii with a 40 F2 Z lens is also small, silent and full frame with many more features than the Fuji (and probably the Ricoh) So the Fuji didn't last long but a uesful experiment. Allen
Great video Allen! Thank you for the detailed review. I am new to photography and I need a camera for dental photography with a 100mm macro lens. The Z5 has a nice built, great grip but is more expensive than Canon RP and it has limited lens options.
RP is significantly cheaper but uncorfotable to hold, no body stabilization and a bit cheaply made.
Then there is Sony a7ii at the price of Canon RP but it is old and i noticed that Sony color science is way off. And natural colors out of the camera with ought editing is very important for my job.
What would you recommend? Should I go with a new mirorrless or just get a Canon 800d Dslr for 400 bucks with a sigma macro lens and save some money?
I'd love to answer with confidence but as I've picked up a Canon camera once in my life I can't give any views at all about Canon. Between the Z5 and Sony A7ii then I'd have to say Z5. BUT - lenses - 100mm macro isn't a cheap lens (is it?) and consider what lens will work on what camera - the Nikon FTZ adapter is perfect so any F mount Nikon lenses will be fine. Sony may have a better/cheaper lens to throw into the equation. I do agree about the Sony colours - for me Nikon is far the best. Sorry I can't be more specific but hope that helps a little Allen
@@CreativePixelPhotos Thank you for the reply! Yes the 100mm macro is very expensive. The Nikon Z mount 105mm macro lens costs almost as much as the Z5 body (1200€) But there is an older F mount Tokina 100mm macro with auto focus that costs 450€.
Will I have any focus issues or worse sharpness using an adapter?
Then there is some great quality Laowa macro lenses for z mount but unfortunately they have manual focus only.
@@michaelk6957 The FTZ adapter is perfect - seriously - in the 2 years I've had Z cameras I've always used it - the 85 F1.4 G is the most demanding with a razor thin dof and focuses actually better than if on a Dslr body (as using contrast dectect Af which is more accurate) You should find that perfect on a Z5 🙂
@@CreativePixelPhotos Thank you for the great feedback! Looks like nikon z5 is the way to go. It's not a coinsidence that it felt so familiar and natural in my hands. All other cameras felt bulky and strange. Must be a sign! Lol
Hi Allen, I am from India and I am more sort of into photography as a hobby. Isn't Nikon's mirrorless lens line up is too limited I mean like 24-200 is not a very sharp lens as I found out with other reviews. What are my options in 24-150 range (sort of it could be 27-140 or something) without getting in too costly line ups? Any third party lens option in that range (preferably like f4 fixed aperture)?
I have the Z 24-70 f4 zoom and it's really good. Small and light but great image quality. Can't really help with anything longer as my 85 1.4 is the longest lens I have
Very helpful for someone like me looking to upgrade across platforms. I don't know Nikon terminology that well. You referred to "D9" a couple of times when talking about the user modes (U1, U2 etc.). Can you clarify?
Hi there- glad that was useful :-) D9 is a focus mode Dynamic 9 point - either I was talking about focus or brain gone!
Just subscribed
Allen, as a beginning pro with a z5, for weddings, would you go with the f/2.8 24-70 s lens or get a bunch of used f/1.4 primes? I’m thinking about getting the sigma art 85 f1.4 with the ftz adaptor on eBay. Is that a complete waste of money for the z5? Many thanks for the review.
I now never use a zoom Even the very best don't come close to image quality from a decent prime. I'd happily use a 35, 50, and 85 1.8g lenses on an ftz. The 1.4's are really only a tiny bit better and to start 1.8's will be great 🙂
Hi Allen, I've Just had another look at this video, which although very informative, doesn't touch on the issue of what you think of the dedicated Z mount lens when used with the Z5.. It's apparent that your preference has been to go with your F mount lenses with the adapter, but can you please briefly explain why..? I'm assuming that ultimately your stable of F mount lenses gave you more choice - both in terms of focal length and wider aperature. But I would be very interested to know your opinion on the quality of the dedicated Z lenses - v using the F mounted lenses with the adapter. Thank you.
Glad you asked🙂 So the F mounts as you say are my prefered option for weddings as sharp enough but with character. I find the Z's all to be sharper but lacking the same character and depth and rendering as the F's. The fact that Nikon has chosen to ignore professional photographers (well for me anyway) and make F1.8 Z lenses or the stupidly expensive 1.2 50mm rather than the norm for pro's which is 1.4 I find strange. My hope is that Sigma will fill the gap with F1.4's that also have more character. I do use the Sigma 40mm F1.4 Art which is what I really want - sharp but also with character - a beautiful (if huge and heavy) lens.
@@CreativePixelPhotos Thanks for the prompt reply Allen. And yes, having researched the matter your response tallies with the broad consensus, which is that Nikon has prioritised sharpness over character with the Z lenses. As an aside I also think the Z lenses look a bit cheap and plasticky. Obviously not as an important consideration as the optical performance, but a factor, none the less, when making a purchase.
D750 is still the best camera for me.
It's lowlight autofocusing performence far better than z5.
So i sold my Z5.no more Z5.got very bad autofocusing experience.
Hi - used a D750 for 2 years and you're right - a beautiful camera. Coiming back to Nikon after the 2 years with Sony (we all make mistakes eh) I looked at another D750 but the D780 has the Z6 Live View af system and just slightly better performance that 750 (I really couldn't tell there's any improvements over 750) Coming from Sony's world leading AF when I got the Z5 it did feel clunky. But everything else SO much better. After a while I figured out how to get the best from the Z5 and now, imo, it's very close to the D780. As you say in VERY low light (I'm talking F1.4, 60th sec and iso 12800+) then yes the D780 is preferred but in every other situation I now actually prefer the Z5 for it's flexibility and ease of use. Enjoy your photography Allen
I think the folks who obsess over they eye-AF constantly are either nubies or the folks who never completely mastered DSLR focusing and could never get a satisfactory hit rate of perfectly sharp eyes. I have a friend who went to Sony A7-3 from Nikon a couple of years back. He has a great eye and composition skills, but with his DSLR he always seemed to struggle to get consistently sharp eyes in his portraits. The Sony eye-AF (mostly) sorted him out. I still shoot with D3/D3S/D3X bodies and they all focus just fine on single point/back button for what I do (portraits & casual people photography.) I'm thinking of getting used Z6 mk1 to try out as they are under a grand (£1000 U.K) these days. I have no worries over the Z6 eye-AF - with the most recent firmware upgrade I will probably be pretty good. If not, I'll use single point as before, but with a greater selection of points to chose from. I often hear my buddy with the Sony A7-3 say that he failed to get a particular image perfectly sharp because he selected the wrong focus mode/area or maybe it did not recognise a face because someone had their hat pulled down too far (or some other cause.) Eye-AF is kind of miraculous, but it is NOT God.
Totally agree 🙂
But it sort of is a struggle to get 100% accurate focus on the eyes with a dslr
But with mirrorless its not perfect either
I would say if youre good you get 90% of shots completely on the eye, with mirrorless its probably 95-99%
Its just that for some reason, always when there was the best facial expression and pose it seemed to be slightly out of focus on the eyes at that exact frame, all before and later are fine
I actually noticed that steve McCurry hardly nailed focus on the eye in his photographs of people (was in a exhibition of him with extremely huge backlit prints), so its not just newbies struggling with it
In his pictures it didnt really bother at all
Question is how much you care about it.. i stopped to care about slightly out of focus eyes
@@Michael-qv7pn I care, but balanced against that, I have really disliked every EVF I've tried so far and I don't want to spend £4000+ on a high end mirrorless body when there are wonderful DSLRs available for peanuts.
@@Cotictimmy yes thats a fair point
I kind of like evf's for the accurate preview, and the Z5 was available for sub 1000€ with a (in my opinion) incredible evf
But dslr's are a great deal at the used market currently thats true
I mean you get rather recent pro bodys that used to cost 3000€+ for arround 800€ in very good condition now, thats really great value
Thank you! What was that dream team lens you mentioned at the end, I shoot nature landscapes
The lenses I mentioned and still use today are a sigma 35 1.4art, a 58 1.5g Nikon lens and an 85 1.4g.
Great review. I've just got a job going round the West coast of Scotland and I'm looking for a camera that I can use to get shots of whales, dolphins etc as well as landscapes. Do you think this camera would be good for that sort of thing? Cheers.
I really think the z5 is very underrated and is a very capable camera. I also have the z mount 24/70 f4 and I can see this covering most of the shots you’re planning. 😊
@@CreativePixelPhotos thanks for replying! I was planning on getting the 24-200 to go with it? I'm not really a photographer, just want something to show of my new world with!
Good, when you talks about perfomance in low light you thinking in noise or focus?, the noise in z5 its equal to d780 or more?.
Thanks and sorry for my bad english, my native language its spanis.
Regards.
Hi - I'd say the D780 is better FOCUS in low light AND noise - the D780 is THE best ca,era ever for noise - I've shot really dark weddings at 25800iso and with a few seconds work in Lightroom they're good enough to give to a client. The Z5 is very close - indentical to the Z6ii but neither quite as good as D780
Since the Z5 shares the sensor with the D750, do you find any difference in picture quality?
I can only directly compare to my D780 which has an updated sensor from the D750 - I've noticed no difference at all from the D780 so presumably same at least as D750. Maybe a laboratory test would reveal something but here in the real world no difference.
Interesting thoughts on when a camera is “good or bad’. Have you ever had a bad camera?
Maybe not "bad" but certainly some better than others. Eg I really disliked the Sony A7iii in many aspects whilst I love the Z5. Also many people rant on about "bad" af etc on Z cameras. 😊
Hi, I'm currently used nikon d610, thought of jump to mirrorless z5.. Any advise that shall I or stick with my d610?
If you put a Z5 and a d610 in front of me and told me to take one home it'd be the Z5 without question 🙂
@@CreativePixelPhotos a million thanks for the tips and advise. I shall give a shot to z5.
Will you satisfi with the high iso performence?
Is is good at iso 3200?
Hi - I find the high ISO performance to be brilliant! It's the D750 sensor (which I had for 2 years) and is very similar also to my D780. I sometimes have to use 25600 at a dark church wedding or reception and even those images are useable and given to the clients. At 3200 with 2 seconds work in LR there is no noise at all.
@@CreativePixelPhotos can we see some of your low light inages captured with Z5??
Has there been a AF firmware update since this video
Hi - No - 1.20 is the one I had then and no updates since
@@CreativePixelPhotos thanks Allen - just watched another review and its really put me off buying a Z5 - the AF really didn't look good at all.
ua-cam.com/video/qTUJkUO6vqw/v-deo.html
Nikon z5 or sony a6400?
For me Z5 without a moment's thought. My view of Sony is that whilst they have great tech. they dont make cameras for photographers.
من الافضل كانون ام نيكون
I use my Z5 almost entirely as a digital back for my Nikkor AI-S manual lens collection. The viewfinder is absolutely stunning in good light, I don’t even use peaking I find it irritating.
The low light AF of the Z5 with the native Z lenses is absolutely horrible, let’s just be honest. I honestly don’t know how a wedding photographer could shoot a reception with it. Is mine broken? I have cameras from 2003 with faster AF. In daylight it’s great, but indoors… no way.
Hi and I do get a lot of comments saying that the Z5 in low light isn't great. I don't use Z lenses - I use all F mount fast primes and in low light would be at F1.4 to F2 and honestly it's very close to being as good as my D780 which no one ever complains about!
Nikon has fallen behind forever, working with adapters puts an end to the entire system for me personally.
Have to disagree - the FTZ adapter is flawless and allows access to hundreds of some of the best lenses ever made. Sure if you want modern, sharp, boring images that are the typical goal of Nikon and every other manufacturer nowadays then the Z lens system is perfect. If you want more artistic photos with depth and character then the adapter is essential. The combination of a 30 year old manual focus lens on a mirrorless body with focus peaking, for me, is a dream come true. 🙂
@landysh, I felt the same way until I tried the new Z lenses. They have really beautiful rendering.
It’s tough, but it’s part of progress and technological innovations.
Not quite sure what your gripe is, because the same can be said about Canon. You also need an adapter when not going with RF glass