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Thursday, 23 August 2018

Nikon Z7 and Z6

Once you look past the ridiculous hype and when these cameras finally get into the hands of users, I suspect the main reaction will be one of a missed opportunity. The whole reason for this camera, the design ethic, the specs. etc. etc. seems to be a reaction to the Sony FE cameras and an attempt to get a share of the FF Mirrorless market. There is no real innovation, no taking the format forward and no attempt to create a genuine professional mirrorless camera. Sure Sony and Nikon owners now have even more reason to bicker pointlessly, but any suggestion that this could revitalise the declining stand alone camera market is surely mistaken. Because there is not really anything new here. I can see no reason for Sony FF Mirrorless owners to switch for example.

I was also somewhat surprised by how ugly the cameras and particularly the lenses are. Surely there was an opportunity here to create something that might make all those who are put off by DSLR's and Mirrorless DSLR lookalikes, think again about what they might buy. The whole 'excitement' about this camera will unfortunately be generated by the 'usual suspects' i.e. ageing gear heads still impressed by 'tech twaddle' and eager to let everybody else on the photographic internet know about their purchasing decisions.

I did hold out some hope that this might be a camera for me, but deep down I knew it wasn't. I really have no interest anymore in spec. fest cluttered, lens heavy camera bodies that offer me a range of options that I've never going to use. Because this is after all a 'knob fiddlers' delight. This is all a little sad for me to write, because I am a Nikon admirer, having used many of their cameras in the past. And I currently own five Nikons. However all of them are film SLR's !!

I was hoping (in vain it seems) to see something that would join the Leica SL (Typ 601) as a genuine professional mirrorless camera that would offer something genuinely new. From what I see, neither of these cameras do anything of the sort. And again from what I see, unless someone is primarily a videographer who likes and uses Nikon (a rare breed??) what would be the advantage of either of these over a D850? Is this a further nail in the coffin of the DSLR? Is the F Mount about to disappear as some are suggesting? Well I think a resounding no to both questions. These cameras may sell well initially and Nikon may indeed take some sales away from Sony, but a few months down the line and I suspect we will all be wondering what all the fuss was about.

So one down, one (Canon) to come. Hopefully the C-word can produce something a little more innovative. However with their track record I'm not holding my breath.



Stock photography by david martyn hughes at Alamy

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