This week, Nikon announced two new telephoto zoom lenses for Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras. The Nikon 70-180mm f/2.8 Z Nikkor is a compact, lightweight telephoto zoom that completes a trio of f/2.8 zooms. The 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 zoom Nikkor is a supertelephoto zoom that is sure to be popular with wildlife and bird photographers. Check prices on these lenses here.
What is Highlight-Priority Metering?
We received a listener question from our website asking about highlight-priority metering, which can be useful in certain situations. Not all cameras offer this metering mode, but we’ll describe how it works and when we use it.
This week, Jason took delivery of a Nikon Z8 mirrorless camera. The Z8 has been described as a “mini Z9,” so we’ll present hands-on first impressions of this new Nikon camera, and who should consider getting one.
Rethinking the trade-offs in sensor size with modern digital cameras
If you follow my YouTube channel or The Image Doctors Podcast, you probably saw that I recently purchased a OM Digital Solutions (formerly Olympus) OM-1 body and an assortment of lenses. This is something I’d been contemplating for quite some time, given that the majority of my photography involves travel and wildlife. The OM-1 is not a perfect camera, but it has some features that make it extremely compelling for photographers who want professional quality in a vastly smaller package. It’s also far less expensive ($2199 USD) than a comparable 35mm format body (think Sony Alpha A1, Nikon Z8/Z9, Canon R5).
Each of these cameras is outstanding. They offer subject-detection based AF systems (including bird and vehicle detection), excellent in-body stabilization (IBIS), and high speed shooting of 20fps or greater for raw images using an electronic shutter and stacked sensor technology. The biggest difference then? Size. The OM-1 is a fairly small (1.3 lb) camera, but the lenses it uses are in some cases downright tiny. That one factor alone is what made me consider the OM System gear for my work.
This week, Nikon formally announced the long-awaited Z8 interchangeable lens mirrorless camera. On paper, it really looks to be a “mini Z9,” with autofocus and frame rate specs that match that of its big brother. We’ll talk about our thoughts on the Nikon Z8, and discuss whether or not you should buy one (you can pre-order the Nikon Z8 here).
Announcing our new website and blog!
We are excited to announce that we’ve put together a website with premium bonus content for our show supporters. By becoming a patron, you’ll get access to exclusive bonus material including articles, videos, and video podcasts that go beyond what we can easily discuss in our normal audio-only format. Check it out now at imagedoctorsphoto.com!
The three newest lenses for Nikon Z-mount are now showing up in camera shops. These lenses are designed to cover Nikon’s DX format (APS-C) sensors, as found in the Nikon Z 50, Z fc, and Z 30 cameras. All three of these lenses appear to have a solid design and construction. Each one offers a 9-bladed diaphragm, weather sealing, and fast stepping motor AF
With this trio of primes, Nikon DX shooters will have a nice set of very fast lenses for street, landscape, and portrait photography. Moreover, all of these new lenses are priced at under $500 US.
