robert_in_ca
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 p.2 #19 · Official Nikon Z 120-300mm 2.8 TC - Image Thread | |
OwlsEyes wrote:
I continue to be amazed by those who don't think the Nikon Z9 is not competitive when compared to the Sony and Canon alternatives. It is likely that my lack of interest with photographing small fast moving birds explains my satisfaction with the cameras I have. The continuous updates to the Z9 and Z8 have made these cameras better performers than they were, and competitive with others when one considers their lower price and diverse selection of lenses. However, I tend to shoot a lot more mammals and large birds than do most, I am not interested in pre-capture technology, and I am too lazy to learn a different UI. When the new Z9 comes out, I'll pick up another original recipe at a bargain price, as mine is just so comfortable for me to use.
With respect to the introduction of the new lens, I am very intrigued. I'm spending more an more time looking for ways to integrate the habitat into my photographs, shooting an animal small in the frame and let the negative space help tell the story, and wishing I didn't have so many lenses. I could imagine shooting a kit of two Z9's, 24-120, 120-300TC, w/ the 2x in the bag. One could have 24-420 f/4 readily available, with a 600 f5.6 and... and with a bit of Ai sharpening, an 840mm f/8. All of that in an FStop Anja...
Hmm maybe I will be blowing up my system for this lens  ...Show more →
I wouldn’t say the Z9 is *not* competitive — it absolutely is, and it remains a wonderful camera. But for the way I shoot, especially with fast action and subject detection/tracking, I do think the R1 has an edge. That doesn’t take anything away from the Z9 or Z8. Nikon has done an excellent job improving both bodies through firmware, and when you factor in the price point and lens ecosystem, they remain very strong alternatives to Canon and Sony.
I also think use case matters a lot. If someone is mostly shooting mammals, larger birds, environmental wildlife, or subjects that aren’t tiny and erratic in the frame, the Z9 is more than capable. But if the priority is small, fast-moving birds, difficult AF situations, and maximizing keeper rate in those edge cases, that’s where I think Canon — particularly the R1 — starts to separate itself.
The new Nikon lens is definitely intriguing, though. A two-body Z9 kit with the 24-120 and 120-300 TC could cover an enormous range with fewer lens changes, and I completely understand the appeal of simplifying the system while still having 24-420mm readily available, plus 600mm and 840mm options with converters and modern sharpening. For habitat-driven wildlife photography, that’s a very compelling setup.
So I wouldn’t frame it as the Z9 being uncompetitive. I’d frame it more as: the Z9/Z8 are excellent and arguably one of the best value systems out there, but for my specific shooting priorities, the R1 still feels stronger in the areas that matter most to me.
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