Ask Matthew...
Our resident Nikon expert Matthew Richards answers your questions and solves your problems. If you have a Nikon-related question, email it to mail@nphotomag.com
Q I’m planning an upgrading from a D80 to either a Z 6II or Z 7II. Which model would you recommend for printing up to 13x19 inches in size? Andy Cutting
A Both cameras have more than sufficient megapixels for creating A3+ (13x19-inch) prints and even larger. The key attractions of the Z 7II are its 45.7MP image sensor and greater 493-point phase-detection autofocus system. The Z 6II has a 24.5MP sensor with 273 phase-detection AF points. However, that’s still way ahead of the 10.2 megapixels of your D80, and its 11-point autofocus system. The smaller megapixel count of the Z 6II actually has various advantages. The standard sensitivity range stretches to ISO51,200 instead of ISO25,600, and high-iso image quality is less noisy. It also has a faster maximum drive rate of 14fps compared with the Z 7II’S 10fps. Overall, I would that say the Z 6II is a better all-rounder, as well as costing about £1000/$1000 less to buy.
Q I find my D850 and Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens a bit cumbersome for bird photography. Does Nikon make a Coolpix camera with similar performance and image quality suitable for that purpose?
Ali Jewett
A You could try the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C, which weighs 1160g. That’s 770g less than your Sigma 150-600mm lens, so a very noticeable reduction. Naturally, the maximum focal length of 400mm isn’t as well suited to bird photography but if you shoot in DX Crop mode on your D850, you’ll still get an ‘effective’ 600mm maximum focal length, thanks to the 1.5x crop factor. With the D850’s high-resolution sensor, you’ll get 19.5 megapixel images in DX Crop mode, which are still sufficient for largeformat printing.
Nikon does make a Coolpix P1000 fixed-lens camera with a huge effective zoom range of 24-3000mm in full-frame terms. However, it has a relatively small 1/2.3-inch 16Mp image sensor and can’t compete with your D850 for image quality and all-round performance, and it remains a weighty piece of kit at 1415g.
Q I bought a Z 24-200mm on your recommendation and am really pleased with it. What would you suggest for a travel-friendly 50mm prime lens?
Michael Jack
A Many photographers say that a 50mm prime lens or ‘nifty fifty’ is the most essential lens to buy,
as well as a standard zoom. But for street photography and many other scenarios, a lot of people prefer the more generous field of view offered by a 35mm lens. The own-brand Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S and Z 35mm f/1.8 S are great lenses but pricey at around £566/$627 and £809/$847.
If you’re torn between a 35mm and 50mm lens, another excellent option would be the Nikon Z 40mm f/2. It’s very nearly as ‘fast’ as the f/1.8 lenses but is comparatively small and lightweight, making it a good choice for travel and street shooting. Image quality and all-round performance are very good and it’s a bargain buy for around £233/$277.
Q I read with interest your advice on the Nikon ML-L7 Bluetooth remote in issue 147 but you also mentioned another remote that can’t be used with the Z fc. Why is this the case?
Malcolm Sargent
A The vast majority of own-brand Nikon and third-party wired remote controllers, as well as the receivers of wireless RF remote controllers, connect to Nikon cameras via an electronic cable with either a small rectangular plug or a larger 10-pin circular plug. However, the Z fc has no remote controller socket at all, nor an infrared receiver for the Nikon ML-L3 controller. That’s why you have to use a Bluetooth remote like the ML-L7 (or a copy from an third-party company).
Considering the retro design of the Z fc, it’s perhaps surprising that it doesn’t have a threaded hole in the shutter-release button, to accommodate an old-fashioned mechanical cable-release. This was featured in the similarly retro Nikon Df DSLR, in addition to an electronic rectangular accessory socket.