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’ve bought a D7500 and, unlike my last camera, it has an ‘Auto’ Picture Control setting. Would you advise using this instead of my usual ‘Standard’ preference? Hugh Bancroft
A
Like other recent Nikon cameras, the D7500 boasts a host of Picture Control options, including Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape and Flat. These modify a variety of image attributes including sharpening, contrast, brightness, saturation and hue. The Standard option gives well-balanced results that suit most scenarios. Most alternatives are selfexplanatory, whereas Neutral and Flat apply minimal processing for images that will be extensively edited afterwards.
The Auto setting works well, as the camera analyses the scene that you’re shooting and adjusts imaging parameters accordingly. But if you shoot in JPEG quality mode, you can’t tweak the results. I’d suggest using it in Raw mode, so that you can change the Picture Control setting at the editing stage, if required, using one of Nikon’s imaging apps, such as NX Studio or Capture NX-D.
Q
I’m after a compact, lightweight and budget telephoto zoom for my Z 6II. Would the Nikon AF-P DX Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3g ED VR be a good choice? Glenn Lewis
A
That lens is partially compatible but, as a DX format zoom, it’s really designed for APS-C format bodies, so you’d have to shoot in crop mode using a relatively small area of the image sensor, resulting in a lower megapixel count.
I’d suggest the Nikon AF-P 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6e ED VR (£535/$597). It’s pretty compact and lightweight and delivers superb performance and image quality. Naturally, you’d need to attach either lens to your camera via a Nikon FTZ mount adapter, as they’re F-mount lenses originally designed for DSLRS.
For greater telephoto reach and more sophistication, I’d consider the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary zoom, at £699/$799, again with an FTZ mount adapter.
Q
I’m a little confused about the difference between ‘manual-focus’ and ‘fully manual’ lenses. Can you shed any light on this? Stephen Catlin
A
As it turns out, ‘manual-focus’ lenses from the likes of 7Artisans, Laowa, Samyang and other manufacturers, often tend to be ‘fully manual’ lenses. Naturally, manual-focus lenses don’t feature any autofocus facility, so you can only focus them by means of the physical focus control ring on their barrel. This typically has a longer rotational travel than on an autofocus lens, and often comes with a focus distance scale and depth of field markers for ‘zone focusing.’ It enables
you to set the minimum and maximum distances and therefore the ‘zone’ within a scene that will be rendered sharply.
Fully manual lenses have no built-in electronics, so they can’t communicate with the camera body. You need to set the aperture via the lens’s on-board aperture control ring, instead of from the host camera, and no lens-based EXIF information will be embedded in image files.
Q
I have a Z 7II, Z 24-70mm, Z 70-200mm and Z 14-30mm lenses. Can you suggest a goodquality photo backpack that will accommodate these without being overly large, and that isn’t plain black?
Suzi Veater
A
Renowned British tripod manufacturer 3 Legged Thing has just launched a new camera bag brand by the name of Morally Toxic. So far, there are medium and large versions of the Valkyrie backpack, as well as medium and large Wraith messenger/sling bags. All come in three colour options, namely onyx, emerald and sapphire.
The build quality is excellent and they feature plenty of clever design flourishes. Your kit will fit in the medium versions of both bags.
I’d go with the Valkyrie backpack (£259/$299), as there’s extra space for accessories, and it’s more comfortable to carry with your collection of Z-series goodies.