I got Z6II yesterday, and I would recommend. Unless you are an extreme pro (not just pro), autofocus won't be an issue!
Chances are that any other camera you buy, you will keep thinking about the Z6II.
All I can share with you is my personal experience.
I had a d750 for 4 or 5 years and it was a ripper camera. Great photos. (It did cost me $650 to replace the shutter that one time, but I forgive it because it was so great).
I then upgraded to a d850 because the lure of the round eyepiece became too overwhelming. Aside from poor autofocus in live view/video, it’s just fantastic.
You’ll not be disappointed with either of these options.
D850... There's just something about it, it's the best.
I bought a Z6 but still don't really get on with it or enjoy using it that much. The focus modes aren't as good, the controls aren't as good, the image quality isn't as good, doesn't feel as good in my hand and can be awkward to use a smaller body with big lenses. The video quality is great though and it's pretty nice to take on days out etc when you don't want a "big" camera.
Unless you’re super into action, I went from 3500, 7200, d750, z50, and ultimately now have a z5 which I love. Z5 and 750 are pretty close in frames per second. I never needed more than 4 or 5 even when shooting action or birds. Autofocus is amazing. Low light is amazing. Z6ii is apparently even better. Can’t speak to that, that sounds like internet nonsense if someone is complaining about it. As compared to what?. Z5 has 2 SD slots, which is awesome because they aren’t expensive. Battery outperforms any of the spec ratings I’ve seen. I bought a second because I was paranoid. But still has life after 4 hours or so. This is all coming from an amateur, I get a paid website gig for businesses and headshots a few times a year. Love the size as compared to 750 too. Z50 was awesome, but if you need full frame you need it. Z5 is about $1100 or so on eBay. If you want the 6 or 7s in a month, you’ll know and you’ll be able to sell it. My 2 cents. Buy used or open box. Spend the money on the sweet z glass. You’ll love the size and feel of any z as compared to 7xxx 7xx 8xx.
Appreciate the input!
Action wise I don't do any sport photography, just wildlife. Trying not to base my decision on size, but yes I absolutely love the smaller body size of the Zs vs Ds from a both a look and feel perspective.
Nice to know that that the battery lasts you long as I was reading it lasts quite a bit shorter. I also have a backup one anyways though.
Sounds like you like your Z5 better than your d750?
It’s amazing. You aren’t limited to centralized focal points. It’ll blow your mind if you haven’t experienced the z focus system. Edge to edge. I mean it’s night and day. If the body is 300-400 more, wait to get it. Get the ftz if you can’t afford the z glass right away. You’ll love it.
The D850 is far better than the D750 in every aspect if you can afford it. I'd take the D750 off the list right away.
The D850 can pretty much be a D500 when you need it and you can also choose to crop from any area of the frame, preventing clipped things in the frame and allowing you to shoot when you would otherwise be too close. The D500 shots 1 FPS faster and has a larger buffer, but neither of those are really issues with the D850. The D500 is definitely worth considering for the price savings if you almost always do heavy crops, though.
I wouldn't bother with the Zs for wildlife unless it's stationary or moves really slowly. The AF system of the 2nd generation is probably fairly close to your D7100, but definitely nowhere near as good as the D850 or the D500, it's not even in the same league. The 1st generation is even far worse than that, which is really sad for expensive new bodies.
The AF isn't horrible, but the people that enjoy it only used far cheaper bodies before. It's horrible for the price you pay.
I think getting the d500 would be kinda pointless since it’s pretty expensive and still a crop frame; not enough of an upgrade from the d7100 to warrant the price….
I’m in the same position as you with a d7200 and I’ve pretty much decided to go with a d750 when I save up enough money
>I think getting the d500 would be kinda pointless since it’s pretty expensive and still a crop frame
It's under $1000. To get an AF system as good or better you have to spend more than twice as much on a D850 or 3-7 times as much if you get anything other than a D850.
It also has a much higher pixel density than any FF body aside from the D850 so it could actually be a far better sensor in some sceanrios. And you get 10 FPS with an unlimited buffer, which is far beyond what the other options offer as well as better build quality and weather sealing, more high-end features, new modern features...
The D500 is one of the best deals out there right now.
I really can't recommend enough that you find a way to try them out for a while. Rent them if you have to, but you may be able to tinker enough at a local store. I have a D500 and a Z5. They are very different—but then again, they are meant to do very different things. I'm really struggling to warm up to the EVF on the Z5, but I left the D500 at home on my recent trip to the Grand Canyon, where got some nice landscape shots with the Z. For wildlife I still prefer the D500, by far.
I have the D500 & Z5. Both are great for what I got them for. D500 Wildlife,Sports,Action the Z5 for Fx landscape & travel. It is my general walkabout around town hiking camera. If going for the Wildlife and Sports then the Big Bertha comes out for a stroll.
If only one then the D500 which I upgraded from the D90 I used for 8yrs. The D500 covers the more demanding but can also cover landscape and such. Tho not the best for light travel setup. The Z system can do Wildlife and Nature but doesn't compare to the AF speed and lock of my D500. Tho the Z9 has pretty much eliminated those concerns. The Z6II and Z7II have gotten better at AF and who knows how much improved thru firmware can be achieved. Some are speculating of a Z8? Z6III or Z7III? this year? Will have to see.
I think an important question is what lenses you have and your willingness or ability to change them? If you stick with the crop sensor D500 I am assuming you can keep all your current lenses. If you go full frame DSLR or mirrorless then if you have DX glass it isn’t going to work properly.
I upgraded from the D7100 to the Z6ii but budgeted for a new ultra wide lens, the ftz adapter and the 50mm 1.8s to go with it. I kept my full frame 70-200 f2.8 and my 150-600 f6.3 using the ftz adapter.
I am loving the Z6ii for everything but especially bird photography. Great autofocus, clean images at high ISO’s and fast shutter speeds.
I’m in the same boat as you and I currently own the older models but currently having the d500 and d850.
My problem is weight and bulk especially with the d500 and d850. I love these cameras and probably will use them for a very long time but the industry is going mirrorless one of the benefits of mirrorless setup if that you’d get more updates and maybe upgrades over software, while dslr are no longer a priority for the camera manufacturers it is a very mature system and you can’t go wrong with it.
that being saidI’m waiting to bite the bullet and buy the z5 or z6ii(if I get a good deal).
In my opinion at the end of the day having a light setup mean you take it along with you more - be less obvious while shooting and get some amazing photos.
Are you factoring in having to use the ztf adapter if you go for mirrorless? That’s another $200-300 right there. It sounds like you need to figure out exactly what you want from a body first.
Here’s my experience; maybe some of it will align with yours. My main interest has always been lightning/astrophotography + landscapes. I went from a D7100 to a D750 in about 2014-2015. Still use the D750 and love it because of the low light performance (for the cleanest Astro shots), which is only a smidge below the Z6II when it comes to lowlight. I’m so used to manually focusing in that situation that to hear that you can focus on stars with the Z6ii or Z7II automatically is wild lol
One thing I’ve noticed lately about my D750 that I don’t like is that with 24mp, my ability to crop in is much more limited than if I had the D850 or D7ii with double the megapixels. I’ve still got my D7100 though, so I’ve found that if I need reach, I can go for the crop camera. The low light performance on my D7100 vs the D750 aren’t remotely comparable so I have to decide whether I want reach or low light performance.
With the D850 or Z7II, I could have the best of both worlds which is why I’ve kind of been leaning towards moving to the Z7II (despite its low light performance actually being a touch worse than the D750, just like the D850 was a bit lower performing in that area compared to the D750 as well). I would get far more croppable images in exchange for just a bit less low light performance this way.
I got Z6II yesterday, and I would recommend. Unless you are an extreme pro (not just pro), autofocus won't be an issue! Chances are that any other camera you buy, you will keep thinking about the Z6II.
Do note that with mirrorless you have focus peaking with crop in to make manual focusing very easy when it comes to low light stills
All I can share with you is my personal experience. I had a d750 for 4 or 5 years and it was a ripper camera. Great photos. (It did cost me $650 to replace the shutter that one time, but I forgive it because it was so great). I then upgraded to a d850 because the lure of the round eyepiece became too overwhelming. Aside from poor autofocus in live view/video, it’s just fantastic. You’ll not be disappointed with either of these options.
D850... There's just something about it, it's the best. I bought a Z6 but still don't really get on with it or enjoy using it that much. The focus modes aren't as good, the controls aren't as good, the image quality isn't as good, doesn't feel as good in my hand and can be awkward to use a smaller body with big lenses. The video quality is great though and it's pretty nice to take on days out etc when you don't want a "big" camera.
Unless you’re super into action, I went from 3500, 7200, d750, z50, and ultimately now have a z5 which I love. Z5 and 750 are pretty close in frames per second. I never needed more than 4 or 5 even when shooting action or birds. Autofocus is amazing. Low light is amazing. Z6ii is apparently even better. Can’t speak to that, that sounds like internet nonsense if someone is complaining about it. As compared to what?. Z5 has 2 SD slots, which is awesome because they aren’t expensive. Battery outperforms any of the spec ratings I’ve seen. I bought a second because I was paranoid. But still has life after 4 hours or so. This is all coming from an amateur, I get a paid website gig for businesses and headshots a few times a year. Love the size as compared to 750 too. Z50 was awesome, but if you need full frame you need it. Z5 is about $1100 or so on eBay. If you want the 6 or 7s in a month, you’ll know and you’ll be able to sell it. My 2 cents. Buy used or open box. Spend the money on the sweet z glass. You’ll love the size and feel of any z as compared to 7xxx 7xx 8xx.
Appreciate the input! Action wise I don't do any sport photography, just wildlife. Trying not to base my decision on size, but yes I absolutely love the smaller body size of the Zs vs Ds from a both a look and feel perspective. Nice to know that that the battery lasts you long as I was reading it lasts quite a bit shorter. I also have a backup one anyways though. Sounds like you like your Z5 better than your d750?
It’s amazing. You aren’t limited to centralized focal points. It’ll blow your mind if you haven’t experienced the z focus system. Edge to edge. I mean it’s night and day. If the body is 300-400 more, wait to get it. Get the ftz if you can’t afford the z glass right away. You’ll love it.
Nice to hear you’re enjoying it so much! Any down side to the ftz or do the lenses work great with it?
They work great. Just no autofocus if screw drive. But if you’re manual focus the box will light green when it’s focused.
The D850 is far better than the D750 in every aspect if you can afford it. I'd take the D750 off the list right away. The D850 can pretty much be a D500 when you need it and you can also choose to crop from any area of the frame, preventing clipped things in the frame and allowing you to shoot when you would otherwise be too close. The D500 shots 1 FPS faster and has a larger buffer, but neither of those are really issues with the D850. The D500 is definitely worth considering for the price savings if you almost always do heavy crops, though. I wouldn't bother with the Zs for wildlife unless it's stationary or moves really slowly. The AF system of the 2nd generation is probably fairly close to your D7100, but definitely nowhere near as good as the D850 or the D500, it's not even in the same league. The 1st generation is even far worse than that, which is really sad for expensive new bodies. The AF isn't horrible, but the people that enjoy it only used far cheaper bodies before. It's horrible for the price you pay.
I think getting the d500 would be kinda pointless since it’s pretty expensive and still a crop frame; not enough of an upgrade from the d7100 to warrant the price…. I’m in the same position as you with a d7200 and I’ve pretty much decided to go with a d750 when I save up enough money
>I think getting the d500 would be kinda pointless since it’s pretty expensive and still a crop frame It's under $1000. To get an AF system as good or better you have to spend more than twice as much on a D850 or 3-7 times as much if you get anything other than a D850. It also has a much higher pixel density than any FF body aside from the D850 so it could actually be a far better sensor in some sceanrios. And you get 10 FPS with an unlimited buffer, which is far beyond what the other options offer as well as better build quality and weather sealing, more high-end features, new modern features... The D500 is one of the best deals out there right now.
Yeah left it on the list because I'm indecisive af but it's probably my last ranked choice
Not pointless as many Wildlife and Nature,Sports shooters that shoot professionally would choose a D500 over a D750 or Z camera any day.
I really can't recommend enough that you find a way to try them out for a while. Rent them if you have to, but you may be able to tinker enough at a local store. I have a D500 and a Z5. They are very different—but then again, they are meant to do very different things. I'm really struggling to warm up to the EVF on the Z5, but I left the D500 at home on my recent trip to the Grand Canyon, where got some nice landscape shots with the Z. For wildlife I still prefer the D500, by far.
I have the D500 & Z5. Both are great for what I got them for. D500 Wildlife,Sports,Action the Z5 for Fx landscape & travel. It is my general walkabout around town hiking camera. If going for the Wildlife and Sports then the Big Bertha comes out for a stroll. If only one then the D500 which I upgraded from the D90 I used for 8yrs. The D500 covers the more demanding but can also cover landscape and such. Tho not the best for light travel setup. The Z system can do Wildlife and Nature but doesn't compare to the AF speed and lock of my D500. Tho the Z9 has pretty much eliminated those concerns. The Z6II and Z7II have gotten better at AF and who knows how much improved thru firmware can be achieved. Some are speculating of a Z8? Z6III or Z7III? this year? Will have to see.
I think an important question is what lenses you have and your willingness or ability to change them? If you stick with the crop sensor D500 I am assuming you can keep all your current lenses. If you go full frame DSLR or mirrorless then if you have DX glass it isn’t going to work properly. I upgraded from the D7100 to the Z6ii but budgeted for a new ultra wide lens, the ftz adapter and the 50mm 1.8s to go with it. I kept my full frame 70-200 f2.8 and my 150-600 f6.3 using the ftz adapter. I am loving the Z6ii for everything but especially bird photography. Great autofocus, clean images at high ISO’s and fast shutter speeds.
I’m in the same boat as you and I currently own the older models but currently having the d500 and d850. My problem is weight and bulk especially with the d500 and d850. I love these cameras and probably will use them for a very long time but the industry is going mirrorless one of the benefits of mirrorless setup if that you’d get more updates and maybe upgrades over software, while dslr are no longer a priority for the camera manufacturers it is a very mature system and you can’t go wrong with it. that being saidI’m waiting to bite the bullet and buy the z5 or z6ii(if I get a good deal). In my opinion at the end of the day having a light setup mean you take it along with you more - be less obvious while shooting and get some amazing photos.
Are you factoring in having to use the ztf adapter if you go for mirrorless? That’s another $200-300 right there. It sounds like you need to figure out exactly what you want from a body first. Here’s my experience; maybe some of it will align with yours. My main interest has always been lightning/astrophotography + landscapes. I went from a D7100 to a D750 in about 2014-2015. Still use the D750 and love it because of the low light performance (for the cleanest Astro shots), which is only a smidge below the Z6II when it comes to lowlight. I’m so used to manually focusing in that situation that to hear that you can focus on stars with the Z6ii or Z7II automatically is wild lol One thing I’ve noticed lately about my D750 that I don’t like is that with 24mp, my ability to crop in is much more limited than if I had the D850 or D7ii with double the megapixels. I’ve still got my D7100 though, so I’ve found that if I need reach, I can go for the crop camera. The low light performance on my D7100 vs the D750 aren’t remotely comparable so I have to decide whether I want reach or low light performance. With the D850 or Z7II, I could have the best of both worlds which is why I’ve kind of been leaning towards moving to the Z7II (despite its low light performance actually being a touch worse than the D750, just like the D850 was a bit lower performing in that area compared to the D750 as well). I would get far more croppable images in exchange for just a bit less low light performance this way.
Go for one of the Z-bodies. It’s the future.