Nikon Z AF

Exactly!

Because I’m now a unit stills photographer on film sets where silent shooting is mandatory. In silent mode on a non stacked sensor you’re gonna have to deal with flicker banding and rolling shutter which is largely if not completely eliminated by using a stacked sensor camera.

Many in this industry are using A9 or A9 II for that reason, plus for the kit compactness which is appreciated when wearing two bodies and zoom lenses for 8-10 hours per day every day.

Z8 should bring stacked sensor technology to a smaller body. It will be interesting to see how it compares to A9.

I was wondering what the impact of Sony's aperture drive is on continuous AF mode, as it means the aperture would need to be constantly adjusted from fully open to the actual shooting aperture, much like a DSLR. I imagined that this might slow down continuous AF.

Here is the documentation.

helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1650/v1/en/contents/TP0001690898.html

helpguide.sony.net/ilc/2040/v1/en/contents/TP1000423593.html

Looks like it behaves like a DSLR, i.e. you would see flicker as the aperture opens and closes - but without the DSLR blackout.

Does Canon have anything similar?

The cameras that do that at the moment are the R3, A1, A9, and Z9. However, did Sony add the tunable shutter speeds to the A9 (I don't recall)? When you get in some lighting situations or have certain displays in the background, you need to be able to tune the shutter speed to the frequency being used by the lighting or display. The R3, A1, and Z9 have that.

I'd say that it's more likely that the Sonys are being used more ubiquitously because they were the first cameras that allowed the still photographer to roam on set without a blimp. Canon and Nikon didn't get there until far later.

Hi Thom, on the first point you have tunable shutter speeds in silent shutter on the A9II with latest firmware, but not on the A9.

One the second point, yes that’s a fair comment, and of course in a given specific use case you switch to what’s available at the time to meet those needs. That said, wearing two bodies and zooms on set all day every day I’ve come to appreciate the size and weight of the A9 II and especially when paired with the relatively compact and lightweight 24-70mm and 70-200mm 2.8 GMII variants.

I’ve also come to appreciate the aperture drive AF options on the A9 II in the studio (and for low ambient light photography), as discussed earlier in the thread.

That all said, I’m still a Nikon Z fan, I simply switched with a change of career to tools which best fit my niche needs and budget.

If I was making a living off photography I would absolutely want the best most affordable tool for the job.

But since I don't, people like me fall into two categories:

• Brand loyal - either because we love some brands or have investments in a brand
• Switch to latest tech, brand doesn't matter - assuming we have the money

I am in the first bracket. I dislike Sony (did have an A7 for a while while waiting for Nikon) as a brand (no rational reason).
Canon is interesting but a rip off (you pay more for everything IMO).

I sort of fall in between. I do make money from my photography (now) and it presented me with a niche problem to solve on set. By trading in my 2 Nikon Z bodies and 8 lenses I was able to switch to a pair of like new used A9 II bodies and five brand new lenses cost neutrally. Cost does matter to me.

That said, if it wasn’t for this unit stills work I’d still be with Nikon and generally I don’t advocate system switching.

Thom, I understand you have both A1 and Z9. So you are best placed to comment on relative performance at F8 in studio conditions.
Does A1's aperture drive mode help it a lot in low light?
Why do you think Nikon has not implemented it?

Thanks Bob, it’s quite a niche area I’ve ended up involved in professionally.

Primeshooter, I think your initial post was perfectly fine. I'm usually not confrontational, however the tone of AndyMiller's response is totally uncalled for. He probably hasn't used or tried the R5. And, not that it was important for the purpose of his discussion, but he did let us know that he has 2 Z9s. I enjoy a level headed discussion which some people don't seem to get. Not mocking you Andy, just try to respect other people's opinions and voice your own without accusing others of being trolls (whatever that means?)

I think what happens is some folk are genuinely curious to compare features, pros and cons between brands and others are, shall we say, very brand defensive.

I think discussing these pros and cons is healthy. Whether that should occur within brand specific forums (at the expense of things getting "tribal") is another matter.

At least such debate is more open here than on the old place. This is a good thing!

Perhaps in time the old system and buying advice section could be targeted as more beginner oriented, with another section about discussing brand nuances (with a "please leave brand tribalism at the door' rule). Of course that would still result in a punch up, but at least it's not brand specific to start with.

First paragraph of the Primeshooter's OP was bashing Nikon Z 6/7 and Z 6/7 II and DPReview. Second paragraph was a question. People have a problem with first paragraph. The reaction would be different if OP would use just second paragraph.

I thought the entire OP was reasonable and the first sentence was valid as it referred to the way of doing things at the old place.