Hi.
First post on this forum.
I thought why not start with some important aspect of Nikon (FF) Z cameras, the viewfinder.
The optical construction of the viewfinder in Z6II and similar cameras was a big reason I chose Nikon. Is this common for other cameras too nowadays or is Nikon's approach still among the best?
The Z9's VF is even more impressive. I think it has to do with how much physical space they're willing to leave for the optics.
I often forget, that I am looking at a very small TV Screen, but once the Light Levels are low and the EVF gets very noisy, my memory is refreshed. I haven't regretted switching to Mirrorless. AF is far more Consistent and Accurate, than it was on the last DSLR I had. I also like how I can display more info on screen as I am shooting, as well has having the Words remaining upright when the Camera is rotated to Portrait Mode.
I am referring to the Z9 EVF. I will add that I have not looked at any of the other Z Bodies EVFs.
My 1st Post here.
I can only talk about "entry level" cameras. I compared the usual suspects from Fuji and Canon, and found the Nikon Z5 superior. The Z9 I looked through recently is even more impressive. That was a huge point when I switched from DSLR.
I know the Z cameras get good write-ups on their EVFs, particularly their optical quality, but I’ve never tried one. How do they compare to something like the Fujifilm XT3? The XT (single digit) bodies always used to get similar praise for their EVFs, but I’m not sure if they’ve fallen behind Nikon or just get taken for granted now.
Back in the mid 2010's, I tried several early mirrorless bodies from Sony, Fuji, and Olympus, etc., and I wasn't impressed by those early EVFs. After Nikon announced the Z6 and Z7 in August 2018, Nikon had a "road show" in September (2018) and our local Nikon reps had a few pre-production Z7 available. I went to that meeting and was quite impressed by it and quickly bought a Z6 when that was available (a couple of months after the Z7). During the day, I still preferred the OVF, but the EVF was unbeatable at night and indoors.
Nowadays, with a Z6ii and a Z9, I no longer notice that I am looking into an EVF instead of OVF. I have been using Nikon since 1977 and still own a few DSLRs.
Yep, Nikon does it right. Z5 has the same great EVF as its "bigger" brothers. It´s bigger than my K-1 OVF and at least as good in most situations.
I´ve tried Oly PenF and Sony 6xxx VFs and they were terrrrrible.. Some people don´t like Panasonic GX80/85 EVF, but for me its also fine, although small.
I've got a GX80, a Z6 and a Z9. The GX80 has some great advantages, like I can fit the body and three lenses in a little belt bag which I can wear when I'm on my bike - but the VF is not in the same league and either of the Nikons.
I have a Z7 (not so patiently waiting for a Z8 - come on! lol)
Of the bodies I've tried across the manufacturers, and note I have not shot with a Z9, I like the Z7 EVFs natural view the most, and I dislike the Fuji GFX (medium format) and Panasonic EVF the strongest. Canons are pretty good, Sonys are "okay". Even though at the end of the day I prefer an OVF, I've found I've adapted quite quickly to the EVF of the Z7 for most things (which honestly surprised me) and now can shoot just as well switching between that and my D850 without nary a thought to the viewfinder if things are static (see next sentence lol)
However, the Z7 EVF is still laggy - it needs refresh rate improvement, so if you switch views/scenes quickly, it tires the eye a bit. It's not a body I would care to use to follow things that move (and honestly, the AF is not that great at such, so it's not the body I would use for that anyway).
I expect the next gen Z body will have the refresh rate improvements; maybe the Z9 is "it", haven't shot that one yet.
Ha. A post that would have gotten pulled elsewhere along with a verbal beating from members. Holding out that here, speaking "the" truth, or "your own" truth doesn't come with repercussions. If we get that, this place will eventually be a much better place than the other. Just needs the time and resources to scale it up.
Well well. Welcome AnotherMike, hope you stick around.
I remember trying a Sony a few years ago at Best Buy and the EVF was atrocious. I actually like the one on my Z6 plenty to the point of not thinking about it. I have actually been using the rear screen flipped out far more than I ever anticipated when I bought the Z6. Much easier on my knees for certain shots.
Back in 2004 or 2005 I bought a Panasonic FZ-20 as my first digital camera. It was surprisingly good, except for the godawful EVF. 114k pixels, I think. Use one of those for a while and you'll never say a bad thing about todays EVF offering from any manufacturer!
Yeah, it's one of the nicest things about Nikon mirrorless. I've used Olympus (EM1 and 2), Panasonic G9, and Fuji XH1 and XT4. Nikon has the most natural feeling viewfinder. They don't overdo the contrast, or make things too flat. It's not a perfect preview of the final image, but that's good, because you learn to trust what you see, kind of like using an optical viewfinder. I do wish they would have highlight blinkies in the viewfinder like so many other cameras do.
I have 2 Z7’s, shoot mostly landscape & really like the EVF - ie, I don’t often miss the OVF of my previous D800 or 1DS.
Agree AF isn’t the best for fast moving subjects/ BIF, though usable in many scenarios.
I notice because I leave the live histogram on most of the time, which is a bit of a giveaway ;-)
But apart from things like that, and exposure compensation changing what I see in the viewfinder, I don't really think about the fact that it's an EVF. Took very little getting used to. I've not used a contemporary EVF from one of the other systems though, so can't say how they compare now (the ones from a few years back were clearly inferior).
