Nikon Tease

wysinawyg

Nikon | Special Event 2018

AMc

Cryptic!

py6km

Lots of information about the mirrorless FF bodies over on the Nikon Rumors website.

snerkler

Yes it talks a good talk and if it delivers it will be superb. However, whether Nikon can get top notch on sensor phase detect straight off the bat is a big ask. Also, they need a really good f-mount to z-mount adapter, again going to be difficult.

Johnmcl7

I'm not sure how bothered I'd be about using F-mount on a mirrorless bodies as I didn't really bother when I had micro 4/3 despite a full range of 4/3 lenses as the SLR lenses were bigger anyway and much more so when they needed the adapter as well.

I was thinking to myself what would appeal to me with a Nikon mirrorless system over a Sony one, a good range of compact primes would probably do that although Sony's 28mm F2 and 50mm F1.8 now make their system a lot more appealing to me.

snerkler

I think the compatability is important to ease the transition for current Nikon users. I very nearly swapped to Sony but the cost to change was too much. If Nikon don’t allow f-mount (with top notch performance) the cost to change will be as equally severe as the switch to Sony and far less people will be inclined to do so.

Johnmcl7

I don't see much point in using a Nikon mirrorless body with F-mount lenses, the body isn't going to be much smaller and lighter so with F-mount lenses there's going to be little benefit using a Nikon mirrorless body with the F-mount lenses.  Video is the big advantage a mirrorless camera could offer over a DSLR but the lenses aren't great for video as their AF motors aren't designed for it.

I guess to be fair though, Canon DSLR lenses seem popular with Sony mirrorless cameras so I'm probably underestimating the demand for that sort of setup?

I think if went to a Nikon setup I'd be wanting native lenses anyway so that's not a benefit to Nikon for me being able to use my existing lenses.

snerkler

TBH most people are becoming aware that if you want full frame then you’re not going to save a significant amount of weight. Depending on the body you’re coming from you may only be saving 100g or so, FF lenses are FF lenses and are going to be roughly the same size and weight. Barring the weight of an adapter using f-mount lenses isn’t going to add any significant weight (like for like).

Where I’m interested in the mirrorless is the 24-70mm f4 lens. This paired with the slighter lighter body will make for a much better travel/lightweight setup than the D750/D850 with 24-70mm f2.8, or 24-120mm f4. This could then mean I have a one body system rather than having m4/3 for travel. Tbh I’ve never understood why they’ve never made a 24-70mm f4 for f-mount.

Johnmcl7

I agree you're not going to save a significant amount of weight which is why I think native lenses are all the more important as that way you're saving as much weight/size as you can plus you can benefit from quieter CDAF optimised motors and continuous apertures.  Native lenses should be able to be smaller and also won't need an adapter which makes the setup bulkier as well.  If I'm going to use F-mount lenses I'd just stick with them on an F-mount body as they were designed for.

I'd assume the reason Nikon didn't produce a 24-70mm F4 is because they had the 24-140mm F4 and the two lenses would be too close to each other.

snerkler

Of course, in an ideal world you’d use the correct mount lens for the camera, but as swapping would be very expensive most Nikon users I’m sure would benefit from being able to make a gradual transition. I know for a lot of people the only thing preventing them from swapping systems is the cost. If Nikon want a large portion of users to move across to mirrorless they have to provide good f-mount compatibility.

When I was looking at Sony I’d have to sell all my Olly stuff and all of my Nikon stuff (2 camera’s and 7 or 8 lenses off the top of my head) and would’ve been able to afford a Sony body and two lenses. No way was I willing to do that, and no way would I be willing to do this with Nikon. If I could gradually change lenses over a few years as and when then I would consider the change.

As for Nikon’s lens line up obviously they know better than me their market, but canon obviously feel there’s a market for a 24-70mm f4 alongside the 24-70mm f2.8 and the 24-105mm f4. Likewise they have a 400mm f4 option.

Looking at the Sony e-mount they’re only a few grams lighter than the A-mount equivalent which may be attributed to newer materials and if they did new a-mount versions maybe these would be lighter too?