Common challenges inspired the Nikon Z8er User Group
by Danielle Edwards, FBCA and Gale Spring, FBPA
Moving from a DSLR to a mirrorless camera might seem like an easy switch but with the increase in technology and multiple settings it is not that simple. The transition can be more complicated than expected.
Purchasing a new camera just before going on an overseas photography trip might sound like a good thing to do but when you factor in the new learning curve it may also be a bit crazy. We had held off moving to mirrorless camera technology primarily due to the dust issue since the camera sensor has been relocated close to the camera/lens mount. Dust easily enters the camera during lens changes.
Being Nikon shooters, we were waiting for Nikon to address the issue of protecting the sensor between lens changes. A protective sensor curtain was in the top-of-the-line Z9 body but that camera was not only expensive but also very heavy. Then along came the Z8 with the protective sensor curtain.
We had initially heard about the new camera features via Bob Turner, FBPA and Alan Goldstein, FBPA. Their purchases and image examples gave us the final push to change from the DSLR to the mirrorless Nikon Z8. After a few initial test runs of our camera, we realized we needed to learn more in a hurry, so we used the networking capacity of the BCA members group and got in contact with other BCA members who had also purchased Nikon Z8 cameras. This is how the Z8er’s user group began. Our Z8er’s user group meets intermittently and we swap different tips and talk about different features of the camera. It has been extremely useful as things don’t function exactly as they did on the Nikon DSLR’s. A recent discovery was that the on-camera flash will not function when the camera is in silent mode, another tip we shared and helped problem solve.
This new Nikon Z8 camera has bird tracking features and camera body stabilization. The new Nikon S series lenses also have built-in stabilization so you have the body and the lens working together for vibration reduction. In keeping with Nikon’s strategy, even old lenses can be fitted to the body with a Nikon FTZ adapter (Nikon F lenses to Nikon Z camera). This means you can still use bellows with the Z series bodies.
The Z8er’s group has been invaluable, and its thanks to BCA that we knew who to contact and how to contact each other. If you are interested in joining this group to find out more about this camera or if you are just curious and want to be involved, please get in contact. We meet ad hoc but we are happy to add anyone to the Zoom meeting list. It’s also fun to meet with people from different parts of the globe and swap camera talk. We want to give a shout out to Bob Turner, FBPA and Alan Goldstein, FBPA who were instrumental in establishing this group.
To demonstrate the capabilities of the Z8 camera, we have included photos taken by Bob Turner and Alan Goldstein. All images are handheld!
Bob Turner's Osprey image is handheld, 200-600mm lens (@~300mm) & 1.4 TC.
Alan Goldstein’s images Pyrocephalus Rubinus (Scarlet flycatcher) and Roadrunner are both handheld, 180-600mm