Nikon Z vs Micro 4/3
August 8th, 2023
Taking a break for today from nudes in nature. About a year and a half ago I bought a Nikon Z7II. I was still very happy with my pair of Panasonic GX8s, but I wanted the higher resolution for a documentary project I was starting. So I shelled out way too much money for the Nikon and a 24-120 lens.
I love the files from the Nikon. They have tremendous detail. The lens is the sharpest lens I’ve ever owned, including several great non-zoom lenses, including some Leitz lenses. The files hold highlight and shadow detail better than any digital files I’ve ever worked with. There’s lots of ability to make adjustments without degrading the final file.
But I’ve come to the conclusion that I just don’t like the Nikon. The files are great, the camera not so much. It’s heavy. The Nikon and the one lens weighs more than my entire Micro 4/3 kit of two bodies and 6 lenses. And, though I like the programmable third control ring on the lens which I use for exposure compensation, in general the controls on the Nikon are frustrating and awkward. Plus they make changes to my settings, seemingly randomly. “Why are these files blue? How did the color balance get changed? Is Auto ISO on or off?” So it goes…
I only bought the Nikon because Panasonic hadn’t delivered a new sensor with more megapixels. That’s what I want. A Micro 4/3 camera with a sensor between 30 and 40 MP. I suppose it’s too much to hope that they would put it in a camera in the GX form factor…those GX8s are the best handling cameras I’ve ever owned. I suppose that’s what spoiled me as far as the Nikon is concerned. But if Panasonic comes out with a higher resolution sensor in whatever body style they want, I’ll line up to buy it. I probably will keep the Nikon (I’ve been a Nikon shooter since 1968, until I switched to Micro 4/3 because I wanted to go mirrorless and Nikon hadn’t gotten there yet) and treat it as a “view camera” brought out only for special projects, but I’ll gladly go back to using this nice kit of Micro 4/3 lenses if and when that new camera is available.
Meanwhile I’ve added the Nikon to the basic kit along with the GX8s for my day-to-day shooting kit.
Leave a Reply