Nikon Z Cameras: My Experience With the Z System
Updated: 7 days ago
I have been shooting with my Nikon Z6 for several years now, and it has become something of an old war horse around Flats Nation. From product photography and outdoor assignments to sunsets, storms, travel, and low-light work, it has proven itself to be an extremely capable camera.
One of the things that originally attracted me to Nikon's Z system was the new lens mount. Nikon designed the Z mount with a larger 55mm inner diameter and a much shorter 16mm flange distance than the long-established F mount. That gives Nikon's engineers considerably more freedom when designing lenses, particularly when it comes to sharpness, edge-to-edge image quality, wide-angle designs, and low-light performance.
That does not magically turn an f/4 lens into an f/2.8 lens, of course. What it does help produce are some remarkably capable lenses. My NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S and especially the NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S have repeatedly surprised me with what they can deliver, including in less-than-ideal light.
Another one with a deeper dive into the design improvements here:
And after years of using the system rather than simply reviewing specifications on a screen, I can say this much: moving to Nikon Z was one of the better equipment decisions I have made for my photography.
Much of what you may have heard over the years about Nikon’s early mirrorless systems — including older reviews and comparisons — no longer accurately reflects what the Z system is capable of today.
Nikon has continued to improve autofocus performance, subject detection, processing speed, and overall responsiveness throughout the Z system. The NIKKOR Z lens lineup has also grown considerably from those early years, giving photographers a much broader range of native Z-mount options.
The Nikon Z system has grown considerably since I originally wrote this article in 2022. Today, the lineup ranges from compact DX cameras such as the Z50II to full-frame cameras including the Z5II, Zf and Z6III, along with Nikon's higher-end Z8 and Z9.
That evolution is worth mentioning because some of the early criticism of Nikon mirrorless cameras—particularly autofocus comparisons from the first generation—doesn't accurately describe the system today. Nikon has continued to improve autofocus, subject detection, processing power, firmware, video capabilities, and the native NIKKOR Z lens lineup.
My original Z6 may not be the newest member of the family anymore, but it is still producing the photographs I need for Flats Nation. That says quite a bit about the system in its own right.
If you own an older Z body — or purchase one used — it is also worth checking Nikon's Support site to make sure the camera is running the latest available firmware. Nikon has continued to improve many Z cameras through firmware updates long after their original release Nikon Support
For a little historical perspective, here is one look back at the original Nikon Z6 and why photographers were still choosing it several years after its introduction.
For me, the real test has never been the specification sheet. It is what the camera brings home.
Over the years my Z6 has captured everything from coastal sunsets and lightning storms to travel, product photography, boating, fishing, and the images used throughout Flats Nation. Some of those photographs would have been considerably more difficult to capture reliably with the equipment I was using before moving to the Z system. Years later, the Z6 has become one of the primary tools I use to produce photography for Flats Nation.
The image quality, dynamic range, low-light capability, and flexibility of the Z system have noticeably improved both my photography and the range of work I can take on. The photographs below are just a sampling of images captured with my Z6 over the years.
If you are looking to move beyond the limitations of a smartphone or typical point-and-shoot camera and get more serious about outdoor photography, the Nikon Z system is certainly worth considering. The lineup now offers options ranging from smaller DX bodies to full-frame professional cameras, so there is considerably more room to grow within the system than there was when I first moved to Nikon Z.
What I Now Shoot
My Nikon Z6 body is primarily paired with these two NIKKOR Z lenses:
This has been an extremely flexible everyday lens for me. The 24-70mm range covers a lot of the photography I do for Flats Nation, and I have been continually impressed by the image quality it can produce, including in lower-light situations. When conditions call for it, I will work in aperture-priority mode and use a tripod, remote trigger, or shutter delay to keep the camera steady.
This lens pretty much lives on my Z6 these days and gets quite a workout. The ultra-wide 14–30mm range has become especially useful for landscapes, interiors, travel photography, and situations where I want to show more of the environment around the subject.
I often use foreground elements to create depth and give the photograph a stronger sense of place. When conditions call for it, a tripod is still one of the simplest ways to get the most out of the lens. It has also become particularly useful for product photography and other Flats Nation assignments.
For photographers still using the original Z6 or Z7, the setup video below from Hudson Henry Photography remains a useful look at configuring the controls and options on these cameras for real-world photography.
Nikon Z Camera Gear I Use
Interested in Nikon cameras, NIKKOR Z lenses, and photography gear? You can browse Nikon’s current lineup and available options through the Nikon Store on Amazon.
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Many Blessings and Good Shooting!
Dave and the Team
