When I first had the opportunity to use a SLR, I got the chance to use both Canon and Nikon equipment. When I picked up the Nikon, everything just seemed to fall to hand – this isn’t to say that the Canon wasn’t equally as user-friendly – it was just a comfort factor for me.
Just before RIAT 2023, I finally took the plunge and purchased the then recently announced Nikon Z8 mirrorless body, along with a Nikon FTZ II Z Mount Adapter, which enabled me to continue using my Nikon F mount lenses. I definitely felt there was an improvement in my images but still wondered about the image quality of new dedicated Z-mount lenses.
When Nikon announced the 180-600mm Z mount telephoto, my mind was made up – I was going all mirrorless!!
So in December 2023 I sold my Nikon D500, 200-500mm telephoto, 18-300mm telephoto, 12-24mm wide-angle zoom, 60mm standard lens, TC-14E III teleconverter and Nikon FTZ II Z Mount Adapter.
To replace all that, I kept my Nikon Z8, purchased a Nikon Z6ii as a second body, the 180-600mm telephoto zoom and a Nikon 28-200mm ‘walk around’ lens. A significant reduction in size and weight in my camera bag!
The first event using the new configuration was the Northolt Night Shoot XXX, where I used the Nikon Z6ii and 28-200mm – remembering this time to switch off VR for the tripod-mounted shots!!
The next outing was a day trip to RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath – unfortunately, I picked a quiet day so there were few opportunities to test the new 180-600mm in anger.
The first real opportunity came at the 2024 Nato Tiger Meet at Schleswig-Jagel, although the weather didn’t exactly play ball. Nevertheless, I felt I was getting to grips with the new setup.
Finally, RIAT 2024 came around, with improved weather and my becoming more accustomed to the new equipment.
I have to say that I feel that the new configuration is paying dividends, especially the Z8/180-600mm combo. The extra megapixels and extra reach have enabled me to get many more ‘keepers’ than before. Additionally, the Z6ii/28-200mm pairing is proving excellent for static shots and larger flying aircraft and display teams – there is no doubt that this lens is a big step up from the 18-300mm I used before.
I have to confess that I have also invested in Topaz Photo AI, which provides sharpening and denoise functionality. I try to minimise my use of these tools but sometimes an image requires a little assistance to bring out the absolute best. That said, web-based images aren’t going to show their detail on most screen resolutions – maybe if I started printing out the images it might become more important.