Nikon Z5 vs D7200 (1 Viewer)

Would switching over from the D7200 DX format to the new Z5 full frame format be considered an upgrade for bird shots?

I am not a nikon shooter but I would predict you might be the first birder to do that switch. Everyone else would want to hear about your experiences if you go ahead.

Niels

proudpapa56 said:

Would switching over from the D7200 DX format to the new Z5 full frame format be considered an upgrade for bird shots?

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For bird shots (where focal length of the lens plays a huge part), I can't see how how it can be any sort of a real upgrade.

There are no suitable native Z mount long focal length lenses (and who knows when they will inevitably appear in this climate - could be half a dozen years ? Canon has their new 600 & 800mm f11's ! as competitive impetus, but whether they are going to be useful for birds, especially BIF is unknown at this point), so it will be adapted F mount long lens on any Z5 for the foreseeable future.

The main drawback as far as I can see is that you lose resolution/focal length by not having the crop factor of the D7200.

Both cameras are 24MP, but your 400mm lens (say) gives a 50% larger 600mm size image on the D7200, etc. Photographic dynamic range also favours the D7200 by the time you have cropped a Z5 image to the same subject image size.

The D7200 shoots at 6fps (and 7fps in 1.3x in-camera crop mode which I find very useful) vs 4.5fps of the Z5.

AF is another area to consider. I haven't heard reviews of the Z5's performance yet, but it think it is likely to have a similar fiddly initiation to other Z cameras. I think on balance it's likely to prove to be another area where the D7200 comes out on top.

I think the Z5's strength is as an entry level FF mirrorless walkaround street camera, portraiture, etc.

The time to change might be one day, but I don't think it is any time soon.






Chosun :gh:

Thanks. Think I was just looking for a reason to buy a new camera. I'm actually very happy with the D7200, but it's "old" now.

proudpapa56 said:

Thanks. Think I was just looking for a reason to buy a new camera. I'm actually very happy with the D7200, but it's "old" now.

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Shooting video would be a reason. D7200 is still a pretty decent camera for wildlife.

Not sure about the AF on the mirrorless nikons yet, prefer D500.

With D7200 it might be a closer call, hard to say.

It also depends on how long lenses you have and what you shoot.

Having both a DX and FX camera could have some advantages when shooting from a hide for example. Sometimes DX gives too much crop...