Z50 to replace D500? Is it a good idea?

BTW, the D6 is currently back-ordered all over the place, and even the 500mm PF might not be in stock at a lot of stores. If you can wait a couple of weeks to a month, I would imagine that you can get a 500 PF without too much trouble. Or you can call around your local stores; I had luck with Mike's Camera in Colorado and California.

 

I guess Mary wants to get the cameras that she must have for the up-coming workshop first. The D6, 500mm PF, 24-200mm Z, Z5, etc. may take a little while.

It's OK as long as I have the Z7 with the wide angle fast lenses for the trip at this time. Now I am actually thinking maybe I will just need the Sigma ART 14-24 F/2.88 instead of also carrying the faster 20mm and 14mm. I'll run it by them. I will definitely want to simplify and consolidate for the future.

Just a thought - if a camera and lens are needed quickly just for a workshop - why not simply rent what's needed and make a purchasing decision later?

 

I don't see much point in having a 14-24/2.8, a 14/1.8 and a 20/1.4 available for a workshop on night sky photography. Either the fast aperture is needed - in which case the 14-24 is not. Or the fast aperture is not needed and then the zoom will suffice. Distortion to me appears all but irrelevant for that particular application.

Just a thought - if a camera and lens are needed quickly just for a workshop - why not simply rent what's needed and make a purchasing decision later?

Good idea but yes and no. I will only have 6 months from the fire (late June) to complete replacement. So I cannot wait indefinitely anyway. So I am thinking to purchase the more important ones now and the rest before December. I will not be able to wait beyond December.

I will only have 6 months from the fire (late June) to complete replacement.

So the insurance only pays for what's actually replaced and not what was lost? In other words, you only get paid for what you replace and there is no cash option for everything that was insured?

You want to know too much, Dieter. Not relevant.

 

Re Olympus: The fact that their camera division is sold doesn't mean that it will stop its activities, nor that any Olympus you buy now will stop working the moment they perhaps do shut down.

Though i like my other options better generally, the Pen F (digital) is perhaps the most stylish mirrorless camera around, and, i find, not bad at all (though not fast). I do not care much for the digital mini-OM series. Just an opinion.

Edited August 30, 2020 by q.g._de_bakker

So the insurance only pays for what's actually replaced and not what was lost? In other words, you only get paid for what you replace and there is no cash option for everything that was insured?

The insurance company initially quotes "Actual Cash Value" (depreciated value) for everything that were damaged and inventoried, without assuming which items I would choose to replace. I can then accept the total amount of cash and not replace anything. Hwvr, I can replace any item with a new one or one of comparable value. Then they would pay for the replacement cost instead of the ACV, but I will need to produce the receipt to prove that I actually bought the item. There will be 6 months to do this. So the final amount is more than the originally stated ACV amount.

 

This assumes that one's insurance is a "Replacement Cost" policy, which most Homeowners insurance policies are. Usually the total amount of content replacement coverage limit is up to 50% or 75% of the policy face value.

Edited August 31, 2020 by Mary Doo

Thanks Mary for confirming how I had envisioned the process; it was the six month deadline that caught me by surprise. I understand that under those circumstances, the rental option loses its allure.

I should check with my insurance agent about that. That 6-month window could be an issue with me as well, in that situation, trying to do EVERYTHING in that time period.

six month deadline

My insurance adjuster told me 180 days and I did not question it - yet. But I think there must be extenuating circumstances. For example, I will ask my adjuster about the probably-impossible task of replacing furniture and bulky items if the house is not completed in 180 days. In fact I drafted the letter with that question already.

 

Anyhow, you guys made me look this up and it's till not too clear: 180-Day Clause?

No surprise that the insurance terms are written in such a way as to make them nigh impossible to understand and/or open to conflicting interpretations. Good thing Mary is already asking for clarification in writing!

Marry, so sorry about the fire. I will be making the jump to Nikon mirrorless soon and have decided to split the duty between my Nikon DSLR (currently own) for long lens action and the Z system for landscape. Nikon apparently has really nailed the new Z 20mm f 1.8 in a way that cant be ignored. I plan to use it for night sky photography. I am very happy with my current Nikon 20mm and Zeiss 15mm lenses on the D850 but I think the Z system is an improvement especially for landscapes as well as the future. I hope your insurance covers you well. I would be just as upset about losing my tripod and camera bag collection. I wish you well as you recover and replace your home and belongings.

Nikon apparently has really nailed the new Z 20mm f 1.8 in a way that cant be ignored. I plan to use it for night sky photography

Interesting. The reviews I've read seem to show huge coma?

 

Nikon Nikkor Z 20 mm f/1.8 S review - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh - LensTip.com

 

...with a quote from the review..

 

"It is definitely not a piece of good news, especially for those who would like to employ this lens in astrophotography."

Interesting. The reviews I've read seem to show huge coma?

 

Nikon Nikkor Z 20 mm f/1.8 S review - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh - LensTip.com

 

...with a quote from the review..

 

"It is definitely not a piece of good news, especially for those who would like to employ this lens in astrophotography."

If you're ok with manual focus, then there is a cheaper alternative : Search on amazon for Viltrox 20mm f/1.8 for Nikon ...

Viltrox 20mm f/1.8 for Nikon

Nah,

 

Viltrox PFU RBMH 20 mm f/1.8 ASPH review - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh - LensTip.com

 

Coma City....Arizona!

 

However, stopped down 1 EV maybe a working option.:)

Even with the concern about astrophotography Lenstip.com had a very positive review of the Nikon Z 20mm 1.8 lens. Lenstip called the coma “forgivable” and summarized by calling it “an excellent lens that is a joy to use.” Everyone who does night sky photography sees coma in the corners of the image and you get it with all super wide angle lenses including the Valtrex 20mm lens that has lower resolution wide open when shooting night skies. I see it with the Zeiss 15mm wide open. It’s the nature of the beast but all-in-all the Nikon Z 20mm is considered by two reviews as a very good lens. Photographylife’s Nansim Mansurov feels its optical performance is superb even with coma considered and that the coma is better controlled than the DSLR 20mm F 1.8 G version. He comments “the coma performance of the Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S is better than any other ultra-wide angle lens I have tested so far.”

Anyway its going to be my first Z lens on a Z7 body that will allow me to get the best out of the new system. Good hunting.

Sorry you are having to go through all this. The question I keep asking about the Z series and mirrorless generally is what’s the point? Why would I want to deal with a new lens mount system and adapters? I don’t. You are in a unique position of having to replace everything but if that were me, and it has been, I would stick to what I know unless there is a compelling reason to change.

 

Rick H.

My insurance adjuster told me 180 days and I did not question it - yet. But I think there must be extenuating circumstances. For example, I will ask my adjuster about the probably-impossible task of replacing furniture and bulky items if the house is not completed in 180 days. In fact I drafted the letter with that question already.

 

Anyhow, you guys made me look this up and it's till not too clear: 180-Day Clause?

 

I would place into your letter a reference about covid. You may run into contractor and supplier delays due to covid.

Your agent should be helping you deal with this, after all he was getting a policy commission every time you paid your insurance premium.

I would place into your letter a reference about covid. You may run into contractor and supplier delays due to covid.

Hmmm... good idea Gary/ Didn't think of that. I can put in something like there may be a shortage of supply due to COVID etc. just to cover possible time delay. Thx.

For 'whole sky' astro, I find my Samyang 14 mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC pretty coma free.

 

I wonder if it will be revamped into Z mount?

Mary, I have never heard of a 180 day clause, either from my insurance company or from my many friends who had Harvey insurance claims here in Houston. I would question it and ask them to show where it is stated that way in your policy. Also your state probably has a Insurance department that regulates all insurers in your state. Once you have some documentation from your company, contact the state Ins department and ask for their advice or for them to intervene. .

 

Your adjuster may not be an employee of your company, but an employee of a third party company. If you think you are not getting good service from your adjuster, ask your insurance company to send out a replacement adjuster, one who is an employee of the insurance company. Many of us in Houston had to do this to resolve all of the claims. after Harvey. In my neighborhood, the same houses with the same damage with same coverages often had claims settled with variances of 100-200% in dollars received.

 

In my case, I got an immediate advance to help me get repairs done. The more documentation you can give them on what you lost in the fire, the better. My wife and I detailed everything down to socks and underware. The Internet has sample excel sheets that you can use to help you document what you had in your house. They have listed items that most have in a given room, like a bedroom and living room. These are real useful to help you remember what you own. Use your cell phone to take a picture of every serial nunber on appliances, etc.

 

For others reading this, learn from us that have had a major disaster. Take your camera and take pictures of everything you own. Include in some of the pictures something that has a date on it, like a newspaper. For everything you buy, download the receipt or invoice and make a pdf copy of it and save it to your computer in a special file. Ask your bank and credit card companies to send you pdf of all of your monthly statements. Then file these with notes as to what might qualify as home purchasers.

For 'whole sky' astro, I find my Samyang 14 mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC pretty coma free.

 

I wonder if it will be revamped into Z mount?

Will be using Sigma Art 14mm f/1.8/

Joseph, you have great advice. I hardly ever take photos of my house items - this is bad practice. And I also lose track of what I own. Fortunately for me, it was mostly smoke and water damage; the actual items touched by the fire became cinder blocks but not that much. The number of items on the content list is overwhelming - I would never be able to recall even a fraction of them. Fortunately I just need to review the items on the list . Btw I completed my replacement cost list and I think the adjuster will have a sticker shock. In fact I have a sticker shock - LOL! Oh well, I will submit it soon after final review and see what happens.

 

Re insurance company: I worked for this company for 21 years to retirement. Think I should be OK as my past associates have reached out to help me. One was the adjuster's boss (LOL) and the other was director of claims. They have been most helpful. Thanks.

Sorry you are having to go through all this. The question I keep asking about the Z series and mirrorless generally is what’s the point? Why would I want to deal with a new lens mount system and adapters?

Rick, in Mary's case, while previously she was mainly a Nikon F-mount user, she added Micro 4/3's a few years ago and more recently, she added a Nikon Z6 and also owned a Z7 for a while. Therefore, she is already familiar with Nikon F-mount, Micro 4/3 and Nikon Z mount. Part of the advantage for mirrorless is smaller and lighter cameras, especially Micro 4/3 due to the much smaller sensor size.

 

Concerning the more general question, I have been using the Nikon F mount almost exclusively since 1977, although I also have one Leica M body (bought in 1974, before I got into Nikon) and for a few years I used a Contax 645 (which I still own but haven't used in a decade). The reason I am getting into Nikon Z is the more modern camera designs and better lense designs that no longer need the compromise to leave space for the mirror. When I moved from 35mm film to DSLRs around 2005 or so, I started shooting a lot more wildlife and sports because film cost was suddenly no longer a concern. With mirrorless, nowadays I am shooting more videos. For certain subjects, video is a better medium.

 

Actually Mary and I have been communicating since late June/July about the fire at her house. I believe she may have lost some computer backup drives with images. That prompted me to buy a couple of portable 5TB drives and put a full copy of my digital images on them. Those drives are now sitting inside a bank safe deposit box, and I am going to swap them with new copies once in a while. Equipment is replaceable, but images might not be.

The question I keep asking about the Z series and mirrorless generally is what’s the point?

To me it started some 7 years ago and the main reason was the adaptability of manual focus lenses of various mounts I owned on a camera body that greatly facilitated manual focusing. A slippery slope, as it turned out. Soon some new manual focus lenses were added as some of the existing ones turned out not to play nice with the mirrorless body; and the initial APS-C body got upgraded to a full frame one - which then got updated to a new generation body to get the benefit of IBIS (image stabilization).

 

After a few years, the manual focus experience turned old - but instead of stepping off the mirrorless bandwagon (in my case Sony), now the promise of better, smaller, and lighter lenses began to take hold. Now I have one leg in each camp, not willing to part with my DSLRs quite yet and not willing to make the full transition to mirrorless either. In my case, video plays no role in my decision - if it would, then mirrorless would certainly be the more attractive than DSLR.

 

At this juncture, Nikon Z-mount is not attractive to me yet - mostly because I do not want to use an adapter and the currently available camera bodies don't satisfy me. Another point is that mirrorless cameras are cheaper to produce than DSLR bodies - and we now get full frame mirrorless bodies with prices that equal those of enthusiast-level DSLR bodies. Unfortunately, lens prices don't follow the same trend - the newer offerings for mirrorless almost always cost more than their DSLR counterparts - but in many cases, the promised increase in optical quality is delivered.

 

To summarize - for me, entering the mirrorless world was entirely lens-driven. First easily adaptable manual focus lenses - then lighter and better AF ones. I tolerated more than embraced the EVF, and the fact that up until now (or very recently), the AF performance of mirrorless bodies lagged behind what I have grown used to in my DSLRs (I am mainly shooting wildlife; mirrorless certainly has surpassed the DSLR when it comes to people photography). It's only a matter of time though - and mirrorless certainly has the advantage of not having to AF fine tune my lenses (mostly the longer focal lengths ones). The Sony A9/A9II demonstrates what's currently possible - once a higher-MP body with black-out-free and virtually lag-free EVF and capable of 15fps+ with full AF/AE capability is available at reasonable cost, then I consider my DSLR days to be numbered.

I would like to think that it should be quite obvious why mirrorless bodies are much cheaper to product than DSLRs in the same class. That entire mirror mechanism that is tightly synchronized with the shutter opening is delicate and hard to manufacture, so is the AF module that is below the mirror through a secondary mirror behind the main mirror. The newly introduced, FX-format Nikon Z5 with dual SD card slots is only $1400 at introduction, and that can probably go further down by $200 in a few months.

 

Concerning lenses, I am very happy with the Nikon 14-30mm/f4 S. There has never been any FX wide zoom for SLRs that can get to 14mm while accepting a conventional screw-on filter (in this case 82mm). Nikon does have a 16-35mm/f4 AF-S VR, but the general recommendation is to avoid the widest couple of mm.