ShunCheung

For Nikon firmware upgrades, placing the binary firmware *.bin file under the top-most folder, i.e. root directory in UNIX terminology, is standard procedure. That is the same regardless of whether you use XQD, CFexpres, or SD cards (also the old CF, Compact Flash).

I have not experienced those issues on my Z8, or for that matter on the Z9. I assume it is a matter of settings. Before taking any pictures, it is important to format your memory cards on that Z8 beforehand. Otherwise, when you switch on the camera, it'll take a second or so for the camera to initialize the memory card(s), creating the file folder structure, etc.

My Z8 already has firmware version 2.0. I just put the binary file for 1.01 on an SD card and inserted that card onto the Z8, while the CFexpress slot was empty. The Z8 indeed lets me "upgrade" (actually downgrade) from 2.0 to 1.01. I didn't actually go through it, but apparently you can upgrade the firmware with an SD card. Previously, I have upgraded the firmware on my Z6ii with an SD card.

Note: Consider keeping uploads no larger than 1600 pixels on the long side when it matters, and sticking with 1000 pixels when the image feels no pain at that resolution. On data size/compression, try to keep things under 1mb, shooting for 600kb when you can stop there. Note that this includes photos hosted off-site (at Flickr, Photobucket, your own site, etc.). New to this thread? The general guidelines for these Wednesday threads are right here: https://www.photo.net/forums/topic/398109-guidelines-for-nikon-forum-wednesday-image-threads. For now, we're sticking with 1, 2, or 3 images per week as you see fit. Went back to the Colero Reservoir, but while there were a lot of grebes, there wasn't much rushing, which we discussed on the last Nikon Wednesday. In late afternoon most of the grebes were resting with their heads down. However, someone brought a dog to the park, and the dog suddenly started barking and woke everybody up.

You should be able to upgrade the Z8 firmware using either an SD card or CFexpress/XQD card. It may help if the other card slot is empty.

I have seen broken links such as the screen capture below, but it seems ok for the time being.

Dieter has been linking in images from his Flickr account in his posts. Intermittently, I only see a broken link, but it recovers after a while. Does anybody else observe a similar problem?

Juvenile bald eagle

When you think about it, you'll realize that is not always the case. I use the dual cards in the backup mode also, but I don't format the cards together. For example, I may have a 128G card in the first slot and a 512G in the second slot. I upload from the 128G daily and then format it, but I just leave the 512G card in its card slot and will only take it out after a few days. After the first day, the number of images on the cards will differ. Sometimes I also have a 1TB card in slot 1 for video and a smaller card in slot 2 for photo. Since there is no backup mode for video, the card in slot 1 will have both photo and video, but the card in slot 2 will only have photo. The image counts on the two cards will quickly differ. No, that is not how Nikon designs it. In the backup mode, the remaining image count is derived from the card will the smaller remaining space between the two. When that runs out, the camera will stop taking pictures, even though there is plenty of space on the other card. In the overflow mode, the remaining image count is based on the remaining space on the current memory card. The space available on the other card is not factored in, regardless of how large or small that may be.

Excellent point. The Z8 has that feature also. However, just like the D750, the Z8 has two memory card slots. If the two cards have different images on them, the camera can display different numbers, depending on which card the display image is coming from. And it is showing the total number of images on that card. The count could be including images from a day ago, a month ago or even 6 months ago, depending on when that card was last formatted.

Grebe rushing videos are difficult to capture, as you have no idea where in the lake and when it will happen. This is another video from two years ago at the same reservoir. The Z9 was brand new back then. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVdYeGJ-xrM

My experience is different. I had not used my 300mm/f2.8 AF-S (purchased in 1998) and 300mm/f4 AF-S (2001) for years, but I tested them a few months ago before selling them, and both AF motors were fine. The AF-S motors on my 17-35mm/f2.8 and 28-70mm/f2.8 started squealing for several years, especially the 28-70, before they finally failed. I still used the 17-35 a lot, but I stopped using the 28-70 after I got the 24-70mm/f2.8 AF-S VR.

I captured that double rainbow image at the Calero Reservoir County Park on the southern part of the Silicon Valley on February 8. I was there mainly to photograph Western and Clark's Grebes. The sky was clearing but I still got some rain so that I needed to cover up the camera and lenses. But of course without the rain, I wouldn't have gotten the rainbows. This is one of the videos I captured that day. Pair rushing is a mating ritual for those grebes. Nikon Z9 with F-mount 600mm/f4 AF-S VR & FTZii. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og02oNAkuew

Again, the problem is what is your definition for number of frames taken? The number of images on that particular card? The number of image captured so far on that day .... If there are two cards in the backup mode, the number of images could be different on the two cards. It is very different from film, where the definition should be number of frame already captured on that roll. If you don't want to use the battery info, you can remember the first image number for that day, or whenever your starting point is, and do the math based on the last image number.

Note: Consider keeping uploads no larger than 1600 pixels on the long side when it matters, and sticking with 1000 pixels when the image feels no pain at that resolution. On data size/compression, try to keep things under 1mb, shooting for 600kb when you can stop there. Note that this includes photos hosted off-site (at Flickr, Photobucket, your own site, etc.). New to this thread? The general guidelines for these Wednesday threads are right here: https://www.photo.net/forums/topic/398109-guidelines-for-nikon-forum-wednesday-image-threads. For now, we're sticking with 1, 2, or 3 images per week as you see fit. Happy Valentine's Day. Z9 with 24-70mm/f4 S @ 24mm, f8, 1/125 sec and ISO 64

I have never had the need to determine how many frames the camera has captured, and since which point? Nikon can estimate how many frames the camera can capture before the memory card is full, based on the current remaining space on the card. (If there are two cards in the backup mode, it would be the smaller remaining space between the two cards. If it is in the overflow mode, only the card currently in use is taken into consideration.) For the question of how many frames has been captured so far, the question would be when do you start counting? Since you insert the memory card into the camera, since you change batteries, since you switch on the camera the last time? Do existing images on the card, either from this Z8 or from another camera, count? The battery, i.e. the EN-EL15c (or earlier mode) on the Z8 does keep track of the number of exposures since you last recharge it. Therefore, if you use a freshly recharged battery on a Z8, that is one way to keep track of the number of frames. Check "battery info" in the Set Up menu.

The AF-S motors in my 17-35mm/f2.8 and 28-70mm/f2.8 have both failed about 4, 5 years old, and I bought those lenses around 2001, 2002. I figure those motors can last perhaps 20 years with moderate use. I sold the 300mm/f4, 300mm/f2.8 and 500mm/f4 in the last few years so that (other then those two without working AF motors) I no longer own any AF-S lens with an aperture ring. When I bought my 500mm/f5.6 PF in January 2019, I thought that probably would be the final F-mount lens I purchased. Now that lens is just out of its 5-year extended warranty, which is no longer available to new Nikkor lenses. I am going to keep things that way. It is all Z lenses for me at this point, although I occasionally adapt that 500 or an older 600mm/f4 on my Z bodies. If that 200mm/f2 AF-S is cheap enough, perhaps it is worthwhile to take a chance. But don't count on getting its AF-S motor replaced and that lens may become manual focus only.

The 300mm/f4 PF should be quite sharp. I have one but don't use it that often. If you are into birds, get the 500mm/f5.6 PF, whose value has dropped drastically in the used market. The 70-200mm/f2.8 with 1.4x TC won't be long enough. Also, in the DX crop mode, your D780 only has 10MP or so. That could potentially be an issue unless you only share your images on social media and e-mail.

This is the back side of a 1988 Nikon N8008 (F801) brochure.

Western Grebe

Given the huge number of changes Nikon made, I expect some bugs. That was why I waited a bit, about 12 hours, before I upgraded. Most likely we’ll have FW 2.01 and even 2.02 soon.

Is that related to the firmware 2.0 upgrade? Seems like they are talking about an independent issue. You can always downgrade the FW back to 1.01 and see whether the issue goes away.

Of course, both of my iPhone 5 were damaged.