ShunCheung

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.

I believe all 13 Z9 plus lenses and FTZ went into orbit on January 30. Not sure why they need so many, but I am sure they have plenty of backups. I wonder why they need 15 FTZii. Back in the 1970’s, NASA used Hasselblad and Nikon cameras. I don’t think it is an exclusive relationship now, but it is super inconvenient to have incompatible cameras and lenses. I doubt that NASA also uses another brand now. https://www.nikonusa.com/en/about-nikon/press-room/press-release/lptu8tto/NIKON-Z-9-GOES-TO-SPACE:-SPACE-STATION-ASTRONAUTS-RECEIVE-NIKON’S-FLAGSHIP-FULL-FRAME-MIRRORLESS-CAMERA.html

On January 30, NASA sent 13 Nikon Z9 cameras, 15 Nikkor Z lenses and 15 FTZii adapters onto the International Space Station. The Z9 are replacing the D5 and D6 that were in use since 2017. (The D5 was introduced in 2016 and the D6 in 2020.) https://www.nikon.com/company/news/2024/0207_mirrorless_03.html NASA first used Nikon cameras back in 1971 with a special edition of the Nikon F on an Apollo 15 mission that went to the moon: https://www.nikonlenswear.com/why-nikon/nikon-with-nasa/

I checked various forum and FaceBook groups. It looks like everybody is upgrading their Z8 just fine. I just upgraded myself and it took a bit less than 5 minutes. So far no issues. Very happy to have bird AF on my Z8 now, just like the Z9.

Ricci received the new firmware early and had a chance to test that during a trip to Iceland. He has an 18-minute video on the new firmware:

This is the link to download the new Z8 2.0 firmware: https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/download/fw/514.html From Windows, this time you directly download the binary .bin file. There is no more executable archive from which you extract the binary. The changes are a mile long, very extensive. I have downloaded it, but I am going to wait a couple of days to see whether there are any issues before I update my Z8. Below in blue is Nikon's description among the many many changes in 2.0.

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. Sunset at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge: both images with the Z-mount Nikkor 20mm/f1.8 S @ f8, ISO 64. I captured the two images about 20 minutes apart. In between, I moved the tripod so that the compositions are a bit different. Usually the sky is at its best a few minutes after sunset.

I got my first iPhone 5 back in 2012 and that was my first iPhone. The following year I had a new job that came with another iPhone 5. The front glass on my first iPhone 5 started splitting off in 2014, i.e. two years after I got it, and then the following year my work iPhone 5 did the same thing. Of course the battery inside those iPhones are not user changeable and you always charge them inside the phone. Recently, I started changing my Nikon batteries inside the cameras. We'll see whether that will be a problem or not.

Just a quick reminder that the third presentation of the same problem will be on Wednesday, February 7 at 6pm Pacific. They are working on a fourth session with the same content, but the exact date has not been finalized yet.

To echo Mary's post, this is the American White Pelican. The feather on the trailing edge of their wings is black, as black feather is supposed to be more durable.

There is an old saying, “If it ain’t brok, don’t fix it.” A high-quality NC filter probably won’t degrade the image by much, and the difference is not discernible, but it sure won’t improve it.

Some people have suggested that over time, some old Li-ion batteries can swell and get stuck inside the camera. I have been using Nikon Li-ion batteries since 2002, with the D100 and EN-EL3. I must have had over 30 different Nikon batteries; none has ever swelled. However, once I had two iPhone 5, and both batteries started swelling after two years. The swelling battery would split the front glass from the phone. It is probably a good idea to remove the battery from the camera once in a while.

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. Time goes fast; the first month of 2024 is almost over. Obviously this is an image of the Davies Symphony Hall, which is in San Francisco. Nikon Z6ii + 24-120mm/f4 S lens

Sunset at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. Hopefully no human-made objects are visible in this image, as there could be some way in a distance. I used a 20mm lens so that this is a wide view.

If you don’t leave an EN-EL** inside the camera, after a long time, e.g. months, the internal battery runs out, and you will lose your settings and the clock will reset.

White-tailed kite, with dinner

I also attended via Zoom on Wednesday evening. It was very good. Paul Van Allen mentioned that they are adding a 4th session, but he hasn't updated his FaceBook post yet. It sounds like the extra session will be on February 6?? In any case, the second one will be this evening, Thursday, January 25.

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. Red-eyed tree frogs, in the Caribbean lowlands in Costa Rica The first image with the frog climbing up a vine was an on-location set up shot with studio lights. The second one was in a garden at night, with lighting from flashlights.

Several years ago, some friends and I all have both the 200-500 and 80-400 in the F mount. Some people felt that the 200-500 is the sharper between the two, but I like the 80-400 a lot. However, when Nikon introduced the 500mm/f5.6 PF in late 2018, plenty of people moved from the 200-500 to the 500 PF because it is much lighter. If you would like to have 500mm in the F mount, that is probably the best way to go. I also have the 300mm/f4 PF; that is a very compact lens but I rarely use it since I find 300mm too short. In the Z mount, there are a lot of great telephoto choices, but those lenses are useless if you use Nikon DSLRs.

Paul Van Allen is a long-time Nikon USA instructor and field rep. He is from California, moved to Connecticut, and Nikon relocated him to the Los Angeles area to serve the western states. I used to see him a couple of times a year around 2010, before a major local camera store went out of business in 2016. I last saw him in 2019 but not since the pandemic. I understand that he recently moved to Texas. For those who have watch this presentation before, it should be very good. The talk on Wednesday, January 24, starts a 6pm Mountain Time as it will be in Colorado, but the Thursday one will start at 6pm Pacific. I have a different commitment on Thursday but may attend the one in February also.

I would get the 500mm/f5.6 PF. Its value in the used market has dropped in favor of Z mount lenses. That should form a great combo with the 70-300.