Evolution to Mirrorless
My life with digital cameras started in 2003 when I purchased a Nikon D100 with a nice lens and a 1GB memory card. I still have the manfrotto tripod that I purchased with this camera, although I’ve changed heads a few times. This D100 was a 6.1 megapixel camera and totally state of the art. I used and traveled all over the world with that camera until 2006.
I decided to upgrade and I really wanted a Nikon D2, but that body was just so out of my price range. I made a compromise and got a Fuji S2-Pro (12 megapixel), which had a great sensor and the same megapixels as the D2x. It used the same F-mount Nikon lenses so it wasnt that big of a leap. When I got home from Iraq after using that Fuji for nearly 2 years, Even though the D3 had come out, I picked up a used D2x (12 megapixels) in 2008 that was my main/only camera until 2016.
When I retired from the Army, I decided to get a new camera body. I had a few Nikon lenses and wanted to be able to keep using them. The Nikon D810 was the top pro model and they had the flagship D5 out. I could definitely tell the difference with 36 megapixels. I had an unfortunate accident with my D810 in 2018. It literally fell out of the back of my car with my 70-200 lens on it. I broke the lens hood but the lens, although scuffed up, seemed to be just fine. The camera was not. It was still connected to the lens although the two were in separate hands. I wanted to cry.
I got a used D850 to replace the D810. Holy Cow… this new camera was just amazing! I loved shooting it and amazed at how fast it was and how great the photos were. It was literally the best camera I’d ever used to date. Mirrorless cameras were out but I was still holding on to my DSLRs. I just couldn’t make the leap yet… until…
I started shooting weddings. I had a D850 and a bag full of lenses. I was trying to switch lenses in the middle of ceremonies because I wanted to use different focal lengths. I realized quickly why wedding photographers had two cameras on them. It was so they didnt have to switch lenses. It was at this point I decided to give the mirrorless game a try. I got a Nikon Z7 in order to be able to use my current inventory of premium Nikon lenses.
My shooting style was vastly different between the Z7 and my D850… I was so conflicted. The 850 was just so much faster though. The turning point for me was actually shooting real estate. I had a 24mm tilt shift lens with the adaptor on my Z7 and was scratching my head at how muddy the photos were. I then realized that I was using a 20 year old lens designed for film cameras on a 45 megapixel digital camera. I sold my D850 and all of my F lenses and purchased a second Z7. Now I could use two different lenses on the exact same camera so my shooting style would be exactly the same.
I have some issues though. The autofocus on the Z7 has eye detection which is awesome when it works, but its been slow. I miss some shots at weddings and its been frustrating. It also doesn’t shoot as fast as my D850 and theres only one memory card slot. I’ve taken over a hundred thousand photos with the Z7 and have NEVER had an issue with a memory card.
I now have a Z6 that I use for real estate, and video and my brand new Z9! This is going to quickly become my main camera body for everything! I’m still going to have a z7 on my side and a probably hand a Z7 and Z6 to me second shooter at weddings. I’m excited to use this new camera and I already feel its going to be amazing!
