Hi bitLanders! Its another weekend to spend with the husband. Unlike the previous weekends where we had spent our long days in different towns of Bohol, this weekend is a very educational one for the two of us as we sign up for a free workshop which introduces the new Nikon mirrorless camera.

Nikon Z7 Goes to Cebu

Video credits: Nikon Europe via YouTube

Nikon's first ever mirrorless cameras had visited Cebu today at SM City Cebu. The event was put up by Nikon and Colours Photo Academy which involved three key points:

1. Introduction to Nikon Mirrorless Full Frame Cameras
2. Gab Mejia's Journey as a Travel Photographer
3. Workshop with Mr. Mike Sia

Image credits: bitLanders Society via Facebook

This blog is all about what my husband and I had learned through the entire four-hour course. This was a free event and so it was a perfect way to learn more about camera gears most especially in the Nikon mirrorless technology together with their future Z series lenses.

But more importantly, there was a workshop and an inspirational story in between which was really what made this event very interactive and encouraging. Let me share with you how our day went.

Nikon Z7 and Z6 in Town

Image credits: nikon

The mirrorless cameras are here to change the way the world takes photographs. Mirrorless cameras as much more lighter than the DSLR, they have been developed for portability use and they carry more advanced technology within their systems.

Although a little late, Nikon was able to release their very first mirrorless system full frame for professional use, Nikon Z7, and Nikon Z6. Both have the same Z mount technologies. The differences between them are the sensors, focus points, the frames per second, ISO range, autofocusing, and pixels. In short, Z7 is much advanced while the Z6 is more for the amateur or entry-level photographers.

Image credits: smartprix

Obviously, Z6 is way cheaper than Z7.

Mr. Vince of the Nikonph Marketing Team had officially introduced the new mirrorless cameras. He opened up with the information that these mirrorless cameras have the shortest flange focal distance amongst brands today at 16mm and a 55mm inner mount diameter.

Aside from that, this new camera technology provides the following advantages:

Image credits: bitLanders Society via Facebook

1. Delivers extreme resolution.

With the Nikon Expeed 6 processor engine, the Nikon Z series delivers the best image quality.

2. EVF delivers edge to edge clear natural view.

Image credits: bitLanders Society via Facebook

It has been mentioned by different mirrorless photographers how these cameras have weird viewfinder designs. Almost all brands had this issue and Nikon listened to the consumers on this matter so they created an electronic viewfinder which makes it easier to use it most especially for prolonged uses. In this camera, using it for hours won't stain the photographer's eyes.

3. In-camera 5 axis VR.

For videographers, this camera has good image stabilization because of its 5 axis VR. The x and y movement or vibration on the camera is definitely a plus to those who are shooting events!

Image credits: thephoblographer

4. Full frame 4k.

The best thing about this mirrorless camera is that it is full frame and can shoot full frame 4k. It also has other options for the shooting types. This allows the possibility of shooting timelapse with full frame 4k.

5. Nlog 10 bit 422.

This has more to do about their color profile and or dynamic range in which the footages can be graded without losing any detail or information out of each frame. This may sound very technical and I am sorry for that.

6. Topnotched Ergonomics.

Image credits: digitaltrends

With the new mirrorless technology released by Nikon, there's a talk in town about the transitioning from their old DSLRs and Nikon made the new technology in a way that the users who had been using these DSLRs won't take time in getting used to using the new camera. In fact, they have the same buttons and ergonomics with the old camera!

7. Robustness.

Image credits: techradar

Build with Magnesium alloy, these cameras are also weather sealed, so it is totally waterproof, dustproof and more. In that case, the camera is perfect for those travel photographers and even those who are just using it for portraits and lifestyle photography.

In fact, one of our goals as well in this business is to get a hand of those weather sealed camera bodies and lenses. It is definitely different when your camera is weather sealed. It eliminates those rain shower hassles when shooting.

8. System compatibility.

As mentioned earlier, the new Nikkon Z series have also provided their Nikkor Z lenses. They have developed 50mm f1.8S, 35mm 1.8S, and 24-70mm f4. These lenses have a nanocrystal coating which makes it an ultra-durable lens.

Image credits: theverge

Significantly, since the camera has the shortest flange focal distance, it also produces the same bokeh from other brands' wider aperture lenses. This also means the photographs produced have zero chromatic aberrations which are very applaudable!

As for those Nikon loyal users who had already collected several lenses from old DSLR series, this new system provides the brand new FTZ mount adapter which serves as a medium for the old lenses to be used in the Z mount. So far, there are 360 lenses that can be used into the mirrorless camera through the FTZ mount adapter.

9. Focus Peaking.

Image credits: dpreview

With the full frame mirrorless, Nikon cameras come to their focus peaking function. This allows the photographer to know if he is in focus or out of focus by simply adding in a color for the focus peaking feature. With that highlights on the live view, it is way easier to shoot at your preferred focused area.

I personally have some trust issues with focus peaking most especially when I tried it using the Canon M50, a mirrorless camera as well from Canon but of which my experience had been all but negative when shooting portraits. I had used the focus peaking yet the photos were totally opposite from being sharp to where I had placed the focus. But when we used the Nikon Z cameras, the focus peaking was so far nailing it! By that, I had already changed my perspective with the focus peaking and how graceful it works with Nikon!

Video credits: Tony & Chelsea Northrup via YouTube

The second and third part of this event will be narrated in the next blog, the second part of this topic. Perhaps I might be splitting this in three as well because the second and third parts of the event were also very interesting and educational. So better watch out for the following in the next blog/s:

Part 2. Gab Mejia's Journey as a Travel Photographer
Part 3. Lifestyle Photography Workshop with Mr. Mike Sia

If you have reached this part, thanks a lot for reading! I hope you also had learned something about the new Nikon Z mirrorless cameras and perhaps consider getting a hand on any of them. In the near future, new Z mount lenses will be announced as well and in the coming years, it will all be about the Z series but of course, they specified that the DSLR series will still be available as well as they won't be phasing those models anytime soon.

What do you think? Would you consider buying this camera? As for James and I, I guess we will just look into other mirrorless cameras with almost the same price range. We had compared it with the Sony A7 III and they have a close price range but there are several differences and we like Sony too! Oh well, let's see in the future if we will indeed go full mirrorless.

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About the author:
Jean Beltran-Figues is a photography and calligrpahy enthusiast.
A traveler who wants to promote her beloved country, the Philippines.