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by E.J. Peiker on Mon Jan 06, 2020 9:31 pm
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D780:
https://www.dpreview.com/news/1612173662/nikon-s-new-d780-is-a-z6-in-a-familiar-dslr-body

New Lenses:
70-200/2.8 for Z mount - https://www.dpreview.com/news/1163990370/nikons-70-200-f2-8-for-z-mount-to-ship-in-february
120-300/2.8 fo F-mount - https://www.dpreview.com/news/2444867438/nikon-af-s-120-300mm-f2-8e-fl-ed-sr-vr-arrives-next-month-for-9500
 

by E.J. Peiker on Tue Jan 07, 2020 7:21 am
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Initial D780 review:
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikon-d780-review

For somebody that doesn't need more than 24mp and doesn't want to make the jump to mirrorless, this could be your last camera.
 

by E.J. Peiker on Tue Jan 07, 2020 7:35 am
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This summarizes what's new and the changes pretty well:
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikon-d780-review/2

And finally, finally, finally, one of the big 3 manufacturers (Socanikon) break through the 30 second exposure maximum before having to go to BULB.  You can set shutter speeds up to 900 seconds.  It still doesn't compete with some manufacturers which can go as high as 3600 seconds (1 hour), but 900 is a heck of a lot more flexible than 30 seconds.  I wish Sony and Canon would wake up on this!

Just from reading, it looks like this may be the best DSLR in Live View (mirrorless) mode as it basically adds all of the capabilities of the mirrorless Z6 (except for the EVF of course).  Plus it is USB chargeable, something that all cameras should adopt.
 

by Scott Fairbairn on Tue Jan 07, 2020 11:31 am
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Another review, http://dslrbodies.com/newsviews/nikon-2 ... unced.html
A little underwhelming according to Thom.
 

by photoman4343 on Tue Jan 07, 2020 1:08 pm
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Regarding the new 120-300mm f2.8, it is big, heavy and expensive. Given that Nikon has a very good 70-200mm f2.8 at a much lower cost, why devote production space and other resources for a 120-300mm F2.8? I do not buy "the Olympics" as the need.
Joe Smith
 

by wdg on Tue Jan 07, 2020 3:31 pm
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Curious about the D780.
I have the Z7 (and the D850, both of which I enjoy using) and was thinking of picking up the Z6 but not sure now.
The D780 is essentially a Z6 from what I’ve read?
The Z6 is cheaper now but also older.
I’m intrigued tho by the 900 sec exposure.
Guess I’m asking for thoughts from EJ and others.
 

by Craig Browne on Tue Jan 07, 2020 4:32 pm
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My old Nikon F5 used to do 30 minute exposures,,,
 

by Cynthia Crawford on Tue Jan 07, 2020 4:51 pm
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Two things I love about the d750 are it's low light capability and the built-in flash. Will the new D780 do as well in low light? I would hate having to put on a flash for the little amount I use one for this particular camera. The D750 built-in flash has been great for occasional fill flash IMHO.
On the other hand, I really miss having a touch screen, but it's not quite a deal breaker. It will be interesting to see where this new camera goes. As for the other new elements-I suppose they must be an improvement IF there is no loss of low light excellence. Time will tell-will be watching more reviews and actual results, but for now I'm still pretty happy with D750. And the price (was) right, and will soon be ever right-er!
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by E.J. Peiker on Tue Jan 07, 2020 5:15 pm
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Cynthia Crawford wrote:Two things I love about the d750 are it's low light capability and the built-in flash.  Will the new D780 do as well in low light? 
It will do better because it's a newer generation of the same resolution sensor with BSI which should buy it as much as 2/3 of a stop of dynamic range and therefore noise and it also has a better image processing chip. The D750 is a 2014 camera so the components were specced out in 2012...
 

by adamsti on Tue Jan 07, 2020 5:32 pm
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The 120-300 price, wow. I'll stick with my Tamron G2 f/2.8 for the 70-200 range and my Nikon 300 2.8 for the long end. I don't think I'm really missing much in the 200-300 range since I have not had coverage with my equipment since I had a 100-400 a long time ago.
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by adamsti on Tue Jan 07, 2020 5:36 pm
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Scott Fairbairn wrote:Another review, http://dslrbodies.com/newsviews/nikon-2 ... unced.html
A little underwhelming according to Thom.
 I agree, no grip, no joystick for AF points, I'm not interested.
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by Gary Irwin on Tue Jan 07, 2020 8:17 pm
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wdg wrote:Curious about the D780.
I have the Z7 (and the D850, both of which I enjoy using) and was thinking of picking up the Z6 but not sure now.
The D780 is essentially a Z6 from what I’ve read?
The Z6 is cheaper now but also older.
I’m intrigued tho by the 900 sec exposure.
Guess I’m asking for thoughts from EJ and others.
I think it simply boils down to which you prefer -- DSLR or mirrorless? Personally I much prefer shooting my Z7 and have not picked up my D850 for months now even though it's much more capable for BIF. I just picked up a Z6 last week because I'm starting to dabble more in video. So I have no interest in the D780, even though it's newer and arguably has some better features. Interestingly, the D780 might be the camera that Nikon needs to introduce their legions of Nikon DSLR shooters to mirrorless tech, albeit without the benefit of the fantastic Z glass. 
Gary Likes Nature.
 

by E.J. Peiker on Wed Jan 08, 2020 6:43 am
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Gary, if you have already invested in a Z7, I think a Z6 would be a better backup going forward given that it is essentially the same camera with the same mount as the Z7.  As time goes by, the lenses you will want are the Z mount lenses as they are simply better by every test of equivalent lenses between F mount and Z mount and no need for an adapter.  Plus you can use all your F mount lenses on the Z cameras but you will never be able to sue Z mount lenses on an F-mount body.  So IMHO, if you have already invested in the future, I wouldn't get something that is a final gasp from the past.
 

by Cynthia Crawford on Wed Jan 08, 2020 7:51 am
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E.J. Peiker wrote:
Cynthia Crawford wrote:Two things I love about the d750 are it's low light capability and the built-in flash.  Will the new D780 do as well in low light? 
It will do better because it's a newer generation of the same resolution sensor with BSI which should buy it as much as 2/3 of a stop of dynamic range and therefore noise and it also has a better image processing chip. The D750 is a 2014 camera so the components were specced out in 2012...
Would it be better to get a Z6 and Nikon adapter if I were to replace the D750? (I am still using D850 and D500, though I am not happy with noise over ISO 1000 with d500. I live in a generally dark environment most of the year).
Cynthia (Cindy) Crawford-Moderator, Photo & Digital Art
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by E.J. Peiker on Wed Jan 08, 2020 8:51 am
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Cindy - "Still using a D850" - why stop, it's still the best DSLR ever made?!

As for a Z6 vs a D750, see my answer in the post right above your last post, in your case, since you haven't invested in the Z-mount, the answer might be different than the answer for Gary but the same points are valid ;)
 

by Cynthia Crawford on Wed Jan 08, 2020 12:09 pm
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E.J. Peiker wrote:Cindy - "Still using a D850" - why stop, it's still the best DSLR ever made?!

As for a Z6 vs a D750, see my answer in the post right above your last post, in your case, since you haven't invested in the Z-mount, the answer might be different than the answer for Gary but the same points are valid  ;)
Gotcha- thanks E.J. As for the D850 -no, I will never stop using that camera! But sometimes I like something with smaller files and lighter weight. Not going to do anything right away, if at all! Just exploring the future, I guess. My cameras and lenses seem to, strangely, get heavier every year....
Cynthia (Cindy) Crawford-Moderator, Photo & Digital Art
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"If I Keep a Green Bough in My Heart, the Singing Bird Will Come"  Chinese Proverb
 

by Anthony Medici on Wed Jan 08, 2020 7:23 pm
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photoman4343 wrote:Regarding the new 120-300mm f2.8, it is big, heavy and expensive. Given that Nikon has a very good 70-200mm f2.8 at a much lower cost, why devote production space and other resources for a 120-300mm F2.8? I do not buy "the Olympics" as the need.
I have more of an issue with the 58mm F .095 Noct in the production line up than the 120-300 F2.8.

It terms of its size, weight and price, it seems to me it is about the same as all the other recent exotic lens releases from Nikon over the past few hears. Those include the:

180-400 F4
400 F2.8 FL
500 F4 FL
600 F4 FL
800 F4 FL

All of these are more expensive than the new 120-300 F2.8 SR FL though at $9.5K, the new lens is only slightly cheaper.
All of these are heavier with the exception of the 500 F4 which is .3 lbs lighter with the 180-400 being only .3 lbs heavier.
And the size is what I'd expect a 300 F2.8 to be. It is only .75 lbs heavier and 1" longer than the older 300 F2.8. However, the new lens is a zoom so I expect it to be slightly bigger and heavier.

For the trips I've been taking to Africa, the 120-300 range is right between the 24-70 I use at the short end and the 500 PF I'm using at the long end. And it is replacing my Sigma 135 F1.8, Nikon 200 F2.0 and 300 F4 PF I've been using in the middle range. So not only is it good for basketball but I consider it a great complement to the 500 PF for wildlife work.
Tony


Last edited by Anthony Medici on Thu Jan 09, 2020 1:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
 

by Anthony Medici on Wed Jan 08, 2020 7:29 pm
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adamsti wrote:The 120-300 price, wow. I'll stick with my Tamron G2 f/2.8 for the 70-200 range and my Nikon 300 2.8 for the long end. I don't think I'm really missing much in the 200-300 range since I have not had coverage with my equipment since I had a 100-400 a long time ago.
You always choose your gap. My gap on the long end has been 200 to 500. With the new lens it is 300 to 500.
In the middle, I no longer need the Sigma 135 F1.8 and Nikon 200 F2 fixed lenses I was using. Or it could have been the 70-200 had I been using that lens.
And it adds a gap between the top of my 24-70 and the bottom of the new lens at 120. Which again is just about right for my style of work.

In terms of price, as I just listed above. It is the cheapest of the new Exotic lenses Nikon has recently released. A jump of about 3K or so from the old 300 F2.8 though they did add SR, FL and a zoom range to the newer lens to be fair to them.
Tony
 

by adamsti on Thu Jan 09, 2020 3:18 am
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300 to 500 is my gap on the long end also. I bought used though when I bought the Nikon 300 2.8 and Nikon 500 f/4 saving some money, but I still get a workout in lugging them around at airshows and auto races. :)
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by photoman4343 on Thu Jan 09, 2020 8:31 am
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Tony, thanks for your comment about the 100-300mm f2.8 as a replacement for some other "photo safari" lenses like a 70-200mm and a 300mm f4. I could see how a 100-300mm f2.8 lens and a 500mm f5.6 PF lens with two bodies would work well on such a trip.
Joe Smith
 

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