How useful is the MF assist in ZF? And do Z7 i and ii have that?: Nikon Z Mirrorless Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review (2024)

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See Tony Northrup's video for an example of it. The ZF is the only one with it, but they all have zoom and focus peaking. I'd say SUPER useful if you're into manual focus lenses.

I THINK the better EVF in the Z6III can provide visual confirmation of focus which is more important and natural to use. I'd like to see more digital focus confirmation features in modern cameras. Fuji and Panasonic have some neat options in their cameras.

The ZF should have had a split-prism focus simulation for the full retro experience.

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Keep in mind that MF assist only works with chipped lenses like the Voigtlander lenses or other F mount lenses. It does not work with uncapped lenses like manual focus lenses from China

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skyrunr wrote:

The ZF is the only one with it,

Nope. The Z6 III has it, too.

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samsst wrote:

The new z6 iii is a bit of a disappointment for me, because it has only 24 MP.

While 24MP is a bit on the low side by today's standards (considering APSC bodies now have 30-40MP like on he Fuji, and Sony's A7 IV is 30-32MP - although that one is FF) it's still a respectable resolution. If you need more, there's always the z8 for about $1000 more currently (but probably not for too much longer as it may come off sale).

Perhaps in a subsequent iteration of the Z6 it will get a 30-40MP sensor but I wouldn't get your hopes up either. My guess is they chose to sacrifice resolution for speed, and I think it will pay off here with the new hybrid BSI/partially stacked sensor design (although I'm curious how that works). But to be honest (and I'm not speaking for everyone here) I think most are just happy they basically have a competitive they "mini Z8" basically, with a few limitations. My guess is that to get the speed necessary for higher-res bodies they may have had to go with a full stacked sensor, which probably would have driven the price closer to $3k USD which you might as well just go all out and get a Z8 at that point, but they had a price point in mind to be competitive and so something had to give, and that was resolution.

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sirhawkeye64 wrote:

samsst wrote:

The new z6 iii is a bit of a disappointment for me, because it has only 24 MP.

While 24MP is a bit on the low side by today's standards (considering APSC bodies now have 30-40MP like on he Fuji, and Sony's A7 IV is 30-32MP - although that one is FF) it's still a respectable resolution. If you need more, there's always the z8 for about $1000 more currently (but probably not for too much longer as it may come off sale).

I suspect I need to do another article about megapixels, as people keep getting hung up on a number that doesn't actually tell them what they need to know.

skyrunr wrote:

See Tony Northrup's video for an example of it. The ZF is the only one with it, but they all have zoom and focus peaking. I'd say SUPER useful if you're into manual focus lenses.

I THINK the better EVF in the Z6III can provide visual confirmation of focus which is more important and natural to use. I'd like to see more digital focus confirmation features in modern cameras. Fuji and Panasonic have some neat options in their cameras.

The ZF should have had a split-prism focus simulation for the full retro experience.

What options does Panasonic cameras have It only has focus peaking... or have they come out with something new?

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Thom Hogan wrote:

skyrunr wrote:

The ZF is the only one with it,

Nope. The Z6 III has it, too.

Including eye detect?

Thom Hogan wrote:

sirhawkeye64 wrote:

samsst wrote:

The new z6 iii is a bit of a disappointment for me, because it has only 24 MP.

While 24MP is a bit on the low side by today's standards (considering APSC bodies now have 30-40MP like on he Fuji, and Sony's A7 IV is 30-32MP - although that one is FF) it's still a respectable resolution. If you need more, there's always the z8 for about $1000 more currently (but probably not for too much longer as it may come off sale).

I suspect I need to do another article about megapixels, as people keep getting hung up on a number that doesn't actually tell them what they need to know.

Yes maybe. IMO 24MP is fine here and for those that need more MP, well, Nikon has an option but it's going to cost you a bit more....

Thank you Thom. I have watched or read about a dozen reviews of the Z6 III and no one has discussed it. To me, the behavior of the body with manual focus lenses (all the old AI/AIS lenses as well as chipped lenses like the Voigtlander F mount 40 f/2 and Z mount 50 f/2) is one of my top concerns.

Ideally, the Z6 III will have all the manual focus aids and behavior of the Zf in a more DSLR style body!

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My Zf’s MF assist is a relatively recent “discovery” by me - and I’m finding it extremely useful. I was only using the green focus confirmation box and hadn’t tried automatic subject detection, it’s almost magical.

https://youtu.be/9ifPCfpG2eQ

For static scenes, the 100% zoom on my Z6 works well. I can watch the zone of focus move in and out as I turn the focus ring. I have F2=100% zoom, so I press F2 and zoom to the AF location, then a second press zooms all the way out.

The red/green focus box on the Z6/Z7 ii, Z8, and Z6 iii would be much more effective for changing scenes. I could see the whole image while checking for a green focus box. And the subject detection focus box would track the subject too.

sirhawkeye64 wrote:

Thom Hogan wrote:

sirhawkeye64 wrote:

samsst wrote:

The new z6 iii is a bit of a disappointment for me, because it has only 24 MP.

While 24MP is a bit on the low side by today's standards (considering APSC bodies now have 30-40MP like on he Fuji, and Sony's A7 IV is 30-32MP - although that one is FF) it's still a respectable resolution. If you need more, there's always the z8 for about $1000 more currently (but probably not for too much longer as it may come off sale).

I suspect I need to do another article about megapixels, as people keep getting hung up on a number that doesn't actually tell them what they need to know.

Yes maybe. IMO 24MP is fine here and for those that need more MP, well, Nikon has an option but it's going to cost you a bit more....

Sounds familiar, no?

Others offer the same 24mp. At times much higher cost.

If you want more then those extra pixels are either rather slow - or more expensive.

Any FF body with more pixels and at least same speed out there?

Pick one spec only and declare it fantastico? Is that what makes a camera?

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