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I have to admit I have been happy with the recent Tamron lenses on my F-mount cameras (I use the G2 70-200mm f2.8 regularly). The 28-75 was fantastic optically, but it just doesn't have the same build quality as the Nikkor 24-70 f4. Like you, I prefer the wider 24mm at the wide end.

Hi Joao, if the D200 weight is too much for your personal use, the Zf - or any full-frame camera - is going to have the same concern for you. That said, the Zf is 200g lighter than the D200 was (710g with battery compared to 920g). If you get small primes then the weight stays down. As soon as you get any of the new S-line zooms though, then the weight advantage disappears. If weight and size are your biggest concerns I would consider Fujifilm. The smaller APS-C sensor means for a smaller lens and will also be familiar to you from the D200's format. Even an old (and now cheap) XT-2 will feel like it's lightyears ahead of the D200 and will weigh next to nothing compared to it (507g with battery).

@@emilvonmaltitz I've been looking at Fuji, but as I also like to make Milky way and I do not know if a APS-C produces noise. Thank you for your comprehensive answer. Really helps. Regards

For MW I've certainly found that the cleanest images seem to come from the crop of 24mp FF cameras out there. However, the workshops we run through Nature's Light have a large number of Fujifilm users and they seem to get pretty good results with the right lenses (wide aperture 10 and 12mm optics). I'd suggest renting a Fujifilm setup for a night shoot to see how you find it. I still own and occasionally use a very beat up Fuji XT-1 and happily used it for nighttime MW timelapses with a Samyang 12mm f2 lens.

@@emilvonmaltitz Awesome, thanks for the advise! Great work.

Thanks for watching and for the comment Bob. The S5ii is an exceptional camera...as with every camera it has it's quirks. Give it some more time and it might grow on you. That's a very valid point about photographers holding and trying a camera personally before purchasing. Right now there are very few cameras that aren't brilliant (the same can be said from camera 8 years ago), but how they feel in hand is wildly different and very subjective for every user. The example I often use is my first 'online' purchase of a Nikon F100 (years ago). Awesome camera, but I couldn't use it for longer than 2 hours at a stretch (event photography etc) without getting a blister on the tip of my right hand ring finger. The grip was just a smidgeon too small. Ended up resorting back to my F4 (still the most comfortable camera I have ever used) and a battery gripped FE2. If I had actually held the F100 in hand before purchasing, I probably wouldn't have bought it.

@@jorgecarrasco868 thanks Jorge. Glad you found it useful!

Either. My preference is towards using Sessions, but if you like the LR way of doing things you can opt for the Catalogue instead. I’ll look at doing a video on how to switch catalogues in the future.

The A7CII is an excellent camera, but if you are a Nikon user the Zf is probably the more likely choice. If you mean 'haptic' as in how the camera operates, that's a very personal preference regardless of which camera one selects. I know photographers who far prefer the feel and control of a camera like the Zf, and others who prefer the more modern UI of a camera like the Sony A7C.

@@dominiclester3232 thanks Dominic, and thanks for watching!

Fair point. 'Lego' would also work as a comparison.

@@swaroopsankarsivadasan it would be! I have absolutely zero sway with Nisi international but am going to be chatting to our local distributor to see if they can raise the topic at the very least.

It’s absolutely very modern with it’s autofocus, vibration reduction and ability to record N-Log 4k. It just has a nostalgic twist to its form.

Would love to… anyone offering to lend me one?

@@ralfkrahe2493 my pleasure. Thanks for watching

Absolute pleasure. Glad you found it useful

Unfortunately the latter at the moment. I’m going to mention the possibility to our distributor here who can at least plant the idea with Leofoto…it would definitely set th apart from other tripod brands.

@@emilvonmaltitz Yes, it absolutely would!😃

@@prehim-preetamnegi9088 I suspect the Zf may get some nice discounts to differentiate from the Z6iii later this year… will make it even more attractive

@@firstclassfish01 i think you’ll get your wish about another angle soon. The new LS-324 PRO and the Mr Y apexs have an additional 42 degree angle (and I believe the first spread is now 23degrees). Which apex are they phasing out?

@@emilvonmaltitzI noticed just now some eBay listings saying 23 degrees, but it’s on the older models so I’m not sure if they used to say 23, but people measured them at less. The apex that has the quick release setup for the center tube, I think that was the LSPro and the LQ (not Mr.q?)On the US site we currently have zero options for legs with the water sealing. 43 deg, would be nice and was only on the Mr. Q. They told me everything would become X series. 🤷🏻‍♂️ it’s been awhile, I need to go over it all again. As always good videos and help. Cheers

@@emilvonmaltitzand some still have that hollowed out apex that is weaker and others have the better one.

That would be me being an idiot - I wasn;'t thinking when I was disassembling and reassembling and only 'clicked' when I saw your comment. Yes, you can do it with just the LS-254CL and the LS-324CEX.

@@emilvonmaltitz no worries! Thank you for the clarification. I just ordered the LS-255C LH and cant wait to see this beast of a tripod. I think it will be close to ~8' similar to what you had stated in the video but weigh a bit more with some of by added attachments. Thank you again for making this great video!

Sure. There’s a view of the G4 (geared head on the Summit tripod) on the DC column and also a view of the LH-40 (ball head when it’s viewed). I think there also a few glimpses of a LH-30 on the close up images of the LS-284CL and LY-284C.

@@emilvonmaltitz Thank you !!

Thanks Christian! And thanks for watching.

Brilliant! (Although not brilliant that your gear got stolen…sorry about that). What tripods did you get in the end?

@@emilvonmaltitz Thanks. I bought a LM-324 CL and a LS-284 CEX with a LH-40 ball head. For the tall legs I installed a Manfrotto Fluid Head. I had Really Right Stuff ball heads on my stolen gear but couldn't justify the expense as we have a lower valued dollar here in Canada with a high exchange rate.

@@davelindey8023 that’s a really nice setup. A good range of support options. I agree with you about the RRS head though. They’re the Rolls-Royce of heads but unless you’re in the US (with a US salary) they’re just too expensive.

Is that the original older design which is no longer available? I'm not familiar with the variant you mention, unless it's the Mr Q which is a brilliant miniaturized version of the Summit.

That would be cool! I'm not sure they'll bring out a CEX version though. Again, if you have a CEX already you can add those legs. I imagine we'll get a 'wrapped' PRO at some stage. Leofoto have a policy that if there are enough orders, they'll custom make a line...so if you can impress upon your local Distributer that an LP-324CEXPRO is a marketable tripod....it can be made really easily (that's how South Africa got the 'Agulhas' - LP364CEX).

I thought I pointed that out, but maybe didn't do it effectively when I showed switching out a DC column with the flat plate. I'm hoping to show the fact that there's even more to the system than the designed modularity of the 'systematic tripods'.

You did, adequately, just not using the systematic concept, from Gitzo, which ties it all together.

My pleasure! Glad you found it useful and thanks for watching.

Thanks Jorge. I appreciate that. Will be doing some more C1 videos soon. Let me know if there's something in particular you'd like to hear about.

@@emilvonmaltitz Emil, I was interested in adjusting colors using Levels and Curves in C1. I believe you mentioned in one of the videos that you were considering a video on this subject. Thanks for your response.

Yup, I've had several viewers call me out for my bias 😂 happy to concede that it's useful for many.

Unfortunately I didn't. That's the one I recommend though. I ended up having to get a 3-Legged Thing Eliie Short which I had to modify to fit properly (not ideal). Check with your local Leofoto supplier for the LPN-Zf (in South Africa I can help get it on special order).

I do. I have had several photographers join workshops with it and have also had it on loan for a week to play with. The two cameras are world's apart unfortunately. Think of the Zfc as a Z50 mkii in a 'retro-ish' styled body. The body is somewhat more 'plastic-icky' feeling compared to the Zf which really feels sturdy in hand. Image quality is great for an APS-C camera with a 20mp sensor and it is a lot fun to shoot with. It's also super light so makes a great travel camera. BUT, if you compare the Fujifilm XT-2 (an older camera) with the Zfc, the former feels more robust. As much as I am a Nikon fan, if you are going for the smaller sensor, look at the Fuji as an alternative. Or else save up for the Zf (and well-heeled amateurs are going to sell the Zf secondhand as they get fomo with the new Z6iii) which you really won't regret.

Hi Eli 👋

Thanks dude!

Pretty much how I would prefer to use it...although I think I'd look at some of the manual focus alternatives that come with a....aperture ring 🙃

Fair enough! I concede my view is in the minority considering some of the other comments 😂

Based on various forums and even YT’s own recommendations, asking for subscribes at the beginning of a video is statistically more likely to get viewers to subscribe.

Same issues as any mirrorless unfortunately. Although cleaning is easier than with a DSLR since the sensor is so close to the mount. The Zf and Z8 are chalk and cheese though. The Z8 is sized more like the D850 (with similar weight too) while the Zf is quite a lot lighter and smaller. Even the feature sets are different. I’d decide based on your non-negotiables. If max sensor resolution is important, go Z8

@@emilvonmaltitz do you have a z8 ? Does the shield reduce cleaning? My camera has been the D700 since 2008 so the z8 would be very familiar. I haven’t had to clean its sensor yet!Full frame big prints from the D700 are great but even a 2X crop hurts quality. The zf reminds me of my older beautiful film Nikons but I love the possibility of a 4x crop on 45mp having the same quality as the D700 full frame.

@@helmutsassenfeld8002 I am still a DSLR user: D850, D780 and a backup D800e. I get to shoot with mirrorless when I get loan gear from Nikon SA and with photographers who join me on workshops. One day I’ll probably get a z8 as it’s the logical lateral move from the D850 into Mirrorless. Right now though, as a working professional, as much as I love the mirrorless cameras I’ve worked with, financially it still makes sense for me to stick with what I have (until it dies and I have to get mirrorless).

Thanks for the reach out

@@emilvonmaltitz thanks. Need any service?

Thanks. I appreciate the feedback. Thanks for watching

Thanks! To be honest I don't usually use style brushes...I have...just not usually. It's a good idea to get into how they can be used though...will look into doing a video soonish. Thanks for watching!

I'll definitely look into doing a video on this. Not something I usually use, but it is something that is occasionally used.

@@emilvonmaltitz thanks.

Thank You!

It might be overkill, but you can take a look at this article I wrote which sets out the differences: landscapegear.co.za/blogs/news/selecting-a-leofoto-head I personally prefer the LH design as I think it’s more robust and I also prefer the lower profile.

Glad it was useful

It's a pleasure Arnie. Thanks for watching!

Glad it was helpful Juergen...sorry about it hitting the pocket though.

Yup, it is the same sensor but Nikon seems to have eked out better viewing of dark subjects. I had a photographer with me who had the Z7ii and the viewing experience between the two was completely different. It might be 'starlight view' which is new to Nikon cameras from the Z8 onwards. Either way, photographing the night sky was significantly easier with the Zf than with the Z7ii (and the Z6ii from my previous experience with it in Botswana).

Great Christian. Let me know how it goes. I'm a big fan of C1, although not of their pricing...they make it difficult for photographers to switch over when they insist on higher pricing than the Adobe options.

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback.

It's a pleasure. Thanks for watching

Thanks Christian! Glad you found it useful Thanks for the sub!

Thanks! I didn't specifically mention starlight view, but I did chat about the 'see in the dark ability' of the camera, particularly when photographing the stars. I've never had it this easy in focusing on stars for astro-photography. Probably the easiest set up and focusing I've ever had for photographing the MW.

Thanks so much!