Approaching The Scene 280: APS-C Is An Incredible Value + Epic DX Primes & Lens Tests
(LINKS BELOW): Whenever people ask me to recommend a budget camera for either for themselves or an aspiring young photographer, I point toward an APS-C system. Why? It’s the lenses. If budget really matters, you’ll get way more bang for your buck. Speaking of lenses, here’s a couple amazing primes for Nikon’s Z APS-C (DX) system. I’ll also show you how I approach testing a lens’ performance.
Baja Z50 video: • Approaching the Scene ...
Voigtlander’s in NYC Video: • Approaching The Scene ...
Z50 2 lens kit: bhpho.to/4amm9Bd
Nikon 24 F1.7 DX lens: bhpho.to/3t7Ct7T
Viltrox 75 F1.2 Pro DX Lens: bhpho.to/3TkxUSe
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LINKED TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Intro to ATS 280
01:00 APS-C bodies and lenses are ideal on a budget
02:45 Lenses for APS-C are MUCH more affordable
03:48 Nikon’s 24 F1.7DX is a fabulous lens
04:54 Viltrox’s 75 F1.2 Pro is shockingly great
06:20 24 1.7 & 75 1.2 Pro image quality examples
14:24 Whatever brand, the DX options are great values
15:30 Voiglander’s 15 F4.5
16:50 How I test lens quality
25:00 The Z50 is still great
I love the Z 50 for travel and walk-around. I took the 16-50 & 50-250 to Switzerland and Austria as a 4 pound bag. When I got back, I got the Viltroz 13mm f/1.4 (=19mm) ($413) because I wanted that for evenings in the cities, such as Vienna and Salzburg. Was so impressed with its quality and design, I bought the Viltroz 85mm f/1.8 ($360) for my FX camera (Z 8). Both have aperture rings with metal hoods and mounts. I recommend the Z 50 kit and Viltrox lenses.
I agree, DX size is much more convenient than the bulky 35mm system for most of the people, BUT the big brands seem to be adamant in making us to think it's not and what we really need is a big and expensive 'full...whatever' for our own good! I don't buy the argument and never will. I shoot Fuji apsc and I'm waiting the advent of the Nikon Z50 successor to jump ship, if they ever thing it's a good idea to give customers what they want and stop peddling us the big guns, which I'll never buy by the way.
I bought the Z50 mostly on your reviews and couldn't be more happy with it. I like my Fuji X-T1 but I love the Z50. Out and about the 50-250mm lens is almost always on the camera. Thanks!
I totale agree on the Z50; it is an amazing camera. And not only for beginners. It is a smaal camera but very capable! Great image quality too. It is my travel camera but it also comes along on landscape shoots. I have the PZ lens and that's a great wide angle lens for landscapes.
Thank you for the great video. It's refreshing to see an enthusiastic & objective source of information on APSC sensor size equipment. 95% of the channels focus and obsess over full frame bodies and lenses nowadays. I keep hoping that professional photographers such as yourself would show what they can achieve with so called entry level mirrorless cameras. As the latter are snobbed and looked down upon by a vast number of KZheadrs. I too wish Nikon will produce a Z50 ii or other APSC body with prosumer features. Good work Mr. Hudson !
Nice to see some recommendations for the Z50. Totally agree that it is a great little camera. Even after trading my DSLR for a Z8, the Z50 stays and I love to use it.
50 - 250mm lens is a very good lens, gives more sharpness compared to its 16 - 50mm. I love it!
Yes the Z50 is a brilliant kit that I don't leave home without, because it sits in my car glove compartments. I use the two kit zooms and the Nikon 40mm f/2. I was considering that voigtlander 15mm F/4 as well I am glad you reviewed it here. I will likely grab the 35mm f/2 APO next. The 50mm F/1.0 still has not left my ZF since I got it. I think it is my favorite lens at this point. 👍
I still like shooting APS-C (or even M4/3) for underwater. By the time you add the housing, the lens port & the strobes (with arms) Full Frame systems just make a package that I find too big & cumbersome (admittedly, YMMV). For me, this applies not only to packing the Underwater system, but also its use while diving. I think I will likely have a format smaller than Full Frame as long as I am diving.
As always, very interesting video.
Have had my Z50 for near 3 years and love it. Have he two lens kit plus the 18-140. Have also bought the Nikon 12-28 which is surprisingly good, and the Viltrox 13mm f1.4 which i got for night sky work. The Nikon 40mm f2.0 also delivers great bokeh. I’m totally happy with it.
Great points, thanks for posting. My cautious toe in the water with mirrorless was the z30 (two lens kit) - a superb low risk entry. From there went mostly full frame, been a great couple of years. But really did like the dx size, ended up switching to a fuji x-s20 as my primary small kit. Very much feels like what a z50 ii could be (modern AF / computing platform, 24-26 mp sensor). Also a bunch of great lenses, generally smaller since they're optimized for the crop sensor and are working with a smaller mount. As a bonus most lenses in that world have manual, clickable aperture rings. Anyway the downside is incompatibility of lenses and the user experience, but have found that a worthwhile tradeoff. Yet the nikon dx family remains really good, better than a lot of folks think. Also the nikon z 24 1.7 dx is definitely worthwhile. Finally, 1000% agree on that viltrox 75 1.2 - have it on the fuji mount, and on the x-s20 very much feels like a mini z8 / (either 85 1.2 or 135 1.8) combo. Sort of splits the difference, but it's great to have choices while maintaining superior images.
2 Z50 Bodies 18-50mm on one 50-250mm on 2nd body..... Long lens, Across My body camera strap, Other on short neck strap :) :) :) No changing lenses.... 50mm F1.4 Nikon F lens (or 50mm f1.8 Z (inexpensive)) is a Great 75mm equiv. ,,, My 85mm f1.8 Z lens is Great Plena Type lens (also not expensive) Also the 70-300mm apsc or FF lens (not the sharpest (at wideopen) but (inexpensive) and apsc is light weight) 450mm equiv. All of the MF lenses from our Nikon F days can be used and, all (except 70-300mm apsc ) Can be used if You ever buy a ZF or other FF Nikon Z body !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are right about the Z50 IQ is amazing,,, BUT the whole kit is super light even compared to one FF Z body n 24-200mm :) :) :)
The Z50 checks all the boxes for me: simple, small, light and with enough features not to mention wonderful kit glass and sensor. I ended up buying the 18-140m Z lens and it's as good as the other 2 kit lenses since I wanted a one-lens solution. The 24mm would be a nice addition to that lens for low-light and I will consider it. Thanks!
Always enjoy your content, Hudson! I use DX lenses on my Z8 for personal snaps. I don't need all that mpix and it's easier to carry. Have you heard of the Boryoza Fuji to Z adapter that's coming soon?
I use my Zfc (Z50 in disguise) as my super lightweight camera kit. When out bicycle tripping around town…Zfc + 24mm f1.7 + 12-28 PZ fit nicely in my pannier is my go to option.
I just adore that 24 1.7. It's such a sweet little lens. A Nikon Z APS-C secret.
Hudson, so glad you are coming to my country? What places will you be visiting?
I absolutely loved the DX 24 1.7; even though I was almost sure that Nikon was going to release a new DX 35 (still have my old copy but it doesn't hold up for todays standards) I preordered the 24mm and on my first outing I got super smooth and contrasty images, but sharp in focus areas. It really blew me away for a lens so tiny that is similar to the 16-50mm. This kit lens is also superb for what it is, and I do have (or had) kit lens phobia from the D5000 series 18-55 junk days. I have never been a fan of the 28mm 2.8 to be honest, is one of those purchases that I tried to make sense of for size on FF and after getting my Z30 to be a 42mm f4.2 equivalent....nothing to write home about. The 24 blows the 28 away in DX in every regard, in my opinion of course.
Always down to hear some DX love. Been using the Z50 for 3 or 4 years now. My only real complaint is that the battery life is really bad, tilting screens are bad when trying to take photos near the ground/river, and no one has made a battery extension grip for it. Aside from that the AF is fine, Have been able to shoot concerts & portraits with the 50mm 1.8 S without issue. Active sports you can't really trust the camera, but you should be able to figure it out. The lens selection is actually really good at this point, except in one place. Robust lenses that I trust to take into rough conditions. I found the 18-140mm was disappointing because of that, I really want a weather sealed 16-80 that's F/4 or faster. While i'm excited to see what a Z50 refresh looks like, I'm greedy and want fast (or robust) zooms lol. Hopfully it all survives another year of wet skiing.
Great video as always. I wonder about the 24mm Dx on the Zf, I know I’d be crippling the MP but for street it would be tiny and shooting BW like I do I ‘think’ it might be interesting. Have you tried it?
It would be fine, but you'd only glean 10mp results. A z50 or ZF is tiny and very cheap with fantastic eye detect autofocus for people. You get twice the resolution with them and carry far less, while looking less obtrusive.
I got that 24 1.7 for the same reason, use photographing and videoing my artwork
I own the z7.2 and z8 as well as the z50 and find I use the 50 the most.
I just want you and your kids to know that near where I live (NE Ohio) there is a Pepper Pike in Cleveland.
What would you choose? NIKON Z50 OR NIKON Zfc. For pictures like: nature, street, portrait, flowers, still birds, trees. Basucally still photos. Which camera is better. overall
The ZF without question if you can afford the full frame S lenses to go with it. The crop sensor dx lenses are way way cheaper and really good, but the z50 with the 16-50 and 50-250 dx lenses won't touch the ZF with the the 24-120 and 100-400 S lenses. You pay orders of magnitude more to project that full frame covering image circle. ;) The DX vs FX glass is the defining difference.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto thanks 🥰❤️❤️
I agree if we are talking about using APS-C cameras for family/travel. I shoot with an excellent D5500 and a set of good lenses while travelling or family gatherings and am happy with the results. BUT! It disappoints when I use it with my 150-600mm lens for wildlife - inadequate autofocus, slow 5 fps, wrong balance etc. Also it is lacking IBIS for some other use cases. So if we are talking about a full-featured camera we need to go full frame. Or to go to more expensive brands for better APS-C cameras, but then what did we save? Only weight. Not money and not image quality.
I think the z50 would surprise you a great deal as would the older D500. ;) I've used both extensively for wildlife shooting with 70-200, 500pf, 100-400 etc. The d500 was the perfect pair with my d850 for long lens and action. Wide angle on full frame, long lens on DX. The z50 doesn't keep up with the z8/9, but it's just as good at AF and has as good a framerate as the Z6ii. Full frame is not instrinsically better, but I prefer it for wide angle work and low light where the larger sensor has larger photoreceptors which leads to better noise performance. For long lens work dx has the advantage of more reach at smaller focal lengths. I'm not alone amongst wildlife and action shooters dreaming of a DX Z camera like the D500.
The Viltrox 75mm is gorgeous. I had thought about buying it and using it on my Z9
Just used this lens on my z8 at a baby naming. The files are gorgeous! A full frame equivalent would have cost 2k more and weighed over a pound more
@@garyswergold4096 The doubt in buying it, is that on Full frame it has the crop. So it becomes a 110mm
@@garyswergold4096 However you are right. A lens of this original Nikon focal length would have cost 3000k
@@federicosassi8022I would say that s why it’s interesting :)
Is that an aftermarket eye cup you have on it?
This viltrox 75mm seems to be a great lens. Can you compare it to the 85mm f1.8
Much more subject seperation and nicer bokeh because it's F1.2. Bigger and heavier, but cheaper. It of course only covers the APS-C DX frame not full frame like the 85 1.8. They are apples and oranges because of that. Again, that's why DX is the best for the budget limited photographer.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto I know for apsc but you can also perfectly use it on a FF 45mpix sensor in DX mode and with sufficient definition for portraits… so for me it s also interesting for z7-8-9 as a portrait lens not too expensive.
Oh sure. You'll get a nice 19mp result at about 115mm field of view on full frame cropping to DX. The lens shocked me with its image quality.
I've heard rumor Viltrox is making a 27mm 1.2 for Z Mount. Is this confirmed?
don't think so ... have only seen the nikon rumors post claiming the end of December, but nothing from the company.
It would be tough to beat the 24 1.7 from Nikon. Sure 1.2 is nice, but man that little 1.7 is a winner, weighs nothing and is cheap too.
true, guessing the primary opportunity (besides the 1.2) would be physical feel and a quality aperture ring, assuming viltrox would keep that on a z version. Would come at a cost in size / weight though.
D500 > all other DX bodies 😉 Z50 is a toy compared to the unparalleled ergonomics, autofocus and weather sealing of the tank D500
Ha, it's exactly mistaken assumptions like that which drove me to create this particular video. Sold my D500 many, many moons ago. Loved it before the Z cameras came. I even kept it on the shelf gathering dust for a time. For so many reasons I've never looked back or had a regret leaving the d850/500 combo I once loved behind. Not a one. The durability, and build quality of the Zs is every bit as good as the D's. I've used them all hard as a mountaineer and backcountry skiier. The af is simply better on the sensor in the Zs than the rangefinder calibrated system in the mirrored cameras. That has been true since the second firmware update to the original z50/Z6 & Z7. I enjoyed my film cameras, and my dslrs in their days, but those days are long eclipsed by the current tech.
@@HudsonHenryPhoto to be honest, a D500 mirrorless successor is the only body that I would like to add in my weaponry as a back up body after Z9.
OK I get you. Well, considering the Z9 shoots the same resolution in DX mode as the D500, but in a much more advanced way and is built for a war zone... Seems like the Z50, which I could not disagree with more about being a toy after owning mine since they first released, fits way better in the bag as a never needed backup and gives on sensor subject detection and a bright, zoomable view in dim conditions plus the ability to share the much higher quality Z lenses with he Z9 instead of carrying optically inferior F mount lenses to use with it (since it can never mount an S lens) . I rapidly found going from the Z bodies and glass back to a dslr with f lenses started to feel like working with an old plug in drill VS a new cordless impact driver. Cumbersome and awkward, VS precise and easy to work with.
I do dream of a D500 like Z camera with an updated 30 something mexapixel DX stacked sensor that shoots very fast, but I'm not holding my breath...
@@HudsonHenryPhoto I agree, but I personally still expect the flagship crop factor camera. Another scenario would be to get the Z6 iii which hopefully will use similar autofocus of that of Z9/Z8 but in a much more compact body. Z50 was just too small for my hands when I tried it and the autofocus in the beginning was ok, but I needed more accuracy anf focus speed. Maybe with the new firmwares, it has been improved.