Nikon has announced firmware version 5.10 for its flagship mirrorless camera, the Nikon Z9, launched in December 2021. This update introduces advanced features tailored for professional video recording, enhancing flexibility and usability.
A notable addition is the new Shutter Mode, enabling users to set the shutter angle in 15 steps between 5.6° and 360° when shooting in [M] mode. This feature simplifies achieving optimal motion blur by eliminating the need to manually adjust shutter speed when changing frame rates.
Further improvements include customizable options for video exposure aids. Users can now alter the color of the zebra pattern display and adjust the size, transparency, and position of brightness indicators like histograms and wave-form monitors. These updates ensure precise exposure control while accommodating individual preferences or specific shooting scenarios.
Nikon reaffirmed its commitment to supporting photographers and videographers by continuously enhancing its products through firmware updates.
For more details on the firmware update and Nikon’s full product lineup, visit Nikon India.
Nikon India Pvt. Ltd. recently announced the release of the APS-C size Nikon Z50II mirrorless camera especially targeted towards content creators across genre, vloggers, and streamers of all skill levels.
On this occasion, Mr. Sajjan Kumar, Managing Director of Nikon India said “At Nikon, we are committed to innovation and delivering advanced imaging solutions that meet the evolving demands of our customers. With the launch of the Nikon Z50II, we are excited to redefine creative possibilities and provide a product tailored to the needs of today’s creators. This versatile camera stands out in its segment, especially for content creators across all genres, featuring 4K video capture from 5.6K oversampling and AI-powered portrait enhancements. We are proud to introduce Z50II that empowers creators to bring their unique visions to life, ushering in a new era of creative expression.”
The EXPEED 7 image-processing engine, inherited from the Nikon flagship mirrorless camera Z9, supports high video resolution of 4K from 5.6K oversampling. It also supports the recording of N-Log video with RED LUTS available for free download for subtle and rich tonal gradation, enabling high-quality video recording.
The Z50II also offers advanced AI-driven features such as Skin Softening and Portrait Impression Balance, which intelligently refine portraits. These features help achieve professional-quality results with minimal post-production, making it perfect for fast turnaround times and ready-to-share social media content.
Furthermore, the Z50II is the first Z Series camera to feature product review mode that focusses on objects in the foreground. As well as a video self-timer function that allows the user to specify an interval of 2s or 10s before recording begins after the record button is pressed. In addition, support for USB streaming (UVC/UAC) allows users to easily deliver clear images for online meetings and live video streaming by simply connecting the camera to a computer or smartphone.
The Z50II comes packed with advanced autofocusing system, the same 9-type subject detection as that of the flagship model Z9. The Z50II also inherits the Pre-Release Capture function, which enables the camera to buffer images up to one second before the shutter-release button is fully pressed, ensuring you never miss critical moments. This feature is available exclusively in High-Speed Frame Capture mode, supporting continuous shooting at 30 frames per second.
The EVF built into the Z50II is the brightest in its segment. It allows easy checking of focus and details at the edges of the frame, even in bright surroundings, such as outdoors on a sunny day. Reducing the difference in brightness between the viewfinder display and that visible with the naked eye makes it easier to achieve the desired images.
The Nikon Z50II is the first APS-C camera to support both Imaging Recipe and Picture Control, offering users exciting ways to explore and create unique visual styles with the Nikon Imaging Cloud. With these features, users can save their personalised adjustments to colour, brightness, contrast, and more as custom recipes. Additionally, they can download colour presets curated by renowned professionals directly to their Z50II, storing them as Cloud Picture Controls for seamless use in their workflow.
Nikon India Pvt. Ltd. also announced the release of MC-DC3 Remote Cord, a remote cord compatible with the Z50II. From starry skies and nighttime scenes, or commercial (product) photography. It can also be used for remote photography to release the shutter at a distance from the camera. The shutter-release button can be locked in a fully-pressed position for long exposures (bulb shooting) or held down for continuous shooting. It can also be held halfway down for shooting with less release time-lag.
The Nikon Z50II body and MC-DC3 Remote Cord will be available by the End of November 2024 at ₹77,995 (body only) across India at Nikon outlets. Furthermore, it would be available in following kit combinations — Z50II + NIKKOR 16-50MM at ₹91,645; Z50II + NIKKOR 16-50MM + 50-250MM VR at ₹1,12,645 and Z50II + NIKKOR Z DX 18-140MM F/3.5-6.3 VR at ₹1,15,795.
Nikon India announces the fourth edition of its prestigious Wedding Film Awards (WFA). This annual competition aims to recognize and celebrate the artistry of wedding videographers and cinematographers across India, providing a platform for both seasoned professionals and emerging talents to showcase their skills.
This year’s theme, “Magical Memories,” encourages participants to capture the special moments that make weddings unique. The contest offers a chance to win prizes valued at over ₹6 lakhs, including the Nikon Z6III. The WFA not only highlights creative talent but also gives videographers an opportunity to gain widespread recognition and become part of a growing community dedicated to wedding cinematography.
A Platform for Growth and Creativity
Running over three months, from October 2024 to January 8, 2025, the Wedding Film Awards provide a valuable opportunity for videographers to refine their craft and gain visibility in a competitive industry. The contest serves as a gateway for young creators to hone their skills while promoting Nikon as the go-to brand for wedding videography tools.
Mr. Sajjan Kumar, Managing Director of Nikon India, expressed his excitement about this year’s competition. “Following the tremendous success of the previous seasons, we are delighted to announce the fourth season of the Wedding Film Awards. Nikon has continuously supported the creative community in India, and this platform allows us to honor the unique artistic visions of wedding videographers. Our cameras are more than just tools; they empower creators to capture love, tradition, and emotions in ways never imagined before.”
Elite Jury and Submission Details
Participants will have their entries evaluated by an expert panel of Nikon Creators, including some of India’s leading wedding cinematographers and photographers. The jury features well-known names such as Raj Rj (Founder of The Yellow Draft), Kirandeep (renowned wedding photographer), Snehal Patel (Founder of Spectrum Pixels), and Sazid Ansari (Founder of The Royal Diaries).
To participate, videographers are required to submit a 60-second video shot using Nikon cameras and lenses, along with a 100-word caption describing how their video uniquely captures the essence of the wedding. Entries can be submitted via the Nikon India website or through Instagram by tagging @NikonIndiaOfficial and using hashtags #WFAMagicalMemories and #WFAS4.
Exciting Prizes Await
The top winner of the Wedding Film Awards will receive Nikon’s cutting-edge Z6III camera, along with a Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.4 lens. Runners-up will also receive Nikon’s best-selling models, including the Nikon Zf and Z50 cameras.
With the Wedding Film Awards, Nikon India continues to support and nurture the growing community of videographers, offering them recognition, exposure, and the tools to excel in their craft. For more information on how to enter, visit the official Nikon India website.
Nikon recently launched the new 28-400 mm lens for its full frame Mirrorless Z range of cameras. The lens is priced at Rs. 1,28,995 and it comes in the all-round superzoom category. Now the reason why I call this lens an all-round lens, because it can go as wide as 28mm all the way upto 400, making it a very versatile lens to use.
But the important questions here is – who is this targeted to? It’s targeted to someone who is an amateur wildlife enthusiast, street photographers, may be sports, although it isn’t fast enough for that.
Look, Body and Feel
The first thing I notice about the lens is that it is pretty light. This weighs only 725 gms and for a superzoom lens that it pretty light. For this review I am using this with the Nikon Z7 ii and overall it feels like a sturdy package to lug around. At the front you have the 77mm diameter for the lens along with the focus and zoom ring on the lens.
NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR Lens
The lens is slightly hard to extend, but over time I feel it will loosen up a little. But there is a lens lock button that is provided to avoid accidental lens creep. I like the build quality of the lens as well, it feels well-built and sturdy. What I am surprised with is the weather sealing, although the specs say that it does feature weather sealing, visibly it is lesser that other lenses that i’ve seen. So this means that the production standard might’ve improved for that to not be visible anymore.
Image Performance
Now with a lens like this where you have the F-stop at F/4-8, it will always be difficult to get the best performance in lowlight, because it won’t allow much light to get in, especially in lowlight scenarios. Another thing to note is that after 200mm, the lens also shifts to an F/8 for shooting.
Now in terms of images in daylight, the performance of the lens is pretty good. At 28mm the pics are sharp, detailed and also are pleasing to the eye. But as you start moving higher in the focal range you can see that the images do have certain softness on the edges and also on zooming in, it will lose some clarity. Now this isn’t something to be surprised about, most lenses in the superzoom category are like that, so this isn’t unusual.
In daylight the focusing is also fast. This lens uses the STM motor, which is the stepping motor to autofocus. It is pretty smooth and quiet, which can be useful when shooting videos. And since it has a longer focal ranges it can be very useful for shooting documentaries. The videos we shot with this were very good (watch video review here), stable and there was quality output. Another good thing that I liked is that the lens features in-built vibration reduction, which works upto 5 stops and the performance of that was also very good.
But as good as the lens is in terms of autofocus in daylight, it does hunt slightly in the lowlight conditions. But truth be told I wasn’t expecting the lens to perform very well in lowlight, but I was surprised with the performance. The overall images are good, yes there is a focusing challenge, but when it focuses it delivers good pics. What I like is that with a focal range like this you can use this for street photography also, especially the pics showed good contrast and surprisingly were well lit.
The depth and bokeh as well on the lens were pretty good in both daylight and lowlight.
Minimum focusing distance
For a versatile lens with a superzoom, this lens also gives you the option for getting in closer. The minimum focusing distance of the lens at 28mm is 0.66 ft and at 400mm is 3.69 ft, which is pretty good. The images at both 28mm and 400 mm are pretty decent and I really like the performance in this case. Yes, at the closer range there is surely sharpness at the centre and more softness on the sides. But if used wisely then it can surely be an asset.
Lens flare and ghosting
In terms of the lens flare and ghosting, this is probably one of the best lenses that I have seen in recent times. There is hardly any lens flare of ghosting even when we shot intentionally to test it. The images from the lens under varied scenes don’t show any visible glaring and ghosting and that was something that I was really impressed with.
In terms of CA value, the lens does display a value of 0.84 pixels, which is on the higher side.
CA Value: 0.84 pixels
Conclusion
So how do I find the new Nikon 28-400 mm lens for the Z mount? Honestly my feelings are mixed. Yes it isn’t a lens that will completely blow your mind from the onset. Because it really isn’t a fast lens, which means that you start thinking about its performance, atleast in lowlight. But I was pleasantly surprised with it. The daylight performance is very good, it’s well built and overall gives a good performance. The performance in lowlight could be better though.
But more importantly it gives the user the opportunity to do away multiple lenses at a price of Rs. 1.3 lacs. Which means you don’t have to carry that additional gear. And that to me sounds like a good scenario to be in.
