My transition to the Nikon mirrorless Z system is now complete
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Nikon Z8 with the 70-180mm Z lens
With the acquisition of the Nikon Z7II camera, my transition from Nikon DSLRs and f mount glass to Nikon mirrorless Z cameras and Z Nikkor lenses is now complete. That’s not to say that I won’t purchase additional Z equipment down the road, but for now, I have a well rounded collection that should allow me to shoot just about anything.
Overall, I have been pleased with the performance of all the Z equipment I have purchased, both lenses and bodies. The one exception would be the shortened battery life, mostly related to the Z8. That’s about the only thing that I miss about DSLRs is the extended battery life.
As an event photographer, I can’t emphasize enough how valuable silent shooting has been with the Z8. When photographing people at a podium, you often have to take many photos in order to get that perfect expression. Being able to do this in silence without the click clack of the shutter as in the past makes getting the perfect podium shot much easier and feeling less self conscious while shooting at 20 fps.

Nikon Z8 with the 70-180mm Z lens
To view my current list of photographic equipment, visit my gear page above in the menu. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions about any of the equipment I currently own. Be sure to visit often since I will be doing reviews and commentary as I have time on each of the items.
No longer exclusive to social influencers, firmware 3.0 for the Z8 is ready for download for everyone.
Sit down for an exclusive interview between Nikon USA Ambassadors Kristi Odom and Ron Magill as they share how they got started in wildlife photography and their most unforgettable experiences in the wild.
The first thing I noticed was how light the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S lens was compared to the NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens. As for size, it is slightly shorter then the 180-600mm but not by much. The difference in weight is more noticeable then the length difference.
Well, that was a surprise. New firmware for the Z6II and Z7II. Unfortunately, no new features were included. We go from version 1.62 to 1.70
Nikon posted to their youtube channel over 8 hours of their Nikon ambassador inspiring presentations at this year’s Wedding & Portrait Photographers International event in Las Vegas. The average length of each presentation is roughly 30 minutes.
With the Nikon Z9 going on 5 years old, it’s time to start to speculate what the Nikon Z9II specifications might be. With an estimated release date sometime in late 2025 or early 2026, it appears that now is a good time to start documenting what changes and improvements are needed with the Nikon Z9 II
After receiving the Nikon Z5II, I immediately took it out for a test drive. I could not be more pleased with the results of this little gem of a camera. Check back often since I will be adding to this collection periodically.
Let me know in the comments if you have any questions. Unless otherwise noted, all photos shot with the Nikon Z5II and the Nikkor 180-600mm f/6.3 Z lens.
With yet another Z9 firmware release (ver 5.20), I thought I would put together a comprehensive guide to all 14 of the Z9 updates to date. This also serves as a historical record of how far the Z9 has come, starting with its firmware at birth with version 1.00.
I’m excited to share that I now have the Nikon Z5II camera body as part of my gear list. Stay tuned for a complete review of this little champion of a camera as I put it through it’s paces.
Here is the link to watch the live launch event for Capture One’s Next Capture.
In this keynote, you’ll hear from our CEO, VP of Product & Tech, and Product leaders as they unveil the future of Capture One and show you how we're building for the next era of photography. Expect brand-new tools, exciting brand announcements, live demos, and a live Q&A where you can have your questions answered in real time.
On May 8, live from Holborn Studios, London, we’ll reveal what’s next for us and for your photography. Stream our NEXT CAPTURE online event to get an exclusive first look at where we’re headed and why it matters.
What would be a killer feature that would knock it out of the park for Nikon’s next generation flagship camera and that would reduce the number of white lenses seen out and about among photographers? A feature that would be so sought after that Canon and Sony users would flock back to Nikon in droves? How about something that would force the photography world to look and ask them self’s: Why didn’t I think of that? What would such a feature be?
As a full time Capture One user (no Adobe products for me), I’m eagerly waiting for May 8th, 2025. For that is the date of their new product announcement. I have no idea what features could be announced but if they are saying “Their biggest update ever” I’m assuming it’s going to be truly big.
No one can dispute the fact that the Nikon Z5 was getting very stale in Nikon’s lineup and desperately needed a refresh in order to continue to lure photographers into Nikon’s camera and lens ecosystem. Well today, Nikon delivered that much needed update. Lets explore the details.

Welcome to Robert G Allen Photography. I'm a professional multi-disciplinary commercial freelance photographer based in the Pacific Northwest and a Nikon DSLR Enthusiast.
While my career has primarily been as an event photographer, this website represents other areas of photography for which I have professional competency and enjoyment. The resulting front page gallery and single subject galleries are the result of a combination of client assignments and personal areas of interest.
Let’s get it out in the open right away, the Z8 officially leads the “flagship” Z9 in features. Even though Nikon says the “Z9 is the most powerful Nikon ever” and still does, this appears to be no longer the case