Steve Perry Reviews Z6 and 7II as a Wildlife Camera

Steve Perry released a review of the Z6II and Z7II for wildlife. Spoiler alert he says they are pretty good and compared with the 750 and 780. For me that rates as a pretty good review from Steve.

Here is a link to the video
https://youtu.be/YqKaUjjaA70

Thanks for this, because now I don't have to write up my Z6ii vs. D500 for wildlife piece. Seriously, his observations mirror my own to a tee. The Z6ii is incredibly capable as a wildlife camera, and it's ability to grab tack sharp focus on stable or semi-stable subjects is awesome. But the compromise of the EVF and focus system to achieve the higher frame rates, and the slower focusing of F-mount lenses is frustrating when you're used to the D500. It's why the 500mm is back on the D500 to stay. But it's nice to know that I could use the Z in a pinch. I bought the Z to replace my D750, and with that in mind I'm more than thrilled with it.

I watched this last night and I’m hoping he made this recently which would confirm his recovery from covid.

Peter7100 said:

I watched this last night and I’m hoping he made this recently which would confirm his recovery from covid.

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I don't know if he made it recently but he's posted the link to it on his forum and said it was "95% complete before he went into the hospital". He's home recovering now. He posted this on Saturday about his experience.

Peter7100 said:

I watched this last night and I’m hoping he made this recently which would confirm his recovery from covid.

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He made it before Covid, but he says he is recovering. I think it will be quite a while before he's really back at it. He was within an eyelash of having to go on a ventilator. Really frightening stuff.

Danno said:

Steve Perry released a review of the Z6II and Z7II for wildlife. Spoiler alert he says they are pretty good and compared with the 750 and 780. For me that rates as a pretty good review from Steve.

Here is a link to the video
https://youtu.be/YqKaUjjaA70

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I think this was a great video for a variety of reasons. It confirms that the Z6II and Z7II are great cameras and have SOME serious advantages over DSLRs, but not 100%. It also confirms that the D500 is still a much better camera for me since I spend most of my time shooting little creatures that move around and demand a great deal of the autofocus.

It has been interesting with the shortage of D500s in the stores that the price of used ones has gone up $100 or more recently. It's still a fairly high demand camera. I'm still hoping Nikon decides to make a mirrorless D500 clone with a DX sized sensor. Crossing my fingers. I'll never be able to buy a Z9, A1 or R6. Too many greenbacks for this retired teacher.

If there weren't so many photos in this series I'd post them here, but instead I'll post this link to the post on my Facebook page. I shot these with my D500 and 500mm f5.6 PF this morning out my office window. There are a couple groupings in there where you I would have missed 1/2 the shots if I had been shooting with the Z6ii at 5.5fps instead of 10.

Woodyg3 said:

He made it before Covid, but he says he is recovering. I think it will be quite a while before he's really back at it. He was within an eyelash of having to go on a ventilator. Really frightening stuff.

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Frightening indeed. Here's hoping he will make a full recovery soon.

Woodyg3 said:

It has been interesting with the shortage of D500s in the stores that the price of used ones has gone up $100 or more recently. It's still a fairly high demand camera. I'm still hoping Nikon decides to make a mirrorless D500 clone with a DX sized sensor.

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Even reliable stores that sell preowned D500 bodies are out of stock - such as B&H (where there is an option to purchase an extended warranty on preowned gear), Allen's Camera, and even keh.com.

But I'm wondering if Nikon has changed the country where the D500 is manufacturered like they did with some of their lenses. Guess we will find out once new stock hits the shelves.

hark said:

Even reliable stores that sell preowned D500 bodies are out of stock - such as B&H (where there is an option to purchase an extended warranty on preowned gear), Allen's Camera, and even keh.com.

But I'm wondering if Nikon has changed the country where the D500 is manufacturered like they did with some of their lenses. Guess we will find out once new stock hits the shelves.

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When I recently purchased a new D500, the following day the price increased making me think stock must be very low.

Peter7100 said:

When I recently purchased a new D500, the following day the price increased making me think stock must be very low.

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The price of a new D500 has been $1496.95 for months (which is also the current price). If you were able to purchase one for less, you were fortunate!

hark said:

The price of a new D500 has been $1496.95 for months (which is also the current price). If you were able to purchase one for less, you were fortunate!

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At the current exchange rate I paid $1433.

I understand he is getting better. I received an email this last week saying that he was holding a sail on some of his books and videos to get a bit of extra cash in. I felt a little bad. I already have all the stuff I want from his site.