anyone using the nikon z6 in video mode for paid gigs?

R

robfilms

Veteran
i have lately been using nikon bodies and glass for client's stills event gigs.

as always, there is the holy grail myth of one camera doing everything.

under that guise, has anyone used the nikon z6's video for client's gigs?

care to share how you are using the z6?

rng?

talking head interviews?

gimbal work?

are you using the 10bit out?

any audio issues if relying on the z6's pre-amps?

any and all thoughts are appreciated.

thumbs up.

rob
smalltalk productions/nyc
 
A) I have no idea.

B) Maybe a ton more people would when the ProRes Raw upgrade comes out. It was promised about a year ago but it has not yet arrived. Maybe it was set back by Apple's inability to overcome Red's patents. (technically speaking it's not an "internal Raw" but nonetheless)
 
I'm using it as low cost option for my clients. its kitted out with a V-lock brick and a small rig cage. Mainly using it with F-mount lenses, occasionally I use MTF PL adapter for PL lenses (don't really like the MTF adapter, it's a bit wobbly). 10 bit output and the whole image quality is superior to for example the A7mk3. I use a dedicated sound recorder so the preamps aren't a topic I can speak about. But for a quick work is ok I guess. AF is quite good in my opinion. Face tracking is working for a fist gen. mirrorless acceptable.

Overall as a long time Nikon user I'm satisfied, still waiting for the Prores Raw. Hopefully they will get it out till the end of the year.

Hope this helps.
 
If you are delivering to facebook youtub and the rest then its fine IMO.

We use it as a B cam - getting a shot is better than not having a shot. Once im editing I use the best shot, FS7, GOpro3 Z6, phone whatever.

I like it personally because as a long time nikkon user If find it intuitive (menu) and the AF works

Ill give it serious consieration as my Acam when the raw comes out if I can rig it nicely.

Its an 8bit camera no better or worse than any of the other 8bit cameras people film on IMO.

A BIRDY tells me the raw will not work on the Z50 only the z6 - so bear that in mind.
 
The Nikon Rumors thinks the long awaited ProRes upgrade will be announced this upcoming Tuesday, the 17th.

Manny Ortiz posted a Z6 video a few days ago and found that the auto focus could wander off on its own. Supposedly, that will be addressed as well. Jeromy Young mentioned a while ago (last summer?) that the reason the ProRes upgrade was taking so long was precisely because Nikon was also working on the AF upgrade.

Naturally, I don't buy it. With S1H coming out September-October, Nikon made sure to lay low. But, with Sony Alpha Rumors reporting that A7S III/IV may be finally announced at the January 2020 CES, December 2019 may indeed be Nikon's turn to make a tiny splash in the "same sensor" division.
 
And it's finally out. The Raw upgrade will run $200. Atomos released a garish video in 4K, while Nikon itself put out a 1080p video. Just because.
 
patrickbaldwin said:
I saw a comment that suggested that the 12 bit linear raw would basically be no better than 10bit log because it's linear.
Click to expand...

It depends on the implementation. ProRes Raw is doing it its own way, generally deemed an improvement over most 10-bit Logs.

As to the rest, I guess we'll find out when more early testers release their footage.
 
Wow, underwhelming and pretty lame that the EVF is disabled when the RAW is activated. Once again showing that the mirrorless space has a hidden ceiling in terms of image quality. Looks fine but no reason to go to Nikon over other brands. Internal RAW is the only way to go for me.
 
I personally don’t mind that the EVF disabled during video raw outputing. I shot a lot of thing on the Z6 during the las 6 months internally and externally a never had I look through the EVF while recording.
 
Bassman2003 said:
Wow, underwhelming and pretty lame that the EVF is disabled when the RAW is activated. Once again showing that the mirrorless space has a hidden ceiling in terms of image quality...
Click to expand...
Look at Filippo Chiesa's S1H music video clip on the (nominal) GH-5 page. It's the same sensor.
 
I am sure the sensor as well as the Nikon camera is fine. The impact of RAW seemed to have little effect on the final outcome imho. RAW in the still world is so good because it is 14bit compared to 8bit jpegs. The difference is massive in areas. 10bit to 12bit RAW is not going to be that big of a change outside of some great adjustments if it behaves like true RAW with WB adjustments being native.

We all want it but I think there will be some disappointment as to how much better it will be over 10bit V-LOG. Depends on the implementation and how "RAW" it is or if it is just a glorified codec.
 
Poisonallly, I don't think the topic and the setting of Johnnie's video was suitable for "cinematic treatment". Some shots in the interview were quite nice; others, in the gym with bright overhead lighting of dubious quality, looked kind of chintzy. Nikon made their own clips but they're uploaded in HD only. I don't think ETTR did any favors to the image either.

This is Atomos video (plus, some in-your-face comments below)

 
All of these videos tell us nothing - apart from the inexperience of the 'reviewer' at working files in post.

We need to see some shots thrown into resolve and twisted (oh! no resolve) ok some other software -edius?

Better still shoot a few nefs of the same scene and flex them in Capture One as a comparison.

--
C5d Johnie (who is clearly a bit cluelless/poorly briefed) said a couple of worrying things - AF slowed for one - Id need confirmation of this. Worrying if true.
And loss of onboard monitoring - true and worrying how is onw supposed to rig this? Camera-recorder - EVF ? if that is not laggy Id be suprised.
 
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Its not bad.. but I could get the same look with a nikon D90.

Until we see flex in the files or a wide dynamic range or mis exposed scene pulled together in post with power windows and see that that process works raw just fills hard drives and wastes you life whil waiting to download large files. Not to mention probably forcing you to buy a better computer.
 
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