New Camera Shopping for Watch photography & Videography

[Gregorylausch]

Amongst watch collecting, I also love photography and videography.

I am now on the market to seriously upgrade my game and as of now, the serious contender under my radar is the Nikon Z9.

I intend to use the camera mainly to shoot and film watches, hence I’d like to gather some of the experts or passionate folks in this field as to what you’d recommend and why and if the Nikon Z9 would be a great camera for that purpose.

Would also be open to some recommendations on what lenses are best from macro to regular photo/video.

Thanks

[Maleg]

Not an expert, but have a passion for photography.

I upgraded to full frame this year. I shot a D500 for years and went mirrorless with the Z8. It has everything I wanted in the Z9, but in a size more compatible with my use. The Z8 was a tad cheaper, but not enough to be a deal breaker if I wanted the extra features the Z9 offers. The suite of available glass is the same for both bodies.

For macro photography it’s all about a solid tripod and quality lighting IMO. Not too much money gets you some fairly high quality lighting.

Jocke has some amazing watch photo’s here. You might want to PM him for starter kit advice.

[m j b]

Originally Posted by Maleg

For macro photography it’s all about a solid tripod and quality lighting IMO. Not too much money gets you some fairly high quality lighting.

Agreed.

I bought a Zf a year or two ago, but although it's a great camera, I just don't like mirrorless. Call me old fashioned.

Everything I read about the Z9 is positive though, especially for video (which I don't do) so that's probably a good choice.

It's really all about the glass though. The body, the sensor, that's all secondary. Good lenses make or break the image. I find that a 105mm is just about perfect for macro.

I built a lightbox from an old cardboard box and some parchment paper. Seriously. I get a bit of yellow from the parchment, but that's adjustable with the WB.

[JasoninDenver]

Figure out what focal length you want to shoot at and then look to see which lenses excel in that range. Many brands now have step down cameras that are meant for vlogging with much simpler video menus and features. This is not my ballgame, but I understand overheating can be the primary issue with many non-video centric models - at least as recently as two years ago when i last bought a body.

FWIW, I bought Sony for the lens selection, especially 3rd party options.

[Maleg]

Originally Posted by m j b

Agreed.

I bought a Zf a year or two ago, but although it's a great camera, I just don't like mirrorless. Call me old fashioned.

Everything I read about the Z9 is positive though, especially for video (which I don't do) so that's probably a good choice.

It's really all about the glass though. The body, the sensor, that's all secondary. Good lenses make or break the image. I find that a 105mm is just about perfect for macro.

I built a lightbox from an old cardboard box and some parchment paper. Seriously. I get a bit of yellow from the parchment, but that's adjustable with the WB.

My lightbox is a microwave oven box with butcher block paper.

For the OP. I stuck with Nikon glass. The 14-24 f2.8 s is the flattest WA zoom I’ve ever owned. The 24-70 f2.8 s is an amazing lens that gets the most out the sensor (the one must have in my bag). I use the 20mm f1.8 s for astrophotography and the 105 f2.8 VR S for macro.

If you’re into wildlife or sports photography a buddy swears by the 70-200 f2.8 s.

I have a Really Right Stuff ascend tripod with a ball head that works for pretty much everything I do.

[brandrea]

I once knew a guy who said Leica was the only way to go

[austinp]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I once knew a guy who said Leica was the only way to go

Yea but he never unboxed them so how would he know?


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[Gregorylausch]

Thanks for the input guys, I’ll continue my research!

[Al1969]

Originally Posted by austinp

Yea but he never unboxed them so how would he know?


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And back-ups to the back-ups were a “must have”.

[77T]

Originally Posted by Maleg

My lightbox is a microwave oven box with butcher block paper.

I like the cooler, flatter light in the refrigerator...

I tried the freezer but my ice cream kept melting while I set up the shot.

Just kidding of course -


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[scarlet knight]

You cannot go wrong with Nikon, Canon or Sony. I use Sony. I think they are in front of the race in technology and have the best lens selection.

The Z9 is high on the food chain for a newbie. More entry level cameras will do just as well for thousands less. Use the savings on a watch!

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by scarlet knight

You cannot go wrong with Nikon, Canon or Sony. I use Sony. I think they are in front of the race in technology and have the best lens selection.

The Z9 is high on the food chain for a newbie. More entry level cameras will do just as well for thousands less. Use the savings on a watch!

I was thinking the same thing. That’s getting close to new watch money. I just bought a Leica V Lux 5, which is a bridge camera, with a lot of nice features and a very high quality lens. Check it out. Cost is 1/4 of what you’re thinking of buying.

Kat


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[Maleg]

Originally Posted by 77T

I like the cooler, flatter light in the refrigerator...

I tried the freezer but my ice cream kept melting while I set up the shot.

Just kidding of course -


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Funny. You had me for a moment.

I started out with a small engine crate. A few splinters later I switched to the cardboard box. The box also folds up easily and stores neatly in the closet when not in use.

[77T]

Yeah - I was just playing around with the appliance concept.

Now that you said cardboard, I think you meant a microwave oven box?

I thought you meant the microwave itself! Missed the "box" part the first time.

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[Maleg]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

I was thinking the same thing. That’s getting close to new watch money. I just bought a Leica V Lux 5, which is a bridge camera, with a lot of nice features and a very high quality lens. Check it out. Cost is 1/4 of what you’re thinking of buying.

Kat


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A lot of people give this advice, but for people bitten by the bug it will end up costing more working your way up the price ladder than buying what you really need in the first place.

The rule of thumb is to buy the best sensor/processor you can afford. Pair that with the best glass you can afford. A D9 and a couple good lenses will be less than a Sub if you shop around. And will be all the OP will need for many years to come. If the OP goes with the D8 the cost savings is a high quality tripod (expect to pay circa $1500 for a good tripod).

[77T]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

I was thinking the same thing. That’s getting close to new watch money. I just bought a Leica V Lux 5, which is a bridge camera, with a lot of nice features and a very high quality lens. Check it out. Cost is 1/4 of what you’re thinking of buying.

Kat


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That is a Lumix underneath the Leica skin that costs half as much. Not casting shade on the choice but a costly choice.

It's still a good option for the OP. Both have the Leica glass, but it's a Panasonic base that Leica replaces with its own block logo, just above the lens barrel, as well as its red dot icon, also visible on the front.




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[77T]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I once knew a guy who said Leica was the only way to go

Oh how I miss "some of" those threads.


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[Dilemma]

I've been a Canon shooter since film days so that'll be my recommendation I suppose. I'm currently shooting and R5 and R7.

Both do great video also although the 8K from the R5 difficult to manage. The files are YUGE.

This short clip was the R7. The still photo at the end was an iPhone shot.

https://youtu.be/OnP-NlxJpcQ?si=As50JO2PuzHyipGV