Buying adviceD750 finally showing its age. Used Z6 II or new Z5 II?

Right, I've put this off long enough. The D750 has been brilliant (best camera Nikon ever made, fight me) but I'm shooting the lad's under-14s on Saturday mornings and the AF just can't keep up with kids running straight at it in the rain. Shutter count's well past 150k as well.

Options as I see them: used Z6 II, can get a mint one for about £900-950 at the moment, or a new Z5 II which is a fair bit more but newer AF and a proper warranty. I'd keep the 70-200 f2.8E on an FTZ either way. Not paying for a Z6 III, I'm not made of money.

Used every time for me normally, but the Z5 II AF is supposed to be better than the Z6 II's? Can anyone who's used both settle it.

Z5 II. The AF is newer generation, same family as Z6 III and Z8, and it is much better for subjects moving toward camera. Z6 II is good camera but its AF for sport is one step behind. I had Z6 II until November, I know it well.

TomekKRK said:

it is much better for subjects moving toward camera

That's exactly my problem. Hmm. Price difference is a fair bit though

davey1892 said:

kids running straight at it in the rain

Neither has a fast readout, so stick to the mechanical shutter for football and you'll be fine on that front. I'd pay for the newer AF if kids running at you is the whole point of the purchase. Either way you'll wonder why you waited so long.

TomekKRK said:

it is much better for subjects moving toward camera

Tomasz is right on this one. The Z5 II subject detection is the same family as my Z8, and it's noticeably stickier than the Z6 II's. A buddy lent me his Z6 II for a week at the feeders a while back and it's a fine camera, but it'd let go of a bird coming toward me that the Z8 would've hung onto all day.

For kids running straight at you in the rain, IMHO the Z5 II is the right call, and I'm usually the first one to say buy used. That 70-200 E on the FTZ focuses fast on either body, so the lens isn't the question.

One more thing: whatever you buy, put subject detection on/off on a custom button. At kids' football there'll be parents' umbrellas and corner flags it wants to grab.

Football in the rain is tough on any camera, so a twenty dollar rain cover is money well spent too.

• Walt

davey1892 said:

Used every time for me normally

Then stick to your principles. Z6 II, set it to wide area with tracking, and spend the difference on a decent waterproof jacket for Saturday mornings and a flask of something warm. You're not shooting the Champions League... just saying

tomthurlow said:

You're not shooting the Champions League

You havent seen our left back

davey1892 said:

Not paying for a Z6 III, I'm not made of money.

Used Z6 II. The difference won't show up in the photos as much as it will in your bank account.

I was in a similar position in January with Sony and went used, an A7 IV with a low shutter count. Very happy so far, although I mostly shoot indoor events rather than football, so I can't speak for kids running at the camera. Thank you all for the advice in my own thread back then.

tomthurlow said:

set it to wide area with tracking

This helps, but it does not make Z6 II AF into Z5 II AF. I owned the Z6 II for four years and I tried the Z5 II at my friend's son's football club. The Z6 II loses the subject more often when other players cross in front, and it is slower to find the eye again after. It is not terrible, it is just older generation.

Also the Z5 II has the new menus and better high ISO in dark winter mornings, which in Newcastle in January I think is important.

But if budget is the problem then the Z6 II is still a very big step from the D750, no question. Only buy it knowing what you get and you will be happy. I would go to a shop and hold both in the gloves you wear at the match, the grip is different.

Went used in the end. Z6 II plus an FTZ II for £960 the pair, mint, six month warranty. First match this morning and the keeper rate is miles better than the D750 already. Tomasz you might be right that the Z5 II's better, but my wallet's happier. Cheers all

davey1892 said:

Tomasz you might be right that the Z5 II's better, but my wallet's happier.

Good choice. Now you just need to stop calling the D750 the best camera Nikon ever made.