Amazing Nikon Z8 with 50mm 1.2 Lens

Hello, guys! I’m Matt, also known as Mr. Camera, and I’m going to give a review on the Nikon Z8 after using it for a while. Stick around till the end because I’m going to share a really cool tip that I’ve used for many years as a photographer.

Okay, so I’m going to shoot this orange tree. I’m really excited to get some cool shots here. Personally, I like to shoot with a lot of daylight whenever I can, but here in California, I have plenty of sun to work with. Let’s see what we can do here.

One of the first things I noticed when I started shooting with mirrorless cameras was how sharp the lenses were. At first, I didn’t like it. Sometimes I even dial down the sharpness in Lightroom, especially when editing portraits. The sharpness can be too much for some shots, so I tone it down for a softer look. The Nikon 51.2 lens, for example, makes a world of difference compared to regular DSLRs. Depending on the lens, you’ll notice a higher resolution and incredible detail.

Now, I’ve come across this cool little craft house. I’m going to photograph it with my lens wide open. I’m shooting at f/4.2 right now and getting some nice shots. There are lots of spider webs on it, which is kind of cool. The green background adds a nice touch. This scene is great for capturing the details of the structure and playing with the colors in the background.

Next, I’m shooting some lavender. I love photographing lavender, especially with bees buzzing around. The sunlight hitting the lavender creates a beautiful effect, and I’ll get some shots with both sunlight and shaded areas. Let’s see what we can get. Shooting vertically with the sky in the background is really cool—it adds depth to the shot. I’m also coming in close and using manual focus to ensure the details are sharp. The Nikon 51.2 lens is incredibly smooth, and its shallow depth of field really makes the subject pop.

Now, I’m moving on to a banana tree. I love photographing banana trees, especially with the light coming through the leaves. It’s incredible how the light creates a glowing effect when I shoot wide open at f/1.2. Sometimes I’ll stop down the aperture to f/2.0 or so to get more in focus, especially if I want a little more detail in the shot. It’s all about balancing focus and background blur to achieve the desired effect.

I’ve also found some red flowers near the willow tree. The bokeh, or out-of-focus areas, on this lens is phenomenal. It really enhances the overall feel of the image. Sometimes I like to focus on smaller elements that aren’t the main subject, like little flowers on the willow tree. This adds variety and interest to the shot. I grew up with a willow tree near my house, so it’s always nostalgic to photograph them.

I’m also experimenting with shooting horizontally and vertically, depending on what works best for the scene. It’s important to embrace your style as a photographer, but also to step out of your comfort zone and try new things. Sometimes, pushing your boundaries helps you grow creatively.

Now, I’m moving to a lemon tree. It’s an interesting tree because it was originally an orange tree that had a lemon graft added to it. The result is oranges that taste even better than the ones on our other orange tree. The blossoms on this tree are phenomenal, and the bees love them. I’m capturing some great shots of the blossoms and the bees, using the lens’s shallow depth of field to create a dreamy effect.

Finally, here’s a tip I’ve used for years: I put my camera in Aperture Priority Mode almost all the time. This allows me to quickly adjust the aperture using the front dial to control the depth of field. It’s one of my most-used techniques for creating the shots I want, quickly and efficiently. If you’ve never tried it, I encourage you to give it a shot.

That’s it for today! Thanks for joining me as I reviewed the Nikon Z8 and shared some of my favorite shooting techniques.