Nikon has dropped firmware 1.20 for the D6 today and it has some great new features and improvements. Here’s the list:

• • A Recall shooting functions (hold) item has been added to Custom Setting f3 Custom controls. Assigning this role to a control lets you recall previously-saved values for settings such as exposure and metering by pressing the control once during viewfinder photography. The previous values can be restored by pressing the control a second time. Recall shooting functions (hold) can be assigned to the Preview button, Fn1 button, Fn2 button, Fn button for vertical shooting, AF-ON button, Sub-selector center, AF-ON button for vertical shooting, Movie record button, or Lens focus function buttons.
• • A new option, Prefer sub-selector center, has been added to the Custom Settings menu at position f13. Although at default settings the sub-selector cannot be used to position the focus point while the center is pressed, selecting Off for Prefer sub-selector center lets you hold the center and still position the focus point by pressing the sub-selector up, down, left, or right. You can, for example, assign AF-area mode to the center of the sub-selector and then use the sub-selector to position the focus point while the center still serves in the AF-area mode role.
• • A Focus point selection speed item has been added to Custom Setting a17 Focus point options. The speed at which the focus points for viewfinder photography can be cycled by holding the sub-selector or keeping the multi selector pressed up, down, left, or right can be chosen from Normal, High, and Extra high.
• • Ratings are now displayed at all times during playback zoom, even when None (image only) is selected for playback display options.
• • The camera can now more reliably focus on poorly-lit low-contrast subjects when dynamic-area AF is selected for AF-area mode.

Stars Over Bryce captured by Nikon Z 6II / Nikkor Z14-24f2.8

I’ve been staring up at the heavens since before I can remember. Spending nights on the ground staring at them with a father who depended on his knowledge of them to navigate a B-29 around the globe, they have became intimate friends. I started photographing them way back when we super cooled Kodachrome increasing its sensitivity to bring the heavens to life in my images. Compared to today, that was a lot of pain with little gain. It was a real joy a few mornings ago to simply stand at Sunset Point, Bryce Nat’l Park, point the Z 6II / Z14-24f2.8 into the heavens and go click to my hearts content and being able to just enjoy the moment. It was … heaven!

Once back in the digital darkroom, I went into NX Studio to find which files I had run different some noise tests on. It shows ALL the info so quickly and easily. While doing that, I saw a feature I was unaware of, Astro Noise Reduction (see below). Man, does it work really sweetly, you just click on the box! It was the perfect fun to finishing increasing the experience under the stars. You might just want to check it out, it’s free!

I am asked quite often if I could have just one lens, which lens would it be? I think the answer is, the Z24-200! Yes, I am being incredibly serious as it’s incredibly sharp, small, light and incredibly affordable. You might be wondering why I’m saying that when I have the Z24-70f2.8 & Z70-200f2.8 in my bag, in fact, why both? The Z24-200 is the ultimate travel lens when connected to like the Z50, covers everything in just one lens with great quality. Yes, I have those other lenses but when I head out and just want one lens in the truck, it’s the Z24-200 that goes with me. It’s the one lens!

the gorgeous Z14-24f2.8 photo courtesy of Nikon

I no sooner took the loaner lens out of the box and I knew, knew I would end up with Z14-24f2.8 in the kit. It is so light (compared to like the 14-24f2.8) that replacing the Z14-30 will be easy. First looks through the Z 6II and I saw how close it focuses, the very shallow DoF and the sharpness in the first clicks, I ordered one before I even returned the loaner. I can’t wait to shoot this next week in Bryce with, it’s going to be fun! mtc