Welcome to the Robert G Allen Photography Nikon Z Mirrorless and Capture One Photography Blog
Here, you will find posts about Capture One and my Nikon photography adventures, photographer interviews, Nikon hardware and software reviews, curated videos, and general commentary.
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FroKnowsPhoto Jared Polin interviews Dixie Dixon and asked why she left Nikon for Canon (no commercials)
When it was announced that Dixie Dixon was leaving Nikon as an ambassador and moving to Canon, there were a lot of questions. Why did she leave? Was it money, was it something else? I sat down with Dixie to get to the bottom of it. She answered every question I had, and then some. Enjoy this conversation with Dixie Dixon.
A Walk in Nature with the Nikon Z9 and the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens
I’m fortunate that I live close to a nature trail that runs along a small creek, just a few minutes’ drive away from my home. It’s during this time of year that you are more likely to find interesting things to photograph along the trail.
The Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S Receives a Firmware Update
One of my favorite lenses, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S line lens receives a minor firmware update, going from version 1.10 to 1.20. These are the changes:
Breaking News: First Reported on Robert G Allen Photography: Nikon is developing the NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S Lens, a telephoto zoom lens with a built-in 1.4× teleconverter
One of my all time favorite lens for portraits was the Nikon Nikkor AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II F- mount lens. If this new Z lens is even close to the performance of the older lens (which I’m sure it will be or better), this is sure to be a popular addition to the Z line of optics.
Spirit Airlines Ceases Operations
On there website today, they posted the following message:
It is with great disappointment that on May 2, 2026, Spirit Airlines started an orderly wind-down of our operations, effective immediately. To our Guests: all flights have been cancelled, and customer service is no longer available. We are proud of the impact of our ultra-low-cost model on the industry over the last 33 years and had hoped to serve our Guests for many years to come.
The Flower Moon as seen by the Nikon COOLPIX Super Zoom P1100 camera at 2800mm
The Flower Moon was in full bloom last evening. The first of the full moons in May, it’s called the Flower Moon because it appears when the spring flowers are starting to blossom.
Nikon Z9 with the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens captures Emirates Airbus A380 at 35,000 feet
On a clear blue sky day, I was working in my backyard and noticed a few contrails overhead. I decided to take a look at the site Flight radar 24 to see if anything interesting was approaching the Boise Idaho area. Wow, what luck! Not one but 2 Airbus A380s, the world’s largest passenger airplanes, were heading straight for Idaho.
Breaking News: Nikon ambassador Dixie Dixon jumps ship to canon
As you can see, Dixie is not the first to move on from Nikon. Keith Ladzinski was also poached by canon. When you are a distance 3rd place in market share, these types of embarrassments will continue to happen to Nikon.
Robert G Allen Photography rolls out new logo and website favicon
Let me know in the comments what your thoughts are about the new design.
Robert G Allen Photography takes delivery of the most powerful Nikon camera ever (with sample images)
At some point, I will be done with my event photography business. And when that happens, I plan on exploring other photography topics more fully (that I have been putting on hold due to time constraints) such as food, landscapes and sports. Along with my plan on taking more sports photos, I thought I would expand my Nikon mirrorless camera body portfolio with a body that aligns more closely with that goal.
Today, NASA releases new image of Earth from the Artemis II mission taken with the Nikon D5
Today, NASA released a new photo of earth as the crew of the Artemis II speeds towards the moon. It was taken with the Nikon D5 with the Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 F mount lens at 22mm
Nikon Z5II Sample Photo Gallery Using a Variety of Nikon Lenses: Updated 04/01/2026 with new photos!
After receiving the Nikon Z5II, I immediately took it out for a test drive. I could not be more pleased with the results of this little gem of a camera. Check back often since I will be adding to this collection periodically.
Let me know in the comments if you have any questions.
UPDATED: A Field Guide to All 17 Firmware Updates for the Nikon Z9. Is this even the same camera?
With yet another Z9 firmware release (ver 5.32), I thought I would put together a comprehensive guide to all 17 of the Z9 firmware updates to date. This also serves as a historical record of how far the Z9 has come, starting with its firmware at birth with version 1.00 upon release.
Today, Nikon USA announces free camera strap & hot shoe cover with qualifying purchase of a Nikon Z5II mirrorless camera body.
Purchase a new Z5II camera or camera kit to get a free limited edition NYC Salt X Nikon Camera Strap and Hot Shoe Cover Kit (a $69.99 value).
Nikon announces the second generation of their renowned Z Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 S line lens
Nikon Inc. has announced the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S II, a premium-grade fast telephoto zoom lens for full-frame/FX format mirrorless cameras. This second-generation version of Nikon’s most popular pro-level fast telephoto zoom delivers improved optical performance, faster focusing, and a 26% lighter weight than its first-generation predecessor.
Nikon Creators Serve Up Inspiring Content Using The Nikon Z5II, Nikon’s Most Recent Mirrorless Camera.
If you have the Nikon Z5II (as I do), here are a few videos produced by Nikon Creators for inspiration:
Sample photos taken with the Nikon NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens with a variety of Nikon mirrorless camera bodies
I have captured around 1,800 photos since taking delivery of the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens. Overall, I have been happy with my purchase. As others have said, it’s light and easy to hold for an 800mm lens.
National Geographic names Nikon Ambassador Ami Vitale as Explorer at Large
Guided by her philosophy of “living the story,” Vitale has worked in more than 100 countries, often embedded for years at a time, allowing her to cultivate meaningful trust with the communities and subjects she documents. A National Geographic magazine contributor since 2008 and an Explorer since 2017, her work consistently reveals the resilience of both nature and the human spirit, reminding us that our fates are deeply intertwined. This major thematic focus has brought empathy and humanity to wildlife and conservation issues, and demonstrates a long-standing commitment to storytelling for impact and community building.