NX800 /Z200 close focussing? at DVinfo.net

Ronald Jackson · February 21st, 2026, 03:52 AM

Interested, particularly via Doug Jensen's posts, in a NX800.

Wildlife particularly butterflies and dragonflies. Close focussing is thus important but all I can find in the specs. is close focus distance at the wide end of the zoom which useless info for me.

How close does the cam focus at the long end of the zoom range?

I have a Lumix HC1500 which, well, "okayish", with a minimum focus distance at the tele end of three feet which not that good for the smaller insects.

Ron Jackson

Doug Jensen · February 21st, 2026, 09:03 AM

Measured from the front lens element, zoomed all the way in, max aperture, with Clear Image Zoom turned on, the close focusing is 38" on the Z200/NX800.

But I don't know how the information is useful to you without actually seeing how that translates into how much an object at that distance will fill the frame.

For example, what if the Z200 can fill the frame entirely with the face of a wristwatch at that distance, while the best another camera can do would be to show a 50% wider shot, perhaps the entire watch band and the desk it is sitting on at it's closest focus distance. Maybe that second camera can focus at 20", but at that distance it still can't get as tight as the Z200 at 38".

Isn't a camera's ability to fill the frame with an dragonfly more important than just how close the lens can physically be to the insect? I'm not saying that the Z200/NX800 is better or worse that other cameras, I'm jsut pointing out that the close-focusing capability all be itself does not paint a complete picture.

Just food for thought.

Ronald Jackson · February 22nd, 2026, 04:11 AM

Thank you Doug, on the face of it a right bummer. Your analogy of a wrist watch interesting though.
How far(or close) must one be to fill the frame with a wrist watch image? I do know that on my MFT kit it is sometimes necessary to zoom back in order to get an in focus image, albeit one of reduced size.
There are of course close-up lens possibilities, and I also have, somewhere, a Century Optics 72mm 1.6X screw in teleconverter, a big lump, used with my old EX3. "Made In The USA" I think which presumably makes it quite old.
Now if Sony would make a "Long Lens" version of the NX800/Z200, less wide, more full, aimed at those, like wild-life videographers who need that extra (lots!) reach.

Ron

Ronald Jackson · February 24th, 2026, 07:09 AM

Well "S--t or bust" as we used to say in my youthful (small stakes) card playing days. Just purchased a NX800, here tomorrow all being well. Next some cursing and whimpering as I try to get it up and running.
Some Doug Jensen's teach in I think.

Ron

February 21st, 2026, 03:52 AM	#1
Ronald Jackson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Southport, United Kingdom Posts: 730	NX800 /Z200 close focussing? Interested, particularly via Doug Jensen's posts, in a NX800. Wildlife particularly butterflies and dragonflies. Close focussing is thus important but all I can find in the specs. is close focus distance at the wide end of the zoom which useless info for me. How close does the cam focus at the long end of the zoom range? I have a Lumix HC1500 which, well, "okayish", with a minimum focus distance at the tele end of three feet which not that good for the smaller insects. Ron Jackson

February 21st, 2026, 09:03 AM	#2
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,521	Re: NX800 /Z200 close focussing? Measured from the front lens element, zoomed all the way in, max aperture, with Clear Image Zoom turned on, the close focusing is 38" on the Z200/NX800. But I don't know how the information is useful to you without actually seeing how that translates into how much an object at that distance will fill the frame. For example, what if the Z200 can fill the frame entirely with the face of a wristwatch at that distance, while the best another camera can do would be to show a 50% wider shot, perhaps the entire watch band and the desk it is sitting on at it's closest focus distance. Maybe that second camera can focus at 20", but at that distance it still can't get as tight as the Z200 at 38". Isn't a camera's ability to fill the frame with an dragonfly more important than just how close the lens can physically be to the insect? I'm not saying that the Z200/NX800 is better or worse that other cameras, I'm jsut pointing out that the close-focusing capability all be itself does not paint a complete picture. Just food for thought. __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools

February 22nd, 2026, 04:11 AM	#3
Ronald Jackson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Southport, United Kingdom Posts: 730	Re: NX800 /Z200 close focussing? Thank you Doug, on the face of it a right bummer. Your analogy of a wrist watch interesting though. How far(or close) must one be to fill the frame with a wrist watch image? I do know that on my MFT kit it is sometimes necessary to zoom back in order to get an in focus image, albeit one of reduced size. There are of course close-up lens possibilities, and I also have, somewhere, a Century Optics 72mm 1.6X screw in teleconverter, a big lump, used with my old EX3. "Made In The USA" I think which presumably makes it quite old. Now if Sony would make a "Long Lens" version of the NX800/Z200, less wide, more full, aimed at those, like wild-life videographers who need that extra (lots!) reach. Ron

February 24th, 2026, 07:09 AM	#4
Ronald Jackson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Southport, United Kingdom Posts: 730	Re: NX800 /Z200 close focussing? Well "S--t or bust" as we used to say in my youthful (small stakes) card playing days. Just purchased a NX800, here tomorrow all being well. Next some cursing and whimpering as I try to get it up and running. Some Doug Jensen's teach in I think. Ron