I was a Nikon shooter for years, then switched to Sony due to Nikon not having a mid range camera with the video features I wanted in camera (10-bit, 4:2:2 Log etc). Immediately upon switching I realized just how amazing Nikon glass actually is. Happy to say I’m back to Nikon now with the Z6iii 🤙🏼
I’ve had both for a while. Interesting enough the Sony lenses are so nice adapted to the Nikon. I need more time with the z6iii. I find it can drop focus on some frames compared to the Z8 I had previously. Hopefully firmware can improve that. I noticed the same with the Z6ii as I shot Salsa with it previously. I find the A7C2 just as good as the z6iii which is crazy with the AI autofocus Sony is bringing to their latest cameras. I love the 135 Plena.
Me too Jeff, Z6 II and 24-120 F4 is my go to set up. So versatile. Saving my drachmas for the 35mm 1.8 S but their there is 1,4 and 1,2 coming I hear, Mine is mainly Street, Will see Cheers
Nikon for 45 years. I upgraded to the Z8 from the D850. Mind Blown, I loved the D850 but the focus on the Z8 just makes me giggle. Plus the screen in back like focusing on stars in night shots, cover over sensor, heck everything.LOVE this camera
As soon as i saw the title of the video i said to myself "it's because there's no telephoto lenses for the fuji". I knew it! When I'm doing landscapes I take soooo many pictures with my 100-400. I wouldn't be able to live without it!
Agree! I’ve even used my old 800mm f/5.6E FL a few times for some landscapes. Including an all time favorite image of mine, it’s of the full moon, just as it’s rising above snow-capped mountains. It was sunset and so the mountains were pinkish/red and lit up so beautifully! It’s a single exposure as well, I don’t ever manipulate or composite images. So I was able to use the D850’s amazing dynamic range to get it right in-camera with a single shot. Just as Mark said in the video, it’s easy to get great single image captures. You don’t really need to bracket or composite/focus stack images with full frame. Anyways I think Mark is making a great decision and one I definitely would’ve made as well. The Z8 will definitely open those doors that were closed, it’ll give you everything you need, especially with those three lenses! You really can’t beat the 14-24mm, 24-120mm and 100-400mm’s…as a do-it-all combo! I personally don’t ever really need wider than 24mm, but I absolutely love the 24-120mm f/4 and the 100-400mm especially! They’re two of the best zoom lenses ever made and the both absolutely destroy the competition! Canon, Sony, Fuji and nobody else can touch those two zooms from Nikon. Canon has an amazing EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II and I hear their 100-500mm is not bad, but the Nikon definitely has the edge! It’s built better, made in Japan and just feels very well built. Plus it’s both sharper than the Canon and has a better zoom/aperture range in my opinion. Sure you loose 100mm compared to the Canon 100-500mm, but you can crop and or use a 1.4x TC and have the best of both worlds! Anyways I’ve contemplated switching to this same setup, minus the 14-24mm. However there’s just a few things holding me back. I’m mainly a photojournalist/newspaper photographer, but I also do wildlife, nature/landscape and aviation. So I need a great low light camera and a great super-tele prime and or zoom! So I have the Nikon D6’s as main cameras and the D850 (with grip kit) as my backup. Although I like the Z8 and Z9, I just don’t prefer their high ISO performance compared to my D6’s. I also am not a fan of EVF’s and poor battery life. I’ve gotten so used to the flagship DSLR’s that I’m spoiled, and my battery lasts forever! Like at least a week, instead of a few hours, like with a Z8/Z9! Plus I have light sensitivity due to cluster headaches and the OVF is way better than an EVF. I’m hoping the Z6 III may have improved on the EVF enough for it to work for me. Plus although I don’t like the small size, the Z6 III is much closer to my D6 as a replacement than the Z8 is! I mean that in a low-light, frames per second and overall specs way, obviously not quite same size/weight or build quality wise. Long story short is I’ve had the Z9 and a Z7 and they’re both great, but I couldn’t live wit the ISO performance or EVF’s. Yet I do miss my Z-mount 24-120mm f/4 S and 100-400mm lenses, so we’ll see where I go. Honestly I’m perfectly content using my D6’s/D850 until Nikon releases a flagship with better EVF, better battery life and maybe lower megapixels. Or maybe, just maybe I’ll be switching to Canon. I like the R3’s EVF in its OVF simulation mode, much better than the Z9/Z8’s EVF. Plus the R3 is almost perfect for me specs wise and for what I do. Luckily my news organization has both Nikon NPS and Canon/CPS accounts! So I’m able to test the gear and we get pretty decent discounts on gear and repairs. Canon is rumored to be announcing an RF 200-500mm f/4 IS and the R1. Right now my bread and butter lenses are the Nikon 500mm f/4 FL and the 180-400mm f/4 FL 1.4x TC. So a 200-500mm f/4…would be photographic gear heaven for me!
I KINDA did the same thing, although I'm keeping all my Fujifilm gear. I added the Nikon Zf to my arsenal. No matter how much I love my Fujifilm bodies, the noise in low light made me add the Zf.....and I dont regret getting it.
I have been shooting Nikon since 1997. I hung in there even through their years that they were behind in technology. I have always loved my cameras and lenses, including my Z8. It is an amazing camera. I splurged on the Plena lens, the two paired together create some beautiful images. You will love the Z8!!
Same here, but I actually started with the Nikon N90s and F5 in around 1995? Than in late 1999 or early 2000 I switched to the Nikon D1. I’ve had every flagship from D1-D6, and even all of the X/S models as well! Anyways, I agree about the telephoto aspect of the situation/video. As I’ve even used my old 800mm f/5.6E FL a few times for some landscapes. Including an all time favorite image of mine, it’s of the full moon, just as it’s rising above snow-capped mountains. It was sunset and so the mountains were pinkish/red and lit up so beautifully! It’s a single exposure as well, I don’t ever manipulate or composite images. So I was able to use the D850’s amazing dynamic range to get it right in-camera with a single shot. Just as Mark said in the video, it’s easy to get great single image captures. You don’t really need to bracket or composite/focus stack images with full frame. Anyways I think Mark is making a great decision and one I definitely would’ve made as well. The Z8 will definitely open those doors that were closed, it’ll give you everything you need, especially with those three lenses! You really can’t beat the 14-24mm, 24-120mm and 100-400mm’s…as a do-it-all combo! I personally don’t ever really need wider than 24mm, but I absolutely love the 24-120mm f/4 and the 100-400mm especially! They’re two of the best zoom lenses ever made and the both absolutely destroy the competition! Canon, Sony, Fuji and nobody else can touch those two zooms from Nikon. Canon has an amazing EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II and I hear their 100-500mm is not bad, but the Nikon definitely has the edge! It’s built better, made in Japan and just feels very well built. Plus it’s both sharper than the Canon and has a better zoom/aperture range in my opinion. Sure you loose 100mm compared to the Canon 100-500mm, but you can crop and or use a 1.4x TC and have the best of both worlds! Anyways I’ve contemplated switching to this same setup, minus the 14-24mm. However there’s just a few things holding me back. I’m mainly a photojournalist/newspaper photographer, but I also do wildlife, nature/landscape and aviation. So I need a great low light camera and a great super-tele prime and or zoom! So I have the Nikon D6’s as main cameras and the D850 (with grip kit) as my backup. Although I like the Z8 and Z9, I just don’t prefer their high ISO performance compared to my D6’s. I also am not a fan of EVF’s and poor battery life. I’ve gotten so used to the flagship DSLR’s that I’m spoiled, and my battery lasts forever! Like at least a week, instead of a few hours, like with a Z8/Z9! Plus I have light sensitivity due to cluster headaches and the OVF is way better than an EVF. I’m hoping the Z6 III may have improved on the EVF enough for it to work for me. Plus although I don’t like the small size, the Z6 III is much closer to my D6 as a replacement than the Z8 is! I mean that in a low-light, frames per second and overall specs way, obviously not quite same size/weight or build quality wise. Long story short is I’ve had the Z9 and a Z7 and they’re both great, but I couldn’t live wit the ISO performance or EVF’s. Yet I do miss my Z-mount 24-120mm f/4 S and 100-400mm lenses, so we’ll see where I go. Honestly I’m perfectly content using my D6’s/D850 until Nikon releases a flagship with better EVF, better battery life and maybe lower megapixels. Or maybe, just maybe I’ll be switching to Canon. I like the R3’s EVF in its OVF simulation mode, much better than the Z9/Z8’s EVF. Plus the R3 is almost perfect for me specs wise and for what I do. Luckily my news organization has both Nikon NPS and Canon/CPS accounts! So I’m able to test the gear and we get pretty decent discounts on gear and repairs. Canon is rumored to be announcing an RF 200-500mm f/4 IS and the R1. Right now my bread and butter lenses are the Nikon 500mm f/4 FL and the 180-400mm f/4 FL 1.4x TC. So a 200-500mm f/4…would be photographic gear heaven for me!
@@patricksmith2553 what's so bad about Z8/Z9's high ISO performance? I had a D850 and i was complaining nonstop about its poor high ISO performance until it came to a point where i thought to myself, if i'm not going to print big for viewers to notice the noise, who cares. I've recently watched Simon d'Entremont's video on youtube entitled "the truth about shooting at ISO 100..." and it's comforting to know that it's not the photographer/camera's fault that an image is noisy/grainy. As long as your main subjects are well exposed and focused, nobody cares what ISO values you use. My gear history for entertainment purpose: Lumix point and shoot -> D90 -> D300S -> D800 -> D500-> D850 -> Fuji XT3 -> Z9. There's only the Z9 now that I use and i love it. Sorry for my bad english. It's not my first language. I meant no disrespect to you in my comment. Please let me know if i have offended you in any way and i'll humbly apologise.
@@sheeshia No worries. So as I said I’m a long time photojournalist. I shoot a lot in low light, even in near pitch darkness. From breaking news like fires to high school sports and everything in-between. Often I don’t know where I’ll be shooting and for how long. Sometimes I’ll cover wildfires that last days or weeks. I might be shooting on a hillside or mountain at midnight. Where there is only moon light or ambient light, and that’s where my D6’s really shine. The viewfinder is extremely bright on the D6 and the autofocus is absolutely amazing. Plus the sensor in the D5/D6 are plainly better at higher ISO’s compared to the D850/Z7/Z8/Z9. The D5/D6 have a sensor that’s tuned or design for high ISO performance! I’d say I notice at least 2/3rd’s of a stop or a full stop difference. In reality though it’s more than just the measurable difference. Due to the smaller megapixel count of 20.8mp the D5/D6 have larger individual pixels. The D6 also retains color, contrast and fine details better at high ISO’s as well vs. the Z8/Z9. However from base ISO64 to about ISO400…the 45.7mp, like the D850/Z8 and Z9 cameras have an advantage with dynamic range. Unfortunately the D5/D6 suffer or sacrifice a little bit of dynamic range to achieve better high ISO performance! It also comes down to things like post processing and time. In my business time is everything and being first to get images out, can be the difference. With the Z8/Z9 files I found myself spending more time running noise reduction and file reductions to compensate for the higher noise. The more steps or time involved in post production is a downside to me. Also the D5/D6 files take noise reduction really well. I don’t know if it’s just due to the larger pixels/lower megapixel count or the “noise pattern.” Yet I’ve noticed the D6 files just look much better after noise reduction vs. the Z9 type cameras. Also in reality I just don’t really need the 45.7mp and or the ability to crop much. I can cover almost every focal length with my lenses and they’re all extremely sharp. I have made many prints comparing my D5/D6 images to D850/Z7 and or Z9 images and nobody can tell the difference. The majority of image quality is thanks to your lens and its abilities. What I’m saying is I’m getting the most out of my 20.8mp sensor due to my lenses amazing sharpness/IQ. So as far as detail and overall image quality is concerned the higher megapixel cameras don’t do much for me. As long as I can fill the frame with my lower megapixel camera…I’m getting great results with my lenses. Plus cropping results in more noise or at least makes the noise more pronounced. So I try to only crop when I need to and usually only 10-30% or so, depending on the situation/image. No camera is perfect though and there’s always trade-offs to be made. I’m not saying the Z8/Z9 has bad image quality or can’t be used at higher ISO’s. I’m just saying for what I do, which is a niche thing…the D6 is just better for me. For 95% of photographers the D850 or Z7/Z8/Z9’s are the right choice and best cameras available. Just to demonstrate how niche my needs are, I’ll tell you Nikon easily sells 30-40x more Z8’s and Z9’s vs. D6’s! I know because I handle most of the gear at a large news outlet and I know the serial numbers well. I’ve seen Z9’s made for the USA with serial numbers in the 3041000 territory or 41,000 units sold. Whereas my highest serial number on a Nikon D6 is just above 3002000, or just 2,000 sold nationwide. I’m sure by now there’s 45,000 or so Z9’s in the USA and only about 2,200 D6’s and this is a big country! Most of the people who own the D6 are news/sports photographers or “photojournalists” and a few are wildlife photographers. I know some wildlife photographers who prefer using the Nikon D6 or Canon 1Dx Mark III or R3’s and Sony A9 II/III’s. Most also own a Z8/Z9 or Canon R5/Sony A1 and they use whichever suits their needs best. I too did for a long time and still do, because I like having the best of both worlds. I can use the D850 or a Z9 for when I’m in good lighting and or need the ability to crop, or I can use the D6 for low light and night shooting. Anyway…you didn’t offend me and I’m sure you’d admit that your needs are probably pretty different to mine? You probably aren’t photographing firefighters or Police in the middle of the night? Plus I’ll add this as well…the D6 is amazing camera in almost every way. It works just like the Z9 as far touch menu and ability to highly customize it. I can for instance just flick up with my finger and wirelessly send images to my laptop/iphone with my D6. I use the WT-6 transmitters and they have a 650ft range and are 100% reliable. I can send my images within 2 seconds and have them published or to my editors within a minute or less, 2 minutes at most! While the Z8/Z9 have wireless built in…it sucks, it has terrible range and it’s not 100% reliable either. Unfortunately Nikon got rid of the port or connection point for the WT-6 on the Z9. So you’re limited to using the built in wireless, which is slower and more difficult to use at times. This is something I use everyday and therefor is a key factor or reason while I prefer the D6 to the Z9. I was probably one of the first non-Nikon ambassadors to have the Z9’s in my hands. Usually the media/press and important NPS clients get the new cameras and lenses first. So I did have an early copy of the Z9 and Lightroom and apparently there was an issue where the noise performance was worse than it is now. Which to me sorta proves that Nikon and or Lightroom is processing the images somewhere to help with the noise. Or maybe it was just a bug, but trust me the D6 is probably the best high ISO performer in the world. Some 24mp cameras come close noise performance wise, but the D6 still has a slight edge.
@@patricksmith2553 thank you for the lengthy reply. I guess we use whatever works best in our line of work. I shoot mostly landscapes and portraits so the z9 really gives me more than enough details to keep me busy. I loved the fujifilm and how easy it was for me to make changes on the go, plus the light weight bodies. I switched back to Nikon for one reason only, the fujifilm failed me in accurate AF nearly 10% all the time. It can be very frustrating whenever i use modelling lights in the studio. So, i thought maybe it's time to make the switch and give Nikon another chance. I say this because their DSLR failed me many times (autofocus wise) and the lenses always had back/front focusing issues. So, Nikon mirrorles. Let's see. Tried other brands as well such as Sony and Canon but i just like how the Nikon feels in my hands. Working on the menu is easy as well since i am familiar with it. Never liked the menus by Sony and Canon. The z9 surely is heavier to carry around but it gives me exactly what i need in my work. And that AF accuracy on the Z9 is really amazing for me even though i know that Sony and Canon AF are slightly better. Anyway, that's my short and boring story. Thank you for taking the time to read and for the reply.
@@sheeshia Yeah no problem and I totally get why you’re using a Z9! If my focus or work was portraits and landscapes, I’d also definitely get a Z8/Z9. They are definitely superior to even my D6 when it comes to eye-AF tracking and face tracking is slightly better. The D6 can find and focus on faces quite well and even eyes, in fact it’s the only DSLR with the ability to track eyes. However it’s definitely not as accurate or good as the latest mirrorless options! Heck it might not even be as good as the older Z6/Z7’s after their firmware updates. However for me that function is not as important and I rarely use it. As far as back/front focusing and issues with autofocus on DSLR’s I think you just had bad luck. I know you’re not alone and I’ve heard and seen others having those issues as well. So I totally get how frustrating that could be, but I personally haven’t had those issues. Although it is true that Nikon/NPS give us news/media companies and customers the cream of the crop. First off we have a long standing relationship and but a lot of gear and need a lot of service and support. So I’m well aware Nikon is (most likely) cherry picking the best lenses and cameras for us. I’m sure they’ve double/triple checked everything works great. So it makes sense in a way why I’ve not experienced any real issues like that. The only time I did have an issue was with a brand new Nikon 105mm f/1.4E, which had lots of internal dust. Right out of the box I went to put a new Nikon 82mm NC/UV filter on it and I noticed the dust, it was really bad. The entire large front grouping of lens elements had dust covering the entire surface area. Plus the sharpness and contrast wasn’t what I was expecting and so I returned it and instead kept using my 70-200mm f/2.8E FL. Which sorta brings me back to my point about Nikon giving us the best gear. There is sample variation with some lenses and I’ve seen this specifically on the 24-70mm f/2.8E VR and 70-200mm f/2.8E FL lenses. All of the copies we had… which we got through NPS, were extremely sharp and spot-on AF wise. When I sold some of them to people (after we were done with them) in order to help with budgeting for new mirrorless gear, I became aware of the issues. A couple of the buyers of our used pool equipment said they had looked at other copies of the same lenses and had passed on buying them. They said this was due to sample variation issues. Such as they were not sharp wide open or had de-centered lens elements and or AF issues, etc.! Whereas our copies were perfect or very close to it. They literally told me they were night and day differences, especially in the case of those two particular lenses, which opened my eyes. In my 27 years of shooting Nikon professional gear I had never had any issues. Never needed a single repair, never had any AF issues or anything. So there must be a reason or maybe it’s also just good luck? I mean not everything I own or have bought was through NPS. I’ve bought used gear and personal gear on my own, but obviously I know what to check for. Anyways, it was nice talking to you and I’m glad you’re satisfied with your Nikon gear. It’s also good to know that there’s less issues with AF and sample variation on the Z-lenses. Yet at the same time I’m not impressed with the recalls on the Z8/Z9’s and quality issues. Everyone I know who has either camera has had to send them into Nikon for service/recalls multiple times. Yet in my 24 years shooting Nikon flagship level DSLR’s, from D1 to D6 I’ve yet to need a single repair! Maybe the difference is partly made in Japan vs. Thailand and now China? The 105mm f/1.4E that I had the dust issue with was made in China. I doubt you’d ever see dust like that in a lens made in Japan. I know I had never seen that before and never heard of it, so I personally believe it matters in some cases. Obviously some products are very well made in China, such as Apple products or even the Nikon 800mm f/6.3pf! Generally though I do think the gear made in Japan has a leg up. Especially the flagship DSLR’s and super-tele primes and zooms. I’ve compared the 800pf to my 500FL and there are clear differences in build quality. Same with the Z9, it’s not quite as well made as the D6. I mean the difference(s) are small, but they’re there. It seemed to me the Z9 was in small ways like a D850/Z7 II mixed with a D6. Absolutely professional build quality and very well made, but just a tad behind the D6. Hence the price difference at launch, with the Z9 being $1,000 cheaper than the D6? I don’t know, that’s a whole another conversation. Plus I’m taking about very minor differences! Take care!
I'm a Sony shooter and own the Tamron 50-400 which is a great lens. Combined with a wide angle lens I can get away with using two lenses only for most situations. I appreciate the small form factor of my system, especially when hiking for multiple days. When I'm out in the wild for a copule of weeks I usually only bring my Sony camera and the Tamron 28-200, which gives me a ton of options while also keeping the weight and size down to a minimal level. I don't like switching lenses when in harsh environments far away from civilzation and that setup solves that issue. That being said, the other day I met a random person when I was out shooting birds. He was carrying a Z8 (which I had never seen irl before), and he asked me if I wanted to try it out. MAN that camera felt great in the hand! Such a pleasure to shoot with too. I've never tried Sony A1 out, but the price of that thing is just way too high and not giving me personally the value for money I'd get with the Z8. I love the lens options I get with E-mount but if I started new today I'd probably invest in Nikon. Z-mount has enough options for my kind of photography even if I'd miss my beloved Tamron 50-400.
Same here. 50-400mm with 16-35 is so versatile over three lens setup for landscapes as long as you shoot it on tripod. The 50-400mm is not perfect lens, in fact testing it test chart was a disappointment, but my comparison with two 100-400 lenses on actual landscapes (a lot of 60mp comparison samples on my website) shown that it is really good. I use 400mm in some landscapes a lot. 400mm also works for moon with landscape photography which is my favorite (I have an article in English and Czech on my web with advice how to plan it and photograph it).
@@fotovylety When I was researching the lens I found your comments on a forum (with a link to your website). Very informative and good comparisons. But I found it surprising that the lens didn't perform that well on your test chart, when others on UA-cam showed a solid performance. I haven't tested my lens on a test chart but I've done some quick comparisons with my 200-600, a lens I'm very pleased with, and I found the Tamron to be more equal than different to the Sony. Anyways, the 50-400 is the lens I use the most. Love it!
@@Shashank-DivineChild megadap pro is THE adapter. I've been looking into that one, but unfortunately AF doesn't seem to be super reliable for fast action. I think I'll wait and see what Sony does. My hopes are that they will release something equivalent to Z8 at a reasonable price. They need to wake up. A9 lines is at global shutter now and they can't keep stacked sensors for A1 only. But I don't know. If they don't release what I want in the near future I might consider making the move to Nikon.
@@edc641 The Z8 is already a Z9 equivalent at a reasonable price, so a Z8 equivalent at a reasonable price. Seems unlikely. Anyways best of luck for your search.
I was in the same position after switching to the GFX system in 2019; I was missing the longer telephoto focal lengths. I was using the GF 100-200/5.6 with and without the GF 1.4x TC, but the image quality just isn't there with the TC. Last year, I picked up a used copy of the excellent Canon EF 100-400mm mk II lens and began using it on the GFX 100S via the Fringer adapter. There is some mechanical vignetting when shooting in the full GFX sensor format, but if you switch to the 35mm mode, the lens performs incredibly well, and you still have 61 megapixels to work with. I've modified the lens by removing the rear baffle, which took care of most of the vignetting, and now the image circle covers 90 to 95% of the GFX sensor area. If you want a lighter option that performs just as well, several people are using the Canon EF 70-300L lens with the Fringer adapter. Adapting the Canon 100-400 gives me the best of the GFX system (for me, that means the 4:3 aspect and lots of information) with the flexibility of a full-frame lens system.
*Amen! Hallelujah!* There's some soft vignetting (shading only, nothing hard) in full size 4:3 with the Canon EF 100-400mm II and the rear baffle removed when zoomed above 200mm. Full size 3:2 has less. This lens is also very sharp and contrasty, and is still available new. It also appears that all Canon EF lenses (I've tried many) don't vignette at all when shot in 65:24 XPan pano (44mm wide instead of 36mm wide for full frame) and in 1:1 square (33mm x 33mm, instead of 26mm x 26mm for full frame). It's great to be able to use more of the Canon EF lenses' image circle, and no longer be stuck in copping everything from 3:2. I love this!!!
Exactly my thoughts...came up with a different solution: Combined my GFX plus 45-100 mm with X-t5 plus 100-400 mm and added 16 mm prime lens to go wide too. Superbe quality and backup at the same time.
You won’t regret it!! The Z8 is an extraordinary hybrid camera. I am a bird shooter by the way… so you can definitely shoot whatever you want with this camera.
As professional commercial photographer and former wire photographer I use the Fujifilm GFX100/2 for commercial work. I used it on a job for Gibson Guitars using Profoto lights. there is no substitute for a 100mp 16 bit camera. Client loved the images you could see DNA. As for other jobs I use a Nikon Z system Z9,Z8,Zf,Z6/3. I also use Hassy X2D and 907 for fun. I also use the new 500mm Fujion lens. The GFX100/2 with the GF500mm 5.6 is the ONLY super Tele for MF period. I stacked 16 files of the moon the other day and you could see the Flag put up by Apollo 11 haha.
Nikon user for years since the my D70. Switched to mirrorless crop sensor and graduated to full frame mirrorless with the Z6ll. Shoot landscape mainly with the 24-120 (absolutely fantastic lens) and use the 100-400 to isolate in landscape and use for great closeup work. Love the Nikon system and how it has developed.
Hi Mark, I liked you explained the reasoning behind going to a full frame camera from a medium format. Also, you did a great job explaining it was the limitation of available medium format lenses that was the key driver of your decision.
I jumped from the D750 to the Z8. I absolutely love being able to hike 6+ miles with a small backpack and 2 lenses while having the focal range from 24-400. Both lenses are light and equally sharp compared to their competitors. Your back will thank you! 😅
I posted a similar reply below... How do you like the Z8 vs. your D750? (Control layout w/ banks vs. the U1/2, also image quality & dynamic range). I'm debating the Z8 or Z6iii. I'd prefer the Z8 screen...but don't really NEED 45 MP. Do you like the EVF?
@@nrice3623 I like being able to see what my exposure is in camera compared to the D750 where it could be light out but your shot would come out super dark if you werent paying attention to the histogram. Also will note that i rarely use the EVF for landscape photography. But the shooting banks are a big game changer for when you are doing landscape photography and a cool bird catches your eye because then at the click of a button and change of a dial you can go from full manual to full auto focus and iso i never really utilized u1/u2 with the d750 though so i couldnt compare.
Curious what the total weight of the gear is in your case (Z8 + 2 lenses)? Been hiking with my D850 and a couple of lenses as well and I was wondering how big of a difference it makes
Nikon Z9 here. Been with Nikon since 2001 though there was a brief stint with Sony…. Welcome aboard, the Nikon Z8 by all accounts is amazing. So much good gear out there, shoot what you like! Thanks for sharing Mark!
Mark you used Fuji XT system before using GFX and IIRC, you were quite happy with what XT was capable of, including its lens range, which has tele options now. So why then evaluate a full frame option?
Sounds like the right move for you and as a hobbiest in the Nikon Z and F system ,including the Z8 and 24-120 f4 I think you will continue to love it, although for landscape my Z7 is all that is needed and it is smaller ,lighter and lower priced and with an L bracket like the Small Rig one then it is probably big enough on the grip, enjoy!
You will love the Z8 and what the Z Lens lineup provides. I started with the Z6 II 4 years ago and got the Z8 3 months ago. I love the versatility it offers without compromising on the quality. I love doing any kind of photography and some videography. Landscapes, Macro, Astro, Wildlife, Portraits, and whatnot, and this setup can cover it all. I am really happy with my choice to get the Z8, I bet quite soon you will feel the same. Congrats and I wish you take this camera to some amazing places!
@@southboundaustral Hello. The 1st thing is the autofocus. Not that I am shooting that many portraits, but I had some parties shot with the Z6, where it was ok, but with the Z8 it felt like cheating. I had all the time to focus on framing, rather than worrying about the focus. I like a lot the number of pixels, the overall options in the menu feel much easier and useful for me, the button customization options, the video quality, but those are minor things.
@@SourceOfNature Thanks Vasil for your quick reply. Good on you - what you say seems definitely borne out by experience and I can see what and why you're saying. Thanks again, enjoy your new camera.
I actually did the opposite about a month ago and switched to GFX from full frame. I learned on film and I still cling to those old habits when composing, so high burst rates and all that aren't too appealing. Slow and calculated just makes my brain happy. The main reason has nothing to do with resolution or dynamic range. It all about the framing and the general look it gives. I don't think MF is inherently better at all. It all comes down to what works the person shooting.
I agree, the sensor format selected should be dictated by the person's interests and needs. None are inherently better or worse, they bring different technical advantages and limitations to the table.
@@thegorn Not at all. I definitely think I made the right choice. I was trying to say it’s just not for everybody. If you shoot wildlife, events, sports, etc. gfx is probably not a great choice. But, for someone like me it’s perfect. FWIW, I also use an x-pro, which is apsc, for most of my personal stuff. I absolutely love both, but neither is better or worse than other. They’re just wildly different.
Hey Mark, Thanks for the great video. I've watched you for a while with the Fuji system. I very recently switched from Fuji to the Nikon Z 8, mainly because of the autofocus and subject detection issues with the Fuji. I sold my Fuji gear and bought the Z 8, 24-120, 70-200, and 180-600 lenses. All great gear. But after seeing this video, I returned the 70-200 for the 100-400. You're right the 24-120 and 100-400 make the perfect two lens landscape kit. The 100-400 can also pinch hit as a wildlife lens if needed. Thanks again and good luck on you Nikon journey. I know it was the best move I have made.
The 14-30 and 24-120 f/4s are brilliant lenses. I use both for my professional architecture work. Very light weight. Image quality is nearly identical as the 2.8 counterparts. I don’t need the wide open, so the f/4s work for me. Nikon NEF files are a main reason I love Nikon- so much post processing control. I’m happy for you.
Keep going down to MFT!! You’ll love the size, reach and depth of field. There are some insane options for Astro as well! Save$$$ and there’s always Topaz if you need some noise reduction or gigapixel to amp up to very large prints!!
I switched from Fuji to Nikon a few months back. I have a Z8 and Z6ii, 24-120, 14-30, and the 100-400. I love the Nikon system. I'd love to have the 14-24 2.8 but the filters are 1000 bucks! Have fun with your Z8, it really is amazing. :)
I just purchased the Z8. I also purchased the 180-600 zoom lens and the 24-70 2.8. I'm so excited and have lots to set up and go through on my Z8. I am transitioning from my d500 which i love and will still be using occasionally. Can't wait to use this :)
Welcome (back) to the family! For your 14-24 2.8, ditch the plastic hood that came with the lens and pick up the Nisi metal hood. It has a better light seal for doing long exposures. The 112mm Kase magnetic ND and CPL set is fantastic and they also make a magnetic night sky filter for it as well.
You will love the Nikon Z8 Mark, got it when it came out and have the exact same three-lens setup which is superb for Landscape, been with Nikon for over 40 years and the latest cameras and S lenses are sublime.
We are the bunch who senses what we lack. I was glamorizing medium format Fuji for it’s dynamic range and superior signal to noise ratio that beats my A7rV. I am sure there are some out there who sees the advantages of A7rV over whatever they have now, haha.
I've used a Canon 6D Mark II full frame with a set of L lenses., for 5 years. I take some great shots! Never had the need to 'upgrade'. Assuming you have some form of capability to get nice photos, cameras are just a tool, use them as such. Find the right one for you considering your budget etc..., then get used to it, to never doubt your equipment, this is the best advice I can give.
Welcome to the team Mark. Your lens choices 14-24-120-400 is excellent. You may want to also consider the 180-600. Also, try using a linear profile and you will start to uncover the true dynamic range of the Z8 stacked sensor. I often only need one image (+1 EV exposing to the right) for all of my high contrast images, no blending, with no artifacts or noise.
This is just a guess, but in Capture One you can change camera profiles or if you’re familiar with Fuji systems, film sims. One of the options is Linear Profile. It’s essentially the raw file with no film sims or profiles that essentially are editing your photo for you.
Three weeks ago, I bought a Z8. I debated between the Z8 and the GFX, but the lack of a long lens was one of the deciding factors. I have the 14-30 and the 24-120. I am leaning toward the 300mm PF with the FTZ adapter. I haven't yet had much time to use it. Your photos are top-shelf gorgeous. :)
Yay! Welcome back to NIKON (maybe)! (Another creator I follow that is now on Nikon like me)...Z8 is a fabulous camera. Honestly my 24-120mm f4 is my favourite lens, and like you said pretty much lives on my camera most of the time. The 100-400 I hear is a fabulous lens...and will likely be the next one I buy after I get my new Z6III.
I switched to Nikon last summer from the Canon R5 and I agree about the 24-120. I’ve used a ton of standard lenses over the years and it’s my favorite one. So good at all focal lengths, almost completely flare resistant too. I also have the 14-24, which is phenomenal.
Hello from Grand Teton workshop. I started out using Nikon from the very beginning. I've liked the system and never really had any desire to switch. I finally decided with the Nikon Z7ii and all of the fantastic lens you mentioned. At Grand Teton, I used the 24-120 lens most of the workshop and the 100-400 lens, which is absolutely amazing. It's even better with a 1.4x adapter added to it. I even think they look better with a green camera wrap. I enjoyed meeting you, working and learning from you. Thank you very much for your generous time and your insight. The 24-120 lens is the best. Thank you for these wonderful videos.
That surprises me! The Fuji GFX gives far superior images, and with the 500mm Fuji lens and you are covered. Stacking images for the quality of what the 100s gives is so easy to do. I think the big thing is stop comparing focal length! With the 102mp image you get from the Fuji, you can crop and still have a better image. I have GFX 100s, 20-35, 45-100, 100-200, and the 500, yes there is a small gap but I haven't noticed a problem. It is cheaper to just buy the 500mm lens... That's my 2¢. :-)
@@nikolai_art I don't believe he does it for a bigger target audience, the target audience are landscape photographers regardless of brand of camera. The camera should be the last thing on the list. Skill, an eye for composition, and the love of getting out and finding great images, I believe are above brand. I actually think he is not thinking this through. Buying a 500mm lens and a 1.4 extension is far cheaper than a completely new system... the shallower depth of field is a little weak.... an extra shot or two and you have an image that any other full-frame camera can not achieve.... Regardless of camera I will continue to follow him.
No one wants to carry around heavy gear like that,. The Z8 also has many features the GFX does not, like starlight view and illuminated buttons that help with landscape photography at night. The 500mm is over 1 pound heavier than the zoom and stuck at 395mm focal length. Compared to having a lens that goes from 100 to 400mm
Mark, if you stick with this system and the 14-24 f2.8 over the 14-30 f4, Kase does make a 112mm (I think it is) set of filters that integrate onto that 14-24's hood system. I've been told you can then use that hood onto certain other lenses, not completely sure about that and the filters would just remain on the hood. I have instead, out of those 3 you showcased, the 14-30, and use Kase's 95 mm filters with step up rings on all my lenses to do away with vignette on the 14-30. You could stick with the 14-30mm F4 and then get Viltrox's new 16mm 1.8 for Z which is a pretty good Astro lens. With what you would save a bunch on the filter prices between 95 to 112 and the price difference on moving down to f4. But people that use that 14-24 2.8z do tell me that they really love it. You seem very excited, and it is cool not to be limited with a 3 lens option.
GFX highlight recovery ? ...... yes, I think it is user error, Mark. Any difference is almost certainly down to where any highlight overexposure kicks in or being conservative with the histogram. Shadow recovery with the GFX is so good that there is no excuse for lack of highlight detail.
Could it be that the Z8 histogram is more conservative at the highlight end of the spectrum than GFX? I can't imagine DR is any wider on FF than on GFX, I would expect the opposite. Although much closer today due to advancing sensor technologies.
I think you’re really going to love that setup! Either way both systems produce great images and we know it’s all about each persons preference. With that said I love my Z9 paired with the 14-24, 24-70 2.8’s and as well I have the 24-120 and 100-400. At some point you may try the 600 6.3. Great not only for your occasional wildlife shots while doing your landscapes but I’ve had fun utilizing it for some landscape work as well. Just a different look. I will also mention that 24-120 is fantastic for macro shots again while shooting the big picture landscapes it’s great for looking at the smaller picture around you. A fantastic lens all around. What filter system are you using if any with the Z lenses, especially the 14-24?
Judging from some other photographers like Thomas Heaton and Nigel Danson, you'll get a lot of use out of that 100-400. Very flexible focal length. Carry on. 👍🥂
There always comes a time when you need to either rethink or upgrade your tools of trade. I use an Olympus, (I’ve reached that age!) mostly with a 40-150mm lens (80-300mm equivalent) attached and have another that takes me to 400mm (800mm), plus others for macro, street etc. Can’t believe you’ve been without for so long! Have fun with your new toys, Mark!
I also switched to the Nikon Z8 (though, I did Fuji and then briefly Sony which was a disaster). The Z8 is a great all around camera. I recently did astro with it and the 14-24mm. Its DR left little to desire. What I really love about it is that you can setup a function button for 'settings recall.' This makes it so easy to switch from a Landscape settings to high-SS action when an animal enters the scene. For astro, the starlight mode is great. One recommended accessory: get a Hoodman HoodEYE eyecup. It makes all the difference when you are using the EVF. Lenses: 100-400mm is a great tele option for landscapes and occasional wildlife/ macro. For landscapes, the 24-120mm f/4 is probably a better option than the 24-70mm f/2.8; same IQ when stopped down but the former is half the price of the latter. Having said, I have the 24-70mm f/2.8 as I also use it for portrait.
The Nikkor Z 20 F1.8 is an astro beast !!! I started with the Nikon D5600, moved to the 1st gen Z7 for 5 yrs and just upgraded a few months ago to the Z8 because I wanted to expand to shooting moving objects and the video functions as well.
The Z7ii is a bit smaller and lighter than the Z8. I have big hands as well and usually prefer a deeper grip, which is why I have to use a grip with my XT5, yet the Z7ii still fits in my hand like a glove. Might be something to think about. Plus you’ll get a good 45MP sensor. Slower autofocus, but for doing landscape, it shouldn’t hinder your shooting. Changing gear isn’t a big deal if it helps your shooting and workflow. I actually really do like the way files come out with Nikon, so I’m sure you’ll see a better edit flow with those files.
Have loved my old Xt2 for years but since getting Z7ii am so comfortable with Nikon and the great range of lenses. Used P80, D3100, D610 then jumped to mirrorless & very happy. Great colours, easy menu, sharp images.
@@miljo2146 The GFX system still needs a proper tele zoom lens. 15 years ago going for a 100-400 FF zoom would mean great sacrifice of IQ but todays tele zoom lenses seem very usable at the long end. Didn't like my EF 100-400 (version I) but liked the XF 100-400. Fuji should make a "lightweight" GF 250-500/8.
Makes total sense. Always appreciate your tips and beautiful images. And we can also always count on your transparency and honest perspectives. Looking forward to seeing some of those Nikon ‘captures’.
I absolutely love my Z7 II for landscapes, mainly for the smaller, lighter form factor. The only thing about the Z8 I would like is the fully articulating screen, but it's not worth an extra $1K IMHO. On behalf of us Nikon shooters, welcome back!
As a Nikon Z7ii user for quite a while I had been contemplating the Z 100-400 for some time. When the box finally arrived from B&H I thought that maybe I had jumped in a bit too far. It is definitely a bulkier and heavier lens than I was used to, and I am not quite as young as I used to be. But with the proper diagonal over-shoulder camera sling I find that that the weight of the100-400 not a problem. It is now my go-to lens for many of my day-shooting photo exercises. That lens produces some outstanding images with or without a tripod. A most outstanding choice on my part. I just love it.
Ahhh the perfect move - I shoot Nikon but still DSLR due to the expense of transitioning to mirrorless and I cover the range from 11mm - 600mm with various lenses for landscape, wildlife and astro. Can't go wrong!!
Mark, welcome back to Nikon. I started my love of photography in high school (early 70’s) with a Nikon dslr, the FM, then the FE2..the latter carried me through college years. Life happened, had to put down the camera, and put photography aside for 25+ years. My photo interests reawakened after becoming a father, but I wasn’t comfortable adjusting to digital . The concept of mirrorless intrigued me, so after watching a number of professional shooters on UA-cam, I was attracted to Fujifilm’s retro styling and had an XT2, XT3, both of which reminded me of my old Nikons. Then a couple of years back, I was yearning for a Nikon again. Got an Z6ii, which I enjoyed, but in the back of my mind, I wished for the feel of my old Nikons, with more manual controls. Last October Nikon released their retro styled Zf, which was what I always wanted. I quickly sold my Z62 and purchased the Zf. I’ve been very happy with it. It is superior to the Z62 in terms of auto focusing and had excellent features, some of which were borrowed from the Z8, and most recently, the newly released Z63, has many of the same features as the Zf, but with the more familiar ergonomics. I wish you luck and fun in your new camera relationship, and look forward to your new Nikon centric experiences and videos.
Whether you use Nikon, Sony, Canon or Fujifilm you will get great results, it is mostly up to the photographer. But not fully. AF, range of lenses and resolution (if you crop a lot like I do) do matter. My new favorite lens is the Fujinon GF 500mm f/5,6 which is smaller and lighter than most of full frame 500mm, and it is very sharp. You will probably be very happy with your Nikon, it is also a great camera.
Thanks Mark, it was interesting to see the changes you have made and especially your reasons for making the changes that you did. At some point I may want to make changes to my gear, and this will help me a lot.
Same boat here. I switched to funifilm when the XT-5 was released and sold my Nikon D850 and all Nikon gear. 2 years later I’ll be switching back to Nikon now getting the Z8 or Z9 and going full frame again
Welcome back! Been shooting Nikon since 1978. Currently have the Z8 and two Z9s. There are some other fantastic S lenses out there, but you're fairly well covered for landscape. Nikon has been great about updating with firmware releases for the Z system, providing a lot of features while also responding to user requests. Make sure you get a CF Express card with a high sustained write speed if you're interested in maximizing the 20fps RAW or higher-end video capabilities. Enjoy!
Excellent video! You explained your logical thought process illustrated with superb photo examples! Thanks! I am a small in stature lady who hikes, travels, and now tries for interesting, creative pix of grandkids. I have switched from Sony to OM system + their best lenses to allow versatility (mountains to skiing to indoors) and portability. I found true that the best camera is the one you have with you! 18:01 That said, I know Nikon glass is awesome!
I slummed it with Fuji for over a decade hoping that things would improve. After over a dozen of their bodies and countless lenses, I swapped over to Nikon Z about two years ago. The change was off the planet. My customers all noticed at once, my images are gorgeous and business improved three fold. I'm filthy with myself for hanging in so long with a company that time after time did not deliver on the promises of their new models. I'm sure their very latest iterations may be fine (X-H2 etc), but I wasted so many years getting lousy photos in low light. I shot a big gig in Perth City earlier this week in very low light. All my images were taken at ISO 12,500, and they are amazing. Two of them are already in my portfolio shots on my website. Fuji is now a byword for disappointment and fortunately their name is never mentioned in my household.
Hi Mark. Welcome back to Nikon. Been with Nikon film and digital all my life. Been using the Z8 for almost a year now and what a camera. I have the 24-120 and will be picking up the 100-400 tomorrow. Still use my AF-S lenses as I kept my D850. Look forward to seeing your work with the Z8
We have the best tools in the world to take pictures with! I only take pictures for fun these days and it's also a relaxation thing, I am happy with my ageing DSLRs that I use, but if your gear can't do what you want to shoot then it's time to change, nice one Mark you made a wise choice, enjoy your new kit! I have been a Nikon shooter for over 50 years and never had a problem, but brands don't really worry me as long as they are reliable.....Thank You for your story....
I had the Nikon D850 and the 24-120mm, what a great combination. That lens was on the body 95% of the time. Fast forward when ordering the Z8, I also ordered the Z 24-120mm S line which gives astounding images and great range. I do have a Tamron 17-35mm f2.8-4 for the wide angle and astrophotography. There are times I want a bit more reach but I’m not a birder/fast action wildlife and didn’t want to spend for the 100-400 or lug around the 180-600 so I filled in the gap with the Nikon 28-400mm. Nikon is doing a lot right and a low cost mega zoom is generating really good results center to the edges. What’s frosting on the cake, everything can fit in one medium sized backpack…priceless.
Your comment about your gear influencing your photography really hit home with me. I shoot with a Nikon Z6ii and it's time for me to save my money and get the Z100-400 lens. I have the 24-120 and love it! Great video!
I made the switch from Lumix MFT to Nikon a few years ago and can appreciate the sentiment in this video. I still miss the small form factor of the Lumix system, and personally I like the ergonomics and menu layouts in that system better than Canon or Nikon, however I have taken a ton of low light wildlife photos since then with my Z6ii and now Z8 that I know I could not have captured with my G9 and that is the confirmation I made the right choice. The fact that my camera bag weighs 25 pounds with the Z 800mm versus 10 pounds when I was using the Leica 100-400 is how I justify going hiking to look for wildlife instead of going to the gym to do an hour of cross-fit. Wishing you lots of success and new creative opportunities with the new system.
Having shot Olympus, Nikon, and Leica for forty years, you have the perfect setup. You can’t go wrong with that camera and lens combo. Maximum options and great build quality. Plus it’s good you don’t mind the size. Let’s face it you could go smaller and lighter. I like my magnesium alloys and real glass. Wouldn’t have it my other way.
You’ve approached this in the most logical manner, with the self question of “is my gear holding me back”. It’s really the only reason to change isn’t it?! I’m still wedged on micro 43rds, no idea if I’ll switch, but I do have the opportunity to play with a Sony soon! At the end of the day does it matter? Assess needs, assess output, pick a system, and have fun with it!
The benifit of Nikon Z mount is the flange distance. It's only 16mm which is shorter than most cameras, and shorter than all full frame cameras. That means you can adapt most of them to this mount for a specific focal length and f stop combination of character. I designed a 3d printed GFX to Z mount adapter. Since I have 0 first party GFX lens, I do not know how the aperture control works; I can't guarantee its compatibility.
Great video, Mark! I noticed the "Z8" file tag on one of the photos from last week's video and that got me curious. I have been saving my pennies for a Z-system camera as I currently have my old, trusty d5200. My lenses are a Tokina 11-16 f/2.8, Tamron 18-400 f/5-6.3 and a Nikkor 35mm f/1.8. I have access to my wife's 18-55, 55-300 and 50mm f/1.4 from her d5200 gear. The Tamron lens has been my go-to lens for much of the past year. I'm itching to get out more and use the all-in-one superzoom. True, it's no S-line lens, but it gets the job done...so far.
Quick answer, I use the Nikon D500. Longer answer, your video is very timely. I'm just beginning to move to landscape photography as a hobbyist who has been using the Nikon system since 1980. As you're likely aware, the D500 is a crop sensor camera and as I'm learning from others and now from you, a full frame camera is best for landscape. Ironically, I'm traveling to Yellowstone next month for a few days to visit a friend working at the park and am planning to photograph the Grand Tetons among all other things. I've been considering updating to the Nikon Zf since it is primarily a photographers camera, however I think I'll wait til after my trip. I have a DX telephoto lens 18-300 (27-450 full frame equivalent), which I believe will serve me well. If I come back with just one photo that's minimally close to the quality of your photos, I'll be pleased. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. As always I enjoyed the video.
Thanks for this insight. I was considering moving to medium format and your video confirmed my concerns. I have been using a Sony A7iv for five years after moving from Nikon (they were behind on mirrorless cameras back then). I have a Sony A1ii on order and realized I could get a medium format camera for the same money. Your video helped me decide to stay with a full frame.
Welcome back home to the Nikon family, Mark😊 That highlight recovery is an awesome point. I use the z6ii paired with the 24-120mm f4 (a lot of the time) and have some older lenses from my old Nikon DLSR kit, and that's all perfect for me. Although I would love to have the 100-400mm 🤤 but this is not an inexpensive hobby
I've wanted more reach on my Fuji X system for a while and almost went with the XF 100-400 but decided to go a bit crazy with the sale going on and picked up the XF 150-600. I'm glad I did, have that extra 200 mm is fun. The Nikon Z8 seems like a great setup, I'll be watching for more of those telephoto images.
Thinking positive! Welcome to the Z8 family. Best do everything camera on the market for now. You should branch out into a little bird and wildlife photography. Pretty addictive once you try!
Well or makes sense of you think about it. The crop factor of your camera really has a big impact on what you can do. Wide angle lenses aren't as wide on APS-C so that doesn't make much sense and on medium format tele lenses lose quite a bit of reach. But on full frame the crop factor is... will, 1x. Everything looks as it should and I think that results in manufacturers making lenses with a lot of variety, making the system a lot more versatile. Personally I see the sensor sizes as formats for different jobs. APS-C is great for telephoto work, full frame is the jack of all trades and medium format is great for wide landscapes and portraiture. At least that's the experience I've made.
I am going in the opposite direction! I have been shooting with an OM-1 and a Sony A7RV for a while now - happy with both, but I love the OM-1 - it makes photography easier. I just bought the GFX100S II and the 45-100mm lens because I wanted to explore MF and learn some new techniques. It has been a rough start - MF is harder to use (mostly because of the shallow DOF and the high resolution sensor which shows any camera shake or subject movement) - and I have to shoot at f8 or f11 most of the time. I grow orchids and use the OM-1 with in-camera focus stacking which is easy to use and works well. I have been trying the same with the new Fuji camera and have run into a lot of problems. I do think MF forces me to be more thoughtful in my photography - that's a good thing isn't it?
Started with a Pentax K1000 in 1979, went through a few Nikons, Canons and Olympuses. Now settled on the Nikon brand. Currently a Z5, but looking at the Z6iii
Thanks Mark, was considering purchasing the GFX100. You have made some very valid points that I had overlooked. Will be sticking with my current Canon system and getting a R5 body.
![Overrated: Camera features that don't matter [ft Gerald Undone]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/SlLbkeNH9to/mqdefault.jpg)
🔥QUESTION: Which camera brand do you use?
Sony A 7iV
Started with a minolta 3000i film camera. Moved to a canon 300D to a t5i to a 40D to a 7dmk2 stopping for now with a 5Dmk4.
Nikon
Nikon, though I don't do commercial work. I've comfortably shot Canon in the past too though, my first camera was a Canon bridge cam pre-2010s. :)
I shoot a Nikon Z6, after having Nikon D3100, D7200, before that Sony, then Canon SLR, and Minolta SLR
Leaving full frame for crop sensor. Leaving crop sensor for Medium format. Leaving medium format for full frame…. Circle of life.
Leaving full format for 8”x10” large format?
Leaving photography to actually make a living 😅🤣🥲
I was a Nikon shooter for years, then switched to Sony due to Nikon not having a mid range camera with the video features I wanted in camera (10-bit, 4:2:2 Log etc).
Immediately upon switching I realized just how amazing Nikon glass actually is.
Happy to say I’m back to Nikon now with the Z6iii 🤙🏼
I’ve had both for a while. Interesting enough the Sony lenses are so nice adapted to the Nikon. I need more time with the z6iii. I find it can drop focus on some frames compared to the Z8 I had previously. Hopefully firmware can improve that. I noticed the same with the Z6ii as I shot Salsa with it previously. I find the A7C2 just as good as the z6iii which is crazy with the AI autofocus Sony is bringing to their latest cameras. I love the 135 Plena.
I love my Nikon setup for landscape photography. I use the Z7 II, 14-30, 24-120, and 100-400! Makes for a great setup!
Me too Jeff, Z6 II and 24-120 F4 is my go to set up. So versatile. Saving my drachmas for the 35mm 1.8 S but their there is 1,4 and 1,2 coming I hear, Mine is mainly Street, Will see Cheers
My exact setup too. Also have the 20mm f/1.8 for astro. Very happy with this setup.
@@baobo67 Definitely a versatile setup! A 35mm prime would probably be amazing for street photography!
@@DaveBerthiaume If I did more astro, I'd have my eye on that 20mm 1.8 as well!
I have the same setup but 20 1.8 swapped for 14-30. Don’t shoot much wide and love it for Astro. It’s a truly great setup.
Nikon for 45 years. I upgraded to the Z8 from the D850. Mind Blown, I loved the D850 but the focus on the Z8 just makes me giggle. Plus the screen in back like focusing on stars in night shots, cover over sensor, heck everything.LOVE this camera
As soon as i saw the title of the video i said to myself "it's because there's no telephoto lenses for the fuji". I knew it! When I'm doing landscapes I take soooo many pictures with my 100-400. I wouldn't be able to live without it!
There is a 250 and a 500 for the GFX system
@@wellsyboy and 4 zooms and the 1.7 converter works with both those longer lenses
I need a100-400 in my bag. It is a good length for many scenarios.
Agree! I’ve even used my old 800mm f/5.6E FL a few times for some landscapes. Including an all time favorite image of mine, it’s of the full moon, just as it’s rising above snow-capped mountains. It was sunset and so the mountains were pinkish/red and lit up so beautifully! It’s a single exposure as well, I don’t ever manipulate or composite images. So I was able to use the D850’s amazing dynamic range to get it right in-camera with a single shot. Just as Mark said in the video, it’s easy to get great single image captures.
You don’t really need to bracket or composite/focus stack images with full frame. Anyways I think Mark is making a great decision and one I definitely would’ve made as well. The Z8 will definitely open those doors that were closed, it’ll give you everything you need, especially with those three lenses! You really can’t beat the 14-24mm, 24-120mm and 100-400mm’s…as a do-it-all combo! I personally don’t ever really need wider than 24mm, but I absolutely love the 24-120mm f/4 and the 100-400mm especially! They’re two of the best zoom lenses ever made and the both absolutely destroy the competition! Canon, Sony, Fuji and nobody else can touch those two zooms from Nikon. Canon has an amazing EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II and I hear their 100-500mm is not bad, but the Nikon definitely has the edge! It’s built better, made in Japan and just feels very well built. Plus it’s both sharper than the Canon and has a better zoom/aperture range in my opinion. Sure you loose 100mm compared to the Canon 100-500mm, but you can crop and or use a 1.4x TC and have the best of both worlds!
Anyways I’ve contemplated switching to this same setup, minus the 14-24mm. However there’s just a few things holding me back. I’m mainly a photojournalist/newspaper photographer, but I also do wildlife, nature/landscape and aviation. So I need a great low light camera and a great super-tele prime and or zoom! So I have the Nikon D6’s as main cameras and the D850 (with grip kit) as my backup.
Although I like the Z8 and Z9, I just don’t prefer their high ISO performance compared to my D6’s. I also am not a fan of EVF’s and poor battery life. I’ve gotten so used to the flagship DSLR’s that I’m spoiled, and my battery lasts forever! Like at least a week, instead of a few hours, like with a Z8/Z9! Plus I have light sensitivity due to cluster headaches and the OVF is way better than an EVF. I’m hoping the Z6 III may have improved on the EVF enough for it to work for me. Plus although I don’t like the small size, the Z6 III is much closer to my D6 as a replacement than the Z8 is! I mean that in a low-light, frames per second and overall specs way, obviously not quite same size/weight or build quality wise. Long story short is I’ve had the Z9 and a Z7 and they’re both great, but I couldn’t live wit the ISO performance or EVF’s. Yet I do miss my Z-mount 24-120mm f/4 S and 100-400mm lenses, so we’ll see where I go. Honestly I’m perfectly content using my D6’s/D850 until Nikon releases a flagship with better EVF, better battery life and maybe lower megapixels.
Or maybe, just maybe I’ll be switching to Canon. I like the R3’s EVF in its OVF simulation mode, much better than the Z9/Z8’s EVF. Plus the R3 is almost perfect for me specs wise and for what I do. Luckily my news organization has both Nikon NPS and Canon/CPS accounts! So I’m able to test the gear and we get pretty decent discounts on gear and repairs. Canon is rumored to be announcing an RF 200-500mm f/4 IS and the R1. Right now my bread and butter lenses are the Nikon 500mm f/4 FL and the 180-400mm f/4 FL 1.4x TC. So a 200-500mm f/4…would be photographic gear heaven for me!
Both aren’t great options at all to me.
I have been a Nikon shooter for 40 years. Welcome back to the family.
That sounds so corny lol
Punk;…me, since 1978. I’m too lazy to switch.
I KINDA did the same thing, although I'm keeping all my Fujifilm gear. I added the Nikon Zf to my arsenal. No matter how much I love my Fujifilm bodies, the noise in low light made me add the Zf.....and I dont regret getting it.
I have been shooting Nikon since 1997. I hung in there even through their years that they were behind in technology. I have always loved my cameras and lenses, including my Z8. It is an amazing camera. I splurged on the Plena lens, the two paired together create some beautiful images. You will love the Z8!!
Same here, but I actually started with the Nikon N90s and F5 in around 1995? Than in late 1999 or early 2000 I switched to the Nikon D1. I’ve had every flagship from D1-D6, and even all of the X/S models as well! Anyways, I agree about the telephoto aspect of the situation/video. As I’ve even used my old 800mm f/5.6E FL a few times for some landscapes. Including an all time favorite image of mine, it’s of the full moon, just as it’s rising above snow-capped mountains. It was sunset and so the mountains were pinkish/red and lit up so beautifully! It’s a single exposure as well, I don’t ever manipulate or composite images. So I was able to use the D850’s amazing dynamic range to get it right in-camera with a single shot. Just as Mark said in the video, it’s easy to get great single image captures.
You don’t really need to bracket or composite/focus stack images with full frame. Anyways I think Mark is making a great decision and one I definitely would’ve made as well. The Z8 will definitely open those doors that were closed, it’ll give you everything you need, especially with those three lenses! You really can’t beat the 14-24mm, 24-120mm and 100-400mm’s…as a do-it-all combo! I personally don’t ever really need wider than 24mm, but I absolutely love the 24-120mm f/4 and the 100-400mm especially! They’re two of the best zoom lenses ever made and the both absolutely destroy the competition! Canon, Sony, Fuji and nobody else can touch those two zooms from Nikon. Canon has an amazing EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II and I hear their 100-500mm is not bad, but the Nikon definitely has the edge! It’s built better, made in Japan and just feels very well built. Plus it’s both sharper than the Canon and has a better zoom/aperture range in my opinion. Sure you loose 100mm compared to the Canon 100-500mm, but you can crop and or use a 1.4x TC and have the best of both worlds!
Anyways I’ve contemplated switching to this same setup, minus the 14-24mm. However there’s just a few things holding me back. I’m mainly a photojournalist/newspaper photographer, but I also do wildlife, nature/landscape and aviation. So I need a great low light camera and a great super-tele prime and or zoom! So I have the Nikon D6’s as main cameras and the D850 (with grip kit) as my backup.
Although I like the Z8 and Z9, I just don’t prefer their high ISO performance compared to my D6’s. I also am not a fan of EVF’s and poor battery life. I’ve gotten so used to the flagship DSLR’s that I’m spoiled, and my battery lasts forever! Like at least a week, instead of a few hours, like with a Z8/Z9! Plus I have light sensitivity due to cluster headaches and the OVF is way better than an EVF. I’m hoping the Z6 III may have improved on the EVF enough for it to work for me. Plus although I don’t like the small size, the Z6 III is much closer to my D6 as a replacement than the Z8 is! I mean that in a low-light, frames per second and overall specs way, obviously not quite same size/weight or build quality wise. Long story short is I’ve had the Z9 and a Z7 and they’re both great, but I couldn’t live wit the ISO performance or EVF’s. Yet I do miss my Z-mount 24-120mm f/4 S and 100-400mm lenses, so we’ll see where I go. Honestly I’m perfectly content using my D6’s/D850 until Nikon releases a flagship with better EVF, better battery life and maybe lower megapixels.
Or maybe, just maybe I’ll be switching to Canon. I like the R3’s EVF in its OVF simulation mode, much better than the Z9/Z8’s EVF. Plus the R3 is almost perfect for me specs wise and for what I do. Luckily my news organization has both Nikon NPS and Canon/CPS accounts! So I’m able to test the gear and we get pretty decent discounts on gear and repairs. Canon is rumored to be announcing an RF 200-500mm f/4 IS and the R1. Right now my bread and butter lenses are the Nikon 500mm f/4 FL and the 180-400mm f/4 FL 1.4x TC. So a 200-500mm f/4…would be photographic gear heaven for me!
@@patricksmith2553 what's so bad about Z8/Z9's high ISO performance? I had a D850 and i was complaining nonstop about its poor high ISO performance until it came to a point where i thought to myself, if i'm not going to print big for viewers to notice the noise, who cares. I've recently watched Simon d'Entremont's video on youtube entitled "the truth about shooting at ISO 100..." and it's comforting to know that it's not the photographer/camera's fault that an image is noisy/grainy. As long as your main subjects are well exposed and focused, nobody cares what ISO values you use.
My gear history for entertainment purpose: Lumix point and shoot -> D90 -> D300S -> D800 -> D500-> D850 -> Fuji XT3 -> Z9. There's only the Z9 now that I use and i love it. Sorry for my bad english. It's not my first language. I meant no disrespect to you in my comment. Please let me know if i have offended you in any way and i'll humbly apologise.
@@sheeshia No worries. So as I said I’m a long time photojournalist. I shoot a lot in low light, even in near pitch darkness. From breaking news like fires to high school sports and everything in-between. Often I don’t know where I’ll be shooting and for how long. Sometimes I’ll cover wildfires that last days or weeks. I might be shooting on a hillside or mountain at midnight. Where there is only moon light or ambient light, and that’s where my D6’s really shine. The viewfinder is extremely bright on the D6 and the autofocus is absolutely amazing. Plus the sensor in the D5/D6 are plainly better at higher ISO’s compared to the D850/Z7/Z8/Z9. The D5/D6 have a sensor that’s tuned or design for high ISO performance! I’d say I notice at least 2/3rd’s of a stop or a full stop difference. In reality though it’s more than just the measurable difference. Due to the smaller megapixel count of 20.8mp the D5/D6 have larger individual pixels. The D6 also retains color, contrast and fine details better at high ISO’s as well vs. the Z8/Z9.
However from base ISO64 to about ISO400…the 45.7mp, like the D850/Z8 and Z9 cameras have an advantage with dynamic range. Unfortunately the D5/D6 suffer or sacrifice a little bit of dynamic range to achieve better high ISO performance! It also comes down to things like post processing and time. In my business time is everything and being first to get images out, can be the difference. With the Z8/Z9 files I found myself spending more time running noise reduction and file reductions to compensate for the higher noise. The more steps or time involved in post production is a downside to me.
Also the D5/D6 files take noise reduction really well. I don’t know if it’s just due to the larger pixels/lower megapixel count or the “noise pattern.” Yet I’ve noticed the D6 files just look much better after noise reduction vs. the Z9 type cameras. Also in reality I just don’t really need the 45.7mp and or the ability to crop much. I can cover almost every focal length with my lenses and they’re all extremely sharp. I have made many prints comparing my D5/D6 images to D850/Z7 and or Z9 images and nobody can tell the difference. The majority of image quality is thanks to your lens and its abilities. What I’m saying is I’m getting the most out of my 20.8mp sensor due to my lenses amazing sharpness/IQ.
So as far as detail and overall image quality is concerned the higher megapixel cameras don’t do much for me. As long as I can fill the frame with my lower megapixel camera…I’m getting great results with my lenses. Plus cropping results in more noise or at least makes the noise more pronounced. So I try to only crop when I need to and usually only 10-30% or so, depending on the situation/image. No camera is perfect though and there’s always trade-offs to be made. I’m not saying the Z8/Z9 has bad image quality or can’t be used at higher ISO’s. I’m just saying for what I do, which is a niche thing…the D6 is just better for me. For 95% of photographers the D850 or Z7/Z8/Z9’s are the right choice and best cameras available.
Just to demonstrate how niche my needs are, I’ll tell you Nikon easily sells 30-40x more Z8’s and Z9’s vs. D6’s! I know because I handle most of the gear at a large news outlet and I know the serial numbers well. I’ve seen Z9’s made for the USA with serial numbers in the 3041000 territory or 41,000 units sold. Whereas my highest serial number on a Nikon D6 is just above 3002000, or just 2,000 sold nationwide. I’m sure by now there’s 45,000 or so Z9’s in the USA and only about 2,200 D6’s and this is a big country! Most of the people who own the D6 are news/sports photographers or “photojournalists” and a few are wildlife photographers. I know some wildlife photographers who prefer using the Nikon D6 or Canon 1Dx Mark III or R3’s and Sony A9 II/III’s. Most also own a Z8/Z9 or Canon R5/Sony A1 and they use whichever suits their needs best. I too did for a long time and still do, because I like having the best of both worlds. I can use the D850 or a Z9 for when I’m in good lighting and or need the ability to crop, or I can use the D6 for low light and night shooting.
Anyway…you didn’t offend me and I’m sure you’d admit that your needs are probably pretty different to mine? You probably aren’t photographing firefighters or Police in the middle of the night? Plus I’ll add this as well…the D6 is amazing camera in almost every way. It works just like the Z9 as far touch menu and ability to highly customize it. I can for instance just flick up with my finger and wirelessly send images to my laptop/iphone with my D6. I use the WT-6 transmitters and they have a 650ft range and are 100% reliable. I can send my images within 2 seconds and have them published or to my editors within a minute or less, 2 minutes at most! While the Z8/Z9 have wireless built in…it sucks, it has terrible range and it’s not 100% reliable either. Unfortunately Nikon got rid of the port or connection point for the WT-6 on the Z9. So you’re limited to using the built in wireless, which is slower and more difficult to use at times. This is something I use everyday and therefor is a key factor or reason while I prefer the D6 to the Z9. I was probably one of the first non-Nikon ambassadors to have the Z9’s in my hands. Usually the media/press and important NPS clients get the new cameras and lenses first. So I did have an early copy of the Z9 and Lightroom and apparently there was an issue where the noise performance was worse than it is now. Which to me sorta proves that Nikon and or Lightroom is processing the images somewhere to help with the noise. Or maybe it was just a bug, but trust me the D6 is probably the best high ISO performer in the world. Some 24mp cameras come close noise performance wise, but the D6 still has a slight edge.
@@patricksmith2553 thank you for the lengthy reply. I guess we use whatever works best in our line of work. I shoot mostly landscapes and portraits so the z9 really gives me more than enough details to keep me busy. I loved the fujifilm and how easy it was for me to make changes on the go, plus the light weight bodies. I switched back to Nikon for one reason only, the fujifilm failed me in accurate AF nearly 10% all the time. It can be very frustrating whenever i use modelling lights in the studio.
So, i thought maybe it's time to make the switch and give Nikon another chance. I say this because their DSLR failed me many times (autofocus wise) and the lenses always had back/front focusing issues. So, Nikon mirrorles. Let's see. Tried other brands as well such as Sony and Canon but i just like how the Nikon feels in my hands. Working on the menu is easy as well since i am familiar with it. Never liked the menus by Sony and Canon. The z9 surely is heavier to carry around but it gives me exactly what i need in my work. And that AF accuracy on the Z9 is really amazing for me even though i know that Sony and Canon AF are slightly better.
Anyway, that's my short and boring story. Thank you for taking the time to read and for the reply.
@@sheeshia Yeah no problem and I totally get why you’re using a Z9! If my focus or work was portraits and landscapes, I’d also definitely get a Z8/Z9. They are definitely superior to even my D6 when it comes to eye-AF tracking and face tracking is slightly better. The D6 can find and focus on faces quite well and even eyes, in fact it’s the only DSLR with the ability to track eyes. However it’s definitely not as accurate or good as the latest mirrorless options! Heck it might not even be as good as the older Z6/Z7’s after their firmware updates. However for me that function is not as important and I rarely use it. As far as back/front focusing and issues with autofocus on DSLR’s I think you just had bad luck. I know you’re not alone and I’ve heard and seen others having those issues as well. So I totally get how frustrating that could be, but I personally haven’t had those issues. Although it is true that Nikon/NPS give us news/media companies and customers the cream of the crop. First off we have a long standing relationship and but a lot of gear and need a lot of service and support.
So I’m well aware Nikon is (most likely) cherry picking the best lenses and cameras for us. I’m sure they’ve double/triple checked everything works great. So it makes sense in a way why I’ve not experienced any real issues like that. The only time I did have an issue was with a brand new Nikon 105mm f/1.4E, which had lots of internal dust. Right out of the box I went to put a new Nikon 82mm NC/UV filter on it and I noticed the dust, it was really bad. The entire large front grouping of lens elements had dust covering the entire surface area. Plus the sharpness and contrast wasn’t what I was expecting and so I returned it and instead kept using my 70-200mm f/2.8E FL. Which sorta brings me back to my point about Nikon giving us the best gear.
There is sample variation with some lenses and I’ve seen this specifically on the 24-70mm f/2.8E VR and 70-200mm f/2.8E FL lenses. All of the copies we had… which we got through NPS, were extremely sharp and spot-on AF wise. When I sold some of them to people (after we were done with them) in order to help with budgeting for new mirrorless gear, I became aware of the issues. A couple of the buyers of our used pool equipment said they had looked at other copies of the same lenses and had passed on buying them. They said this was due to sample variation issues. Such as they were not sharp wide open or had de-centered lens elements and or AF issues, etc.! Whereas our copies were perfect or very close to it. They literally told me they were night and day differences, especially in the case of those two particular lenses, which opened my eyes.
In my 27 years of shooting Nikon professional gear I had never had any issues. Never needed a single repair, never had any AF issues or anything. So there must be a reason or maybe it’s also just good luck? I mean not everything I own or have bought was through NPS. I’ve bought used gear and personal gear on my own, but obviously I know what to check for. Anyways, it was nice talking to you and I’m glad you’re satisfied with your Nikon gear. It’s also good to know that there’s less issues with AF and sample variation on the Z-lenses. Yet at the same time I’m not impressed with the recalls on the Z8/Z9’s and quality issues. Everyone I know who has either camera has had to send them into Nikon for service/recalls multiple times. Yet in my 24 years shooting Nikon flagship level DSLR’s, from D1 to D6 I’ve yet to need a single repair! Maybe the difference is partly made in Japan vs. Thailand and now China? The 105mm f/1.4E that I had the dust issue with was made in China. I doubt you’d ever see dust like that in a lens made in Japan. I know I had never seen that before and never heard of it, so I personally believe it matters in some cases. Obviously some products are very well made in China, such as Apple products or even the Nikon 800mm f/6.3pf! Generally though I do think the gear made in Japan has a leg up. Especially the flagship DSLR’s and super-tele primes and zooms. I’ve compared the 800pf to my 500FL and there are clear differences in build quality. Same with the Z9, it’s not quite as well made as the D6. I mean the difference(s) are small, but they’re there. It seemed to me the Z9 was in small ways like a D850/Z7 II mixed with a D6. Absolutely professional build quality and very well made, but just a tad behind the D6. Hence the price difference at launch, with the Z9 being $1,000 cheaper than the D6? I don’t know, that’s a whole another conversation. Plus I’m taking about very minor differences! Take care!
I'm a Sony shooter and own the Tamron 50-400 which is a great lens. Combined with a wide angle lens I can get away with using two lenses only for most situations. I appreciate the small form factor of my system, especially when hiking for multiple days. When I'm out in the wild for a copule of weeks I usually only bring my Sony camera and the Tamron 28-200, which gives me a ton of options while also keeping the weight and size down to a minimal level. I don't like switching lenses when in harsh environments far away from civilzation and that setup solves that issue.
That being said, the other day I met a random person when I was out shooting birds. He was carrying a Z8 (which I had never seen irl before), and he asked me if I wanted to try it out. MAN that camera felt great in the hand! Such a pleasure to shoot with too. I've never tried Sony A1 out, but the price of that thing is just way too high and not giving me personally the value for money I'd get with the Z8. I love the lens options I get with E-mount but if I started new today I'd probably invest in Nikon. Z-mount has enough options for my kind of photography even if I'd miss my beloved Tamron 50-400.
Same here. 50-400mm with 16-35 is so versatile over three lens setup for landscapes as long as you shoot it on tripod. The 50-400mm is not perfect lens, in fact testing it test chart was a disappointment, but my comparison with two 100-400 lenses on actual landscapes (a lot of 60mp comparison samples on my website) shown that it is really good. I use 400mm in some landscapes a lot. 400mm also works for moon with landscape photography which is my favorite (I have an article in English and Czech on my web with advice how to plan it and photograph it).
@@fotovylety When I was researching the lens I found your comments on a forum (with a link to your website). Very informative and good comparisons. But I found it surprising that the lens didn't perform that well on your test chart, when others on UA-cam showed a solid performance. I haven't tested my lens on a test chart but I've done some quick comparisons with my 200-600, a lens I'm very pleased with, and I found the Tamron to be more equal than different to the Sony. Anyways, the 50-400 is the lens I use the most. Love it!
Hey aren't there sony to nikon adapters available on Amazon. Your Tamron lens will not be wasted if you can find one.
@@Shashank-DivineChild megadap pro is THE adapter. I've been looking into that one, but unfortunately AF doesn't seem to be super reliable for fast action. I think I'll wait and see what Sony does. My hopes are that they will release something equivalent to Z8 at a reasonable price. They need to wake up. A9 lines is at global shutter now and they can't keep stacked sensors for A1 only. But I don't know. If they don't release what I want in the near future I might consider making the move to Nikon.
@@edc641 The Z8 is already a Z9 equivalent at a reasonable price, so a Z8 equivalent at a reasonable price. Seems unlikely. Anyways best of luck for your search.
I was in the same position after switching to the GFX system in 2019; I was missing the longer telephoto focal lengths. I was using the GF 100-200/5.6 with and without the GF 1.4x TC, but the image quality just isn't there with the TC. Last year, I picked up a used copy of the excellent Canon EF 100-400mm mk II lens and began using it on the GFX 100S via the Fringer adapter. There is some mechanical vignetting when shooting in the full GFX sensor format, but if you switch to the 35mm mode, the lens performs incredibly well, and you still have 61 megapixels to work with. I've modified the lens by removing the rear baffle, which took care of most of the vignetting, and now the image circle covers 90 to 95% of the GFX sensor area. If you want a lighter option that performs just as well, several people are using the Canon EF 70-300L lens with the Fringer adapter.
Adapting the Canon 100-400 gives me the best of the GFX system (for me, that means the 4:3 aspect and lots of information) with the flexibility of a full-frame lens system.
*Amen! Hallelujah!* There's some soft vignetting (shading only, nothing hard) in full size 4:3 with the Canon EF 100-400mm II and the rear baffle removed when zoomed above 200mm. Full size 3:2 has less. This lens is also very sharp and contrasty, and is still available new.
It also appears that all Canon EF lenses (I've tried many) don't vignette at all when shot in 65:24 XPan pano (44mm wide instead of 36mm wide for full frame) and in 1:1 square (33mm x 33mm, instead of 26mm x 26mm for full frame).
It's great to be able to use more of the Canon EF lenses' image circle, and no longer be stuck in copping everything from 3:2. I love this!!!
exactly, just get an adapter, no need to buy a whole new system.
Exactly my thoughts...came up with a different solution: Combined my GFX plus 45-100 mm with X-t5 plus 100-400 mm and added 16 mm prime lens to go wide too. Superbe quality and backup at the same time.
If the reason was DoF, going for APS-C would have been the answer 🤔
You won’t regret it!! The Z8 is an extraordinary hybrid camera. I am a bird shooter by the way… so you can definitely shoot whatever you want with this camera.
The dynamic range on the Z8 is incredible!
As professional commercial photographer and former wire photographer I use the Fujifilm GFX100/2 for commercial work. I used it on a job for Gibson Guitars using Profoto lights. there is no substitute for a 100mp 16 bit camera. Client loved the images you could see DNA. As for other jobs I use a Nikon Z system Z9,Z8,Zf,Z6/3. I also use Hassy X2D and 907 for fun. I also use the new 500mm Fujion lens. The GFX100/2 with the GF500mm 5.6 is the ONLY super Tele for MF period. I stacked 16 files of the moon the other day and you could see the Flag put up by Apollo 11 haha.
Sure you could see the flag. Please share a link to that image.
What did the 16 files each of the moon show to warrant stacking ?
@ I found Neal Armstrong’ s foot prints and Green cheese 🧀
Na dann wünsche ich doch immer genug reiche Kunden damit es sich lohnt solch einen Fuhrpark zu finanzieren, ich kenne in DE niemanden.
@@Photojouralist123 - naahhh.... can't quite believe that... "... Green cheese... " ? ?! ?!
Welcome on board! Enjoy the ride and the adventures your new Nikon system will bring. I certainly have. All the best!
Nikon user for years since the my D70. Switched to mirrorless crop sensor and graduated to full frame mirrorless with the Z6ll. Shoot landscape mainly with the 24-120 (absolutely fantastic lens) and use the 100-400 to isolate in landscape and use for great closeup work. Love the Nikon system and how it has developed.
Hi Mark, I liked you explained the reasoning behind going to a full frame camera from a medium format. Also, you did a great job explaining it was the limitation of available medium format lenses that was the key driver of your decision.
Welcome to the Z8 world Mark! Love mine and love hearing your discussion about the various lenses!
I jumped from the D750 to the Z8. I absolutely love being able to hike 6+ miles with a small backpack and 2 lenses while having the focal range from 24-400. Both lenses are light and equally sharp compared to their competitors. Your back will thank you! 😅
I posted a similar reply below... How do you like the Z8 vs. your D750? (Control layout w/ banks vs. the U1/2, also image quality & dynamic range). I'm debating the Z8 or Z6iii. I'd prefer the Z8 screen...but don't really NEED 45 MP. Do you like the EVF?
@@nrice3623damn, 45 megapixels. What are you guys doing with this files?
@@nrice3623 I like being able to see what my exposure is in camera compared to the D750 where it could be light out but your shot would come out super dark if you werent paying attention to the histogram. Also will note that i rarely use the EVF for landscape photography. But the shooting banks are a big game changer for when you are doing landscape photography and a cool bird catches your eye because then at the click of a button and change of a dial you can go from full manual to full auto focus and iso i never really utilized u1/u2 with the d750 though so i couldnt compare.
Curious what the total weight of the gear is in your case (Z8 + 2 lenses)? Been hiking with my D850 and a couple of lenses as well and I was wondering how big of a difference it makes
@@adriancozma6102 that combination comes in at about 6.5 lbs for the camera and two lenses. (z8, 24-120, 100-400)
Nikon Z9 here. Been with Nikon since 2001 though there was a brief stint with Sony…. Welcome aboard, the Nikon Z8 by all accounts is amazing.
So much good gear out there, shoot what you like!
Thanks for sharing Mark!
Upgraded from D850 to Nikon Z7ii,14-30mm f/4, 24-70mm. Love the compact lighter body and sharp lenses of the Z line. Welcome back to the Nikon family!
Mark you used Fuji XT system before using GFX and IIRC, you were quite happy with what XT was capable of, including its lens range, which has tele options now. So why then evaluate a full frame option?
I had sony FF before Fuji, and honestly low light was worse. Also carrying heavier lenses got to me
Sounds like the right move for you and as a hobbiest in the Nikon Z and F system ,including the Z8 and 24-120 f4 I think you will continue to love it,
although for landscape my Z7 is all that is needed and it is smaller ,lighter and lower priced and with an L bracket like the Small Rig one then it is probably big enough on the grip, enjoy!
You will love the Z8 and what the Z Lens lineup provides. I started with the Z6 II 4 years ago and got the Z8 3 months ago. I love the versatility it offers without compromising on the quality.
I love doing any kind of photography and some videography. Landscapes, Macro, Astro, Wildlife, Portraits, and whatnot, and this setup can cover it all. I am really happy with my choice to get the Z8, I bet quite soon you will feel the same.
Congrats and I wish you take this camera to some amazing places!
Quick question: what from the Z6 to the Z8 was substantive for you - image quality improved, specifics like highlights or something else?
@@southboundaustral Hello. The 1st thing is the autofocus. Not that I am shooting that many portraits, but I had some parties shot with the Z6, where it was ok, but with the Z8 it felt like cheating. I had all the time to focus on framing, rather than worrying about the focus.
I like a lot the number of pixels, the overall options in the menu feel much easier and useful for me, the button customization options, the video quality, but those are minor things.
@@SourceOfNature Thanks Vasil for your quick reply. Good on you - what you say seems definitely borne out by experience and I can see what and why you're saying. Thanks again, enjoy your new camera.
@@southboundaustral Thank you a lot and I am happy I was of help! the enjoying part is ongoing and is a ton :)
I got exactly same setup. All these lenses are great! I use 14-24 f2.8 for astro and I am very happy with it. I am sure you will love it.
I actually did the opposite about a month ago and switched to GFX from full frame. I learned on film and I still cling to those old habits when composing, so high burst rates and all that aren't too appealing. Slow and calculated just makes my brain happy.
The main reason has nothing to do with resolution or dynamic range. It all about the framing and the general look it gives. I don't think MF is inherently better at all. It all comes down to what works the person shooting.
I agree, the sensor format selected should be dictated by the person's interests and needs. None are inherently better or worse, they bring different technical advantages and limitations to the table.
Unlucky. Bet you are regretting it now.
@@thegorn Not at all. I definitely think I made the right choice. I was trying to say it’s just not for everybody. If you shoot wildlife, events, sports, etc. gfx is probably not a great choice. But, for someone like me it’s perfect.
FWIW, I also use an x-pro, which is apsc, for most of my personal stuff. I absolutely love both, but neither is better or worse than other. They’re just wildly different.
GFX is the best, no question. I also have Sony 61mp as the next best thing
фотографировать стало слишком легко, поэтому надо искать ограничения, фотографий должно быть мало.
Hey Mark, Thanks for the great video. I've watched you for a while with the Fuji system. I very recently switched from Fuji to the Nikon Z 8, mainly because of the autofocus and subject detection issues with the Fuji. I sold my Fuji gear and bought the Z 8, 24-120, 70-200, and 180-600 lenses. All great gear. But after seeing this video, I returned the 70-200 for the 100-400. You're right the 24-120 and 100-400 make the perfect two lens landscape kit. The 100-400 can also pinch hit as a wildlife lens if needed. Thanks again and good luck on you Nikon journey. I know it was the best move I have made.
I love my z8 and 100-400. It was glued on my camera the whole 10 days in Yellowstone and the Tetons. The z9 got various lenses for wildlife.
The 14-30 and 24-120 f/4s are brilliant lenses. I use both for my professional architecture work. Very light weight. Image quality is nearly identical as the 2.8 counterparts. I don’t need the wide open, so the f/4s work for me. Nikon NEF files are a main reason I love Nikon- so much post processing control. I’m happy for you.
I totally agree with your choice in this video
. I’m enjoying my Z8 and 100/400 & 24/120 combo.
Mark - thank you so much for going through your thinking regarding upgrading/changing your gear - I found it very helpful!!
Keep going down to MFT!! You’ll love the size, reach and depth of field. There are some insane options for Astro as well! Save$$$ and there’s always Topaz if you need some noise reduction or gigapixel to amp up to very large prints!!
I switched from Fuji to Nikon a few months back. I have a Z8 and Z6ii, 24-120, 14-30, and the 100-400. I love the Nikon system. I'd love to have the 14-24 2.8 but the filters are 1000 bucks! Have fun with your Z8, it really is amazing. :)
Awesome Mark, looks like an amazing switch! The Tetons are a great place for some amazing photos!
Thanks Ron! Loved the Tetons!
@@MarkDenneyPhoto you’re welcome Mark! Take care and have a great day!
I just purchased the Z8. I also purchased the 180-600 zoom lens and the 24-70 2.8. I'm so excited and have lots to set up and go through on my Z8. I am transitioning from my d500 which i love and will still be using occasionally. Can't wait to use this :)
Welcome (back) to the family! For your 14-24 2.8, ditch the plastic hood that came with the lens and pick up the Nisi metal hood. It has a better light seal for doing long exposures. The 112mm Kase magnetic ND and CPL set is fantastic and they also make a magnetic night sky filter for it as well.
You will love the Nikon Z8 Mark, got it when it came out and have the exact same three-lens setup which is superb for Landscape, been with Nikon for over 40 years and the latest cameras and S lenses are sublime.
We are the bunch who senses what we lack. I was glamorizing medium format Fuji for it’s dynamic range and superior signal to noise ratio that beats my A7rV. I am sure there are some out there who sees the advantages of A7rV over whatever they have now, haha.
Just buy both
@@thegorntoo much.. 💰💸
I've used a Canon 6D Mark II full frame with a set of L lenses., for 5 years. I take some great shots! Never had the need to 'upgrade'. Assuming you have some form of capability to get nice photos, cameras are just a tool, use them as such. Find the right one for you considering your budget etc..., then get used to it, to never doubt your equipment, this is the best advice I can give.
Newer cameras offer a lot of "ease of use/quality of life features. Image quality, per se, has not been an issue for a long time.
Welcome to the team Mark. Your lens choices 14-24-120-400 is excellent. You may want to also consider the 180-600. Also, try using a linear profile and you will start to uncover the true dynamic range of the Z8 stacked sensor. I often only need one image (+1 EV exposing to the right) for all of my high contrast images, no blending, with no artifacts or noise.
Hey, can you explain the “linear profile” part please? I tried looking it up without success. Thanks!
This is just a guess, but in Capture One you can change camera profiles or if you’re familiar with Fuji systems, film sims. One of the options is Linear Profile. It’s essentially the raw file with no film sims or profiles that essentially are editing your photo for you.
Three weeks ago, I bought a Z8. I debated between the Z8 and the GFX, but the lack of a long lens was one of the deciding factors. I have the 14-30 and the 24-120. I am leaning toward the 300mm PF with the FTZ adapter. I haven't yet had much time to use it. Your photos are top-shelf gorgeous. :)
Yay! Welcome back to NIKON (maybe)! (Another creator I follow that is now on Nikon like me)...Z8 is a fabulous camera.
Honestly my 24-120mm f4 is my favourite lens, and like you said pretty much lives on my camera most of the time.
The 100-400 I hear is a fabulous lens...and will likely be the next one I buy after I get my new Z6III.
I switched to Nikon last summer from the Canon R5 and I agree about the 24-120. I’ve used a ton of standard lenses over the years and it’s my favorite one. So good at all focal lengths, almost completely flare resistant too. I also have the 14-24, which is phenomenal.
@@JordanCS13 the 24-120 is such a great lens…on my camera pretty much constantly. 📸😎
Hello from Grand Teton workshop. I started out using Nikon from the very beginning. I've liked the system and never really had any desire to switch. I finally decided with the Nikon Z7ii and all of the fantastic lens you mentioned. At Grand Teton, I used the 24-120 lens most of the workshop and the 100-400 lens, which is absolutely amazing. It's even better with a 1.4x adapter added to it. I even think they look better with a green camera wrap. I enjoyed meeting you, working and learning from you. Thank you very much for your generous time and your insight. The 24-120 lens is the best. Thank you for these wonderful videos.
That surprises me! The Fuji GFX gives far superior images, and with the 500mm Fuji lens and you are covered. Stacking images for the quality of what the 100s gives is so easy to do. I think the big thing is stop comparing focal length! With the 102mp image you get from the Fuji, you can crop and still have a better image. I have GFX 100s, 20-35, 45-100, 100-200, and the 500, yes there is a small gap but I haven't noticed a problem. It is cheaper to just buy the 500mm lens... That's my 2¢. :-)
Totally agree
@@nikolai_art I don't believe he does it for a bigger target audience, the target audience are landscape photographers regardless of brand of camera. The camera should be the last thing on the list. Skill, an eye for composition, and the love of getting out and finding great images, I believe are above brand. I actually think he is not thinking this through. Buying a 500mm lens and a 1.4 extension is far cheaper than a completely new system... the shallower depth of field is a little weak.... an extra shot or two and you have an image that any other full-frame camera can not achieve.... Regardless of camera I will continue to follow him.
@@nikolai_artcynicism is like axe body spray: you think it makes you appealing but in reality no one can stand to be around you
@@nikolai_art there are few things more obnoxious than ascribing someone else’s motivations with the scantest of information.
No one wants to carry around heavy gear like that,.
The Z8 also has many features the GFX does not, like starlight view and illuminated buttons that help with landscape photography at night.
The 500mm is over 1 pound heavier than the zoom and stuck at 395mm focal length. Compared to having a lens that goes from 100 to 400mm
I made the same choices, Z8, 14-24 2.8, 24-120 f4, 100-400, a180-600 for wildlife, 100 MC, and some 1.8 S primes. Amazing system....
Mark, if you stick with this system and the 14-24 f2.8 over the 14-30 f4, Kase does make a 112mm (I think it is) set of filters that integrate onto that 14-24's hood system. I've been told you can then use that hood onto certain other lenses, not completely sure about that and the filters would just remain on the hood.
I have instead, out of those 3 you showcased, the 14-30, and use Kase's 95 mm filters with step up rings on all my lenses to do away with vignette on the 14-30. You could stick with the 14-30mm F4 and then get Viltrox's new 16mm 1.8 for Z which is a pretty good Astro lens. With what you would save a bunch on the filter prices between 95 to 112 and the price difference on moving down to f4. But people that use that 14-24 2.8z do tell me that they really love it. You seem very excited, and it is cool not to be limited with a 3 lens option.
Z7 - 100-400, 24-120 and 20mm 1.8. I've been using this setup for 2 years now. Awesome system.
GFX highlight recovery ? ...... yes, I think it is user error, Mark. Any difference is almost certainly down to where any highlight overexposure kicks in or being conservative with the histogram. Shadow recovery with the GFX is so good that there is no excuse for lack of highlight detail.
Could it be that the Z8 histogram is more conservative at the highlight end of the spectrum than GFX? I can't imagine DR is any wider on FF than on GFX, I would expect the opposite. Although much closer today due to advancing sensor technologies.
I think you’re really going to love that setup! Either way both systems produce great images and we know it’s all about each persons preference. With that said I love my Z9 paired with the 14-24, 24-70 2.8’s and as well I have the 24-120 and 100-400. At some point you may try the 600 6.3. Great not only for your occasional wildlife shots while doing your landscapes but I’ve had fun utilizing it for some landscape work as well. Just a different look. I will also mention that 24-120 is fantastic for macro shots again while shooting the big picture landscapes it’s great for looking at the smaller picture around you. A fantastic lens all around.
What filter system are you using if any with the Z lenses, especially the 14-24?
Judging from some other photographers like Thomas Heaton and Nigel Danson, you'll get a lot of use out of that 100-400. Very flexible focal length. Carry on. 👍🥂
There always comes a time when you need to either rethink or upgrade your tools of trade. I use an Olympus, (I’ve reached that age!) mostly with a 40-150mm lens (80-300mm equivalent) attached and have another that takes me to 400mm (800mm), plus others for macro, street etc. Can’t believe you’ve been without for so long! Have fun with your new toys, Mark!
I also switched to the Nikon Z8 (though, I did Fuji and then briefly Sony which was a disaster). The Z8 is a great all around camera. I recently did astro with it and the 14-24mm. Its DR left little to desire. What I really love about it is that you can setup a function button for 'settings recall.' This makes it so easy to switch from a Landscape settings to high-SS action when an animal enters the scene. For astro, the starlight mode is great.
One recommended accessory: get a Hoodman HoodEYE eyecup. It makes all the difference when you are using the EVF.
Lenses: 100-400mm is a great tele option for landscapes and occasional wildlife/ macro. For landscapes, the 24-120mm f/4 is probably a better option than the 24-70mm f/2.8; same IQ when stopped down but the former is half the price of the latter. Having said, I have the 24-70mm f/2.8 as I also use it for portrait.
Why did you leave xt5?
The Nikkor Z 20 F1.8 is an astro beast !!! I started with the Nikon D5600, moved to the 1st gen Z7 for 5 yrs and just upgraded a few months ago to the Z8 because I wanted to expand to shooting moving objects and the video functions as well.
The Z7ii is a bit smaller and lighter than the Z8. I have big hands as well and usually prefer a deeper grip, which is why I have to use a grip with my XT5, yet the Z7ii still fits in my hand like a glove. Might be something to think about. Plus you’ll get a good 45MP sensor. Slower autofocus, but for doing landscape, it shouldn’t hinder your shooting.
Changing gear isn’t a big deal if it helps your shooting and workflow. I actually really do like the way files come out with Nikon, so I’m sure you’ll see a better edit flow with those files.
Have loved my old Xt2 for years but since getting Z7ii am so comfortable with Nikon and the great range of lenses. Used P80, D3100, D610 then jumped to mirrorless & very happy. Great colours, easy menu, sharp images.
you would make a change before trying the new 500mm GFX lens?
A zoom in that range is much more versatile. The 500mm is aimed more towards wildlife/ sports.
@@miljo2146 The GFX system still needs a proper tele zoom lens. 15 years ago going for a 100-400 FF zoom would mean great sacrifice of IQ but todays tele zoom lenses seem very usable at the long end. Didn't like my EF 100-400 (version I) but liked the XF 100-400. Fuji should make a "lightweight" GF 250-500/8.
Makes total sense. Always appreciate your tips and beautiful images. And we can also always count on your transparency and honest perspectives. Looking forward to seeing some of those Nikon ‘captures’.
I absolutely love my Z7 II for landscapes, mainly for the smaller, lighter form factor. The only thing about the Z8 I would like is the fully articulating screen, but it's not worth an extra $1K IMHO. On behalf of us Nikon shooters, welcome back!
As a Nikon Z7ii user for quite a while I had been contemplating the Z 100-400 for some time. When the box finally arrived from B&H I thought that maybe I had jumped in a bit too far. It is definitely a bulkier and heavier lens than I was used to, and I am not quite as young as I used to be. But with the proper diagonal over-shoulder camera sling I find that that the weight of the100-400 not a problem. It is now my go-to lens for many of my day-shooting photo exercises. That lens produces some outstanding images with or without a tripod. A most outstanding choice on my part. I just love it.
The 24-120 f/4 S is by far the most versatile lens I've got so I completely understand your feelings about it. Great glass, and a great system.
I used GF250/4 from 2018, and I am definitely sure one day I'll buy the GF500/4. No long range limits, virtually.
Ahhh the perfect move - I shoot Nikon but still DSLR due to the expense of transitioning to mirrorless and I cover the range from 11mm - 600mm with various lenses for landscape, wildlife and astro. Can't go wrong!!
OM Systems, puts a great big smile on my face every time I pick it up, which is nearly every day.
Low light no problem Topaz AI. !
Yes! Welcome back! I just switched my D850 to a Z8. What a beast! Love the rich colors of the photos, quality and how they edit as well.
Mark, welcome back to Nikon. I started my love of photography in high school (early 70’s) with a Nikon dslr, the FM, then the FE2..the latter carried me through college years. Life happened, had to put down the camera, and put photography aside for 25+ years. My photo interests reawakened after becoming a father, but I wasn’t comfortable adjusting to digital . The concept of mirrorless intrigued me, so after watching a number of professional shooters on UA-cam, I was attracted to Fujifilm’s retro styling and had an XT2, XT3, both of which reminded me of my old Nikons. Then a couple of years back, I was yearning for a Nikon again. Got an Z6ii, which I enjoyed, but in the back of my mind, I wished for the feel of my old Nikons, with more manual controls. Last October Nikon released their retro styled Zf, which was what I always wanted. I quickly sold my Z62 and purchased the Zf. I’ve been very happy with it. It is superior to the Z62 in terms of auto focusing and had excellent features, some of which were borrowed from the Z8, and most recently, the newly released Z63, has many of the same features as the Zf, but with the more familiar ergonomics. I wish you luck and fun in your new camera relationship, and look forward to your new Nikon centric experiences and videos.
Your journey is very interesting; in my case though I went into another direction going with a Leica and a fixed lens to keep it simple..
You made a GOOD decision Mark , Camera of the Year and Best Lenses on the Planet and the Z Mount advantage
Whether you use Nikon, Sony, Canon or Fujifilm you will get great results, it is mostly up to the photographer. But not fully. AF, range of lenses and resolution (if you crop a lot like I do) do matter. My new favorite lens is the Fujinon GF 500mm f/5,6 which is smaller and lighter than most of full frame 500mm, and it is very sharp. You will probably be very happy with your Nikon, it is also a great camera.
Thanks Mark, it was interesting to see the changes you have made and especially your reasons for making the changes that you did. At some point I may want to make changes to my gear, and this will help me a lot.
Same boat here. I switched to funifilm when the XT-5 was released and sold my Nikon D850 and all Nikon gear. 2 years later I’ll be switching back to Nikon now getting the Z8 or Z9 and going full frame again
Welcome back! Been shooting Nikon since 1978. Currently have the Z8 and two Z9s. There are some other fantastic S lenses out there, but you're fairly well covered for landscape. Nikon has been great about updating with firmware releases for the Z system, providing a lot of features while also responding to user requests. Make sure you get a CF Express card with a high sustained write speed if you're interested in maximizing the 20fps RAW or higher-end video capabilities. Enjoy!
Nikon is on absolute 🔥 since z8 release….ngl.
Excellent video! You explained your logical thought process illustrated with superb photo examples! Thanks! I am a small in stature lady who hikes, travels, and now tries for interesting, creative pix of grandkids. I have switched from Sony to OM system + their best lenses to allow versatility (mountains to skiing to indoors) and portability. I found true that the best camera is the one you have with you! 18:01 That said, I know Nikon glass is awesome!
I slummed it with Fuji for over a decade hoping that things would improve. After over a dozen of their bodies and countless lenses, I swapped over to Nikon Z about two years ago. The change was off the planet. My customers all noticed at once, my images are gorgeous and business improved three fold. I'm filthy with myself for hanging in so long with a company that time after time did not deliver on the promises of their new models. I'm sure their very latest iterations may be fine (X-H2 etc), but I wasted so many years getting lousy photos in low light. I shot a big gig in Perth City earlier this week in very low light. All my images were taken at ISO 12,500, and they are amazing. Two of them are already in my portfolio shots on my website. Fuji is now a byword for disappointment and fortunately their name is never mentioned in my household.
Hi Mark. Welcome back to Nikon. Been with Nikon film and digital all my life. Been using the Z8 for almost a year now and what a camera. I have the 24-120 and will be picking up the 100-400 tomorrow. Still use my AF-S lenses as I kept my D850. Look forward to seeing your work with the Z8
At 100mp you can just crop in...its literally the same as a telephoto with that massive resolution. But to each his own.
Cropping in post to get the framing you want vs. get the framing you want at the time of shooting is completely different.
We have the best tools in the world to take pictures with! I only take pictures for fun these days and it's also a relaxation thing, I am happy with my ageing DSLRs that I use, but if your gear can't do what you want to shoot then it's time to change, nice one Mark you made a wise choice, enjoy your new kit! I have been a Nikon shooter for over 50 years and never had a problem, but brands don't really worry me as long as they are reliable.....Thank You for your story....
Why does this sound like a video you made for your wife to justify a new purchase? 🙂
I had the Nikon D850 and the 24-120mm, what a great combination. That lens was on the body 95% of the time. Fast forward when ordering the Z8, I also ordered the Z 24-120mm S line which gives astounding images and great range. I do have a Tamron 17-35mm f2.8-4 for the wide angle and astrophotography. There are times I want a bit more reach but I’m not a birder/fast action wildlife and didn’t want to spend for the 100-400 or lug around the 180-600 so I filled in the gap with the Nikon 28-400mm. Nikon is doing a lot right and a low cost mega zoom is generating really good results center to the edges. What’s frosting on the cake, everything can fit in one medium sized backpack…priceless.
Your comment about your gear influencing your photography really hit home with me. I shoot with a Nikon Z6ii and it's time for me to save my money and get the Z100-400 lens. I have the 24-120 and love it! Great video!
Glad to hear you’re enjoying the Z8 as much as I have. That’s what I brought to the Dolomites back in October, and some of the same lenses.
I made the switch from Lumix MFT to Nikon a few years ago and can appreciate the sentiment in this video. I still miss the small form factor of the Lumix system, and personally I like the ergonomics and menu layouts in that system better than Canon or Nikon, however I have taken a ton of low light wildlife photos since then with my Z6ii and now Z8 that I know I could not have captured with my G9 and that is the confirmation I made the right choice. The fact that my camera bag weighs 25 pounds with the Z 800mm versus 10 pounds when I was using the Leica 100-400 is how I justify going hiking to look for wildlife instead of going to the gym to do an hour of cross-fit.
Wishing you lots of success and new creative opportunities with the new system.
Having shot Olympus, Nikon, and Leica for forty years, you have the perfect setup. You can’t go wrong with that camera and lens combo. Maximum options and great build quality. Plus it’s good you don’t mind the size. Let’s face it you could go smaller and lighter. I like my magnesium alloys and real glass. Wouldn’t have it my other way.
You’ve approached this in the most logical manner, with the self question of “is my gear holding me back”. It’s really the only reason to change isn’t it?! I’m still wedged on micro 43rds, no idea if I’ll switch, but I do have the opportunity to play with a Sony soon!
At the end of the day does it matter? Assess needs, assess output, pick a system, and have fun with it!
Have you tried the 85 f1.2 and show how it compares to your medium format experience?
The benifit of Nikon Z mount is the flange distance. It's only 16mm which is shorter than most cameras, and shorter than all full frame cameras. That means you can adapt most of them to this mount for a specific focal length and f stop combination of character. I designed a 3d printed GFX to Z mount adapter. Since I have 0 first party GFX lens, I do not know how the aperture control works; I can't guarantee its compatibility.
Great video, Mark! I noticed the "Z8" file tag on one of the photos from last week's video and that got me curious. I have been saving my pennies for a Z-system camera as I currently have my old, trusty d5200. My lenses are a Tokina 11-16 f/2.8, Tamron 18-400 f/5-6.3 and a Nikkor 35mm f/1.8. I have access to my wife's 18-55, 55-300 and 50mm f/1.4 from her d5200 gear. The Tamron lens has been my go-to lens for much of the past year. I'm itching to get out more and use the all-in-one superzoom. True, it's no S-line lens, but it gets the job done...so far.
Your work is so awesome and inspiring! Thank you.
Quick answer, I use the Nikon D500. Longer answer, your video is very timely. I'm just beginning to move to landscape photography as a hobbyist who has been using the Nikon system since 1980. As you're likely aware, the D500 is a crop sensor camera and as I'm learning from others and now from you, a full frame camera is best for landscape. Ironically, I'm traveling to Yellowstone next month for a few days to visit a friend working at the park and am planning to photograph the Grand Tetons among all other things. I've been considering updating to the Nikon Zf since it is primarily a photographers camera, however I think I'll wait til after my trip. I have a DX telephoto lens 18-300 (27-450 full frame equivalent), which I believe will serve me well. If I come back with just one photo that's minimally close to the quality of your photos, I'll be pleased. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. As always I enjoyed the video.
I have watched so many vids that I should have kept a notebook. Happy to stumble across your sight again.
Thanks for this insight. I was considering moving to medium format and your video confirmed my concerns. I have been using a Sony A7iv for five years after moving from Nikon (they were behind on mirrorless cameras back then). I have a Sony A1ii on order and realized I could get a medium format camera for the same money. Your video helped me decide to stay with a full frame.
Welcome back home to the Nikon family, Mark😊
That highlight recovery is an awesome point. I use the z6ii paired with the 24-120mm f4 (a lot of the time) and have some older lenses from my old Nikon DLSR kit, and that's all perfect for me. Although I would love to have the 100-400mm 🤤 but this is not an inexpensive hobby
I've wanted more reach on my Fuji X system for a while and almost went with the XF 100-400 but decided to go a bit crazy with the sale going on and picked up the XF 150-600. I'm glad I did, have that extra 200 mm is fun. The Nikon Z8 seems like a great setup, I'll be watching for more of those telephoto images.
Thinking positive! Welcome to the Z8 family.
Best do everything camera on the market for now.
You should branch out into a little bird and wildlife photography. Pretty addictive once you try!
Your Podcast confirmed that I also made the right choice in sticking with Nikon when buying a full frame professional system just recently.
Well or makes sense of you think about it. The crop factor of your camera really has a big impact on what you can do.
Wide angle lenses aren't as wide on APS-C so that doesn't make much sense and on medium format tele lenses lose quite a bit of reach.
But on full frame the crop factor is... will, 1x. Everything looks as it should and I think that results in manufacturers making lenses with a lot of variety, making the system a lot more versatile.
Personally I see the sensor sizes as formats for different jobs. APS-C is great for telephoto work, full frame is the jack of all trades and medium format is great for wide landscapes and portraiture. At least that's the experience I've made.
I am going in the opposite direction! I have been shooting with an OM-1 and a Sony A7RV for a while now - happy with both, but I love the OM-1 - it makes photography easier. I just bought the GFX100S II and the 45-100mm lens because I wanted to explore MF and learn some new techniques. It has been a rough start - MF is harder to use (mostly because of the shallow DOF and the high resolution sensor which shows any camera shake or subject movement) - and I have to shoot at f8 or f11 most of the time. I grow orchids and use the OM-1 with in-camera focus stacking which is easy to use and works well. I have been trying the same with the new Fuji camera and have run into a lot of problems. I do think MF forces me to be more thoughtful in my photography - that's a good thing isn't it?
Started with a Pentax K1000 in 1979, went through a few Nikons, Canons and Olympuses. Now settled on the Nikon brand. Currently a Z5, but looking at the Z6iii
Thanks Mark, was considering purchasing the GFX100. You have made some very valid points that I had overlooked. Will be sticking with my current Canon system and getting a R5 body.