Need Help Deciding Between Two Cameras (d850 & z8)

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There is no comparison between the S-mount lenses and their f-mount counterparts with the 80-400mm and 24-120mm and the new PF 800mm and 600mm lenses. I kept waiting for upgraded versions of these two f-mount lenses in particular and was only able to do so by going to the Z9 and the s-mount lenses.

The f-mount is dead. The last f-mount camera was the D6 introduced in 2020 and the last new f-mount Nikon lens was the 500mm PF introduced in 2018. The 600mm f/4E lens was introduced in 2015. Nikon cannot afford to devote resources for R&D and production of cameras and lenses for the f-mount.
 
I’m just about there to pull the trigger on the Z8. I have a D850 which I love and will keep. My last check is the adapter. I’m reading that the adapter for lenses will NOT degrade image quality. Is that the consensus? Thank you!,
 
Yup, can confirm this one - although I only have one F-mount lens left in the meantime. It doesn't contain any glass and its only purpose is to hold the lens on the camera, to interconnect hte lens lens electronics with the camera and to correct the distance between the lens and the sensor.

I am using an old 500 f4G on the Z8 and it works great, without any flaws or compriomises to having used it on a D850 before.

The only little disadvanage is that it adds to the length of the combo. This isn't really an issue when shooting, but it can bring you to the limits of my backpack, if you just have space enough to have the long glas with mounted body in there.

EDIT:

Oh sorry, I forgot something:

I had my 500 at the Nikon service recently and they strongly recommended to me that when combining f-mount glass with a Z, I should always swith the lens VR off before switching the camera off. There seems to by some issue with getting the VR unit of F-mount glass realiably in its standby position if the Z body is switched off while the lens VR is activated and working.

Whether or not this applies to G lenses only or to G and E I don't know for sure, but a friend of mine has used a 500 f4 E on Z9 and Z8 for quite some time and didn't have any issues.
 
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I’m just about there to pull the trigger on the Z8. I have a D850 which I love and will keep. My last check is the adapter. I’m reading that the adapter for lenses will NOT degrade image quality. Is that the consensus? Thank you!,
The FTZII adapter provides the correct lens to sensor distance for F mount lenses, and it passes through all electronic communication between camera and lens. It has no glass and does not degrade image quality in any way.
 
the adapter is a spacer. The space can be via the FTZ or inside the body of the D850. Still the same space between the rear of the lens (the lens flange I think it is called) and the sensor
 
I moved from a a D850 to a Z8 plus the lens adapter. I use all of my f mount lenses and the photos are tack sharp. I average one to two international awards a month using all f mount lenses.
 
I have a D850 and a Z8 for my primary wildlife kit; 120-300/2.8E (1.4 TC) on the former (and the Z, as needed), 600 PF (1.4 TC) on the latter. And a 24-70/2.8 S in the bag. I suspect this will be my kit for many years to come.
 
I’m just about there to pull the trigger on the Z8. I have a D850 which I love and will keep. My last check is the adapter. I’m reading that the adapter for lenses will NOT degrade image quality. Is that the consensus? Thank you!,
FTZ has been flawless for me on my F mount lenses. I don't have older screw drive versions which won't work (no screw driver in the FTZ).

All the Z lenses I've added into the collection surpass the F lenses every time. F still has great lenses but Z mount has been an upgrade each time. And some of the inexpensive manual Chinese glass is very very good for not much money which is a fun bonus in Z mount.

I'd keep the D850 (I kept my D750) because it's fun to use an OVF sometimes for the different experience. But the Z8 has been an improvement in every single way for me.

The only downside to FTZ is moving it around on lenses, but maybe acquire a couple more of them. There is no need to rush in buying Z glass whatsoever, just add them as you feel like it. But they will be nice when you do.
 
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