Leaving Medium Format for this Full Frame Camera!

Hi Mark, I see what you mean, but I have some minor disagreement, not about what you say, but how many "hobbyists" like myself could get it. First, I understand that your camera body choice is not actually directed by the camera itself (Fuji vs Nikon) but by the range of lenses. Indeed, as a professional, you cannot be restricted by your gear, but 99.9% of people watching this are just amateurs, and for most of them (including myself), the gear they have is still much better than their photographic expertise. I have a Fujifilm X100F (fixed lens, small camera) and a Fuji XT4, and I'm happy with them because my expectations are not yours.
So, as an amateur, if I want/can invest more money in my hobby, I would either buy a new lens (as you did) or go on a trip that allows me to capture new photos. I'm afraid that we (the hobbyists) could always run after the latest trendy camera and waste a lot of money without improving our photographic skills, which could be better achieved by improving our photo editing and/or taking photo classes.
Personally, and because I'm not in the same position, I appreciate that my (limited) gear forces me to adapt. I enjoy having my X100F for street photos because (i) it"s discreet, and I look like an ordinary tourist, and (ii) I'm never afraid to take it in my coat pocket instead of having to manage a heavy bag. And I could do (almost) macro to landscape.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It always helps to make our minds question ourselves about how we can improve.

Think to the end and buy a Fuji X camera 🙂

I´m totaly with you on the highlight rolloff, it's probably unbeatable on the nikons and it's been like that quite some time. I owned the 50R and the 100 II since their respective release, they are great cameras but for someone who shoot pictures all over the categories they are just not as competent as my Z9. For slow landscape shure but as soon as I shoot wildlife or actionsport there is a huge benefit working with the Z9, Its just not the autofocus that is way better it´s a lot about ergonomics and workflow, they don't compare at all, workflow with the cannons are also good, and somewhat with the Sonys but Fujifilm… no.
Workflow things may not mater for the casual shooter but long working days and when you have to deliver a lot on time, then it realy matters.
This is a good reason to not work with several systems, in a critical moment you don't want to have a Z9 in front of your face and R5 ergonomics in your hands. (love the eye tracking btw)

I also love the huge backkatalog of Nikon lenses that work flawless with Nikon bodies (and they can of course be adapted to other full frame cameras) but because of the different sensor size you're always locked in to the lenses that are specially made for the gfx-system, at lest if you want to use the whole sensor. If You don't want to use the full sensor then why did you buy a medium format camera?

Anyway the best camera is the one you're happy to shoot pictures with no mater the name on the outside.

At 100mp you can just crop in…its literally the same as a telephoto with that massive resolution. But to each his own.

The biggest advantage of the 645 digital systems in my opinion is the native 4:3 aspect ratio. I'm always cropping the photos out of my D850 more due to the pano aspect ratio.

Z8 is a beautiful camera.

Great video, interesting about the highlight recovery given both systems use Sony sensors, guess it's the Nikon "secret sauce"

I am also a Sony shooter, and I also own a Tamron 50-400 and a Sony 16-35 G2 (I like the image quality of this lens, but the image quality of the Tamron 50-400 can only be said to be acceptable).

I also use a Nikon Z7 and usually only bring my Nikon camera and Z24-120, trying to carry as little weight and size as possible on hikes.

To be honest, Nikon is better than Sony when it comes to landscape photography cameras. I'm also looking forward to the launch of Nikon's z73, which is said to have more than 60 million pixels.

Nice video! I'm glad to see you return to Nikon. I've been a Nikon photographer for a long time, looking forwards in seeing your experiences using Nikon gear.

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?

I switched to z8 and a DF from the gfx100 and gfx100s for more versatility not for the telephoto so much because the Fuji 250 with teleconverter was fantastic and plenty of digital zoom. I moved to get wide and to shoot wildlife as well

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.

Another interesting video Mark. I always appreciate your candid views and comments. While I respect your choice to move to the Z8, I just looked at that camera and at $3500 for the body alone, that’s way beyond my budget for a new camera. For a professional like you I can see the justification. I’ll stick with my FujiFilm XT-3 and lenses and maybe upgrade to the XT-5, keeping the XT-3 for a backup. I’m sure you’ll love the Nikon.

Mark, welcome back to Nikon! I love this system. I have a Z6 and Z6II. I want the Z6iii. I am glad you are enjoying it! I wished I would have known you were in the Smokies. I am less than 2 hours away from there. So blessed to live here! Have a great 4rth of July!

Nikon Z7ii is and amazing camera too. Z8 has a bit better focus but same sensor and chips. Not worthy of the upgrade for me but if I was purchasing now Ya the Z8 is a brilliant choice. I am slowly adding to my lenses but had a D800 for years and still a brilliant camera. but have a lot of af lenses that I f-to-z adapt because I got load of money in them and they are still brilliant with the Z7ii