Next body move? With Nikkor F-Mount Lenses (Or without them?)

NostraLukas wrote:

A million years ago, I bought a Nikon D700 full-frame and a Nikkor 24mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.4G, and a 70-200mm 2.8G II. The thinking back then was, "get nice glass because you'll always have it, and upgrade the bodies later."

I'm now looking to update and am seriously confused about what to do —apologies for the long post. I want to get it all down. And I'm sure I'm getting some things wrong here.

I'm a serious hobbyist. I like shooting travel, street, and environmental portraiture. I even try to make family stuff artful. I enjoy post using C1 and AF. I like natural light, especially low light. I take my work seriously even tho I'm no pro. I'm a stills guy. Use iPhone for video. Shoot raw.

Since I got the original gear, my family happened, and over the years, I've found myself using my Fuji x100 (first x100s and now x100v) for travel, family stuff, and to have with me all the time. I love the experience of shooting with the x100v, especially the dials, EVF, and general old-school feel. I also like the Fuji Xs as objects. Having a flip screen has helped creatively too.

The D700 doesn't get picked up that much. It's heavy. Sometimes what's left of a crop isn't good enough resolution-wise. And the files from the x100v seem richer. I've read the D700s DR is way out of date, and I've (maybe falsely) think that's why when comparing. I haven't used the 24mm and 50mm in a long while.

When I have used the D700, it has been for action, when I need the reach of the 70-200, and for portraiture (again 70-200). Moving forward, I'll still need something for those times, and I want to do even more portraiture. That's why I'm thinking about the next move.

These questions are always quite subjective and you'll hear many opinions. Since this is the Fuji X forum, most will probably be along 'sell everything and switch to Fuji'

For the things you say you shoot, the X system should be pretty good, although full frame sensors still have the edge when it comes to shooting in low light.

What to do? I'm prob missing a lot of options, but here's some:

1) Get another FF Nikon with updated tech — The 800s (old 700s?) may be too much camera for me. Still big and heavy. Big $$. But... I can use my lenses, get great low light performance, do action/portraiture, and get better DR.

Considering you said you barely use the D700, I doubt you'd use a D8x0 more often. So I'd say you should skip this option.

2) Transition to a Nikon Z. - Buy an adapter and use my F-mount lenses. Get on the mirrorless train because that's where the innovation will be moving forward (putting aside medium format). Maybe there is some level of performance synergy sticking with Nikon? Are the Zs competitive with Sony and Fuji for mirrorless to the extent going the adapter route is worth it (considering the added bulk of an adapter, the mismatch between lens/ sensor, and length shift)?

The Zs are said to be some great cameras with some of the best IQ and handling there is. The F mount lenses should behave well using the FTZ but the whole kit will still be bulky, even though the cameras are smaller.

In the long run, you'll probably want to upgrade the 24 and 50mm primes as the Z ones are supposedly much better (even the f/1.8 ones). However they can be pricey.

3) Get a Fringer NF-FX adapter and use my lenses on a mirrorless Fuji X, like XT-4. With this option, I get the smaller body and EVF. G lenses should have all functionality with the Fringer. Maybe some focus speed compromise? I'd have to deal with the shift in mm. 70-200 2.8 will get longer but still works for portrait/sports. 50mm could do portraiture (although not the best lens, I'm told). 24 turns into 36mm (right?). Am I sacrificing lens performance using these FF lenses with Fuji sensors? Is this a misfit not worth doing? Am I forcing it too much? Am I clinging to the idea that these lenses are worth keeping to save $$?

I'd avoid this option as third party adapters are always a compromise. Plus, the 70-200 could be awkward to use on a small Fuji body.

4) Sell it all and move to a new system. — Accept that I waited too long. Understand that for people like me, the advent of mirrorless kinda messed up my "keep the lenses forever" approach from long ago. Take the losses selling the Nikkors. Realize FF isn't the only path to quality anymore for people like me. Look into a mirrorless body with updated tech. Start new. Don't overthink it and extend the Fuji X experience I've begun with x100v. Get an excellent new action/portrait lens and X-T4. Use the x100v for wide stuff. Maybe supersize the love for x100v and get an x-pro 3?

This is definitely an option to try out. You can start small by getting a body and a lens or two, use them for a few months, see how you like them and decide whether you want to keep them and grow your system and sell the F mount stuff - or alternatively, stick to the F mount system you've created.

5) Don't do anything. Keep the D700. Accept it is good enough bc I'm a hobbyist. Accept the false story I'm telling myself: That I'm missing out on the benefits of new tech (better sensors, better DR, able to crop bigger files). Wait for a solution not yet revealed (e.g., cheaper, smaller Nikon F-mount FF?). The downside would be that my F-mount lenses aren't getting any younger, and the resale market for them will be getting worse and worse (assuming the market heat and Nikon's R&D will be all mirrorless and MF, because that's the future).

Considering you aren't finding the D700 limiting (you read that its DR is worse than newer cameras, rather than actually finding it limiting) - maybe you could stick to it.

However you might end up using it less and less. I don't think Nikon will go on producing DSLRs much longer.

6) ???????? Something I do not see at all.

I'm not sure what my next move is. I know it is personal, but I'm stuck. And often, you guys sound omniscient. Advice? Thank you.

Me personally, I had built a budget Nikon DX system that I liked. However at one point it became too cumbersome to use, mainly due to its weight and size. So I tried out a small Fuji kit with three primes and later on I expanded on it. Sold out most of the Nikon stuff and barely touch what's left of it (my old and trusty D90 and 18-105mm kit lens).

I love using my Fuji gear, it's simply fun to shoot. And I like the mirrorless benefits, too.