Switch from D500 to Z8. Help!

[argupovv]

Hi.

I'm a wildlife photgrapher. I wanted to move on and change my Nikon D500 for a while. Since there's no APS-C equivalent camera from Nikon, I've been looking at the Z line, as well as other brands.
I have two options: stay with Nikon, getting the Z8 + 180-600 mm lens, or move to Sony (in that case, I would get a second hand a1 + 200-600 mm lens). The fact is: Nikon is a little bit cheaper, I like its ergonomics more than sony, it has a little bit better low light ISO permformance, it has precapture, and the 180-600 performs a little bit better in terms of stabilization.
The sony is more expensive and old, but has a few mpx more, and it has a better autofocus, although the stabilization issues with the 200-600. Having said that, I'm not sure what to do. My concerns about the Nikon, are two:

1. First, about the autofocus. We all know that Nikon has struggled quite a lot with AF performance, and not to mention in DSLR cameras. But i have seen that it improved a lot, and I would really appreciate if somebody could tell me about how does it performs.
2. Second (and this is the mainly one), about the ISO performance. The Nikon D500 is an APS-C camera, which helps a lot in many situations with wildlife because of it's 1.5x crop factor. I've been comparing in DP Review ISO comparision the two cameras, and obiously, the Z8 performs better. My concern if how does the Z8 performs (compared to the D500) in DX cropped mode. At least, it has the advantage to be a camera with 5 stops stabilization, and that helps in dark situations with lower obturation.

So, is there anybody who switched from the D500 to the Z8, and could tell me its feelings and impressions about it?

Thanks!

 

[Bill Ferris]

Hi.

I'm a wildlife photgrapher. I wanted to move on and change my Nikon D500 for a while.

I upgraded from a D500 to a Z9 last May. It's spectacular and the Z8 is basically the same camera without the built-in grip.

Since there's no APS-C equivalent camera from Nikon, I've been looking at the Z line, as well as other brands.
I have two options: stay with Nikon, getting the Z8 + 180-600 mm lens, or move to Sony (in that case, I would get a second hand a1 + 200-600 mm lens).

If you use your D500 sans vertical grip, the Z8 is a great upgrade option. If you've been shooting with a grip welded to your D500, I'd encourage you to give the Z9 serious consideration.

The fact is: Nikon is a little bit cheaper, I like its ergonomics more than sony, it has a little bit better low light ISO permformance, it has precapture, and the 180-600 performs a little bit better in terms of stabilization.

Candidly, one of the few criticisms I have of the Z9/Z8 is they don't do raw precapture. I've been a raw shooter for over a decade and just can't bring myself to use precapture in JPEG. But that's me. I am cautiously optimistic Nikon will unlock raw precapture in a future firmware update. However, the Z9 is old enough that they may wait to add that feature in a Z9II.

The sony is more expensive and old, but has a few mpx more, and it has a better autofocus, although the stabilization issues with the 200-600. Having said that, I'm not sure what to do.

Autofocus differences among Canon, Nikon and Sony for wildlife are trivial. I wouldn't let that stop you from selecting a camera by any of those brands.

My concerns about the Nikon, are two:

1. First, about the autofocus. We all know that Nikon has struggled quite a lot with AF performance, and not to mention in DSLR cameras. But i have seen that it improved a lot, and I would really appreciate if somebody could tell me about how does it performs.

As you know, the D500 is among the best focusing DSLR cameras ever made. It's still a very good option for someone getting into wildlife and on a budget.

The first two generations of Z6 and Z7 have good autofocus but it wasn't competitive with the Canon and Sony professional bodies. Nikon changed the script with the release of the Z9, their first mirrorless flagship.

The Z9 (and Z8) autofocus is significantly better in its ability to identify an animal in the frame, focus on the eye, and maintain focus lock while the animal moves. It works well in very low light and incredibly well in good light. It's definitely competitive with Canon and Sony.

1. Second (and this is the mainly one), about the ISO performance. The Nikon D500 is an APS-C camera, which helps a lot in many situations with wildlife because of it's 1.5x crop factor. I've been comparing in DP Review ISO comparision the two cameras, and obiously, the Z8 performs better. My concern if how does the Z8 performs (compared to the D500) in DX cropped mode. At least, it has the advantage to be a camera with 5 stops stabilization, and that helps in dark situations with lower obturation.

If you're going to upgrade to full-frame, I recommend doing all you're able to avoid cropping to APS-C image sizes. Deep cropping throws away all the image quality potential you're paying for by going with full frame. Develop your field craft and your patience to wait for and take advantage of close encounters.

The biggest impact of upgrading to Z-mount for me has been the ability to shoot quietly. After 30 years using SLR bodies, I'm conditioned to associate the sound of a moving shutter with making an exposure. So, while I could configure the Z9 to be silent, I use the artificial shutter sound with volume set to 1.

At that level, I can hear the shutter sound but no animals can. I've had many photo ops interrupted by the clatter of the D500 making animals aware of my presence. That's not happened even once since getting the Z9 and I've enjoyed many close encounter photo ops as a result.

The next biggest impact has been the quality of the Z-mount wildlife lenses. I upgraded from the Nikkor 200-500 to an 800mm f/6.3 VR S. Neither Canon nor Sony have anything competing with the 800 and 600 PFs, or the 400/2.8 & 600/4 with their integral TCs. These lenses may be outside your budget, now, but upgrading to a Z8 makes them potential upgrade options in the future.

So, is there anybody who switched from the D500 to the Z8, and could tell me its feelings and impressions about it?

The Z8 is basically a Z9 without a grip. If you make the upgrade, you'll love it. Good luck with whichever system you choose.

 

[argupovv]

Many thanks Bill, I really appreciate your answer.

Same thing here with the shutter sound you mentioned. The D500 is like a machine gun, you can't shoot without noticing the super loud noise. And the "silent mode" is not silent at all. I do lots of hide sessions here in Spain, and some animals like sandgrouses are very shy, so this has been a problem for a long time. This is the main reason why I want to change, but in the process, I want to upgrade to the best model possible around my budget. I've kept the D500 for almost 8 years, and I would like to purchase a camera which lasts at least a couple of years more.

As said, thanks for your comment.