I have been using Nikon D500 with Nikkor AFS 400mm f/2.8 G VR since 2018, now thinking of upgrading to Mirror Less Nikon Z8.
Is it a good option to upgrade now or wait until the Nikon Z8 upgrade 🫣
Upgrades will keep on coming. Ideally you probe yourself reason for upgrade . Is it better IQ , AF , ergonomics. I moved on from Nikon D500+ 200-500 lens combo to Sony ecosystem a couple of years back . Lesser weight and faster AF were 2 reasons for which I moved to mirrorless. As far as moving to Sony was concerned , Nikon didnot have any equivalent of Sony 200-600 lens .
If the reasons are convincing to warrant an upgrade , just go ahead.
Quote from: aswattha on February 04, 2026, 09:06:42 PMI have been using Nikon D500 with Nikkor AFS 400mm f/2.8 G VR since 2018, now thinking of upgrading to Mirror Less Nikon Z8.
Is it a good option to upgrade now or wait until the Nikon Z8 upgrade 🫣
I used a D500 for many years before upgrading to a Z8. The decision to upgrade is very personal and how you arrive at that point may be driven by many factors. In my case I felt that I had reached the limit of what I could achieve with my D500 in terms of picture quality and wanted more. I was a very early adopter - mid 2023.
Others I know, had (mildly) malfunctioning camera bodies and needed a change. Mirrorless was the way to go.
My upgrade happened so long back that while I understood what you were asking I was hard pressed to remember my numerous reasons for the upgrade
So, just for context I uploaded your question to Gemini and here is what it said
Upgrading to a mirrorless system offers a budding photographer significant technological advantages, such as
real-time exposure previews and
advanced AI autofocus. However, it often requires a higher initial investment and comes with trade-offs like shorter battery life and a more fragile, electronic-heavy build.
Arguments for Upgrading (Pros)- What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG): Electronic viewfinders (EVFs) allow you to see exposure, white balance, and depth of field changes in real time before you take the shot. This eliminates "chimping"—constantly checking the rear LCD to see if your exposure was correct.
- Superior Autofocus and Tracking: Mirrorless systems use on-sensor autofocus with AI-powered subject detection that can lock onto eyes (human or animal) and follow them across the entire frame, which is often impossible on DSLRs.
- Portability and Weight: Without a bulky mirror and pentaprism, mirrorless bodies are typically smaller and lighter, making them easier to carry for travel and long shoots.
- Faster, Silent Shooting: With no moving mirror, mirrorless cameras can achieve much higher burst rates (e.g., 20–30+ fps) and offer completely silent electronic shutters, ideal for wildlife, weddings, or street photography.
- Video Dominance: Mirrorless cameras are generally better for video, offering high-resolution 4K or 8K internal recording, better continuous autofocus in video mode, and features like focus peaking and zebra patterns.
Arguments Against Upgrading (Cons)
- Shorter Battery Life: Powering an EVF and sensor constantly drains battery faster than a DSLR's optical viewfinder. While a DSLR might last 1,000+ shots, mirrorless cameras often range from 350 to 600 shots per charge.
- Higher System Cost: New mirrorless bodies and native lenses are often more expensive than their DSLR counterparts. While you can use adapters to keep old lenses, high-performance native glass is costly.
- Ergonomics and Balance: Smaller mirrorless bodies may feel cramped for those with large hands. They can also feel front-heavy when paired with large professional telephoto lenses.
- Optical Viewfinder Preference: Many photographers prefer the "naked eye" realism and zero lag of an optical viewfinder over looking at a digital screen.
- Fragility and Maintenance: Mirrorless cameras rely heavily on sensitive electronics and exposed sensors during lens changes, making them potentially more vulnerable to dust and environmental damage than robust DSLR bodies.
-
Key Considerations for Beginners
- Future-Proofing: Major manufacturers have shifted nearly all R&D away from DSLRs toward mirrorless, meaning new lens and body innovations will only be available on mirrorless systems.
- Used Market Value: If on a tight budget, the secondary market for DSLRs is currently flooded with high-end gear at deeply discounted prices as pros make the switch.
- Adapting Gear: If you already own high-quality DSLR lenses, brands like Canon and Nikon offer adapters (e.g.,Nikon FTZ (https://www.google.com/search?ibp=oshop&prds=pvt:hg,pvo:29,mid:576462700133317041,imageDocid:14930781584628221107,gpcid:10728622082353150058,headlineOfferDocid:13387901752930663627,catalogid:6320980362029603964,productDocid:1569853565529053579,rds:PC_10728622082353150058%7CPROD_PC_10728622082353150058&q=product&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwje0Kr-osaSAxWpzjgGHXZgLMMQxa4PegYIAQgJEAQ) that allow you to use your old glass on new mirrorless bodies with virtually no loss in quality.
- Upgrading to the Nikon Z8 (https://www.google.com/search?ibp=oshop&prds=pvt:hg,pvo:29,mid:576462745088936379,imageDocid:3146484929753434914,gpcid:6397539274319890851,headlineOfferDocid:7575938126821958578,catalogid:18208948091928891493,productDocid:9690980566864087362,rds:PC_6397539274319890851%7CPROD_PC_6397539274319890851&q=product&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEyr-go8aSAxXJ1jgGHSdHKokQxa4PegYIAQgCEAI) now is a highly recommended move for a wildlife and bird photographer moving from the Nikon D500 (https://www.google.com/search?ibp=oshop&prds=pvt:hg,pvo:29,mid:576462226023631437,imageDocid:9475151755348558097,gpcid:7479220587709707568,headlineOfferDocid:13544881951049916529,catalogid:12887112552127044607,productDocid:9219321383748594398,rds:PC_7479220587709707568%7CPROD_PC_7479220587709707568&q=product&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEyr-go8aSAxXJ1jgGHSdHKokQxa4PegYIAQgCEAQ) . While rumors of a "Z8 II" exist, most reliable industry sources suggest a successor is still years away, with the flagship Nikon Z9 II expected to launch first, likely in late 2026.
The Nikon Z8 is currently at its peak performance thanks to significant firmware updates (like version 2.0 and 3.0), which added dedicated bird subject detection and advanced auto-capture features.
Performance with Your Nikkor 400mm f/2.8G VR Your existing lens will perform exceptionally well on the Z8 (https://www.google.com/search?ibp=oshop&prds=pvt:hg,pvo:29,mid:576462745088936379,imageDocid:3146484929753434914,gpcid:6397539274319890851,headlineOfferDocid:7575938126821958578,catalogid:18208948091928891493,productDocid:9690980566864087362,rds:PC_6397539274319890851%7CPROD_PC_6397539274319890851&q=product&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEyr-go8aSAxXJ1jgGHSdHKokQxa4PegYIAQgGEAI) via the Nikon FTZ II Mount Adapter (https://www.google.com/search?ibp=oshop&prds=pvt:hg,pvo:29,mid:576462728234856852,imageDocid:7934639383477409212,gpcid:10829868199052288973,headlineOfferDocid:691322883468923988,catalogid:17675482721583843875,productDocid:18347798412193491914,rds:PC_10829868199052288973%7CPROD_PC_10829868199052288973&q=product&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEyr-go8aSAxXJ1jgGHSdHKokQxa4PegYIAQgGEAQ)
.
- Autofocus: Reviewers report that F-mount telephotos often focus even more accurately on Z-series bodies because there is no need for AF Fine Tune; the sensor itself handles focus directly.
- Image Quality: The 45.7MP sensor on the Z8 provides more than double the resolution of your
D500 (https://www.google.com/search?ibp=oshop&prds=pvt:hg,pvo:29,mid:576462226023631437,imageDocid:9475151755348558097,gpcid:7479220587709707568,headlineOfferDocid:13544881951049916529,catalogid:12887112552127044607,productDocid:9219321383748594398,rds:PC_7479220587709707568%7CPROD_PC_7479220587709707568&q=product&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEyr-go8aSAxXJ1jgGHSdHKokQxa4PegYIAQgHEAQ) (20.9MP), allowing for significantly more aggressive cropping. - Stabilization: The Z8 features in-body image stabilization (IBIS), which works in tandem with your lens's VR to provide better handheld performance than possible on the D500
.
Why Upgrade Now vs. Waiting
- Firmware Maturity: The Nikon Z8 (https://www.google.com/search?ibp=oshop&prds=pvt:hg,pvo:29,mid:576462745088936379,imageDocid:3146484929753434914,gpcid:6397539274319890851,headlineOfferDocid:7575938126821958578,catalogid:18208948091928891493,productDocid:9690980566864087362,rds:PC_6397539274319890851%7CPROD_PC_6397539274319890851&q=product&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEyr-go8aSAxXJ1jgGHSdHKokQxa4PegYIAQgJEAI) is no longer the "early adopter" camera it was at launch. Major firmware updates have already delivered the features typically reserved for a "Mark II" refresh, such as bird-specific AF and pixel-shift high-resolution modes.
- The Z8 II Timeline: Reliable roadmaps indicate that the Z8 II is "years away," as Nikon typically prioritizes flagship (Z9 (https://www.google.com/search?ibp=oshop&prds=pvt:hg,pvo:29,mid:576462658635497862,imageDocid:13873385635561492536,gpcid:15011804881439497276,headlineOfferDocid:17453056745933322190,catalogid:6001364447883457955,productDocid:4081413835846928295,rds:PC_15011804881439497276%7CPROD_PC_15011804881439497276&q=product&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEyr-go8aSAxXJ1jgGHSdHKokQxa4PegYIAQgJEAc) ) updates and mid-range (Z5/Z6) refreshes before updating high-end hybrid bodies like the Z8. In all probability the Z8 II will appear in 2028
Immediate Benefits overD500:- Silent Shooting: 20fps fully silent electronic shutter means you won't spook wildlife.
- Subject Detection: The Z8 can automatically find and track a bird's eye across the entire frame, whereas the D500 requires you to manually keep a focus point on the subject.
- Full Frame vs. Crop: While you lose the 1.5x "reach" of the D500 's APS-C sensor, the
Z8 's high megapixel count allows you to shoot in "DX Mode" and still get ~20MP images, effectively matching the D500's reach when needed.
Key Trade-offs to Consider
- Battery Life: The Z8 (https://www.google.com/search?ibp=oshop&prds=pvt:hg,pvo:29,mid:576462745088936379,imageDocid:3146484929753434914,gpcid:6397539274319890851,headlineOfferDocid:7575938126821958578,catalogid:18208948091928891493,productDocid:9690980566864087362,rds:PC_6397539274319890851%7CPROD_PC_6397539274319890851&q=product&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEyr-go8aSAxXJ1jgGHSdHKokQxa4PegYIAQgMEAI) 's battery life is significantly shorter than the D500 (https://www.google.com/search?ibp=oshop&prds=pvt:hg,pvo:29,mid:576462226023631437,imageDocid:9475151755348558097,gpcid:7479220587709707568,headlineOfferDocid:13544881951049916529,catalogid:12887112552127044607,productDocid:9219321383748594398,rds:PC_7479220587709707568%7CPROD_PC_7479220587709707568&q=product&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEyr-go8aSAxXJ1jgGHSdHKokQxa4PegYIAQgMEAQ)'s. You will likely need 2–3 spare EN-EL15c batteries for a full day of shooting.
- Ergonomics: The Z8 is slightly heavier and larger than the D500. . Combined with the FTZ adapter and your heavy 400mm f/2.8, the setup will be front-heavy and ideally requires a monopod or gimbal.
Ultimately you need to ask yourself
Do I
want to upgrade?
Do I
need to upgrade?
Can I manage for some more time with what I have?
Do I have the money to make the change?
Quote from: aswattha on February 04, 2026, 09:06:42 PM... upgrade now or wait until the Nikon Z8 upgrade 🫣
You sure you want to wait for the Z8II, and not the Z90 ?
By all accounts its just around the corner... and would be the logical successor to the D500.
If you are using the 400mm on your your D500, you were shooting at an equivalent focal length of 600mm. Moving to Z8 will mean it will now be 400mm lens or you have to be ready to crop. The resolution of the Z8 while good at 45mpx, but may not be enough enough to support an apsc style crop (a 60mpx resolution would be ideal)
It really depends on what you are shooting and your work flow.
I find it amazing how that AI has amplified our ability to do quick research. When this forum started about 20 years ago, it would have been hard to imagine the power and availability of computing power today. Incredible features and abilities in the new equipment.