I arrived at the Mirrorless Party later than many. Perfectly happy with my Nikon D850 (widely considered the best DSLR the company ever produced) and a premium-quality F-mount lens kit, I figured: Why mess with success?
Relaxing at the firepit after a long day shooting at Death Valley a few years back, I had a long conversation with another photographer about the merits of mirrorless. Though I walked away unconvinced, it planted a seed.
A few months later, I took the plunge. What changed my mind?
It’s the Future
Like it or not, camera manufacturers are looking forward. Engineering, innovation and manufacturing are now devoted exclusively to mirrorless technology.
Backward Compatibility
With an FTZ converter, I could continue to use my F-mount lenses seamlessly.
The Arrival of the Z8
While the flagship Z9's low-light capabilities, speed, and autofocus outperformed the D850, it’s a hefty body. Did I want to carry that weight? Not really. Furthermore, the Z9 is spendy. Was the feature and functionality differential significant enough to warrant the investment? I didn't think so.
But when the Z8 was released, delivering identical image quality and autofocus to the Z9 in a smaller, lighter and less expensive body, the barrier-to-entry disappeared.
I took the plunge, and relegated my D850 to backup status.
The Verdict
Some of the Z8’s zippy functionality isn’t currently vital to my workflow (i.e. cinema-grade video), but it’s a phenomenal camera. Even though I primarily shoot on a tripod, I still appreciate its exceptional low-light capability, and its autofocus, speed and noise performance are top-notch.
That said, the D850 remains far superior in terms of battery life, it captures slightly more highlight and shadow data at ISO 64 (where landscape photographers like myself like to operate), and to be perfectly honest I prefer an optical viewfinder. I've gotten used to looking at a digital representation of the subject, but don't love it.
Bottom line? The D850 has been used only minimally since I acquired the mirrorless body, so that should tell you something.
Now, let’s get back to the lenses, and what I’ll call “Stuck in the Middle Syndrome.” As photography continues to undergo this mirrorless transition, it’s a dilemma many photographers will face, if they haven't already.
Entering the Transition Trap
Not long after I purchased the Z8, I picked up my first native Z-mount lens: the Nikkor 100-400mm – Nikon's first super-telephoto in the S-line series. It replaced my F-mount 200-500mm, only the second Nikon lens I’ve ever owned which I disliked. Otherwise, I continued to use my AF-S glass with the adapter.
Until this year.
When Nikon announced the redesigned NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S II (25% lighter and a bit smaller than the 2020 model, with faster autofocus and improved optics), I paid attention. The 70-200mm range is what I rely on most often, and this 2026 release is far superior to the F-mount version I'd been carrying. I purchased one as soon as it hit the market. (Great lens, by the way.)
With that acquisition, two of the three lenses I carry most often were now Z-mounts. Fiddling with the adaptor for that one AF-S lens was becoming more annoying.
Though I didn't need to retire my AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8 - a legendary professional workhorse that remains a terrific lens - I took advantage of a sale and got the Z-mount version.
And just like that, I walked right into the Transition Trap.
I can’t use those Z-mount lenses on my D850 – yet the D850 is supposed to be my backup body.
The Backup Dilemma
To clarify, as a nature and landscape photographer, a second camera means something different to me than it does to wedding, event or wildlife photographers who routinely use dual setups. I rarely carry two bodies in the field; that's simply more bulk and weight than I want to haul. My backup stays in the vehicle or at home. It’s an insurance policy in case of a catastrophic failure.
Now that some of my new Z lenses duplicate the focal lengths of older glass, normal logic dictates that I should sell the retired F-mount versions while they still hold decent market value.
If I do that, though, it limits my D850’s utility. For it to remain viable as a true backup, I have to keep thousands of dollars in F-mount glass sitting on a shelf. I’m paying a significant holding cost for an insurance policy.
What to do?
Exit Strategies
If, like me, you’re in a similar Transition Trap, there are a few ways to get out:
The "Single-Lens Insurance Policy"
Instead of keeping a full array of redundant F-mount lenses, sell the most expensive ones while their market value holds. Keep just one versatile zoom. If the mirrorless body breaks, you can still shoot some landscapes on your DSLR with that single lens. It limits your options, but keeps you in the game without tying up a small fortune in glass.
Other F-mount lenses that get less use (in my case this would be a wide angle and my Lens Baby) are still compatible with either the DSLR or mirrorless body. Hang on to them.
The Rental Pivot
Accept that modern mirrorless bodies are incredibly reliable. Sell the DSLR and entire redundant F-mount kit now. If the camera suffers a catastrophic failure right before a major trip, rent a second mirrorless body. You save shelf space, maximize your gear's current cash value, and ensure that your backup plan relies on the best native technology.
The Clean Break
Rip the Band-Aid off. Your DSLR may be a legend (like my D850), but keeping it forces you to live in two separate technological ecosystems. Selling the body along with your remaining AF-S lenses will generate enough capital to buy a used or refurbished mirrorless camera to use as the #2. Your new glass instantly fits both cameras. Your backup strategy becomes seamless, your camera bag gets lighter, and you are no longer stuck in the middle.
My strategy (and the DSLR Counter-Revolution)
Because I still own some niche F-mount lenses that I have no immediate plans to replace, I’m going with a variation of the “Single-Lens Insurance Policy.” I’ve opted to hang on to the old F-mount 70-200mm lens since that’s the workhorse of my kit. If I’ve got problems with the Z8, I can be back in business instantly with the older zoom on the D850. I’ve sold the other redundant glass, and the niche AF-S lenses remain in my kit.
Lately, my feeds have been popping up with videos of photographers announcing they’re ditching mirrorless to go back to DSLRs. At first, it sounds illogical – especially since all industry innovation is now mirrorless.
But when you dig into their reasoning, I can see their point. They’re not enamored of the digital screen inside their viewfinders. They miss the tactile, mechanical sound of a DSLR mirror and the incredible battery life that lets you shoot for a long, long time without thinking about a charger.
I get it. I was not an early adopter of mirrorless technology; I loved (still love) my D850. But for me, the optical supremacy of a lot of the new Z-mount glass is too significant to ignore.
And that brings us right back to the transition trap: you can love the DSLR experience all you want, but the moment you buy your first native mirrorless lens, you're beginning to favor one side over the other.
Unless you have deep pockets, it's unrealistic to remain fully invested in both worlds forever.
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