Which Nikon Nikkor 800mm? I have Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR Lens for occasional moon and bird photographing. I also pre-ordered newly released Nikon NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3...

Richard HZ Loc: Indiana, US

I have Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR Lens for occasional moon and bird photographing. I also pre-ordered newly released Nikon NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S Lens. I have Nikon D850 and Nikon Z9 bodies. Now, I have dilemma about which 800mm to keep? The 800mm/5.6 is an excellent piece of glass but it is heavy and has not been used as often as I expected. The pre-ordered 800mm/6.3 PF is about half weight and I may use more often. If this is the option, I would need to sell the 800mm/5.6 at big discount, probably about half of the price paid (I checked B&H and Roberts for the prices sell to them at $8300-9000. Originally paid for over $16,000). Any suggestions? Thanks!

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Can you use the 5.6 lens on the Z9 with an adapter? Can you use the Z lens on the 850? Do you want 1 lens that will work for both cameras or are you only going to use the Z lens on the Z body and not ever use the D850 for shooting at great distance?

Dodie

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Richard HZ wrote:

I have Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR Len... (show quote)

If so seldom if ever used why waste money on it?

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

We have all been in similar situations, whether for lenses, real estate, whatever. The market rules. The amount originally paid for anything is a sunk cost, irrelevant here and now. Unless you have some reason to believe (against all odds) that your old lens will appreciate in value going forward, I would say take the hit and do something more productive with the cash.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Richard HZ wrote:

I have Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR Len... (show quote)

If it was me, the price you get for your current 800 is not going to change much over the next couple of months, so I would wait until you get the newer Z800 and then field test it, I believe then you will have a better opinion as to what you want to do.

ELNikkor

billnikon wrote:

If it was me, the price you get for your current 800 is not going to change much over the next couple of months, so I would wait until you get the newer Z800 and then field test it, I believe then you will have a better opinion as to what you want to do.

Agree with billnikon...(and lean toward unloading the 5.6...)

neillaubenthal

Any of the resellers are going to give you about the same amount…which will be less than the retail used price since they need to make a profit. I had the Z 800 or order but cancelled it because I decided the cost wasn't worth the benefit for how much I would use it as a non pro.

Bill_de Loc: US

Richard HZ wrote:

I have Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR Len... (show quote)

Maybe you should wait until the new 800 arrives and you take it out and shoot with it. Otherwise you may find something disappointing the day you sell the older lens. Swapping the old for the new should be close to an even swap financially.

I thought about doing what you are proposing, but my 800 F5.6 is a lens that was hard earned, I would hate to see it go. But, who knows what tomorrow will bring.

---

photoman43

Since you already have the FX version of the 800, use it on your Z9 with the adapter. It it gets the job done, cancel the order for the Z mount version. When the Z mount is available, rent it for a week or two and test it. Then make the decision as to which version you want to own going forward.

I have the z9 and the 500mm pf lens. I am not going to buy either z mount 400mm as I will just use my 500mm with the adapter. I did buy the z mount 100-400mm S lens.

Richard HZ Loc: Indiana, US

luvmypets wrote:

Can you use the 5.6 lens on the Z9 with an adapter? Can you use the Z lens on the 850? Do you want 1 lens that will work for both cameras or are you only going to use the Z lens on the Z body and not ever use the D850 for shooting at great distance?

Dodie

Dear Dodie,
Thanks for the response. The 5.6 works for both bodies with adapter but the new one will not. I will rest the new one before deciding which one to keep.
Thanks!

Richard HZ Loc: Indiana, US

Architect1776 wrote:

If so seldom if ever used why waste money on it?

Thanks for the response. Your point is valuable to consider.

Richard HZ Loc: Indiana, US

ClarkJohnson wrote:

We have all been in similar situations, whether for lenses, real estate, whatever. The market rules. The amount originally paid for anything is a sunk cost, irrelevant here and now. Unless you have some reason to believe (against all odds) that your old lens will appreciate in value going forward, I would say take the hit and do something more productive with the cash.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Richard HZ Loc: Indiana, US

billnikon wrote:

If it was me, the price you get for your current 800 is not going to change much over the next couple of months, so I would wait until you get the newer Z800 and then field test it, I believe then you will have a better opinion as to what you want to do.

Thanks for the response! Very good point. I will do so.

Richard HZ Loc: Indiana, US

Bill_de wrote:

Maybe you should wait until the new 800 arrives and you take it out and shoot with it. Otherwise you may find something disappointing the day you sell the older lens. Swapping the old for the new should be close to an even swap financially.

I thought about doing what you are proposing, but my 800 F5.6 is a lens that was hard earned, I would hate to see it go. But, who knows what tomorrow will bring.

---

Thanks for the response! I will wait until the new one arrives and I will test it before final decision is made.

Richard HZ Loc: Indiana, US

photoman43 wrote:

Since you already have the FX version of the 800, use it on your Z9 with the adapter. It it gets the job done, cancel the order for the Z mount version. When the Z mount is available, rent it for a week or two and test it. Then make the decision as to which version you want to own going forward.

I have the z9 and the 500mm pf lens. I am not going to buy either z mount 400mm as I will just use my 500mm with the adapter. I did buy the z mount 100-400mm S lens.

Thanks for the response and suggestion!