I still have and use my D500 even though I have and use a Z9!

I second this approach. Only you can decide what F mount lens will work for you on your new Z8.

The choice is yours. All three brands are good to very good. The camera needs to fit your hands and the viewfinder needs to work for you. Which eye you use to view can make a big difference in what brand or body you select.

You are right to be concerned about wind issues in Ireland. I recommend a tripod that is a series two tripod. Series three would be even better. My travel tripod has four sections in each leg so it collapses to a size that it fits in my suitcase. It is an Induro carbon fiber tripod series two. Induro is owned by Benro. I would check out all of the Benro models but first look at the Benro Adventure series.

The problem may be related to the lens on the camera. Make sure that the focus limiter switch on the lens is NOT set to a range you are not using. Select Full range. I have discovered on my Z9 that the limit switch on a lens often gets moved to a setting that effectively disables AF. If you are using a lens that has a Control ring, make sure the setting for it is not causing AF problem. I have disabled my Control ring settings on my Z mount 100-400mm S lens.

I shoot mostly nature and wildlife. My mirrorless camera is a Z9. My practice is to never limit ISO--I want the max ISO available so I can use fast shutter speeds (if needed) in low light situations. Needed shutter speeds are the priority for me and not noise. If I get too much noise, I fix it during post processing.

When I am shooting landscapes, I do try and limit ISO, if I am shooting on a tripod. The limit is accomplished through my shutter speed selection--a low shutter speed.

The camera is always in Auto ISO.

Welcome to mirrorless. If you have not already done so, download the free guides from Nikon for your camera.

https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/products/556/Z_6II.html

And consider getting a guides written by a third party, like Thom Hogan:

https://www.zsystemuser.com/z-system-books/complete-guide-to-the-nikon-5.html

On my Z9, I use Back Button focusing (AF-ON) to lock in the focus point.

I will add some to my earlier post above. Back wen I was shooting with slide film, I often used a Nikon 500mm f4 P lens with both the Nikon TC 14B (1.4x tc) and the TC 301 (2xtc) attached to my film camera. Resulting images were useable and acceptable if the whole rig was adequately supported (usually with two supports) and the shutter was triggered with a cable release. Focusing was done manually. Support and technique was critical.

Now that I am shooting digitally, support and technique is still important for good IQ images both with and without tcs and with and without cropping. My personal preference would be to add a tc before cropping in post. However, if good support or technique is not possible, then I would likely not add the tc and just crop.

The first picture appears to be sharper than the second. Since long lens technique, tripod support, focus method used, etc plays a huge role in the quality of the resulting images, it is hard to make any rule or comment about the use of a 2x tc.

I shoot with Nikon glass on my Z9 and have no personal experience with Tamron glass.

Brad Hill recommends the Tamron Z 150-500mm F5-6.7 Di III VC VXD at his blog:

http://www.naturalart.ca/voice/blog.html

See what he says about Nikon and Tamron glass in his blog postings around Dec 2023 and 2024.

If I were you I would consider getting the Nikon 180-600mm Z mount lens for your Z7ii.

Based on just specs, unless there is not enough light, I think your current Tamron lens with the FTZ adapter ought to AF on your Z7ii.

This is exactly what I was going to write in response to your post.

I will add: In your D500 (and any other Nikon camera) set Picture Controls for the look you want for the image captured by the camera and the Jpeg processed in the camera. If you do not know what Picture Controls are go to NikonUsa or your camera manual and read about them.

https://imaging.nikon.com/imaging/support/digitutor/d500/techniques/201601_12_02_sl.html


I use Nikon NX Studio to view my RAW images and cull them before any processing of RAW (NEF) files. NXStudio renders the imbedded Jpeg with the Picture Control settings. If you have an image where in camera color and white balance setting are important to preserve, make a Tiff of that image and then process the Tiff in your post processing softare.

For many RAW images captured correctly in camera, Nx Studio may be the only post processing program you need to use.

For some of my images, NX Studio is all that I use. For others I use DXO PL7 and the NIK Collection.

Patrick suggestion is a good one. I have made this same mistake myself.

This is the same recommendation I was just about to post. But to do it you will need a formatted card in the Primary slot.

Another suggestion is to turn off the camera. Remove the battery. Add a different and freshly charged battery. Then add the cards. Turn on the camera and see if the camera recognizes each card. Then try and reformat them in the camera. I know this sounds like a crazy suggestion, but nothing else seems to be working.

To double check the cards, use your card reader and attach it to your computer. Add the card. Open Nikon Studio and see if it will recognize the card and the images on the card. You can download the free Nikon software at NikonUSA.

https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/products/564/NX_Studio.html

Bill, one thing I do when traveling is to get up early and go out and start shooting as the city is waking up. I usually do this for one hour before I meet my wife (and other travelers in the group) for breakfast.

If you send the camera to Nikon, I would also send them the specific cards you are using where you have this problem.