What equipment did you use to take these wonderful photos?

I have purchased the Nikon Z8 for my first jump to mirrorless. The camera is Full Frame with the op to put it into crop frame mode. Knowing that wildlife photographers - especially bird photographers - often use a crop frame camera for extra "reach" with their prime lenses: my question to owners of high megapixel full frame sensor cameras that have a crop mode is - in your experience is the ultimate resolution / sharpness of an image (using the same lens) better shot FF then cropped or shooting in crop mode for an equivalent bird image size? For some of you - you have enough understanding of the math to analyze this in those terms and ultimately it may show this to be a mute question as you may end up with the same file size (before processing) in either choice. Then again, the sharpness of the lens may be advantaged in one choice or the other. I do not think I'm technically knowledgable enough to analyze this correctly. Thoughts, knowledgable analysis or real experience testing this would be appreciated. My Z8 is to arrive today so I may run my own empirical tests soon. Thanks

I have used some of the responses to query my friend to refine her interests including your questions. First the Canon camera she will replace is a EOS 7D Mark II crop sensor - so only 9 years old vs 10-15. She is thinking full frame as she has an interest in making print images (some large) and wants high IQ, HDR and low light capability. Future subjects likely include landscapes and macro, less active bird and wildlife shooting is expected. She and her husband spent 2 summers as volunteer rangers in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons!! They spent plenty of free time pursuing and photographing wildlife then. Again - thanks in advance for you shared experience and advice.

I have a friend who is petite. She is ready to buy a new camera and associated lenses. She currently owns 12 -15 year old Canon gear which she plans to replace. As a recent volunteer park ranger with her husband for 3 years she enjoys photographing landscapes, birds and wildlife and plant close ups. With a fall trip to Europe planned she feels now is the time to make a new purchase. Again - her interest is in capable equipment that is compact and lighter than the her current Canon equipment and likely to step into mirrorless. Being a regular UHH reader it seems steering her toward Sony or Fuji would best suit her objectives. It is not her intent to buy an all-in-one camera. I would appreciate and specific recommendations for camera and available lenses that would meet her photography objectives. I am a Nikon user and currently size and weight are not of concern to me. I want to give my friend the best advice I can so she makes the best choice for her. Thanks in advance for you guidance!

To all who responded - thanks for your input and broadening my thinking.

There is a lot of good thinking and diversity of approaches here that demonstrates the value of this forum. I appreciate especially thoughts from those much more interested and more willing to delve deeper into the technical aspects of software and equipment - likely keeping me from making unnecessary purchases beyond my needs.

I have a 2014 27" iMac which I have really enjoyed. With 8 years on it now it has begun to slow and have issues with the newest software and larger file sizes. Like many iMac users I've been disappointed that Apple, though they replaced their 21" iMac with a 24" iMac, that they have for now discontinued their 27" models with no alternative with now comparable alternative.

At first I looked at the now near 2 year old 24" M1 iMac. Then Apple announces the new Studio iMac series.With significantly upgraded M1 chips I've been thinking that the better (though more expensive approach than a 24" iMac) would be to purchase a Studio iMac M1 Max with 32G Ram and 1 TB hard drive. This requires purchasing a monitor separately. Over all a big investment that hopefully will again serve me 7-8 years. I cannot afford the companion Apple monitor so I am looking at BENQ 24 or 27" instead.

Has anyone taken this or similar approach and if so what has been your experience.

I had a ranch in coastal Texas for 21 years. I spent hours and hours chasing dragonflies and damselflies jut to get a few inflight shots...

In reading all the responses so far there are many great locations already identified.

One surprise to me is that no one mentions the great resource website that Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission maintains:

https://floridabirdingtrail.com

It is a comprehensive site that shows you hundreds of birding sites, gives you access to specific site and trail maps, links to specific websites for some more developed locations and through association with the Cornell School of Ornithology's vast database can help you find site with specific species you may want to photograph.

https://app.myfwc.com/maps/birdtrip/default.aspx

It's worth looking over the site to identify the resources that can help you plan a trip. The selection of trail maps is very helpful, though it may not have them for every site. A good place to start is at this page:

https://floridabirdingtrail.com/trail/trail-sections/

I have bought and used a Micro SD but favor the full SD card when available.

What I'd like to see is an adapter for an SQD slot that uses an SD card in it!

In reading about the rowing number of new mirrorless cameras there seems to be a move by some mfgrs to "in-camera-IS." If this is the case is there likely and positive (really negative) impact on lens cost that no longer have IS systems included? Has anyone seen and discussion to this?

Over the last year I have seen growing signs that digital photography is moving toward mirrorless cameras and associated lens systems. I have significant Nikon equipment for my bird and nature photography interests including a 500mm F4 and 300mm F2.8 prime lenses. I have a recently purchased D500 I love and have been saving for a D850 - which I have anticipated buying at during the end of the year sales when I hope to see a modest discount to the long stable initial price.

I have come to the realization that at some point there is likely to be an significant advantage such as size and weight of gear - and even technical innovation leadership - to move to a full mirrorless setup.
I understand that there is an adapter to allow me to continue to use my current lenses with the new Nikon mirrorless cameras...but I am not sure that I would necessarily stay with Nikon if I go mirrorless. Steve Perry's evaluation of the new Nikon mirrorless suggested that they are not yet as capable (insufficient burst mode buffering) as current DSLR offerings for action bird photography. I understand that some of the Sony are of comparable capabilities. A friend has a Sony mirrorless and set of lenses that are significantly smaller and more manageable that my gear.

I know from regularly reading the Forum that there are many very thoughtful and knowledgeable members - and maybe some that have already made this transition. So I would like to ask for your thoughts on which companies currently appear to be the true leaders in mirrorless cameras and lens systems - especially as applicable to bird photography. And more specifically, knowing that the technology will continue to evolve, your thoughts on timing - is it the right time to convert or to move forward with my D850 purchase knowing that there will likely come a clear time to make the switch?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Most of my heavy photography efforts are while traveling. The Geotagging feature seems like something that I might value as I look back at photos going forward.

I'd like to purchase an add-on GPS to my Nikon cameras before a summer trip to Alaska. I would appreciate recommendations. The Nikon GP-1A is the most expensive and has a 3.5 star rating. The Wolverine GEO-35 is less but has a significant cord that seems like it would be a cumbersome problem and is 3 star out of 5. The Aokatec products look interesting with both physically connected and Blue-Tooth units.

Thanks

In August we will be traveling on an alumni trip to Alaska including Denali NWR, the southeastern coast via boat and an air trip to the Artic Circle. We are very excited about the trip!

We are weight limited and on the size of our luggage so - in order to keep warm and not wear the same close every day just to be able to carry more photo gear I am wrestling with what of my current gear to take vs exchanging or buying something else. I have a just purchased D500 that will be my one camera. I have a Nikon 18-300 & Nikon 12-24, a Tamron 150-600, Sigma 105 macro and lenses I won't take (sigh) are my Nikon 300 and 500 - to big and heavy. My Nikon 18-300 serves well as a macro, so one option to cover everything from macro to landscapes to birds/wildlife is the 18-300 and Tamron 150-600. No further expense required.

I have a travel tripod, but it likely will be a casualty of the limited. May sneak in a mono-pod.

I have been studying reviews of the new Tamron 18-400 with the idea that this would cover the landscape and wildlife which replaces the larger 150-600 for wildlife. I'd use the Sigma for macro work. Additional but reasonable costs for the new Tamron 18-400.

At the core of my research is - will I loose too much sharpness on bird photos with the 18-400 vs 150-600. I've also looked at the Nikon 80-400 as an option for wildlife. It seems to have slightly better sharpness at 400, but is also more costly. If I go with either of these lenses I'd take the Nikon 18-300 for landscape and macro work.

I am hoping for at least a few good bald eagle ops and other likely distant subjects and don't want to be disappointed with the results.

Please share thoughts on my options or propose other options I haven't thought of.

Thanks