My latest article, just published on "The Luminous Landscape," discusses my thoughts on the Nikkor 400mm f/2.8 TC Z S and why it has become my primary lens for fieldwork. In this article, I explore the journey of this lens and its predecessors, detailing the evolution of the lens and camera, as well as what I do with my aging gear. 

Below is an excerpt from the article. If you're interested in reading the whole piece, please check it out on The Luminous Landscape. The Luminous Landscape features tens of thousands of articles and numerous videos. It also features a forum for photography discussions, where knowledgeable and passionate photographers share their insights.

As a multi-themed pro photographer with over thirty years of experience, adding the Nikkor 400mm f/2.8 TC Z S to my bag was the right choice. It's the lens I have been waiting for my entire career; it has all the bells and whistles. But before I delve into how the NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8 TC Z S and my thoughts on the lens, I will briefly discuss a few of its predecessors and other gear, outlining our unforgettable journeys.  

Some gear is akin to family and next to impossible to part with, such as the Nikon F, Fm2, F3HP, F100, F5, F6, Linhof Technika 70 V, Mamiya Pro TL 645, Wista-Field 45, and a variety of lenses. All my gear is in working order, plus I have a fridge dedicated to storing film and sheet film. 

As for DSLRs, I have hung onto the Nikon D4, D5, D810, D850 and various lenses. In all honesty, it would be next to impossible to hang onto all my previous gear, so my solution is to donate it to photographic institutions I am affiliated with; this gear goes towards student use, and, in some cases, I gift gear I no longer use to students in need. I have never traded in my used gear for new gear, but on a few occasions, I sold high-end exotic lenses to good friends at a steal of a deal. 

My first super-telephoto lens was the NIKKOR 600mm f/4 ED IF AIS MF. This is a brilliant lens that I took on assignments to the four corners of our planet. It is one of those lenses I could never part with. And, it so happens that my sister is a pro commercial photographer who is an amateur birding photographer, and it's in her capable hands in the polar bear capital province in Canada.