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Help me choose a FX DSLR for Sports


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4 replies to this topic

#1
JoeStagner

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My first career was as a photographer (in the late 70s early 80s) I used Nikon Fs in the field for sports, Mamiya RB67s in the studio and Mamiya 330s for weddings. 

I changed careers and a couple years ago started doing photography again. I'm currently shooting a D200 and a D2H and have a good selection of fast Nikon glass. 

I'm shooting mostly regional sports (so daylight or marginal stadium lighting) and indoor. 

As I plan to get more serious - I plan to upgrade bodies. 

So. I'm hoping you all can help me choose. ( I know D5 someday but it's more than I want to spend now.) 

New USA D500, D750 or D850 or a used D810 ($1500 - 22k clicks) 

I will be adding a article grip to whatever I end up with.

While the D750 "seems" to have better low light focusing, the D500 appears to be a better sports camera choice (ISO/FPS/etc.) but I could spring for the D850 if it's worth the extra $$$ for my usage.

Then there is also the used D810 mentioned above. 

Thanks in advance for your advice!
 



#2
dcbear78

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In order...

 

D850 > D500 >D810 > D750

 

The D750 might sound good but it has a terrible buffer. The D810 has a much-improved buffer but not so great at high ISO's. The D500 is better at high ISO than the D810 even though it is a crop sensor (I own both). Both D500 and D850 have the same focus system, which is from the D5 and superior to the D750. And the D850 is probably the best DSLR you can buy right now. The detail and the cropping ability make this an even better choice than a D5 IMO.



#3
sunshine

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I shoot motorcycle racing quite frequently.  I use a D500 and D810.  My wife has a D750 but I have no interest in taking it to the track because it's so slow.  I prefer the full frame images but the focus speed and tracking ability of the D500 is far better than the D810.  The D850 combines the two (more or less), but I'm on the fence about buying one.  Besides, the last several times I checked, the D850 is back ordered on both vendor and Nikon web sites.  I'm thinking now that I will wait to upgrade until I can afford a D5 (or whatever is coming next - I've seen rumors of a D6).  Most everything else I shoot tends to be in low light but also requires fast shutter speeds, and I'm not real happy with the noise from either of my cameras at ISO settings above 1000 or so.

 

The D850 looks to be the best combination available today of frame rate, focus capability, sensor size, low light capability, and price.  So if you can only have one camera, that one offers the most capability and fewest compromises for half the D5 price.  However, it may take awhile to get one.  If you're buying used, you can find a D810 plus a D500 for about the same as a new D850.  I found my D500 with a battery grip, extra battery, an "L" plate, and only 284 clicks for $1700.

 

One other item to consider - XQD memory cards are expensive.  Compact Flash, while not as fast, are much less per gigabyte of storage and are readily available in 64G - my preferred size.  That's a point in the D810's favor.  If you take a look at the "Motorcycle XCitement" gallery on my web site, most of those photos were taken with the D810 about 2 weeks ago but you cannot tell without looking at EXIF which were taken with the D500.  You should probably also factor in what lenses you have or can afford to add.  If you don't have long, fast telephotos, the D500 will give you more reach.  Most big zooms are not fast and will produce more noise at high shutter speeds.  You can shoot in crop mode with the D810 or D850, but at the cost of reduced resolution.

 

Reading back over this, I'm afraid I'm not helping.  Each model being discussed has pros and cons.  In the end, you'll have to make a choice and live with the compromises.



#4
TBonz

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The D500 is an excellent sports camera, but you asked for an FX body even though you listed the D500 as an option.  Depends on what lenses you are planning on purchasing as well.  The D500 being a DX body will give you some extra reach if you feel you will need it.  The D850 is probably the way I would go if I were buying a body right now.  I have two D4 bodies that I bought used along with a D500 so that's another option for you.  The D500 keeps up well with the D4...I usually throw the 70-200 on the D500 and the 200-400 on one of the D4 bodies...a 24-70 goes on the other...



#5
fallout666

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you got choice do  you want dx flagship d500 which 2k less the d850 or d850 which is other option.