14 replies to this topic

[gsd802]

Hello,

 

I have really enjoyed photography for some time now.  I have a D50 that I have used quite a bit but want to upgrade.  I really love wildlife photography.  I am looking for a camera that is good for low light situations but I also want to photography dog sports and aviation.  

 

For wildlife, I have read the D500 and D850 are great choices.  The D500 is a little easier on the wallet and saves room for good lenses, but I also plan on keeping the body for years and years.  

 

What do you all recommend?  

 

Thank you!

[Merco_61]

In your situation, I would go with the D500. Remember that you will need to budget for lenses as well for the upgrade to give you the most benefit. The D500 is just as demanding as the D850 as the sensor pitch is the same.

 

Do not forget to get fast memory cards from the start as you will need them.

 

If you plan to shoot much aviation, especially prop aircraft, get a grip for whichever camera you get. Panning is much easier when the camera grip gets a bit taller.

[Nikon Shooter]

The D500 is a little easier on the wallet and saves room for good lenses, but…

Where did you ever get the idea? …nonsense!

Yes, the D500 is a valuable option!

Have a good time and welcome!

[sunshine]

Where did you ever get the idea? …nonsense!
 

 

I read that as room in the budget.  By purchasing a D500, he would possibly have some money left for lenses whereas the D850 will cost significantly more up front.

 

To the original poster - I own a D500 and a D810.  One of the differences between the two is the frame rate.  The D500 can capture more images per second.  However, I find that I rarely use the higher speed.  It just produces too many "similars".  I can generally capture what I want at a slower frame rate.  The primary reason I take the D500 out these days is for the additional "reach".

 

For the situation you've described, I don't think you would be disappointed with the D500.  Invest the difference into a good 70-200mm f/2.8 lens.  It will work equally well when you later upgrade to a full frame sensor camera.

 

If you really want full frame now but don't like the price of a new D850, consider a used D810.  They are readily available lately in the under $1500 range.  The D810 is reported to be less capable at focus tracking than the D500, but in my experience your technique and amount of time spent practicing will have a much bigger impact on your keeper rate than the camera technology.  I get about the same percentage of keepers at the race track with either camera.

[Bengan]

I think that you would be very happy with the D500. Add to it the Tamron 70-200/2.8 G2 and maybe a Sigma or Tamron 150-600 Contemporary/G2 for wildlife.

[Dogbytes]

Well, the D500 is getting a lot of votes here - so I’m going to be different!

I’m in a somewhat similar position in that I find my current camera, a D610, struggles with a couple of facets of my photography - namely focusing in low light and AF tracking subjects (racing Lurchers in particular) heading straight towards the camera.

In addition, I’m on a strict budget (that is I have to sell something before I can buy anything else). I narrowed my potentials to D500 (cheap, fast, ‘extra’ reach due to cropped sensor), D5 (hideously expensive, stunningly fast, great in the dark but needs long lenses due to low pixel count) and D850 (massive pixel count so can live with shorter lenses, still pretty damned quick and could add a battery grip later for more speed, still better in low light than my D610).

My current long lens is a 70-300 f4.5-5.6 zoom so, with a D850, I could lose that and add a 70-200/2.8 FL and still have more cropping power with an added 2 stops of light at the respective long ends.

In the end I concluded that the D850 is the best choice for me, it simply gives me more flexibility even if it takes a while longer to get the perfect kit together.

If you, like me, are a one camera person with a range of photographic interests, then any camera is going to be a bit of a compromise. You can either find something which is way better for one particular subject and a bit of a let down for the rest - or you can try to find one that’ll perform acceptably for you in all spheres. I’m hoping that, for me, the D850 is going to be the latter...

Best of luck and let us know what you choose and how you get on with it.

[Dogbytes]

OR you could wait a month or two and see what the rumoured D760 brings to the table...

[gsd802]

Thanks for the responses!

 

I have been going back and forth.  I really want a camera that will last years, mainly because photography is a hobby and I wont be making money to upgrade gear all the time.  One local wildlife photographer uses the D500 and D850 along with the 300mm f2.8.  He says its great in low light and with the D500 and the crop sensor it turns it into a 450mm which gives that extra reach.  I'm more into larger animals than I am birds.

 

Not saying I couldnt afford all of the above, but I want one camera and the best bang for my buck.  Maybe I'd hold off on the big 300mm for now and go with the 70-200mm 2.8 because that would be a good all around lens.  Sure, I'd be interested in doing more than just wildlife and a FX camera would be better for landscape, but a DX could be just as good?

 

Right now at my local camera store they are offering through the end of the month a D500 with the AF-S DX 16-80mm f/2.8 - 4E ED VR lens, along with a Nikon grip $2,396.  

 

[Nikon Shooter]

 

the crop sensor it turns it into a 450mm which gives that extra reach. 

 

 

 

This is a salesman pitch and IS TOTALLY WRONG!

There is NO reach benefit to be expected from a cropped sensor
and I will be most happy when this has disappeared from every-
body's language.

[Dogbytes]

He says its great in low light and with the D500 and the crop sensor it turns it into a 450mm which gives that extra reach.

Yes, but by the time you’ve cropped a D850 image down to 20.8mp - you’ll have the equivalent of 600mm!

[Nikon Shooter]

Yes, but by the time you’ve cropped a D850 image down to 20.8mp - you’ll have the equivalent of 600mm!

Simple as that! … but with half the real estate.

That's why I shoot D850 + 600mm ƒ4 or 400 or …

[Dogbytes]

Simple as that! … but with half the real estate.

That's why I shoot D850 + 600mm ƒ4 or 400 or …

Well, I’m hoping to have a used D850 in a week or two but I won’t be affording a 600/f4 anytime soon!

[Nikon Shooter]

Well, I’m hoping to have a used D850 in a week or two but I won’t be affording a 600/f4 anytime soon!

My 600 is 27 years old; working perfectly and
sharp like hell… after AF Fine Tune of course!

[Merco_61]

The D850 and the D500 have very similar pixel pitch, so the FX sensor cropped to DX size will give 19.4 MP.

 

When using a crop sensor, you will get a narrower FOV, but as the CoC doesn't change much the 300/2.8 won't look anything like a 450 mm at the same aperture and distance. DX should be treated as a tool in its own class, like FX or µ⁴/₃. I mix and match DX and FX quite freely, but I shoot them in different styles.

[Nikon Shooter]

The D850 and the D500 have very similar pixel pitch, so the FX sensor cropped to DX size will give 19.4 MP.

 

When using a crop sensor, you will get a narrower FOV, but as the CoC doesn't change much the 300/2.8 won't look anything like a 450 mm at the same aperture and distance. DX should be treated as a tool in its own class, like FX or µ⁴/₃. I mix and match DX and FX quite freely, but I shoot them in different styles.

Correct, clean and matured thinking!