5 replies to this topic

[MJD999]

Hello, upgrading for the first time in 14 years.  I'm ready to retire my trusty D200.  I'm an intermediate enthusiast who has no dominant type of picture taking preference.  I've gravitated toward the D500 because it is in my price range (my budget is about $2,000) and can take my paltry collection of DX lenses (the less-than-stellar 18-70 that came with the camera, a 50mm f1.4 and a 70-300 VR), I think.  I guess my question is what I lose by not going to a FX camera, if anything.  I can't imagine I'm going to notice much resolution issue (most of my images will make it no further than my laptop screen) and I've been living with crop factor ever since I moved on from film.  The only thing that worries me is high-ISO noise.  I know this is a broad question in a lot of ways and I'm sure it has been asked before though I've not been able to track down a thread.  Your indulgence and opinions are most welcome!

[Ron]

The D500 is an excellent pro level camera. I really doubt if you'll find any negatives with this camera.

 

Currently B&H is selling it for just under $1500US. (Body only). If you want the similarly excellent AFS-16-80 f/2.8-4 lens kit it will run you just under $2100US.

 

https://www.bhphotov...amera_with.html

 

--Ron

[Merco_61]

The S/N ratio is about on a par with the D610 and the D800, later FX bodies are better but the D500 is very useful for low-light.

 

The FX advantage in DR is greater, but the D500 is, again, good enough unless you shoot weddings or other high-DR work.

[LDPhotograpy]

I know that this post is a few months old, but I thought I should provide my recent experience and insight (for what it is worth).  I was in the same situation as the OP (MJD).  I bought a Nikon D40x in 2007 and used the camera for many, many years.  Early this year I decided that it was time to upgrade as my photography hobby was getting a second life.  I had a few DX lenses and was looking for a camera body that was compatible with these lenses.  After watching many (older) videos by Mark Smith on Youtube, I settled on the D500.  A few weeks later, I also purchased the Tamron 150-600 G2 telezoom lens for wildlife photography (I also "tested" the Nikon 200-500 but was not comfortable with its size/weight distribution).  I do love my D500/Tamron combo..... BUT..... I am struggling somewhat with the noise issue, even at relatively low ISOs.  I have become a little bit more proficient with Lightroom and can deal with it.

[Merco_61]

I know that this post is a few months old, but I thought I should provide my recent experience and insight (for what it is worth).  I was in the same situation as the OP (MJD).  I bought a Nikon D40x in 2007 and used the camera for many, many years.  Early this year I decided that it was time to upgrade as my photography hobby was getting a second life.  I had a few DX lenses and was looking for a camera body that was compatible with these lenses.  After watching many (older) videos by Mark Smith on Youtube, I settled on the D500.  A few weeks later, I also purchased the Tamron 150-600 G2 telezoom lens for wildlife photography (I also "tested" the Nikon 200-500 but was not comfortable with its size/weight distribution).  I do love my D500/Tamron combo..... BUT..... I am struggling somewhat with the noise issue, even at relatively low ISOs.  I have become a little bit more proficient with Lightroom and can deal with it.

Is the noise issue a real one or are you pixel peeping when you notice it?

Have you tried some other raw converter? ACR doesn't play *that* well with D500/D7500 raw files. Capture One, Nikon's Capture NX-D and Photo Ninja all give significantly cleaner files from the same raw source.

Do you expose low and pull the light up in post? The 20 MP sensors are *very* sensitive to underexposure.

[LDPhotograpy]

Hi Nikonian, Thanks for the feedback.  I can assure you that I am not pixel peeping. I have indeed noticed that my "underexposed" images are more noisy than the others, but even those that are exposed better (or relatively high) show more noise than I expected.  I have not (yet) tried another raw converter.  I have just started to learn all the bells and whistles of Lightroom.  I will look into other options.