I have a D7200 and a D500. I shoot wildlife mainly and I am thinking of replacing my D7200. I find the D7200 is not the most accurate focusing camera. I liked it because of the 24mp. I am looking at second hand D850 or D5. I have wanted to try full frame even though I will lose the crop factor. Anything else I should be looking at? The only downfall of the D500 is the 20mp sensor and that concerns me about the D5 as well. I have heard the D810 is not a great wildlife camera due to it's small buffer and slow focusing. Thanks everyone.
Replacing my D7200
- Thread starter bandit993
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Bikerbrent
Senior Member
If you shoot wildlife mainly, the D500 IS the best camera going, period. And frankly, the D7200 is probably the second best wildlife camera. The D850 will work if you also invest in the appropriate lenses, but frankly I would stay with the D500/D7200 combination.
Have you done any auto focus tuning with your current lenses to make sure you're getting the most out of your D7200? But glass is very important, too. Sharpness results will vary depending upon the glass you are using. I own two D7200's but mainly use f/4 lenses or faster.
Bikerbrent
Senior Member
I have a D7200 and a Sigma 150-600 C and have no problems other than some autofocus issues with birds in flight. If I did a lot of wildlife photography I would consider getting a D500. But since I don't do a lot of wildlife work, I am very happy with my D7200. Now if Nikon had made a D400 with the basic guts of a D7200, but the autofocus of a D500, I would be one extremely happy photographer.
Peter7100
Senior Member
I have a friend who owns a D800e and he seems to get the best of both worlds out of it, with both good landscape and wildlife shots. The AF is certainly not as fast as the D500, but it might be a cheaper option if you wanted something FF, rather than a D850 which is still fairly pricey even secondhand.
BF Hammer
Senior Member
Since you are keeping the D500, you could consider a used D750 for full-frame. I actually have found my D750 to be a solid all-around camera outdoors. That said a D850 is still considered the gold seal of wildlife cameras if you pair with the right lens. But you pay for it.
But that said, I have not owned a D7200 to compare. I went from having a pair of D80's plus a D7000 at the beginning of 2019 to a D750, D7000, and a spare D80 after trading in a D80 body and some lenses to help finance a new D750 which Nikon was trying to clear out at the time. So I got a sensor upgrade from 16MP on the D7000 to 24MP on the D750 and it has been a very good experience.
The lens you use is quite important in the equation though. I have a Sigma 150-600mm C f/5-6.3 and I have also added a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 since. I must have received a good sample of the Sigma because I have never had complaints about the autofocus other than picking out birds through branches in trees. Not really something to expect to work well all of the time anyhow.
But that said, I have not owned a D7200 to compare. I went from having a pair of D80's plus a D7000 at the beginning of 2019 to a D750, D7000, and a spare D80 after trading in a D80 body and some lenses to help finance a new D750 which Nikon was trying to clear out at the time. So I got a sensor upgrade from 16MP on the D7000 to 24MP on the D750 and it has been a very good experience.
The lens you use is quite important in the equation though. I have a Sigma 150-600mm C f/5-6.3 and I have also added a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 since. I must have received a good sample of the Sigma because I have never had complaints about the autofocus other than picking out birds through branches in trees. Not really something to expect to work well all of the time anyhow.
It’s interesting that you are less than satisfied with the D7200 autofocus. My D7200 focuses well, just not as fast as my D500, and not quite as accurately on quickly moving subjects.
Remember that the D850 will only be superior to the D500 in resolution if you can get closer to the wildlife subjects you are shooting. A crop from the D850 to D500 size will actually be a little lower in resolution than the D850. Of course the higher resolution is significant when you can get closer, and with landscapes, portraits, etc.
Since 90% of what I shoot is wildlife, I stick with my two D500s, plus a D7200 and D 7100. If I was going for a full frame DSLR I don’t think I’d be satisfied with anything other than a D850, D 5 or D 6. None of them exactly have cheap price tags, even used, but that’s what it takes to match the D500 performance.
Remember that the D850 will only be superior to the D500 in resolution if you can get closer to the wildlife subjects you are shooting. A crop from the D850 to D500 size will actually be a little lower in resolution than the D850. Of course the higher resolution is significant when you can get closer, and with landscapes, portraits, etc.
Since 90% of what I shoot is wildlife, I stick with my two D500s, plus a D7200 and D 7100. If I was going for a full frame DSLR I don’t think I’d be satisfied with anything other than a D850, D 5 or D 6. None of them exactly have cheap price tags, even used, but that’s what it takes to match the D500 performance.
Bikerbrent
Senior Member
I agree with Woody. I would stay with the D500, D7200 unless I was willing to make a major investment in a D850 and lenses.
Thanks everyone for the responses. I am going to keep the D7200. It is a good camera over all. So with that in mind what glass should i add for wildlife to go with the D7200 and a D500 ? I have a sigma 150-600c and a nikon 300 F4 ed-if. Both of which I am happy with. Was looking at a 500mm F4 but not really portable enough..