New Camera? D800 - D750 - D500

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
This adventure starts when my NAS-GAS acts up again when I'm in Vistek and see a D3 on offer for $1800 - 'a great deal' says the salesclerk.

I begin the adventure of thinking maybe I should get a second FX camera. My primary is a D610 with a D7100 as back up. But a DX back up to an FX ... is that a good idea?
Maybe I should get a better camera and make the D610 the back up.
There is nothing wrong with the D610 - it has 84,500 shots on it. (activations which I understand are not shots as liveview adds two for every shot taken). But it is rated for almost twice that. And ratings are best guesses - your mileage may vary.

But I begin to look, and wow there is a great Nikon sale on - alas it is far better discount with bonus gifts if I lived in the USA - Nikon Canada ain't so generous.
But it they are on sale.

I also stumble upon a couple of D800's on offer. One has all of 48 activations - someone must have bought it and returned it. Nikon refurbished it, and it is on offer for $2,000 with a full one year (not normal two yr) warranty. But it is basically a new camera. Up against this beast is the newer more agile d750 still FX but between the D610 and D800. And just to complicate my life I include the D500 DX camera.

Price isn't the deciding factor: D800 @ $2000, D750 @ $2200, D500 @ $2450. If I want to go with non-refurbished used D800's I can get them from $1600 - $2000 on line from Henry's or B&H. I looked at the D3 and D3S, even a D4 - decided to pass on these ones.

I've been watching some comparative Youtubes and reading reviews and recommendations.

I am aware of the shutter issue and flare issue with the D750 - it is a chance I'll have to take on the unit I get - it would be a warranty fix if I get a bad one.

I am aware that the D810 is superior to the D800 in many ways, but from what I can see none that justify the extra $1,400+ . At $2450 + tax the D500 is pushing my budget as it is.

The D800 has my name on it until Wednesday then the hold expires. The Nikon sale is on until the end of the month. My birthday is the month.

My dearly beloved points out that we should replace the lawn tractor first ... hmmm cut grass or take pictures? No contest there.
 

singlerosa_RIP

Senior Member
To give advice, it would help to know what type of stuff you shoot. The 800 is great for portraits, landscapes and anything requiring high resolution or heavy cropping. If you shoot a little bit of everything, the 750 might be your best choice IMO, combining an awesome sensor with some nice features like flippy screen and WiFi. If you spend most of your time shooting your long lenses and/or sports/action, then the D500 might be for you. Of the 3, the 750 has the same basic layout as your 610 and 7100, so you can easily switch back and forth with little confusion.

I recently sold my D600, as it was getting very little use as a backup to my 750. I bought the 750 when it came out because I needed better low light capabilities. I have a 7200 for long lenses and as a backup and second body for 2-camera shoots. I've been tempted by the $1500 deal on the 750 (with grip), but can't justify having another FX body until something much better comes along.

Good luck.
 

Samo

Senior Member
I have a lot of cameras in a lot of formats film and digital. The one camera I would like to have out of all the cameras on the market right now is the D500. That is a super camera if I ever saw one. A D610 and a D500 would be an extremely potent combination. Talk about covering all of the bases. Maybe throw in a Coolpix A for concealed carry and you would be set for any situation I think.
 

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
Still deliberating ...

Coming down to the D750 and it's newer features (Expeed 4 - AF system) and it's nice titly screen. VS the "pro-ness" of the D800 body plus the mega megapixel capacity of 36mp.

For birding and other shots requiring reach and for my DX lens collection I intend to keep my D7100. While a D500 would be a wonderful upgrade for the D7100 I need to put a few more miles on that camera before I upgrade it.

This new addition would be primarily for portraits - pets and people. No serious low light needs (not shooting sports under stadium lights or concerts or even weddings in dim churches). I would also use if for landscapes and general shooting.

The fact that Nikon rates the D800 as one of their "Pro" bodies while the D750 is only half a pro (semi-pro) ... hmmm I think it is a body and button thing - and the shutter rating is 25% longer (200,000 vs 150,000).

From what I've read the upgrades for the D810 over D800 would not warrant the extra $1400 for the newer unit - not for my needs.

IF I shot video the D800 would not be the best choice - but I don't do that much at all.

Going to talk to "The Camera Store" people sometime today and ask some questions about these cameras.

IF I go with the D800 refurb I need to decide by Wednesday - the sale on the D750 goes to months end. ....

I have watched more than a few Youtube reviews - and some are more sure of themselves than others. This guy is adamant that the D800 is the clear winner - don't like his style at all - but he makes some good points.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an8skcUdkdU

and this fella has some thought on a D800 still being a good choice used (in 2015 after the D750 was out)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUhN-tS7-74&t=7s


I remain undecided ... for the moment.
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
I suggest you stay with DX since you want to do pets and people. You'd get the best auto-focus on the market and the super low light sensor of the D500, plus the pro weather proof and the tilting screen. You can always use your D610 when you want to work slow and have more bokeh the longer FX lenses could bring.

And, you get the latest top DX that Nikon has made. These models don't get upgraded often as compared with the D750 who is next in line for replacement.

It's only money after all. :)
 

Jerry_

Senior Member
Starting from your current cameras (D610&D7100) the ergonomics of the D750 would fit in best, while providing a slight improvement over the D610.
So if you are used to blindly use all the buttons on your two other cameras, this might be the (only) argument for the D750

The D800 will give you a 50% more pixels, with additional focus points. However those extra pixels are processed by an older processor.
So, if you are systematically cropping your pictures, these extra pixels may come handy. However your sensor has a higher pixel density and some of your lenses may show weaknesses on this.

The D500 will have less pixels, but a much better focus system (from the D5) and better low light performance. It is also the most recent processor.

My choice here would be the D500, unless you think that ergonomics or pixels are more important to you.
 
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Fortkentdad

Senior Member
Called "The Camera Store" in Calgary where I had the D800 on hold. Spoke to "Erin" who seems to really know her stuff. She shoots Nikon (D750 mostly). But she is a poor salesperson as she talked me out of the D800 without selling me on any other camera.

I really need to clarify what exactly I want from my next body . . . She pointed out that one of my concerns was capturing running dogs which comes down to my skill and the AF system. The D800 shares the same Expeed 3 as my D610 and D7100. The other limiting factor is FPS - which is not one of the reasons to buy a D800. Her point was that get the D800 if a) you need 36mp because you shoot big landscapes that you want to enlarge. and/or b) you shooting in rough environments where you need the 'full metal jacket" as I call the heavy pro body. It will take a lot more punishment than either of my other bodies. It would give super detail in portraits, sometimes desireable. But not always. And if you crop a lot you still have lots of pixels left.

The D750 has had issues which make me question quality control - she tells me the models they have sold have not been coming back but the complaints on line about issues are off-putting. Important to keep in mind those unfortunate enough to get a bad copy share their pain on line and we forget to factor in the hundreds of satisfied customers. There are things to like about the D750 for sure - but ... Erin did put in a plug for the D750 saying it is currently her favourite camera.

The D500 is in a different circle. Now we are into Expeed 5, not just wifi but bluetooth, not 51 focus points but 153. Viewing Youtube reviews of the D500 has me re-thinking the FX-DX question.

...

So no D800.

D500 is tempting, but D750 is not off the table yet.

Maybe I should wait for the D750S ......

My NAS goes unsatisfied - for today.
 
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hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
You already have one of each (FX & DX). Do you find yourself using one over the other more frequently? The D610 is definitely no slouch. I find myself using mine when I don't want to put up with the shutter error problem of my D750. Personally I'm not into DX as much even though I still have my D7100, but here's the thing...if you ever want to get into macro, DX will give you an advantage as it also will with birding or shooting anything that requires a longer telephoto. And if you're into birding or sports, DX really is the way to go. Shooting DX is kind of like sticking a teleconverter onto your D610 lenses without suffering the loss of one or two stops of light.

If you get a D750, your D610 will most likely sit around like a paperweight. What good is that really going to do for you? Whereas if you go with the D500, you will have the advantage of larger macro and telephoto capabilities with it while still enjoying the benefits from the D610's full frame.

The D800 is also a good choice. The one thing that turned me off is hearing good technique is crucial. I suffer from chronic forearm tendonitis, and even with VR, there are times my shots aren't immensely sharp with my current FX bodies (due to my own slight movements). With the larger senor, if you don't have really good technique, most likely it will show up in your photos. Maybe you don't mind shooting with a tripod a lot, and if that's the case, then it isn't really an issue. Or if you are super still while shooting, it won't be a concern for you.

With my D750, I pretty much expect the shutter ERR will happen on my very first shot of every day. Then usually it isn't a problem for the remainder of the time shooting even if I turn the camera off for short periods of time. In fact, I was so confident this happens that only on 2 occasions did I try to capture it happening on video. Yep...it happened both times. For some odd reason, when I'm in manual mode, it doesn't happen. But I tend to use Aperture Priority the most.

Good luck with whatever choice you make. ;)
 

Lawrence

Senior Member
I love that the lawn has been completely ignored both on this thread after the first post and on Youtube.

However I am a bit disappointed that this thread has got me salivating for a D500 again - I thought I had put that behind me.

So please get the D500 and tell me that is the last one available worldwide so I can get back to sanity.

Thank you in advance
 

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
My lusting is leaning to the D500 - and in a moment of weakness I might just buy one.

What I need to decide is whether DX is 'professional'? The D500 has many pro features right down to the round eye piece. The only time a reviewer seems to side with the D750 or D810 is when they say FX is best because it is FX. But many are saying that this DX produces very professional images. ...

But $2,450 + $100 for special cards.
And maybe another $100 for a second battery because I'm hearing my third party and older nikon batteries may not work (will test that before buying one).

I'd still have the D610 for FX use ... but what do I do with my D7100? My wife isn't interested (too big, loves her D5100 for it's size.
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
Well if you are really worried about if a camera is 'professional', why don't you just get a D5 and be done with it?

For what it is worth, I have seen an awful lot of 'professional' photos taken with 'non-professional' cameras by 'non-professional' photographers.
 

egosbar

Senior Member
i upgraded from d7100 to d500 a while back , great upgrade , worlds apart to be honest and one of the best cameras ive used for birding etc the focus tracking is unreal

the d610 is more then capable for your portraits , dont worry the d500 is fine for portraits and landscapes as well but excels at action
 

spb_stan

Senior Member
I read the whole thread and still did not see a compelling reason to get any new camera. The D610 is an excellent IQ camera for portraits, the only weakness is shutter speed and flash sync speed for those daylight low key light images no one is going to tell an image from a D800 or D610 unless cropped a great deal.
The only camera in the list that is departure is the D500 due to its Expeed 5 processor and AF. If you shoot jpg, the image processor would make a difference but if shooting raw with good glass, the D800 is still the best for serious work, it is rugged and has excellent DR and better effective low light results when downsizing to equal image size.
Neither of the cameras you have limit you in your preferred subjects. I would invest in things that make more of a difference, such as a really good portrait lens(105 1.4 for example or the 58 1.4 ) but the 85 1.8G is good enough. Lighting is the difference between a wall worthy portrait and a snapshot. No camera difference will trump any lighting improvement.
 

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
I read the whole thread and still did not see a compelling reason to get any new camera. The D610 is an excellent . . . .

I would invest in things that make more of a difference, such as a really good portrait lens(105 1.4 for example or the 58 1.4 ) but the 85 1.8G is good enough. Lighting is the difference between a wall worthy portrait and a snapshot. No camera difference will trump any lighting improvement.

Lighting is also on my list of things I want to upgrade too. Have looked at Strobe sets but I'm looking for something more portable, don't see myself setting up a studio anywhere soon. I am using the Godox system and am thinking of adding either a AD-200 or AD-600. Already have several good speedlights and the AD-360 which looks like an overgrown speedlight with bare-bulb. Alternatively a good LED light(s) but not the panel style. Lots of debate about LED for photography vs video only. But yes lighting is critical. I do shoot HSS and while my D7100 will go to 1/8000 the D610 is 1/4000, but honestly unless it is a tricky shot of a drop of water or F1 would I see much difference in 1/4000 vs 1/8000 of a second?

As for good glass - always. I'm loving my Sigma Art 50mm 1.4 and thinking of adding another. Not sure if it will be a wider one like the 20, 24 or even 35 or longer 105 or 135.

My desire for another camera starts out by thinking I need a better back up for my D610 than the D7100 and wondering if that D800 refurb would be a good choice as a second camera. Then the D750 is suggested as it is only $200 more and better (in some ways) ... but then I start sniffing the D500 and it smells so good. That opens up the whole question of DX vs FX . . . in the end of the day I hit pause and you are right there is no "compelling reason to get any new camera."
 

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
Professional - non-professional codswallop IMO

I am definitely back in the game now.

I take the "professional grade" term by Nikon to mean they are built to last better, it is the metal body, better (different?) controls, longer shutter life rating and such. More so than the question of whether you can get paid for your photos.

Went by a wedding photo shoot not that long ago and of course I'm looking at the gear and realize I have better gear. But maybe it was a budget wedding and a friend of the best man knew someone with a good camera sort of thing.
 

Blade Canyon

Senior Member
The only camera in the list that is departure is the D500 due to its Expeed 5 processor and AF. If you shoot jpg, the image processor would make a difference but if shooting raw with good glass, the D800 is still the best for serious work

Does the processor have any effect on achieving higher ISO? Or is that more a factor of the sensor?

Like the OP, I've got the NAS and am jonesing for a body with better low-light capabilities (and an excuse to buy a new toy). The D500 does look interesting, as does the D7500, but I'm holding out for whatever new FX body Nikon brings out. My current bodies are the D800 and the D600 (and a D40x!).
 

hark

Administrator
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Super Mod
Contributor
The D500 is Nikon's pro version of a DX body as opposed to the D7200. Before that one, the D300 varieties were their last pro DX bodies.
 
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