Hobbyist seeking knowledge

Woodsdrawn

New member
Hey everyone. My names Josh. I am a hobby photographer looking to learn more about the hobby and grow with it as well. I just moved from Southern Maine to Wisconsin for my Fiancé's work. I am currently using a dx format. (D5300) However I am looking to purchase my first full frame soon and will be exploring more my options as well as asking questions. Should I post a new thread with the questions? I will search as well to see if they've been already answered by others.
To sum it up though basically I was looking at the D750. However my fiancé said that since I like photography so much that I should just spend the money on a better camera so I don't need to upgrade in a couple of years. One I could "grow into" Well that said I always had a thing for the 810. However now with the release of the 850 I'm not sure. Should I just bite the bullet and get the 850 and be done with it for many years to come? I won't say that money isn't a issue. I'm not rich. However I did save up enough to get the 750 and a lens or two. Or the 810 and maybe a lens, or just the 850 and no lens. Plus selling my dx gear I might be able to get a lens. Anyways enough rambling. Thanks for looking!
Josh
 

lokatz

Senior Member
Josh, That's a loaded question. Many pro or semi-pro photographers happily use the D750 and 'never grow out of it'. All of the three you mention are very good and capable. Keep in mind that in most cases, bodies are more capable than lenses are, so if you want the best pics you can get, I'd strongly advise against going for the D850 while not getting better glass. Your D5300 with an excellent lens is going to out-perform a D850 with mediocre glass, so make sure to keep the right balance!
 

Marilynne

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Welcome!

Yes, if you have a question and can't find the answer somewhere on here, by all means open up a new thread.
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
Welcome aboard. Enjoy the ride.
We look forward to seeing more posts and samples of your work.

Looking at your profile, you currently own only DX lenses. If you decide to upgrade to an FX camera, you will also have to purchase all new FX lenses, which will mean a large investment in FX glass, which will NOT be cheap for quality lenses.
 

Nero

Senior Member
If you're getting any of those cameras you're going to want to sell your DX lenses anyway so that could help you afford at least one lens so at least you won't be stuck with nothing if you get the 850.

Honestly, whether or not you grow out of the D750 depends on what kind of shots you want to take and what features you want your camera to have. IQ between those cameras won't be much different, each of them will be capable of taking excellent images in the right hands. What matters is if you really want the extra features that the D850 and even the D810 have that the D750 doesn't. If there's nothing the D850 has that the D750 doesn't that you feel you need, then get the D750 and as many lenses as you can and enjoy. If that's the case you won't outgrow the camera for a while I bet.
 

spb_stan

Senior Member
In what way are you not happy with your current camera? Moving to full frame may actually retard your learning pace since a simpler camera allows concentrating on what makes better photos, it is not the camera. A better investment would be workshops or photo field trips with advanced photographers whose work you admire. Your current camera is capable of shooting almost any award winning photo found in any gallery. There has been a tendency for beginners to get on an upgrade cycle that prevents them from ever mastering what they had at the beginning. There is very little of a compelling image that is due to the camera. If you post some photos where you think the camera held you back, we might be able to see whether what yo are assuming about upgrade paths would have made any difference.
 

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Welcome to the forum. The only disadvantage that I see in using the D5300 is that it is menu driven where by stepping up to a better DX or Full Frame camera is that they are thumbwheel driven. I have both and to be honest the D5300 doesn't get used much only because of having to dig through the menus to change things. The photo IQ of the 5300 is great in it's own right.
 

Woodsdrawn

New member
Thanks for the replies guys and gals. I am definitely aware of needing to get FX lenses. My plan is to sell my d5300 and all the lenses. That should be a portion of a new FX lens, even if it's just a small portion lol. Also I don't really feel that my current one is holding me back, just that I've had it for 3 or 4 years and I'm ready for a new one and stepping up to a full frame seems like the logical choice. I'll see what I can do about posting some of my pics for you guys.
 

Woodsdrawn

New member
Parfreysglenhdr copy.jpg This is just one from yesterday. 3 image HDR merge of a waterfall.
1.3 second exposure, 3 second exposure, and a 4.5? second exposure. .9 neutral density stop filter as well. Maybe a little heavy on the local contrast in post processing but I liked it lol
 

lokatz

Senior Member
Good image. I would have done a few things differently (darkened the sides a bit and sharpened slightly less), but you definitely seem to know what you're doing. Soooo, I hope you won't mind me sharing my two cents on your plans, as follows:

Are you REALLY sure you want to get rid of that D5300? Unless you have an unlimited supply of money, you're not going to buy a whole set of lenses, from wide to tele, for your new FX body, whichever it is, right away. You mentioned 'anything nature related', so I assume that includes wildlife and other subjects where a long lens is a plus. Why not keep your D5300 and the 55-300 and/or 55-200 (which is a tad sharper) and sell only your other DX glass? You're not going to get much money for that gear anyway, but this way, you can go for a good FX standard (maybe plus wide) lens first, have a backup body, and still rest assured that your gear covers any subject you like. After all, the combination of a DX body with a long lens and an FX body for everything else makes plenty of sense, giving the DX lens extension factor.
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
Howdy Josh and welcome to Nikonites!!!

As a former D5300, current D810 owner, I would go after glass first before looking to jump into full frame. Good FX glass can be used on any body, but once you go full frame that’s all you have to work with.

I don’t think you can go wrong with either the D750, D810, or D850. They all angle slightly different genres, so there is no real right or wrong, IMO.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

aroy

Senior Member
Welcome to the site.

A higher MP body will definitely help in Landscape shooting so I definitely vote for the D850. You can start with the evergreen 50mm F1.8 and then slowly graduate to more lenses as and when you feel the need for.

A higher MP camera will also benefit from sharper lenses. You can use DXO site to compare the sharpness of various lenses within your budget to shortlist what will be good and what is not worth it.

Regarding menus, I normally use a very few features and most of my shots are at a fixed ISO, central focus point, spot metering Aperture Priority. If and when required I change the ISO using Fn button and the thumb wheel. So in my case I really prefer less cluttered D3300 compared to the D300 or FX bodies.
 
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Danno

Senior Member
Welcome to the forum Josh, I think you will like it in Wisconsin. It is a beautiful place. As for camera choice. The key is the balance. If you buy the 850 and don't have the glass it needs you will be disappointed. It is also nice to have a backup camera. You never know when your main camera may need some maintenance.

It is tough figuring out what to do when considering a change like yours. I got a GREAT deal on a D700 that helped me decide that I like full frame and DX both and I am happy right now with it and my 7200 as I joke with my wife about buying the 850 and more glass :)
 

Dawg Pics

Senior Member
Welcome.
I can't suggest any full frame camera because I don't own one, but I wouldn't have the patience to buy a camera that is so expensive I couldn't buy the glass right away.
I considerd the d750, but didn't have the scratch to get the lenses that I would have wanted. I decided to stick with crop sensor for a bunch of reasons.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
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