I did the fw update as a precaution, because this is my main camera you do notice if there’s any differences in performance
WarrenD wrote:
I don't know the number, it was the original firmware. I'm not sure if there was an earlier upgrade before the one that slowed the AF. I'm also glad someone else noticed this, I've mentioned it to several others, including some respected Nikon folks and was told it was me.
multibit wrote:
I did the fw update as a precaution, because this is my main camera you do notice if there’s any differences in performance
The firmware update that appeared to slow the af was 1.03 from the fall of 2018. Other than the af I haven't noticed any other issues. The irony is that the af lockups didn't stop either, so it doesn't appear that the upgrade did much to help that. Nikon is well known for putting undocumented little fixes in updates so in the big picture, it's probably a good idea to keep up to date especially if you are using new lenses introduced to market after the body. My second D850 is about a year newer and the af system isn't quite as responsive as my first one so there is also the issue of sample variation. All this is subjective as it is very difficult to set up a test scenario that eliminates the majority of the variables. I should also add that my subjects really test the af abilities of any camera, even my D5. Diving osprey are difficult to photograph regardless of background. They increase their dive speed incredibly during the last few feet before hitting the water making it even tougher to follow. f2.8 lenses are best but to get the reach I need I'm often using an f4 lens and sometimes add a tc to get to f5.6. The more light you can get to the af module, the better the performance. AF mode also factors in, some use more resources than others which can slow performance. Lock-on settings can be a double-edged sword, it slows performance but may help keep focus on the subject. I guess if it was easy, we'd all be great photographers! What did we do in the film days.........!
I have the minority POV when it comes to this. The D850 seems to be an impediment to me when it comes to wildlife photography. Huge files slow down computer processing. If you take 800 pictures on a good wildlife day, it will take some time to go through these when it comes to checking for sharpness.
Personally, the D500 w/ its 20MP files and speedy and accurate AF seem to be the perfect camera for the bird in flight photography I do with my 500PF or 200-400VR. I tend to photograph bigger birds (swans, cranes, herons, and owls). Here the crop factor is a win... but, you must consider composition during the shoot rather than shoot and compose later.
As for TO Shooter's comment about "good light camera" (I am assuming relates to noise issues...) I push my D500's to ISO3200 regularly and process with Topaz DeNoise Ai... output is strikingly good and matches the low noise I use to get when I was using D4 bodies. I ended up selling my D4 for two D500's... no regrets, as the AF improvements outweighed the out of camera noise gains.
Finally, you may want to wait to see with he D780 looks like... sure it may not have a grip, but if it is a 24MP w/D500 AF, deep buffer (>60), and 9 FPS... the camera could rock for wildlife.
OwlsEyes wrote:
As for TO Shooter's comment about "good light camera" (I am assuming relates to noise issues...) I push my D500's to ISO3200 regularly and process with Topaz DeNoise Ai... output is strikingly good and matches the low noise I use to get when I was using D4 bodies. I ended up selling my D4 for two D500's... no regrets, as the AF improvements outweighed the out of camera noise gains.
cheers,
bruce
Yes, I've seen some images that Lance cleaned up very nicely with noise reduction software. 1. Too much like work and 2. if you can clean up D500 images at 3200 to look like D4 images at 3200, you can likely also clean up D4 images at 12800 to look like D4 images at 3200
I'll stick to my D4s.
And I find no AF improvements from my D500 to D4s. Anything I want to capture with my D4s, that I could capture with my D500, I can do. That included barnies in flight in a light rain. I know others prefer the D500 AF, and I think ?? Steve Perry has said it's better as well. But I go by what I find when I'm shooting, not by what someone tells me.
But in good light, I have no issue with the D500, and I get that "crop factor" at full 20 mp. So no point in me using my D850 with lesser AF in situations I would need to crop, and either have to use the Dx crop smaller viewfinder, or try to visualize the crop on the full screen.
So a very nice selection of tools, and I'll reach for either of the three depending on the situation. Considering I grip everything, I'd like to have all three in the full on pro body. Just not at the full on pro price.
T-O Shooter wrote:
Yes, I've seen some images that Lance cleaned up very nicely with noise reduction software. 1. Too much like work and 2. if you can clean up D500 images at 3200 to look like D4 images at 3200, you can likely also clean up D4 images at 12800 to look like D4 images at 3200
I'll stick to my D4s.
And I find no AF improvements from my D500 to D4s. Anything I want to capture with my D4s, that I could capture with my D500, I can do. That included barnies in flight in a light rain. I know others prefer the D500 AF, and I think ?? Steve Perry has said it's better as well. But I go by what I find when I'm shooting, not by what someone tells me.
But in good light, I have no issue with the D500, and I get that "crop factor" at full 20 mp. So no point in me using my D850 with lesser AF in situations I would need to crop, and either have to use the Dx crop smaller viewfinder, or try to visualize the crop on the full screen.
So a very nice selection of tools, and I'll reach for either of the three depending on the situation. Considering I grip everything, I'd like to have all three in the full on pro body. Just not at the full on pro price. ...Show more →
As they say... "Different strokes... "
The only camera that has tempted me in a long time is the D5. I like the 20-24MP range for both wildlife and landscapes. I also have a routine/system for managing the AF on the newer cameras. With my lenses and my subjects, the bodies I use seem to get the job done. Unlike many, I'm not a birds in flight guy to shoot birds in flight... I'm more into the way light and weather impact wildlife subjects. I think this has much to do with living in Minnesota as it does anything else. However, when the subject is flying or running under the right conditions, I'd like to think that I am using the best camera (for me) to catch that type of action.
good shooting.... would love to see some of those barn owls in flight.
bruce
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