I just got a mint used version of this camera here on the B&S board and am very happy with it. I'm still in the setup/get to know you phase, but already know I made the right choice. I read all the threads and comments here first and also quite a few reviews, etc. I had picked up a used D750 recently to transition away from Sony mirrorless and knew I wanted a more capable body to go along with the large collection of Nikon AF and MF glass I've acquired since the D700/D3 days.
I'll start with a photo from this morning and add more comments and photos as I go.
As posted elsewhere I have a flock of Wild Turkeys that frequent my house. They are fairly tame and have been my recent test subjects.
I was using the wonderful AF 180 2.8D lens this morning and it performs better than ever on the D780.
It's a great camera, only missing the vertical grip functionality , a slightly lower price and better marketing. I bought mine used just after Christmas and am still slowly starting to put it through its paces...hoping in the next 3 months to have significant shoots to put it through its paces. I'll probably start posting some of the randoms so far in the next week or so.
neoshazam wrote:
It's a great camera, only missing the vertical grip functionality , a slightly lower price and better marketing. I bought mine used just after Christmas and am still slowly starting to put it through its paces...hoping in the next 3 months to have significant shoots to put it through its paces. I'll probably start posting some of the randoms so far in the next week or so.
Glad to hear you too are enjoying this camera. I don't care for or need the add on grips. In the past I've had D3/D4 for when I needed more speed and didn't mind the size and weight. If performance work picks up around here I'll justify a D5, but otherwise I prefer my kit to be as small and light as possible.
My hands are L/XL, but I have no problems with the size of the D750/780. I like the grip and layout changes of the D780.
I see a major improvement in the RAW files from the D780. In fact, best I've seen yet. Better than D4/D4s, D810 and way better than D750. WB and colors in general are pretty much right on SOOC. Very minor adjustments needed in all images processed so far. I've got a performance to shoot Friday night, so will see how that goes.
I haven't dialed in the .jpg output yet, but I do need that option sometimes too.
One of my favorite old lenses on D700/D3/D4 was the so-called "street sweeper". That is Nikon's original pro AF lens, the 35-70/2.8D. I used to have a very late model of that lens that I had refurb'd by NPS. It was one of my most used lenses for years on location and for anything with people. Sadly I dropped that one and a D700 down a set of concrete stairs at a performance.
Gladly I had a mint, but dusty older version stashed in my drybox. APS refurb'd it to like new for $200 and so far it serves my purposes well again on the D780.
Live view with a full-function touch screen on the D780 is fantastic. Focus tacking is excellent even in low light. In this image I composed with the teapot centered, chose it as the focus point on the touch screen, re-composed and shot. Just a basic test, but it was faster, easier and worked better for me than my A7III.
Also, I shot the image while sitting at a table, having tea, with the camera on my lap. It's completely silent, like a good mirrorless camera should be, so no one was disturbed or cared that I was taking photos.
Kudos to the A7III for tempting me to use live view more. With the D780 it's much better and I use live view as much as possible.
Fire performers practicing at night with no ambient light except the fire. Shot in live view with AF tracking on a monopod with the 85/1.4D lens.
After watching auto ISO and A priority for awhile I just set 6400 ISO and shot some M, but mostly A.
The AF kept getting fooled by the fire, so I was constantly choosing the focus point on the touch screen with my left hand while controlling the rest with my right. About half the time it would lock on the performer, keepers were @ 60%. Some of that was definitely user error and I think I can improve the keeper rate with some fine tuning of settings and technique. Still pretty good performance and it was lots of fun.
It's gonna take some time to adjust my shooting style to the new benefits the D780 provides but at least I'm taking steps to start shaking off some of the non-shooting rust.
nandadevieast wrote:
Its the best DSLR ever made...
A marvel indeed
When I got the D700 it was the best ever, then I got a D3 and it was even better. At work I got a D4 and it was the best. Then they gave me a D4s with 24-70 and 70-200 2.8G OMG! Then a D800, then a D810 and even a 600/4D!
The D780 is definitely the best DSLR I currently own
