p.1 #1 · Should I replace my D500 & D750 with a D850, or wait for mirrorless?
I shoot a wide range of genres, but predominantly wildlife, second to sports, and along with a bit of portraiture, concerts, and studio work.
My current DSLR lineup is a D5, D500, and D750. I'm looking to trim the kit down. I plan to keep the D5, sell the D500 and D750, and I’m considering replacing them both with a single D850. The alternative is to hold off my GAS, save for a few more months, and make the jump to mirrorless—likely a Z6III or a Z8/Z9.
I realize the D850 will outclass the D750 for my studio, portrait, and general use. With the same AF module as the D500, and when using the D850 in DX mode yielding the same 20mp, it should be a perfect replacement (minus a little bit of PDR according to photonstophotos) with the added benefit of more mp when not cropping, right? The 1fps drop (assuming I grip the D850) isn't a big deal to me, as I always shoot my D500 gripped anyway.
If the D850 handles my action needs well enough, I might postpone the mirrorless jump entirely and invest the savings into a faster telephoto prime (500/600 f4s) to pair with my 500PF.
p.1 #2 · Should I replace my D500 & D750 with a D850, or wait for mirrorless?
I bought a Z8 to stick my toe into mirrorless and quickly found its autofocus to be so much better than that my D850 that I re-homed the D850. If you do any action photography you will find the Z8 (and Z9) cameras are a significant upgrade. I'm getting shots I would not have attempted with my D850 or the D5 (which I still have).
p.1 #3 · Should I replace my D500 & D750 with a D850, or wait for mirrorless?
The D850 would be a fine replacement for a D500/D750 combo. Kind of a sideways move IMO, but consolidation and a hardware refresh isn't a bad thing.
The Z8 would be an upgrade from the D500/D750/D850 as well as the D5, though. If I were selling the D500 and D750, I'd have a hard time not putting that money towards a Z8 and evaluating it next to the D5 for a while.
I got a D850 well after having the D5 and D500 for a few years, and it felt like the wrong direction. Got out of it quickly and got a Z8 instead.
p.1 #4 · Should I replace my D500 & D750 with a D850, or wait for mirrorless?
Just a word of caution:
The D850 will handle concert footage better than the Z8 in come circumstances, as the Z8 is all electronic shutter and it doesn’t mix well with some LEDs.
Also, jumping into mirrorless now will be both a revelation and an initial struggle. To make the most of the Z AF you need to reevaluate your workflow, shooting habits, button assignment. Others are right to say the Z AF (any of the Expeed 7) are a huge upgrade, and will out of the box seem magical at times. But other situations require patience, and committing new routines from scratch to muscle memory through repetition.
All of that said, so much of this comes down to personal, subjective outlook and attitude - and also budget. I jumped into the Z series when it was still a little wobbly but did so because I wanted to acclimate myself to the new tools and workflow sooner rather than later - the classic skate to where the puck will be, not where it is now. In a way I upgraded before I was ready and before it was comfortable to do so, but did so knowing I was going to reap major rewards from new tools and capabilities.
I also did so knowing a relatively limited budget would get me only one essential lens that I’d have to add to incrementally as money allowed, which meant giving up my 85 1.4, my 50 1.8 and going ahead only with the 24-120 f/4. Fortunately the 24-120 is a world class all rounder and served me incredibly while I bided time to get others.
p.1 #5 · Should I replace my D500 & D750 with a D850, or wait for mirrorless?
Unless money is a major barrier or there is something that requires you to use DSLR's, I would find it hard to recommend a lateral move from one DSLR body to another. I think it makes a lot of sense to hold onto your D5, as this can be a transitional camera from the DSLR to a mirrorless system. In addition the D5 will suit you well for all types of shooting... converters, events, press, portraits, wildlife, and sports. However, once you use a modern Nikon Z body w/ a stacked or partially stacked sensor (Z6III, Z8, or Z9), you will find that you will use your D5 less and less. The benefits of the mirrorless UI and AF will make the D5 seem a bit primitive. This is not to dismiss the quality of that camera, it is just the reality of the situation.
A final note... everyone thinks they need 45 to 60 MP, but this is a fallacy. One can make huge prints and huge crops with 24MP cameras. The current up-res software can easily turn a 24MP file into a 50MP file. If you want to shell your two DSLRs and dip your toe in the water, the Z6III has a very good AF and very good high ISO performance.
(If it matters to you, I use a Z9, Z8, and Z6 v1)
cheers,
bruce
p.1 #6 · Should I replace my D500 & D750 with a D850, or wait for mirrorless?
The D850 will give you a more workable 2-body kit with common battery available (with the grip). It does make sense IMHO to consolidate a D500+D750 into a D850 from that aspect and any D500 accessories carry right over to the D850. but it's only really an upgrade from the D750.
As long as you are using AF-S or manual lenses, I'd tend to concur that waiting and getting a Z8 or Z9 makes more sense than jumping on a side-grade to a D850 right now.
Be aware, there's one major thing the D850 can do that the Z8 cannot, which is operate off an EN-EL18 battery when equipped with a grip. Only the Z9 can share a battery with your D5 when in the field.
p.1 #7 · Should I replace my D500 & D750 with a D850, or wait for mirrorless?
I'd like to know more about what lenses and lighting you have but so far the description sounded more Z8/Z9 friendly but there's probably really good deals on used big F-mount telephotos and buying into the storage costs (CFE "B" and external hard drives) is something that would be nicer pursued on a slower time table when there's deals.
p.1 #8 · Should I replace my D500 & D750 with a D850, or wait for mirrorless?
neoshazam wrote:
I'd like to know more about what lenses and lighting you have but so far the description sounded more Z8/Z9 friendly but there's probably really good deals on used big F-mount telephotos and buying into the storage costs (CFE "B" and external hard drives) is something that would be nicer pursued on a slower time table when there's deals.
Remember the D5 and D500 are already XQD/CFEb capable cameras, only real difference is size needs from the larger 45MP files (and that's the same need for the D850, which shares the D500 and Z8's card slot configuration).
p.1 #9 · Should I replace my D500 & D750 with a D850, or wait for mirrorless?
Thinking back to my Nikon D500 days and shooting birds, I often pondered getting a D850. I still think that camera was probably the best DSLR ever made, but I still never bought it, despite my very strong usual affliction with GAS. That’s because what the D850 offered in extra resolution, it lost in the sensor format. In practice, pixels per duck were the same between the two cameras.
And like others said, the current crop of mirrorless cameras are generally much better than the DSLRs were.
