Nikon body or Lens upgrade

Monkeyhanger · 6 Aug 2017

Currently using a Nikon D7200+sigma 150-600 for bird photography.Thinking of changing the body to a D500 or changing the lens to a Nikon 200-500,which will give the greatest benefit,if any.
My results aren't too bad with my current combo
https://www.flickr.com/photos/40772283@N06/
Cannot afford a massive financial outlay

Brazo · 6 Aug 2017

Well after looking at your Flickr you seem to have got the hang of it so I'm going to be that awkward person that says you don't 'need' to upgrade either.

I have used the 150-600 on crop and it's not especially sharp past 400 so if you want a better lens then I can understand, that who doesn't. The af system of the D500 seems pretty unflappable and that appeals too.

However I think either body or lens will at best offer an incremental upgrade and it's your skills that play the biggest part here.

Kodiak Qc · 6 Aug 2017

•

Hey Keith, being a Nikon user going at times on the
wildlife side, I know that low light condition is often
the brake of a capture… I think the newer D500 is
reported to be better there.

gramps · 6 Aug 2017

You only need the D500 if you want faster/better speed or AF, the D7200 is a great camera ... however f6.3 lenses reportedly don't work well with the D500 wide spread od AF points.

Phil-D · 6 Aug 2017

Brazo said:
Well after looking at your Flickr you seem to have got the hang of it so I'm going to be that awkward person that says you don't 'need' to upgrade either.

I have used the 150-600 on crop and it's not especially sharp past 400 so if you want a better lens then I can understand, that who doesn't. The af system of the D500 seems pretty unflappable and that appeals too.

However I think either body or lens will at best offer an incremental upgrade and it's your skills that play the biggest part here.

This ^^^^^^^

We have the same combo twice in our house Keith, the wife uses one two.

I wouldn't be happy loosing 100mm on the lens and haven't seen anything that makes me believe the IQ is better on the Nikon lens.

I also don't think the extra £1000 upgrading to D500 is worth it just for the better low light tracking and slightly better higher ISO.

The only thing I don't agree with is the lens not being sharp over 400mm, I'm more than happy, 90% of my shots are @600mm and they're sharp enough for me

Monkeyhanger · 6 Aug 2017

Brazo said:
Well after looking at your Flickr you seem to have got the hang of it so I'm going to be that awkward person that says you don't 'need' to upgrade either.

I have used the 150-600 on crop and it's not especially sharp past 400 so if you want a better lens then I can understand, that who doesn't. The af system of the D500 seems pretty unflappable and that appeals too.

However I think either body or lens will at best offer an incremental upgrade and it's your skills that play the biggest part here.

,
My main gripe with my current set up is poor acquisition of birds in flight.I think the lens is the main culprit or me.Having read every review on the planet my head is battered.Much as i would like to buy a 500 f4 i cannot afford one.
You are probably right about the upgrade being only very small.

gramps · 6 Aug 2017

Monkeyhanger said:
My main gripe with my current set up is poor acquisition of birds in flight.I think the lens is the main culprit or me.

I think you will find that the D500 could well resolve that issue ... I often found problems with BIF with other AF systems but the D500 has vastly improved my keeper rate.
If you went for the 200-500 f5.6 as well then you could see even greater improvement in the AF performance, reportedly it also takes a TC-14 Elll very well (but I have no experience of the lens myself). @snerkler can tell you more about the pitfalls of using the 150-600 on a D500.

Phil-D · 6 Aug 2017

Monkeyhanger said:
,
My main gripe with my current set up is poor acquisition of birds in flight.I think the lens is the main culprit or me.Having read every review on the planet my head is battered.Much as i would like to buy a 500 f4 i cannot afford one.
You are probably right about the upgrade being only very small.

Keith, the first thing about bif is practise in good light with good contrasting bg's at shorter focal lengths.

Go to the coast where there's more birds flying than you can shake a stick at!

Go on a sunny day, if you can get above them even better, white birds, dark sea good contrast

Start @ 400mm and only shoot the birds flying into the wind, they're a lot slower

your hit rate should be high, I would expect 90%, ok heavy crops @ 400mm but its all practise.

Keep lengthening the focal length and see how you get on, filling the frame at 600mm and tracking flying birds hand held isn't easy, don't let anyone tell you it is but even if you are clipping wings, the shots should be sharp in the right conditions.

It would be interesting to see some of the shots you're not happy with plus exif

Monkeyhanger · 6 Aug 2017

Phil-D said:
Keith, the first thing about bif is practise in good light with good contrasting bg's at shorter focal lengths.

Go to the coast where there's more birds flying than you can shake a stick at! Go on a sunny day, if you can get above them even better, white birds, dark sea good contrast

Start @ 400mm and only shoot the birds flying into the wind, they're a lot slower your hit rate should be high, I would expect 90%, ok heavy crops @ 400mm but its all practise.

Keep lengthening the focal length and see how you get on, filling the frame at 600mm and tracking flying birds hand held isn't easy, don't let anyone tell you it is but even if you are clipping wings, the shots should be sharp in the right conditions.

It would be interesting to see some of the shots you're not happy with plus exif

I am happy with the shots I put on flickr

,its the hundreds I chuck in the bin that I dont like

.My keeper rate is pathetic,I will take your advice and practice at 400mm.

gramps said:
I think you will find that the D500 could well resolve that issue ... I often found problems with BIF with other AF systems but the D500 has vastly improved my keeper rate.
If you went for the 200-500 f5.6 as well then you could see even greater improvement in the AF performance, reportedly it also takes a TC-14 Elll very well (but I have no experience of the lens myself). @snerkler can tell you more about the pitfalls of using the 150-600 on a D500.

At the moment I can't afford both

Phil-D · 6 Aug 2017

Monkeyhanger said:
its the hundreds I chuck in the bin that I dont like

Don't think you're the only one!!

You ever pop down to Bempton Keith?

Most of the Auks have gone but there's still loads of Gannets, Kittiwakes and a few Fulmars, ect. I go over regularly, would be happy to meet up and have a chat

Monkeyhanger · 6 Aug 2017

I haven't been to Bempton,however it is on my list but probably next year.When I go I will get in touch.Your offer much appreciated.

GTG · 6 Aug 2017

Hire a d500 for a day if possible and find out if it can do what you want

timbo2410 · 7 Aug 2017

Have you calibrated the Sigma yet? I did it to mine and the results were amazing afterwards .. For the love of god if you spent the money on the lens then get the dock and take the time to calibrate it. Or i think you can have the lens sent to sigma and have it done by them. I use the Sigma 150-600 Sport on both my D7100 and the D500 and it works a treat now that it's calibrated .. I couldn't understand why I always seemed to have poor focus and from 3 to 6 metres the lens was front focusing and from 15 to 30 it was back focusing. Calibrated it and it's great now .. even with the 1.4x tele .. although light needs to be good .. I would strongly suggest calibration before anything else as it's a great lens

Monkeyhanger · 26 Sep 2017

timbo2410 said:
Have you calibrated the Sigma yet?

Yes i have calibrated it and i am quite happy with sharpness.

Since i posted this thread i did end up buying a D500 and i really like it.Focus tracking and lock on,accuracy and speed much improved.
Having just bought the camera i am very impressed.Whether it is worth twice as much as a D7200,probably not :nikon:

snerkler · 26 Sep 2017

Bit late to the party but I think the D500 is a big improvement over the D7200. Only little bits here and there, but imo make up to a big improvement overall. How're you getting on with the outer focus points using the D500? With my Tamron 150-600mm only the 'f8' focus points would work past around 520mm on the D500 which ultimately led to me returning it

Monkeyhanger · 26 Sep 2017

Pretty much the same on the sigma at 600mm,at 520mm nearly all the focus points are available.So far this hasn't been a problem for my style of shooting.I have only been out a couple of times and used group for bif and single point for static birds.If i need all focus points i will have to back off the lens (kingfishers diving etc).I still haven't figured out the best for different scenarios, group seems to work best for bif (for me),single point for focus on the eye with static birds.