Hi All, I started getting heavy into photography about 3 years ago, when I say heavy I don't leave home without my camera. Not a business but I could easily do this in my post years and be happy. I currently own a Nikon D5300 and have a number of lenses for it. It's take some really nice photos but I've missed many moments. I'm ready to step up and was looking for some opinions and guidance, I think I've decided but the step-up will require an investment. I take a variety of photo's, sports, landscape, wildlife and macro (insects), I have also set out in some remote isolated (dark map) places and captured some nice shots of the stars. Since I have made an investment in Nikon I'm thinking about staying on that path. My question is move up and a stay DX or make the jump to FX. I'm looking at moving to a D500 ($1000 dollar) investment or a D850 ($2500) investment. The pro's with the D500 is an improvement sports and wildlife but I think a step backward for macro and about the same for low iso (night). With macro I find myself cropping quite a lot so a higher resolution and sensor should be better. Other then money I see no drawbacks with the D850, I can carry forward some of my DX lenses for now with a loss in resolution and eventually move into the FX lenses over time. Mirrorless and other camera makes (sony/Cannon) really make this confusing, maybe instead of investing in another DSLR maybe its time to go mirrorless. I do like to hike and take gear with me so portability carries some weight here also which weighs back with a DX frame. When I travel I don't want to carry suticases just for multiple cameras and gear, I like a goto camera and a goto lenses. Currently that's my D5300 and a tamron 300MM zoom lens. Future trips planning for Utah (next month, photography conference), Costa Rica and New Zealand and I'm ready to step up and get used to my next tool but struggling on this decision.
and help to keep the site free for all
Beginner Ready to move up but to what ?
- Thread starter rayman1k
- Start date
- Messages
- 551
- Edit My Images
- Yes
I feel like you already know what you want and are struggling with knowing which direction to go in with regards to a camera with a specialism.
Unfortunately there isn't a camera that will do everything amazingly, so you have to prirotise what you value the most out of:
- good high ISO performance (full frame)
- resolution
- fast autofocus & frame rate (for sports/wildlife)
- size & weight (note whilst FX mirrorless bodies are lighter, the lenses aren't really)
- cost (if you want long fast primes for wildlife & sports, a micro 4 3rds system will be FAR cheaper than anything else)
I think you just need to decide which of these genres you'd like to prioritise, then choose your camera based on matching its strengths to what you need.
Unfortunately there isn't a camera that will do everything amazingly, so you have to prirotise what you value the most out of:
- good high ISO performance (full frame)
- resolution
- fast autofocus & frame rate (for sports/wildlife)
- size & weight (note whilst FX mirrorless bodies are lighter, the lenses aren't really)
- cost (if you want long fast primes for wildlife & sports, a micro 4 3rds system will be FAR cheaper than anything else)
I think you just need to decide which of these genres you'd like to prioritise, then choose your camera based on matching its strengths to what you need.
- Messages
- 379
- Edit My Images
- No
I don't want to get into what sensor size is better than another, they all have associated pro's and con's. I'll share some of what moving to micro4/3 has given me though.
The right camera for any job is the one you have with you after all.
- Access to focal length and aperture combinations that were previously out of reach financially. Olympus 40-150 f2.8 for example, £815 from Panamoz.
- Portability. I can carry all of my gear all or more of the time. With FF I found myself leaving some behind on occasion due to weight and bag size.
- Olympus cameras have ~5 stops in body image stabilisation - helps keep lens prices down and helps limit high ISO use.
- There are certain features unique to 4/3 mirrorless systems - easy to research.
The right camera for any job is the one you have with you after all.
- Messages
- 1,076
- Name
- Mike
- Edit My Images
- Yes
Its not the camera that takes the photo.
It's the person that presses the button.
I would suggest (just a little flippantly) if you like hiking, and that's where when you take most photo's.. best investment is probably a new pair of hiking boots.
You don't need a new camera to do more of what you are already doing, and the camera certainly wont do it for you... getting out and about and doing it will....
But... if you want us to support your consumer aspirations.. go for it.... you have already made the decision, you are just looking for validation, and you can buy whatever camera or as many of them as you like.... if it makes you feel good... but it's still not the camera that takes a photo...
Maybe, just for the heck, you should take a step back, not try leaping ahead, and go out with nothing more than a compact or camera-phone, and see just how much you can do with that, before you start risking chucking babies out with the bathwater....
It's the person that presses the button.
I would suggest (just a little flippantly) if you like hiking, and that's where when you take most photo's.. best investment is probably a new pair of hiking boots.
You don't need a new camera to do more of what you are already doing, and the camera certainly wont do it for you... getting out and about and doing it will....
But... if you want us to support your consumer aspirations.. go for it.... you have already made the decision, you are just looking for validation, and you can buy whatever camera or as many of them as you like.... if it makes you feel good... but it's still not the camera that takes a photo...
Maybe, just for the heck, you should take a step back, not try leaping ahead, and go out with nothing more than a compact or camera-phone, and see just how much you can do with that, before you start risking chucking babies out with the bathwater....
Caerus
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 727
- Edit My Images
- Yes
I wouldn't bother spending a fortune on the gear.
Why not just get a d7500 from e-infinity for £529.
It is a significant improvement over a d5300.
The gear doesn't help quarter as much as people think, the more expensive cameras are usually more complicated and need more skill to operate anywhere near their potential.
Why not just get a d7500 from e-infinity for £529.
It is a significant improvement over a d5300.
The gear doesn't help quarter as much as people think, the more expensive cameras are usually more complicated and need more skill to operate anywhere near their potential.
- Messages
- 7,337
- Name
- Graham
- Edit My Images
- Yes
I think this man is USA based on his post above so no need to quote £`s here or Panamoz
Garry Edwards
Moderator
- Messages
- 12,326
- Name
- Garry Edwards
- Edit My Images
- No
That's a bit harsh, but true.
Admittedly as a (retired) pro I've always been reluctant to spend money, but I always resisted the temptation to "upgrade" equipment until I reached the point where I simply couldn't manage without the extra.
Cameras with larger sensors will always produce better image quality, and cameras that can shoot at (say)14 frames a second will always be better for fast-moving sports photography, and so will pro cameras that can be used in wet conditions - but a professional, fast, water-resistant camera will be so large and heavy that it will spoil your enjoyment - so, work on your photography skills (because knowledge and skill always trumps gear) and think about buying more gear only when you've reached the absolute limit with what you already have.
- Messages
- 7,130
- Edit My Images
- No
By ‘ missed many moments’ I’m thinking either the camera doesn’t start up quickly enough or the autofocus is not quick enough.
I have a foot in micro 4/3 (Olympus) and full frame (Canon) camps. Both have their merits, but for me I use my Canon less and less and certainly for travel I use my Olympus EM1ii. The Olympus is just so compact. It does focus stacking for macro and is fast for sports and wildlife. The Canon is better in low light but with post noise reduction and wider (f/1.2) lenses there’s not a lot in it.
Nikon do Mirrorless full frame and cropped sensors. For me the advantage of mirrorless is being able to use focus peaking and also being able to review my images on the evf (and check settings) without having to put my reading glasses on.
I have a foot in micro 4/3 (Olympus) and full frame (Canon) camps. Both have their merits, but for me I use my Canon less and less and certainly for travel I use my Olympus EM1ii. The Olympus is just so compact. It does focus stacking for macro and is fast for sports and wildlife. The Canon is better in low light but with post noise reduction and wider (f/1.2) lenses there’s not a lot in it.
Nikon do Mirrorless full frame and cropped sensors. For me the advantage of mirrorless is being able to use focus peaking and also being able to review my images on the evf (and check settings) without having to put my reading glasses on.
Caerus
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 727
- Edit My Images
- Yes
I had, and still have, an entry level Canon 600D and that served me well for many years and still would have but as the subjects I became interested build up it's limitations became noticeable, mainly FPS & buffering. Had it not been for them I would have stayed with the 600D as there isn't much else that I want to do that the EOS 90D can and the 600D can't. The 90D makes some things easier and has a bit scope left should I choose to expand my range of photo interest further. The 90D's additional focus point is a bonus but certainly not essential.
As others have said think of your goals and then decide if you NEED to upgrade your camera or would you be better off spending your money on increasing your range of lenses, filters, tripod etc. etc.
As others have said think of your goals and then decide if you NEED to upgrade your camera or would you be better off spending your money on increasing your range of lenses, filters, tripod etc. etc.