Nikon D500 vs D850?

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Sean B

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Hello to everyone.

Sorry to ask such a repeated and mundane question. But I was just wondering if anyone could guide me in the right direction. I have the D500 and D5, my thoughts are to sell the D500 and get the D850. The D5 is my main body for shooting sports/ lowlight etc. I've also been using the D5 for more of my portrait work, which is where I'm thinking the D850 would come in handy. I fell the D500 is maybe to close of a match to the D5 and therefore doesn't offer my much more than the D5 " except the reach" I was hoping that someone who has shoot both the D500 and D850 would be able to give point me in the right direction and advise whether the D850 is really much of a jump from the D850?

Many thanks
Sean
 
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IMO, the D850 is the way to go - especially if you add a grip and battery so you can go 9FPS. That gives you nearly the same frame rate as the D500, virtually the same AF performance (the D500 has a very slight edge in some circumstance), and if you crop to DX, you basically have a D500. In fact, I like to tell people the reason I don't shoot my D500 anymore is because my D850 has one built in!

The big advantage though is that you can treat the D850 like both a DX and FX camera. If you can fill the frame, that's ideal and you get full resolution, better noise perforce for a even output size, and better subject isolation. However, if you need "reach" cropping the D850 to DX is going to give the same results as a D500. And the D850 also gives you the option of being between DX and FX too. Win-Win-Win in my opinion.
 
The only reason I ever shoot my D500 since getting a D850 is so I can keep a super-telephoto on something to ride around, ready to go in the front seat. Kind of a lazy thing plus less chance of damage on the big boy.
 
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Steve said:
IMO, the D850 is the way to go - especially if you add a grip and battery so you can go 9FPS. That gives you nearly the same frame rate as the D500, virtually the same AF performance (the D500 has a very slight edge in some circumstance), and if you crop to DX, you basically have a D500. In fact, I like to tell people the reason I don't shoot my D500 anymore is because my D850 has one built in!

The big advantage though is that you can treat the D850 like both a DX and FX camera. If you can fill the frame, that's ideal and you get full resolution, better noise perforce for a even output size, and better subject isolation. However, if you need "reach" cropping the D850 to DX is going to give the same results as a D500. And the D850 also gives you the option of being between DX and FX too. Win-Win-Win in my opinion.
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Thanks so much for taking the time to reply Steve, I honestly don't see where you find the time! But please rest assured that the time and effort you give to us fellow photographers is very much appreciated, especially all the way down here in NewZealand.
 
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I'm currently shooting those three bodies. My first DSLR was a Nikon D1H and I've been in love with the handling and feel of the full size pro bodies ever since. From that perspective and when it comes to frame rate, high ISO or by a smaller degree AF performance the D5 is really hard to beat. My backup camera and walk around camera for the past few years has been the D500 but since I got my D850 the D500 is really only seeing use as a walk around camera for longer hikes when I'm carrying my 500 PF and a wider DX zoom.

the only downside I see to the D850 as a backup to the D5 is that when I do need more 'reach' and work in DX crop mode I have a smaller image in the viewfinder to work with. But frame rate is similar (with the grip and bigger battery) and the pixel density is very similar as well. But a day in the field is often a mixture of wildlife and scenics and that's where the D850 really shines as a second body as I love the D850 for high resolution scenic work.

Personally I'm using the D500 a lot less since getting the D850 but still use the D500 when I take longer hikes in good wildlife habitat. That's mostly for the lower weight but it does mean I need to keep a wide angle DX zoom in my kit which I'd sell if I went 100% to the D850.

FWIW, I strongly prefer the D5 to the D850 for portrait work. I suppose it depends on what you'll do with those portrait files but I've never found a need for 45 Mega pixels when doing headshots or group photos. But I guess if you need to do a wall size print from those shots then the extra resolution might be handy. Personally for portrait work I prefer the smaller D5 files. YMMV.
 
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DRwyoming said:
I'm currently shooting those three bodies. My first DSLR was a Nikon D1H and I've been in love with the handling and feel of the full size pro bodies ever since. From that perspective and when it comes to frame rate, high ISO or by a smaller degree AF performance the D5 is really hard to beat. My backup camera and walk around camera for the past few years has been the D500 but since I got my D850 the D500 is really only seeing use as a walk around camera for longer hikes when I'm carrying my 500 PF and a wider DX zoom.

the only downsides I see to the D850 as a backup to the D5 is that when I do need more 'reach' and work in DX crop mode I have a smaller image in the viewfinder to work with. But frame rate is similar (with the grip and bigger battery) and the pixel density is very similar as well. But a day in the field is often a mixture of wildlife and scenics and that's where the D850 really shines as a second body as I love the D850 for high resolution scenic work.

Personally I'm using the D500 a lot less since getting the D850 but still use the D500 when I take longer hikes in good wildlife habitat. That's mostly for the lower weight but it does mean I need to keep a wide angle DX zoom in my kit which I'd sell if I went 100% to the D850.

FWIW, I strongly prefer the D5 to the D850 for portrait work. I suppose it depends on what you'll do with those portrait files but I've never found need for 45 Mega pixels when doing headshots or group photos. But I guess if you need to do a wall size print from those shots then the extra resolution might be handy. Personally for portrait work I prefer the smaller D5 files. YMMV.
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Thanks very much for taking the time to let me know your experience shooting with all 3 of the Nikon bodies, it's much appreciated.
 
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RichinSeattle said:
I've never understood why one would prefer the camera do the cropping (by using the DX option) rather than just doing it in PP. Would there be ANY difference in the final product?
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Nope, no difference in the final product but often a difference in the field when you capture, buffer and save much smaller files. I also come from the days of slide film and strongly want to frame in camera and not rely on framing in post when possible. That said, there's plenty of times when I shoot loose and crop in post, especially for fast moving subjects like birds in flight where it's just too easy to clip wing tips or otherwise lose a good shot.

But sure, when doing equal amounts of cropping there's no difference in the resulting image and there's a lot more room for error or alternative compositions when cropping in post.
 
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How similar are the D500 and D850 in high ISO? With the pandemic I just started doing more wildlife (of the backyard variety). Normally I do a lot of low light sports and the D5 is incredible. I feel the D500 has a max of ISO 6400 when exposed right. D5 handles 12,800 fine by my comparison. D750 is good to 10,000. Curious where the D850 stacks up.
 
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SanDiegoSteve said:
How similar are the D500 and D850 in high ISO? With the pandemic I just started doing more wildlife (of the backyard variety). Normally I do a lot of low light sports and the D5 is incredible. I feel the D500 has a max of ISO 6400 when exposed right. D5 handles 12,800 fine by my comparison. D750 is good to 10,000. Curious where the D850 stacks up.
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At the pixel level, they are about the same. Output is another story. If you output a D850 image and D500 to the same size, the D850 will look about a stop better (or so) - assuming the same framing (it has more pixels to put into each inch of the print so those pixels are smaller and look cleaner). However, crop the D850 to DX and the results will be virtually identical.
 
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SanDiegoSteve said:
How similar are the D500 and D850 in high ISO? With the pandemic I just started doing more wildlife (of the backyard variety). Normally I do a lot of low light sports and the D5 is incredible. I feel the D500 has a max of ISO 6400 when exposed right. D5 handles 12,800 fine by my comparison. D750 is good to 10,000. Curious where the D850 stacks up.
Click to expand...
If the D5 is good for low light sports action, why wouldn't you use it for wildlife?
 
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Sean B said:
Hello to everyone.

Sorry to ask such a repeated and mundane question. But I was just wondering if anyone could guide me in the right direction. I have the D500 and D5, my thoughts are to sell the D500 and get the D850. The D5 is my main body for shooting sports/ lowlight etc. I've also been using the D5 for more of my portrait work, which is where I'm thinking the D850 would come in handy. I fell the D500 is maybe to close of a match to the D5 and therefore doesn't offer my much more than the D5 " except the reach" I was hoping that someone who has shoot both the D500 and D850 would be able to give point me in the right direction and advise whether the D850 is really much of a jump from the D850?

Many thanks
Sean
Click to expand...
I find the D500 great when shooting at low ISO and in bright sunlight - I think a cropped 24Mp sensor is equal to a 48Mp full frame sensor so there's a lot of detail in the files. But when going above 800 ISO, the D500 files aren't great. The D750 & D4 are WAY better beyond ISO 800. I used the D850 at IAAF World Championships last year in Doha and the D850 files, even at 6400 ISO, were still excellent even though the 7fps wasn't very fast for sport, but still adequate.
 
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Johan Schmidt said:
I find the D500 great when shooting at low ISO and in bright sunlight - I think a cropped 24Mp sensor is equal to a 48Mp full frame sensor so there's a lot of detail in the files. But when going above 800 ISO, the D500 files aren't great. The D750 & D4 are WAY better beyond ISO 800. I used the D850 at IAAF World Championships last year in Doha and the D850 files, even at 6400 ISO, were still excellent even though the 7fps wasn't very fast for sport, but still adequate.
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Thanks Johan, yer I shot a few sunrise skiing pics at iso 1000 yesterday morning, and I must say they look pretty average.
 
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Steve said:
IMO, the D850 is the way to go - especially if you add a grip and battery so you can go 9FPS. That gives you nearly the same frame rate as the D500, virtually the same AF performance (the D500 has a very slight edge in some circumstance), and if you crop to DX, you basically have a D500. In fact, I like to tell people the reason I don't shoot my D500 anymore is because my D850 has one built in!

The big advantage though is that you can treat the D850 like both a DX and FX camera. If you can fill the frame, that's ideal and you get full resolution, better noise perforce for a even output size, and better subject isolation. However, if you need "reach" cropping the D850 to DX is going to give the same results as a D500. And the D850 also gives you the option of being between DX and FX too. Win-Win-Win in my opinion.
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Agree fully with this. The other advantage of the D850 when cropped to the same MP as the D500 is that you still have the improvement in light capture efficiency given by the back illuminated sensor technology.
Also, on the subject of the grip/EN-EL 18 battery, I find the AF "snappier", particularly on the big primes. Assume the larger mAh cell overcomes initial inertia of moving heavy elements quicker. I find this improvement in AF when using the EN-EL18 on the D500 too.
 
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Sean B said:
Hello to everyone.

Sorry to ask such a repeated and mundane question. But I was just wondering if anyone could guide me in the right direction. I have the D500 and D5, my thoughts are to sell the D500 and get the D850. The D5 is my main body for shooting sports/ lowlight etc. I've also been using the D5 for more of my portrait work, which is where I'm thinking the D850 would come in handy. I fell the D500 is maybe to close of a match to the D5 and therefore doesn't offer my much more than the D5 " except the reach" I was hoping that someone who has shoot both the D500 and D850 would be able to give point me in the right direction and advise whether the D850 is really much of a jump from the D850?

Many thanks
Sean
Click to expand...
Well, I have both a D500 and a D850. I my opinion, while they handle in almost the same way, they are totally different and mine I use for diferent purposes.
For studio work and work that requires large prints you cannot beat the D850. I disagree, however, with the comment that you can crop the D850 images and so you "have a D500 inside".
I use the D500 to photograph model aircraft in flight and the larger pixels means that the focusing is easier and I get more keepers. Last year I tried the D850 and just was not able to get enough keepers due to a tiny amount of camera shake. That's just me, I suppose but it means that I will keep both.

And, by the way, I also have a Df...
 
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Sean B said:
Hello to everyone.

Sorry to ask such a repeated and mundane question. But I was just wondering if anyone could guide me in the right direction. I have the D500 and D5, my thoughts are to sell the D500 and get the D850. The D5 is my main body for shooting sports/ lowlight etc. I've also been using the D5 for more of my portrait work, which is where I'm thinking the D850 would come in handy. I fell the D500 is maybe to close of a match to the D5 and therefore doesn't offer my much more than the D5 " except the reach" I was hoping that someone who has shoot both the D500 and D850 would be able to give point me in the right direction and advise whether the D850 is really much of a jump from the D850?

Many thanks
Sean
Click to expand...
Hi everyone
I use both the D500 and D850. The bodies does not make the photograph, it just allows you to record the action. I have D70 images that does not differ in sharpness or quality from D3S, D4, D750 or my latest 2 bodies. Both these bodies capture fast, in-flight images with whatever good glass you slap on the front. I have used a 600 f/4 for years, with a 1.4 TC. ( Unfortunately, it got too heavy with the years, so it when for adoption). Lately, the 500 F/5.6 and 80-400 are my go to lenses, with no noticeable difference in image quality. If the light is right and the subject is willing to show itself, these bodies can and will deliver. Any boo-boo is due to the operator, me. As for the DX crop factor in the D850 - my experience is that the full frame allows more keepers because the wings often go outside the DX frame. Thus, I never shoot crop DX mode on the D850.
If you have the D5, then the D500 could be traded for the D850. However, 3 bodies are always better than 2 (lol) because your do not have to change lenses in the dust and sand in the wild. I tend to stick a lens on a body and keep it on for the day. Tonight, I swap the lenses and bodies and tomorrow shoot a different lens -body combination. This works for my way of photographing wild life.
Best regards
 
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I shoot with the D500 and the D850 with the grip. Both cameras serve different purposes for me. My D500 usually has my 500mm f5.6 pf lens on it all the time and I use it for wildlife, nature and birds. I use my D850 for just about everything else. I often use both at the same time with different lenses.

I have a friend, a wildlife pro photographer, who had a D 5 and a D500. He ssold the D500 as he said his D5 was the better body for him.

I I could afford only one, I would get the D850 for what Steve said. If you can afford all three, that is what I would do. If only two, then a D850 and the D5 or D500--your choice.
 
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It's interesting to me that nobody is talking much about the 1.2x crop factor on the D850. I use it a huge amount of the time. It gives me just a tiny bit more reach, and
smaller files, but still plenty of cropping ability. That said, I don't own a zoom lens, only a 300mmPF and a 500mmPF along with 1.7 x and 1.4 x converters. With the D850
this gives me a fair amount of options.
 
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Icarus said:
It's interesting to me that nobody is talking much about the 1.2x crop factor on the D850. I use it a huge amount of the time. It gives me just a tiny bit more reach, and
smaller files, but still plenty of cropping ability. That said, I don't own a zoom lens, only a 300mmPF and a 500mmPF along with 1.7 x and 1.4 x converters. With the D850
this gives me a fair amount of options.
Click to expand...
Agreed, I also like the 1.2x crop mode on the D850 which is nice when shooting with primes to add a bit more flexibility. Sure you can always crop in post but I still like composing in camera when possible and the D850 at full frame, 1.2x crop and DX crop adds some nice flexibility that still holds great resolution. I'm still hanging onto my D500 for now and use it on longer hikes but sometimes use its 1.3x crop mode for the same reason.

FWIW, I assign image area selection to the F1 buttons on my D850 and D500 so it's always available on the fly. No need to do that if you only crop in post but if you like to crop in camera for some shooting situations it's handy to have it right there with a button press and dial spin.
 
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Icarus said:
It's interesting to me that nobody is talking much about the 1.2x crop factor on the D850. I use it a huge amount of the time. It gives me just a tiny bit more reach, and
smaller files, but still plenty of cropping ability. That said, I don't own a zoom lens, only a 300mmPF and a 500mmPF along with 1.7 x and 1.4 x converters. With the D850
this gives me a fair amount of options.
Click to expand...
Good feedback, question and Not to sidetrack this thread too far, but is the image quality affected with the teleconverters when mounted to the 500PF.
 
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I prefer not to use 1.4x on 500 PF because that gives me f8 max aperture. It slows focus and I think is a little less sharp, but certainly usable in the right circumstances.
 
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