Used D5 - worth buing

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Kjellis

Well-known member
Hi folks.

I’m scratching my head as I’m concidering buing a camera to supliment my Z6. Right now I’m using the Z6 with the 300mm 2.8 vr II and 500 PF lenses for my wildlife and I’m really pleased with the images i get. As I had the D500 before I’m kind of missing a bit faster and more accurate autofocus from time to time. So this leads to me scratching my head, is it worth buying a used D5 now or should I just wait and see what the Z6s turns out to be? Any thoughts?

Sorry if this has been asked before.
 
I'm working with a D5 (plus D850 and a pair of D500's) and I'm in a similar position. I need to add another fast AF FX body but will most likely wait for the Z-6s or Z-8 (?) to be launched and see how they perform. I think we'll all be "going mirrorless" in the future so getting familiar with the technology sooner might be good. That said the D6 looks attractive, especially after Steve's review! Decisions, decisions...

EDIT: Should have added that my D5 was bought used from Grays of Westminster in the UK, well pleased with it and no issues at all :)
 
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I purchased a used D5. Love it. My criteria for upgrading from my other FX body was AF speed, low light AF performance and light flicker.

AF is great. High ISO is great. The one knock on the AF is the spread of points will probably feel limiting coming from mirrorless. I'd think and hope the Z6 AF would get better with firmware, but Nikon isn't impressing me with any firmware or sense of urgency.

With all decisions, I'd see if the options really fit a gap that is causing you to miss shots or not shoot more. What are the problems, and will the D5 solve them. Then, you can put a price to the gain it brings. Take the emotion out of it.
 
It's tough to say, since we don't fully know what the Z6s will be like. My advice is that if you need it now, the D5 will rock your world. However, if the need isn't urgent, I don't think there's any harm in waiting to see with the Z6s will look like. It might be on par with the D5, it might not, but no way to really know.
 
Thanks for your thoughts guys. I guess I can wait to see what the new generation of Nikon mirrorless would turn out to be... The Z6 works quite good for my style of wildlife photography, but I can´t deny that the slower and less accurate (than the D500) focusing cause me to loose some shots photographing small birds and birds in flight. But with firmware updates the Z6 keeps getting better and I do feel that mirrorless is the future.
 
Thanks for your thoughts guys. I guess I can wait to see what the new generation of Nikon mirrorless would turn out to be... The Z6 works quite good for my style of wildlife photography, but I can´t deny that the slower and less accurate (than the D500) focusing cause me to loose some shots photographing small birds and birds in flight. But with firmware updates the Z6 keeps getting better and I do feel that mirrorless is the future.

So far having the same feelings. I don't shoot so much action, but from time to time I get into a situation I would love to have a speed of D5/D500. On the other hand, I already fall in love with Z and their functions I can't see myself switching back to DSLRs. Will see when and with what Nikon comes, and then decide.
 
If you want to buy a used D5, google Hector Astorga Photography. He is selling all of his Nikon gear as he has switched to Sony. I have to admit I am thinking about getting a used D5 myself.
 
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