d850/d500

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MYount

MYount

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My d500 just became a backup camera because I ordered a d850. I'm not sure whether I'm going to send the d7500 that I purchased as a backup camera back or I have a family member that wants to learn about photography and I'm contemplating keeping it so I can go through the steps to teach them. They are basically clueless. I know I could teach them on the d500 but it is set up for me 100% and it's a lot of camera for a newbie to learn on.
 
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MYount said:
My d500 just became a backup camera because I ordered a d850. I'm not sure whether I'm going to send the d7500 that I purchased as a backup camera back or I have a family member that wants to learn about photography and I'm contemplating keeping it so I can go through the steps to teach them. They are basically clueless. I know I could teach them on the d500 but it is set up for me 100% and it's a lot of camera for a newbie to learn on.
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The D7500 will be just as challenging for a newbie. A search for the top 10 beginners cameras results in the D3500 coming top of the list in 2 and it 2nd place in the third.

If he/she is interested enough can't they get their own camera?

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dabhand16 said:
The D7500 will be just as challenging for a newbie. A search for the top 10 beginners cameras results in the D3500 coming top of the list in 2 and it 2nd place in the third.

If he/she is interested enough can't they get their own camera?

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www.digitalcameraworld.com www.digitalcameraworld.com

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www.techradar.com www.techradar.com

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the d3500 doesn't have the IQ to even work with the lenses that I have. when I learned on film I learned on a full manual camera. I think the d7500 will be fine.
 
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And as far as getting there on camera they're a little younger right now and chances are they may lose interest. The family member happens to be my son so I don't mind supplying a camera.
 
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The key features for teaching a young person photography would be video and internet connectivity. Snapbridge works well with the D7500 and video capability is reasonably good. It's a good camera to learn photography - especially one or two tricks that are hard or impossible with a smartphone.
 
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My wife uses D810 D850 for weddings and I just set it and tape up the dials and off she goes ..does not even know where the battery is ..takes great photos with it. The camera is just an extension of your arm you dont need any technical knowledge to compose an image
 
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A fast learner will grow frustrated with a less capable body after a while. He will want to change certain settings and continuously diving into menus will be frustrating.
A more capable body like the D7500 makes numerous adjustments easier with configurable buttons and more external controls. I do not believe for a minute a D7500 is too complex for a beginner. For those who want to start easy the camera has all the automatic settings that a lesser body has so he does not have to feel intimidated by all the versatility offered by the D7500. It is absolutely a camera anyone can grow into and become a very capable photographer.
 
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Pistnbroke said:
My wife uses D810 D850 for weddings and I just set it and tape up the dials and off she goes ..does not even know where the battery is ..takes great photos with it. The camera is just an extension of your arm you dont need any technical knowledge to compose an image
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To some extent I agree with you. By pre-setting the camera it would be possible for someone with limited camera knowledge, but with a creative streak, to capture great pictures. I would worry though if the main photographer at a wedding is not experienced enough to operate and adjust the camera under changing conditions necessitating changing settings. Back in the day when I was a youngster, just married, a number of acquaintances and friends asked me to take their wedding photos for them. These were all folks who did not have the funds to hire a professional.

Photography was my main hobby even then so they had all seen some of my work. One thing I'm not good at is to find the best places, positions and poses for people to make the most of every shoot. That's where my wife was invaluable. She has a very creative talent. She went on each wedding shoot with me and selected the place and pose for the formal shoots of the couple, their friends and family.

With us working together each wedding shoot was successful enough in that everybody was satisfied. I could not have done that on my own. In each case I provided the people the 4X6 prints and negatives and did not charge them for the work. I just asked them to pay for the film. I viewed the work put into the shoot as my wedding gift to them.
 
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I'm not sending them off to weddings we're just doing wildlife and landscape shots so they can learn. I know the d7500 because of the auto personality plus the ability to go and increments into being able to use the camera like I do. I was just contemplating trying to teach them on the d500 but I think that they would not get as much enjoyment out of the camera like that because right out of the gate I'm going to have to do all the setting up and I think they would get frustrated and walk away from it. I think basically I was trying to justify keeping the d7500 and dd500 and getting the d850. Well I just got a message that even though they say they're in stock that they're not in stock with the d850, so at the moment it's a moot point. I appreciate it, but I saw the comment about a d3500. I can't see using a low IQ body when I have a high IQ body that will start in automatic and work its way up. Plus I already own it. As I said I do appreciate any comments.
 
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MYount said:
Considering I already own the d7500 and it has the same automatic capability as the previous models it is. Also my son will be using my lenses while we are out. Thank you for the input. I appreciate all comments.
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You did not say it was your Son! That changes everything. Keep the D7500 and use that. Maybe one day it will make a great birthday present for him. I got my first camera when I was 7 years old.
 
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I think it makes sense to keep the D7500 for now for that purpose. assuming your son is a teenager, he will probably feel a little more invested if he feels like it’s his camera compared to just borrowing your D500. It will also be easier as it can remain setup for him. Keep in mind you will probably have to push him a little to learn initially, but try to go at his pace so he doesn’t get frustrated. it can be overwhelming with all the settings and composition. One other option would be, if you think he will stick with it, would be to trade the D7500 for a mirrorless camera like a Z50, or used Z6. Being able to see how the image looks in the viewfinder may make it easier to learn and the ability to shoot video might at another point of interest for him.
 
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I more or less equate teaching someone about photography as being similar to teaching someone how to play guitar. There are multiple schools of thought but I can simplify them into two primary camps. 1) teach them about music theory and work that into playing songs, 2) teach them to play a few simple songs and then work music theory into the songs. Method 1 gets them to understand music and how the songs are put together but new students can quickly become bored and lose interest. Method 2 the student has no idea how the song is created or why they are using G, C, D as the primary chords in the song they are playing. However, over time the instructor can start talking about key signatures, sharps vs. flats, circle of fifths, etc.

OK photography, similar schools 1) teach them about elements of exposure, composition, color wheels, depth of field, diffraction, etc. 2) set the camera on "P" or "Auto" and let them start creating photographs and in reviewing the photos, work in the concepts of exposure, composition, etc.

Like with music, the really curious and motivated will stick with you in method 1 but many will lose interest. They just want to play a few songs around the campfire (take some photos) at first and as they progress, the finer details (music theory / exposure / composition) can be worked in.

Doesn't answer the original question but leads to my thinking on it. Since the OP already has the D7500, if it were my money I'd keep it and use it to teach the new student (son?) photography. I'd set the thing in "P" or "Auto" and go out taking photos with him. As they get experience in handling the equipment, they will soon start asking why their photo doesn't look like they thought it would. That is the open door to start talking about the finer elements of photography.

Just my 2 cents (OK, quarter) worth.
 
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I have both the D850 and the D500 and I use both of them when I go out shooting. The term "backup" does not apply for me. I usually have a Nikon 500mm f5.6 pf lens on the D 500 and a Nikon 300mm or a 70-200mm or a 200mm macro lens on the D850. That ay I am prepared to shoot whatever appears. The D500 can shoot at 10 fps; the D 850 cannot match this speed.
 
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For a newbie a less expensive and more consumer oriented camera will produce better results using the provided picture modes. Great when someone starting out can choose Flower and get a perfect flash shot that has a black background or use Sunset to provide fill for a subject with their back to the sun. Important that people get good results without having to spend a lot of time dealing with camera settings. Sports mode works well enough and no knowledge is needed of f-stops and shutter speeds and ISO settings.

A camera I have often recommended in the past was the Nikon D5300 that like the D6 that costs 10x as much has built-in GPS to geotag shots automatically.
 
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I got back into photography a couple years ago with a D3500, and used it on our trip to Alaska. I got some great shots but also missed some because the method to change some of the settings was a bit cumbersome. When we got back I sold that and b ought a D7500. After using it a few weeks I wished I has started with it in the first place.
 
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