Calson
Well-known member
I did a series of tests of the D5, D500, and D850 using a 80-400mm and 600mm f/4 lens to photography ospreys in flight. There was not difference in autofocus performance between the D500 and the D850. The D5 was noticeably better at tracking and locking focus when the birds were directly approaching the camera.
Photographing terns I found it much easier to use the wider field of view afforded by the D850. With the D500 the birds were often crowded in the frame and more often this would result in a poor image as a result. With the D850 I had more space around the bird and could make a crop in post and still have a 19MP file with more than enough resolution.
With a distant and slow moving subject I have the option of using DX mode with the D850 and have a smaller file size. But in seconds I could switch to FX mode again if I chose to do so. The D850 gives me a FX and a DX camera in one body and a lot more flexibility out in the field.
The D500 is the better value with a native 10 fps but the D850 is the better camera and it should be for the much greater cost to buy it.
Photographing terns I found it much easier to use the wider field of view afforded by the D850. With the D500 the birds were often crowded in the frame and more often this would result in a poor image as a result. With the D850 I had more space around the bird and could make a crop in post and still have a 19MP file with more than enough resolution.
With a distant and slow moving subject I have the option of using DX mode with the D850 and have a smaller file size. But in seconds I could switch to FX mode again if I chose to do so. The D850 gives me a FX and a DX camera in one body and a lot more flexibility out in the field.
The D500 is the better value with a native 10 fps but the D850 is the better camera and it should be for the much greater cost to buy it.