I got the D500 after listening to you and a few others, almost a year now with it. My main conclusion was it's a really capable camera, but my other concern was that I didn't want huge files that my computer could barely process. If I want to do a large landscape I'll just take many photos and post process them. I've had better luck with birds and such, was a big move up from the d5100.
You are the only one online witch make me stop the god dam video 5 times in 10 minutes to take notes about technical stuff. I am actually a student in a photography program and I consider your content as an extra weekly classes. Thanks for this stuff Ken. You fuckin nails it every time. Peace out ✌🏼
hello ken you are one of those miracle people that our world needs more. it maybe irrelevant but i really like to learn more things besides cameras from you. much more important things such as the meaning of life , why do we live , how could you confront , tolerate or handle your wifes death of cancer(though i know it is personal). words cant explain how much i appreciate your effort and honesty you put into your videos. whoever you are , you are honest , and after all thats the only thing that matters. i am a psychiatrist and found your identity, charisma , and character so mature and out of this world.wish you best possible things.though im curious after all these experiences in different aspects of life what your wishes could possibly be . take care , keep on great work ken
Just because you can afford new equipment doesn’t mean you can use it or it will elevate you in competency over others who don’t. Knowledge of photo art and equipment are not mutually exclusive. My opinion.
In addition, the crop sensor cameras only use the optically correct center 50% of a lens. Almost all lenses are less sharp at the edges than at the center. Most full-frame exclusive users tend to forget that fact.
Unless I have good lighting my crop sensor 24 mp D7200 looks mushy and brings less detail than my 16 mp Df full frame. I tested them filling the frame with the Df set at 6400 ISO and the D7200 only at 800 ISO on a cloud covered day. That a 3 stop advantage! When using a 500 or 600mm on a crop, it is not easy to quickly spot a bird flying by fast.
I think I’m the only one shooting a d500 for (gasp wait for it....) portraits! Yes I know the crop factor blah blah blah. Throw an 85 prime on it and you’ll never convince me that a crop can’t shoot a portrait.
Jason Rushing You are not the only one, Jason! I shot over 35 seniors last fall with an x-t2 and my beloved d500. Lots of happy moms! I use a 50mm f1.4 D with my d500. It’s a nice, light combo. I’ll have to try the 85 though.
You can shoot a portrait with lots of things. FF bodies deliver slightly better results than APS-C when comparing results from the same lens, but it's not world-changing or anything. Being able to produce flattering light and getting good facial expressions from your subject are MUCH more important than sensor size when it comes to portraits.
I rented a D850 from Murphy's last weekend. It was my first extended use of the camera. The AF was insane; I don't think I had a single out of focus shot all weekend. But, as you say, a much smaller spread than APS-C.
@@KenTheoriaApophasis Yessir. But the Lex store has to get the D850 body sent over from Louisville. Worth it. Killer camera body. Now I gotta go rob a bank so I can buy one...
Ya know...no matter what anyone's opinion YOU ARE A plethora of not just valid, BUT USEFUL INFORMATION...kinna like a politician talks doodoo and then you say here's the truth. And in such a simple manner......kudos and thank you as always.
I saw a comment on youtube the other day say you should pick up a Z7 over a D850 because it is "built for the future" and can take CF express cards. People are dumb. Are people picking up cameras just based on what memory cards they take?!? lol
I would to an extent but the d850 is a much better camera. I understand buying the d5 dual xqd over the d5 dual cf but that person is probably a kid. The d850 has a much better buffer than the z7
The D7200 is a wonderful camera. while it is not as fast as the D500, it has the most readable top LCD ever with no bullshit on it. Its ergonomics are also quite good. Only downside is the mode dial, I hate those and its my only camera that has it.
I like the autofocus coverage in the D500 vs the Nikon Full Frames. If I place the subject towards the edges of the frame I know there is a AF sensor somewhere in the neighborhood. As my eyes get older, this is something I consider. Especially with fast long glass. But I also love the combination of full frame and all the choices of wide angle lenses for the Nikon system. I love the look of my 24mm on full frame. So maybe this isn't a "vs." For this guy, it is a "you need both!" or a "why choose!"
I have both D850 and D500 , I never compare them, each has different function. Sport and fast action D500, and others D850. Both are made for especial purpose.
im coming from a d7100, i feel like the d500 will be enough for me,,, what will be the biggest features i would be leaving out if i choose the d500 over the 850 besides the obvious FX
Ken, I really appreciate how you actually talk about what matters in cameras (pixel pitch and S&N) instead of other people who just talk about wifi and how deep the grip is. I wrote a research paper about how the megapixel wars are basically bullshit these days and u introduced me to many of the concepts I talked about. So all that to say, thank you!
so i was choosing between d500 and d850. an investment. i do a lot of gymnastics. i needed a faster frame rate. i shoot this kind of sports with nikon d750 and i also have a d7000. using 70-200. so the d750 is full frame and the focal range is great for this kind of photography but it only gets 6,5 fps. i tried shooting on d7000, but 70-200 turns to 105-300 and i often would not fit the subject in the frame when she is near me. so i realized i cannot get d500 because it is cropped even making 10 fps. so i went for d850 and i bought original grip and charger and that crazy expensive battery chamber and two original batteries, all of that to get 9 fps and have a full frame body. now i will be ready for the new gymnastics season. expensive investment but sure worth the money.
Recently got a D500 for 500$. It’s in incredible shape. Only negative is the shutter has 195k actuations which is no big deal to me. Looking to get the 17-55 later this month 😈
store keepers tried to sell me 750,810, 850 but no one mentioned D500. but i waited for 1 month did a full research and D500 was a winner. its so far the best camera i have ever used. i could have bought D850 or D5 but did i really needed that. instead i went for 2 D500 and still had money to buy sweet crisp set of prime lenses & a 70-200. iam expanding my photography business will be buying 4 more of these d500. i shoot fashion, events, weddings and film documentaries and brand commercials. i dnt care about video autofocus(as its a bit crappy honestly)but i prefer manual or use follow focus.
I was looking for something to replace my d750 after getting into for wildlife and needing more reach. Considerd both and almost went for a used D500. Ended up going for a used D850 since it could cover both ends of the spectrum and allow me to get rid of the D750. Yes, I dont have the bottomless buffer but I hardly shoot that many shots without even a short break.
I shoot wildlife and use both these cameras depending on the task at hand. The D500 for BIF just can't be beat and I never have buffer issues with it. The D500 does blow out highlights much worse than the D850 as you mentioned. Only thing I can think of to add would be the shutter is way quieter on the D500 and in some cases that matters. But the D850 has the totally silent mode in live view that I use sometimes and its fantastic for really long lens shots at low shutter speeds. Good review Ken.
I really didn't realize just how much louder it was until my Jan trip to Ding Darling and was shooting both one on tripod one on shoulder. Next time I need to schedule my trip better so I might run into you there just missed you apparently this time. Keep up those no BS reviews, someones got to do it! :)
I have said it before but YOU were the reason as to why I purchased the D500 when it first dropped...once I watched that first D500 review, I knew the D500 was the better choice for me rather than the D750! I am waiting on your review of the upcoming D(6) before deciding whether I will purchase it or the D850.
D500 is quite a bit lighter to carry around. D850 in crop mode is actually slightly less than the D500 at 19 versus 20 megapixels. Mark Smith has been getting some amazing bird images with his D850. I have both cameras. I still have one D800
I subscribe to you and Steve Perry, and have bought a D850 and D500 on informed decisions by yourselves. Oh, and various lenses as well, and I’m very happy. Thank you.👍
I'm seriously considering a D500 for aviation. I use D5 and D4s' for my sports work and both have given me great aviation images BUT I'm having to do large crops, reducing file size. I use a 300mm f2.8 and 400mm f2.8 for my sports. Waving a 400mm f2.8 around is near impossible so opt for the 300mm f2.8 occasionally with the TC-14 MK2 but I'm yet to be convinced with the image quality of this combo. Using a D500 and 300mm f.2 8 would help with the crop factor. I also wonder if a D850 or even a D810 would be a better option but would need to do large crops in post. I've heard such good things about the D500. I already have a spare XQD cards and a D4s/D5 battery for the grip. Sometimes, I with they would update the old D2x and make a pro spec DX body with built in grip and weather seals.
Nikon D6: 24mp BSI sensor NO AA FILTER Dual Expeed 6 (just like Canon with it's 1dx II) Dedicated AF processor Same D5 body ergonomics ISO 100-406800 (no extended mode) Full silent shooting Full touchscreen (including menu) Dual pixel af More af points with 75% cover What else?
To make it the latest ultimate low-light monster, I'd keep it at 20.8mp and add BSI, better still, drop it to 16mp and add BSI. The rest of your list looks good.
I tried that for a while. You will badly underexpose some images doing that. Highlight weighted is mainly if your subject is brighter than your background, like a white bird flying against a blue sky. I keep mine in matrix metering most of the time and just use the exposure comp at minus 1 or 3/4
d500 faster af may be irrelevant even for sport shooting with 200mm - your target will be, say, ~20m away, you shoot at f8 and your hyperfocal distance will be 5m, just keep the subject in frame, it should be all in focus any time... buffer depth is the only advantage left (vs. 4 extra Mpixels)
@@andreik3096 I rarely shoot sports at f/8... love the 2.8 bokeh, avoids poles coming out of people's heads and other unwanted background issues... plus, faster shutter speed for stopping action better. The only time I lower that f/stop is when I want more depth of field or need a slower shutter, like panning in track and field or other intentional motion blur effects.
Once again you are stating half-true statements. The D850 can be as versatile as the D500 is. The reason for that is the D850 can be set for DX format and mimic exactly the D500 crop sensor so called advantages. You are saying the buffer on the 500 is larger than the D850. They have the same memory capacity (in GB), but of course the buffer on the D500 can hold up to 200 RAW DX pictures, versus 170 for the D850 in FX mode. Now if you set the D850 in DX mode than the buffer can accept 200 pictures. The only thing the D850 can’t exactly compare with the D500 is the maximum continuous high speed of 10 frames per seconds. The D850 maximum rate is 7 fps but can reach 9 fps if very expensive optional equipment is added (MB-D18 Power pack ($400) + EN-EL18b Battery ($220), MH-26aAK charger ($370). So which camera is better if cost is not a factor? the D850 of course
thinking about helmut newton who in his last days used 5mpix m43 olympus e1 and i'd guess he's sold pix made with it for more than any of us would sell in whole life with any zillion pix nikon :-P www.dpreview.com/forums/post/20241443
Any opinions on D500 vs D750? Still using my D90 for walk around family shooting. Need to update to something that can also shot indoor volleyball. (Low light action). I'll also need a new walk around lens and sports lens.
Love it!!! Here is my question, $1000.00 more gets you a D850. Focus spread, if you need it for action, can't you just put the 850 into crop mode? You would have the best of both worlds that way.
Theoria Apophasis, I'm so happy you brought up "autofocus spread" on the D850 because I have a question about this I can't seen to find the answer to. I know the D500 has faster AF, but just in terms of AF spread, wouldn't the D850 have way better AF spread in DX mode than it does in FX mode? So wouldn't that theoretically give you better edge to edge tracking in DX? I know this probably won't make up for the other factors that make the D500 better for AF hit rates, but just in terms of the spread, can the D850 AF tracking work better in DX?
I always learn something new when I come back through to your videos, Ken. Thank you. I have both and this helps me decide which part of a wedding day I should use which camera for.
I’m a beginner photographer, I just recently purchased a NIKON D850 because I’m very serious about getting into photography. I want to learn from the ground up and someday grow it into a business. I recently built a studio in my garage and I’m looking to do a plethora of different types of photography. I need a serious recommendation though. I want to buy about 3 of the best portraits lenses, and 3 of the best lenses for events like weddings and parties. Please reply to this post I’ve watched all your videos but you recommend a lot of different lenses and sometimes I’m a little confused on which ones work the best for which type of situation.
have the D500, it is great, with the 17-55 2.8 it is great to do event/ band photoing,thanks for your great videos you are so full of knowledge ! God bless you, al
I have both D7100 and D500, both great cameras, thanks for your advice on the D500 way back which helped me decide to buy it, works a treat as you well know. Peace out ...
Hi Ken. May I have your opinion please? I am suffering from paralysis by analysis on the FujiFilm cameras. I'm having trouble looking at a Fuji for Nature Landscapes and Wildlife/Birding photography specifically. It gets too expensive too fast if I want more reach than a 55-200MM XF or the 55-230XC. I am trying to convince myself I can just edit/enlarge the Fuji photos (and even the videos) emulating their larger lenses because its for Web production or RUclips publishing. Would that work? Or, would I do better with a used D500 with, for example, a Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD All-In-One Telephoto Lens or similar lens. Combined they are a similar price as a T-2 with a XF55-200. And would I get more versatility with the Tamron or is it a shit lens... LOL?? This is not easy stuff to figure out. The D500 was recommended several times by other birders and the Tamron lens is not too expensive brand new (I have not looked at refurbished prices yet).
well nikon has most ALL the hardcore glass for wildlife that fuji does NOT have, that much is obvious....... best value for (NOT LANDSCAPES) birding etc, would be a used D500 , 200-500, 300mm f4.... yes yes, tammy 18-400, but thats not my first pick for doing wildlife honestly ......no the tamron is FAR from a shit lens, its made better than the likewise nikkors are.
Hi Ken good video on some misconceptions. Need opinion for buying camera for wildlife specially birds, but stuck between d7200 and d500. Except budget ,what major things will be missing on d7200 against d500.With a combo with Nikon 200-500.
Sunit Sharma The weather sealing is better on the D500 and you can customise more buttons when shooting wildlife without taking your eye away from the viewfinder
As mentioned in a couple of videos stating that the D500 blows the highlights easier than other Nikon cameras of late, has the issue ever stopped an owner of a D500 from getting a shot or perfect result?
@@cc7942 I respectfully disagree. The size of the spread of AF points is fixed, in crop mode you are basically not using the outer area of the sensor, so you are cutting out the area of the sensor that is not covered by AF points.
I appreciate the long video. I love gaining knowledge especially before buying. I wish I spent different before I bought my d610 and the 28mm nikkor. Keep dropping the dimes and I will spend the dollars 🙏🏾.
Nikon should launch D500s and D850s to keep the old F mount alive! For now I'm looking at the Fujifilm XT 3 though I have many Nikkor lenses but a new D500s with a BSI sensor and a few more pixels would definitely be interesting for many. The Z series is not for the active amateur at the moment!
@@jeepjoseph9036 well, a new version is needed anyway and in line with Nikon's nomenclature "D850s" would be the obvious notation. That would also allow for a third and final version of it in the future as "D850t", though Nikon seems to be asleep these days, unfortunately!
13:08 had someone argue with me that my d3500 was in the same playing field as a d500 and that they were both beginner and entry level. They also argued that full frame is better than medium format
D500 is a flagship camera with 4K, 250 flash synch, 10fps, and other pro features... not even close to an entry-level camera. Some people just like to innaccurately lump all DX sensor cameras into one category. Remember when the D1, D1h, and D2h were crop sensor cameras? They were still flagship pro bodies.
Ken this might be an extremely naive question but if the D850 can be configured into a DX mode (this I assume is software mediated) then couldn’t the software also be adjusted to increase the megapixels available from the 20mp available at the moment?
i know this might be a dumb question but do the still pics taken on the d500 form in 1080 or 4k? i know the d500 can do video in 4k or 1080 but what do the still pictures come out in? 4k or 1080 or can you choose either one?
Finally an honest review that I can lean against. Theres nothing stopping those new tubers from becoming "experts" after owning theire first dslr. I myself studied a lot of photography by self study, book collecting, working in dark rooms with conventinal film cameras where you cannot take 20picture series and select the keepers to take credit for. You had to plan the picture. One thing that really bothers me though is people talking about what a fine "bokeh" every lens presents when they actually only are talking about the out of focus background. To me, and from what I learned the bokeh is a completely detailless background from the smeared out background from using meadium formats and cameras with the correct lens, aparture and sensor or shutter opening. The medium formats have a narrower depth of sharpness hence the bokeh, while smaller sensors or shutter openings have higher depth of sharpness and therefore no real bokeh. So with that in mind I would say that a full frame might have an advantage agains cropped. And even more beneficial to have an medium format like hasselblad or mamiya, leaf etc for getting nice bokeh. But all those random youtube experts that claims that they have a nice bokeh with just blurred background details make me almost vomit. Bokeh is an expression that is reserved for really accent an extraordenary visual composition and should not be used for general out of focus backgrounds.. Sorry for going of topic, but it still leaves me with the question regarding your opinion touching the cropped sensor vs field of view and sharpness. I think its harder to achieve a nice bokeh worth its name with a small sensor or even fx sensor. Maybe with a great telephoto with a low apature size. Cheers from sweden
One problem with T-S lens is that you really need a tripod, and most of the time people do not want to carry a tripod. I get better results making a panoramas with a medium telephoto lens, which has less barrel distortion than a wide angle. I use my 70-200 the most for panorama shots, which I roll into portrait mode.
Wouldn’t you say the d850 is better for portrait? Thanks for a grest channel.
6 лет назад
Would the D500 be good for shooting portraits? I was thinking about getting either a d810 or a d500. I shoot mainly portraits and street. But sometimes I happen to shoot concerts and events also.
Today I've shot with the 200-500 with TC 1.7 on d500 at maximum focal length at 1/100 s f11. IMAGE WAS PERFECTLY SHARP. And the AF still worked very well. Goddamn the 200-500 is really the best telephoto is actually on market
D850 is the best of both worlds for me. If I can get close enough, I get a glorious 45MP image. If not, I crop down and get the same output I'd get with the D500. Wish the D850 was a bit lighter, but that's about it. Also, one really nice feature with the D850 is being able to use EFCS and Qc mode together. I've found this enables me to get good results with the flaky VR (at slow shutter speeds) on the PF lenses. Thinking a bit more about this....I'd say if you only want one, do-it-all camera, get the D850. However, if you want the best of both worlds, just get them both. I see the D500 is available gray market for a little over $1100. The new APS MILC, the Z50, is just as much with the FTZ adapter, and it severely lacks features. Funny how the "older" cameras are still a lot better than Nikon's ML offerings.
I agree. I had both cameras... sold the D500 and kept the D7200.... I could see better image quality with the D7200. It is a small difference but you can see it.
@@GRJCLyon The D500 does not have an AA filter and produces better quality images at higher ISO values, the D7200 also does not have an AA filter and produces marginally better image quality at lower ISO values. The D500 has a much bigger buffer, shoots twice as fast in 14bit lossless compressed RAW, has a far superior AF system, has better ergonomics, produces more natural and neutral colours (the D7200 is a bit too warm, but not as bad as Nikon's full frame cameras in that regard) and feels more solid, dependable and enjoyable to use in just about every way. I own, use and love both cameras but the D7200 is my secondary camera due to the D500 simply being the better of the two.
Interesting. I have a D7500 which has the same sensor & processor as the D500. Do you reckon that the D7200 has better image quality (are we talking cleaner looking at higher ISO settings)?
@@koolkutz7 The D500 is better than the D7200 at higher ISO's. The D7200 only has marginally better image quality up to around ISO 400 in my experience.
excellent video and a honest opinion on FX and DX cameras i sold my D3s and bought a D7200 for general photography and now iam thinking of buying a D500 for sports and wildlife photography. thats my main genre of photography. please keep up the honest opinion and gives us good videos. iam from india thanks
Another great video. I use the D850’s with the 85mm PC lens in the studio for product shoots 99% of the time. Mainly so I can stop down to f45 if needed and to control focus plane.
Hi. I shoot a lot of aviation especially low flying fast jets. Within my budget I can get A new D500 or a used D4. Either one will be used with the Nikon 200-500 5.6 Which one is going to give the better image quality overall do you think?
I've used both the D850 and the D500 for wildlife and portrait work in the past. If I do portrait work, I go with the D850. Not a big surprise there. But if I'm shooting wildlife, 9 out of 10 times I grab my D500. That camera is literally the perfect camera for me.
I would love to see you do a comparison of the D850 and Sony A9. Which would you get if you were starting new and had no investment in either brand? Are you on board with mirroless?
Do you think the D850 should have had IBIS or is it more problematic than beneficial? As in, is it worth it or does it just introduce more things that could go wrong?
When you said wildlife photographer, I immediately guessed Steve Perry. Such a good guy and a really good mentor.
SidewindeR he is!
Same here. Steve is a household name for wildlife photo shoots.
I got the D500 after listening to you and a few others, almost a year now with it. My main conclusion was it's a really capable camera, but my other concern was that I didn't want huge files that my computer could barely process. If I want to do a large landscape I'll just take many photos and post process them. I've had better luck with birds and such, was a big move up from the d5100.
Love my D500, just ordered a 16-80 lens on your recommendation from Robert’s. Keep on telling us the truth
Doesn't that lens suck?
You are the only one online witch make me stop the god dam video 5 times in 10 minutes to take notes about technical stuff. I am actually a student in a photography program and I consider your content as an extra weekly classes. Thanks for this stuff Ken. You fuckin nails it every time. Peace out ✌🏼
extra weekly class ROFL ROFL
D850+D500 the dynamic duo of DSLR photography! The best of both worlds...
instablaster
I would never let my D500 go for $1100. I would dig a hole in my back yard and bury it first.
I bought it new for 1600 in December 2017 so I guess that's not a bad price
You could get some cool macro dirt photos in the process ^^
Live videos of worms going by
I found a 16-80 bundled with a d500 in 9+ condition at b+h for 1447.50
hello ken
you are one of those miracle people that our world needs more.
it maybe irrelevant but i really like to learn more things besides cameras from you.
much more important things such as the meaning of life , why do we live , how could you confront , tolerate or handle your wifes death of cancer(though i know it is personal).
words cant explain how much i appreciate your effort and honesty you put into your videos.
whoever you are , you are honest , and after all thats the only thing that matters.
i am a psychiatrist and found your identity, charisma , and character so mature and out of this world.wish you best possible things.though im curious after all these experiences in different aspects of life what your wishes could possibly be .
take care , keep on great work ken
Just because you can afford new equipment doesn’t mean you can use it or it will elevate you in competency over others who don’t. Knowledge of photo art and equipment are not mutually exclusive. My opinion.
As always - your videos have the best and most brutal honesty! Love my D500 to this day and thank you
In addition, the crop sensor cameras only use the optically correct center 50% of a lens. Almost all lenses are less sharp at the edges than at the center. Most full-frame exclusive users tend to forget that fact.
Unless I have good lighting my crop sensor 24 mp D7200 looks mushy and brings less detail than my 16 mp Df full frame. I tested them filling the frame with the Df set at 6400 ISO and the D7200 only at 800 ISO on a cloud covered day. That a 3 stop advantage! When using a 500 or 600mm on a crop, it is not easy to quickly spot a bird flying by fast.
I think I’m the only one shooting a d500 for (gasp wait for it....) portraits! Yes I know the crop factor blah blah blah. Throw an 85 prime on it and you’ll never convince me that a crop can’t shoot a portrait.
Jason Rushing You are not the only one, Jason! I shot over 35 seniors last fall with an x-t2 and my beloved d500. Lots of happy moms! I use a 50mm f1.4 D with my d500. It’s a nice, light combo. I’ll have to try the 85 though.
You can shoot a portrait with lots of things. FF bodies deliver slightly better results than APS-C when comparing results from the same lens, but it's not world-changing or anything. Being able to produce flattering light and getting good facial expressions from your subject are MUCH more important than sensor size when it comes to portraits.
I rented a D850 from Murphy's last weekend. It was my first extended use of the camera. The AF was insane; I don't think I had a single out of focus shot all weekend. But, as you say, a much smaller spread than APS-C.
at Murphys ehhh!!
@@KenTheoriaApophasis Yessir. But the Lex store has to get the D850 body sent over from Louisville. Worth it. Killer camera body. Now I gotta go rob a bank so I can buy one...
One year ago I upgraded to d500 from a d7000 on your recommendation, never looked back
Ya know...no matter what anyone's opinion YOU ARE A plethora of not just valid, BUT USEFUL INFORMATION...kinna like a politician talks doodoo and then you say here's the truth. And in such a simple manner......kudos and thank you as always.
I saw a comment on youtube the other day say you should pick up a Z7 over a D850 because it is "built for the future" and can take CF express cards. People are dumb. Are people picking up cameras just based on what memory cards they take?!? lol
I would to an extent but the d850 is a much better camera. I understand buying the d5 dual xqd over the d5 dual cf but that person is probably a kid. The d850 has a much better buffer than the z7
The D7200 is a wonderful camera. while it is not as fast as the D500, it has the most readable top LCD ever with no bullshit on it. Its ergonomics are also quite good. Only downside is the mode dial, I hate those and its my only camera that has it.
I like the autofocus coverage in the D500 vs the Nikon Full Frames. If I place the subject towards the edges of the frame I know there is a AF sensor somewhere in the neighborhood. As my eyes get older, this is something I consider. Especially with fast long glass. But I also love the combination of full frame and all the choices of wide angle lenses for the Nikon system. I love the look of my 24mm on full frame. So maybe this isn't a "vs." For this guy, it is a "you need both!" or a "why choose!"
still with my D500 love it (Im back from vacation too man lots of your videos to catch up on)
I have both D850 and D500 , I never compare them, each has different function. Sport and fast action D500, and others D850. Both are made for especial purpose.
im coming from a d7100, i feel like the d500 will be enough for me,,, what will be the biggest features i would be leaving out if i choose the d500 over the 850 besides the obvious FX
Ken, I really appreciate how you actually talk about what matters in cameras (pixel pitch and S&N) instead of other people who just talk about wifi and how deep the grip is. I wrote a research paper about how the megapixel wars are basically bullshit these days and u introduced me to many of the concepts I talked about. So all that to say, thank you!
I’ve noticed the highlight blow out with the D500 doing aviation photography with white planes. For birds never been an issue.
so i was choosing between d500 and d850. an investment. i do a lot of gymnastics. i needed a faster frame rate. i shoot this kind of sports with nikon d750 and i also have a d7000. using 70-200. so the d750 is full frame and the focal range is great for this kind of photography but it only gets 6,5 fps. i tried shooting on d7000, but 70-200 turns to 105-300 and i often would not fit the subject in the frame when she is near me. so i realized i cannot get d500 because it is cropped even making 10 fps. so i went for d850 and i bought original grip and charger and that crazy expensive battery chamber and two original batteries, all of that to get 9 fps and have a full frame body. now i will be ready for the new gymnastics season. expensive investment but sure worth the money.
I'm using D850 and D500
I love this channel, no beating the bushes, no BS, only real substance !
Recently got a D500 for 500$. It’s in incredible shape. Only negative is the shutter has 195k actuations which is no big deal to me. Looking to get the 17-55 later this month 😈
store keepers tried to sell me 750,810, 850 but no one mentioned D500. but i waited for 1 month did a full research and D500 was a winner. its so far the best camera i have ever used. i could have bought D850 or D5 but did i really needed that. instead i went for 2 D500 and still had money to buy sweet crisp set of prime lenses & a 70-200. iam expanding my photography business will be buying 4 more of these d500. i shoot fashion, events, weddings and film documentaries and brand commercials. i dnt care about video autofocus(as its a bit crappy honestly)but i prefer manual or use follow focus.
fashion and events, and weddings, ....... D850 is the better choice of all of those.
Ken love your videos so honest and accurate compared with so many RUclips channels and my D500 is favourite dslr.
I was looking for something to replace my d750 after getting into for wildlife and needing more reach. Considerd both and almost went for a used D500. Ended up going for a used D850 since it could cover both ends of the spectrum and allow me to get rid of the D750. Yes, I dont have the bottomless buffer but I hardly shoot that many shots without even a short break.
I'm one who probably asked a number of times about d850 vs d500 - thanks for this video - focus spread - cool! will check it out. As always Thank you!
Love my D850. I use it for portrait mostly with my tamron 70-200 g2 and xplor 600 pro. ❤️
I have a D850 and I just bought a D500 for sports and wildlife. I love the 850 and looking forward to using the 500.
I shoot wildlife and use both these cameras depending on the task at hand. The D500 for BIF just can't be beat and I never have buffer issues with it. The D500 does blow out highlights much worse than the D850 as you mentioned. Only thing I can think of to add would be the shutter is way quieter on the D500 and in some cases that matters. But the D850 has the totally silent mode in live view that I use sometimes and its fantastic for really long lens shots at low shutter speeds. Good review Ken.
thats cause the D850 is alllllllllll magnesium chassis and the shutter rings the body :)
I really didn't realize just how much louder it was until my Jan trip to Ding Darling and was shooting both one on tripod one on shoulder. Next time I need to schedule my trip better so I might run into you there just missed you apparently this time. Keep up those no BS reviews, someones got to do it! :)
I have said it before but YOU were the reason as to why I purchased the D500 when it first dropped...once I watched that first D500 review, I knew the D500 was the better choice for me rather than the D750! I am waiting on your review of the upcoming D(6) before deciding whether I will purchase it or the D850.
i doubt the D6 will drop before late this year
Theoria Apophasis No worries...I can wait...it’s going to take a hot minute to save up $7000 any way...in the mean time, my D4S will hold me over!
Shoutout to Steve Perry! His books are incredible too.
hes Capt Happy pants, everyone loves him
Yeah, his books are excellent. Also, his video testing lens filters is one of the best photography videos ever.
Refurb's on D7500 going for 599.00 right now. Great deal!
well I was on the fence between the D850 and the D500 (I currently shoot with the D610). You made up my mind.. D500 to go with my 200-500! Thanks!!
D500 is quite a bit lighter to carry around. D850 in crop mode is actually slightly less than the D500 at 19 versus 20 megapixels. Mark Smith has been getting some amazing bird images with his D850. I have both cameras. I still have one D800
Still shoot my D500 constantly even though I own a D850.
I subscribe to you and Steve Perry, and have bought a D850 and D500 on informed decisions by yourselves. Oh, and various lenses as well, and I’m very happy. Thank you.👍
bless U :P
Same! except 15-30 G2 instead of d500
I'm seriously considering a D500 for aviation. I use D5 and D4s' for my sports work and both have given me great aviation images BUT I'm having to do large crops, reducing file size. I use a 300mm f2.8 and 400mm f2.8 for my sports. Waving a 400mm f2.8 around is near impossible so opt for the 300mm f2.8 occasionally with the TC-14 MK2 but I'm yet to be convinced with the image quality of this combo. Using a D500 and 300mm f.2 8 would help with the crop factor. I also wonder if a D850 or even a D810 would be a better option but would need to do large crops in post. I've heard such good things about the D500. I already have a spare XQD cards and a D4s/D5 battery for the grip. Sometimes, I with they would update the old D2x and make a pro spec DX body with built in grip and weather seals.
Nikon D6:
24mp BSI sensor
NO AA FILTER
Dual Expeed 6 (just like Canon with it's 1dx II)
Dedicated AF processor
Same D5 body ergonomics
ISO 100-406800 (no extended mode)
Full silent shooting
Full touchscreen (including menu)
Dual pixel af
More af points with 75% cover
What else?
N I C E
bottomless buffer
To make it the latest ultimate low-light monster, I'd keep it at 20.8mp and add BSI, better still, drop it to 16mp and add BSI.
The rest of your list looks good.
I keep my D500 on highlight weighted metering all the time to avoid that one flaw ... then I have an unbeatable all around camera 📷
I tried that for a while. You will badly underexpose some images doing that. Highlight weighted is mainly if your subject is brighter than your background, like a white bird flying against a blue sky. I keep mine in matrix metering most of the time and just use the exposure comp at minus 1 or 3/4
I concur with Dennis on that... or use the Sunny Day Rule in Manual exposure mode, if it applies.
Nikon 7200 and Nikon 200 500 lens. Great combo for under two grand. I honestly would rather spend money on good glass than expensive camera bodies
d500 faster af may be irrelevant even for sport shooting with 200mm - your target will be, say, ~20m away, you shoot at f8 and your hyperfocal distance will be 5m, just keep the subject in frame, it should be all in focus any time... buffer depth is the only advantage left (vs. 4 extra Mpixels)
@@andreik3096 I rarely shoot sports at f/8... love the 2.8 bokeh, avoids poles coming out of people's heads and other unwanted background issues... plus, faster shutter speed for stopping action better. The only time I lower that f/stop is when I want more depth of field or need a slower shutter, like panning in track and field or other intentional motion blur effects.
Once again you are stating half-true statements. The D850 can be as versatile as the D500 is. The reason for that is the D850 can be set for DX format and mimic exactly the D500 crop sensor so called advantages. You are saying the buffer on the 500 is larger than the D850. They have the same memory capacity (in GB), but of course the buffer on the D500 can hold up to 200 RAW DX pictures, versus 170 for the D850 in FX mode. Now if you set the D850 in DX mode than the buffer can accept 200 pictures. The only thing the D850 can’t exactly compare with the D500 is the maximum continuous high speed of 10 frames per seconds. The D850 maximum rate is 7 fps but can reach 9 fps if very expensive optional equipment is added (MB-D18 Power pack ($400) + EN-EL18b Battery ($220), MH-26aAK charger ($370). So which camera is better if cost is not a factor? the D850 of course
thinking about helmut newton who in his last days used 5mpix m43 olympus e1 and i'd guess he's sold pix made with it for more than any of us would sell in whole life with any zillion pix nikon :-P
www.dpreview.com/forums/post/20241443
Why in the hell are you buying a d850 to use dx crop? And no it's not going to have 153 point af in dx crop
Any opinions on D500 vs D750? Still using my D90 for walk around family shooting. Need to update to something that can also shot indoor volleyball. (Low light action). I'll also need a new walk around lens and sports lens.
Love it!!! Here is my question, $1000.00 more gets you a D850. Focus spread, if you need it for action, can't you just put the 850 into crop mode? You would have the best of both worlds that way.
Theoria Apophasis, I'm so happy you brought up "autofocus spread" on the D850 because I have a question about this I can't seen to find the answer to. I know the D500 has faster AF, but just in terms of AF spread, wouldn't the D850 have way better AF spread in DX mode than it does in FX mode? So wouldn't that theoretically give you better edge to edge tracking in DX? I know this probably won't make up for the other factors that make the D500 better for AF hit rates, but just in terms of the spread, can the D850 AF tracking work better in DX?
Good point
At Christmas this year I’m getting the D500 to shoot the hummingbirds visiting my balcony every day.
I always learn something new when I come back through to your videos, Ken. Thank you. I have both and this helps me decide which part of a wedding day I should use which camera for.
Thanks after listening i am happy to have both D500 D850 only lens i have to purchase of Nikkon
I’m a beginner photographer, I just recently purchased a NIKON D850 because I’m very serious about getting into photography. I want to learn from the ground up and someday grow it into a business. I recently built a studio in my garage and I’m looking to do a plethora of different types of photography. I need a serious recommendation though. I want to buy about 3 of the best portraits lenses, and 3 of the best lenses for events like weddings and parties. Please reply to this post I’ve watched all your videos but you recommend a lot of different lenses and sometimes I’m a little confused on which ones work the best for which type of situation.
Curious as to why professionals would use a 7k series over a 500. Weather sealing, build ruggedness and buffering all favor the 500.
Thank you for the brutal honesty! I am now convinced full frames are better 😂
🤣🤣🤣🤣
I own both FX and DX cameras. Not ready for a mirrorless camera yet.
have the D500, it is great, with the 17-55 2.8 it is great to do event/ band photoing,thanks for your great videos you are so full of knowledge ! God bless you, al
My first dslr camera Nikon 780 or D500. Thanks I love your straight forward attitude..ps. If you haven’t reviewed it please do.
I have both D7100 and D500, both great cameras, thanks for your advice on the D500 way back which helped me decide to buy it, works a treat as you well know. Peace out ...
Do you love the d500 for portraits? I have d7100 and could get the d500 if it's better for portraits.
I enjoy your show stating the facts. I own a d500. I needed to review your information so I would not purchase the d850. THANK YOU.
Hi Ken. May I have your opinion please? I am suffering from paralysis by analysis on the FujiFilm cameras. I'm having trouble looking at a Fuji for Nature Landscapes and Wildlife/Birding photography specifically. It gets too expensive too fast if I want more reach than a 55-200MM XF or the 55-230XC. I am trying to convince myself I can just edit/enlarge the Fuji photos (and even the videos) emulating their larger lenses because its for Web production or RUclips publishing. Would that work? Or, would I do better with a used D500 with, for example, a Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD All-In-One Telephoto Lens or similar lens. Combined they are a similar price as a T-2 with a XF55-200. And would I get more versatility with the Tamron or is it a shit lens... LOL?? This is not easy stuff to figure out. The D500 was recommended several times by other birders and the Tamron lens is not too expensive brand new (I have not looked at refurbished prices yet).
well nikon has most ALL the hardcore glass for wildlife that fuji does NOT have, that much is obvious....... best value for (NOT LANDSCAPES) birding etc, would be a used D500 , 200-500, 300mm f4.... yes yes, tammy 18-400, but thats not my first pick for doing wildlife honestly ......no the tamron is FAR from a shit lens, its made better than the likewise nikkors are.
@@KenTheoriaApophasis thx!
I have D800 and D3. Think of trading the D800 to get the D500. I shoot mainly wedding photography. What is your suggestions?
Hi Ken good video on some misconceptions. Need opinion for buying camera for wildlife specially birds, but stuck between d7200 and d500. Except budget ,what major things will be missing on d7200 against d500.With a combo with Nikon 200-500.
Sunit Sharma D500 4K UHD video at up to 30p (3840x2160). D7200 1080p60
@@michaelfuller8940 Thanks for replying. It means except without video and fast shutter speed there isn't much difference.
Sunit Sharma The weather sealing is better on the D500 and you can customise more buttons when shooting wildlife without taking your eye away from the viewfinder
I’ve got a d7200 but am now looking to get a d500 for the far better af system and frame rate...I shoot sports/wildlife
As mentioned in a couple of videos stating that the D500 blows the highlights easier than other Nikon cameras of late, has the issue ever stopped an owner of a D500 from getting a shot or perfect result?
how do the two compare on low light sports? Nighttime sports like HS football etc?
Thanks for helping me to decide on the Wright camera for me.
Would the autofocus spread be the same for both cameras, if D850 is used in crop mode?
The answer is no. You are basically cropping the image like you would do in post when you shoot in crop mode.
@@cc7942 I respectfully disagree. The size of the spread of AF points is fixed, in crop mode you are basically not using the outer area of the sensor, so you are cutting out the area of the sensor that is not covered by AF points.
If Nikon can fix snapbridge to work properly it would make D850 the dogs bxs
Testing D500 with Tamron 10-24 haws performed well for Landscape ( weight, vc, filters etc)
I appreciate the long video. I love gaining knowledge especially before buying. I wish I spent different before I bought my d610 and the 28mm nikkor. Keep dropping the dimes and I will spend the dollars 🙏🏾.
Nikon should launch D500s and D850s to keep the old F mount alive! For now I'm looking at the Fujifilm XT 3 though I have many Nikkor lenses but a new D500s with a BSI sensor and a few more pixels would definitely be interesting for many. The Z series is not for the active amateur at the moment!
The problem is fps and buffer. And I don't think it would be d850s. Wouldn't it be d850e?
@@jeepjoseph9036 "s" is short for second edition and that's what they need, especially now after Canon released the R5 and R6!
@@wsteffen they don't even compete and again d800e so d850e makes more sense
@@jeepjoseph9036 well, a new version is needed anyway and in line with Nikon's nomenclature "D850s" would be the obvious notation. That would also allow for a third and final version of it in the future as "D850t", though Nikon seems to be asleep these days, unfortunately!
13:08 had someone argue with me that my d3500 was in the same playing field as a d500 and that they were both beginner and entry level. They also argued that full frame is better than medium format
D500 is a flagship camera with 4K, 250 flash synch, 10fps, and other pro features... not even close to an entry-level camera. Some people just like to innaccurately lump all DX sensor cameras into one category. Remember when the D1, D1h, and D2h were crop sensor cameras? They were still flagship pro bodies.
@@t.robbrown7976 the d500 is the flagship semi pro and dx body
@@t.robbrown7976 i am suprised my em1 and gh5 don't get hate for being subframe
Ken this might be an extremely naive question but if the D850 can be configured into a DX mode (this I assume is software mediated) then couldn’t the software also be adjusted to increase the megapixels available from the 20mp available at the moment?
I have a D500 with an 18-400mm Tamron attached. Love the combo.
Is it better than Nikkor 18-300
Yes. I cancelled my Z6 order based on your z7 scathing review. Thanks for that.
Why? Did Ken review in his hands the Z6 or Z7? The AF on the Z series was just updated and is up on the D850 level. You missed out.
i know this might be a dumb question but do the still pics taken on the d500 form in 1080 or 4k? i know the d500 can do video in 4k or 1080 but what do the still pictures come out in? 4k or 1080 or can you choose either one?
Finally an honest review that I can lean against. Theres nothing stopping those new tubers from becoming "experts" after owning theire first dslr. I myself studied a lot of photography by self study, book collecting, working in dark rooms with conventinal film cameras where you cannot take 20picture series and select the keepers to take credit for. You had to plan the picture. One thing that really bothers me though is people talking about what a fine "bokeh" every lens presents when they actually only are talking about the out of focus background. To me, and from what I learned the bokeh is a completely detailless background from the smeared out background from using meadium formats and cameras with the correct lens, aparture and sensor or shutter opening. The medium formats have a narrower depth of sharpness hence the bokeh, while smaller sensors or shutter openings have higher depth of sharpness and therefore no real bokeh. So with that in mind I would say that a full frame might have an advantage agains cropped. And even more beneficial to have an medium format like hasselblad or mamiya, leaf etc for getting nice bokeh. But all those random youtube experts that claims that they have a nice bokeh with just blurred background details make me almost vomit. Bokeh is an expression that is reserved for really accent an extraordenary visual composition and should not be used for general out of focus backgrounds.. Sorry for going of topic, but it still leaves me with the question regarding your opinion touching the cropped sensor vs field of view and sharpness. I think its harder to achieve a nice bokeh worth its name with a small sensor or even fx sensor. Maybe with a great telephoto with a low apature size.
Cheers from sweden
One problem with T-S lens is that you really need a tripod, and most of the time people do not want to carry a tripod. I get better results making a panoramas with a medium telephoto lens, which has less barrel distortion than a wide angle. I use my 70-200 the most for panorama shots, which I roll into portrait mode.
quality costs time
Wouldn’t you say the d850 is better for portrait? Thanks for a grest channel.
Would the D500 be good for shooting portraits? I was thinking about getting either a d810 or a d500. I shoot mainly portraits and street. But sometimes I happen to shoot concerts and events also.
Today I've shot with the 200-500 with TC 1.7 on d500 at maximum focal length at 1/100 s f11.
IMAGE WAS PERFECTLY SHARP.
And the AF still worked very well.
Goddamn the 200-500 is really the best telephoto is actually on market
it is amazing, got 2 of em :P
Glad you're back mate.
me too
D850 is the best of both worlds for me. If I can get close enough, I get a glorious 45MP image. If not, I crop down and get the same output I'd get with the D500. Wish the D850 was a bit lighter, but that's about it. Also, one really nice feature with the D850 is being able to use EFCS and Qc mode together. I've found this enables me to get good results with the flaky VR (at slow shutter speeds) on the PF lenses.
Thinking a bit more about this....I'd say if you only want one, do-it-all camera, get the D850. However, if you want the best of both worlds, just get them both. I see the D500 is available gray market for a little over $1100. The new APS MILC, the Z50, is just as much with the FTZ adapter, and it severely lacks features. Funny how the "older" cameras are still a lot better than Nikon's ML offerings.
D7200 are dirt cheap at the moment, Slightly better imager than the D500(just my opinion).
I agree. I had both cameras... sold the D500 and kept the D7200.... I could see better image quality with the D7200. It is a small difference but you can see it.
Agree. You essentially gain a little bit of image quality and lose the insane buffer of the D500 if you get the D7200.
@@GRJCLyon The D500 does not have an AA filter and produces better quality images at higher ISO values, the D7200 also does not have an AA filter and produces marginally better image quality at lower ISO values. The D500 has a much bigger buffer, shoots twice as fast in 14bit lossless compressed RAW, has a far superior AF system, has better ergonomics, produces more natural and neutral colours (the D7200 is a bit too warm, but not as bad as Nikon's full frame cameras in that regard) and feels more solid, dependable and enjoyable to use in just about every way.
I own, use and love both cameras but the D7200 is my secondary camera due to the D500 simply being the better of the two.
Interesting. I have a D7500 which has the same sensor & processor as the D500. Do you reckon that the D7200 has better image quality (are we talking cleaner looking at higher ISO settings)?
@@koolkutz7 The D500 is better than the D7200 at higher ISO's. The D7200 only has marginally better image quality up to around ISO 400 in my experience.
Whats best for %50-50 lansscape and wildlife ? Looking to upgrade from a3400 ive had since release 24mp
excellent video and a honest opinion on FX and DX cameras i sold my D3s and bought a D7200 for general photography and now iam thinking of buying a D500 for sports and wildlife photography. thats my main genre of photography. please keep up the honest opinion and gives us good videos. iam from india thanks
Oh my gawd, upgraded videos to 1080p, im like "why can i see details on your head?" thought my eyes became better LOL
Another great video. I use the D850’s with the 85mm PC lens in the studio for product shoots 99% of the time. Mainly so I can stop down to f45 if needed and to control focus plane.
F45, yer choking me to death there :P
You're almost a member of the f/64 Group 😉
Hi. I shoot a lot of aviation especially low flying fast jets.
Within my budget I can get A new D500 or a used D4.
Either one will be used with the Nikon 200-500 5.6
Which one is going to give the better image quality overall do you think?
2:30 - why are they identical in megapixels? i'm confused. How does cropping making them the same? thanks
the d850 has a cropped mode that is zoomed in and that mode is 20 megapixels while that's just how the d500 is built with the smaller sensor
@@dovahchick yeah makes sense. i'm new to cameras. thanks.
I've used both the D850 and the D500 for wildlife and portrait work in the past. If I do portrait work, I go with the D850. Not a big surprise there. But if I'm shooting wildlife, 9 out of 10 times I grab my D500. That camera is literally the perfect camera for me.
how about for beauty pageants and fashion shows? d500 or d850?
tony richardson would advise you to get a phase one (and some stupid tatoos) :-P
For a step up from D750 (mostly landscape and some wildlife), would you say a used D810 and a used D500, or a D850?
I would love to see you do a comparison of the D850 and Sony A9. Which would you get if you were starting new and had no investment in either brand? Are you on board with mirroless?
d85o cropping down still gets a photo the approx mpix of the d500 that has not been cropped .. Just math .
Have both, use them for different purposes for the most part.... great cameras..
Which one would be better for telephoto concert photography, I've seen the isos are pretty comparable, a least for the price
I love my D500 for wildlife photography!
Nikon D500 vs D750 for general porpose? especially urban / social photography ???
D750
Do you think the D850 should have had IBIS or is it more problematic than beneficial? As in, is it worth it or does it just introduce more things that could go wrong?
photogs dont need IBIS, not a single one.
You never talk about what's better for portraits especially lit ones.