Nikon upgrade time

[Andrew Smith]

Finally I have the money to do my long awaited upgrade to Full Frame from DX.

Current line up;
D7000
D7100
Nikkor 18-300 F3.5-5.6 VR
Nikkor 18-105 F3.5-5.6 VR
Nikkor 10.5
Sigma APO 150-500 OS

If I’m going full frame then I need to get the appropriate glass to go with it.

Am happy to look at good condition used.

So, for the bodies I’m thinking either D810 (used) or D850 although that would stretch the budget. I want 2 bodies ideally the same model But comments on other options welcome.

Lenses is where I need some help please. I would ideally want 1 super wide, 1 big zoom tele and 2 of the FX equivalent of the 18-300.

What would be the equivalent focal lengths for FX glass to give me the same field of view as the DX options above please? Am happy to look at manufacturers other than Nikon for the glass so all suggestions welcome. Again happy to look at used glass.

As for potential suppliers, MPB, Greys of Westminster and Wex are on my list, any other suggestions please? Existing kit can be disposed of separately or I will trade it in so let’s not worry about that at this stage.

Comments welcome.

Thanks.

 

[rob-nikon]

Considering all of your kit bar one lens are for crop cameras have you considered mirrorless? As you are looking to changed everything I’d at least look into mirrorless as it’s the ideal point to make the change when you’re basically swapping systems.

You havent said the two key points which will help people help you, 1/ what you photograph and 2/likely budget.

A full frame equivalent of the 28-300 wI’ll be quite difficult. It would need to be a 27-450mm lens and there isn’t one. The nearest would be the Nikon 28-300mm. Lens selection really depends on what you are doing with it. At the moment I’d keep the sigma 150-500 as it should be full frame compatible and it lets you concentrate on the other lenses.

 

[Andrew Smith]

Considering all of your kit bar one lens are for crop cameras have you considered mirrorless? As you are looking to changed everything I’d at least look into mirrorless as it’s the ideal point to make the change when you’re basically swapping systems.

You havent said the two key points which will help people help you, 1/ what you photograph and 2/likely budget.

A full frame equivalent of the 28-300 wI’ll be quite difficult. It would need to be a 27-450mm lens and there isn’t one. The nearest would be the Nikon 28-300mm. Lens selection really depends on what you are doing with it. At the moment I’d keep the sigma 150-500 as it should be full frame compatible and it lets you concentrate on the other lenses.

I hae Looked at the Nikon 7 series mirrorless but the current lack of lens range puts me off although I know it is early days with this type of technology. I believe that mirrorless will be the way of the future, eventually.

The problem using DX glass on FX bodies is that I won’t get the benefit of the increased resolution and ‘big sensor look’. What other lenses would you suggest to replace my DX glass?

In terms of what I shoot, motorsport, Street photography, architectural, travel and a bit of abstract. Budget - £5k is available, plus the trade in value of the existing kit.

I am aware of the weight increase using FX.

 

[rob-nikon]

I hae Looked at the Nikon 7 series mirrorless but the current lack of lens range puts me off although I know it is early days with this type of technology. I believe that mirrorless will be the way of the future, eventually.

The problem using DX glass on FX bodies is that I won’t get the benefit of the increased resolution and ‘big sensor look’. What other lenses would you suggest to replace my DX glass?

In terms of what I shoot, motorsport, Street photography, architectural, travel and a bit of abstract. Budget - £5k is available, plus the trade in value of the existing kit.

I am aware of the weight increase using FX.

The lack of longer mirrorless lenses on Nikon is potentially an issue but you should be able to adapt DSLR lensEd in the meant time.

I used to be a Nikon user (D7100 to D750 to D810) but I’ve since moved to Sony mirrorless a couple of years. I was rearranging my lenses to reduce size/weight and I worked out I was changing nearly everything so it made sense to consider mirrorless. At the time it felt a better long term investment to change to mirrorless and Sony’s mk3 cameras had started to progress to a level where the general mirrorless problems weren’t as much of an issue. it also helped Sony had all of the lenses I wanted (24-105, 70-200 f4 & 100-400) to replace what I had on Nikon at the time (24-120 f4, 70-200 f4 & 200-400 f4- this was going to downsized as weight was becoming an issue). At the time Nikon had only just released their first mirrorless and their mirrorless lenses were very limited so looking at other manufacturers made sense. Nikon also confirmed the F mount was being replaced with the Z mount.

After so many years with Nikon the Sony cameras still feel a bit weird. Progressing through the Nikon range felt more natural as there is very little change between the look of menus, buttons etc so there is familiarity when changing to the next Nikon model. I don’t regret making the move to Sony as there are some great benefits to mirrorless (shooting completely silently on electronic shutter is amazing). I definitely reduced weight and size by going with the A9, 24-105 and 100-400. I really like not carrying anywhere as much kit as I was (my wildlife lens used to be a Nikon 200-400 f4 which was amazing but very heavy. I never liked carrying it around). Mirrorless full frame lenses are generally the same weight as their Nikon DSLR equivalents.

If I was looking at spending around £5-6K at this moment when manufacturers are starting to progress mirrorless and likely move away from DSLRs I’d definitely be thinking twice about buying into full frame DSLRs, especially if there isn’t much holding me to particular brand. £5-6k is quite a nice budget for a mirrorless setup.

If you’re set on DSLRs the D810 is a good camera. I quite liked the D750 I had too. Lens wise 16-35 f4 may be a good UWA option. There is a 15mm fish eye if you want to keep the fish eye aspect of your 10.5mm lens. Perhaps a 28-300 as it’s supposed to be quite good, but I’d also consider a 70-200 f4 as it’s a nice sharp lens. The Sigma APO 150-500 OS is a full frame lens but is older so perhaps a replacement could be the Nikon 200-500. I wouldn’t keep any crop sensor lens if you are going with a full frame camera. It just doesn’t make any sense.

 

[James Blonde]

I'm assuming you mean the Z series mirrorless, rather than 7 series?

Critical thing to remember with mirrorless is that you can get the FTZ adapter which will convert any normal F mount lens to a Z mount without any obvious penalty. The native Z mount lenses are well rated, so lack of lenses shouldn't be a worry. and the tech isn't that new now. Mirrorless would also allow you to keep the weight and size down more in line with the D7X00s you're used to.

2 x new Z5 would be well within budget - 24mp full frame, in body stabilisation (big benefit of mirrorless) and I've enjoyed using mines for the 2 weeks I've had it - it's a replacement for my D7100. I'm not seeing any obvious downsides to it yet, though the electronic viewfinder does take a bit of getting used to - but that alone is an excellent and powerful tool! 2 card slots too, if that matters to you.

If decent video capability matters at all, you could look at a second hand Z6? I did consider it but video wasn't critical, so I went for the Z5 (and I'm glad I did as it takes an SD card, which the Z6 doesn't)

For lenses, with the Z mount, if you're using general purpose zooms, then the 24-200 Z mount lens is cracking! You can get a Z5 kit with this lens which drops the price a fair amount. MUCH better than any kit / general purpose zoom lens I've had - will blow your 18-105 and 18-300 out the water (I've had the 18-200 on my D7100 for years, and that replaced the 18-105 that you've got). The Z mount has the holy trinity of the 14-24 F2.8, 24-70 F2.8 and 70-200 F2.8, or you could get the F mount versions for less used and get one or two FTZ adapters. Not sure if there are any Z mount fisheye lenses to match your 10.5mm, but obviously there are loads of F mount FX fisheye lenses to choose from. There are also F4 lenses that fill in lots of those focal lengths for less money, and bear in mind that, whatever camera you go for, it'll produce much better low light / higher ISO images than your D7X00s. You might not even need to get VR versions of the F mount lenses as you've got the in body stabilisation - I'm finding I can hand-hold slower shutter speeds than I ever thought possible with the Z5.

You've got a long zoom that'll work on full frame - so as had already been said, keep your 150-500.

If you don't want to go mirrorless, the D810 is still a cracking choice - you'll get a good deal second hand! You'd again want to look at the 14-24, 24-70 and 70-200 as a core group of lenses, plus your 150-500. You could consider the 28-300, but I think that would be a waste of a good camera. Your 36mp will come with a weight penalty though compared to what you're used to, and compared to a mirrorless, especially when you add better lenses. It's one of the reasons I'm in the process of going mirrorless across both my bodies - though I'm keeping my FX lenses. I guess it depends on how important 36mp+ is to you? D750 could be a consideration if you're happy with 24mp full frame? Much more like your D7X00s in terms of handling?

I've posted this elsewhere, but think it's relevant for this post - new (left) and old (right):

Z5 and 24-200 F4-6.3 Z mount ----- D7100 and 18-200 F3.5-5.6 DX
Z7, FTZ adapter and 24-70 F2.8 FX F mount ----- D810 and 70-200 F2.8 FX F mount

As for trade in, I think I was offered £150 for my D7100 at Greys - I'd be able to get a lot more selling privately (but you have to find the buyers ...). You'll maybe get more for the lenses, but if you think you can sell privately and don't need the money up front, do that rather than trade in (UNLESS there is a good trade in bonus!)





As for the pic, might have to try this, but it looks to me that the Z7 with the FTZ and 70-200 F2.8 will be the same size as the D810 with the 24-70 - that's a pretty significant size reduction if you ask me! Just wish I had the right memory card for the Z7!

 

[Andrew Smith]

The lack of a 28-400(ish) superzoom in FX glass is a real problem as my current 18-300 is my daily ‘goto’ lens. The 28-300 is certainly an option, as is the 80-400. A wide zoom would take care of the lower end, or maybe a 20mm or 16mm fixed. As for the Sigma 150-500 that is FX, I could sell that and upgrade to the 150-600 current Sigma FX lens which seems to get good reports and gives me a bit more at the top end. It isn’t that expensive either.

If I’m going to upgrade then I certainly want an uplift in resolution from the 20MP of my 7100 so it will be an 810 or 850 body, or mirrorless equivalent. I’m going to spend the next couple of days reading up on mirrorless options.

Any other glass manufacturers I should look at for FX glass?

Decisions, decisions.....

 

[Peter123]

It might be worth waiting just a little longer.
Nikon are due to announce more lenses in the near future (perhaps at the virtual CES later this month.)
Also, rumours circulating that Sigma and other third party manufacturers will be making Z fit lenses this year.

 

[Andrew Smith]

It might be worth waiting just a little longer.
Nikon are due to announce more lenses in the near future (perhaps at the virtual CES later this month.)
Also, rumours circulating that Sigma and other third party manufacturers will be making Z fit lenses this year.

Thanks for this and indeed thanks to everyone who has commented on this thread.

One thing Inforgot to mention is that I consider it pretty much essential that the body has 2 card slots so I can record to both cards simultaneously. I had a card fail once, although that was a long time ago.

I will continue to read up on the options.

 

[James Blonde]

Your budget and requirements (2 bodies, 2 card slots, >24mp, etc) are saying D810. Not sure you'd get 2 x D850s plus lenses at the budget you're looking at, the 2 memory card slots and budget rule out second hand Z7's, card slots also rules out the Z6, and >24mp rules out the Z5 and Z6.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Sounds to me like you really want 2 X A7RIII plus 100-400 and 24-105.

A7RIII is apparently around £1500 on E-Infinity at the moment.

 

[Lemaildetom]

Sounds to me like you really want 2 X A7RIII plus 100-400 and 24-105.

A7RIII is apparently around £1500 on E-Infinity at the moment.

That's option seems to do all you need!
Why two bodies? Can you not go with one?


Else if you want to stay dslr nikon the 150-600 contemporary and a D850, or D810 even a D750 will be a big improvement on what you already have.

 

[ancient_mariner]

That's option seems to do all you need!
Why two bodies? Can you not go with one?


Else if you want to stay dslr nikon the 150-600 contemporary and a D850, or D810 even a D750 will be a big improvement on what you already have.

So, for the bodies I’m thinking either D810 (used) or D850 although that would stretch the budget. I want 2 bodies ideally the same model But comments on other options welcome.

 

[Andrew Smith]

That's option seems to do all you need!
Why two bodies? Can you not go with one?


Else if you want to stay dslr nikon the 150-600 contemporary and a D850, or D810 even a D750 will be a big improvement on what you already have.

The D750 isn’t a huge step up resolution wise from where I am now. If I am going to do this then I need to make the quantum leap. Looking at web pricing and the technologies available, plus the comments from Peter123, James Blonde, Lemaildetom and Ancient Mariner it’s a toss up between the D810 (used) or a mirrorless from Nikon or Sony. I have 2 bodies so that I have a back up and when shooting concerts or motorsport I don’t have to switch lenses constantly.

I’m going to investigate further and see what the new lenses that are being launched are.

 

[Deleted member 34016]

If you have healthy budget??? - I can recommend the Sony a7Riii and a7Riv ( I have both) along with a Sony 24-70mm G lens - Sony 24-105mm G lens - Sony 70-200 - Sony 100-400mm G lens and a Sony 200-600mm Fe lens and maybe the Sony 90mm Macro lens to name a few that I personal have

All of these I use regularly & the Sony longer lenses kick ass against the Sigma & Tamron offerings

Just a thought - good luck in your quest

Les

 

[snerkler]

Here's my thoughts, plan for the future. This is going to be a big investment and I would look into a system that is going to last you years to come. Based on this I would advise looking at mirrorless as that's where the money is being invested, and mirrorless lenses are being developed that on the whole supersede their DSLR counterparts (subjective rendering aside).

From your current gear it looks as though you're going to have to pretty much swap everything so I would suggest looking at all systems and seeing which system suits you best. The Nikon Z system is still in its infancy, but will get bigger. Canon likewise, and then Sony have pretty much everything. You can of course adapt DLSR Nikon and Canon glass however that imo is false economy as you'd be buying a lens to then swap again down the line.

 

[James Blonde]

Here's my thoughts, plan for the future. This is going to be a big investment and I would look into a system that is going to last you years to come. Based on this I would advise looking at mirrorless as that's where the money is being invested, and mirrorless lenses are being developed that on the whole supersede their DSLR counterparts (subjective rendering aside).

From your current gear it looks as though you're going to have to pretty much swap everything so I would suggest looking at all systems and seeing which system suits you best. The Nikon Z system is still in its infancy, but will get bigger. Canon likewise, and then Sony have pretty much everything. You can of course adapt DLSR Nikon and Canon glass however that imo is false economy as you'd be buying a lens to then swap again down the line.

Yeh, I'd probsbly agree. I'm a Nikon Fanboi (ish) but you are at that unique time where you want to change pretty much everything, so a change in system is completely viable - it's just a shame you can't get into any shops to try them out and compare them against each other.

Personally, I think this is the year for Nikon Z - certainly is for me. Sony could have tempted me, but then I'm happy with Nikon and I've got good Nikon glass I'd be keeping, where you've got largely DX lenses.

 

[SFTPhotography]

I like to have two bodies as well - it makes things a lot lot easier. I also like two have two card slots.

I happen to prefer the SLR form over the mirrorless one - but be aware F mount stuff is effectively dead now the new Z mirrorless stuff is out. I imagine the D850 is the last big res full frame DSLR Nikon will make - hopefully I am wrong but the marketing men are pumping mirrorless like it's no tomorrow...

So two Z7's make's a lot more sense than two new D850's. I really wouldn't buy two new D850's over two new Z7's. Reasoning is the Z glass is better and optimized for that sensor resolution. If you want the 45mp get the Z7.

In terms of ability though the D810 isn't that far behind and can be picked up for a song these days. I recently sold a 5k count D810 on here for £800 delivered. For £800 I really doubt there is anything that remotely touches the D810 for resolution, build/form factor, dynamic range or AF ability.

So depends on where your budget is at. If it's large enough to accommodate two new £3k bodies and the new glass to go with - amazing - you'll get a top tier current gen system. So all in all approximately £9000 when you buy all the best glass to go with. For not a huge amount more than this you can build a decent medium format digital system - which is what I did (11300 for two bodies and two top tier zooms). If you can make the leap to that - I'd skip full frame all together.

If your budget is more like £3k for two bodies and glass all in used D810 looks an amazing idea and it will still be 90% as good as the newer one. In all honesty a D810 still out performs a 5dmk4 where it counts and is only superceded in full frame terms by the D850, Z7 in Nikon land, and the A7r2-4 in Sony world.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Of course the other thing to do is wait another year and see what Nikon come up with. I don't see Nikon having a decent SYSTEM yet, but in 12 months that may change. Otherwise Canon appear to have excellent compatibility with DSLR lenses, giving them a fully functional system.

Now is not the time to buy into Nikon IMO.

 

[SFTPhotography]

Of course the other thing to do is wait another year and see what Nikon come up with. I don't see Nikon having a decent SYSTEM yet, but in 12 months that may change. Otherwise Canon appear to have excellent compatibility with DSLR lenses, giving them a fully functional system.

Now is not the time to buy into Nikon IMO.

I agree but what is so lacking with the Z range - other than for a 10% uplift in price you can shoot digital MF. Price killed it for me, had the bodies been in the £1700 mark I'd have probably gone Z over 645z. There is no way a Z7ii is worth £3000 plus - it has an inferior form factor to a D850 which retails closer to £2200. It's cheaper to make, it really should retail around £1700. That said it doesn't and it never will. What speaks volumes is how little extra it costs to go to MF digital. It used to be at least 2-5x the cost of 35mm format, not 10-20% more. Same with the lenses....not now. It is my considered view that folk should skip full frame and just go straight to medium format if they're buying a whole new system from scratch.

However in Z land you have the 14-24 F2.8, 24-70 F2.8 and 70-200 2.8 Z mount zooms. You have inferior and cheaper F4 versions of the 24-70 and 70-200 and an interesting 14-30 F4 uwa zoom. I'd wager the Z6 users are better with the F4 stuff and the Z7 users with the 2.8 zooms.

You also have the usual 24, 35, 50, 85 primes and some Sigma art stuff to go on. Unless you need longer than 200mm the Z system has you totally covered so if someone really wants a full frame camera Z7 is not out the running.

Don't buy a Canon R5 - they over heat and die and they cost IIRC more than the GFX50s medium format Fuji. That really is a fools purchase.

 

[snerkler]

Yeh, I'd probsbly agree. I'm a Nikon Fanboi (ish) but you are at that unique time where you want to change pretty much everything, so a change in system is completely viable - it's just a shame you can't get into any shops to try them out and compare them against each other.

Personally, I think this is the year for Nikon Z - certainly is for me. Sony could have tempted me, but then I'm happy with Nikon and I've got good Nikon glass I'd be keeping, where you've got largely DX lenses.

I still like Nikon, and would have liked to stay with them however they can’t offer me what I need/want at present so made the switch to Sony. I have stopped looking at what Nikon are doing for the most part as I don’t want to be tempted back

 

[welshwizard645]

There is also Pentax - great deals on body and grip at SRS Microsystems.

I have Pentax and Nikon systems - I like them in different ways but the Pentax suits some work better than the Nikon. If I update the D810 will go to be replaced by the D850 successor (need new PC first), the D810 is a great camera (but I prefer my K-1)...

Sellers to contact apart from LCE, Grays and Wex are SRS and Cambrian Photography.

 

[darkroom12]

How can you ever upgrade from Nikon?

The D800/810 are good cameras but do you really need all those pixels gobbling up memory card space. The only real benefit is a later, more advanced processor and even that is getting marginal now. I still use a D700 and latterly a D600 (a non oily one) and I can make prints as large as I will ever need. The max I can go to anyway is a A3. I also use Fuji X20 compact with a 'mere' 12 MP, and even that can print out really good A3's
A full frame camera can be a jump forward of Olympic proportions, but I doubt that you will be able to take full advantage of what it offers. Keep your sights down a little lower and look at the best glass you can find. Or invest in a good tripod, they make a good lens better.

 

[sk66]

Personally, IDT right now is the time to upgrade. Before long the Nikon Z range will fill out and the lens support will increase substantially... and IDT it really makes sense to buy F-mount lenses for the Z-mount bodies.
When the Z range (or R) flushes out over the next year or so it will make more sense IMO. And that should make the F-mount options much cheaper on the used market (and in general). IDT Sony will ever get the third party mirrorless lens support that Nikon/Canon will, nor are they as likely to fill out their OEM lineup as quickly. That said, they do have a good head start and could be a viable option... I've considered it but I'm too heavily invested in FF Nikon at this time to jump ship for no significant gains to me.

If you must, I would suggest just one body (D850) and only the lens(es) you must have for it. Keep the D7100 for anything over ~ 200mm effective.

 

[darkroom12]

I happen to prefer the SLR form over the mirrorless one - but be aware F mount stuff is effectively dead now the new Z mirrorless stuff is out. I imagine the D850 is the last big res full frame DSLR Nikon will make - hopefully I am wrong but the marketing men are pumping mirrorless like it's no tomorrow...

One has to stop and think why this is happening. The designers, marketing teams, management have to come up with new ideas to keep the companies solvent - that's business. To keep ahead of the competitors rat race, but I suggest this is at the customers expense. Some, almost certainly mainly, the professional photographers will benefit, but the majority of purchasers of newer up to date equipment will be the dedicated amateurs. I don't think there is any question that given new equipment there is a definite nudge to go out and snap away. Thinking about it, is the difference made with the a new camera/lens/accessory all that more noticeable or all that much better, considering the cost that could be involved.

I think the manufacturers are depending on this insatiable demand for newer equipment with even more little tricks to keep their coffers filled. For me I will stick to what I have at present until the actual need presents itself to change.

P.S.
I am changing my walk-about lens, currently a Nikon 28/105 for a Nikon 24/120 but only because it means I can get a wider range in that focal range. Nothing more - nothing less. Will the quality be better - I don't know, possibly, but that is not the reason for changing.

 

[SFTPhotography]

There is also Pentax - great deals on body and grip at SRS Microsystems.

I have Pentax and Nikon systems - I like them in different ways but the Pentax suits some work better than the Nikon. If I update the D810 will go to be replaced by the D850 successor (need new PC first), the D810 is a great camera (but I prefer my K-1)...

Sellers to contact apart from LCE, Grays and Wex are SRS and Cambrian Photography.

Yes there is Pentax - I have a 645z

Amazing deals on them at park camera's, Wex and a whole level beyond FF. But it might be beyond the OP's budget.

I'll be curious if Pentax will upgrade the K1 with the sensor from the D850. I rather like their commitment to SLR photography so long term they are probably the outfit for me.

 

[snerkler]

Personally, IDT right now is the time to upgrade. Before long the Nikon Z range will fill out and the lens support will increase substantially... and IDT it really makes sense to buy F-mount lenses for the Z-mount bodies.
When the Z range (or R) flushes out over the next year or so it will make more sense IMO. And that should make the F-mount options much cheaper on the used market (and in general). IDT Sony will ever get the third party mirrorless lens support that Nikon/Canon will, nor are they as likely to fill out their OEM lineup as quickly. That said, they do have a good head start and could be a viable option... I've considered it but I'm too heavily invested in FF Nikon at this time to jump ship for no significant gains to me.

If you must, I would suggest just one body (D850) and only the lens(es) you must have for it. Keep the D7100 for anything over ~ 200mm effective.

One thing to consider is that Sony have opened up their mount to third parties so third party lenses should (in theory) work better than the Nikon counterpart which still have to be reverse engineered. I’m not sure whether Canon have opened up their mount to third party?

I think for this reason third party manufacturers will be happy to make all lenses for e-mount. Then you have the likes of Zeiss and voigtlander for Sony, I think the range of third party lenses arguably makes Sony more appealing,.... for the time being.

 

[ancient_mariner]

One has to stop and think why this is happening. The designers, marketing teams, management have to come up with new ideas to keep the companies solvent - that's business. To keep ahead of the competitors rat race, but I suggest this is at the customers expense.

This is a classic viewpoint, but TBH I find my most recently acquired camera outfit definitely produces better raw files than the previous one, which also gave better raw files than the one before that. I've recently been re-editing some of the pictures I shot in 2014 and 2017and the quality of the data in the raw file becomes distinctly less good with each backwards step in terms of sharpness and dynamic range and how well the file tolerates adjustment to create a finished image.

Worth also considering that a part of the role of marketing is to find out what customers will want. Clever advertising (not necessarily the same thing) might be used to drive demand, but marketing *should* be all about making a better, more desirable product. Companies with development teams that are NOT marketing led often end up making some bizarre choices, taking apparently backward steps sometimes.

 

[Lemaildetom]

The D750 isn’t a huge step up resolution wise from where I am now. If I am going to do this then I need to make the quantum leap. Looking at web pricing and the technologies available, plus the comments from Peter123, James Blonde, Lemaildetom and Ancient Mariner it’s a toss up between the D810 (used) or a mirrorless from Nikon or Sony. I have 2 bodies so that I have a back up and when shooting concerts or motorsport I don’t have to switch lenses constantly.

I’m going to investigate further and see what the new lenses that are being launched are.

Honestly, there is not only about the resolution of the sensor.
You currently have a 2013 crop sensor coupled to some fairly poor and slow zoom lens and an outdated long lens.
Suddenly you are jumping to thousands of pounds of equipment.

I'm not saying you need a D750 but I was saying it's already miles ahead of what you got (even if the Megapixel count is not that much bigger). I used to shoot wildlife with mine up to iso 12800 with no noise issue which coming from a crop sensor was a total revelation, I used to shot northern light at iso 12800 too. But spread of AF point is poor and autofocus isn't the best, so I would say the D750 is not great for what you want to shoot.

If you get two D810 with a nikon 24-120 F4 (or better the 2.8), a sigma 150-600 contemporary, a nikon 20mm f1.8 you'll be miles ahead from what you currently have. And would already cover the same focal lenses.

But if you can offer sony you should go for that as really DSLR days are counted.

 

[Andrew Smith]

Just to update everyone.

The Z7 mirrorless has a lot of what I want but the price is too high and the range of lenses too small at present. The Sony a7Riii/iv looks the best for mirrorless at the moment and has a lot of glass available. I have ruled out the D850 as too expensive, even buying from e-finity.

Today I bought a used D810 from LCE. I’ve arranged to borrow a shorter FX lens to go with my 150-500 Sigma FX and I’m going to test run the 810 and see how I get on with it. I intend to rent the a7Riii/iv from LFH for a week for a direct comparison. If the Sony proves to be better and I can get on with it then I’m happy to take a small hit on re-selling the D810 and swap to Sony mirrorless.

I have started to sell off my existing kit, some of which is listed in the classified ads section.

Thanks again for all the comments, they have been most useful In helping my decision making.

 

[James Blonde]

(would LCE not refund you if you returned the D810?)

 

[Andrew Smith]

Yes I have 14 days to return if I don’t like it.

 

[gman]

...snip...

Don't buy a Canon R5 - they over heat and die and they cost IIRC more than the GFX50s medium format Fuji. That really is a fools purchase.

I've been looking at the R6 (not R5) but the overheating thing is a concern. I didn't realise Canon had improved their AF system so much, but on that note I did come across some videos showing some issues with it, although maybe firmware updates have resolved it?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCLB5-YlhIw

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BU7ULdLJYI
(he claims a fix but doesn't show results)

...snip...

As for potential suppliers, MPB, Greys of Westminster and Wex are on my list, any other suggestions please? Existing kit can be disposed of separately or I will trade it in so let’s not worry about that at this stage.

Comments welcome.

Thanks.

One of the members on here developed this website and to be honest it is awesome for finding used gear: https://www.usedlens.co.uk

 

[ecniv]

I was considering the latest z6/z7 as the memory card isn't stuck with their own expensive format, and has an sd slot.
After the leica m 240, I felt that the z6 and z7 felt very plasticy, but a lot lighter.
Note: with mirrorless, the sensor is likely to get very dirty very quickly (especially if you change lenses)

Its a shame its in lockdown everywhere as the best thing is go try them all (as many brands as you can) vs your current setup.

The seller at KameraExpress (nl) said he prefered the z6 (24mp) vs the z7 (45mp). Something to do with the feel of the photo afterwards.