Updating from a D3s?

[SuperAP]

Wow, I'm shocked I managed to remember my password after 6 years!

So my D3s is a bit long in the tooth now, my D90 has died and I have no idea where the ol' D300 is (probably in a box at the house I'm currently battling over with the stb ex).

I'm looking at getting a new DSLR or two while retaining the D3s, which I must say still takes quite amazing wildlife shots for its age! I have no intention of getting involved with LCD's for a viewfinder, so mirrorless is out. What's a decent wildlife shooter these days? It seems Nikon are going away from SLR's (I was eyeing the D500, but that seems to be hard to get hold of), so I'm open to other manufacturers. Most of my lenses were already "used" when I bought them back in the early 2010's, so I'll probably be selling them to recover what I can anyway.

My "thing" has always been low-light photography, pushing shutter speeds and ISO capabilities to the limits (and I'm pretty good at it, imho!). So good low light performance is paramount. The D3s was the king in its day.

What should I be looking at? I'm not a semi-retired lawyer, 18-year-old with a rich daddy, or a two-faced, former stockbroker that's full of themselves - so £2k or so would be about my limit for a body.

Ta.

 

[toohuge]

I'm a sports shooter.... on a tight budget that also seeks excellent low light capability and fast fps. For context I've owned: D1X, D3, D3s, D4, D5(& D500) and Canon 1DIII, 1DIV and 1DXII....

Of all those, the D3S is probably my favourite camera, it's astonishingly good, that said, the D4 has a superior sensor, but feels very much like a D3S, for me it wasn't a big enough upgrade imo. WEX have a load of used 1dxii's for very favourable prices and it's very, very close to the D5 in performance, imo, it has better dynamic range at lower iso's, but still holds together really well as you push the iso.

All manufacturers are moving away from DSLR's...

What lenses do you have?

I ask as the D5 commands stronger prices second hand, but I'm not sure you'll recover the difference by switching systems to a 1dx ii.

The AF performance in the D5/D500 is awesome... superior to the 1dxii imo, and overall, the Nikon is easier to work with all day, but that's just my opinion, oh and the D5 battery lasts forever.

A left field option could be a D850, which will give you 4 times as many mp as the D3S.

Essentially though, imo, replacing a D3S is really difficult - I loved mine, easily the best camera I've ever owned.

 

[SFTPhotography]

Honestly - Nikon D850 off E Infin springs to mind or if you had your heart set on the D500 (the best APSC camera ever made) I'd try hold out and try a few of the grey market importers like HDEW, Panamoz, E Infin

Nikon D850 Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

£1,910.00 - 12 Months<br />Warranty - 14 Days<br />Money Back - 100%<br />Brand New - Free<br />Shipping - Import Tax<br />Included

www.e-infin.com

Nikon D500 DSLR Camera with AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR lens

£1,899.00 - 12 Months<br />Warranty - 14 Days<br />Money Back - 100%<br />Brand New - Free<br />Shipping - Import Tax<br />Included

www.e-infin.com

The D500 on it's own is out of stock - but the lens might be useful as a walk about - or just sell it on.

Panamoz have D500 on it's own.

Nikon D500 DSLR Camera (Body)

Why Buy From Panamoz.com? Free 3 Year UK/EU/US Local Warranty 14 Day Money Back Guarantee Prices include taxes and duties All inclusive prices with no hidden fees Products are 100% brand new and in box Express shipping with insurance and tracking Delivery in 7-14 business days only Secure...

panamoz.com

You can easily get the camera you want for under £2000 - so no - you don't need to be a rich kid, lawyer or stockbroker to own new and good stuff.

 

[the black fox]

In this day and age your being adamant about not changing to mirrorless is not the way to look at things . Times and gear have moved forward at such a fast pace that it’s virtually impossible to tell what takes what these days .
Keep your options and brands open take into account I.q,weight of body ,weight of lenses,and price

 

[SFTPhotography]

In this day and age your being adamant about not changing to mirrorless is not the way to look at things . Times and gear have moved forward at such a fast pace that it’s virtually impossible to tell what takes what these days .
Keep your options and brands open take into account I.q,weight of body ,weight of lenses,and price

I dunno - I am rocking a 645z (sold my other as two was just silly) and 2 D850's and did so to specifically avoid mirrorless for a bit longer before DSLR's really do die.

The more of us who like DSLR's - who buy DSLR's the better as it might get the camera makers to keep making them.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

(I was eyeing the D500, but that seems to be hard to get hold of), so I'm open to other manufacturers.

I'm seriously impressed with my D600, which is more or less a full frame D500. They're quite common second hand, go for around the £450 mark and the 24MP sensor exceeds my expectations. The screen works really well with legacy non-AF lenses.

To be fair, I don't do "proper" wildlife photography so it may be missing something you especially need...

 

[Icee]

I'm a wildlife and sports shooter. If you are happy with the weight go for a D4/5. If weight is a issue try a D750/780. I use a D5/D500 combo but the D5 is the low light king.

 

[SFTPhotography]

I'm a wildlife and sports shooter. If you are happy with the weight go for a D4/5. If weight is a issue try a D750/780. I use a D5/D500 combo but the D5 is the low light king.

Can you get a D5 for the OP's budget?

 

[gramps]

What doesn't your D3S do that you want it to?

 

[Icee]

Can you get a D5 for the OP's budget?

Yes, WEX have had them for £1500. They had taken a few shots but WEX give a 12 month warranty.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

D850 for sure unless you need the FPS even more

 

[SFTPhotography]

D850 for sure unless you need the FPS even more

D850's are sublime but for birding, reach and AF coverage/speed/FPS is everything.

There's worse budgets to have to work with on here

 

[LongLensPhotography]

D850's are sublime but for birding, reach and AF coverage/speed/FPS is everything.

There's worse budgets to have to work with on here

Well the extra resolution can be essentially a substitute for some really big fat lenses or even ones that don't even exist. 600mm is nothing special when you try to get smaller birds. The FPS is the big trade-off but it's certainly not impossible

 

[SFTPhotography]

Well the extra resolution can be essentially a substitute for some really big fat lenses or even ones that don't even exist. 600mm is nothing special when you try to get smaller birds. The FPS is the big trade-off but it's certainly not impossible

D850 1.4tc and the 800 5.6

 

[LongLensPhotography]

D850 1.4tc and the 800 5.6

This may hit af performance at f8 more than you'd like and may also degrade iq somewhat so I would leave the TC off whenever possible

 

[stuartm1]

Yes, WEX have had them for £1500. They had taken a few shots but WEX give a 12 month warranty.

I was in Fixation (now part of WEX) in Vauxhall last week and in their used gear cabinet they had a D4S for £690 and D5 for around £1200 - both looked in good cosmetic condition. They even had a 24-70mm f/2.8G for £500. Second hand DLSR gear is really cheap nowadays if anyone is after a bargain.

If SuperAP is happy with 16mp and wants a low light monster, a D4S at around £700 is an absolute steal, especially when Grays sell them at double that price.

 

[gramps]

I was in Fixation (now part of WEX) in Vauxhall last week and in their used gear cabinet they had a D4S for £690 and D5 for around £1200 - both looked in good cosmetic condition. They even had a 24-70mm f/2.8G for £500. Second hand DLSR gear is really cheap nowadays if anyone is after a bargain.

If SuperAP is happy with 16mp and wants a low light monster, a D4S at around £700 is an absolute steal, especially when Grays sell them at double that price.

Their used list is absolutely dire at the moment.