CO

I had a D90. I currently have a D7000 and D500. The image quality of the D500 is clearly better than the D90 and D7000. I've been very impressed with it. The D500 doesn't have an anti-aliasing filter in front of the sensor which gives it a slight edge in sharpness. Its dynamic range is better. Its autofocus system is far superior as well. It's a big step up from the D90.

If you're considering a D750 you might wait just a little while. It was announced in Sept. 2014. There's a good chance its replacement will be announced at the upcoming CES show Jan.9-12.

hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Go for the D750 with the 24-120 lens ($1996.95) :

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1082604-REG/nikon_d750_dslr_camera_with.html

You may not need the battery grip, so you could sell it. Not sure if the 24-120 lens will be all the useful for the type of shooting you do. You could get just the D750 body ($1496.95) and buy another lens (prime?).

WessoJPEG Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio

Thanks.

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

Both great cameras D500 BIF, wildlife sports but D750 landscape does wildlife just a bit slower

chkeith83

I faced the same decision, but wound up setting my sights a little lower. I went with a D5500 because of the DX/FX issue. I had a little trouble with the motor issue, which ultimately, affected only two kit lenses, and, sadly, my AF 50 mm f1.8. I thought, at first, that it would affect my 24-70 Sigma f2.8, which, incidentally, is my favorite lens for portraiture. Ironically, it was just 1 month out of warrantee on its 4 year! Fortunately, and I have plaudited Sigma mightily on this! - the software update is Ex-warrantee, and they updated it for free!

One of the reasons I really like the D5500 is its compact size and weight.

Charles Keith

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

D750. Flip screen, pop-up flash, Auto mode, two SD card slots.

Read comparisons and specs, and decide what features are important to you.
(Reviews) https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCameraStoreTV/videos
http://www.cameradecision.com/
http://cameras.reviewed.com/
http://camerasize.com/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM
http://snapsort.com/compare
http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/cameras?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=mainmenu&utm_medium=text&ref=mainmenu

WessoJPEG Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

I upgraded from a D90 to a D800 two years ago and I have never regretted it. I use the D800 with an f2.8 24-70mm as my main camera for about 90% of my shots. I also carry my D90 with either a 10-20mm lens for landscapes and interiors or sometimes mount my 70-300mm FX lens for telephoto work. It is more convenient with two cameras because I don't have to switch lenses. The full frame FX format combined with the D800's or D810's high pixel count and lower s/n ratio (Signal to Noise Ratio) is much more versatile than a DX camera because in post processing I can crop a much smaller portion of the frame while maintaining acceptable quality. I also have a selection of other DX and FX lenses in my collection that I use for other purposes.

In your case, I would suggest a D800 or D810 with the f2.8 70-200mm or a 105mm prime as the best choice for portraits. Of course, those are very expensive lenses and I don't know what your budget is. If you are on a tight budget, I would suggest a used FX 28-105mm D Macro Nikkor Lens as a good starter lens. You can pick one up on E-bay for $120-$150 in good condition. I have found it to be very useful on the both the D90 and D800 and used it as my goto lens until I upgraded to the f2.8 24-70mm. When I was going through the Panama Canal, I dropped my first 28-105mm on the deck. The plastic filter retaining ring broke, but the lens continued to perform well throughout the trip. When I got home, I bought another one in pristine condition for $150 (less than the cost of repair of the broken lens). I now use it as a very inexpensive macro lens.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

If you are going to upgrade to either the 750 or 810 both are NOW deeply discounted. B&H and Nikonusa.com both have them now on sale, and you get the vertical grip for FREE.
BUT, if it was me and I currently own the 810, I would suck it up and go with the D850, Just sayin.

Boris Ekner Loc: From Sweden, living in Guatemala

Isn’t there a shutter design issue on the D750, an issue that made Nikon recal numerous cameras for free repair?

—

No matter how much money you spend - all cameras are compromises. It’s all about what compromise works best for you.

I will not spend your money, i.e. I will not tell you what to buy. Only you know your budget. But if I’d ever update my D5300, I’d probably get a D500, for two reasons. It’s still a APS-C/DX sensor, it still uses my DX lenses.

I don’t need the faster, 1/8000, shutter speed, I don’t need the higher ISO sensitivit of a FF camera. What I got is good enough for me. And it is true that more important is the lens attached to it. Therefore I’ll spend my money on lenses and NOT bodies. More on this in the links below. (FF lens on a DX body!)

—

Now ... Cropped or full frame sensor?

Here is my answer to a similar question at another location.

Some argue that there's no need, or very little use, for more than 20MP. Others disagree.

The sensor...
A cropped sensor is smaller than the size of a full sensor. A full sensor is 36x24mm's. The full frame sensor size comes from, is the same as, the era of 35mm film.

So if a cropped sensor has the same amount of pixels as a full size one it means that the full frame sensor has bigger/larger pixels, and vice versa, when compared.

This has an impact in some picture quality.

In general these two sensors have distinct differences. If the two sensors have the same amount of pixels, the cropped sensor produces a sharper picture as the pixels are smaller than a full frame sensor. This means that if you shoot full frame you might experience a higher level of grain in your pictures. However, with experience comes the better quality. So if you ever buy a full frame camera you will eventually learn to shoot without the grain disturbance.

On the other hand a full frame sensor responds better to light which means that you can shoot at higher shutter speeds without losing picture quality.

Furthermore, a full frame sensor has a smaller/shallower depth of field than a crop sensor. Sometimes this smaller depth of field is preferable, sometimes it is not.

So what you lose on the carousel you gain in the rollercoaster.

In order to answer your question; I'd say that Yes megapixel count is important to some extent. In general, the higher the amount the better the picture quality, but not without consequences...

From my point of view I no longer see the need for me to get a camera with more than the 24MP I got. I see no justification for the heavily increased cost.

No matter how much I want a Pagani Zonda, a Koenigsegg, or a MacLaren F1 I will never get one. Far more reasonable is getting a Fiat 500 Abarth. It's the same with the camera. No matter how I could crave for a professional Nikon I will settle with the D5300 I have. Because it's the best one I could find that suits my interest and economy.

Now, comparing your phone camera to a real one is another story. Your phone camera is very capable, there's no doubt about that. But it has its limitations. You can't print quality prints in large formats. This means that nor can you zoom in on it for cropping parts out. This is a consequence from the tiny sensor size, and from the amount of pixels it has.

More here:
https://www.slrlounge.com/the-truth-behind-the-megapixel-myth/

Comparing DX vs FX photos:
https://youtu.be/XFncHWMuWX0

Here are two different, refreshing, views on the topic from two professional photographers. Both arguing that it’€™s not about sensor size, but all about pixel density.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=PHYidejT3KY

https://youtu.be/B9be2mrOOJg

—

The added picture of the ship is shot by Jim Stascavage, with a Nikon D7200, it's a 24MP cropped sensor camera.
- Seeing this ship covering an entire wall, I see no need for a full frame camera. Far better is to learn to use the one I have, and spend my hard earned money on lenses instead.

After camera purchase I recommend you read
- "your camera model" For Dummies.
- Stunning Digital Photography by Tony Northrup.
- Secrets To The Nikon Autofocus System by Steve Perry. If it's a Nikon you got.
- Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson.

Secrets To... is my favorite, with Understanding... coming up as second.

http://backcountrygallery.com/secrets-nikon-autofocus-system/

All are well invested pennies.

A bad photographer will take bad pictures with a good camera. A good photographer will shoot good pictures with a lousy camera. It’s not about the equipment. It’s all about what is behind it.

https://www.demilked.com/pro-photography-cheap-camera-phillip-haumesser/

Woodworm65 Loc: Lombard, IL

Woodworm65 Loc: Lombard, IL

Go with the 750 you can acquire the lenses as you go to match your needs.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

I would consider refurb over brand new to save some $$$...you can get a factory refurb from Cameta or B&H - D750 with 24-140 f/4 with 1 year warranty for just under $2k so you will have your first FX lens to start.... a D810 refurb body alone from same would be $2200 and have to add lens. Unless you crave the resolution of the 810 i would go with the 750....also keep in mind for the 810 you need good quality lenses to match for full benefit, but yes you can use DX lenses in crop mode of either.

However a refurb/new D7200 body would cost less much less @ $700/$1000 and yield excellent results unless you're shooting at ISO 3200 or higher regularly (with no flash). I have the D7200 with 28-300 Nikon and 90mm macro SP (FX) lenses and have been very happy with this combo....lenses can be used on a future FX purchase for me. I am waiting for the anticipated D760 next year possibly, or refurb D810 or even D850 once the stock is available. Tough choices for a GAS attack....I know.

rxrose Loc: North Florida

I have a D750 and I like it but if I were you I would go ahead and get the D810 for what you shoot, and then start collecting some good FX lenses for it. Start with one and learn how to use it before moving on. Happy shooting!

RoadRunner65

D810 works for me!