BJW

Sadly, the time has come where I have to replace my dear D500, and I look to my friends and colleagues at UHH for guidance, and solace. Her weight, when coupled with my 70-200 f 2.8 has just gotten too heavy and too bulky for me to carry lately, especially to the high school ice hockey games that I shoot. I have no choice but to switch to lighter gear, if I am to continue my sports photography activities.

I suppose that would take me into the realm of mirrorless/MFT cameras. While I have done the research in terms of the specs of the various brands, I would appreciate input from those who have actually used MFT cameras (Sony, Olympus, Fujifilm, Lumix, etc.) in those situations where the D500 excels. In a word, I want smaller and lighter but of at least equal quality. The D500 has served me very well for indoor sports photography, in these areas: superb low light performance, a burst rate of at least 10fps, camera body ergonomics with ease of handling for fast moving action shots; great Auto Focus; and a rational and user-friendly menu system (or one that has a good a guide as Steve Perry's). Because I don't use a tripod or monopod for the type of sports photography I do, I recognize that much of the weight I'm complaining about is attributable to the long lens I use. So, I'd also be grateful for any suggestions as to comparable lenses for MFT bodies which are substantially lighter in weight. Fortunately, budgetary limitations need not be considered.

Many thanks,

BJW

paul j svetlik Loc: Colorado

I use one of the Panasonic ZS line cameras I carry in my shirt pocket. 18 megapixels, EVF, RAW and a zoom 24-720 mm.
My larger cameras are in my backpack and I usually use them with a tripod.
The Panasonic cameras with Leitz zooms deliver very good quality prints 16x20 or even larger.
I sure hope this idea might help you with your decision to make your photography trips easier?

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

It appears there is an increase in men on this forum, who have reached a point where their camera gear is too much to bear anymore. You have a camera that is Nikon's best crop sensor camera, D500. Another previous post was a person who couldn't bear the burden because of hip surgery. He had a D810. I hate to hear such stories, but I hope you can continue photography with lighter gear. Good luck.

BJW

I guess it’s all part of growing up (not old). We need to accept the inevitable that we get weaker as time passes—but I’m not about to throw in the towel—not when technological advances in smaller size and lighter weight cameras can match (or exceed) the quality of current gear. Or, is my quest for smaller and lighter just a senior citizen’s version of GAS? (LOL)

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

The manager of the local camera store I go to has switched to Panasonic and is a true convert. He does sports, auto racing and birds with a little studio portrait thrown in. micro 4/3 rds sensor - he never prints bigger than 13x19 so this is fine for him. He also prefers to get in as close as he can and fill the frame so he almost never crops. And he says he often uses the 4K video as basically a very high speed burst. I have seen some very impressive prints he keeps for demos. He went to Panasonic after 25 years with Canon.
You would have to switch lenses also if you want to go smaller/lighter there although there are adapters to use your Nikon glass on Panasonic. His camera with a 100-400 lens (Leica designed) is very small and light compared to Canon or Nikon eqv set ups. They also have a 14-140, 45-175, 45-200 and 100-300 lens, all Leica designs and weather sealed. Crop factor is 2x. Compared to my Canon 100-400 lens those things are tiny and very light.

We had a 4 way "discussion" about cameras: between the 4 of us we were 1 Canon user, 1 Nikon user, 1 Panasonic user and one guy who had come in to look at Sony cameras-I think he left thinking Panasonic.

BJW

Thanks so much for your reply, which I am very happy to receive. There's been a lot of hype lately about the Panasonic/Lumix G9 which is due out in January 2018, but I was concerned about lens availability. But your reply is very helpful. Thanks so much.

BJW

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

I don't know where you live but hopefully near a good camera shop where they have a large assortment of brands and quality. I was watching aYouTube video some time back and they were comparing mirrorless cameras to DSLR for weight comparison and came up with only a pound difference. They were talking about good cameras and excellent lenses. Even with the smaller lighter cameras and from what you said you will want a good high end lens. They are not light. So my suggestion is to go to the store and get one in your hands to see if the weight will make a difference. You might be able to rent what you are thinking about and try it out. This will be a big investment because you will probably be switching brands and buying all new lenses at a substantial cost. Good Luck.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Uh, ever thought of using a Monopod?

BJW

Got a monopod. Much too restrictive. Can’t move as quickly as necessary nor get the necessary angles that are needed.

It’s like trying to do a lindy with a partner in a full leg cast.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Isn't the 70-200 a FF lens? On a DX camera that gives the equivalent field of view of a 105-300mm FF lens (on a FF camera). Since you have a camera that's only marginally behind the very best FF cameras, wouldn't it be worth trying to find a light DX lens that covers 105-300mm equiv. Even if it meant settling for a less-than-perfect lens, the drop in quality would probably be less than that incurred by going for m4/3, even if the move away from f/2.8 meant using higher ISOs.

Another factor is that the D500 isn't the lightest of DX cameras. For less weight the D7200 or D7500 run the D500 close as far as IQ is concerned.

JimUSNY Loc: Hudson Valley New York

if 300MM is not too long for you the 300MM F4 PF is a breeze to hold and carry on a D500, great AF and tracking in low light, I doubt you will be happy with mirrorless after using DSLR for sports.. but maybe the newest ones are better than I used.. I got out before the OLY EM-1 mark II and 300MM pro came out, so dont know how well they do indoors on higher ISO or at tracking, If you go that route the 40-150MM pro may work well for you which would bee about the same focal length your using now on a 4/3rds sensor. not sure how heavy that set up is though

ELNikkor

I've also seen a lot of positive feedback about those who have switched to Olympus MFT for lighter weight and professional results

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Lots of choices - probably too many. Let us know what you finally get. Below are links to camera comparisons.

(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

SteveR Loc: Michigan

The 70-200 is a tank. I can understand the weight problem. Perhaps it's the lens and not the camera. The 500 can handle the ISO. Try a lighter lens that, perhaps, might be a tad slower. What about the 300mm f4? Or....have you considered a monopod?

Albert2000

Go to YouTube and look at some of the videos posted by Omar Gonzales, a professional photographer who provides instruction and information on the Fuji mirrorless cameras, especially the XT-20 and associated lens. Well worth your time.