baer

I have a D300 but often have poor results with photos in low light (no flash). I'm considering getting a D500 (I have only one FX lens, a 50 mm F1.4 lens). I still have my Nikon FTN and F4 and for low light I've used recorder film.
Is the D500 the next best step up?
Thanks!

jimpitt

THE D500 HAS INCREDIBLE RESULTS IN LOW LIGHT. YOU WILL BE PLEASED.

baer

Thanks very much!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Read the review and study the test results at:

https://m.dpreview.com/reviews/nikon-d500

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I was very pleased when I got my D300 as an upgrade for my D200. It provided big improvements across the board. I was a holdout on the D500, since I had expanded to full frame for night sky photography and the D500 was promoted as a sports and wildlife camera. (I shoot neither of those.) When I did finally get a D500, I was astounded by the overall character of the images it captures, the completeness of the controls and the overall layout. It is in a completely different world from the D300. Well, almost. You'll find the trasition pretty easy. Key features it offers (and that I use regularly) are highlight weighted metering, flicker reduction, and really good low light performance. Handling is a dream. It is most of a D850, just with a crop sensor. Keep in mind...I am writing this as a person who added both the D810 and the D850 first...not as one moving up from a D40 or other older model.

Night sky experiments are still to be done...the 810 and 850 draw those assignments first. But I'd expect results to be very good. Low light performance approaches that of the D810. It would be very surprising if you were not very favorably impressed with the D500.

baer

Thanks very much! I rented a D850 once; unbelievable!
Baer

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

Depending on your low light needs (sports or slower moving subjects), the D7200 does very well in dark situations. I've owned both and would probably go back to the D7200 for night skies or in door shots in DX format. For sports and wildlife with decent light to dusk, I use the D500. After dark, my D750 comes out!

texaseve Loc: TX, NC and NH

I have a D500 and I do not like the noise I get in low light (when needing to push the ISO), however, I am fussy. My D810 does so much better.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Do you use the internal noise-reduction functions? I realize that in some situations, that is not feasible, but I find them very effective when needed and appropriate,

roset

I too suffer from major grain in low light. What are internal noise reduction functions?

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

The menu offers two options...Long Exposure Noise Reduction and High ISO Noise Reduction. They are in the Shooting Menu of the D500, D810, and D850. Not sure how to access them in other cameras. Long Exposure Noise Reduction works by taking an additional exposure after your exposure is completed, but does not open the shutter. It is of the same length as your intended exposure and seeks to identify any pixels that get hot or otherwise generate noise during the exposure, then "subtract" those pixels from the original exposure. Using it doubles the exposure time, so is not always practical, like when taking panorama shots of the Milky Way. High ISO noise reduction algorithmically seeks to process noise out of each exposure. It takes a small amount of extra time, and the amount of noise reduction is adjustable via the menu. In my opinion, it works pretty well and can be superior to removing noise later in post processing. Removing noise in PP is, of course, also a very viable option. Even with a D810 or D850, some sort of noise reduction is going to be necessary in extreme cases for best results. I prefer to use a mix, and am still working to define what my ideal "recipe" will be. My preference is to minimize time and work in post processing, so that's what I generally try to work for.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

For low light photography with very high ISO's you can hardly beat the Nikon Z6 or Nikon D5.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

But the OP is specifically asking about DX options.

texaseve Loc: TX, NC and NH

I may have missed that setting - I'll have to get back in to the menu and look. I know the long exposure won't work for me, though the other one might help matters.

Jim Bianco

Is the d7100 good for sports photography? Thanks Jim Bianco