Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

b top gun

I used to think a cell phone was only for making calls until I got my Samsung S22+ which has bailed me out on more than a few photo op situations. Left my D850 on the floor in the back seat of my rental vehicle last time I visited the Grand Canyon; got the keeper of that trip later with my cell phone; the sun had just set below the western horizon at Desert View and made for a really nice photo. Whether I have my D850 or Z8 with, I always have my cell phone handy as well. Better something than no camera at all.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I am not going to talk about age when selecting photo gear, the majority here are old enough to understand that lighter gear could make a big difference not only shooting but transporting that gear. An old camera does not necessarily mean it will not work but it will never have better technologies than new cameras. We all know that also.

I can speak only in my behalf. I use a Nikon D610, the camera has 24 Mp. and it satisfies my needs. Will I be better with a D850? Most probably yes but I do not need it. My D7000 is now several years old, it continues to give me good service and good images. I do not need anything new and I use it often with my old 18-200 VR. I am very satisfied with this combo. Will a D750 be better or maybe a D500? Yes, they will be but for my photo style the D7000 is all I need for now.

Like others have mentioned, better is relative. To me my old cameras are better because I know them and I know how to use them. If I want to go light then I take my Olympus cameras, smaller, small and light lenses and excellent optics. My Olympus bodies are also old but they satisfy my needs. Now you have a new camera, the Z5, a camera I am not familiar with but said to be a small Z6. Compared to what you had it is a superior camera so it is better.

The 24-200 is a lens I am familiar with. Spencer Cox has an excellent review of the lens in Photography Life, perhaps you could be interested in reading his article and the review was done with the Z5. https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-z-24-200mm-f4-6-3-vr.
Enjoy your new toy.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Thank you, wdross!

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Not sure where that comment is going. There are alpha photographers who DO own the 'best' ($$$$$) equipment. I can afford to buy the best for my usage, but spending a ton of money on a hobby wouldn't make sense. I have more vital things to keep a nest egg for.

Seems the issue isn't about the money, but more about the grass being greener on the other side of the fence.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Paul, this doesn't sound like you. Creativity goes far beyond the camera body, and includes specialty lenses and props, as well. Yeah, there are in-body panos, HDR, ND filters, effects, better dynamic range in newer cameras--but most of that can be dealt with in PP software, at least with the last decade's worth of photography equipment. Haven't you always agreed it's the person behind the camera that determines the output?

P.S. There isn't a creative bone in my body. In fact, my body is ready to be put out to pasture. The courage I needed to change equipment was to get back to a single lens with a wide focal range so my feet wouldn't have to do the walking.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I can buy a Lamborghini to drive 5 miles to work.

Not necessary,
but it sure would make me feel good!

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Hmm, that's interesting. I just had the train bridge in my recent gallery post printed at 12x18 and it looks really nice. Did you see something in that download that was problematic? The print company person said it would do well up to 36", which is the goal for a step-daughter who wants to use it in her house. What problem have you encountered in print...noise, graininess, too soft? (I did do tweaks to the JPEG in Lightroom. Still trying to find out how to get the RAW into LR, though.)

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

You took the words right out of my experience!!

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

You have perfectly described why I struggled so much with making a change. The D610/D750 are wonderful cameras. The glass was my stumbling block. The 28-300mm isn't as wide as I like for most of my shooting, and the weight I had to carry for that 300mm was too much for an 'only' combo on a trip. My 24-85mm was my preference for wide shots and a light carry. So I carried two bodies with both lenses through the airports for the past many years. Even if 200mm doesn't reach everything, cropped images hold up well on the full frame.
P.S. Thanks for referencing the link. That was one of the ones I ran across in my research that guided my decision!

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Can't necessarily agree with you on the Lamborghini, though--hurts bending down to get into those low slung cars!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Well is relative...

For many photographers, simply knowing that one camera is better than another is 4/5ths the battle.
Most viewers really don't care with what camera an image was taken. Unless they are equipment worshipers or pixel peepers. And, unless they have something with which to compare, the viewer would have no idea if another camera would be "better". (Then there is post processing abilities...)
It's all in the mind of the photographer.
What is necessary to make him feel good about his work.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Haha.... tradeoffs.....

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Great things are accomplished by talented people who believe they need a better camera.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

If new camera means wonderful new technology that you are never going to use, direct your GAS attack toward a new lens that you don’t have.