Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

Think of it this way - if I take a photo with my D500 (a DX body) and then switch my D850 into DX mode and take the same photo with the same lens, when I look at the back of the camera, the "crop" is the same and the photos show the same field of view. Since the pixel density of the two sensors is very close, not only can I get the same crop - or reach - from the D850, I'm also not paying a penalty in resolution. Try that same trick with a 21MP D5 and yes, you get the same crop, but there is a severe penalty in resolution (a DX cropped D5 is about 9MP).

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

I'll have to try this with the D810.
Again, Primary Magnification is based upon the horizontal width of the sensor divided by the horizontal width of the angle of view of the lens' mm in use.
I don't as yet get how the width of the sensor is changed by switching to the DX mode unless that mode deadens those pixels that exceed the width of a DX sensor - sound right?

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

100% correct - in DX mode, the camera only uses the DX area, cropping out the pixels beyond the DX area. Of course, you can shoot the full sensor and manually crop to the DX area on your computer for the same result.

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

As a side note, I want to mention that we're really only looking at cropping - for example, a 300mm lens is a 300mm lens, regardless of what size sensor is behind it - or how that sensor is cropped. It will still display the same optical properties at any given distance. DX just uses the center portion of that area.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Don't forget that the same image you see in the dx camera is also available in the fx camera. You just have to crop it out. That's why a dx camera is called a crop camera. The camera crops the image for you.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Considering what you'd get for you D800, I'd keep it as a second camera. In certain situations, you may find that it would be better to keep a wide angle lens on the D800 with your main lens on the D850. This would alleviate constant lens changing. I do this with my D800, D7000 combination.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Steve Perry.....Bob Malarz brought up a good question. He's shooting a D800e and doesn't believe that the difference between 36 and 45.7 would be that much of a difference for him. How would you respond to that thought?

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

From strictly a full frame resolution standpoint, I do agree. There's not a significant difference between 36 and 46MP for most shooters. However, when thinking about using the D850 to double as a D500 replacement, 36MP comes up a little short at 15MP or so in DX mode. IMO, there's enough difference there to justify the D500 since the D500 is about 21MP. However, the D850 has enough resolution to tip that equation the other way. At 19.4MP, the D850 is close enough to the D500 in resolution that it becomes a viable replacement IMO.

All that said, there is a lot more to it than just resolution. The D850 AF system is far superior to one in the D800e, you have 7FPS vs 4FPS (all non gripped - 5 vs 9 with a properly equipped grip) a far deeper buffer, a tilt / touch screen that can be amazingly handy for lower shots, a better, brighter viewfinder, better ergonomics, slightly better build, and a host of other upgrades and improvements that all need to be taken into consideration.

And all that said, if you don't really need any of those benefits, then there's no reason to get a D850. For many shooters a D800/e or D810 is all they really need to get the type of shots they want. I like all the upgrades because they make it easier for me when shooting wildlife and landscapes, but for others, there may not be any real benefit.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Thanks for your response, Steve. I have, however, detected some kind of difference in the postings of D850 photos. Whether it's the 9mp or the acuity of the af system, it does seem to have something going for it that even the closest cameras to it do not. I look forward to seeing more results from members.

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

Agree. There is something special about the files. Nikon did a really good job on whatever they do in-camera. I find my D850 images seem to need a lot less attention in post and just come out looking the way I like.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I attribute this to the new backlit sensor as well as the fine Expeed5 processor. I have shot the D800E for 5 1/2 years and definitely see richer colors from the D850, along with noticeable improvement in details. All using the same lenses.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Does this mean I should be selling my D5 and D500 and be using my D850 in crop mode instead?

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

Steve
You seem to be ignoring or overlooking the fact that the smaller DX sensor does create greater magnification thus a larger image than the FX sensor. Cropping has nothing to do with it. Cropping only matches the respective angles of view.

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

Take a shot with a D850 (or any FX camera) in DX crop mode and look at the same shot with a DX camera - the "magnification" is identical. Magnification comes from the lens, not the sensor. The lens doesn't care what sensor is behind it.

Think of it this way - if I have a 300mm FX lens, it projects the exact same image circle on the sensor regardless if it's a DX or FX sensor. The difference is with the DX sensor, only the center portion of the image circle is used, unlike the large portion used with an FX body. Now, crop the FX sensor to the same size as DX and you have the same result. I've literarily done this when I tested the D850 ISO in DX mode vs the D500 - the resulting images had the same "magnification". The D500 wasn't magically closer then the DX cropped D850.

kocart Loc: Illinois

There may be some confusion about image quality versus magnification here. You can magnify a lousy image as much as a very fine image (based on pixels). Magnification is an optical term only.