jptonks

Hello all,

I am nearing retirement and have decided to get more serious about my photography hobby. I am a serious amateur who has been dabbling in photography for many years. I have been shooting a Nikon D90 since 2009 with the kit 18-105, 3.5-5.6 lens. I am ready to upgrade.

I have been saving for this upgrade for a long time and now have a budget of $5,000. However, spending less than that amount would certainly be acceptable. What is more important is that I end up with the right camera/lens system that works for me without buying more technology than my skill level can utilize. I recently began my post processing career with Photoshop Elements. I may want to enlarge a photo from time to time to a "hang it on the wall" size, but nothing outrageous.

I am primarily a landscape (80%), car show(15%), air show (5%) shooter. My primary goals with this purchase are superb image quality and outstanding auto focus that ultimately produce tack sharp images. I am working on the tack sharp part with practice, local college classes, tripod, reading, talking, Internet, UHH, etc..


My current D90 has no value as a trade in and I am willing to consider another brand besides Nikon. I am leaning towards a full-frame camera such as the Nikon Z6, Z7 and D850. But, I am attracted to the Sony A7 III, as well as the Olympus OMD series and the Fuji XT-3 with the smaller sensors. I am on the fence regarding mirrorless vs. regular DSLR technology.


Lastly, for landscapes, are 2.8 f-stop lenses really necessary when 6 or 11 f stops offer the best sharpness? 2.8 lenses are much more expensive, as you know. If you needed background blur I would think that a 1.4 or 1.8 prime lens would be better.


Thank you all for your help.

John T.

nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY

Look out. The avalanche of recommendations is coming. Good luck sorting it all out.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

John, Welcome to the forum. As a Nikon guy, I would upgrade to a Nikon D850 DSLR Camera. You have the lenses to start with and can upgrade. I believe in full FX sensors.Good luck on your future retirement. Join a local camera club if possible.

SafetySam Loc: Colorado

John,
I have just "jumped off the cliff" and ordered a D810 with the 24 to 120 F4 lens to upgrade from my recent D7200 setup . . I am in the process of upgrading to a full frame camera from the DX 7200 with 4 lenses to a full frame camera. It will take some time to swap out the equipment, but I am looking forward to the full frame experience!

The purchase was through Adorama and the equipment was "refurbished" which has been a good method in the past with refurbs being in the same class as "new" and the reliability is high in my opinion. The D810 refurbished body was $1559 and the 24 to 120 lens was $549. the total of $2140 was well within my budget and the D810 should be a relevant camera for many years.

I know the "technicality" of the D810 can seem overwhelming but once you get the settings correct (and save several presets) you will find that this becomes "intuitive" as your D90 has been but with much sharper and higher color renditions.

Being a new D810 user, I may be "delusional" but I think this will be my "right hand" for photography long into the future (75 now and looking at another 20 years at least . .) Next up will be to change out the 70 to 300 DX for the 70 - 200 FX . . . the "investment" continues . .

Good Luck with your decision!

Sam

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

Welcome to the forum, welcome to retirement, welcome to having the time to bring out your creative side through photography. I am also invested in Nikon, but would not call myself a Nikon guy. If you want to stay with Nikon, I would go with the D7500 camera body. The D7500 should be more than enough camera for what you want to shoot and excellent quality DX lenses are less expensive than full frame lenses. You can easily print at 13" x 20", even larger with the 20.1mp sensor. The D500 would be a little more camera if you were inclined. The D850 requires a higher skill set to use and you would really need to give processing 45mp images some careful thought. I would recommend the D810 instead if you are set on FF. With that said, I recommend you look at the Canon and Sony cameras as well as they both make excellent products. I am sure you will get replies to your post recommending every manufacturer out there. As you mentioned in your post, mirrorless technology is the new thing and will eventually supplant the dslr. My personal choice is to stay with dslr bodies for a little while yet.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

There are so many choices that I won't even offer an suggestion. I will give you some comparison sites, though. I've always used Nikon (including a D90), and I'm happy with my D750.

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

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Welcome and enjoy retirement. I have for 11 years. My wife urged me to get into photography more (to get me out of the house?) and a lot of gear later I am still at it with frequent GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) that has to be fed or stomped down.
Well, I am a Canon shooter but by your post 95% of your shooting is more or less FF territory. The airshow is a question since I don't know if you shoot the planes and exhibits on the ground or in flight. If on the ground, then FF is still the way to go. If in flight then a crop sensor gives more "reach" which in a FF calls for a longer/more expensive lens. Planes in flight also calls for a high frame per second rate. If you don't intend to print "large" prints (to me larger than 11x14 or 13x19) then a crop sensor will do all of it for you. Though FF usually handles low light levels and "noise" better. A mirrorless will be a little bit ighter but a long lens will make that more or less a non-factor.
So if you stick with Nikon then the D500 or D7500 for crop sensor or the D850 for full frame. And buy lenses for FF, most companies produce their top grade lenses in FF format so they work on both FF and Crop Sensor bodies. Then if you do go FF in the future you have the lenses.
If you would consider the Canon line then the 7DII (should be due for a III version soon), 80D (also rumors of a new model next year) for crop sensor and the 5DIV or new EOS R for FF (AF at f/11 and a bunch of focal points).
The other brands I pretty much know zero about.

You don't need f/2.8, I find the much cheaper f/4 lenses work just fine on the newer high ISO bodies. The main thing for them is the "bokah".

Canon and Nikon have the largest family of lenses and accessories which for many is a factor.

BebuLamar

You can't buy more technology than your skill level can utilize but you can buy technology that you wouldn't care to use.

CO

You mentioned that you want outstanding auto focus that ultimately produces tack sharp images. As far as DSLR cameras go, the Nikon D5, D500, and D850 have Nikon's best autofocus system. It's probably the best phase detection system of any DSLR camera. They're the first Nikon cameras to have a processor dedicated to just the autofocus system. The D5, D500, or D850 would be the best cameras for your air show photos. I have a D500. It really is an amazing autofocus system.

On previous cameras, data related to autofocus was processed by the same micro-computer that controlled the rest of the camera. On the D500, this is now carried out by a dedicated processor solely for autofocus, enabling the instantaneous processing of the enormous volume of data streaming in from the 153 points on the autofocus sensor. This dedicated processor also contributes to the enhanced tracking performance of moving subjects, adding to the D500's excellent autofocus performance.

(Download)

UncleBuck Loc: Malvern, Arkansas

Consider the D750, currently on sale, a dated but excellent full frame, sigma 24-105 f/4, tamron or sigma 100-400, tamron 17-35 f/ 2.8-4. Approximately $3600.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Yes....you must have brand spanky new camera stuff. Anything less makes anything you do just look like crap. I wonder how many people when given two pictures both spot on. One taken with a D750 and the other with a D850 would really know the difference?

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

They don't.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

jptonks said in part... I am ready to upgrade. landscape (80%), car show(15%), air show (5%).... "I am nearing retirement"

The "upgrade" is saying "Change" with good quality.
The type of photography and the word retirement {getting older} suggests mobility lightweight. Versatile all in one lens camera fits in your pocket. Photo opportunities happen and we do not carry 40#s of DSLR gear... no way. There is a camper fire-bleve with smoke flames and people running... you can not drive home for an extra lens... you have a moment to reach into your pocket and pull out and record history in the happening. Perhaps a video and select the frame from 5 minutes at 30 frames per second.... select one or more from the 9,000!

Both the Sony and Panasonic "1-inch" sensor cameras fit this bill each has their virtues. Add the fasten on filter adapter and you can add filters and/or auxiliary lenses such as extenders [10x] and fisheye.
Yes 4K video will grab shots from 30f/second ... OK only 8mb, but there are excellent programs that outdo PS multi times better [even the last year Photozoom for $20]. Much of what makes a "good photo" excellent is Software Related. Again Adobe is good but new ones such as Affinity can do wonders. Plugin programs change contrast, modify color etc... money is well spent there.

The general philosophy is "pay more ... ya get whatcha pay for" [BS] Yes, buy quality where quality is needed; sufficient utility where utility is needed and rarely used. Special such as a lightweight tripod, OK pay to get excellent, but only after you research reviews... do not go on price. Studies show that filter quality vs price is not linear. Make trash, jack the price up and fool buy.

Printing at home is needed to tune in your photos but if you are going to exhibit then get your big prints from a good lab, or even from a Walgreens like the one near me who's department is run by a fanatical lady who keeps the equipment prime.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

[quote=jptonks]Hello all,

I am nearing retirement and have decided to get more serious about my photography hobby. I am a serious amateur who has been dabbling in photography for many years. I have been shooting a Nikon D90 since 2009 with the kit 18-105, 3.5-5.6 lens. I am ready to upgrade.

I have been saving for this upgrade for a long time and now have a budget of $5,000. However, spending less than that amount would certainly be acceptable. What is more important is that I end up with the right camera/lens system that works for me without buying more technology than my skill level can utilize. I recently began my post processing career with Photoshop Elements. I may want to enlarge a photo from time to time to a "hang it on the wall" size, but nothing outrageous.



Your post says you are nearing retirement. I am also retired. I found caring around my Nikon cameras and lenses was too much for my shoulder and back. I switched to Fuji and for the same reason my my friend switched to Fuji.
All the cameras you mention will give you a fine photograph. I like Fuji because it’s like an old fashioned camera with f stop, shutter speed on the camera. Try the cameras you mentioned see which feels best in your hands. Also you can buy used from a reputable company like KEH. I now only buy used lenses.

Nikon1201

I don’t think the2.8 lenses are necessary for landscapes as speed is not a factor.