mamarazzi2 Loc: TN

Hello all! I'm new to the forum and have searched previous posts but not found any recent on the above topics. Now that Nikon is moving a bit on the price of the D850, I'm back to asking the 'upgrade' question. I'm 99% sure I don't want to go mirrorless, but is it worth the jump to the D850? I'm no pro, but I don't use auto; I shoot RAW and do post in LR. Most of my photography is family/friends, dogs & horses and lots of lacrosse games. I never charge for pics (and try not to shoot at events where a pro is booked!), but they are used by many in announcements, holiday cards, gifts and social media. The upgrade would 'just' be for me - to get better and perhaps eventually make something of it...

Second question is another that I haven't found any recent posts on. My main lens is the newer Nikkor 70-200mm 2.8. It was a huge leap from the 70-300mm and has given me a much better appreciation for the better glass. I'm venturing into some portrait-ish work, and would like a prime to round-out my equipment. A 105mm seems to be the best fit. Most of the reviews I have found favor the Sigma, but it weighs more than the 70-200.

Thoughts?

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

My thought, stay with your D750 and use your Nikon 70-200 Glass.

Bill_de Loc: US

For most of your shooting the D750 should do a wonderful job. For the lacrosse games the added speed of the D850 may be very helpful. Adding the grip and an EN-EL18a battery gives it an extra bump, at a cost. Also the extra pixels gives you room to crop, for better compositions. I bought mine, for me. I don't think you would regret it.

I can't help you out on the lenses as I've never seen either.

As you are new to the forum I'll point out that for many members saving money is the most important part of choosing a camera. In fact, not being able to afford something is seen as an accomplishment. Enjoy your new gear, whatever you decide.

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larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I like the controls on the D850. Every essential adjustment is accessible without entering the menu system, but the menus offer extensive control over camera setup. I love the overall 'character' of D850 images as well as the ability to resolve lots of detail when using extreme wide angle (14mm) lenses. There are also new features like focus stacking and Highlight Weighted Metering and lots more. In my mind, it is a lot more camera all the way around than the D750. But in the end, you have to decide if that is true for you.

mamarazzi2 Loc: TN

Thanks Bill_de! Seems I missed out on a few used options by a couple of days :(

ICN3S Loc: Cave Junction, OR

D850 is a better camera than the D750 because of speed and cropping ability but it also uses a lot of space in your computer with all those pixels. Stick with what you have and buy more glass. I have a very old Nikon 105 and love it. I always stick to Nikon lenses.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

While the D750 is a fine camera, the D850 is considerably better - build quality, snappiness, buttons and switches vs need to access the menu, autofocus system (group AF helpful in some situations), metering (highlight protection spot meter is a time saver) I think the D850 is worth considering. I've used a D750 - and coming from a D200/300/700/3S/800/810 experience, I felt the D750 was a step back in handling. I have only held but not shot with a D850, and I predict it will feel more familiar in my hands.

Having bigger files and needing to buy more storage is NOT a reason to prefer the D750 over the D850. It just means that you will likely buy more storage a bit sooner. Storage is relatively cheap and getting cheaper. My first ever hard drive was a 10 mb (not tb or even gb) that I purchased in 1984 and it cost me $900. It didn't last me 6 months.

The 105 F1.4 is one of Nikon's sharpest lenses. But I think the Sigma is sharper. I've briefly shot with the Nikkor and thought it was pretty amazing. But what I am seeing with the Sigma may change all of that.

This is an interesting field test of both - and you can skip over the video from 3:31 to 4:27 - where he completely wasted my time with his absurd test in a failed attempt at humor - he should stick to photography.

https://froknowsphoto.com/105vs105/

The video page also has downloadable pictures that you can pixel peep to your heart's content.

I think I would likely end up getting the Sigma - better sharpness, nicer bokeh, more uniform brightness across the field - makes for better portraits. Both lenses vignette - and vignetting is easily corrected.

jeryh Loc: Oxfordshire UK

Believe me, I gave this a lot of thought; I bought the 105 F1.4 Sigma Art lens. Ok, it is heavy, but not that heavy- I recently used this lens for a project on the river Thames; When I looked at the results, I was blown away by the sharpness and quality of the prints. Knocked spots of everything else !

twice_shooter

IMO, the D850 is the best camera that Nikon has ever made and I have/do own most of them: FTn, F2A, F2AS, F3HP, F4s, F5, D2x, D3s, D4s, D750, D850. Just the sound of the dampened shutter is amazing. It’s solid, feels good in the hand and provides a level of image detail the others can’t match. It is an extremely versatile camera.

ELNikkor

I'd never get the 105 1.4, too much weight and $1,000+ more than the 105 2.8. For portraits, I even prefer the 85 1.8. Faster, lighter, and half the price of the 105 2.8. The D850 has a nicer shutter than the D750, other than that, since you aren't doing this for a living, stick with the D750, unless yours wears out.

kenpic Loc: Edmonds, WA

Not to complicate your decision, you should look at the Z6 before you jump. I had been saving for the 850 and then decided on the Z6. I love the camera and it will give you the speed for the action shots. And then get a 105 f2.8. You will have all you need.

RickTaylor

There is no better combo for portrait work than the 850 paired with the Nikon 105 1.4. You will never shoot a portrait with any thing else once you have used this combo.

Bill_de Loc: US

I have both. If I had to let one go it would be the Z6. The D850 focuses faster, doesn't cripple AE during high speed shooting, has better battery life, and with an EN-EL 18a battery in the grip you can shoot until the cows come home. And, although it isn't all important, the sensor allows for a good amount of cropping if your composition is off.

Hopefully the upcoming firmware will improve the Z6 low light focus and some other issues. It is a good camera that I am about to take outside with an AF-s 300mm F/4.0D attached. The D850 can't give me VR with this lens, the Z6 can!

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cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Do you need a D850: Absolutely not! Do you want one? The D850 is a superior camera and the D750 ain't soo bad either. Simply your choice. As far as the portrait lens is concerned, I own both the Nikon 85/1.4G and the Nikon 105/1.4G. Both are superb lenses and my personal choice for portraits. I prefer the 105 (just something personal) but I also use the 85, especially when space is an issue. I also own three Sigma ART lenses and find them all very good. Never used the Sigma 105, but I'd bet it is a great lens. If you don't get one of these, that 70-200/2.8E FL is also a good choice for portraits, although 'blowing' the background takes more work. Best of luck.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

Stay with the 750 if it's working for you...invest in good FX glass...then maybe upgrade when the next gen 750 comes out (D760 with BSI sensor?) or the D850 when it's discounted further.

For portrait work these lenses work great: Nikkor 105 f/2 DC, Tokina 100 f/2.8 or the 135 f/2.8 or 3.5 AI lenses...use a prime for portrait work! No AF needed really.