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

D500 seems to be popular, but you'd have to pry my D810 from my cold dead hands -

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gene_lugo/albums

I actively shoot wildlife 60-70% of the time. in Spring and Fall,99% of the time.

And here's why I like a high mp full frame camera with a sharp lens. The first image was taken with a D500, Nikkor 28-300 at F5.6, ISO 800, 1/250. The second with a D800, Sigma Sport 600mm, ISO 800, 1/500, F8. The important takeaway is that, aside from the optical differences, noise is a big factor that eats up image quality.

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D500

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D800

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TrishV Loc: Now living on Whidbey Island, WA

You can definitely see the difference between the two photos - thanks for sharing the comparison.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

I have owned both and shoot mainly wildlife photography. Not hard for me to believe when I don't shoot under lab conditions and actually use cameras in the field and have a 27inch monitor to view the results. I wanted the camera for wildlife, but I also wanted a camera that could handle ISO better than the D7200. It did not, for that reason I settled on the D850 where there is No comparison....

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I believe that although there are very good cameras with great AF systems modern amateur cameras are excellent for wildlife photography. Even many older models are.
If you need an extra fast firing rate then you will have to be more selective on the camera you buy but otherwise the majority of the cameras made today have excellent AF systems that can do the job.
I use a D7000, an old camera with a very good AF that has served me well for my style of photography.

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

You're welcome!

I did not have the time to put the 28-300 - a lens which I love to hate - on the D800, but I suspect that had I done that, the image quality would have been better than on the D500, if only for the improvement in noise of the D800 over the D500.

These are the two uncropped images for the ones above.

I much prefer the D800 image. The D500 isn't even close.

One other thing. A lot of stock is put into frame rate. The D800 is 4 fps, the D810 is a little faster. Both are more that adequate for wildlife. 10 fps is nice, but not absolutely necessary. I have shot with a D5, and currently have a crazy fast Sony RX10M4 that does 24fps. I usually turn it down to 10 fps because I have yet to see any real benefit, other than to watch other photographers, especially those with uber-fast Canons, drop their jaws when they hear the Sony rattle off 72 exposures in three seconds.

But what the D500, D810 and D850 have going for them is an excellent AF system, protected highlight spot metering mode, and group autofocus - all of which benefit the wildlife shooter. Still I'd rather have the D810 (or a D850, but I haven't been able to justify one at this point) than a crop camera, no matter how good it is.

A nice trick with the D8XX series cameras is to shoot at 1.2 crop - which gives you a faster frame rate and a smaller image file. This is fine for wildlife, since most of your images are going to be cropped anyway.

D500

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d800

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saxman71 Loc: Wenatchee

In looking at these two cardinal shots, it seems you may have been a bit closer to the bird with the D800 shot. At the same distance I would expect the bird in the uncropped photo from the D800 to be somewhat smaller (due to the D500's crop factor). In my mind, that would make a difference. I own both a D810 and a D500. I like them both. But for birds and other fast moving subjects I pick the D500 every time. I've tested both with a Tamron 150x600MM G2 lens and my results are better with the D500.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

--Bob

Barndog Loc: Tacoma

Have you considered a used camera. MPB has those models and some have had very little use and, at a huge savings over new or refurbished. Their “like new” if anything like their lenses listed as such will in effect be like new. The lenses I got listed as “like new” were in the original wrappers, box and the strap for the case was still sealed in plastic (Nikon 24-70).

Selene03

I am living in the Canon and Sony world right now, but have used Nikon in the past. If I were starting out fresh without a large number of expensive lenses right now, I would go for the Nikon D850. I think it is probably the best camera on the market and would work well for your purposes. You do get the illusion of more reach with the D500, which also appears to be a very good camera.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

Most people take good care of their gear, so buying used makes sense and you can usually save 20-35%. I have bought a few used lenses from Adorama.com that were in either Demo, E+, or E condition - basically like new. I have bought 2 used bodies at my local camera shop, a D800 and a D500 with power grip, both pristine and at very good prices. Just make sure where you buy from a reputable vendor with a good return policy. Keep an eye on Nikonusa.com as well for deals on refurbished gear.

willy6419

D500

Great auto focus, quick and sharp

Fast bursts

The DX gives you 1.5 reach with your lens, I’d love longer, but I’m getting great results with 300 f4, of and tc 1.4

Someday I’ll add 200-500, or 70-400

It rocks

wetreed

I vote for the D500 . I just got one a week ago and I love it. Every day Learn something new about this amazing camera. Nikon has had recent price drops that make a new one almost as inexpensive as a refurbished one. The 16-80 kit lens it came with was also great. Trust me on this one.

ELNikkor

D500

rangel28

I don't own the D810, but I do have the D500 and D750, and for wildlife I would choose the D500 based on the 1.5x crop factor (I feel this is huge for wildlife), big buffer, and focusing system. I like shooting birds so I love the D500. If you are shooting expansive landscape (such as a tundra shot) with wildlife in the photos, then perhaps the D750 or D810 would be better, but for wildlife or birds that are moving, I would choose the D500.

TJBNovember Loc: Long Island, New York

First the only practical experience of the cameras you listed I have, is with the D750, which is a great camera. Going on my other camera is a faithful old D5100. I find both more then adequate for backyard wildlife photography, shooting from the comfort of my dining room with both on tripods. However, if one is going to wander out and about as I do here on the beaches of Long Island, I find carrying the 750 can be a bit laborious and often opt for the 5100 as there is a significant difference in weight especially when walking about with a large lens, 200-500 or 200-400. Since for you weight is a consideration and it appears you will be a wandering, opting for the lightest of the three, the D500 which has gotten quite a bit of praise in these responses, may be your most favorable choice. Good luck, good shooting and have fun with which ever you choose.