Deb P

I have been searching for months for a high megapixel camera. I mainly shoot portraits and landscapes but with my 6 grandchildren growing older and into sports there may be some action photos once they stop picking the dandelion’s in right field.
I have looked at the Nikon D850 which states it is not good for action shots. I have also looked at the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II which had the option of relatively 50mp.
I was brought up living in the Finger Lakes region of NYS, specifically on Keuka Lake. I’m dying to get some great seasonal photos which I want to blow up onto canvas, basically around poster size and I don’t want to loose any resolution.
I would appreciate any recommendations. I’m so sick of reading camera reviews, I need some good solid advice from people who know what they are talking about and have used these models. Once again, an all around camera with a good assortment of lenses for what I want to use it for. Thank you all so much. PS. Would like to keep the price of the body only around $ 3,500. Willing to go higher if I must.

Pistnbroke Loc: UK

D850 not good for action shots where did you read such rubbish. Its equivalent to the D500 with its focus tracking etc so just ignore what you read.Thom Hogan says its the best all round camera you can get. Because you have the wider field of view you can locate and track your images much easier then a DX camera Don't even think about M4/3 been there done that not at all happy with the picture quality. I always go grey with e-infinity and save a fortune. If you go D850 PM me and I will direct you to how to get it up to 9fps for about £120$. The tamron 100-400 is a great lens for it as is the Nikon 200-500 but heavy and not so close focusing or as wide. If you go for a 24-120 you will be ok with a new one but there is an older VR version, looks identical with 15 rather than 17 elements which is a pile of junk.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

In the grand scheme of things, the lenses will usually cost you more than the body. For $3500 you can get a really, really good body or a decent body and a good lens or two or more.
You can make poster size prints with relatively low megapixel cameras and not have any resolution problems so I'd recommend not going with a high megapixel count camera unless you plan on doing some serious cropping.
The Canon 90D is a new 32.5 megapixel crop sensor camera that is good for sports, up to 11 frames per second, portraits and general photography. The body goes for around $1200 and it takes Canon EF and EF-S lenses of which there are over 100 to choose from. A Canon EF 50 f/1.4 lens goes for around $300. An EF 85 f/1.8 is around $350. This is a good lens for portraiture. You can get a reconditioned EF 100-400L II for around $1700. This is an excellent lens for sports and wildlife. A good used EF 24-105 f/4L lens can be had for around $450. The Canon nifty fifty 50mm f/1.8 goes for around $125 new.
There have been millions of Canon EF lenses made over the years so there are lots of good used lenses available for decent prices. A lens like the EF 28-300L goes for around $1800 used and it's a great utility lens. I have one on my 5D mk IV pretty much all the time and I use it for action, general and portrait photography.
Another excellent general purpose camera is the Nikon D7200. I have one and use it for many types of photography, mainly photos of my two Coton de Tulear dogs.

Pistnbroke Loc: UK

Keep away from Canon. Although they have a bigger market share they don't have access to sony sensors and the quality is not quite there ...From what you say stick to FX I have both the D850 and D7200 ..Stick with the D850....( I have recently owned D800/D810/D850 D7100/D7200 so I got a rough idea) I would not call a D7200 a high MP camera

Haydon

Although on a SPEC sheet, it may not appear that Canon has the same latitude of DR, much of the imaging comes as a result of the photographer. Most of these images were made from a 8 year old Canon 5D3 body.

https://500px.com/elenashumilova

Please show me examples of your own work that exceed these images.

I'll be the first to admit in post you may have a more latitude with the shadows with Sony sensors and Canon doesn't have a match for the D850 but I'm not so sure I want to work in post with very large files with frequency separation, and other facial retouching. That's a lot of work. I also suspect a good deal of work will be tripod bound. I have a fellow shooter using a D850 and he almost exclusively uses a tripod to ensure tack sharp images. He doesn't have the same hit rate handheld. Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm going by another another photographer who maybe less competent than yourself.

Although I own all Canon, I'm not a fanboy. I do recognize their shortcomings and strengths. Canon's coming out with outstanding MILC glass unmatched at present. There bodies aren't their strengths.

I honestly don't feel you could buy a bad camera nowadays. Your limiting factor is mostly your own abilities. That's certainly my case. I'm not trying to argue or debate. I just feel it's best to keep an open mind and decide what is best for the application of your own work.

Pistnbroke Loc: UK

If you want high MP and good auto focus you want a D850, Going to unwatch as hogs go in circlces

A10 Loc: Southern Indiana

Here goes for my 2 cents. Pentax K-1 has been rated a great camera for landscapes because of 36mp and several other features such as weather proofing. Great for portraits too unless thay are moving too fast. Cost is very reasonable for new and used, with "glass" available from Pentax and 3rd parties. I use new lenses but with my portraits I sometimes use 40-50 year old Pentax lenses that fit and work on Manual. I can provide portraits or you can go to ostranderphoto.com

CO

The Nikon D5, D500, and D850 all have Nkon's best autofocus system. They're the first Nikons to have a processor dedicated to just the autofocus system. I have two D500's. The autofocus is noticeably better than any other Nikon I've used. The D850 is the one you should get since you are going to be making poster sized prints.

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)

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

With a $3,500 budget, you have so many options, no wonder you seeking some solid guidance! It might come down to which body feels best in your hands, so a trip to a camera store could be helpful.

Starting right now, you might consider going mirrorless, since it seems the camera manufacturers will be devoting most of their resources there. The Nikon Z7 is in your price range. Otherwise, the D850 is a superb choice.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I'm not sure why 9fps is needed, but I would surely like to know how you can do it for your stated cost.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

When the D850 was announced, Nikon users held a week-long “street party” celebrating its all-round capabilities .... then Sony released a camera that also scored 100 on DxOMark tests. No one from Nikon has revoked their proclamation, so I’m guessing that either it or the top Sony {Sony issues cameras so fast I lose track} will meet your requirements.

Tom DePuy Loc: Waxhaw, N.C.

It's right here on how to get more fps.....

When working with the optional MB-D18 grip and EN-EL18a/b battery, this shooting rate can be increased to 9 fps, and up to 30 fps shooting is possible when working in a DX crop mode during Silent Live View.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Frankly, everyone has their own "pet ox", brand that they protect strenuously. Any brand Prosumer camera with a quality mid range zoom and possibly basic fixed focal length lens or two will do portraits and landscapes, and with practice, most everything else. After the New camera and zoom, I'd look at the additional lenses used from reputable suppliers. In the final analysis, you'll probably need to handle a variety of cameras to make the proper decision for you. In terms of burst speed - probably a matter of style and practice, but I can count the times I've used it in fingers, and whatever the speed was, it worked or didn't.

Deb P

Thank you for your quick response. I just recently read that it was not good for action shots but I don’t remember the source. It’s not like I’m going to shoot action shots constantly just the occasional sporting events that my grandchildren are in or nature shots as I live on 34 acres with some beautiful horses!
I’m so glad I joined this blog as I know the answers will be truthful and from someone who has used this camera. Thank you also for the tips I the lenses. my heart was set in the Nikon D850 from the minute I read about it and I’m glad I will not be making the wrong choice. The only down side I have read about is the weight but with some of my old lenses I’m sure it wasn’t much different. A small price to pay for all the features it has. One of the biggest draws was the battery life, very excited to get this camera. Thank you.

Deb P

Thank you, I will check it out. I’m very aware of the prices of lenses, have a case full of them. I’m still leaning towards the Nikon D850. Will most likely be the last camera I purchase. Down the road I don’t want to say I wish I went with more mp, in case I do have to crop. I’m very serious about these lake shots and several of them will have some distance on them from the hills and vineyards above. I want as much detail as I can get. 32.5 mp is nothing to frown about either. Thank you!