Upgrade from D3400? Currently, I have a Nikon D3400 (which is pretty beat up), with a couple of DX lenses. I am looking to upgrade to full frame, and for a while it looked like the...

Treely.D Loc: Massachusetts

Currently, I have a Nikon D3400 (which is pretty beat up), with a couple of DX lenses. I am looking to upgrade to full frame, and for a while it looked like the D750 was the best option. However, the D780 just came out, and it looks like its packed with extra features. As it is a new camera though, it's significantly more expensive, and there are some seriously sweet deals for the d750 on eBay. Is it worth it to spend the extra couple hundred dollars for the D780? (Currently I don't have a budget, and if I did it would be at around 100 bucks. Any money spent will take a lot of time to save for, especially considering the pandemic right now.) Thanks.

JohnR Loc: The Gates of Hell

depends on what you photograph - if what you did with the D3400 was OK then neither D750 nor D780 will do any different

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

The D780 is advertised as having the best of both worlds, excellent video taken from the mirrorless Z camera and better low light shooting 2 stops higher iso and longer battery life. Nikon has seen fit to delete the on board flash that is critical for still photography. In my opinion i would save a few bucks and go for the D750.

BebuLamar

Treely.D wrote:

Currently, I have a Nikon D3400 (which is pretty b... (show quote)

If the price difference is a couple hundreds bucks then the D780 is worth it but the price difference is more like $800.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

This is what I would do: Look up the specs for each and compare. Also look up what features are different between the two; there are plenty of resources online. Download and carefully read the manuals for each. Then decide if the extra cost of the D780 is really worth it to you, if what makes it different from the D750 can offer significant benefit to your particular approach to photography.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

How many full-frame lenses do you have today? What is your budget for at least one FX (full-frame) lens to compliment a full-frame camera? Which FX lens is being considered? Are you aware your D3400 provides a 24MP sensor? If using your DX lenses on a candidate D750, the DX crop mode yields only a 10MP image. That would seem to be an "upgrade" in the wrong direction.

A beat-up camera external should be a point of pride, showing long-life and satisfaction.

BebuLamar

The OP can't have the D3400 for more than 4 years and he already wants to upgrade. I think it's too early. The OP should have bought the D750.

CO

I have a D750. It's a fantastic camera and is available at heavily discounted prices now. I bought a new one for $1296. It's back up to $1496 now. The new D780 has on-sensor phase detection autofocus along with the phase detection autofocus for viewfinder photography. It will have better autofocus for live view and video. If you use live view or shoot video a lot, the D780 would be good to get. They both have a 24 megapixel sensor and an anti-aliasing filter. I can't see upgrading my D750 for the D780. I don't use live view or shoot video.

It's easier to get a shallow depth of field for portraits with a full frame camera. I took this photo with my D750 and Tamron 45mm f/1.8 SP VC lens

(Download)

Treely.D Loc: Massachusetts

CHG_CANON wrote:

How many full-frame lenses do you have today? What is your budget for at least one FX (full-frame) lens to compliment a full-frame camera? Which FX lens is being considered? Are you aware your D3400 provides a 24MP sensor? If using your DX lenses on a candidate D750, the DX crop mode yields only a 10MP image. That would seem to be an "upgrade" in the wrong direction.

A beat-up camera external should be a point of pride, showing long-life and satisfaction.

Currently I own no full frame lenses, and am prepared to use DX ones and deal with the crop until I can afford to purchase a FX one, which ideally would be very soon after. The one I am looking at is probably the Nikkor 24mm f/1.8g.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

Treely.D wrote:

Currently I own no full frame lenses, and am prepared to use DX ones and deal with the crop until I can afford to purchase a FX one, which ideally would be very soon after. The one I am looking at is probably the Nikkor 24mm f/1.8g.

Look at a used d810. 36mp so when you use your dx lenses you will still have about 20mp.

twice_shooter

Very hard to give you advice as you don’t provide any criteria that you will use to make the decision. So my “advice” is to go with your gut. Buy the camera you think you want and go for it. There’s no bad decision here. Just be cautious on Ebay if you decide on the D750. Make sure you are dealing with someone reputable.

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

I picked up a used D810, traded in my D7200. Had to buy new lens's a 24-70 and a 70=200 both new. All told the switch cast me about $4100. Well worth it. The wife liked it too.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Forget the sweet deals on eBay. Nikon controls pricing on legitimate cameras, so all authorized dealers will be selling for about the same price. be aware that the D780 does not have a pop-up flash, which I use very often. Look for online comparisons and decide if the increased cost is worth it.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

BebuLamar wrote:

The OP can't have the D3400 for more than 4 years and he already wants to upgrade. I think it's too early. The OP should have bought the D750.

Why is 4 years to early to upgrade? Why should the OP have bought the D750? If you’re saying that why shouldn’t he have bought the D850? My question to the OP would be “what do you expect to gain from the FF that you’re not getting from your crop sensor? If money is an issue then I would look at a refurbished D7500.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Treely.D wrote:

Currently, I have a Nikon D3400 (which is pretty b... (show quote)

Have you considered the Z cameras?
That is the future and seeing as you only have Crop lenses there should be no pain going to the future rather than invest in the past.
Otherwise unless you are into video the D750 does relatively well and saves bucks for purchasing those F mount lenses that need to be FF to fully utilize having a FF camera.