Great comments, Jimmy, especially about not needing any new equipment until you master the equipment you already have. And mastering photography in general requires the training of our technique and composition skills, skills often lacking by many people who happen to own GREAT equipment.

Maroon Bells, CO. This is always a difficult shot when the sun is out. You’re always dealing with hard shadows. I got lucky on this fall day. The weather cooperated, which it often doesn’t do. Shot this a number of years ago on my”old” and “outdated” Nikon d3 (on a tripod).

Awesome, Paul. Becoming better is a great goal in our photography journey. I always try to keep learning. Someone once said, “My best photograph? I haven’t taken it yet.” That’s the attitude we should all have.

Not a week goes by where there isn’t some level of discussion on UHH about the latest camera gear or equipment. This is all fine, because this forum is meant to help all of us in our quest to have the perfect compliment of equipment in our bag. I’ve done a lot of research and soul searching lately as I explore my own future equipment needs. Over the years, I’ve progressed from Nikon film cameras to the d2h, d1x, d3, d500, and d850, the last two, my current cameras. As I was reviewing some of my work over the years, a realization hit me like a ton of bricks: My best work was taken on all my cameras and with all the many great lenses I own. Although I believe all of us seek to maximize the technical quality of our gear, I realized that the single most important component in achieving great results was ME. This is something I’ve always known deep down, but sometimes we need to remind ourselves of this important fact. When I’m inspired, the combination of my skills, knowledge and equipment, is what creates the results. Is the gear important? Sure. But if I’m not in focus, it doesn’t matter if my lens is or not. The results won’t be there. And in the future, if I can’t get great results with cameras like my d850 and d500, then the problem is NOT whether my gear is the latest and greatest. The problem is the guy behind the camera. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t seek the best gear, but let’s not forget that the most important “equipment” in our arsenal is ourselves. If you consider the masters, people like Ansel Adams, his gear was archaic compared to our offerings. Yet…he created masterpieces. Who among the greats was ever considered great because of the equipment they used? I can’t think of one. So…let us not forget that it’s fine to want the latest and greatest. But nothing will replace US in the determination of the quality of our work!

Photo Mechanic is the best organizer I’ve seen. I go through all my RAW images in Photo Mechanic, and then import the ones I want to edit into Photoshop. (Photo Mechanic has this easy feature.) Then I go through all my edited images to select my best.

I would have dialed down your ISO, which would cause your shutter speed to come down as well. You don’t need to be at 1/3200 on your shutter speed to get sports images sharp. You’ll lose nothing in terms of frozen sharp focus at 1/1600, and you’ll have less grain in your shots because you’ll brought your ISO down.

Bingo!!!

Pay attention to sales tax. Depending on what you're buying, it could be a significant consideration!

Background: I own a Nikon D850 and a D500. I also own 5 Nikon lens, all covering a wide range of needs.
Key point: I really have no interest in converting to mirrorless. I'm 65, love my gear, and don't feel a need to spend $20,000 for two new mirrorless bodies and a bunch of lens. (If I were younger...maybe. And I love my D850.)
I've been asking myself this question for some time: Rumors have been out FOREVER that Nikon is going to introduce the Nikon D880, 890 or 900 (the next improvement over the D850), but I'm not seeing anything, and I'm starting to question whether these rumors are just that...rumors. This leaves me in an interesting place. Knowing I can still get a new D850 body, should I buy one before they truly are all gone, or should I wait for this rumored new Nikon? I don't want to rely on my current D850 to get me to the "finish line of life", which is why I'm debating just getting another one now. I don't need another D850 yet, but I also don't want to be sitting around in three years, realizing that Nikon isn't going to introduce a this new DSLR, and now all the D850s are gone. The biggest question I have is whether Nikon is truly going to introduce a D880 (or equivalent), or if they are only going to focus on their mirrorless technology moving forward. Thoughts?

Instead of shooting boring Indiana, try this:
1. Look for new perspectives of the same old boring subjects. It will force you to think deeper and challenge your creativity.
2. Shoot people. Offer to shoot friends, neighbors and relatives who are not “models” or blessed with “physical beauty.” Bring out their interior beauty. Focus on the light within them versus the shooting light around them.
3. With your d500, shoot local youth sporting events and send the images to the parents of the kids you shoot. These parents almost certainly have no really high quality images of their kids. Send them the images for free. You’ll be a hero in their eyes!
4. Take that trip to Europe!

I just got back from the Galapagos Islands two weeks ago. I took 2 Nikon bodies and 5 lenses, one of which was my 200-500mm Nikon lens. It came out of the case exactly one day...the first day. I realized that 95% of what I wanted to shoot could be done with my 70-200mm Nikon lens. I was correct. The animals are so close to you that big lenses are not needed. You can shoot most everything with a 200mm lens. I would also take a wide angle lens. Make sure you take plenty of storage...you'll need it! Also, I never used my tripod once. I only took two bodies to have a backup, and never used my Nikon D500...not even once. I shot everything on my Nikon D850.

Try Hunt’s Camera.

I don't know if it's me. Maybe I just don't get it, but I read so often about how someone thinks the newest versions of the iPhone (11, 12 or 13) are the greatest cameras since sliced bread...and they are using them for serious work. I use mine when I'm somewhere without my good gear, or wasn't planning on shooting anything, but now it's there in front of me. But to take an iPhone (on purpose) instead of my D850 or D500 when I'm doing serious work??? What am I missing? I don't think my iPhone 12 is even in the same league with my two Nikons. And it's not even close. I do agree that it's a lot easier carrying an iPhone around in my back pocket, but in my mind, it just doesn't produce exceptional images, especially in low light. Are others happy with just average results? Maybe some people are too lazy to carry around heavier gear? Maybe I'm using my phone incorrectly? Thoughts?

Stan,

As much as the short lenses will be useful, I'd never leave on a trip like this with only 55mm of reach. Just when you think you aren't going to shoot wildlife, there it is...right in front of you...and you don't have the right lens with you. Also, you'd be surprised how many good landscape images are shot with a telephoto lenses. I would never take a trip of this caliber without bringing my best and most complete compliment of my gear.


Bill

Thanks!