I have several Manfroto 494 with a quick release plate PL200 that's mounted on all of my cameras, plus a 150-600 Sigma Sport and a Nikon 400f3.5 that have the plates mounted to the tripod collar. Available for around $80 from several outlets. Makes changing bodies and lenses simple.

https://www.adorama.com/bg494cbh.html

It's a Kilfitt Tele-Kilar 400mm f/5.6.

Nikon N6006
Nikon FM2
Nikon F100
Nikon P500
Nikon P1000
Nikon D500
Nikon D850
Nikon AW130
Mamiya RB67 X 2
Horseman L450

Definitely a Hibiscus.

+1

[quote=IBM]

Years ago, I had both a Yashicamat and and a Rollieflex 6X6 TL camera. I made quite a few very nice square images. At the end of the day, if you like and see square, compose it in the camera and crop in PP.

You can use your DX lens on the D850, using the crop mode on the 850, Of course, you lose some MP. The 200-500 will be effectively a 300-750 on your 500. I shot the local Soap Box Derby last weekend and used my D500 with a 400/f3.5 MF lens (600 effective FL) and an 80-200/f2.8 (120-300 effective) and came out with some great shots. Although I have a D850, I didn't take it as MP size was not an issue. If money's not an issue, I'd buy the 200-500 and get used to it. Then maybe trade in the 500 and any DX lens you don't want on the D850.

I shot a lot of motor sports in the 80's & 90's in FL; everything from motorcycles to NASCAR to IMSA and drag racing. One thing I learned from SI photog Heinz Kluetmeier years ago was, "Get the eyes!". It holds true for any sport. I've got some shots from the sunrise/sunset at 12/24 hr racing of the cockpit illuminated and you can see where the drive is looking. As far as shutter speed, I always wanted to pan, get the car sharp, with just a hint of blur in the tires to show the speed. Same thing for high speed passes; pan to get the vehicle sharp and the background a blur. With practice, you can get your background blurs as long as 10-12 feet. Looks great, especially when there are bright colors in the background, like team trailers. Get the crowd; when something interesting is happening, the crowd can add a lot of drama to a photograph. I've made shots at drag races during the burnout where every one in the stands has their hands over their ears. It says a lot about the experience. As the OP said; practice, practice, practice. It's cheap now with digital. I can remember buying 100 rolls of film, paying for E-6 processing and throwing a lot of it away.

I've put thumb drives thru the wash and they have worked fine afterwards. I still don't recommend it.

Frankly, I don't want the D850 anymore either. But my reason is that it is already in my gear case. One is enough, for now.

For every location you shoot, make a quick photo of anything with your cell phone. When you load all the photos in LR, the cell phone shot will have the geotag and it and can be shared with all the other images.

Domke makes a very nice vest as well as pretty good bags. Just do a google search for Domke vests.

There are 4 distinct sunsets (and sunrises) each day; astronomical, nautical, civil and actual. Each one is 6 degrees from the succeeding, so ), -6, -12, -18. Astronomical sunrise is when the sky goes from black to that deep, cobalt blue. Nautical and you'll start to see some additional colors appear on the horizon and the sky starts it's transformation to sky blue, civil is when you get colors like you see in the preceding example. Any good Sunrise/Sunset app will give you these times, based on your location.

BTW, my SN is 30006470. The Battery Grip is still on backorder.

I ordered mine from Adorama on August 29 and it showed up Monday.