I see this topic spans several years. I don't remember reading if anyone has stated the practical equivalent in pixels, or dots per inch, of an analog 35 mm slide. For analog slides, it would seem that it would be driven by some sort of molecular density on the film itself. Is that density known? From a practical standpoint, is it way beyond what I could capture with my 45 megapixel d850 with a slide attachment and a 1:1 macro lens? I'm considering buying such an attachment.

I scanned thousands of slides a few years back and didn't notice that a dust removal setting was removing pupils from eyes and letters from small signs in photos. It was disheartening when I noticed it and has bothered me ever since.

I didn't notice anyone mention it, but the bright doorway on the right is brighter than anything else in the image, and unimportant. I'd spot darken that, along with the tops of the white robes, and also lighten her hair and some of the on-looker clothing. I don't have photoshop, but Nikon's NX Studio has 'Protect Shadows' and 'Protect Highlights' sliders that can be applied to the whole frame, or select spots.

Here is an update on the D850 saga, and maybe some lessons learned:

I first tried the Nikon repair route. I sent it to California based on my location being in Utah. They sent it right back with a cryptic note that alluded to rejecting it due to unauthorized repairs. Recall that I had made some field repairs to get it working, and I maybe mistakenly fessed up to that fact when I requested repair service through the Nikon USA website.

So, I found a repair shop on Grump's Photos's list called Forster's Camera in Salt Lake City. They are one of the many former Nikon authorized repair shops. I took it in and was able to talk to the repair technician to share what had happened, and what I had fixed (and broken) in the field.

That was last week.

The shop called today to tell me that they had everything working now, and asked if I wanted to have them order some parts that received cosmetic damage, such as the Front Cover and Eyepiece Cover. We had also discussed replacing the shutter during the first visit (recall >200k actuations). The fee for basic repair was ~$330 and the cost of the additional parts would be $315. Incidentally, if I didn't have them fix anything after they tore it apart, they would charge an additional $30 to reassemble it, or they would keep it. There was not an option to return it to me disassembled. I feel like that was simply based on their professional principals, which I totally respect.

In the end, I've opted to pay the $330 fee, plus have them replace the shutter with a near new one (removed from a return or floor model) for an additional $323. All in all, I'm really happy with how this ended up. I had mentally prepared myself for a repair bill of >$1000, or replacing it for ~$2000. I will have my old D850 with a new shutter, and can now start looking for another lens to consume the money I had mentally "set aside" for the camera. :)

I learned that my homeowner policy would not cover a dropped camera. If it had been stolen or ruined in a flood, there would have been a $1000 deductible. I don't have a writer for this, nor professional photographer's insurance.

Have any of you used those silicon camera covers seen on ebay? Would one of those actually provide any protection?

Thanks for reading, and for your suggestions and empathy.

Dwight

From what I've been able to discern reading the forum, the first $300 to $400 is just to touch it for the first time. The diopter repair was probably only $50 to $150 bucks. That's a repair that I'm probably comfortable doing myself.

That is my default modus operandi.

I didn't realize I had a repair shop in my own backyard. I'll definitely pay them a visit. I have also created a repair request with Nikon. They are waiting for me to send the camera.

I wish I had taken some photos or videos while I was inside, but I was concentrating really hard on getting everything back where it came from. New respect for those who assemble these things.

Is my camera worth fixing?

I was walking on some wet rocks in Norway and fell. My d850 landed directly on the rocks making a loud brittle crack. That body was opened along the upper right seams going forward, backward and down. The camera was stuck in the On state. The LCD panel was blank and the power switch and rear wheel didn't work. I could remove and replace the battery to 'turn it off, and on'. It was stuck in a fairly generic A state at a reasonable aperture for the day. I was able to focus and shoot using the touch screen. I continued shooting some lighthouses and old military sights south of Oslo, Norway. Later, I bought some small screwdrivers and disassembled it. I was able to reconnect the LCD and Power switch boards and they work. Everything works. While inside I found several places where the screw holes were broken off of the main cast aluminum structure. It autofocuses accurately and there is no light bleeding onto the sensor. Everything works except the diopter adjustment won't adjust to a 20/20 vision eye, but will focus to a 'reader' pair of glasses. Of course, the body integrity is not good.

Repairing it will take a skilled repair tech hours. The shutter count is in the 210,000 range. I can't afford a new d850 or Z at this point. I have a D7100 so I'm not without a camera.

Any idea from the forum how much it might cost to repair? Do people part out broken cameras? Other interesting options?

I especially like the half moon lighting in the 4th photo.

Not white, but light grey. I've seen some of these come up on ebay and such. For example:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/278173-GREY/Nikon_2140_70_200mm_f_2_8D_VR_G_AFS.html

I don't normally speak up to threads, but I've always thought white lenses, or any other wider colored gear, was less preferable to black. If I'm close to anything, I even wear black, so it's less likely that any of my reflection or my equipment's reflection show up in reflective surfaces on the photograph. I don't have anything but black lenses in my bags.

I appreciate the response. Even if it doesn't answer the OP's question exactly, I like to know which cameras have really been tested in discerning hands. Thanks for the Sony, (and Cannon) recommendations. I have a Panasonic DMC-TS3 that I just love. They might not be made anymore but are still available in places. In addition to other qualities, they are waterproof and great for snorkeling.

I don't think you should be shy about using auto mode. All those parameters we adjust are just numbers. You may be able to see wheat the camera has chosen for you in the screen depending on your equipment. If they are the same as whet you would shoot anyway, go with auto. I bought a used camera from an experienced photographer who had set many defaults. I shot with that camera on A mode for months before I felt a need to make any changes to his defaults.

Thanks for all of your insights. Now, the reason for the question... I've been a one-camera guy. Right now that is a D7100 that I bought used several years ago, and I have a handful of lenses, none are top pro lenses. I had a chance to buy a very well used D850 at what I considered to be a very good price in spite of the use (~200k shutter count and looks very worn with bare metal on all of the outer edges). So, I considered what mirrorless I might be able to get for a similar price, and how it would compare. After reading your posts, and seeing what was actually for sale online, and at a few of the more prominent retailers, and considering that I won't be starting from scratch with my crop lenses, and a couple FX lenses, I decided to buy the very used D850. It's in transit now, and I'm pretty excited. I'm really looking for something to be a more serious landscape tool than the D7100 and Tamron 10-24mm that I have now. I'll keep the D7100 and leave the 18-300mm on it most of the time for shooting vacations, interesting stuff, the odd freebee family photo shoot I do for friends, and things the kids are doing, etc.

I don't always stay engaged in the conversations here, but I sure have learned a lot. Thanks again.

Really, you don't like the 14-24mm. I'd like to read more or see examples. I'd been looking at those (or the 17-35mm) for landscape. I guess I'll rethink it. Initially I'm only going to get one lens for a new full frame camera. (I'm fairly well equiped on my D7100 crop camera.)