keep d810 or upgrade to 850 or z7ii?

I just shot a wedding yesterday with my 810 and it did everything I asked of it. I continue to see no need for mirrorless and have no plans to change. If you want the 850 then go for it. I’d keep the 810. Even older is my D800 but it also does what I need it to do so I held on to it. I wouldn’t change unless what you have isn’t getting it done.

Rick H.

You have a D810. If you get the D850 you will have two cameras that look and function almost identically, except one is slightly better. I would tend to use the better of the two and park the D810 for good. Something completely different though, maybe with Art Filters, Scene Modes, Black & White Filters, would give you something fun and different to switch off too sometimes. I have five rather old digital cameras and I enjoy using a different camera/lens combination every day.

Understand, thanks.

If I upgrade I would not keep the d810, it would be sold or traded.

Most of buying stuff falls in 3 categories: Want, Need and Good Enough. Decide it for yourself, but if you go mirrorless way, don't kid yourself, you will always want/need Z-lenses, so plan accordingly:)

absolutely true, I see myself clearly in that mindset. I agree 100%.

AFAIK the only lens in my future is the 200-500 nikkor, and that is not on the near horizon, but before the 2024 solar eclipse. I am very satisfied with the glass I have, and I have a perhaps unreasonable aversion to needing an adapter to make them work. That would be a plus for the 850. Physically the Z is lighter than the 810/850 and with the adapter lengthening the physical lens assembly, could the natural balance of the 810/850 be thrown off if they are on a Z? I am sure it is something to get used to.

Trying out a 7Zii plus adaptor would probably make sense before taking the plunge into mirrorless. My local camera stores (B&H and Adorama) both would allow a tryout, so hopefully there is a similar store near the OP. A rental would also make sense before buying, though the cost for a week rental of a 7Zii plus adaptor would run in excess of $200, but would really provide a much better trial than playing with the camera at a store for a few minutes as the salesperson looks on.

B&H is my store, but not local. I have been visiting Gerry Rooney at the Nikon kiosk there every December while attending a mtg, but with covid, that is off. We have a couple of decent stores here, but nothing like NYC.

Yes, visiting B&H would be ideal. OTOH I certainly can wait until December, assuming some semblance of normal resumes

John, happy birthday. Since I bought my Z6 in November 2018, as soon as it was available, I have been using a mix of Nikon DSLRs and that Z6 in the last 2.5 years. I have 5 Nikon Z lenses. To me, switching back and forth is no issue at all, but your mileage may vary. I seriously doubt that I'll buy another Nikon F-mount product, but I already have many F-mount cameras and lenses that should last me a few more years.

Thanks, Shun.

It seems like there is a common thread in all of the advice:

1) the d810 is still a very fine camera even in 2021 terms, and it would not be a wrong decision to stick with it for the time being

2) mirrorless is the future

3) the 850 vs the Z is a coin flip--though Dieter's comments hit home.

and raise a basic question...

Should I just stick with the 810 and be happy? Only a decision I can make, and a good "problem" to have. But, for a long time I have been reading that the 850 is the "best" camera ever to walk on the planet, and today the bandwagon is driven by mirrorless; pundits saying the Z series, esp the Z7ii has finally gotten "it" right, or words to that effect.

The primary drivers in this is I remember how much an advance the 810 was over the 700 (that I loved), could the 850 represent a similar advance? I was totally wowed by the improved dynamic range of the 810 over the 700, and suddenly there was no crop that degraded IQ. And the "wife acceptance factor" is totally there.

great discussion, and hopefully helpful to others in my position

I went D700 to D800. Big improvement, although the D700 was very good. In 2018 I went from D800 to D850. It is nowhere near the incremental improvement of D700 to D800. It did give more pixels that are just as good (thanks to Thom Hogan for that statement). so more resolution, but in hindsight I could have stayed with the D800. It would still be a great camera for my landscape purposes today.

The move to a Z7 was strictly to reduce weight for backpacking/hiking. The IQ to me is the same as the D850, in a smaller package. The FTZ adapter is I think about 9oz, so that weight has to be factored in. I do not find the length of the adapter to be a problem say with the 70-200 f4 AFS VR zoom I still have. On a trip in Zion a few weeks ago I backpacked in with only the 14-24 f2.8 and the 24-70 f2.8 and did not miss the longer focal lengths. Didn't need the adapter.

Thanks, Shun.

It seems like there is a common thread in all of the advice:

1) the d810 is still a very fine camera even in 2021 terms, and it would not be a wrong decision to stick with it for the time being

2) mirrorless is the future

John, I am roughly the same age as you are. At least so far I don't feel the need to reduce the weight of my gear, but that day will gradually arrive or I stop photographing before that. In the longer run, it is more than obvious that mirrorless is the future. Canon has already started discontinuing a lot of their EF lenses. Those who definitely prefer the OVF will continue to shoot their current DSLRs. The D850 is still excellent and I am sure the D810 can last you a few more years. Currently I am using the D5 and D500 for wildlife photography for their AF capability, but for a lot of still subjects, I definitely prefer the Z6, and I also shoot a lot more video nowadays. For example, the Z-mount 14-30mm/f4 S is wonderful; both compact with a great wide zoom range that is unmatched for anything in the F-mount. A high priority for me is to get a second Z body so that I have some backup.

I remember how much an advance the 810 was over the 700 (that I loved), could the 850 represent a similar advance? I

Nope, not nearly the same. The main advantage of the D850 over the D810 is speed, handling and AF performance, not the resolution or dynamic range differences.

The FTZ adapter is I think about 9oz

Only about half that, 4.8oz. Z7ii+FTZ is only about 3oz less than D850.

Just one more concept for consideration. A Z5+FTZ at $1097, keep the D810 (for now), see if mirrorless works for you. Currently, I have a Z6&7, bought the Z6 new from B&H and don't regret. I probably would have added a Z5 had the deal not come along on the Z7. Or, had it been available, I might have bought two Z5's. I am just used to carrying two similar bodies when I am concentrating on photography.

When I had the D810, I had concluded that the next incremental improvement in my photo quality would be improving the focus accuracy, both for AF and manual focus. Not MP increases. I will take a 24MP file that is perfectly focused any day over a 45MP file that is close. At the risk of getting myself labelled as "not state of art", I find it hard to see much real difference in the Z6 and larger Z7 files when shooting the same subject with the same decent lens. But I do believe that the Z system delivers more focus accuracy in the real world vs DSLR, and the vibration reduction on sensor is a significant benefit not currently available in DSLR's. I did fine tune lenses for the D810, for the record.

I am aware that the D850 has a better AF system than the D810, but I doubt it would help with manual focus. Live view might be better with the D850 vs D810, but I never found it useful for moving subject and photog (portraiture).

I still have a several DSLR setups for fast action sports. Shooting basketball was a big thing for me for a lot of years, but not so much any more. BBall drove me to full frame for ISO capability. The D3s and D810 both served well for BBall, I probably have a preference for the D810 Bball files. Come to think of it, I never tried the D500 for BBall, It might have been OK in the major college court that was well lit for broadcast. The D500 would not have worked for the local HS gym, even the D3s struggled in that dismal lighting that required ISO well above 6400. ----

Sorry for the long paragraph not really related to the OP questions, except that I think the Z6 would do well at Mardi Gras especially at night.

The 810 to 850 upgrade.

• I would not do an 810 to 850 upgrade. I don't think there is enough improvement in most 1-generation upgrades. For personal use, not business, I normally plan for a 3+ generation upgrade.
   
  
• The exception is when there is a SIGNIFICANT functionality increase that YOU can use. THEN it makes sense, to do a 1-generation upgrade.
   
  
• However, there is the idea that you want your last system to be the best you can afford.
  

The 810 to Z6/7 upgrade

• This would make sense, as that is a significant upgrade.
   
  
• BUT, that is also a system upgrade. While you can use F lenses on the Z (as long as it is not the mechanical AF lenses), if you are going to a Z, I would plan on gradually replacing the F lenses with Z lenses.
   
  
• But, at your age (75), I would really think if a system change is worth it. Can you use the new system long enough to learn it and make it worthwhile? Because, the age related one (weight reduction) is around the corner. I already hit that one, and I'm younger than you.
  

EVF on the Z:

• An EVF is WONDERFUL. In difficult lighting conditions, where the camera cannot meter correctly, I can see what the exposure will be, and adjust in real time. Soooo much easier than on a dSLR, where I have to shoot, chimp and adjust, then repeat again until I get the exposure.
   
  
  • On my Olympus, I can configure the EVF to show when the highlights will be blown. That makes it easier to adjust the exposure, or not, in those conditions. I do not know if you can do it on the Nikon Z.
    

  [*]If you don't shoot fast action/sports, the very slight EVF lag is a non-issue.

  [*]What is neat is, in dim lighting, the EVF will show a correctly exposed image. That image in the EVF will be brighter than the scene through an OVF or your bare eyes.

re weight reduction.

• The Z cameras are lighter than the D810. But . . .
   
  
• I would not count on weight reduction with the lenses, a FX lens is a FX lens. And some of the Z lenses that I looked at are bigger and heavier than the F lenses.
   
  
  • However, if you stick with the lighter f/4 zooms, non-pro zooms, and smaller primes, you can keep the weight down.
    

Getting older and the weight reduction issue:

• I'm 66, with back and leg injuries. As a result I HAD to reduce the weight of my kit, or cut/stop my shooting.
   
  
  • So I went light, with micro 4/3. My base kit Olympus EM1 + Panasonic 12-60 is about 45% lighter than my D7200 + 18-140, and about 60% lighter than a D810 + 24-120. Similarly, various configurations of my m4/3 kit are significantly lighter than a comparable Nikon dSLR kit.
     
    
  • My back and legs really appreciate the weight reduction.
    

  [*]However, Olympus does not have a lens that for handling can compete with the Nikon 70-200/4. The Olympus pro lenses are not even close, the zoom rings are over dampened and stiffer to turn. That is not desired in a situation like sports, where I am CONSTANTLY working the zoom ring. So I still use the Nikon 70-200/4 and my D7200 for field sports. This is a situation where the lens chooses the camera.

at your age (75)

Hmmh, and here I thought that "diamond jubilee" is 60! Happy birthday, btw - whichever one it is!

John, I am roughly the same age as you are.

Apparently, Shun thinks along the same lines I do :cool:

Hmmh, and here I thought that "diamond jubilee" is 60! Happy birthday, btw - whichever one it is!

 

Apparently, Shun thinks along the same lines I do :cool:

Well I did not know, so I Googled it, and it came up with 75.

Diamond jubilee - Wikipedia

Sounds like it can be either 60 or 75. :confused:

Hmmh, and here I thought that "diamond jubilee" is 60! Happy birthday, btw - whichever one it is!

 

Apparently, Shun thinks along the same lines I do :cool:

Ha. yeah, so I had looked that up before my birthday. I thought Diamond Jubilee meant 75 for everything, but not so. For something that had a later starting date (than birth), a DJ is 60, eg for a King's or Queen's reign, or an anniversary. But it is also applied to the 75th birthday, so it is used both for 60 and for 75 depending on what is being measured.

And, Hrrrmph!, I hope I would have enough sands in the hourglass left to learn a new system if I go that way. I'm still working and I ride that motorcycle in the avatar. Ha!

For heavens sake just do it. John, it's your Diamond Jubilee - 65, 75, 85, 95, 105, or 125 does not matter. ;)

Mary, watching a lot of Nike commercials lately? :cool:

Seriously, we all only live once. At least I find the Z bodies easy to use.

or wait for the Z9... and cash in all of your 'spare' bodies....:D

right!

I am comfortable waiting, and that seems like the best thing to do based on the discussion here.

Have to admit surprise at the love for the d810 vs the 850 and z 7 shown here...happy surprise, indeed.

Right now what I'd REALLY like is an ES-2 copier. I have an ES-1, but it does not handle single negatives well. I've been on the list ay B&H for months.

What was semi-retirement became FULL retirement today. IN an auspicious start to that, a local gallery owner contacted me to ask if I had any pictures of Live Oaks, as she is doing and exhibit of same. "Why, yes I do," was my answer and printed out a couple on my Canon Pro-10 in 13x19. They will be shown in her exhibit (shot with my 810 in St Francisville, La.).

right!

I am comfortable waiting, and that seems like the best thing to do based on the discussion here.

 

Right now what I'd REALLY like is an ES-2 copier. I have an ES-1, but it does not handle single negatives well.

Mmm, if waiting for the Z9, are you sure that you want an ES-2 , or could it be that Nikon will come up with a copier especially designed to fit the Zn series better, with features that fit the Zn or it's lenses in one or another way ?

Mmm, if waiting for the Z9, are you sure that you want an ES-2 , or could it be that Nikon will come up with a copier especially designed to fit the Zn series better, with features that fit the Zn or it's lenses in one or another way ?

Well, I think that Z9 reference was sarcasm of the grass is greener variety. I'll have to wait through the z8 and then the z8ii, then the z9, and probably would want the z9ii; but if I needed to use the 55/3.5 with the FTZ to use the ES-2, I would do that.

I think that Z9 reference was sarcasm of the grass is greener variety

About 50% right...yes! :D

However, it's going to be the camera spec. that drives all the future FX cameras.

Upgrading now, or not, is at an interesting time when ML tech. starts to mature into something that can challenge/or better, the D6.

What's ML tech?

Unfortunately "interesting time(s)" never end. Isn't there a Chinese curse about interesting times?

What's ML tech?

Mirror Less...:D

Technology wise, progress isn't linear, time wise. There are big steps....:)

Well, I think that Z9 reference was sarcasm of the grass is greener variety. I'll have to wait through the z8 and then the z8ii, then the z9, and probably would want the z9ii; but if I needed to use the 55/3.5 with the FTZ to use the ES-2, I would do that.

NIKON IS DEVELOPING THE NIKON Z 9 FULL-FRAME FLAGSHIP MIRRORLESS CAMERA (nikonusa.com)