Barry Clemmons Photography

I sent my D750 in last week and just received notice that it will be back to me next Monday, taking just under 2 weeks total.

Nikon, like most large corporations, has lawyers. I'm sure that one of them required this and many other warnings in the user manuals of every camera body on the off chance that someday somewhere a Nikon owner might short-circuit their camera in this manner. Same for removing/inserting a memory card with the camera on. Odds are that it will not happen (I know this because I have done it dozens if not hundreds of times over the years), but in case it does they can hopefully prevent a class action lawsuit by pointing out the warning in the manual that few of us read.

Patrick, you indicate that your D500 is new. If so, I would take/send it back to the merchant and ask for a new one.

I have not found one thing that I dislike about the D500 so far. I have used it for both sports and nature with excellent results.

<p>Moderator please delete. Unable to get photo to upload.</p>

<p>Milky Way from Mauna Kea</p>

<p>Sunset from 13,802 ft. on Mauna Kea</p><div></div>

<p>Big Island of Hawaii lava flow.</p><div></div>

<p>I use the BlackRapid system for my second body when shooting sideline football and have been very happy with it.</p>

<p>As Shun pointed out above, I have had issues with the cable that comes with the GP-1(A) unit to the point that it would damage the connection at the 10-pin connector end. I was able to repair it using heat-shrink tubing, but there was still the issue of the cord getting in the way. Nikon (or a third party supplier) could solve the problem by offering a coiled connector or shorter straight cords. The problem is the current Nikon cord is about 10 inches long when all that is required is 3 inches or so. The DawnTech is a good solution (and cheaper), but be sure you allow ten days to two weeks for it to be delivered.</p>

<p>Like Shun and others, I also make multiple copies of files on separate hard drives as well as my laptop. And I know this goes without saying, but all of the copies are always with us in our carry-on and never in checked luggage when flying.</p>

<p>I received my four replacement batteries this past Wednesday 6/22. All charged and ready to go.</p>

<p>Glenn, there are third party D300 battery grips online for as low as $22.99. The battery grip also has a multi-selector that you can use. Probably the cheapest solution.</p>

<p>Today I was able to get the best example yet (for myself) of the speed of the D500 AF. I was by the lake earlier using the 600mm lens on the D500 trying to get more BIF shots. I noticed some small (about 1") dragonflies flying erratically over the water about 20' away. Just for fun I decided to try to capture a shot of one in flight, not really expecting to get a successful shot. At first I used Auto Area but for some reason it was not able to focus on one of them. A couple of days ago I set up my FN1 button for Group AF so I depressed that and was lucky enough to center it on one of them and fire off a couple of shots. Attached is one of those shots that I have cropped. I tried for another 10 minutes or so to get another shot and was not able to do so. I will have to say that the AF is almost instantaneous using the 600mm on the D500. I'm not sure the 200-500mm would have focused quickly enough for me to get this shot since it focuses just a little slower than the 600mm on the D500 (or D5).</p><div></div>

<p>Here is a shot of a heron in flight I made today using the 200-500mm on a D500 handheld. Of course the fast AF of the D500 helped tremendously, but it gives you an idea of what you can get with the 200-500mm handheld.</p><div></div>

<p>Like Dieter, I'm a little puzzled about the test results from the "resolution test site". I have been using the 200-500mm for several months on a D300S, D7200 and now D500 with excellent results. I am not getting "extremely soft" results and I shoot at 500mm about 90% of the time. I am getting very good feather detail on bird shots with it. And one other great thing about it is you will not feel it is a massive pain to use. It is mounted to the D500 and when I see something outside that might be worthy of a photograph I grab it and shoot handheld. Before I purchased the 200-500mm lens I would have had the D500 mounted to a 600mm lens on a gimbal. By the time I grabbed the tripod, folded the legs, threw it over my shoulder and got it set up outside, the bird/animal would sometimes be in the next county. Don't get me wrong. I still use and prefer the 600mm when time permits. Can I tell the difference at 100% between the 200-500mm and 600mm? Absolutely. Is the difference worth $11,000? That is up to the individual photographer.</p> <p>I think sometimes we get caught up in minutiae from websites that prevents us from enjoying our photography. If these sites had been around to critique Ansel Adams, I wonder if his work would have been deemed "too soft" at 50mm, 100mm, or any mm? I'm not saying the information isn't useful sometimes, but will someone looking at a print on your wall from three feet away be able to tell whether you used a 200-500mm zoom lens or 500mm prime? My personal opinion is if you decide on the 200-500mm you will be very happy. I certainly have not been disappointed.</p>

<p>I received my UPS label from Nikon today also and sent four batteries in for replacement. The Li-ion01 battery draining quicker than the Li-ion20 is the only issue I have noticed with the D500, and I believe that is more of an issue with the battery than the D500. I have a couple of Lexar SD cards that I used at first and never had a problem with them. I ordered the MB-D17 battery grip and optional insert to use an EN-EL18A battery. The D500 now feels and balances very close to my D5 when I use them together, plus I should get over 3,000 shots between the EN-EL18A battery in the grip and EN-EL15 battery in the D500. Like Shun I am very pleased with the D500 thus far, especially the new AF system. It pairs very well with the 200-500mm lens which I have used handheld only thus far.</p>

<p>Moose Peterson's latest post indicates he is looking forward to using the new D500, so apparently he has one on order.</p>

<p>The D3300 will work fine for making the print sizes you are wanting. So many people think that buying a "professional" camera will automatically make professional prints. Not so. Your technique and imagination has more to do with that than the camera. Let us know what your budget is for a lens and we will provide our opinions. The main thing is, have fun. Welcome to the Nikon forum.</p>

<p>I shot at a PGA event today with the D500 and latest version 80-400mm lens. I had an EN-EL18A battery in the grip set up to be used first. After over 250 shots, a little chimping and GPS usage I had used 15% of that battery. I was also very pleased with the photos. I have shot this event for the last several years and these were by far the best results. Most golfers wear hats which makes it difficult to properly expose their face with the rest of the scene. I used this same 80-400mm lens last year with the D7200 and was not happy with the results as far as their faces. I used matrix metering on the D500 the same as the D7200 last year, but the D500 provided details in the face which did not require any additional PP work, unlike the D7200. The 10 fps also worked great in providing the shot I like, showing the ball just after it leaves the face of the club. I only missed that shot one time today as opposed to more than half of the time last year. I could also wait later in the downswing to begin the sequence, thereby not disturbing the golfer with the shutter noise. The D500 shutter is also quieter in my opinion which also helps. So far I am very pleased with the D500. The few things I might change are very minor. </p>

<p>Like Shun I am getting accustomed to the new button locations but that has not really been a big issue for me. The new AF system is noticeably faster. It is immediate with the 600mm E lens and not too far behind using the 200-500mm lens. I received the MB-D17 grip this week and am using an EN-EL18A battery in it. That along with the EN-EL15 internal battery should provide over 3000 shots. The MB-D17 grip also has an additional Fn button next to the vertical shutter release like the D5. I haven't looked into what functions can be programmed on that button yet. The battery grip provides better balance to me, especially using the 200-500mm lens.</p> <p>Danny, have you experienced any of the issues mentioned on other sites concerning batteries or Lexar 1000x/2000x SD cards? I have had mine for three weeks as well and have not experienced any negative issues at all. There are apparently some folks who are spending their first few days trying to find problems with the D500. I don't really have an issue with that if that is what they want to do. One site is even asking people to contact them with issues so they can list them. To me this is going to cause some false reports that are in a lot of cases pilot error. One problem shown on the site is that the D500 will sometimes lock up requiring you to remove and re-insert the battery. That issue is not unique to the D500. I have had it to happen to me in the field with more than one body, including the D3S. It has only happened 2 or 3 times and is easily fixed. I have never thought it was something I should report to Nikon.</p> <p>Tomorrow I will be at a PGA Pro-Am event and will be using the D500. One of the shots I try to get is the ball coming off of the player's club. I'm anxious to see how the higher frame rate will perform with this shot. It really won't test the new AF system since golfers are standing in one spot during the entire shot.</p>

<p>If you are asking if the D500 would be usable at ISO 51200, I would have to say no unless you are talking about just posting to the web. Based on my short experience with the D500 I would say you need to stick with ISO 6400 and below if you are talking about making prints of any size. Of course if it is a once in a lifetime shot of Big Foot in almost total darkness, then I would crank it up to 51200 to get the shot! :)</p>

<p>As others have indicated, you can create a batch process form the first RAW file and apply it to all of the others from a shoot. I only shoot in RAW and it has saved me on more than one occasion. My first couple of years in digital I shot jpeg only for some vacation photos and have grown to regret that decision. I now shoot RAW only on both cards using backup mode for all bodies. RAW = more info and more info is always better.</p>

<p>My interpretation of weather sealed is "ok for light rain or mist". I have AquaTech and Nikon rain covers for both of my bodies when shooting football and rain is in the forecast. Water has a funny way of finding the smallest opening. And even if the weather sealing keeps all moisture out, by having a cover it is one less thing I have to do when I get home (wiping down and drying the body and lens). And besides, after you have spent $2000 - $6000 for a body and $2400 - $6000 for a lens, what is another $50 - $100 to add another layer pf protection?</p>

<p>I am with Shun and Kent as far as the D810. It would be down the list as far as wildlife. I can't think of any current camera better for wildlife than the D500, with the D7200 second and D750 third. Now if at least half of your shooting is landscape, then the D810 begins to enter the equation.</p>