After a few month's of research I went with the Nikon D500 and main wildlife lens the 200-500 F5.6. I also have a 70 - 200 F2.8. Like both of you the size of the D500 made a lot of the decision easy as I have big hands. No regret's, very happy with results. This was my retirement gift to myself!
Solid choice. I just don't like where Nikon is headin. Pretty sure they recently said they are moving all production to China.... cutting R and D, seem to be getting swamped by Sony and Canon and losing ground.
I have both the D500 and D850. It is a great combo to have. If I want speed I go with the D500 and if I want image quality for landscapes I go with the D850
Nice to see the D500 still relevant and competitive 5 years later. Pair it with a sigma 600mm and you can get basically anything. And it never seems to miss.
Great video guys! I bought a d500 a couple of years ago for $900 used and put 250,000 shots on it and then sold it for 850 LOL. Keep in mind you can always sell your lenses or camera body and make back most of the money when you're considering upgrading.
Thanks for sharing.... great video & love your comments...I still love my Nikon D500 ....as a hobbyist it covers all my current needs...I also have kept my D7100 as I just love the ergonomics of Nikon cameras... cheers from Australia 😀
Nikon vs Everything else ;) Seriously though, while I love the mirror less tech I still enjoy my DSLR and probably wont change that for at least a couple more years as it still produces amazing photos and I still enjoy using it.
And being a Nikon it will LAST so you can let your Grand Children pass YOUR DSLR Kit down to their children long after the R5 made its last piece of toast in 8K
nikon dslr with it's versatile and wide range of lens setup still give good performance at affordable price, and that is the big plus for majority hobbyist (because not all of us have infinite amount of cash).
Have been very satisfied with my 80d for wildlife. I know full-frame and mirrorless have many advantages but the end product is what we're all aiming at. The 1.6 crop factor has been more of a benefit than a hindrance, particularly in wildlife. I find good glass is the key not just getting the latest camera with all the bells and whistles. And I can't afford to keep up with the changing times. It may be cheating, but many of us use post-production programs to correct things that we or our camera may have missed regardless of what camera body and lens combination we are using. Always enjoy your videos and expertise. Thanks, Tony & Chelsea
Can't wait for the Z9. As a D850 and D500 user, till that day there is no point in upgrading, for me (for wildlife and Macro). Over all, the biggest advantage (that makes an actual difference) of a DSLM is the EVF. Silent shooting? Moving slow and steady is way more important than the sound of a shutter. Most animals are more alarmed by sudden movement than by sound. If they hear a strange sound they stay still and listen, but if nothing moves they will tollerate the sound (most of the times). If something is silent and does sudden movements, the animal will be gone.
Love this shootout series for wildlife! Would love to see a third installment for a camera/lens combo at the target pricepoints, especially the mid-range new options vs the higher-end used market.
You know they hate Olympus. M1mii is cheaper than a6400. In Europe in some countries even 2 times cheaper than m1miii. I have two mii and one miii. Compare 6400 with m1mii- ridiculous.
@@andreasthegreat8509 I use 100-400 for astro and motorsport photography. I was skeptical, but this lens surprised me. Mine is much sharper at f8 than at f6.3 at 400mm. Did you notice it too? I don't know if it's just my copy. The difference is really noticeable. I think the 40-150pro with mc20 is sharper than the 100-400 wide open (both at 300mm). Sometimes I use 100-400 with mc-14. Unreal range!!
@@andreasthegreat8509 Thanks for the answer. Today I made another, but more controlled comparison (electronic shutter and camera on a tripod, iso chart 12233 and photos of the wall.) Already at f7.1 it is great, definitely better than wide open. I guess it happens sometimes. My 45mm 1.8 is a good example. At 1.8 it is really soft, but closed to f2 or 2.2 .. it's like day to night. Small difference in the aperture but big difference in sharpness. I also found something interesting about the 40-150 pro. Closing it down to f4 gives minimal improvement, but with a teleconverter there is absolutely no difference between f4, f5.6 and f8. Regards!
SL2 shooting mode in Liveview. I had to look that up - didn’t know that! This is great! Don’t know about the AF performance. It is DX crop mode, but it shoots blazingly fast without blackout (!!) (contrary to the SL1 mode, which is is FX but blacks out major big time). Thanks for the hint. When I find myself in the situation to shoot some wildlife, I’ll definitely try it out!! PS1: the D500 does not have this. PS2: Chelsea should demand a rematch! ;-)
I use a D7500 for small songbirds, and I never feel like I need a different camera. I use an 80-400mm because I find the 200-500 just too heavy. I probably should get a 500mm PF.
@@shang-hsienyang1284 Can't really agree on that. I have both lenses and the 200-500 is way slower than the 500PF. Like literally the 500PF is twice as fast. Not sure though how they perform on the D7500. The thing about the 500PF is its ridiculous sharpness. Because of that you'll spot minor imperfections much easier than on the 200-500 which becomes quite soft beyond 400mm (and is at no focal length nearly as sharp as the 500PF)
I do love the banter you two generate. In the end it will always come down to a person's personal preference. I Have a Canon 5DsR, only shoot landscapes, that is what I brought it for, .....works perfectly for my photography style. Love your channel, Cheers from Sydney Australia, (IN lockdown for 4 weeks and counting :( )
i still shoot with Nikon D700 for wildlife and everyday, weddings it's better than Canon 90D which i had for 5 months sold it., Nikon is Champ in wildlife and DR, high ISO.
Thanks for video. D500 used for $1000 + $300 squeaking 300mm f/4D + $170 1.7x TC works well for me. The lens provides 200-500mm level sharpness even with 1.7x. AF is slow with TC but very fast without TC. Overall very budget friendly. Been wanting to get 500mm pf but can't justify the price.
I use the Pentax K-3 Mark III with the HD DA 55-300 PLM or D FA 150-450. I'd be interested in your thoughts on the K-3 Mark III. It's not like any of the Pentax cameras of old (which I also have).
I bought a used D500 from KEH and a new 500mm PF lens from Tucson Camera Repair and that is my wildlife rig. I also have the 300 mm PF lens and a 1.4 TC to use as well.
So I learned that unless you have 10k to spare, DSLRs are better for wildlife in most realistic scenarios Which means that since most people can't throw out 10k, dslrs are the better option So in other other words, DSLRS ARE STILL ALIVE BABY, BOOOM!!! jk jk jk. Just trying to feel better about my entry level dslr of which I can't justify an upgrade
You do not need to spend trillions on most expensive, newest gear to create award winning images - especially in case of wildlife photography! If you take a minute to visit the Natural History Museum website and brows the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards entries Gallery and look at which cameras the images were shot on, you will mostly see older DSLR cameras, to name a few of the most common: 5Ds, D7100, D7200, 5Dlll, 1DX, a99 and so on. The three most used cameras for 2020 WPY entries, are the D500, D750, 5Dlll, 5DIV and 1DXll. Almost every 2020 WPY entry is shot with one of these five cameras. Get yourself a camera, a tool that fits all your needs and then use it to create art. Don't stress or overthink about your camera that much! Also, spend your money wisely, regardless of your wealth level!
I've "gone mirrorless" with all but my trusty D7200. I never have to look for the controls, and it never lets me down when I have to move fast. The battery doesn't die on me, either. For wildlife and nature walks... I always take my D7200.
For wildlife you have to go pretty high-end mirrorless to get better performance than a DSLR...UNLESS you need to shoot video as well. As a retired newspaper photographer I loved shooting with my Nikon D700. However, my paper insisted on videos for online during many non-sporting events. I eventually tried the Leica V-Lux 114 for general assignment and it allowed to shoot video and still simultaneously
I shoot a lot of wildlife. I’ve had deer 15 feet away shooting with normal shutter (5DIV) and have yet to frighten a deer away. I shoot birds the same way and 95% never fly away. I don’t shoot weddings so my camera is rarely set on ‘quiet’. Perhaps I’m the exception that proves the rule, but I find shutter noise a non problem. Nice video, guys!
shutter noise 0 is a zero problem, if the noise is >0 then it is more than a zero problem and that is how it is. I agree with birds, about 1 out of 20 flies away because of shutter noise, some birds are particularly shy and some are not.
I think it's a bit harsh to say that you won't be able to handle birds in flight with the G9. It's just that you have better options even within the MFT system.
Shang-Hsien Yang I have a G85 and have used the G9 on occasion. I don’t see why it can’t go head to head with some of the options that Tony had short listed.
I found a used D850 a refurbished D4s on ebay. Both in mint condition with low mileage and each for around $2k. One for detail and reach and one for low light high ISO shooting. Using the compact and lightweight Nikon 500pf 5.6 as lens on both.
Shooting Nikon since 1978, I’m still firmly in the DSLR camp for wildlife (D6, D850, D500) except macro where I’m using the Z7II and 105MC. Hoping the Z9 lives up to the hype. Tony, most say the a1 acquires focus faster than the R5. Your thoughts? Thanks
I have to point out, seeing how you didn't, that the D850 has silent live view shooting and in AF-F mode is fast and utterly silent. I generally shoot on a monopod with a snug ball head when using bigger lenses, live view is quite easy to use in this way even for fast moving subjects, if you just got to have ultra quiet. This is a you can and I have but generally don't situation, I prefer to shoot through the viewfinder. Besides that the "shutter noise" of the D850 seems rarely if ever to "spook" birds or animals, oh they're aware you are there for sure, but even with silent shutters I am pretty sure they are still aware you are there. How many times have you focused on a birds eye only to find the little bugger is looking right at you? Yeah, they know you are there long before the shutter is tripped, you are simply not close enough for them to see you as a threat no matter how much noise your camera makes or doesn't make. If you want to know what real shooting "noise" is grab an old Nikon F2 with a motor drive and bang off a few rolls of film, even that clapping clattering banshee whine didn't often scare off wildlife. All said and done on the usability side of things, do mirrorless silent shutter cameras produce better quality images than DSLR's? You don't seem to have fully addressed this question in the video. If your aim is to attempt to produce ultra quality very large print images the DSLR's and the D850 in particular is the answer, period. Anything less and it's pick what ever suits your fancy, most anything will produce "good" images.
This might sound controversial, but Z50 + FTZ + Tamron 150-600 G2 is a great budget option. Obviously not as good as D500, but I have had excellent results with mine so far.
Works better with the Tamron 18-400, believe it or not. But the FTZ adapter does tend to get in the way and ads more weight too. From experience, I say the Z50 definantly needs INIS, as the VC in the 18-400 with the FTZ adapter doesn’t seem to work as well, compared to how it works on the D7200. The D500, with the 200-500, is the best for wildlife. But my D7200 is much better than the Z50. Mirrorless can never achieve the tracking ability of a DSLR, even with blackout free EVF. The Z50 battery is its Achilles heel. My D7200 sometimes runs weeks without a charge, even after a full days of shooting. Seems I’m always charging the Z50, like my iPhone.
@@ytr8989 Great comment. The issue with the 18-400 is that it is not very sharp at full zoom. The 150-600 G2 is great but the Z50 does sometimes get lost at 600mm and I have to turn the focus ring manually to assist the Z50 on what subject to focus on - the D4 did not experience this issue and was able to recover quickly. Aside from this, believe it or not the Z50 actually exceeded my expectations. Eye AF works quite well and the focus, while not D4 like, is still pretty good. I used the Z50 to shoot car track events and it did very well. VC actually works great on the 150-600 paired with the Z50 and I saw no difference whether mounted on the D4 or Z50. I have a D7200 that is now written off after it tumbled from a moving vehicle and it had good autofocus but unfortunately it was a bit slow in burst rate for fast paced action. I will say my D4 still has much faster and accurate AF - only downside is the sensors are crammed in the central area. The battery life of the Z50 indeed is not great; I achieve 600-800 shots per charge dependent on how I use it and also weather. I have 3 spare EN-EL25's now but even then it can't outlast the D4 which easily takes 6000 shots on one charge from personal experience. There is no doubt the D500 + 200-500 5.6 is the best bundle but in Australia brand new that's easily a $4000 bundle vs the Z50 Tamron FTZ bundle at $2800 including the 2 extra batteries. Nikon mirrorless AF has a long way to go before it equates the performance of their DSLR's. The only mirrorless cameras I've used that have DSLR like AF (or better) are the A9 II, R5, R6, and A1. Nikon will definitely introduce a more advanced DX Z body soon with IBIS, but for the price of the Z50 it makes sense why IBIS wasn't implemented. The tests with the Z50 were done with latest firmware V2.11. I remember trying the Z50 in 2019 with its first firmware version and it wasn't great, but they've sinced tweeked the algorithm to enhance its capabilities.
@@HybridBell That's probably another plus for Nikon mirrorless the full time manual override using either FTZ or native lenses. I don't think the Sony's or Canon let you do that without going back into the menu. Plus the focus peaking pops up to help out as well. Love the Z50 and Tamron 70-200G2 combo I recently used at a wedding. I also have the Z6 which I mainly have the 35mm 1.4 attached to it. Next purchase is probably the Z7ii with the new 105mm micro. At the end of the day I don't think any other system beats the files that Nikon cameras produce. Just look at the D850 images at the end.
Used to have a Canon 80D and 5D iv with a 100-400mm. It was great. now have an R5 and R6 with the 100-500mm, 600mm, 800mm, 1.4x and 2x. Great range and lots of great results. No issues with battery life or over heating. Wonder about those bodies and lenses being weather sealed? I know some are but...
Olympus autofocus is frustrating ? em1 III EVERY FRAME is in focus even fast bird and em1x is even better.... ahhh you tried the prerelease with beta software maybe ? Olympus is a pioneer in the domain. 60 fps, pro capture, small size to shoot for hours, everything you need ....
@@lukes5533 well I’m not a pro videographer and relied only on autofocus, d7500 I believe is using phase detect like the d780 in video..I’m using it from time to time with my afp lenses..I believe the d850 is still using contrast detect in video…correct me if I’m wrong.
@@voodudelmobile5629 All Nikon Dslrs use contrast detect Autofocus for video except the d780 which gets the same internals from Z6 and uses phase detect in liveview.
I use the Sony A7rIII with the Sony FE 200-600mm. With the right focus setting and with practice, I always get sharp focus doing birding, even birds in flight. With 42MP, there's plenty of room if I choose to crop the photos and still maintain good resolution.
Swapped from Nikon D500 to Sony A7RIV and loved it so much I got a A9ii I use both for wildlife. The silent shooting is King it doesn't matter how good the images are on a DLSR because being able to remain undetected means you get more shots and more natural behaviour. The D500 was so loud that when photographing White tailed Eagles in Poland, I found birds souring above me looking at me and moving away!!! (Just one example of many subjects lost due to the Mirror!)
I think we all like what we know. I prefer the DSLR approach because I can buy old equipment (and I have bought from KEH before) and spend a lot less as I am learning. I guess eventually. We will all be using mirrorless cameras because that is what the vendors will all be making and I am fine with that. With the three different budgets in your video, I think you may have left out a very important factor from the discussion. A nature photographer, and especially a wildlife photographer will need some decent equipment. But if all you can afford is a lame 70-300mm zoom, you can just get closer and get the same picture as the 10k dollar f2.8 mega-zoom. And even more important than the camera and the lens is the eye behind the lens. And even more important than the eye behind the lens is the wisdom absorbed by the photographer. Some ability as a photographer may be god given, but even in that case study and practice can make it grow. I am still a raw learner, so giving me the unlimited budget gear and pitting me against either Northrup with the losing budget gear will have a predictable outcome not in my favor. Don't get me wrong. It's fun to have nice stuff and I do have some full frame cameras and fast lenses. But education and effort are far more important IMO, YMMV..
@@LMoProVisualComm I use AF priority with my a1, which cuts the actual speed to 20fps. I cannot imagine if I had to delete all the odd number photos. 20fps and 10fps is a great difference.
@@shang-hsienyang1284 whatever it takes to get the shot. The D850 is 4 years old but there's very little it cannot do... I'm not into the brand wars. But since I own (20) Nikon lenses (8) bodies, I'll wait until the Z9 comes out and add that to my collection of bodies. Good luck shooting out there...
A few things: 1) It was nice to hear consensus on older and newer gear affording the photographer good images. I like shooting DSLR in some situations and Mirrorless in others. 2) I admire the two of you for holding the D-850 and the a1 by hand near the water; I'd be too scared not to have a strap around my shoulder. 3) Whoever is shooting your videos is doing a good job, bravo! 4) Thank you. Very informative, watchable, and entertaining.
m1mii 990$. In Europe, half price of xt4. 10fps and buffer for 400 raw. 18 fps with electronic shutter and buffer for 130 raw. Pro capture mode. Brilliant ergonomics and best ibis, focus limiter build in camera. More megapixels does not mean better iq, because the pictures taken with the olympus are sharper than any picture taken with xt4 (buffer for 40 pictures !!) and fuji lenses. Olympus afc is more reliable than fuji afc. Xt4 and M1x? Not even close.
Great Video and main point, how much are you prepared to pay for "upgrade". for most of us who are not full time professionals, our next best wildlife picture will not come from better gear but from being at the right place at the right time, with the best light, composition and being ready with your gear and have the skill to pull it off.
I enjoyed this one. Nikon ruled the world of DSLR cameras right at the end and then found themselves at the back of the Mirrorless pack. (ahead of Fuji though!) I still enjoy shooting with my Z50 FTZ and 200-500 f/5.6 which you guys never consider. All that said, I am loving the auto-focus on my R6 and still hoping for a flagship APSC Canon RF camera like the rumored R7. Thanks again, keep up the good work.
Tony and Chelsea have great camera advice, and have for years. Thanks for all your work. I'm glad you've remained independent, objective and provide technical details and analysis that many reviewers don't. I've had the D7500 with the 200-500mm Nikon F5.6 and it does a great job. I've moved up to full frame Z6 which is better IF wildlife is perched, not flying and close, but it's focusing and frame rate is frustrating for fast motion. The video on Z6 is way better and easier and more stabilized. The D7500 is better for wildlife but the Z6 is better all around for other genre's of photography. When I had both the Z6 and D7500 I found the D7500 sitting on the shelf so I finally sold it before it lost any more value. I had planned to use the D7500 for wildlife and Z6 for everything else but found myself always reaching for the Z6. Hard for me to carry around 2 bodies, and keep fluent with both for settings etc. Not sure if I can go back to a DSLR but the D850 is very tempting rather then stepping up to say a Z6II or Z7II whose focusing isn't stellar either and are more expensive. I wish the Nikon Z bodies focused better, otherwise the Z experience is great.
X-S10 would have easily won the $1000 category. I’ve been using mine for wildlife photography for the past 8 months and it’s a truly excellent performer. No need to use the silent shutter because the mech shutter is so quiet and does 8fps for 20 frames compressed RAW before slowing down. Plus it has IBIS, the autofocus is a generation ahead of the X-T30 and X-T4, and it can shoot 4k/30 200Mbps.
For wildlife especially birds, you would be pretty insane if you still haven't migrated to mirrorless. The AF alone will destroy the DSLR. And that is before you talk about tracking. Oh and that infamous DSLR shutter slap, it is real and will definitely scare birds away. Not taking anything away from great birding DSLRs like the D850 and D500, but even Nikon pros have and are moving away from Nikon DSLRs. Previously, together with Canon shooters, a lot had already moved to the A9/A9 II and A7R IV. And since the advent of the A1 and R5, more wildlife shooters are shooting mirrorless than ever before.
Even for me, have been using Nikon Gears for more than 10 years, when I bought Sony a6600 for systematic transition, I was mesmerised the beauty of OVF and accuracy of autofocus. Still waiting when Nikon will come upto that level of Autofocus. Mirrorless is the future if not the present for camera industry.
Mirror slap, no eye tracking, and calibrating lenses for autofocus are things SLR shooters still have to deal with. Silent electronic shooting won't quite be there yet for either configuration until there's more development for global shutters. Still, a Nikon DSLR + a 300mm or 500mm PF gives the most quality for the least cost and weight
As my holiday has been postponed until 2022, I have not yet purchased my camera (hopefully off to the Okavango Delta). Having watched several videos (ok, lots) and read a few articles (lots and lots) plus a mentoring session with a wildlife photographer the current choice is a D850 with the 200-500 lens. As a back up the D500 with something like a 70-200 (both could be second-hand). There is a camera exhibition in September where I'm hoping to get more hands-on exposure as well as talking to suppliers. I'm mindful that there are rumours of a D850 upgrade so I will be hanging on as long as possible, probably until April 2022. My main issue with mirrorless is battery life followed by other concerns such as lens choice and the electronic shutter. Thanks for the video. I found it really useful.
My A6400 has never been enjoyable to use shooting wildlife because of its ergonomics. I dislike the fiddly back dial, the grip, and the button placement for back button AF. The 70-350mm lens feels unbalanced on it too.
I guess a6600 would be better in this regard. I mean, it has more buttons and an IBIS that theoretically in pair with lens OSS will lead to better percentage of sharp images. And also a decent battery life. In my experience with Sony's the Sigma 100-400 is a better lens for birding than 70-350 - never tried new Tamron or Sony 200-600 though.
Disagree, the 70-350 is a really light lens and is imo very balanced, maybe a bit better on the A6600 but not by that much. The A6400 light and small when it needs to be, really like the small footprint it has compared to an A7III which i own 2.
@M Tech we absolutely have a different point of view on what the camera A6400 should be and is. I like the small footprint and build, it’s the reason we bought it. When i need something bigger, heavier with more robust controls I personally choose FF over Apsc, the cost difference between a FF mirrorless body’s and high end Apsc is negligible.
@M Tech What you’re describing already exist it’s named Sony A7III. I agree that the A6300 and A6400 grip is to short and it could borrow the grip of a A6600 and maybe add a front dial on it, thats would make it better. Ok man i get your point, but i have both FF and Apsc and i like the smaller camera and i love the small design for it, i am fully aware that it is a compromise.
I use nikon D850 with nikon 200-500 and it does everything needed out of it perfectly. The comparison i believe is not right because one can say my car can change colours or has a an extra bottle holder but the main need the car fulfills and is expected to do is what needs to be seen Before EVF people were shooting better pics and just some bells and whistles doesnt make one a great camera I have not found a single thing that d850 cant do perfectly
Also i believe d500 beats xt4 with a bigger margin than shown There are so many shots that xt4 would miss and d500 cant AF is much better than xt4 I admit xt4 will be better for events and wedding but it cant compete with d500 in wildlife photography
I'm a Sony shooter, and have two telephoto lenses: Sony 70-350 and Sigma 100-400. Have to say: I'm pretty impressed with a6600 + Sigma 100-400 combination. Just bought a6600 two days ago, as a replacement for a6300, that I've lost to sea water due to underwater box leak, and was testing the whole day this combo on city birds in the park. Works like wonder. IBIS, fast autofocus, good battery life, better grip. Almost all of the pictures are in focus even in Hi+ mode. The buffer is small, but since I'm using a fast SD card, and since the raw files are relatively small, it clears pretty quickly. Just wanted to share an opinion, that this combination is not as bad as was shown in this video. And some of the ergonomic issues (at least size, weight and battery life) were at least addressed in this later model by Sony. Well, EVF lag is there, but it's bearable at Hi (but almost impossible at Hi+, yes) Of course I didn't have an opportunity to compare it to other combos, but still, don't feel like switching to the other brand yet.
I have Sony A1 , Sony A7R4 and Nikon D850 .Sony A1 has the best AF system for wildlife and birds in fly. I can change the AF from zone to spot within 1-2 seconds. With Sony A1 + Sony lens 100-400 , I can shot flying insects .Sony lens 100-400 is very good lens for microphotography.
Silent shooting is not all that it is made up to be. I love hearing my nikons going off and looking at the people going woah. I also have the Olympus EM1 Mark three with the 300mm f4 and tele converters. They should seriously be considered
High density Crop sensors reduce sharpness, it is easily noticeable when comparing a 5D3 to a 7D2, there are only a few generally expensive lenses that resolve more than 25mp, so I don't see the need for a 60+ mp camera. I have amazing images using a 50-500mm Sigma on a Canon 1D, 4mp.
After a few month's of research I went with the Nikon D500 and main wildlife lens the 200-500 F5.6. I also have a 70 - 200 F2.8. Like both of you the size of the D500 made a lot of the decision easy as I have big hands. No regret's, very happy with results. This was my retirement gift to myself!
An excellent choice 😍
Solid choice. I just don't like where Nikon is headin. Pretty sure they recently said they are moving all production to China.... cutting R and D, seem to be getting swamped by Sony and Canon and losing ground.
I also have the 500 with the 200-500
I won’t be changing this setup for wildlife anytime soon, it’s a magnificent combination 🤘
You did the right thing, a combo that can't be beaten at that price range. Mine lives on the 200-500.
I have both the D500 and D850. It is a great combo to have. If I want speed I go with the D500 and if I want image quality for landscapes I go with the D850
Infinitely more helpful than the other "top cameras" videos. MUCH more thorough. Thank you!
Nice to see the D500 still relevant and competitive 5 years later. Pair it with a sigma 600mm and you can get basically anything. And it never seems to miss.
Is everyone forgetting the D500 200-500mm setup??? One of the best ever!
That was what Chelsea was using.
That's what I have and wouldn't trade for anything !!
Best setup and highest value for sure
@@geraldheitman7687 :| :\
I really like your inter-personal rivalry... Really entertaining to watch - as well as informative!
Great video guys! I bought a d500 a couple of years ago for $900 used and put 250,000 shots on it and then sold it for 850 LOL. Keep in mind you can always sell your lenses or camera body and make back most of the money when you're considering upgrading.
Thanks for sharing.... great video & love your comments...I still love my Nikon D500 ....as a hobbyist it covers all my current needs...I also have kept my D7100 as I just love the ergonomics of Nikon cameras... cheers from Australia 😀
Fun video - end result though is what counts, and the best photos seemed to come from the D850
Nikon vs Everything else ;) Seriously though, while I love the mirror less tech I still enjoy my DSLR and probably wont change that for at least a couple more years as it still produces amazing photos and I still enjoy using it.
And being a Nikon it will LAST so you can let your Grand Children pass YOUR DSLR Kit down to their children long after the R5 made its last piece of toast in 8K
A Nikon DSLR is a reliable tool.
Same here..
nikon dslr with it's versatile and wide range of lens setup still give good performance at affordable price, and that is the big plus for majority hobbyist (because not all of us have infinite amount of cash).
Have been very satisfied with my 80d for wildlife. I know full-frame and mirrorless have many advantages but the end product is what we're all aiming at.
The 1.6 crop factor has been more of a benefit than a hindrance, particularly in wildlife. I find good glass is the key not just getting the latest camera with all the bells and whistles. And I can't afford to keep up with the changing times.
It may be cheating, but many of us use post-production programs to correct things that we or our camera may have missed regardless of what camera body and lens combination we are using.
Always enjoy your videos and expertise.
Thanks, Tony & Chelsea
Love my D850 , excellent build quality and feel. Thanks for the great review from Australia. 😀👍
Couple corrections: X-T4 has 26mp, not 24mp. 5D 4 has 30.5mp, not 35mp
Good catch Eric, I was gonna say the same.
Olympus E-M1x with 300/4 + MC-14. Best combination (for birds) in my opinion taking in image quality, IBIS, bird tracking, ergonomics, HHHR etc. etc.
ProCapture is wonderful!
I upgraded from the Nikon D3200 to the D7500 and love it.I only have 2 lenes Sigma 17-50,and the Sigma 100-400.They both work great on my D7500.
You should have talked to the professional wild life shooters - Steve Perry and others.
Steve Perry is Da Man.
Yes ans no. They give a good perspective for more casual shooters.
Can't wait for the Z9. As a D850 and D500 user, till that day there is no point in upgrading, for me (for wildlife and Macro). Over all, the biggest advantage (that makes an actual difference) of a DSLM is the EVF. Silent shooting? Moving slow and steady is way more important than the sound of a shutter. Most animals are more alarmed by sudden movement than by sound. If they hear a strange sound they stay still and listen, but if nothing moves they will tollerate the sound (most of the times). If something is silent and does sudden movements, the animal will be gone.
Currently my go to gear is Nikon D850 and Nikkor 500mm f/5.6 pf... Exceptional performance I must say
Love this shootout series for wildlife! Would love to see a third installment for a camera/lens combo at the target pricepoints, especially the mid-range new options vs the higher-end used market.
Olympus EM1X with the 300 f4. Or Olympus EM1 iii are great
You know they hate Olympus. M1mii is cheaper than a6400. In Europe in some countries even 2 times cheaper than m1miii. I have two mii and one miii. Compare 6400 with m1mii- ridiculous.
I have an Em1 mark 2 with a 100-400 for wildlife and it’s great. ProCapture is a lifesaver!
@@andreasthegreat8509 I use 100-400 for astro and motorsport photography. I was skeptical, but this lens surprised me. Mine is much sharper at f8 than at f6.3 at 400mm. Did you notice it too? I don't know if it's just my copy. The difference is really noticeable. I think the 40-150pro with mc20 is sharper than the 100-400 wide open (both at 300mm). Sometimes I use 100-400 with mc-14. Unreal range!!
@@kamilrakowski23 strange, mine is pretty sharp vide open.
@@andreasthegreat8509 Thanks for the answer. Today I made another, but more controlled comparison (electronic shutter and camera on a tripod, iso chart 12233 and photos of the wall.) Already at f7.1 it is great, definitely better than wide open. I guess it happens sometimes. My 45mm 1.8 is a good example. At 1.8 it is really soft, but closed to f2 or 2.2 .. it's like day to night. Small difference in the aperture but big difference in sharpness. I also found something interesting about the 40-150 pro. Closing it down to f4 gives minimal improvement, but with a teleconverter there is absolutely no difference between f4, f5.6 and f8.
Regards!
I first got a D500, then a D850. I went back to the D500 actually buying another new one. I simply like it better for birds especially small birds.
D500 is the best APS-C camera, no other APS-C camera currently in production compares to D500.
Just yesterday received my Canon R6 and 70 200 2.8 with an EF to RF adapter all from KEH using your coupon code! Very satisfied!!
I pined over the d7500 for a couple years. Got a good bonus and grabbed a z6ii instead.very happy
Used D500 with used Nikon 200-500mm for 2k 90% as good as anything you can buy.
Chelsea, c'mon! You DO HAVE a silent shooing with D850. You have a 30 fps silent mode, with crop and electronic shutter. See the manual.
True, though the AF in this mode is extremely poor. Even a Z6 with the original firmware had better AF than that
SL2 shooting mode in Liveview. I had to look that up - didn’t know that! This is great! Don’t know about the AF performance.
It is DX crop mode, but it shoots blazingly fast without blackout (!!) (contrary to the SL1 mode, which is is FX but blacks out major big time).
Thanks for the hint. When I find myself in the situation to shoot some wildlife, I’ll definitely try it out!!
PS1: the D500 does not have this.
PS2: Chelsea should demand a rematch! ;-)
If you enjoy MF then that may be an option....D850 LV focusing is next to unusable.
Purchased my Canon 7D Mkii and a 300mm F/4L and my 70-200mm ii F/2.8 L from KEH over the past year using your coupon code, thank you.
Olympus Em1 with the 100-400 is wonderful!
I use a D7500 for small songbirds, and I never feel like I need a different camera. I use an 80-400mm because I find the 200-500 just too heavy. I probably should get a 500mm PF.
@@shang-hsienyang1284 Can't really agree on that. I have both lenses and the 200-500 is way slower than the 500PF. Like literally the 500PF is twice as fast. Not sure though how they perform on the D7500. The thing about the 500PF is its ridiculous sharpness. Because of that you'll spot minor imperfections much easier than on the 200-500 which becomes quite soft beyond 400mm (and is at no focal length nearly as sharp as the 500PF)
The 500 PF is AWESOME !! I had it, and now switched to Canon, and sorry they do not have something like that exceptional lens; just my 2 cents
I'm still using the Canon 7D Mark 2. Yes, it's an antique, but I still get decent-tack-sharp images.
Nikon D500 is the best value for money...
Love your videos. In my view, you skipped a few big price points which cover A7iii, Canon R6, R5 and A7Riv etc.
I'm here for Chelsea. Oh, and the cameras are cool too.
Cameras , what cameras ?
@@noelchignell1048
Exactly. You know what it is.
I do love the banter you two generate. In the end it will always come down to a person's personal preference. I Have a Canon 5DsR, only shoot landscapes, that is what I brought it for, .....works perfectly for my photography style. Love your channel, Cheers from Sydney Australia, (IN lockdown for 4 weeks and counting :( )
i still shoot with Nikon D700 for wildlife and everyday, weddings it's better than Canon 90D which i had for 5 months sold it., Nikon is Champ in wildlife and DR, high ISO.
@M Tech yeah i loved the ergonomic of 90D but low light files and DR were not like even Nikon D3400. That surprised me most, i had D750 before.
Nice video. Every time I think I should trade in my D500, I hear more good things about it. Time to upgrade the glass, instead.
How do you up grade the glass?
Currently shooting K3-ii. I'd love a comparison between the D500 and the new K3-iii for wildlife
Thanks for video. D500 used for $1000 + $300 squeaking 300mm f/4D + $170 1.7x TC works well for me. The lens provides 200-500mm level sharpness even with 1.7x. AF is slow with TC but very fast without TC. Overall very budget friendly.
Been wanting to get 500mm pf but can't justify the price.
I use the Pentax K-3 Mark III with the HD DA 55-300 PLM or D FA 150-450. I'd be interested in your thoughts on the K-3 Mark III. It's not like any of the Pentax cameras of old (which I also have).
Reinforces my recent purchase of a used Canon 80D. So far I love it with my telephoto and I can share lens with my Canon 6D.
I bought a used D500 from KEH and a new 500mm PF lens from Tucson Camera Repair and that is my wildlife rig. I also have the 300 mm PF lens and a 1.4 TC to use as well.
I am using my beloved Nikon D500 with 150-600mm G2 Tamron glass
So I learned that unless you have 10k to spare, DSLRs are better for wildlife in most realistic scenarios
Which means that since most people can't throw out 10k, dslrs are the better option
So in other other words, DSLRS ARE STILL ALIVE BABY, BOOOM!!!
jk jk jk. Just trying to feel better about my entry level dslr of which I can't justify an upgrade
You do not need to spend trillions on most expensive, newest gear to create award winning images - especially in case of wildlife photography! If you take a minute to visit the Natural History Museum website and brows the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards entries Gallery and look at which cameras the images were shot on, you will mostly see older DSLR cameras, to name a few of the most common: 5Ds, D7100, D7200, 5Dlll, 1DX, a99 and so on. The three most used cameras for 2020 WPY entries, are the D500, D750, 5Dlll, 5DIV and 1DXll. Almost every 2020 WPY entry is shot with one of these five cameras. Get yourself a camera, a tool that fits all your needs and then use it to create art. Don't stress or overthink about your camera that much! Also, spend your money wisely, regardless of your wealth level!
I just want to dance with you
Sony α9 + 200-600, around $5k. Budget option, Sony α6100/6400/6600 with a 70-350. Nikon D500 is somewhere in between.
I really wish this would have discussed more about lenses and your options for those within different budgets, too.
I've "gone mirrorless" with all but my trusty D7200. I never have to look for the controls, and it never lets me down when I have to move fast. The battery doesn't die on me, either. For wildlife and nature walks... I always take my D7200.
For wildlife you have to go pretty high-end mirrorless to get better performance than a DSLR...UNLESS you need to shoot video as well. As a retired newspaper photographer I loved shooting with my Nikon D700. However, my paper insisted on videos for online during many non-sporting events. I eventually tried the Leica V-Lux 114 for general assignment and it allowed to shoot video and still simultaneously
My choice as a weight/price/performance compromise is the Canon 90D with the EOS 400mm DOII lens. Portable and very sharp.
Nice Lens for sure >> Canon s only claim to fame the Great MK II and MK III big white glass .. Competed fairly with the Nikon ED Big timers
I would still say 90D and 1dx3 would be better contenders on the DSLR front.
I shoot a lot of wildlife. I’ve had deer 15 feet away shooting with normal shutter (5DIV) and have yet to frighten a deer away. I shoot birds the same way and 95% never fly away. I don’t shoot weddings so my camera is rarely set on ‘quiet’. Perhaps I’m the exception that proves the rule, but I find shutter noise a non problem. Nice video, guys!
You tell ‘m how thing work in the real world. 👍
shutter noise 0 is a zero problem, if the noise is >0 then it is more than a zero problem and that is how it is. I agree with birds, about 1 out of 20 flies away because of shutter noise, some birds are particularly shy and some are not.
Not really a shutter issue but the mirror flipping out of the way to take the photo lol
The G9 is a fantastic camera for the price. Combine it with the 100-300 II and you have a winner. You won’t be able to handle BIF’s though.
I think it's a bit harsh to say that you won't be able to handle birds in flight with the G9. It's just that you have better options even within the MFT system.
Really? Have you ever used the combo you've mentioned? I'd rather get an old D7200.
Andrei Maxim Agreed. Me not being able to handle BIFs is most likely a reflection of my skill level.
Shang-Hsien Yang I have a G85 and have used the G9 on occasion. I don’t see why it can’t go head to head with some of the options that Tony had short listed.
I found a used D850 a refurbished D4s on ebay. Both in mint condition with low mileage and each for around $2k. One for detail and reach and one for low light high ISO shooting. Using the compact and lightweight Nikon 500pf 5.6 as lens on both.
Shooting Nikon since 1978, I’m still firmly in the DSLR camp for wildlife (D6, D850, D500) except macro where I’m using the Z7II and 105MC. Hoping the Z9 lives up to the hype. Tony, most say the a1 acquires focus faster than the R5. Your thoughts? Thanks
I am deeply in love with my D850... I feel it is one of the most versatile...
Using my 90D and a telelens for macro...you can crop till you see the atoms....😄
I have to point out, seeing how you didn't, that the D850 has silent live view shooting and in AF-F mode is fast and utterly silent. I generally shoot on a monopod with a snug ball head when using bigger lenses, live view is quite easy to use in this way even for fast moving subjects, if you just got to have ultra quiet. This is a you can and I have but generally don't situation, I prefer to shoot through the viewfinder. Besides that the "shutter noise" of the D850 seems rarely if ever to "spook" birds or animals, oh they're aware you are there for sure, but even with silent shutters I am pretty sure they are still aware you are there. How many times have you focused on a birds eye only to find the little bugger is looking right at you? Yeah, they know you are there long before the shutter is tripped, you are simply not close enough for them to see you as a threat no matter how much noise your camera makes or doesn't make. If you want to know what real shooting "noise" is grab an old Nikon F2 with a motor drive and bang off a few rolls of film, even that clapping clattering banshee whine didn't often scare off wildlife.
All said and done on the usability side of things, do mirrorless silent shutter cameras produce better quality images than DSLR's? You don't seem to have fully addressed this question in the video. If your aim is to attempt to produce ultra quality very large print images the DSLR's and the D850 in particular is the answer, period. Anything less and it's pick what ever suits your fancy, most anything will produce "good" images.
This might sound controversial, but Z50 + FTZ + Tamron 150-600 G2 is a great budget option. Obviously not as good as D500, but I have had excellent results with mine so far.
Works better with the Tamron 18-400, believe it or not. But the FTZ adapter does tend to get in the way and ads more weight too. From experience, I say the Z50 definantly needs INIS, as the VC in the 18-400 with the FTZ adapter doesn’t seem to work as well, compared to how it works on the D7200. The D500, with the 200-500, is the best for wildlife. But my D7200 is much better than the Z50. Mirrorless can never achieve the tracking ability of a DSLR, even with blackout free EVF. The Z50 battery is its Achilles heel. My D7200 sometimes runs weeks without a charge, even after a full days of shooting. Seems I’m always charging the Z50, like my iPhone.
@@ytr8989 Great comment. The issue with the 18-400 is that it is not very sharp at full zoom. The 150-600 G2 is great but the Z50 does sometimes get lost at 600mm and I have to turn the focus ring manually to assist the Z50 on what subject to focus on - the D4 did not experience this issue and was able to recover quickly. Aside from this, believe it or not the Z50 actually exceeded my expectations. Eye AF works quite well and the focus, while not D4 like, is still pretty good. I used the Z50 to shoot car track events and it did very well. VC actually works great on the 150-600 paired with the Z50 and I saw no difference whether mounted on the D4 or Z50. I have a D7200 that is now written off after it tumbled from a moving vehicle and it had good autofocus but unfortunately it was a bit slow in burst rate for fast paced action. I will say my D4 still has much faster and accurate AF - only downside is the sensors are crammed in the central area. The battery life of the Z50 indeed is not great; I achieve 600-800 shots per charge dependent on how I use it and also weather. I have 3 spare EN-EL25's now but even then it can't outlast the D4 which easily takes 6000 shots on one charge from personal experience. There is no doubt the D500 + 200-500 5.6 is the best bundle but in Australia brand new that's easily a $4000 bundle vs the Z50 Tamron FTZ bundle at $2800 including the 2 extra batteries. Nikon mirrorless AF has a long way to go before it equates the performance of their DSLR's. The only mirrorless cameras I've used that have DSLR like AF (or better) are the A9 II, R5, R6, and A1. Nikon will definitely introduce a more advanced DX Z body soon with IBIS, but for the price of the Z50 it makes sense why IBIS wasn't implemented. The tests with the Z50 were done with latest firmware V2.11. I remember trying the Z50 in 2019 with its first firmware version and it wasn't great, but they've sinced tweeked the algorithm to enhance its capabilities.
I have a Z50 with both kit lenses. I use it as a travel and family camera though and I only rarely do wildlife.
@@HybridBell That's probably another plus for Nikon mirrorless the full time manual override using either FTZ or native lenses. I don't think the Sony's or Canon let you do that without going back into the menu. Plus the focus peaking pops up to help out as well.
Love the Z50 and Tamron 70-200G2 combo I recently used at a wedding. I also have the Z6 which I mainly have the 35mm 1.4 attached to it. Next purchase is probably the Z7ii with the new 105mm micro. At the end of the day I don't think any other system beats the files that Nikon cameras produce. Just look at the D850 images at the end.
Thanks for the vid!
No problem!
Used to have a Canon 80D and 5D iv with a 100-400mm. It was great. now have an R5 and R6 with the 100-500mm, 600mm, 800mm, 1.4x and 2x. Great range and lots of great results. No issues with battery life or over heating. Wonder about those bodies and lenses being weather sealed? I know some are but...
Olympus autofocus is frustrating ? em1 III EVERY FRAME is in focus even fast bird and em1x is even better.... ahhh you tried the prerelease with beta software maybe ? Olympus is a pioneer in the domain. 60 fps, pro capture, small size to shoot for hours, everything you need ....
The 2x crop factor helps a lot there, because it makes the DOF twice as deep.
Good for you 🙂
@@RodrigoBejarano not just good... Amazing!
I like d850 for the price and resolution but d7500 is very usable in wildlife with much better video and very cheap 👍
How does the D7500 have better video than the D850?
@@lukes5533 well I’m not a pro videographer and relied only on autofocus, d7500 I believe is using phase detect like the d780 in video..I’m using it from time to time with my afp lenses..I believe the d850 is still using contrast detect in video…correct me if I’m wrong.
@@voodudelmobile5629 All Nikon Dslrs use contrast detect Autofocus for video except the d780 which gets the same internals from Z6 and uses phase detect in liveview.
for budget kit i will choose 7D with 100-400mm & for unlimited budget its gonna be R5 with 100-500
Can't beat the Sony α1 if budget isn't a concern. Also Sony α9 with 200-600 > R5 with 100-500.
I love my Sony 200-600mm & Sony a6600. Great Combo❤
Today I understood WHY NIKON EXISTS
Yes I found that out in 1972 when Sony came about making some great Analog TV;s and Canon was in the Printer /Copier game
Nikon is 103-years-old, it will continue to exist after us.
I use the Sony A7rIII with the Sony FE 200-600mm. With the right focus setting and with practice, I always get sharp focus doing birding, even birds in flight. With 42MP, there's plenty of room if I choose to crop the photos and still maintain good resolution.
Same setup as me and its really a good one ☝️. Sharp and great focus.
It’s D500 with 300mm pf and 500mm pf
Now you are talking Great DX camera and awesome Lenses>> Nikon Tech shining through
Thanks Square space.
Sony A1 with my 600 F4 GM...epic, fantastic and the best for me! 👍
Same here who needs a new car !
Yeah, 20000$ combo. Who would guess it can be good.
I mean, that's the sum of money I spent on all photo/video gear in my entire life combined :D
Swapped from Nikon D500 to Sony A7RIV and loved it so much I got a A9ii I use both for wildlife. The silent shooting is King it doesn't matter how good the images are on a DLSR because being able to remain undetected means you get more shots and more natural behaviour. The D500 was so loud that when photographing White tailed Eagles in Poland, I found birds souring above me looking at me and moving away!!! (Just one example of many subjects lost due to the Mirror!)
I think we all like what we know. I prefer the DSLR approach because I can buy old equipment (and I have bought from KEH before) and spend a lot less as I am learning. I guess eventually. We will all be using mirrorless cameras because that is what the vendors will all be making and I am fine with that. With the three different budgets in your video, I think you may have left out a very important factor from the discussion. A nature photographer, and especially a wildlife photographer will need some decent equipment. But if all you can afford is a lame 70-300mm zoom, you can just get closer and get the same picture as the 10k dollar f2.8 mega-zoom. And even more important than the camera and the lens is the eye behind the lens. And even more important than the eye behind the lens is the wisdom absorbed by the photographer. Some ability as a photographer may be god given, but even in that case study and practice can make it grow. I am still a raw learner, so giving me the unlimited budget gear and pitting me against either Northrup with the losing budget gear will have a predictable outcome not in my favor. Don't get me wrong. It's fun to have nice stuff and I do have some full frame cameras and fast lenses. But education and effort are far more important IMO, YMMV..
D850/D500 ends all discussion w/200-500mm or 400mm
Couldnt agree with you more >> it comes from the Camera Company , not the Printer or TV company
Yeah, surely 9fps is fast enough for wildlife lol
@@shang-hsienyang1284 of course it is. If it's not; bring extra memory cards if you spray all day...
@@LMoProVisualComm I use AF priority with my a1, which cuts the actual speed to 20fps. I cannot imagine if I had to delete all the odd number photos. 20fps and 10fps is a great difference.
@@shang-hsienyang1284 whatever it takes to get the shot. The D850 is 4 years old but there's very little it cannot do... I'm not into the brand wars. But since I own (20) Nikon lenses (8) bodies, I'll wait until the Z9 comes out and add that to my collection of bodies. Good luck shooting out there...
A few things:
1) It was nice to hear consensus on older and newer gear affording the photographer good images. I like shooting DSLR in some situations and Mirrorless in others.
2) I admire the two of you for holding the D-850 and the a1 by hand near the water; I'd be too scared not to have a strap around my shoulder.
3) Whoever is shooting your videos is doing a good job, bravo!
4) Thank you. Very informative, watchable, and entertaining.
I have just discovered your videos and really appreciate your knowledge and objectivity.
The d850 is looking really tempting
Always enjoy watching your reviews, and I'm happy my D850 is still rated good. Please keep it up.
m1mii 990$. In Europe, half price of xt4. 10fps and buffer for 400 raw. 18 fps with electronic shutter and buffer for 130 raw. Pro capture mode. Brilliant ergonomics and best ibis, focus limiter build in camera. More megapixels does not mean better iq, because the pictures taken with the olympus are sharper than any picture taken with xt4 (buffer for 40 pictures !!) and fuji lenses. Olympus afc is more reliable than fuji afc. Xt4 and M1x? Not even close.
I love my D850. Wildlife, nighttime and buildings It's a champ. Portraits of people I think mirror-less wins though.
GREAT All rounder and that sublime efficient Nikon F Mount Glass
Great Video and main point, how much are you prepared to pay for "upgrade". for most of us who are not full time professionals, our next best wildlife picture will not come from better gear but from being at the right place at the right time, with the best light, composition and being ready with your gear and have the skill to pull it off.
I enjoyed this one. Nikon ruled the world of DSLR cameras right at the end and then found themselves at the back of the Mirrorless pack. (ahead of Fuji though!) I still enjoy shooting with my Z50 FTZ and 200-500 f/5.6 which you guys never consider. All that said, I am loving the auto-focus on my R6 and still hoping for a flagship APSC Canon RF camera like the rumored R7. Thanks again, keep up the good work.
Tony and Chelsea have great camera advice, and have for years. Thanks for all your work. I'm glad you've remained independent, objective and provide technical details and analysis that many reviewers don't. I've had the D7500 with the 200-500mm Nikon F5.6 and it does a great job. I've moved up to full frame Z6 which is better IF wildlife is perched, not flying and close, but it's focusing and frame rate is frustrating for fast motion. The video on Z6 is way better and easier and more stabilized. The D7500 is better for wildlife but the Z6 is better all around for other genre's of photography. When I had both the Z6 and D7500 I found the D7500 sitting on the shelf so I finally sold it before it lost any more value. I had planned to use the D7500 for wildlife and Z6 for everything else but found myself always reaching for the Z6. Hard for me to carry around 2 bodies, and keep fluent with both for settings etc. Not sure if I can go back to a DSLR but the D850 is very tempting rather then stepping up to say a Z6II or Z7II whose focusing isn't stellar either and are more expensive. I wish the Nikon Z bodies focused better, otherwise the Z experience is great.
X-S10 would have easily won the $1000 category. I’ve been using mine for wildlife photography for the past 8 months and it’s a truly excellent performer. No need to use the silent shutter because the mech shutter is so quiet and does 8fps for 20 frames compressed RAW before slowing down. Plus it has IBIS, the autofocus is a generation ahead of the X-T30 and X-T4, and it can shoot 4k/30 200Mbps.
For wildlife especially birds, you would be pretty insane if you still haven't migrated to mirrorless. The AF alone will destroy the DSLR. And that is before you talk about tracking. Oh and that infamous DSLR shutter slap, it is real and will definitely scare birds away. Not taking anything away from great birding DSLRs like the D850 and D500, but even Nikon pros have and are moving away from Nikon DSLRs. Previously, together with Canon shooters, a lot had already moved to the A9/A9 II and A7R IV. And since the advent of the A1 and R5, more wildlife shooters are shooting mirrorless than ever before.
Even for me, have been using Nikon Gears for more than 10 years, when I bought Sony a6600 for systematic transition, I was mesmerised the beauty of OVF and accuracy of autofocus. Still waiting when Nikon will come upto that level of Autofocus. Mirrorless is the future if not the present for camera industry.
@@sudiptabhattacharya1592 Z9 is just around the corner.
Mirror slap, no eye tracking, and calibrating lenses for autofocus are things SLR shooters still have to deal with. Silent electronic shooting won't quite be there yet for either configuration until there's more development for global shutters.
Still, a Nikon DSLR + a 300mm or 500mm PF gives the most quality for the least cost and weight
As my holiday has been postponed until 2022, I have not yet purchased my camera (hopefully off to the Okavango Delta). Having watched several videos (ok, lots) and read a few articles (lots and lots) plus a mentoring session with a wildlife photographer the current choice is a D850 with the 200-500 lens. As a back up the D500 with something like a 70-200 (both could be second-hand). There is a camera exhibition in September where I'm hoping to get more hands-on exposure as well as talking to suppliers.
I'm mindful that there are rumours of a D850 upgrade so I will be hanging on as long as possible, probably until April 2022.
My main issue with mirrorless is battery life followed by other concerns such as lens choice and the electronic shutter.
Thanks for the video. I found it really useful.
All I noticed was that Chelsea's lens was bigger than her ;-) Thanks for the review and thanks for the codes.
Great reviews - for my money, I would probably still choose to lug around the D500 as a versatile, deep buffered wildlife camera
Awesome at the end . Equal revue :)
Just love my Canon 1DX mark iii ... thanks for another great show Folks :-)
A1 + 600GM = My choice. Love mine.
Love the comparison
Thanks for another wonderful video and all the prime content 😁👍💯📸
My A6400 has never been enjoyable to use shooting wildlife because of its ergonomics. I dislike the fiddly back dial, the grip, and the button placement for back button AF. The 70-350mm lens feels unbalanced on it too.
I guess a6600 would be better in this regard.
I mean, it has more buttons and an IBIS that theoretically in pair with lens OSS will lead to better percentage of sharp images. And also a decent battery life.
In my experience with Sony's the Sigma 100-400 is a better lens for birding than 70-350 - never tried new Tamron or Sony 200-600 though.
I have an Olympus Em1 with the 100-400 and I love it, got many nice pics with it.
Disagree, the 70-350 is a really light lens and is imo very balanced, maybe a bit better on the A6600 but not by that much. The A6400 light and small when it needs to be, really like the small footprint it has compared to an A7III which i own 2.
@M Tech we absolutely have a different point of view on what the camera A6400 should be and is. I like the small footprint and build, it’s the reason we bought it. When i need something bigger, heavier with more robust controls I personally choose FF over Apsc, the cost difference between a FF mirrorless body’s and high end Apsc is negligible.
@M Tech What you’re describing already exist it’s named Sony A7III. I agree that the A6300 and A6400 grip is to short and it could borrow the grip of a A6600 and maybe add a front dial on it, thats would make it better.
Ok man i get your point, but i have both FF and Apsc and i like the smaller camera and i love the small design for it, i am fully aware that it is a compromise.
I get some cool wildlife shots on my A7RIV 😍 things a beast.
I use nikon D850 with nikon 200-500 and it does everything needed out of it perfectly.
The comparison i believe is not right because one can say my car can change colours or has a an extra bottle holder but the main need the car fulfills and is expected to do is what needs to be seen
Before EVF people were shooting better pics and just some bells and whistles doesnt make one a great camera
I have not found a single thing that d850 cant do perfectly
M6 mark ii definitely for me thks!
Wildlife:
Nikon D850 and Sigma 150-600. I had the sigma before I bought the D850 and it gets the job done pretty well
Thanks guys. Just subscribed to your posts. Love the humoring. Thanks for talking about the things that matter like how it fits in your hands
Canon 90D with Sigma 150 - 600! Can't beat it for the price!
Also i believe d500 beats xt4 with a bigger margin than shown
There are so many shots that xt4 would miss and d500 cant
AF is much better than xt4
I admit xt4 will be better for events and wedding but it cant compete with d500 in wildlife photography
I love Nikon D850 with Nikkor 600 f/4.0 for birds
I'm a Sony shooter, and have two telephoto lenses: Sony 70-350 and Sigma 100-400.
Have to say: I'm pretty impressed with a6600 + Sigma 100-400 combination.
Just bought a6600 two days ago, as a replacement for a6300, that I've lost to sea water due to underwater box leak, and was testing the whole day this combo on city birds in the park.
Works like wonder.
IBIS, fast autofocus, good battery life, better grip. Almost all of the pictures are in focus even in Hi+ mode.
The buffer is small, but since I'm using a fast SD card, and since the raw files are relatively small, it clears pretty quickly.
Just wanted to share an opinion, that this combination is not as bad as was shown in this video. And some of the ergonomic issues (at least size, weight and battery life) were at least addressed in this later model by Sony.
Well, EVF lag is there, but it's bearable at Hi (but almost impossible at Hi+, yes)
Of course I didn't have an opportunity to compare it to other combos, but still, don't feel like switching to the other brand yet.
I have Sony A1 , Sony A7R4 and Nikon D850 .Sony A1 has the best AF system for wildlife and birds in fly. I can change the AF from zone to spot within 1-2 seconds. With Sony A1 + Sony lens 100-400 , I can shot flying insects .Sony lens 100-400 is very good lens for microphotography.
Silent shooting is not all that it is made up to be. I love hearing my nikons going off and looking at the people going woah. I also have the Olympus EM1 Mark three with the 300mm f4 and tele converters. They should seriously be considered
High density Crop sensors reduce sharpness, it is easily noticeable when comparing a 5D3 to a 7D2, there are only a few generally expensive lenses that resolve more than 25mp, so I don't see the need for a 60+ mp camera. I have amazing images using a 50-500mm Sigma on a Canon 1D, 4mp.
Fun and informative video! cheers guys! always a pleasure to watch your videos!
D850 with 500mm PF, can't miss combo. I travel for wildlife and rarely miss a shot.