TimG 62 Posted August 21, 2018 Curiously I bought a D5 for topside. I can’t tell you how much pleasure I get using that camera. I just love it. A rational decision to buy it? Ha! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JamesR 26 Posted August 21, 2018 Curiously I bought a D5 for topside. I can’t tell you how much pleasure I get using that camera. I just love it. A rational decision to buy it? Ha! The first time I shot it I was blown away by how many more images were in perfect focus than when using my other or previous cameras (D700, D7000, D800, D810, etc). It was a shocking difference! A bit irrational? For sure! Regrets? Nope. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimG 62 Posted August 21, 2018 The first time I shot it I was blown away by how many more images were in perfect focus than when using my other or previous cameras (D700, D7000, D800, D810, etc). It was a shocking difference! A bit irrational? For sure! Regrets? Nope. Hehehe, could not agree more! The darned thing is awesome! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sinetwo 26 Posted August 22, 2018 This won't be the factors that everyone's interested in, but I went with the D500 for the following reasons: 1. Cost: D850 is more expensive, for the body the price isn't the worst, it's the extra cost of the full frame only lenses. 2. Proven/not tested: D850 is a newcomer, but it's not been rigorously tested underwater, the D500 however has. 3. Crop vs full frame: the benefit of full frame to me on land is far greater than that under water. The Tokina gives me what I need. And the crop is possibly better for macro? <- one could argue against that point! 4. Dynamic range: The d500 has very good dynamic range for a crop. At least for me. 5. Focus: Not much to say, you've all seen how good the D500 is. 6. Lenses: The DX lenses are more affordable, and they've been proven to work amazingly well underwater (tokina + nikkor 60/105mm) Annoyingly, they've both got XQD slots in them, and the price is fairly steep, considering it's the technology that's going obsolete! When I weighed all of these up together and an opportunity presented itself, I went for the D500. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alex_Mustard 0 Posted August 22, 2018 I favour the D850. This is partly because I am invested in excellent FX lens options (Nikonos 13mm, Nauticam WACP, Zeiss corrector port, large domes etc) and partly because the camera is excellent. When the D5 was announced, I got mine without hesitation and have used it extensively underwater. I shot the D500 a little underwater back in 2016 and while I thought it was very good, it was no D5. A friend who is a D500 user and lover tried the D5 at the time and just let out an expletive about the difference. However, at the start of this year I also got a D850. And that camera has really surprised me. In the D4 and D800 era I shot the D800 quite a few times, but always wanted to go back to the D4. The D4 was way ahead at getting the shot. I also preferred the RAW files to the D800 for UW subjects. I expected a similar thing with the D5 and D850, but I found I was wrong. The D850 is inferior the D5 at getting the shot as others have said, but both are so good and the difference is definitely much less than with the D4 vs D800. Secondly, I prefer the the D850 raw files to the D5 for underwater subjects. So I keep using the D850. I will still do some shoots with the D5, but I haven’t used it since the Galapagos in May and have done all keep wanting to take the D850. I do feel guilty having a D5 on the shelf - although it will be getting some frontline use again soon. Alex Alex Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vigfus 2 Posted August 23, 2018 Thank you all for your insights! I've been going back and forth between D500 and D850 for quite some time so all posts are of interest. Do you think there will be a shift with the release of the mirrorless Z6 and Z7? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trimix125 73 Posted August 23, 2018 Hi,yes!There will be plenty used DX and FX systems on the market ;-))) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimG 62 Posted August 24, 2018 I've started a new thread (good idea, Alex) for the Z6/Z7 discussion - they're sure to get lots of air time! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JamesR 26 Posted August 28, 2018 (edited) I decided to shoot my D850 for underwater since I have all the FX lenses, ports, etc already from the 800 and 810 I had previously...easier than trying to mess with buying and selling all kinds of stuff. I will probably not get to dive it until we get to Sipadan, but there's not many better places to enjoy a new camera so it'll be worth the wait. Thanks to Jack at Optical Ocean Sales for taking the time to discuss pros and cons with me recently, super helpful as always! Edited August 28, 2018 by JamesR Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riksub 1 Posted October 23, 2018 JamesR: yeah that's pretty much sealed it for D500 for me. Whilst I would absolutely LOVE to have the D850 on land, I think I can make do with some UWA lenses for landscape photography, as that's really all I need a full frame for. I'm selling my rx100ii in case you're interested, haha Your rx100 housing is still available for sale? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JamesR 26 Posted October 23, 2018 Just back from Malaysia (Sipadan)...D850 is a great camera above and under water. No regrets. I still am interested in a FX mirrorless though Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sinetwo 26 Posted October 23, 2018 Your rx100 housing is still available for sale? Yes it is, I will be doing a new post. Unfortunately it did not sell due to an unserious buyer, and I haven't tried selling it since. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
