SEARCH BLOG FOR ANYTHING HERE!

Thursday, November 3, 2022

My Favorite Nikon DSLRS: Df, D610, D500, and D800

My Favorite Nikon DSLRS: Df, D610, D500, and D800 
November 2022, Carl Garrard

My inspiration for this article arose from the personal experiences I'vd had over the last few years with my favorite Nikon DSLR's. This article is by no means an attempt to sway anyone's opinion of, nor defend my purchases for, these four Nikon cameras. Rather, I decided that it was important to share my opinions with other photographers. Mostly it is intended for those who are newer to photography or to those photographers that are  reorganizing a new kit. Frankly, at times we can all use some experienced wisdom or insight in order to help us decide on what gear to outfit ourselves with. As such, it's important to anyone reading this to know that I have owned almost every single DSLR in Nikon's inventory (with exception to the D5/6 and D850). In addition, I own multiple camera systems from multiple companies, and for fifteen years I've been reviewing as many digital cameras and lenses on the internet as possible. This does not take into account any and all previous experience I've had prior to reviewing digital cameras online. I have been a photographer for nearly 32 years now (in one form or another). Therefore it's my hope that sharing my thoughts are then at least somewhat helpful to other photographers out there looking for an honest opinion, all whilst simultaneously trying to navigate their way through the maze of gear choices and other opinions in the internet toilet. Trust me, I know it's not easy.


Introduction

Knowing what, where, and when to use your camera equipment is just one of many decisions a professional photographer must make. Just as a mechanic chooses the right tool to work on a automobile, so must the photographer pick the best camera and lens to make a particular photograph. When I see photographers get frustrated with their camera gear online because it isn't the most ideal choice for a particular job (and this happens all too often), all I can do is just hope they will learn this golden rule sooner than later. I've been there myself at times, so I'm no stranger to the concept.

That frustration manifests itself permanently all over the internet in various forms, personal reviews, forum comments, magazine articles, etc.. Even in published reviews you see from the authors too, often times with odd comparisons for tasks that a camera wasn't even designed to accomplish in the first place. Worse off a final rating dinging the design for which it was never intended in the first place!

This phenomena is also directly related to several factors like brand cheering, shilling, and fanboyism. It's no wonder to me why any budding photographer could easily become confused at which camera system to buy into and end up going down the wrong path. 

But if you follow some wisdom, the same rules as most successful working photographers follow, then you're less likely to be mired with in that frustration. There's no reason for you to be held down in that negative internet mote, or worse, being hypnotized by camera marketing departments making promises they'll never keep. Real life, real experiences, real photography is where the truth's at.

All any of them want you to do is to be like them (bolster their own opinion), or worse, just take your money. Most of those individuals do not have your best interests at heart. Working photographers however, at least the ones who aren't "ambassadors", have a much different take on gear generally speaking. And it is them that I suggest you listen very closely too. Any photographers that have a single brand affiliation are probably not the right path for gear advice.


Keep your head out of the clouds, Nikon D800, 70-300mm AF-S VR




Choosing Your Own Path

So with that being said, it's important to note that while all four cameras in this article are my favorite DSLRs from Nikon, each one has an important role to fill in my photography. Over time I found that each does best in its role and it is why I use each of them for such. Using a camera in real life, in addition to reading the owners manual and/or firmware update notes, will help to present its best use cases naturally over time. 

Do not rush this step. Experiment, read up, and have fun getting to know your camera. It's important in the beginning of ownership to establish what the camera is best at, then later whether or not its best attributes will be fully leveraged for your own photography inspirations. 

Reading about a camera is important (albeit boring at times), because you'll find often enough that there are hidden attributes within the menu system that can really change the behavior of a camera to your benefit. It takes time to uncover this of course, and often you'll find you have to change the entire set up until you get it just right. If all else has failed, and you cannot get the camera to do what you want, then perhaps it was meant to serve a different kind of photographer or photography. 

Don't sell a camera until you are certain that its just not going to be right for you. Patience is a virtue, and I share this from experience having made the same mistakes I'm warning you about time and time again. There are cameras I love now and hated before simply because I understand them today through patience and education better than I ever have in the past.

Therefore in every summary of each camera, I will state what I think each is best equipped to do, and why that is. I'll also include current pricing on the used/new market, affordable lens choices (diamonds in the rough), my handling experiences, as well as comments on overall image quality and of course pleasure of use. I do believe after reading this article you will come away with an informed, experienced, and a more realistic expectation of each cameras capabilities and attributes.


"Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then". D800, 70-300mm AF-S VR. Not my first choice for a camera for birds in flight but the D800 performed magnificently. So much for the "AF issues" online, what a bunch of rubbish.





Nikon Df



  • Pricing USD: Most expensive of the bunch, ranging from about $900 (bottom barrel), to upwards of $3,000 or so brand new. Silver are a bit more affordable than all black, and the black and gold edition is outrageously expensive if you can even find one. Your best bet is to try to find a like new used low shutter count copy in the best condition possible.  I bought mine new on sale for $1545.00 on Ebay, $1,250.00 off the original price. Still, it was very expensive compared to the rest of the cameras in this article.
  • Lens Choices: Since the Df has a smaller grip and body than the rest of the cameras in this article, I chose to get smaller lenses. The Df is a "pleasure" camera, unique and different, much like a Leica M rangefinder in that regard, so there's less emphasis on outright speed or optical performance here. It's about balance, feel, and an adherence to the philosophy of its design. The 45mm f/2.8 AI-P pancake, 28-200mmG f/3.5-5.6 ED, 20mm f/2.8D all make great small lens choices for the Df. The 85mm f/1.8D is next on my list, along with the 28mm f/2.8 AI-S (still being sold!)
  • Handling: The Df is pleasure camera. It's a dedicated still shooter's camera, there is no video or any of the menu bloat associated with video. It's built fantastically with it being nearly all metal (top rear and bottom) with a few high end resin and engineering grade composite accents (front panel and sub-frame). It handles like a film SLR, much different than a modern workhorse DSLR you'd take to jobs. It's a dream to use with smaller lenses and can be set up to the way you shoot. I added a matching Nikon soft shutter release and quick release camera strap clasps (took off the annoying D-Rings). The Df is designed for deliberate and patient decision making, and thus its vast amount of external controls reflect that philosophy. Overall I am very pleased with the control layout, the feel of the grip, and getting around the menus and such. For the type of camera it is, the handling is excellent (and there is some genius in its design).
  • Image Quality: 16mp and the Df is a low light beast, the best of the bunch here, and one of the very best low light ratings of any camera on the market. It has very good dynamic range, and the lowest noise of the group. I shoot all the way up to 12,800 ISO without even hesitating. It's that good. Color and midtones are to die for. 16mp is PLENTY for a large print if you don't crop. When light levels are low, it's image quality is the best of the bunch here.
  • Pleasure of Use: The Df is a dream camera, that is if you like buttons switches and dials. Also if  you aren't in a rush. Of all of my cameras, Nikon or not, the Df is the most pleasurable experience for candid and freelance photography. It takes a completely different mindset for the Df than my other cameras. I love the way it feels, sounds, and handles. There's no video or other garbage for distraction, its you, the camera, the lens, and the subject. It's fast enough to be practical even in todays "instant gratif" society we live in, but its mostly an homage to the history of Nikon's camera history and you feel it in the camera. 
  • Summary: My Df is the camera I take with me when I have no agenda. Opportunity photography, candid, and creative and spontaneous photography. I prefer taking it down to beach cities, on walks, sometimes on short hikes, out to dinner, situations like that. It's my freedom camera, no agenda, relax, shoot, and just flat out shoot for pleasure. Oh yes, I love my Df. That said, I would not want to take it into harsh climates (light rain, and cold is fine), and I would not try to use it as a workhorse camera like the others below even though it's designed to handle climate just like the others. It's not my favorite vacation camera, because it's not as versatile as the others. This one is personal, for the exact type of photography I mentioned. And for this role it serves as the best of the bunch. There is no other competition with the Df on the market, Canon nor any other manufacturer have ever made any other camera like the Df. Yes that includes Fujifilm too (EVF's only and no native legacy glass, and adapters just SUCK). 
  • Neat Tricks: If you first set the Df to Auto ISO in the menu, and the maximum ISO down to 200, then wherever you set the physical ISO dial on top of the camera then becomes your new maximum ISO setting. Very handy, very slick. You can configure either front FN button to allow for instant AUTO-ISO with a press of the button and turn of the rear control dial to further enhance the ISO access. You can configure either front FN button to activate a digital spirit level inside the viewfinder. Nikon also makes an OEM matching soft shutter release (part # AR-11) with materials exactly the same as accents in the body (the gloss resin accents). This shutter release aids in the comfort of shooting with the Df and looks sharp. The Df is also the most compatible digital camera with F mount lenses Nikon has ever created. It's special.
ISO 12,800 from raw. Fine grain like fine wine.




Nikon D610



  • Pricing USD: Most affordable of the bunch, you can get a great copy of a D610 at $450-$1,000. Find the lowest shutter count version you can. Prices are so low you can buy two, at least for now. My D610 had 34 actuations and I found it for $499.00 like new with the original box.
  • Lens Choices: Any lenses really, the D610 is versatile. For me, I like the Nikon 28-300mm, 24-85mm SWM VR ED IF, and 20mm f/2.8D. I'll prefer to use the 28-300 since it matches the ethos of the camera I like to use it for best.
  • Handling: This camera handles very very well. Build quality is fantastic. Most of the body is magnesium (top and rear plates) with the rest (including the sub-frame and bottom of the camera) being a very tough high end engineering grade resin composite. More utilitarian than the Df but the feel of the grip is fantastic, and the buttons, dials, switches are all very well spaced out and easy to use even with gloves on. I have my control dials setup for quick ISO and aperture settings since I hardly ever use exposure compensation (I set mine to +.7  with matrix metering most of the time). The D610 is quick handling, in that its simple enough to memorize locations of controls and crucially, they operate smoothly and easily. I get a bit more serious when I shoot the D610 so speed is important at times, as well as all day comfort. It's not perfect out of the box, but once you set it up your way, the D610 handles fantastically and really gets the hell out of your way. 
  • Image Quality: 24mp and fantastic all round image quality, in fact the best of the bunch for all round work in this respect. Low light is almost as good as the Df, and base ISO has loads of dynamic range and detail getting closer to the D800 here. This is a camera I'd make 30x40" prints without hesitation, even with some minor cropping. It's raw files are gorgeous, malleable, and have the second best dynamic range of the group here (by a hair). Zero complaints on image quality.
  • Pleasure of Use: Because the D610 is designed to be a workhorse, its a camera that I've set up to the point where I almost forget I'm using it at times. It never gets between myself and the subject. It has enough hints of "history" in its design to make it a surprisingly fun camera to use. As an all rounder I'm constantly surprised how quick and decisive it can be, even in situations it's not really designed for. Plus it feels and sounds like a real camera something sorely lacking on mirrorless models. In fact it's shutter sound is nearly identical to the beloved Df, only ever slightly more muffled (since the body is bit thicker and deeper). It frequently reminds me that it is a camera that is more pleasurable to use than you would think. I've never disappointed with the D610 during my time with it, and I can say I've used it a lot.
  • Summary: The D610 is the camera I'll bring on vacations, backpacking, camping etc. It's my all rounder, my go-to meat and potatoes camera. It ranges from good to excellent in most situations, from low light candid's to landscapes, and even very decent for action photography. If I need to travel lighter, and I want the most versatility overall, the D610 is my choice. This is why the 28-300mm VR will nearly live on this camera. When I can't quite decide what to bring, it's the D610. And it has never disappointed, thus no regrets or afterthoughts when I bring it along. Although it's not a specialist like the Df/D800/D500 it can keep up with them in any of their departments as if to say "don't ever count me out". I have few complaints, one is the lack of any live view histogram, but obviously not a deal breaker. It may be the best bang for the buck of the four (see my D800 comments on this below), it's really a tough call. I'll say this though, if I was somehow forced to choose only one camera of the bunch, the D610 would be that camera. Compared to the 6D from Canon, the D610 blows it out of the water in most respects (except center point low light AF sensitivity, live view histogram, that's it!).
  • Neat Tricks: The D610 will make in camera time-lapse movies. It has dual SD card slots that you can set to record jpegs in one and raw in the other.  You can configure either control dial to quickly adjust ISO settings to avoid having to press that pesky button. You can configure either front FN button to activate a digital spirit level inside the viewfinder. You can configure the AEL-AFL lock button to serve for back button focusing, and the shutter release to then serve as an AEL lock.

Trabuco Canyon - ISO 400 35mm f/2D lens at f/8. Cropped vertically.





Nikon D500



  • Pricing USD: This is the second most expensive camera in the group, and you'll find them about $750 (bottom barrel) to about $1,800 brand new. I bought my D500 for $900.00 in like new condition.
  • Lens Choices: Sigma 100-400mm Contemporary. It lives on this camera. Rarely do I ever change lenses as this is my sports car, it has one use and thus, a lens that can keep up with it's tenacious speed. The Sigma is perfect right out of the box for this camera, from speed and reliability in tracking to handling, like it was made for the D500.
  • Handling: The D500 is one of the most modern DSLR's from Nikon and thus has a few tweaks that photographers have been asking for. It's grip is very good (not as solid as the D610/800), buttons and dials are all in the right place, with a bit more considerate design inclusions than my D610 such as back lit/illuminated buttons, top plate ISO button, wifi, and a touch flip screen. I have no complaints about the D500's handling, in fact none at all. It doesn't feel as solidly built as the D800/610/Df, partly because it's lighter, but it's not ever cheap feeling either. The front body panel is composite, along with the subframe and bottom, and the rest (top and back) is magnesium. It's menu is a bit more bloated than the others, but I hardly ever need to dive into there. Access to the important bits is nearly flawless, like the AF settings for example. It's a light, nimble, and quick camera in the hand (especially compared to the others in this article). No real complaints, but for whatever reason it doesn't light my fire like the other three do either. 
  • Image Quality: 21mp and the best you are going to get with a crop sensor. And I mean it touches the line of full frame image quality in dynamic range and noise control. For action work, I will not hesitate to ramp the D500 up to 3,200 ISO, EVER. The fact that it holds up to such pristine company in this article is testament to it's capability. I never use it for such but if I needed to make landscape shots I'd never hesitate to make uncropped prints up to 24x36". For action work I've never been disappointed but I hardly ever stray above 3,200 ISO, just because I want the most quality images I can make of action subjects.
  • Pleasure of Use: Speed, the D500 is all about speed. Once set up it completely disappears from my mind. All I see is my subject, autofocus points (usually 5 points only), and the background blurring by in a whiz as I follow subjects. It's a tenacious camera, locking onto subjects in all ranges of light as if connected by a string. This camera was meant for action work and you feel it when you use it. For that, it impresses far beyond the other cameras in this group, it's my hammer, not my swiss army knife. And it hammers out a higher percentage of keeper action images than any other Nikon I've ever used. Often I find I am producing a lot of adrenaline when using this camera, and the D500 always keeps up with me. Its a different kind of pleasure but one that I'll often find myself letting out a whooop after I fire off  a round of action shots. Think fully automatic rifle on a range, vs. a semi-automatic or bolt action rifle. That should give you an indication of the kind of pleasure this camera brings.
  • Summary: The D500 is a bit of a underdog in this group because it has the smallest sensor. That is until you use it. The D500 hangs (but never exceeds) with the big boys in a way that kind of  impresses me. Of course its not the most versatile camera of the bunch (it can be if your expectations are less), nor the best built, nor the most pleasurable to use, and by far not the most affordable. But for what it does, it does the best for the price. My other cameras cannot touch it for serious critical moment action shooting. I treat it as though it is the sports car in my garage, one single purpose, tenacious and speedy. When the birds and aircraft take the air, the race cars rev, and the boats go fast... I have this camera in my hand. I don't think you're going to find a better action camera out there anywhere for the money. Everything else is second place dollar for dollar. For an even more budget option the 7D Mark II is also fantastic, almost half the price used with 95% of the performance of the D500.
  • Neat Tricks: Use the 5 point af setting for continuous focusing. It's the most consistent and accurate of the options. Get used to it, and you'll see. Find a really fast focusing lens that can keep up with the decision speed of the D500, older lenses won't respond as quickly as newer ones with the fastest AF motors.

ISO 1,600 Sigma 100-400 Contemporary f/6.3





Nikon D800



  • Pricing USD: Second most affordable camera in the group, at least used. I picked up a near new one for $575, but prices will range upwards to about $1,800 in new to like new condition. Don't pay that much, keep your eye out for a very good used copy with low shutter actuations.
  • Lens Choices: Nikon 24-85mm SWM VR ED IF, 20mm f/2.8D, 85mm f/1.8G, 60mm AF-S f/2.8G Micro-Nikkor, 70-300mm  f/4.5-5.6 AF-S VR ED IF. Landscapes, architecture, astrophotography, time lapse videos, portraiture, and macro.
  • Handling: My best description of the D800 is beastly, masculine, unstoppable. Big, spacious, comfortable, and heavy (1,000 grams body only). Weather resistance is the best of the bunch here. Take it in wind, rain, heat, whatever man. It's the only camera in the group with a complete magnesium outer frame and sub-frame, only the flash cover housing on top is an engineering grade resin composite. Shutter life is rated at 200k. This is a professional grade camera so it's the best built of the bunch. Festooned with the 2nd most extensive control layout of the group, yet it's really a typical pro level Nikon here which means it has the best handling characteristics. It's like a larger heavier and better version of the D610, mostly. More comfortable with heavier lenses, and it has a few more hard control points. I wish it had the backlit illuminated buttons of the D500, but that's only because it's so good for astro photography and dim light photography circumstances. I have no complaints about the handling, control layout, button size, you name it. Once it's set up, it gets the hell right out of your way. Gloves or no gloves no problem. Wet, sweaty, or muddy hands, oh please...not an issue.
  • Image Quality: 36mp and best of the bunch at 3,200 ISO and under. This is the camera I'd make huge 40x60" prints with. I'll use all native ISO levels without second guessing (I avoid the push settings, 50, and above 6,400). Has the most dynamic range of all the cameras here, the most malleable raw files, and of course the most detail and color fidelity. Of course when I say most, I'm splitting hairs on all but pure resolution. I even like the color output more in raw than the D810 which "tests" better for DR. Nope, that's not real life. I spot expose for highlights, as far to the right as possible without blowing any out, and work my raw files later in post. Jaw dropping image quality from a full frame DSLR, not quite as good as my medium format 50S, but pretty darn close. One exposure shots of high contrast/wide range of light situations, this is where this camera excels. No need to stack exposures (unless you want too of course). Long exposures. Detailed subjects. Well balanced sensor overall, really don't need more resolution than it provides. Love the image quality, files are large, but they still don't manage to bog down my computers.
  • Pleasure of Use: The D800 is like a fully matured D610. Bigger, heavier, (oddly) better AF system, more control points, faster top end shutter speed, and a rather beautiful sounding but louder shutter/mirror cycle. I really like how the D800 sounds, muah! manifique! The addition of the eyepiece shutter, faster top shutter speed, metering dial wrapped cleverly around the AEL lock button, all make it a more serious tool for certain use cases than the D610. Albeit its much less of a jack of all trades camera, its more of a hammer than a swiss army knife. It has a live view histogram too, which makes it a much better live view camera in general, especially for landscape, time-lapse, and architecture photography. It's AF system is really overkill, as this camera is not a speedy camera (4fps tops, full resolution) so I would have been just fine with the 39point system of the D610/Df. It's center point is a bit more sensitive in lower light, which is the most welcome attribute of its improved 51pt AF system. I live on center point AF with this camera, I never use it for action work at all. With an addon grip in DX mode you can get 5FPS out of it, but why the hell would you do that with this camera? Nikon gives you a hint of tradition with the D800, sometimes I feel like I'm shooting a good film camera, it's solidity and reassuringness in hand is nearly unrivaled. Then you press the shutter release. That, is how a camera should sound. Wrapping it up here, is it's weight. I'm glad it's heavier because it steadies the shot better, and its bombproof in almost any circumstance, and balances the best with larger and heavier lenses. 
  • Summary: For serious photography when I need the the most detail and dynamic range, its the obvious choice. With that in mind, my D800 is more of a specialty camera just like the Df and D500. Its best use is for serious print and detail work, and there's a lot of photography it fits this role well for. Even the most modern of cameras don't have much more resolution practically speaking. Even my Fuji 50S medium format camera investment is being re-considered (overkill?). If you have to ask whether or not you need the extra resolution beyond 36mp, then you don't need it, or haven't yet found a real use for it. Consider the D800 as an awesome camera to use for negative film transfers too, it has the DR and detail to keep up with the best negative film. It's a commitment to carry, larger and heavier than my D610, but it's worth it by far for the right subjects. Sometimes its quite tempting to give it a break from serious work, put a small prime on it, and use it for casual work. Because it's got a solidity and sound to it that my other cameras don't have, I can't resist using it around the house or on walks sometimes. Second to my Df in terms of it's camera-ness, there's something about the additional controls and faster shutter speed that make me want to pick it up. It's the most masculine overbuilt machine I own (save for my 1D Canons), with a big beautiful viewfinder. It sometimes almost reminds me of the older overbuilt pro film cameras like the F4 and F6. It's low used price makes it an unthinkable bargain, perhaps bordering as the best bargain in this group- certain right on the heels of the D610. Honestly I'm not sure which of the two are the best bargain in this group. I should mention that it may be worth a look at the D810 too, if you want a quieter more "Canon-like" experience. Personally I've owned both and all the hoopla about its balanced/dampened mirror didn't make any difference in the detail I can get with the D800 (yes my opinion has flip flopped on this). I still had to use MLU or live view to get the finest details, and the shutter sound feel of the grip was neutered in comparison (which has pro's and con's).
  • Neat Tricks: For blur free shooting through the viewfinder you can set both mirror lock up and an exposure delay setting in the menu for 1-3 seconds long. Live view is the most stable for blur free shooting, but the mirror lock up/delay can be very effective when shooting with the camera to your eye as well. You can make time lapse movies in camera with the D800, or shoot regular time lapse sequences and stitch them in a program after (for higher quality/higher resolution movies). If you add the MB-D12 battery grip, you can shoot up to 6fps in the 15.5mp DX crop mode, 5fps in the DX crop mode without it. 
ISO 100, 70mm f/8 with my old Nikon AF-P 70-300mm (You should see the 100% view detail)




Wrapping It Up

Photography gear can get expensive, but when you really enjoy something you buy, the sting from that expense is mitigated by the pure enjoyment of the pursuit. That said, most of the cameras in this list are no longer nearly as expensive as they once were, although used prices are increasing. Today they can all be found at greatly discounted prices if you are okay with buying used equipment. I certainly am, and I recommend doing so if you follow some basic guidelines when you shop (trustable seller, pics of gear, and detail given by seller of gear, etc.).

All of the cameras and lenses in this article with exception to the Df, were bought on the used market in like new condition. To date I haven't had any new or used camera or lens fail on me with the sole exception, ironically, of my Nikon Df which was supposedly new when I bought it (Nikon thankfully was still able to repair it). Most used sites these days will give you an extended warranty, some upwards to a year, so that should give you some additional peace of mind.

Total outlay for all four bodies in this article was $3,520.00 USD, all are in new or near new condition. That is the just over the outlay you'd pay for one brand new Df, or one new D850 when they were first announced (and they are still very near that price new). So why not be smart with your money? If you're patient you can create a fantastic and much more versatile multi camera kit for much less outlay than just one brand new body. 

Price really shouldn't matter, but I see no reason to outlay a ton of extra cash without any practical reason especially if you don't need what it's offering. If the highest price always guaranteed you the best of everything, I'd always get the most expensive. Real life dictates that this is hardly ever the case though.

There's a serious upside to buying used that most don't consider, in fact it's a major advantage. When you've spent less money on equipment, you use it without worry much more than had you paid full price. If it breaks, gets a scratch, or you're in inclimate weather, you won't care about harming a huge investment. This liberates your mind in that it are free from those distracting worries or anxiety.

Any questions on smart buys or where to buy, please let me know in the comments.

Crucially, the cameras I've listed here are incredible bargains especially considering the price/performance ratio in comparison to the company they compete in. Yet they are also a pleasure to use, offer the best pro level image quality, and they offer awesome performance in the categories of photography I've outlined in which they best serve. Of course any of them can be used for any of the tasks mentioned in this article, but obviously each excel at those different tasks separately and individually. 

In a pinch I can use any of these four cameras for any of my photography, especially if a moment presents itself. I'm always going to try to get the shot no matter what, I mean look at the crow shot from the D800 above! The point of this article is to just learn to pick the right tool, and stop picking on the tools. 

You'll enjoy your equipment more and get more out of it if you know where it performs best and don't expect it to do something it wasn't designed for. Match it up correctly! This simple formula yields better photographs more often and it simultaneously offers the greatest reward of a more pleasurable experience. One camera will never meet all of your needs, no matter how expensive. 

But perhaps a few lower cost used cameras have a greater chance of meeting all of your needs and beyond.

;)


Stay focused.

-Carl


D610, 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 VR








5 comments:

  1. Live the pic of Jasper and Sasha

    ReplyDelete
  2. Enjoyed the article and so true
    For me it’s the Df to the point I never sold it - I use it for macro in my line of work and have my workhorse 70-180 macro zoom - I also have the nostalgic 17-35 2.8 and 24-85 AFS non VR - alongside the special release 50mm for Df - that collection has made me very happy over the years and still a joy to use in 2023

    ReplyDelete
  3. Glad you enjoyed it and thank you! For nostalgia the Df is difficult to beat, and your lens lineup sounds great! I have a Voigtlander 40mm Ultron II on mine right now and can't take it off! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have a heard a lot about the Ultron never got to use it- the 28mm 2.8 ais is amazing on Df and have always regretted it’s sale - totally agree

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nikon DF: The DF is a full-frame DSLR that is designed for photographers who want a classic film camera experience. It has a 16MP sensor and can shoot at up to 6fps.

    ReplyDelete