Help please, can't decide which path to take. Upgrading from D750

[Freida]

I'm a bit confused why should I invest more money into something that is already obsolete by the manufacturer when they stopped doing DSLR and jumped over to mirrorless. I still won't get the face AF recognition and its like shooting film when everyone is going digital.
What am I missing? Are mirrorless still not that good so its better to wait or .......?

 

[Freida]

P.S.: Isn't the Sony's 24-70 GM2 superior to the Nikon 24-70 VR? I mean the stabilisation itself is much better no?
And I would assume to be the case for Canon offering also, no?
So why should I buy 24-70 VR from Nikon (thats $2000CAD) when the new tech is better and not that much more? I must be lost here maybe if I'm not seeing it.

Also, I would never buy used items especially this expensive. I need warranty etc. so used for me is not an option. (never was to be honest - just not that kind of a person as I like to sleep peacefully at night ;-) )

 

[mollyc]

Freida, any brand of mirrorless camera will likely be a step up for you. It sounds from your posts that you really want to switch, so just go to the store (if you have one, even a box store like Best Buy will have stuff) and try a few in your hands and pick one. 🙂 Transistioning to a Z camera from your D750 will be super easy, but if you think Sony is better, then choose that. I'll say (and maybe I did earlier) that my Z 24-70 f/4 is sharper than my old F mount 2.8 version.

All the Z lenses are top of the line and the best that Nikon has ever made. Whether Sony lenses are better I can't tell you, but the Nikons are world class. And if Sony is "better" you are going to need to be an elite photographer to be able to discern the difference after pixel peeping at about 200%.....

(PS - there's no shame in shooting film! it's fun! 😉 )

 

[Clix Pix]

Whew! Freida, I can see that you are wavering between hanging in there with what you've already got and getting another (older F-mount) lens or selling/trading in the camera and one lens on something mofern and heading into the future (i.e., mirrorless camera and lenses)...... Listen to your instincts. Spend some time looking at what's available, handling the gear, maybe even renting a mirrorless body and lens for a week to try out at home at your leisure.....

There are people who always snap up the newest gear immediately, there are those who wait a little while and then make the shift to whatever is current and heading forward, and there are those who for a while work with two systems, using adapters and such to make use of old lenses on new mirrorless cameras, and there are those who prefer to just hang on to the old stuff and keep using it long after it has become obsolete. There are also those who are collectors, who buy older gear but don't use it at all, but admire it in their glass display cabinets or shelves..... Everyone has his or her own approach.

It sounds to me as though you're ready to make the shift to mirrorless, and you are in a good position in that you've only got one camera and lens to unload before you start afresh. I suspect that once you've handled and shot with a mirrorless camera you will have less difficulty trying to make this decision. Mirrorless camera technology has definitely made some important and significant differences in how we use our gear, but in the long run a knowledge of photography techniques beyond the basics, creativity and an interest in creating images is still important.

Most people have no problem realizing that mirrorless has advantages over film SLRs and digital DSLRs. I think somewhere back early on in the thread various participants have described many of those advantages. DSLRs have their strong points, too, but yes, the bottom line here is that it is mirrorless cameras and lenses which are more and more prevalent in the camera industry and will continue to be as DSLRs quietly fade away.

Since we all shoot with different gear on this subforum, it would be all too easy for us to engage in a "X brand is better than Y brand, and you should buy X brand...." That would not be helpful. All we can do is make comments and recommendations based on our own experiences. It is useful to read professional reviews and to also read comments on photography-based forums, too, but in the end the person who has to make the choices and spend the money is you. Go to a camera shop, spend some time looking at and asking questions about each brand, try the different bodies and put lenses on those bodies.....

If you have friends or family members who are into photography, look at their gear, talk to them about their gear, ask to try it out. This is an expensive venture, no doubt about that, and it does take time to make up one's mind, take the plunge into new territory, whether going from DSLR to mirrorless or changing camera brand systems altogether.

You asked about Sony's new 24-70mm GM II..... Actually, that's the next lens on my list. Why? Back in my Nikon days I had the F-mount 24-70mm f/2.8 and loved that lens for its range and its close-focusing ability. In late 2019, when I got ready to make the shift to Sony, of course one lens I thought I'd want immediately was their 24-70 f/2.8 GM. I read reviews and users' comments, saw that they were lukewarm at best, and decided to focus on other lenses first.

My wait has paid off. Sony has now released the stunning new 24-70mm GM II, which is significantly better in all ways than the original lens. I have no idea of how it compares to other brands' versions of 24-70mm, since I am not interested in those, but it definitely stands head-and-shoulders above its predecessor in Sony's lineup. There are several of us Sony users on this subforum but I don't know if anyone has that new lens yet who could tell you more about it.

Good luck in your decision-making!

 

[Apple fanboy]

@Clix Pix makes a good point. If you have friends or family who shoot, owning the same brand as them will mean you (might) be able to borrow glass in the future if they are willing to help.

 

[Clix Pix]

Years ago when I went on several photography trips with fellow shooters, one of the benefits for all of us was the discussions of gear and being able to see each other's gear in person, watch other photographers in operation with their cameras, lenses, tripods, etc., and learn from that.....and people frequently would (temporarily) swap lenses so that they could try one that they didn't have so that they could decide whether or not it would be worthwhile buying and adding that particular type of lens to their own gear. Sometimes those photography trips wound up being mighty expensive! LOL!

 

[Freida]

Thank you so much all. What you all say is valid and makes sense. I'm in no rush and usually take ages to decide so thats why I tend to start my 'research' way early to learn and know what could work for me. The earliest I could buy a new setup is April 2023 (if not june) so definitely no rush at all.
I'll go and test the cameras so I have hands on experience but as a person I usually don't mind these things. In a way, I'm the type of person that I learn what I get. Ie. someone tells me that this is good for me so I go and get that and then learn/live with that.
To demonstrate this further - if I get a camera that 'feels good' in hands but its not right for me than the feeling is a bit pointless. (thats how i see things)
Anyway, I'll test it out and might come with more questions.
Thank you so much for your time and responses. Much appreciated

 

[Freida]

@Clix Pix makes a good point. If you have friends or family who shoot, owning the same brand as them will mean you (might) be able to borrow glass in the future if they are willing to help.

Yeah, thats how it started. A friend has the Alpha but he suggested the A7R V and the Canon also. Hence why i started this thread with these 2

 

[r.harris1]

Yeah, thats how it started. A friend has the Alpha but he suggested the A7R V and the Canon also. Hence why i started this thread with these 2

You'll definitely do just fine with which ever camera you choose of those two. I use this phrase a lot - "golden age" - and its true for today's mirrorless cameras. For purchasing a camera, it's like molyc says, find one you gel with and buy it. The big three all have great AF systems in the right hands (if that's something you're after). They all make exceptional optics (hard to find duds from the last few years). All you need to do is pick and go. Which you pick won't matter at the end of the day in terms of image quality and capabilities. It comes down to personal preferences, specific needs, ergonomics and so forth. The key will be spending time learning your new tool. Then you're off to the races.

 

[Freida]

One thing I didn't mention. I have SB700 with some 3rd party radio triggers. I assume that that will work with Sony, right? (probably not on the camera but off camera with those triggers it will work)

 

[r.harris1]

One thing I didn't mention. I have SB700 with some 3rd party radio triggers. I assume that that will work with Sony, right? (probably not on the camera but off camera with those triggers it will work)

I'd assume that if you have a 3rd party trigger that works with your flash today (assuming non-TTL), it should work with another camera (Sony, etc). Or if not, you can get adequate strobes for reasonable prices if you need to swap out.

 

[Clix Pix]

It took me well over a year to finally make up my mind and to actually make a change in my camera gear, so it is not surprising that you are taking time with this decision, too. Back in 2019 things were a little different than they are now, and I found myself waiting....and then waiting some more, even though along the way I had gotten to the point where I was prepared financially beyond whatever I might get in trade-in so I could feel comfortable selecting whatever I wanted when the time came, regardless of costs.

At that time Nikon was still teasing with hints, but had not yet yet offered their Z series and having been a Nikon user for many years, of course I wanted to wait and see what they were going to provide in their new mirrorless collection, and then when they did, for various reasons I was disappointed. (Some of the issues from that time have now since been resolved but I was ready to make a move into mirrorless right then, not wait another two or three years.)

Having already had some experience with Sony cameras, I was interested in the Sony A7 III but then had spent more time researching and thinking about things and had come to the conclusion that probably the Sony A7RIII would better fit my shooting style and my needs.... Once Nikon"s Z series was definitely off the table, I turned my attention more closely to Sony, only to have them announce the A7R IV! Aggh, that meant more waiting.....!!

So I did just that, following reviews and user comments closely after that camera was released and then finally one day my local shop had the A7R IV camera body in stock and I said, "OK, this is it, enough of the putzing around...." handled the camera at the store, liked it, arranged for the trade-in and I made the switch from DSLR to mirrorless and from Nikon to Sony. That has been just over three years ago now.

Yes, it was more than a bit scary making this big change but I can say that for me it was the right time and the right thing to do. I love my Sony gear and it has been a wonderful and fun experience using it over this last little while. I've learned from it, it has definitely challenged me from time to time, I've gotten some very pleasing images (as well as some not-so-pleasing images due to user error) from it, and overall, the past three years have been an adventure that I've truly enjoyed. I am more than happy that I made the choice I did......

 

[Clix Pix]

One thing I didn't mention. I have SB700 with some 3rd party radio triggers. I assume that that will work with Sony, right? (probably not on the camera but off camera with those triggers it will work)

No idea about that as I tend to use continuous off-camera lighting (LED lights, Ice Lights, etc.) with my Sony gear; most of the time I shoot in natural light so it hasn't been much of an issue for me. I've never even taken the hotshoe cover off either my A1 or my A7R IV!

 

[r.harris1]

It sounds like, if I had to guess , you're pretty enamored with the Sony - a nice choice (Clix Pix and other of our excellent Sony users here can help you along with the transition) - and as for lighting, if you're looking for reasonably priced strobes or even standard on-camera flash, I know a lot of people like Godox/(goes under other names too) for its price point vs quality of output. Obviously, try your existing equipment first. You might also be able to sell it and replace too. There's a lot of good lighting out there at different price points for different budgets. I'd assume you'd be able to get some OK-ish cash for your SB700 if needed.

 

[Freida]

Yes, I lean towards Sony as I was never a fan of Canon (for no particular reason though).
The rivalry between Nikon and Canon for me kinda sealed it as I was Nikon user so now if its between Sony and Canon I would lean towards Sony.
On the other hand though, because I'm switching brands I want to be more objective so I will watch Canon closely too. Right now all the reviews are from youtubers or some lucky people but I wanna see reports from non biased (non sponsored) reviews too.
Time will tell, right now I have the luxury of time so things will change most likely.

It sounds like, if I had to guess , you're pretty enamored with the Sony - a nice choice (Clix Pix and other of our excellent Sony users here can help you along with the transition) - and as for lighting, if you're looking for reasonably priced strobes or even standard on-camera flash, I know a lot of people like Godox/(goes under other names too) for its price point vs quality of output. Obviously, try your existing equipment first. You might also be able to sell it and replace too. There's a lot of good lighting out there at different price points for different budgets. I'd assume you'd be able to get some OK-ish cash for your SB700 if needed.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Yes, I lean towards Sony as I was never a fan of Canon (for no particular reason though).
The rivalry between Nikon and Canon for me kinda sealed it as I was Nikon user so now if its between Sony and Canon I would lean towards Sony.
On the other hand though, because I'm switching brands I want to be more objective so I will watch Canon closely too. Right now all the reviews are from youtubers or some lucky people but I wanna see reports from non biased (non sponsored) reviews too.
Time will tell, right now I have the luxury of time so things will change most likely.

As others have said, Sony, Nikon and Canon all make great cameras. Just chose the one that matches your budget and needs. No one makes bad cameras or glass these days.

 

[Clix Pix]

Freida, you'll be interested in this article:

Why We Don’t Recommend Buying a New DSLR Camera

If you’re buying a new camera, look for a mirrorless model—most camera makers aren’t developing DSLRs anymore.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Boidem]

As Nikon seems to be lagging a bit (from my limited understanding) with mirrorless I started to look around and got 2 recommendations.

This is absolute nonsense. In real world use, there is little or no difference between the main brands. If anything, Nikon have a slight edge over the others in terms of lens image quality. But it's really irrelevant tiny details when it comes to actualy taking photos. What you have now is a more than capable camera that should last a good few years more yet. There are countless lenses that fit the F-mount, from enormous long telephotos, to tilt-shift lenses, to oddities like the UV Nikkor. A better range than any other mount, and better quality than most other brands too.

I use a Nikon D600, so quite an old camera, and it's fine. I bought a Z6 a couple of years ago, and have a few lenses for that now. You can use older F-mount lenses on the Z bodies via the FTZ adapter, and they mostly work fine (you lose AF with some older lenses). The Z6 is a step up in quality over the D600, I have to say. Just that bit sharper (better lenses), and slightly better colour rendition, dynamic range and a significant improvement in low light capability.

I don't use my camera that often so its more of a hobby that I do once in a while.

Then perhaps consider something from lower down the ML range, IF you did want to go ML. The biggest advantage of the Z6 after image quality, is size. With the 'kit' 24-70 f4 lens, it's much smaller and lighter than any DSLR, so much better for travel etc. The Z50 or ZFC are both even tinier, although they have the reduced APS-C sensor size. The lenses Nikon has released for the Z mount have mostly been excellent, surpassing their F-mount equivalents, as the larger lens mount allows for better optical designs to be used. Sony do have some excellent Zeiss lenses, but they tend to be very expensive. It's swings and roundabouts though really. One lens I really love is the 14-30mm f4. Such a small package, yet optically excellent.

On thing that is good to know about the F-mount though, is that it is so versatile; you can attack a vast array of lenses to it, and equipment such as close up extension tubes and bellows, for proper extreme close up stuff. Your D750 can use many older manual focus lenses, which opens up even more options. I would echo not worrying too much about equipment, and concentrate more on making images. Your D750 still has a lot of mileage in it.

 

[Boidem]

Regarding different brands; I've owned and used more cameras and equipment than I can remember. I started with an old Praktica that was very, very basic (and bloody heavy). I progressed through a Vivitar K-mount SLR, then moved to Nikon (because all the best photographers I knew at that time used Nikon). I had an FM2, an 801s, then later an F5, and currently still have those plus an F100 and an F4, my all time 'ultimate' film cam. I also quite recently bought an old Eos 1. I have to say the build quality isn't up there with the Nikons. I've always found Canon cams to be a bit 'plasticky'. When I was planning to move to ML, I went and tried different things in shops, to make sure I wasn't missing something. The Sony's didn't feel as intuitive as the Nikon Z cams, probably because I was used to the Nikon ergonomics. So it's a very good idea to try stuff out beforemaking a decison. Ergonomics is very important.

If you have an SB-700 (I do too!) then it will work perfectly with a Z-cam. It should work fine with your wireless triggers too.

In terms of 'future proofing'; Sony has the more mature system. But one potential weakness is the lens mount, being smaller than Nikon or Canon's. The larger lens mount theoretically allows for better optical designs. That's not to say Sony's lenses are no good, many are excellent, but the other two brands might have an advantage in terms of future lens designs. Nikon will be releasing new fast primes, such as the 85mm f1.2, and it already has the 50mm f1.2. Very fast, very very good, and very very expensive. But, if you want the best... 3rd party lenses will be forthcoming too (although I've rarely strayed from the true path). Sony reputedly have the best AF system, but I think such differences are very minimal these days. The Nikon Z9 has proven to be a beast of a cam. I have to admit that some of my reluctance towards Sony is because I still associate them with Minolta, which was never the best brand. A but unfair perhaps, but y'know.

 

[mollyc]

@Boidem why would you bring such a thing as logic to this discussion?? If you go with a Z camera then you *might* have to use a "silly adapter" and who wants to fuss with that?

(I'm a Nikon shooter for over 10 years and have two Z cameras...I've been told I have my head in the sand because Sony is so much better. Even though I'd have to sell all my gear at a loss to transistion to Sony and then not even be able to replicate my lens lineup. I added a Fuji medium format camera to my collection recently but still love my Nikon gear. And, plus, with an adapter (gasp) I an also use some of those F mount lenses on the Fuji!)

 

[dimme]

Remember...
It's not the camera make or model, the cost.It's the person behind the lens vision and how they see the scene and the way the light interacts with the scene.

 

[Freida]

I agree with your post but I think you've misunderstood with my intention here.
I have no desire to invest more money into a DOA system that Nikon already killed. And as such I am at a crossroad (and actually perfect position) to consider other brands.
You may feel that its nonsense but Sony was leading with mirrorless for a while and were ahead of Nikon and Canon. Maybe the gap is closed now but it was true in the recent past.

So, because I have the 'luxury' to choose now I'm looking into Sony, Canon and possibly Nikon.
I have no desire to deal with adapters etc. I don't believe in adapters (sorry) as those always bring a compromise (one way or another).

I know that my D750 has tons of life left and it might as well just end up being that but I feel its worth it to do my research and consider an upgrade.

My D750 has limited number of points and AF is not as great as what cameras offer (especially with eye recognition).

Any youtube video showing AF of either Canon or Sony is absolutely amazing. A person/kid moves like crazy and the camera still takes sharp focus image. I can only dream of that with my D750.

On the otherhand, I don't shoot sport etc. so maybe that technology won't help me as much as I think.

Anyway, I appreciate any feedback or suggestions because this is the time to ingest all the opinions or ideas as once/if I make the purchase it will be too late.

This is absolute nonsense. In real world use, there is little or no difference between the main brands. If anything, Nikon have a slight edge over the others in terms of lens image quality. But it's really irrelevant tiny details when it comes to actualy taking photos. What you have now is a more than capable camera that should last a good few years more yet. There are countless lenses that fit the F-mount, from enormous long telephotos, to tilt-shift lenses, to oddities like the UV Nikkor. A better range than any other mount, and better quality than most other brands too.

I use a Nikon D600, so quite an old camera, and it's fine. I bought a Z6 a couple of years ago, and have a few lenses for that now. You can use older F-mount lenses on the Z bodies via the FTZ adapter, and they mostly work fine (you lose AF with some older lenses). The Z6 is a step up in quality over the D600, I have to say. Just that bit sharper (better lenses), and slightly better colour rendition, dynamic range and a significant improvement in low light capability.

Then perhaps consider something from lower down the ML range, IF you did want to go ML. The biggest advantage of the Z6 after image quality, is size. With the 'kit' 24-70 f4 lens, it's much smaller and lighter than any DSLR, so much better for travel etc. The Z50 or ZFC are both even tinier, although they have the reduced APS-C sensor size. The lenses Nikon has released for the Z mount have mostly been excellent, surpassing their F-mount equivalents, as the larger lens mount allows for better optical designs to be used. Sony do have some excellent Zeiss lenses, but they tend to be very expensive. It's swings and roundabouts though really. One lens I really love is the 14-30mm f4. Such a small package, yet optically excellent.

On thing that is good to know about the F-mount though, is that it is so versatile; you can attack a vast array of lenses to it, and equipment such as close up extension tubes and bellows, for proper extreme close up stuff. Your D750 can use many older manual focus lenses, which opens up even more options. I would echo not worrying too much about equipment, and concentrate more on making images. Your D750 still has a lot of mileage in it.

 

[r.harris1]

I agree with your post but I think you've misunderstood with my intention here.
I have no desire to invest more money into a DOA system that Nikon already killed. And as such I am at a crossroad (and actually perfect position) to consider other brands.
You may feel that its nonsense but Sony was leading with mirrorless for a while and were ahead of Nikon and Canon. Maybe the gap is closed now but it was true in the recent past.

So, because I have the 'luxury' to choose now I'm looking into Sony, Canon and possibly Nikon.
I have no desire to deal with adapters etc. I don't believe in adapters (sorry) as those always bring a compromise (one way or another).

I know that my D750 has tons of life left and it might as well just end up being that but I feel its worth it to do my research and consider an upgrade.

My D750 has limited number of points and AF is not as great as what cameras offer (especially with eye recognition).

Any youtube video showing AF of either Canon or Sony is absolutely amazing. A person/kid moves like crazy and the camera still takes sharp focus image. I can only dream of that with my D750.

On the otherhand, I don't shoot sport etc. so maybe that technology won't help me as much as I think.

Anyway, I appreciate any feedback or suggestions because this is the time to ingest all the opinions or ideas as once/if I make the purchase it will be too late.

At the end of the day, you can find endless clowns on YouTube videos showing great stuff from all of the manufacturers . What do you need and what do you want? I think both of those things are considerations that weigh differently with different people. Some people only focus on either end of the spectrum, most of us try to balance it in the middle somewhere. “I only need so and so, but I do want that shiny thing that does what I need and is…well…shiny too.” I’m all for a bit of both myself .

But here’s the thing. Many of us buy cameras (or cars or … whatever) and we don’t invest a lot of time in learning about what makes them tick and that’s the critical thing. Camera AF isn’t magic and it doesn’t do everything for you, including the various incarnations of eye-AF. To get the most out of any autofocus system, it’s really, really important to spend time learning the tool. Otherwise the camera controls you, not the other way around.

 

[mollyc]

There are also lots of use who used to shoot sports and wildlife on dSLRs and managed to get plenty of keepers. And still many others who shot the same thing on film.

You may well want or need an upgrade from a D750 (and just wanting to upgrade is enough reason to do so if you can afford it), but do not feel limited by your current setup. It is more than capable of getting the images you want. I've shot swimming and lacrosse with a D800, which is much less forgiving of technique than your camera and I had tack sharp images.

You say that from your research that Sony is on top....not so long ago Sony didn't even exist as a camera manufacturer, and they all best each other and leapfrog all the time. Choosing the "best" overall may not be the best for you.

You can read all the blogs and watch all the youtube videos, but only you can know what is best for you, and most of that is going to be by going to the store and handling the cameras.

My only caveat with looking at Canon mirrorless is that Canon has stated they will not open their mount to third party vendors, so you will have to only buy Canon brand mirrorless lenses. Some people prefer to stay with the native brand but just be aware of that.

But it really sounds like you are sold on Sony, so go try a few out and price out the body and lenses you want and start saving. 🙂

 

[Clix Pix]

It's not just the choice of a new camera body and lens(es) that comes into play here. Someone making the decision to move forward in their photographic journey also definitely needs to think not just about what kinds of images one likes shooting, but also what kind of computer setup there is to support it (in terms of storage, RAM, processor speed), what new or additional editing software (or updates of apps one already has) might be needed to develop and refine the images after a shooting session, and, absolutely very important, too, provisions for backup / storage.

Then there are the accessories: tripod (if not already owned, plus appropriate plate or L-bracket, depending upon type of system used), extra memory cards, extra batteries, card reader if one is choosing a camera which uses not just SD cards but also CF Express Type A or Type B (or something else, depending upon the brand of camera chosen). Even a change in what one uses as a camera strap can come into play. Many photographers will not use the camera straps which come with a new camera, for various reasons. There's a whole new world out there when it comes to camera straps! Oh, and let's not forget camera bags...... Sometimes one can repurpose an older camera bag for toting stuff around, but I'll bet there are many of us who have several camera bags in the ever-ongoing search for the "perfect" camera bag. . (We know who we are.....)

As for making a final choice, as I've already mentioned, I spent a lot of time learning about what was out there, various options, and analyzed everything to death before actually coming to grips with -- gasp! -- actually making the decision and moving forward with it. At the time I was making that decision back in 2019, things were a bit different than they are now, of course, and there have been advances in every manufacturer's systems and offerings.

Everyone has to select the system that is right for them at the particular time they are ready to buy and use that system..... We all have different priorities and often we expand a bit beyond those after having begun initially using a system as we become more familiar with the gear and realize what it can do for us and how it will work best for us in given situations.

Freida, since you've got time, over the next few months, why not try out, use, rent the camera gear in which you're interested ahead of the time you are ready to make the decision; using a given brand, perhaps one or more bodies and/or lenses each time, seeing what they've got to offer in what you will want to use is a good way to evaluate that brand in light of one's own predicted future happiness with the camera bodies and lenses from that brand.

We on this thread can all scream, "Buy Q brand!" "Buy R Brand!" "Buy S Brand!" because that's what we've got and are using and enjoying, but that doesn't mean that any of these brands and their offerings is going to work for you. That's the hard part, sorting through the choices and making a decision.....and then using the new gear and deciding if you made the right choice. if you've thoroughly done your homework you will know very soon that, yes, you made the right choice for yourself and your shooting style.