D810 or D500 for a safari?

nilanjanray · Nov 1, 2016

russbarnes said:
D500 in a heartbeat. And I own both. I love landscapes with the D500 so given your trip is primarily for wildlife it's the obvious choice.

However there is one massive caveat - I wouldn't go on a trip like that with 1 body ever in case I broke something. As such I'd take 2 bodies regardless, even if it meant leaving 1 lens out.

Thanks, great to get the perspective of someone who owns both.

I will carry a D7100 as a second body, for wider angle shots.

nilanjanray · Nov 1, 2016

FBoneOne said:
First off, you must have 2 bodies on a safari. Because you can't change lenses easily and in case one body goes bad on you, a second one will save the trip.

Preferably the two bodies need the same ergonomics and menus - it is a pain trying to change a setting and realizing the body you are holding is not the one you thought you were holding...

Vertical grips are a must. They balance the long lenses better and provide better battery life. Try shooting the 200-500 in vertical mode, back button focus for 30mn without a grip. I think you'll agree with me.

So it does not answer your question, but you need to think about all those aspects before you answer for yourself. Both cameras are outstanding. Before APS-c, the 600mm was the focal length of choice for India (or a 400mm f:2.8 with a converter for areas that are fairly dark under trees), so you will be covered either way. Tight crops can be had in any zoo, what makes the difference in a safari is how you include the surroundings in the picture.

The 200-500 is not very bright, so I'd go with the D500 for its better high iso performance and more peppy AF. Take you other APSc as backup with a broader zoom. Make sure both have vertical grips and extra batteries, and extra memory cards. And have fun.

Thanks for your reply. I am pretty used to the ergonomics of the D7x00 and D8x0/D500. The main thing is to practice for 1-2 days and build the muscle memory for the slightly differently placed AF-ON button of the D500/D810 (I use the AF/AE L button of the D7100 for back button focus). And to practice changing/using AF settings quickly if I use the D500 and configure various buttons for different AF settings e.g. D25, Group, 3D.

Great point about the vertical grip.

The 400mm f/2.8 is on my wish list. Someday....

--
Website gallery: http://www.nilanjanray.in/wildlife-nature-photo-galleries/
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nilanjanray · Nov 1, 2016

T O Shooter said:
I wouldn't take either the D500 or D810. I'd take a D4s if I needed the lower ISO DR, or a D5 if I didn't.

I had rented a 200-500 and tried it with D750, D810, and D4 and the only body it worked good with in less than ideal light was the D4. ( good as in consistent ). I had been expecting the D500 to be equal to the D4 in focusing the 200-500 but from the threads and replies I've seen where fellows are not completely happy with the 200-500 focus on the D500 my expectations may have been wrong.

And if you move your focus point around, IMO, there's no decent focus point setup. Group is a big ole 5 point point, and if you're shooting for the eyes you're most likely to get a nose or ear. And the 25 pt, if not dead centered ( think that's the right explanation ) can end up with cross type sensors on the outside edges and non cross type sensors where you want to focus, and you know how that'll end up. So if Nikon doesn't add the smaller than normal 9 pt to the 500 as they did to the D5, I'm going to be less than impressed with it.

I just picked up a D4s so that might end up being the demise of my D500. Only benefit I see over D4/D4s is the reach. I'll take some time though before making a final decision.

--
A Canon G5 and a bit of Nikon gear.
---------------------------
Nobody paints like that anymore either. But it can't be wrong to try - Bob Dylan

I have found the D500 AF to perform pretty well with the 200-500mm. A D5 or D4S is not an option at the moment. Since I am used to working with inferior AF systems, I feel that the D500's AF should be good enough for almost all situations.

A couple of shots with the D7100 + 200-500mm combo.

Runway, B&W | Spot-billed pelican

Landing time

I mainly use D9 or D1. Will have to see how the AF-C D25 (if I use a D500) performs in a cluttered environment e.g. when shooting through grass and undergrowth. Perhaps I will be forced to use D1 from time to time. Pity Nikon hasn't added the D9 option yet through some firmware update. Brad Hill has been raving about AF-C D9 on the D5.

--
Website gallery: http://www.nilanjanray.in/wildlife-nature-photo-galleries/
500px gallery: https://500px.com/nilanjanray

nilanjanray · Nov 1, 2016

calson said:
I would take both cameras and have the D810 for landscapes and as a 15.3MP DX backup camera for the D810. Thesee cameras use the same type of battery and both use SD cards so not a big deal to take both. Think how you would feel if you took only one camera and it malfunctioned on your trip.

--
“We can have huge wealth in the hands of a relatively few people or we can have a democracy. But we can’t have both.” Supreme Court judge Louis Brandeis

After reading all the replies (thanks everyone) and thinking through, seems its gonna be the D500 + long lens, and the D7100 + wide angle lens. Given the constraints.

Yes, I know the D7100 is not optimal for landscapes, but I will have to make the best out if it. A few wider angle shots using the D7100..

Camping, Kumaon Himalayas

Fishermen rowing to the shore | Dusk

The white horse. 11,000 feet, Himalayas

Canoe safari. Rowing towards the rising sun.

--
Website gallery: http://www.nilanjanray.in/wildlife-nature-photo-galleries/
500px gallery: https://500px.com/nilanjanray

orca_kkl · Nov 1, 2016

I think you are right about IQ of the D810 in the DX crop mode.

I do not shoot crop modes with my D800E, because I do not believe in pre-crop a photo. Memory cards are quite inexpensive and many are very fast, so I always shoot the full frame and then crop at post. This way I may crop off 10% (32 MP), 20% (28 MP), or even 40% (21MP) as needed. Most of my crops were off-centered, making DX crop mode less practical for me.

As I had some very talented and devoted guides in Africa, and perhaps African games are more accustomed to people, I was not often focal length limited, even with just a Tamron 70-300 VC lens. There were quite a few times when I had to back down the zoom to 100 mm - 200 mm range on elephant, white rhino, and cape buffalo.

The D500 with its advanced AF system should serve you better than the old 15 cross type focus points AF system D810 uses. Higher frame rate also helps in certain situations. Since you do not own either a D810 or a D500, choosing to rent the D500 with the reasons you mentioned seems a very logical decision.

Good luck and enjoy!

orca_kkl · Nov 1, 2016

Looking at these photos, I'd say your D7100 is more than capable in your hands to deliver excellent landscape photos. Under your equipment constraints, your camera/lens setup is the optimal combination for you.

nilanjanray · Nov 1, 2016

orca_kkl said:
I think you are right about IQ of the D810 in the DX crop mode.

I do not shoot crop modes with my D800E, because I do not believe in pre-crop a photo. Memory cards are quite inexpensive and many are very fast, so I always shoot the full frame and then crop at post. This way I may crop off 10% (32 MP), 20% (28 MP), or even 40% (21MP) as needed. Most of my crops were off-centered, making DX crop mode less practical for me.

As I had some very talented and devoted guides in Africa, and perhaps African games are more accustomed to people, I was not often focal length limited, even with just a Tamron 70-300 VC lens. There were quite a few times when I had to back down the zoom to 100 mm - 200 mm range on elephant, white rhino, and cape buffalo.

The D500 with its advanced AF system should serve you better than the old 15 cross type focus points AF system D810 uses. Higher frame rate also helps in certain situations. Since you do not own either a D810 or a D500, choosing to rent the D500 with the reasons you mentioned seems a very logical decision.

Good luck and enjoy!

I had to use the D810 crop mode(s) at times for the extra FPS and buffer. Given a choice I would use the full frame, the D810's files give a lot of flexibility for cropping, as you have mentioned. The files have a special feel to them, something that I didn't see in the D610, that I used for another wildlife trip.

Thanks for kind words re D7100, and wishes. Here's hoping lady luck is kind.

I plan to visit Africa soon. Would use different criteria for my gear choice, since the terrain and animal behaviour would be different, dependent on the park.

ashokvashisht · Sep 17, 2017

That's very true on the Telephoto / Landscape issues while photographing wildlife. I am choosing a DSLR for wildlife (telephoto) and feel I will be presented with shots which may need 200-400 mm and 70-200 mm. That leaves out the landscapes at 20-24 mm though ! :-D

PabloSRT8 · Sep 17, 2017

There is only one answer.

Take both.

Tele on D500.

Wide on D810.

Nightshots D810 only.

Kanano · Sep 17, 2017

nilanjanray said:
Thanks for your perspective. In this park, one can't go offroading, and has to stick to the defined trails.

Your reply made me think a little more.

1. This park is full of elephant grass. And there will be a lot of undergrowth after the monsoons. So better AF will be helpful.

2. I will be visiting the park just after it opens after the monsoon break. Animals take a few weeks to get used to human movement again, so during the initial days they prefer to maintain a distance. So reach would be important.

Both the points favour a D500 (I feel the 20MP of the D500 will deliver better quality IQ than the 15.6 MP DX crop of the D810, if we are talking about similar reach).

--
Website gallery: http://www.nilanjanray.in/wildlife-nature-photo-galleries/
500px gallery: https://500px.com/nilanjanray

Kanano · Sep 17, 2017

Kanano said:
nilanjanray said:

Thanks for your perspective. In this park, one can't go offroading, and has to stick to the defined trails.

Your reply made me think a little more.

1. This park is full of elephant grass. And there will be a lot of undergrowth after the monsoons. So better AF will be helpful.

2. I will be visiting the park just after it opens after the monsoon break. Animals take a few weeks to get used to human movement again, so during the initial days they prefer to maintain a distance. So reach would be important.

Both the points favour a D500 (I feel the 20MP of the D500 will deliver better quality IQ than the 15.6 MP DX crop of the D810, if we are talking about similar reach).

Click to expand...

ashokvashisht · Sep 18, 2017

nilanjanray said:
Yes, I know the D7100 is not optimal for landscapes, but I will have to make the best out if it. A few wider angle shots using the D7100..

Camping, Kumaon Himalayas

Fishermen rowing to the shore | Dusk

The white horse. 11,000 feet, Himalayas

Canoe safari. Rowing towards the rising sun.

--
Website gallery: http://www.nilanjanray.in/wildlife-nature-photo-galleries/
500px gallery: https://500px.com/nilanjanray

Nilanjan...these are good Landscape shots from the D7100. What lens did you use ? I am buying a D7200 for my Wildlife use here in India (with a 70-200 f2.8 +TC1.4X) and I am evaluating the Nikkor 16-80 f2.8-4 against the Tamron /Sigma 17-50 f2.8 for the Landscape / Street/ People use on the D7200. I am delaying my FF Body as I would like to see the (a) the revised/sucessor D750 or the new Nikon Mirrorless FF in 2018/19 for my dedicated Landscape use.

Regards

--
Ashok Vashisht

don-bosco · Sep 19, 2017

You already have enough cameras for Safari....You don't need and more to take good shots. If you have not learned how to take worthwhile shots with the gear you have odd are D850 or future Nikon bodies won't help you. Save any excess money for helping human causes instead giving away to camera company!

ashokvashisht · Sep 19, 2017

don-bosco said:
You already have enough cameras for Safari....You don't need and more to take good shots. If you have not learned how to take worthwhile shots with the gear you have odd are D850 or future Nikon bodies won't help you. Save any excess money for helping human causes instead giving away to camera company!

Hi Don,

I was not clear whether you reply was to Nilanjan or me ? In my case I have 2 DSLR's a D3400/18-55 and D5200/18-140. However, my sons use these 2 DSLR's so I am short of one and hence my questions. My basic problem is that I shoot Elephants and Landscapes both and feel that if I use a D7200 body I can save money on the telephoto side DSLR v/s the D500. However, it's the lens part which I am not clear on. Should I use the Tamron 70-200 f2.8G2 + 1.4xTC or the Sigma/Tamron 100-400 zooms.

Sorry I am off the track from the specific discussion of this thread.

tamino · Sep 19, 2017

Having participated in over a dozen safaris over years the first rule is not to travel with only one camera. If a single camera in the wild has a problem then your trip, from a photographic point of view, is for naught. Secondly, dust is big problem with these trips so lens changing should be kept to a minimum which implies that a lens for wide angle shots and one for animal action at various distances are needed. For the past 2 years I have used a D810 and a D500. I use a Nikon 16-35mm and the 70-200 F4 as well as the newest 80-400 (all Nikons).

tamino · Sep 19, 2017

P.S. An additional lens which I also find useful instate Nikon 24-120mm

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