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One Nikon DSLR to keep, which one would you choose?

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Keros

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Let's say you still have majority of your Nikon F mount lens collection. The prices of them are dropping and you either sell them all and move all in to mirrorless or straight up go the smart phone / P&S EDC route, or you go the hybrid route still keeping your Nikon F collection but down sizing to only one Nikon F mount DSLR, and a combination of maybe smart phone, mirrorless, P&S EDC, or any other options.

One Nikon F mount DSLR to keep in your collection, which one would it be?

If your collection consists of AF-D lenses, maybe you'll only consider those with motor? Or maybe you'll be ok using them with MF?

Is your answer going to be "just go for the best" and go for the D6? Or maybe the latest D800 series and go for the D850? How about the D780?

Or maybe something older like the D810? D750? D610?

How about CCD sensor? Like the D200, D70, D80, D40, etc?

Maybe a D500?

Curious to your thoughts on this.
 
Er Chitara said:
Keros said:
Er Chitara said:
Keros said:
[...]I saw some old family traveling photos taken by the Olympus E-20 with a 5mp 1/2.3" CCD sensor.
Click to expand...
Wow. The Olympus E-20. Now, THAT is a camera that required some real dedication. Takes years to switch on, takes ages to write a photo to the CF Card, batteries last 50-ish shots.

I agree that it took gorgeous photos, and that magnesium alloy body was a joy to hold. It also was somehow ahead of its time, with a tilting LCD and one of the first implementations of Live View.

Using it, however, could be a frustrating experience.
Click to expand...
Yes, when comparing to modern even newer cameras, it's slow. But back then I have no frame of reference to compare to, back then it's considered a high tier camera and so I didn't think too much about the speed of operation of the camera. Maybe if I hold it nowadays I'll definitely feel it.
Click to expand...
Well, you can take my word for it. I still own one :) I like the photos I get out of it and take it out of hibernation every now and then, but it takes ALOT of patience to use it.
Click to expand...
Oh you still have one, big respect. And big respect to those that still have the likes of D200 and D40 as well.

Right now it's still relatively easy to find a D200 or D40 2nd hand in relatively good condition (meaning no dead pixels no major defects), but the E-20 is hard to find.
 
Last edited:
Er Chitara said:
Keros said:
[...]I saw some old family traveling photos taken by the Olympus E-20 with a 5mp 1/2.3" CCD sensor.
Click to expand...
Wow. The Olympus E-20. Now, THAT is a camera that required some real dedication. Takes years to switch on, takes ages to write a photo to the CF Card, batteries last 50-ish shots.

I agree that it took gorgeous photos, and that magnesium alloy body was a joy to hold. It also was somehow ahead of its time, with a tilting LCD and one of the first implementations of Live View.

Using it, however, could be a frustrating experience.
Click to expand...
Another camera that is easy to hate is the Olympus C-8080. which, if you shoot RAW, manages 2 RAW per minute!!!

It is a mix of brilliant colors, excellent flash shots (and almost 100% righthand operated), and has an articulated display (about 1"), almost unique in those days.

In any backlighting situation, it falls on its nose!

Macro is pretty decent, too!


One of the Grimeton antenna towers, that is still in use after over 100 years!


Still in use, a couple of times a year!


Naturally, such an old radio station needs a workshop!

https://grimeton.org/en/

--
tordseriksson (at) gmail.....
Owner of a handful of Nikon cameras. And a few lenses. DxO PhotoLab user.
WSSA #456
 
Parry Johnson said:
GeoffRG said:
I own around half a dozen different hammers, keeping just one would be limiting.
Click to expand...
Geoff, you stole my hammer analogy! 😉

I've been using that analogy many times in the last 18 or so years on DPReview. You're absolutely right. A camera and/or lens is only a tool; and what more, only as good as what is needed for the time.

A portable calculator from the early seventies isn't able to do the same as a current free app for our cell phones, yet it still cost hundreds of dollars then. In comparison to other calculating tools, those original calculators could do much.

A laser is more accurate than a skill saw. Dental implants are more efficient and work better than false teeth made from cadavers!

Time changes all tools, but sometimes all you need is a basic claw hammer!
Click to expand...
I have a few hammers, too! One that is close to a hundred years, and then some more modern from the '60s, and '70s! The latest is a bounce-free hammer (Chinese, of course).
 
I noticed the image capture date is shown as 1899.

If that is correct Tord, your C-8080 is really special! :-D
  • John
Tord S Eriksson said:
Another camera that is easy to hate is the Olympus C-8080. which, if you shoot RAW, manages 2 RAW per minute!!!

It is a mix of brilliant colors, excellent flash shots (and almost 100% righthand operated), and has an articulated display (about 1"), almost unique in those days.

In any backlighting situation, it falls on its nose!

Macro is pretty decent, too!


One of the Grimeton antenna towers, that is still in use after over 100 years!


Still in use, a couple of times a year!


Naturally, such an old radio station needs a workshop!

https://grimeton.org/en/
Click to expand...


--
"[If you don't sweat the details] the magic doesn't work." Brooks, F. P., The Mythical Man-Month, Addison-Wesley, 1975, page 8.
 
fotowbert said:
I noticed the image capture date is shown as 1899.
Click to expand...
John,

Well, the battery often goes flat, and the backup battery died a long time ago! So I occasionally forget to reset the clock! And that is true for many of my 20-25 years old cameras!
If that is correct Tord said:
Tord S Eriksson, post: 68004401, member: 821817"]
Another camera that is easy to hate is the Olympus C-8080. which, if you shoot RAW, manages 2 RAW per minute!!!

It is a mix of brilliant colors, excellent flash shots (and almost 100% righthand operated), and has an articulated display (about 1"), almost unique in those days.

In any backlighting situation, it falls on its nose!

Macro is pretty decent, too!


One of the Grimeton antenna towers, that is still in use after over 100 years!


Still in use, a couple of times a year!


Naturally, such an old radio station needs a workshop!

https://grimeton.org/en/
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
PS Here the date is 2567!

Tord

--
tordseriksson (at) gmail.....
Owner of a handful of Nikon cameras. And a few lenses. DxO PhotoLab user.
WSSA #456
[/QUOTE]
 
Last edited:
Tord S Eriksson said:
Parry Johnson said:
GeoffRG said:
I own around half a dozen different hammers, keeping just one would be limiting.
Click to expand...
Geoff, you stole my hammer analogy! 😉

I've been using that analogy many times in the last 18 or so years on DPReview. You're absolutely right. A camera and/or lens is only a tool; and what more, only as good as what is needed for the time.

A portable calculator from the early seventies isn't able to do the same as a current free app for our cell phones, yet it still cost hundreds of dollars then. In comparison to other calculating tools, those original calculators could do much.

A laser is more accurate than a skill saw. Dental implants are more efficient and work better than false teeth made from cadavers!

Time changes all tools, but sometimes all you need is a basic claw hammer!
Click to expand...
I have a few hammers, too! One that is close to a hundred years, and then some more modern from the '60s, and '70s! The latest is a bounce-free hammer (Chinese, of course).
Click to expand...
As a apprentice in the late 60' I was given a very old aluminium handled 1inch square rachet drive A KING **** ( don't laugh that is the make) probably made pre second world war
 
Keros said:
Er Chitara said:
Keros said:
[...]I saw some old family traveling photos taken by the Olympus E-20 with a 5mp 1/2.3" CCD sensor.
Click to expand...
Wow. The Olympus E-20. Now, THAT is a camera that required some real dedication. Takes years to switch on, takes ages to write a photo to the CF Card, batteries last 50-ish shots.

I agree that it took gorgeous photos, and that magnesium alloy body was a joy to hold. It also was somehow ahead of its time, with a tilting LCD and one of the first implementations of Live View.

Using it, however, could be a frustrating experience.
Click to expand...
Yes, when comparing to modern even newer cameras, it's slow. But back then I have no frame of reference to compare to, back then it's considered a high tier camera and so I didn't think too much about the speed of operation of the camera. Maybe if I hold it nowadays I'll definitely feel it.

I recently had my hands on a Sigma SD9, and it's similar, long turn on time, long loading time, compared to modern cameras at least, but I don't really mind it cause I don't shoot fast subjects with that camera anyway.
Click to expand...
The Sony DSC-R1 apparently does some checks or database update when you change the memory cards (or switch from Memory Stick, its faster option, to Compact Flash or back). Those checks are size dependent, and when it came out, memory cards were smaller. Switch to a 128GB CF card, and it will be out for something like 2 minutes. Fortunately it doesn't happen every time you switch the camera on, just whenever you actually change the cards (whether the camera is on or off). Memory sticks are limited to 32GB in size, and the respective waiting time is quite a nuisance but not as absurd.

Panasonic FZ50 will at max deal with 32GB SDcards. Its size-dependent delay occurs when deleting files, and bulk deletes don't save time. You better remove stinkers on your computer rather than on-camera. I am not sure whether the same kind of delay occurs when saving: saving speed is glacial anyway.

From those experiences, it may be worth trying to use small media in those cams which have awful startup times. Could be related to media size.
 
If I had only one camera, and that camera is an F mount DSLR, then the D780 is the clear obvious choice for me.

I don't need super fast speeds or high resolution, however I need to be able to shoot from the hip with accurate autofocus if I want to, and the D780 is the only Nikon DSLR with on-sensor phase detection and a focus interface that actually works.

It's also the only one able to do decent video with autofocus, and its sensor is still amazing regardless.

Easy choice.

When it came to my own gear though, since I don't have AF-D lenses anymore, I went for a cheaper (and better on some aspects) Nikon Z6 + FTZ.

Kept my D700 for when I want a DSLR.
 
MJ_Photo38 said:
If I had only one camera, and that camera is an F mount DSLR, then the D780 is the clear obvious choice for me.

I don't need super fast speeds or high resolution, however I need to be able to shoot from the hip with accurate autofocus if I want to, and the D780 is the only Nikon DSLR with on-sensor phase detection and a focus interface that actually works.
Click to expand...
Yes, pretty embarrassing given that compact cameras have been using contrast-based autofocus for decades with good success. Don't the Coolpix cameras have reasonable autofocus? Maybe Nikon should let their departments talk to one another?
MJ_Photo38 said:
It's also the only one able to do decent video with autofocus, and its sensor is still amazing regardless.

Easy choice.
Click to expand...
Yes, but annoyingly so. That should not have been the criterion. Entirely unnecessary.
 
Dak on cam said:
MJ_Photo38 said:
If I had only one camera, and that camera is an F mount DSLR, then the D780 is the clear obvious choice for me.

I don't need super fast speeds or high resolution, however I need to be able to shoot from the hip with accurate autofocus if I want to, and the D780 is the only Nikon DSLR with on-sensor phase detection and a focus interface that actually works.
Click to expand...
Yes, pretty embarrassing given that compact cameras have been using contrast-based autofocus for decades with good success. Don't the Coolpix cameras have reasonable autofocus?
Click to expand...
When it comes to AF-S and still shooting maybe.

For video work or AF-C, they're not really usable. The only "compact" cameras that were okay for AF-C were the Nikon 1 cameras which had on sensor phase detection AF
Dak on cam said:
Maybe Nikon should let their departments talk to one another?
Dak on cam said:
It's also the only one able to do decent video with autofocus, and its sensor is still amazing regardless.

Easy choice.
Click to expand...
Yes, but annoyingly so. That should not have been the criterion. Entirely unnecessary.
Click to expand...
I don't understand your sentence. What do you find uneccesary?

Keep in mind OP's question is about our personal subjective choice. I'm an hybrid shooter, and the D780 is the only camera that would fit my needs.
 
MJ_Photo38 said:
Dak on cam said:
MJ_Photo38 said:
If I had only one camera, and that camera is an F mount DSLR, then the D780 is the clear obvious choice for me.

I don't need super fast speeds or high resolution, however I need to be able to shoot from the hip with accurate autofocus if I want to, and the D780 is the only Nikon DSLR with on-sensor phase detection and a focus interface that actually works.
Click to expand...
Yes, pretty embarrassing given that compact cameras have been using contrast-based autofocus for decades with good success. Don't the Coolpix cameras have reasonable autofocus?
Click to expand...
When it comes to AF-S and still shooting maybe.

For video work or AF-C, they're not really usable. The only "compact" cameras that were okay for AF-C were the Nikon 1 cameras which had on sensor phase detection AF
MJ_Photo38 said:
Maybe Nikon should let their departments talk to one another?
MJ_Photo38 said:
It's also the only one able to do decent video with autofocus, and its sensor is still amazing regardless.

Easy choice.
Click to expand...
Yes, but annoyingly so. That should not have been the criterion. Entirely unnecessary.
Click to expand...
I don't understand your sentence. What do you find uneccesary?
Click to expand...
The awful quality of contrast-based autofocus on Nikon camera. Admittedly I don't have the comparison to Coolpix, but I've worked with other brand compacts (and of course explicit video cameras) with contrast-based autofocus, and there is nowhere near the mess that I get with my Nikon D610.
MJ_Photo38 said:
Keep in mind OP's question is about our personal subjective choice. I'm an hybrid shooter, and the D780 is the only camera that would fit my needs.
Click to expand...
Yes, I get that. I was not harping on you but on Nikon. "Nikon only has a single useful F mount body for video/live view" is certainly a very valid criterion for your needs.
 
cosmicnode said:
Tord S Eriksson said:
Parry Johnson said:
GeoffRG said:
I own around half a dozen different hammers, keeping just one would be limiting.
Click to expand...
Geoff, you stole my hammer analogy! 😉

I've been using that analogy many times in the last 18 or so years on DPReview. You're absolutely right. A camera and/or lens is only a tool; and what more, only as good as what is needed for the time.

A portable calculator from the early seventies isn't able to do the same as a current free app for our cell phones, yet it still cost hundreds of dollars then. In comparison to other calculating tools, those original calculators could do much.

A laser is more accurate than a skill saw. Dental implants are more efficient and work better than false teeth made from cadavers!

Time changes all tools, but sometimes all you need is a basic claw hammer!
Click to expand...
I have a few hammers, too! One that is close to a hundred years, and then some more modern from the '60s, and '70s! The latest is a bounce-free hammer (Chinese, of course).
Click to expand...
As a apprentice in the late 60' I was given a very old aluminium handled 1inch square rachet drive A KING **** ( don't laugh that is the make) probably made pre second world war
Click to expand...
Old tools, eh?!

My hearing is quite bad, not least after working in the shipyards that dominated Gothenburg for decades, and a couple of centuries, and I remember those things that you used to descale welds (I think that is what it's called, my spelling program doesn't agree), pneumatic horrors that could make anyone deaf, not mention their other pneumatic tools, and then my time in the Air Force wasn't that silent either. Jet engines starting by cartridge, APUs screaming on C-130 at ear-level (120 dB), not to mention guns firing and the bombs they dropped on top of us (the target was a hundred yards away)!

And then I played a victim in a catastrophe exercise at Volvo where they used pneumatic drills to get me out!

And then motorbikes ... Cost me nearly my life in 1990!

Still here, amazingly! Said to be the perfect patient, several times! In Scotland, and in Sweden. Might have said it here in Thailand as well, but I don't speak much Thai! And I was very ill!
 
cosmicnode said:
Tord S Eriksson said:
Parry Johnson said:
GeoffRG said:
I own around half a dozen different hammers, keeping just one would be limiting.
Click to expand...
Geoff, you stole my hammer analogy! 😉

I've been using that analogy many times in the last 18 or so years on DPReview. You're absolutely right. A camera and/or lens is only a tool; and what more, only as good as what is needed for the time.

A portable calculator from the early seventies isn't able to do the same as a current free app for our cell phones, yet it still cost hundreds of dollars then. In comparison to other calculating tools, those original calculators could do much.

A laser is more accurate than a skill saw. Dental implants are more efficient and work better than false teeth made from cadavers!

Time changes all tools, but sometimes all you need is a basic claw hammer!
Click to expand...
I have a few hammers, too! One that is close to a hundred years, and then some more modern from the '60s, and '70s! The latest is a bounce-free hammer (Chinese, of course).
Click to expand...
As a apprentice in the late 60' I was given a very old aluminium handled 1inch square rachet drive A KING **** ( don't laugh that is the make) probably made pre second world war
Click to expand...
I've used KING **** spanners.... The company still exists!!!
 
Dak on cam said:
MJ_Photo38 said:
Dak on cam said:
MJ_Photo38 said:
If I had only one camera, and that camera is an F mount DSLR, then the D780 is the clear obvious choice for me.

I don't need super fast speeds or high resolution, however I need to be able to shoot from the hip with accurate autofocus if I want to, and the D780 is the only Nikon DSLR with on-sensor phase detection and a focus interface that actually works.
Click to expand...
Yes, pretty embarrassing given that compact cameras have been using contrast-based autofocus for decades with good success. Don't the Coolpix cameras have reasonable autofocus?
Click to expand...
When it comes to AF-S and still shooting maybe.

For video work or AF-C, they're not really usable. The only "compact" cameras that were okay for AF-C were the Nikon 1 cameras which had on sensor phase detection AF
Dak on cam said:
Maybe Nikon should let their departments talk to one another?
Dak on cam said:
It's also the only one able to do decent video with autofocus, and its sensor is still amazing regardless.

Easy choice.
Click to expand...
Yes, but annoyingly so. That should not have been the criterion. Entirely unnecessary.
Click to expand...
I don't understand your sentence. What do you find uneccesary?
Click to expand...
The awful quality of contrast-based autofocus on Nikon camera. Admittedly I don't have the comparison to Coolpix, but I've worked with other brand compacts (and of course explicit video cameras) with contrast-based autofocus, and there is nowhere near the mess that I get with my Nikon D610.
Click to expand...
Yeah, even on "later" cameras like the D850 it's horrible and absolutely not able to hold a steady shot in AF-C.

It makes me wish DSLRs stayed a little while longer, it's probable we would have got a D880 that would have been a DSLR packaged Z7 just like teh D780 was a Z6 packaged into a DSLR.
Dak on cam said:
Dak on cam said:
Keep in mind OP's question is about our personal subjective choice. I'm an hybrid shooter, and the D780 is the only camera that would fit my needs.
Click to expand...
Yes, I get that. I was not harping on you but on Nikon. "Nikon only has a single useful F mount body for video/live view" is certainly a very valid criterion for your needs.
Click to expand...
I mean it's not surprise, Nikon never really catered to video shooters' needs until the Z cameras rolled out.

Sony was doing A7S cameras made for video back in 2014, Canon had dual pixel AF in cameras as soon as the 70D released. It feels like Nikon never really considered Live View a useful feature at all.
 
MJ_Photo38 said:
MJ_Photo38 said:
"Nikon only has a single useful F mount body for video/live view" is certainly a very valid criterion for your needs.
Click to expand...
I mean it's not surprise, Nikon never really catered to video shooters' needs until the Z cameras rolled out.

Sony was doing A7S cameras made for video back in 2014, Canon had dual pixel AF in cameras as soon as the 70D released. It feels like Nikon never really considered Live View a useful feature at all.
Click to expand...
Without useful Live View, any kind of articulated screen is comparatively pointless. So "better autofocus" is pretty much the only thing I would stand to gain from upgrading from D610 to D750.
 
Dak on cam said:
MJ_Photo38 said:
Dak on cam said:
"Nikon only has a single useful F mount body for video/live view" is certainly a very valid criterion for your needs.
Click to expand...
I mean it's not surprise, Nikon never really catered to video shooters' needs until the Z cameras rolled out.

Sony was doing A7S cameras made for video back in 2014, Canon had dual pixel AF in cameras as soon as the 70D released. It feels like Nikon never really considered Live View a useful feature at all.
Click to expand...
Without useful Live View, any kind of articulated screen is comparatively pointless. So "better autofocus" is pretty much the only thing I would stand to gain from upgrading from D610 to D750.
Click to expand...
Yeah, the live view AF of the D750 is relatively similar to the one in the D610.

The D780 would be a true upgrade, but it's twice the price !

(It's also more expensive than a Z6 + FTZ and also lacks IBIS and a joystick... glad I went the mirrorless way in the end, even if that means leaving the OVF behind)
 
Dak on cam said:
MJ_Photo38 said:
Dak on cam said:
"Nikon only has a single useful F mount body for video/live view" is certainly a very valid criterion for your needs.
Click to expand...
I mean it's not surprise, Nikon never really catered to video shooters' needs until the Z cameras rolled out.

Sony was doing A7S cameras made for video back in 2014, Canon had dual pixel AF in cameras as soon as the 70D released. It feels like Nikon never really considered Live View a useful feature at all.
Click to expand...
Without useful Live View, any kind of articulated screen is comparatively pointless. So "better autofocus" is pretty much the only thing I would stand to gain from upgrading from D610 to D750.
Click to expand...
 
Michiel953 said:
Dak on cam said:
MJ_Photo38 said:
Dak on cam said:
"Nikon only has a single useful F mount body for video/live view" is certainly a very valid criterion for your needs.
Click to expand...
I mean it's not surprise, Nikon never really catered to video shooters' needs until the Z cameras rolled out.

Sony was doing A7S cameras made for video back in 2014, Canon had dual pixel AF in cameras as soon as the 70D released. It feels like Nikon never really considered Live View a useful feature at all.
Click to expand...
Without useful Live View, any kind of articulated screen is comparatively pointless. So "better autofocus" is pretty much the only thing I would stand to gain from upgrading from D610 to D750.
Click to expand...
Pray, what is ‘Live View’, and what purpose does it serve?
Click to expand...
Is this a real question or is this trolling?
 
TheFiend said:
I've used KING **** spanners.... The company still exists!!!
Click to expand...
Yes, so have I. In fact, the oldest spanner I have is a King **** adjustable dating from the mid-1960s. I guess it's a keeper - well, it would be a wrench to let it go now ...

;-)
 
Last edited:
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