D500 - what is a good alternative?

Hi there!

New to this group.  I just upgraded from a D100 to a D500.  I was so excited but little did I know that it doesn't have a pop up flash.  I use that enough that I think need it.  I use it in outdoors when I need some fill flash and then to trigger my strobe lights.   And if I am lazy and don't want to add the speedlight- I use it indoors.

I do mostly photography of my kids-- lots of sports and portraits.  So, I was really excited about the reviews with the D500 in high action situations.

So, my question is-- in the price range of the D500 or a lower price range- what would be a good alternative?  I'm so confused at this point because I had my heart set on the D500.     In some of my research, I have looked at the D610, D750 and D7200.

Anyway-- just hoping for some advice.   Thanks in advance.

Christine

I had the D7200 before I upgraded to the D500. the D7200 is every bit as good as D500 except for the amazing AF, 10fps and 200-shot buffer. So unless you are looking to capture really fast action, the D7200 will serve you very well and give you the pop-up flash.

- Amit

Thanks.   I just assumed a pop up flash was part of the deal and you know what assuming means...

David Lal wrote:

cteal32 wrote:

Hi there!

New to this group. I just upgraded from a D100 to a D500. I was so excited but little did I know that it doesn't have a pop up flash.

Christine, for me the missing popup flash is a deal-breaker and I will not be buying a D500 therefore. I'm not a pro photographer and my camera (D300) is an adjunct to various quite active outdoor pursuits which are already equipment-intensive. I simply will not cart about yet another item of kit (separate flashgun) - the aficionados in this forum have great difficulty accepting this point of view.

I'm not convinced that is true.  As you say below, adequate pre-purchase research should tell you which camera fits your style and needs.

I think that the vast majority of d500 owners don't really care about the pop-up. They bought the d500 for the other attributes, which apparently like me, is more important to them than the pop-up.  That need/want is just as valid as your need/want.  What people here have difficulty accepting is the constant carping, by a few users, about the lack of the flash on the d500.

Nobody here cares if you (or she) buy the d500 or d7200. Buy what you need and forget about it.

However, caveat emptor, it does not seem your pre-purchase research was adequate. Were I to want to replace my D300, I'd be looking at a D7200.

As I said, she doesn't need sympathy. Prior to your post, there were already 2 users telling her to look at the d7200.  Now, if she wants to try to sell/trade the d500 and get the d7200, maybe that would be best for her.  OTOH, maybe she doesn't want to take the hit of selling the d500, possibly for a significant loss in today's market.  Maybe, if she bought a small speedlight that also was a remote controller, like the sb-500, she'd be happy.  Maybe, just maybe, she doesn't have the same disdain that you have, for having/carrying another piece of gear.

Kerry

Have a look at getting a third party flash trigger.

The Chinese are usually very obliging by making things like that.

Cheapish! Usually flimsy but they work!

Mostly!

You might even find them on Amazon! ;-}

The on camera flash is more ore less useless anyway for serious work.

The first person that develops a tiny flash that can be attached to the hot shoe that is small enough to mimic an OEM "pop up flash" is gonna make a killing

I agree with the above re the D7200 as the current best (?) alternative but it's a huge trade off if action sports is a lot of your shooting.

Mike

Kerry Pierce wrote:

David Lal wrote:

cteal32 wrote:

Hi there!

New to this group. I just upgraded from a D100 to a D500. I was so excited but little did I know that it doesn't have a pop up flash.

Christine, for me the missing popup flash is a deal-breaker and I will not be buying a D500 therefore. I'm not a pro photographer and my camera (D300) is an adjunct to various quite active outdoor pursuits which are already equipment-intensive. I simply will not cart about yet another item of kit (separate flashgun) - the aficionados in this forum have great difficulty accepting this point of view.

I'm not convinced that is true. As you say below, adequate pre-purchase research should tell you which camera fits your style and needs.

I think that the vast majority of d500 owners don't really care about the pop-up. They bought the d500 for the other attributes, which apparently like me, is more important to them than the pop-up. That need/want is just as valid as your need/want. What people here have difficulty accepting is the constant carping, by a few users, about the lack of the flash on the d500.

Nobody here cares if you (or she) buy the d500 or d7200. Buy what you need and forget about it.

However, caveat emptor, it does not seem your pre-purchase research was adequate. Were I to want to replace my D300, I'd be looking at a D7200.

As I said, she doesn't need sympathy. Prior to your post, there were already 2 users telling her to look at the d7200. Now, if she wants to try to sell/trade the d500 and get the d7200, maybe that would be best for her. OTOH, maybe she doesn't want to take the hit of selling the d500, possibly for a significant loss in today's market. Maybe, if she bought a small speedlight that also was a remote controller, like the sb-500, she'd be happy. Maybe, just maybe, she doesn't have the same disdain that you have, for having/carrying another piece of gear.

I was generally OK with your response above until the put-down in that last sentence.

I don't understand or "buy" the concept that someone would choose not to include a separate flashgun out of some kind of misplaced "disdain".

How about realising that sometimes not including a flash gun is about making practical choices between which piece of gear to leave out of an already over-crowded camera bag?  Or perhaps just about the practicality of how much to (not) lug around especially if for example you happen to have a dodgy back ?

Perfectly reasonable and nothing at all to do with any supposed "disdain".

Frank

Totally agree with that. I never used the pop-up flash on the D7200 and also on the D750 which I still have and for precisely that reason. Unless you are using the slow kit lenses, the front of the lens casts a shadow with or without the hood. Not to mention the unflattering hard shadows and lack of range.

I am totally at peace either using a dedicated speed light or raising the iso with these high-iso bodies.

- Amit

SVPhotography wrote:

What lenses are you using?

I ask because I find that will any of the F2.8 zooms - it casts a shadow in the frame.

Its been a while since I have used the pop-up flash but from my D200 days - my 18-200mm zoom was too large to be used with the pop-up flash.

You can also buy a SB-300 / SB-400 if you don't want to carry a big flash gun with you.

cteal32 wrote:

Thanks. I just assumed a pop up flash was part of the deal and you know what assuming means...

Keep the D500 and buy a yongnuo flash.  You can buy 4 of those for the price of one SB flash.

FrankG wrote:

Kerry Pierce wrote:

David Lal wrote:

cteal32 wrote:

Hi there!

New to this group. I just upgraded from a D100 to a D500. I was so excited but little did I know that it doesn't have a pop up flash.

Christine, for me the missing popup flash is a deal-breaker and I will not be buying a D500 therefore. I'm not a pro photographer and my camera (D300) is an adjunct to various quite active outdoor pursuits which are already equipment-intensive. I simply will not cart about yet another item of kit (separate flashgun) - the aficionados in this forum have great difficulty accepting this point of view.

I'm not convinced that is true. As you say below, adequate pre-purchase research should tell you which camera fits your style and needs.

I think that the vast majority of d500 owners don't really care about the pop-up. They bought the d500 for the other attributes, which apparently like me, is more important to them than the pop-up. That need/want is just as valid as your need/want. What people here have difficulty accepting is the constant carping, by a few users, about the lack of the flash on the d500.

Nobody here cares if you (or she) buy the d500 or d7200. Buy what you need and forget about it.

However, caveat emptor, it does not seem your pre-purchase research was adequate. Were I to want to replace my D300, I'd be looking at a D7200.

As I said, she doesn't need sympathy. Prior to your post, there were already 2 users telling her to look at the d7200. Now, if she wants to try to sell/trade the d500 and get the d7200, maybe that would be best for her. OTOH, maybe she doesn't want to take the hit of selling the d500, possibly for a significant loss in today's market. Maybe, if she bought a small speedlight that also was a remote controller, like the sb-500, she'd be happy. Maybe, just maybe, she doesn't have the same disdain that you have, for having/carrying another piece of gear.

I was generally OK with your response above until the put-down in that last sentence.

I think that you're reading far too much into that sentence.  It wasn't intended as a put down, indeed that never crossed my mind.  I was simply using language that I thought aptly described his attitude and statements toward the use of another piece of gear, no matter how small or better suited to the purpose.

I don't understand or "buy" the concept that someone would choose not to include a separate flashgun out of some kind of misplaced "disdain".

What else would you call it?  He has flatly rejected getting a small flashgun. That seems like disdain to me.

How about realising that sometimes not including a flash gun is about making practical choices between which piece of gear to leave out of an already over-crowded camera bag? Or perhaps just about the practicality of how much to (not) lug around especially if for example you happen to have a dodgy back ?

Personally, I don't care what reason(s) other people use to buy/not buy a piece of gear. But, I certainly understand and agree with only buying what you want/need, according to your particular circumstances.

Perfectly reasonable and nothing at all to do with any supposed "disdain".

Well, we'll have to agree to disagree on the semantics and my use of the word.

Kerry

cteal32 wrote:

Hi there!

New to this group. I just upgraded from a D100 to a D500. I was so excited but little did I know that it doesn't have a pop up flash. I use that enough that I think need it. I use it in outdoors when I need some fill flash and then to trigger my strobe lights. And if I am lazy and don't want to add the speedlight- I use it indoors.

I do mostly photography of my kids-- lots of sports and portraits. So, I was really excited about the reviews with the D500 in high action situations.

So, my question is-- in the price range of the D500 or a lower price range- what would be a good alternative? I'm so confused at this point because I had my heart set on the D500. In some of my research, I have looked at the D610, D750 and D7200.

Anyway-- just hoping for some advice. Thanks in advance.

Christine

Christine, I understand your dismay, but unless you have not opened the box yet so yuo can return it, have you tried taking some images of children indoors? The high ISO yields acceptable images, and depending on how low the light gets in your indoors, maybe you will find it satisfactory. It does not hurt to try auto-ISO even with an upper limit of 51200.

If that is not good enough, then you can trade for a D7200, but I guess that other than the missing flash, there are attributes that attracted you to the D500.

JC
Some cameras, some lenses, some computers

Thanks for the info.  Sorry it caused a debate.

I have a SB 600 and SB 800 Nikon Flash.  Is the SB 500 a lot smaller?

Thankfully I will be able to send it back for a full refund.   I talked to BH today about it and they said I could.  I really wish I could test the sucker out for a couple of weeks to see if I ended up liking it.