New camera

[richelli]

So, I've only had a camera about 9months. I currently have a Nikon d5500. I have the kit lens that came with it, a sigma 150-600 c and a tokina 11-16mm. I do mostly night photography of the Milky Way and chasing the northern lights which I would probably keep my current camera for as if it gets damaged by dew etc I'm not as concerned. I do a bit of birding if I'm waiting about and now and a gain the odd landscape. I've recently got into aviation photography, mainly military stuff. My current camera is good and I've got what I would consider some good photos. What I am finding though is it struggles a bit with taking lots of shots in a small space of time as a fast aircraft goes past as it only does 5fps. I'm now thinking maybe some time soon I might upgrade. I bought the d5500 without any camera know how so I'd like my new purchase to be a bit more reasearched. I would like to stick to a crop sensor and the Nikon brand. My budget would be up to £2000.

Why I'm asking on here is because I'm thinking, would I gain that much by an upgrade other than more fps. Should I just put up with less fps and save my money or should I wait and see if Nikon release andy thing new within my price range in the next 12 month?

[richelli]

I'll be honest I've never used my camera for video how would I benefit? What I have found with fast jet passes is that it's hit and miss how in focus your shots are. Especially when shooting fast propeller aircraft at 1/100s. Your trying to get good prop blur and keep the plane in focus. So you seem to waste a lot of shots that aren't pin sharp. I just don't want to end up with a new camera and find that it was my technique that was at fault and a new camera is no more use. Sure I'd like higher quality images but would I notice spending an extra £1000 +. Sorry if this sounds a little novice but I am.

[richelli]

Could be an idea. Not sure anyone I know would have one but it's definitely something I'll look at!

[richelli]

I have the camera set to centre point continuous autofocus and am using the back button focus setup. Which is what most of the other aviation lads seem to use. Seems I may have to look at both lens and camera then. Maybe not as simple as I thought.

[richelli]

I keep looking at the d500. Maybe just need to bite the bullet.

[richelli]

Freddy your talking me into this one. That's what I wanted to hear someone with both. I only bought the d5500 as I wanted a dslr but just as an entry into photography as I wasn't sure if i would enjoy it. I think I better get saving and treat myself. I had been looking at the d500 but I just wanted someone to verify what i had been thinking.

[richelli]

To be honest I don't use 600mm that often, it was mainly for birding to be honest as its a bit bulky to carry around. The aviation shots are usually 400mm or less as they get closer and then cropped to suit. When I'm shooting aircraft I tend to go to one place and stay around there so carrying a larger lens isn't as big an issue but it is more difficult to steady +400mm. I suppose I'm not going to really know if its my technique until I get another camera to try. The 5500 was bought as a test really to see if I enjoyed taking photos at first so I was going to upgrade at some point anyway. I just wondered really would I see that great a difference between the likes on my current camera and say the d500. Hers a link to my flicker so you can see what I have been getting currently as you can see ive been shooting at higher shutter speed on props mainly to keep the plane in focus. I have just been struggling a little getting nice shots at 1/100

tuccazf240 (1 of 1) by richard elliot, on Flickr

[richelli]

Thanks. Ill see if I can meet up with someone who has a better lens and try it for an hour or two and see if it improves my shots. I know the 600 is a long heavy lens even when set back from 600 so you could be right.

[richelli]

I'm really thinking d500 now. There isn't that mush difference in price between the 500 and the d7500 so I think I may take the plunge this weekend. Was hoping for an easter deal but will see.

[richelli]

I can get the d500 from Panamoz for £1400. I know its a grey import but it's still the same camera and the site gets lots of good feed back about aftersales. That's only £100 more than I can get the 7500 for in the UK. Surely the d500 is worth the few pound extra.

[richelli]

I use manual, mainly for milky way/ northern lights and shutter priority for shooting at different speeds for different types of moving aircraft. I very rarly use auto only if im in a rush and havnt time to mess with settings. When an aircraft is going past at 200mph+ there isnt a lot of time and think the extra fps and faster focusing of the d500 would be more useful to me. I'll be keeping my d5500 and probably using that as my night photography camera. The condensation from the dew you get at night isn't great for camera's so I would prefer to use a new camera for day stuff. I just wouldnt like to think a few hundred pound difference would have me wishing i had gone for the better option. Also I shoot everything in raw so I can post process.

[richelli]

So I went with the D500. Thanks for the advice. What can I say but 'Yes it does make my d5500 feel like a toy' 10fps sounds like a machine gun. Got some aurora photos on Friday night and milky way pictures. Awesome at low light levels as well. Havnt tried it out much on aircraft yet though. The gf is getting the d5500 so there's a bit of competition now on who can get compose the best photo of the day. Really happy with it.