My new D850 surprised me:

[andreasb]

So I caved in to an after Christmas deal and got a D850 to upgrade my beloved Nikon D800e that I have had since 2012. (price included a 128GB SD card and Nikon grip, that Nikon promises to deliver within 8-10 weeks (!))

So as I always do I try all my lenses on a new camera to see how it does. I have a ton of lenses, I have been told, you can never have to many of course, but as most of us I have a few lenses that never where that great wide open using REGULAR AF: Nikon 20mm F2.8 AF, Nikon 24mm AF.D, Nikon 28mm F2.8 AF-D, are prime examples. Especially the Nikon 20mm F2.8 AF has always been difficult on all bodies using regular AF shot wide open. When one was using Live view it would do better.

I was prepared to dump them, but I still tried them on the D850 and here was the big surprise, They are TACK Sharp even wide open using the D850 and using regular Autofocus.

The Nikon 70-300mm F4-F5.6 VR has been an awful lens on all other bodies but is TACK sharp on the D850, its like i bought a new lens!

So I'm very pleased to say the least. The great AF precision is worth the price alone as far as I'm concerned! And Focus peaking is really useful with the older MF lenses. And this is WITHOUT AF fine tuning!

MF lenses tested
28mm F2.8 CRC AIS, 28mm F2.0 AIS, 55mm F3.5 micro, 35-105 F3.5-F4.5, 35-150E F3.5-F4.5, 100mm F2.8 E, Nikon 135mm F2.8 AI-S, Nikon 50-300mm and the crown jewel my 5.8cm F1.4 lens from 1960 (ai'd)

AF lenses tested
Nikon 16-35mm F4 VR, Tokina 17mm AT-X Pro F3.5, Nikon 20mm F2.8 AF, Nikon 24mm AF.D, Nikon 28mm F2.8 AF-D, Nikon 50mm F1.8 G, Nikon 60mm F2.8 G AF-S micro, Nikon 85mm F1.8 g, Nikon 105mm F2.8 AF-S VR Micro, 70-300mm F4-F5.6 AF-S VR and my 500mm VR F4 with TC's

2 Questions:

1. Have you also seen a much better AF precision with the regular AF on the D850?
2. You don't think I have to many lenses do i....

 

[Palouse]

#2 is easier to answer: NO. There is no such thing as too many lenses.
#1. I think so. It made me stop and really be aware of what I was doing "wrong". Focus peaking is truly amazing. The various front curtain/mirror up/quiet mode/etc/etc. also help. I'm happy!

 

[Bohdan]

So I caved in to an after Christmas deal and got a D850 to upgrade my beloved Nikon D800e that I have had since 2012. (price included a 128GB SD card and Nikon grip, that Nikon promises to deliver within 8-10 weeks (!))

So as I always do I try all my lenses on a new camera to see how it does. I have a ton of lenses, I have been told, you can never have to many of course, but as most of us I have a few lenses that never where that great wide open using REGULAR AF: Nikon 20mm F2.8 AF, Nikon 24mm AF.D, Nikon 28mm F2.8 AF-D, are prime examples. Especially the Nikon 20mm F2.8 AF has always been difficult on all bodies using regular AF shot wide open. When one was using Live view it would do better.

I was prepared to dump them, but I still tried them on the D850 and here was the big surprise, They are TACK Sharp even wide open using the D850 and using regular Autofocus.

The Nikon 70-300mm F4-F5.6 VR has been an awful lens on all other bodies but is TACK sharp on the D850, its like i bought a new lens!

So I'm very pleased to say the least. The great AF precision is worth the price alone as far as I'm concerned! And Focus peaking is really useful with the older MF lenses.

MF lenses tested
28mm F2.8 CRC AIS, 28mm F2.0 AIS, 55mm F3.5 micro, 35-105 F3.5-F4.5, 35-150E F3.5-F4.5, 100mm F2.8 E, Nikon 135mm F2.8 AI-S, Nikon 50-300mm and the crown jewel my 5.8cm F1.4 lens from 1960 (ai'd)

AF lenses tested
Nikon 16-35mm F4 VR, Tokina 17mm AT-X Pro F3.5, Nikon 20mm F2.8 AF, Nikon 24mm AF.D, Nikon 28mm F2.8 AF-D, Nikon 50mm F1.8 G, Nikon 60mm F2.8 G AF-S micro, Nikon 85mm F1.8 g, Nikon 105mm F2.8 AF-S VR Micro, 70-300mm F4-F5.6 AF-S VR and my 500mm VR F4 with TC's

2 Questions:

1. Have you also seen a much better AF precision with the regular AF on the D850?
2. You don't think I have to many lenses do i....

you can never have too many lenses....( my wife is not home so I can quickly write this ). The focus on the D850 is spot on...factoring in user error of course. What I like best about the 850 is that the large image can produce a decent cropped image.

 

[Randy]

I don’t like redundancy in my lenses

 

[Allan]

1. I say no but I can't be sure - it has been so long since I sold my D810.
2. I sold several lenses I had not used in quite some time this fall

 

[bpdougd]

By definition, you have the correct number of lenses for you.

Don't have a D850 so I can't comment on your other question. However, I agree that focus peaking is a very useful tool with MF lenses.

 

[Jonathan F/2]

D850 prices have dropped considerably. I'm debating if I want to get one more DSLR or go Z?

 

[Palouse]

D850 prices have dropped considerably. I'm debating if I want to get one more DSLR or go Z?

Then you'll like this: Nikon D850 now $200 off - Nikon Rumors

 

[andreasb]

If you need bigger buffer, much better battery life, faster AF and better tracking, you don't go Z, is my cents worth

D850 prices have dropped considerably. I'm debating if I want to get one more DSLR or go Z?

 

[Ronald M]

I am finally happy Nikon did something positive about setting AF so we do not have to use "fine tune".

They recalled my D750 and when I called and told them the defects could not be provoked in my camera, they wanted it back anyway. It went to east coast and took 3/4 weeks as there was some issue.

It works fine now except most of my settings were messed up. They probably needed to do that. What I really noticed was the AF was close to spot on needing only +1,2, or 3. The 58 1.4 went from + 18 to near zero.

I would consider a new camera if AF works properly.

The problem with D850 is XQD which seems to be a dead format, note the sales and the fact Sony no longer uses them, and no promise of upgrade to pro grade. I do not want mirrorless. My Leicas are mirrorless. So Nikon is on hold.

I still have GAS and no medicine is available.

 

[rick_reno]

“Too many lenses”....wondering if my wife made up a name and joined the cafe.

 

[andreasb]

The new Panasonic full frame mirrorless cameras has one XQD slot so finally someone else using it. I really like them, superfast offloading and transfer to my PC.

I am finally happy Nikon did something positive about setting AF so we do not have to use "fine tune".

They recalled my D750 and when I called and told them the defects could not be provoked in my camera, they wanted it back anyway. It went to east coast and took 3/4 weeks as there was some issue.

It works fine now except most of my settings were messed up. They probably needed to do that. What I really noticed was the AF was close to spot on needing only +1,2, or 3. The 58 1.4 went from + 18 to near zero.

I would consider a new camera if AF works properly.

The problem with D850 is XQD which seems to be a dead format, note the sales and the fact Sony no longer uses them, and no promise of upgrade to pro grade. I do not want mirrorless. My Leicas are mirrorless. So Nikon is on hold.

I still have GAS and no medicine is available.