The Nikon D850: My Last DSLR?

Nikon D850 (Photo from Sony RX100ii)

I have been thinking, after this most recent purchase*, that I will likely never buy another big, heavy, expensive, DSLR camera again. (Of course, never say “never”, right?)

So, why might this be the last?

Well…

1) I’m getting older and am less enthusiastic about carrying around all that brick-like weight, and…

2) The resolution and dynamic range of the D850 (along with features like focus stacking, or “focus shift” as Nikon calls it) is such that it meets my photographic needs well into the distant foreseeable future (at least five years!), and…

3) As technology advances, this same capability—and more—will likely become available in smaller and cheaper packages. Sony, for example seems to be blazing the trail over the hill in this direction with their high-quality mirrorless machines.  (It is telling that many folks are quite content simply with their iPhone cameras these days! Another indication of the smaller-and-better trend is Nikon’s recent release of two pro mirrorless bodies, the Z6 and the Z7.)

So, why did I even buy the D850?

—See #2 above: resolution, dynamic range, and focus stacking were the features that attracted me the most as many of the images I make are “scapes” of one kind or another: land, sea, city, or even abstract-scapes.

—I like to have the capability to print big. Really big. Indeed, several of my recent image license sales involved large, high-res files that were used to produce wall-sized murals. The 36 megapixels with the D800 really helped in that regard and 45 megapixels will be even better. 

—I like to have the capability to crop. For example, on long hikes, or Colorado 14er scrambles, I might get away with carrying the D850 with a single 24-120mm lens attached. Once back home, I can crop in and get what are essentially telephoto shots without having to physically haul the actual telephoto lens up the mountain. 

—I had skipped the D800e and the D810 (I like skipping a couple of generations), so it appears that the performance jump will be significant.  

—Finally, my D800 is now deceased, six feet under, pushing up daisies, demised, passed on, expired, ceased to be, gone to meet its maker…it is now a late (or ex) D800. It had suffered from a lot of heavy use and banging about in the mountains, on the beach, and in the city. Indeed, the battery compartment was dented so badly that, to remove the battery, I was using a butter knife to pry the thing out of the smashed compartment (which can’t be fixed, according to Nikon). In addition, it now refuses to focus properly (possibly fixable, but likely expensive). 

*BEWARE(!) of “N.A.S.”, or Nikon Acquisition Syndrome! Also more generally also known as “G.A.S.”, or Gear Acquisition Syndrome. Too much G.A.S. is definitely not a healthy thing. So, watch your diet.