Z Series or D850 to add to my D500?

Hey everyone!

I've been shooting digital for 20+ years and currently have a D500. Really been enjoying it. Primarily do travel photography, landscapes, and nature. For lenses I have the latest Nikon 70-200 as well as some DX lenses including 12-24 and Tamron 18-400. Going to Bryce and Zion in December and just generally want to get another camera body so I have two again (used to have the D300S and D200 and like having two sets of lenses/cameras readily available).

Current options include.

- Another D500. Good price and I know the camera but still crop sensor and video is poor (I don't do much video but might be nice to have. Last time I left on my D500 for a long video recording it seemed to overheat and shut down).
- D850. Full frame and somewhat similar controls to D500. Could use my 70-200 lens on it but that's about it for now. Video performance still not great.
- Z6II or Z7II with kit lens. Full frame, modern, smaller package, very good video. Controls different than D500 though, not super great battery life.

Would greatly appreciate any suggestions. Thanks in advance!

The D850 would grant greater flexibility if you
already have FX lenses. Great DR and resolution.

Get a Nikon D6 if price isn't a concern.

Thanks for the replies.

Here is my list of current lenses:

Nikon 12-24 DX F4
Nikon 35 FX F1.8
Nikon 70-200 F2.8E
Tamron 18-400 F3.5-6.3

Only the 70-200 is an FX lens so whether I choose Z or D850 the others will all be cropped images and less than ideal from what I understand. Thinking of getting the Tamron 150-600 G2 potentially but not sure.

D6 is unfortunately out of the budget Scotty. Plus it's a little large and overkill for my casual photography needs. 

I think I'm leaning towards one of these two options.

Z6 II with kit 24-70 lens. $2,600. 
Pros: Compact size, great video, EVF composition, continuous shooting
Cons: Controls different, battery life, AF


D850. $3,000 (possibly also a prime lens)
Pros: MPs, AF, battery life, familiar controls
Cons: Only 70-200 ideal to use


Really torn on this one...

techguy817 wrote: Really torn on this one...

That is the inconvenient of having to invest in two systems!

techguy817 wrote: Thanks for the replies.

Here is my list of current lenses:

Nikon 12-24 DX F4
Nikon 35 FX F1.8
Nikon 70-200 F2.8E
Tamron 18-400 F3.5-6.3

Only the 70-200 is an FX lens so whether I choose Z or D850 the others will all be cropped images and less than ideal from what I understand. Thinking of getting the Tamron 150-600 G2 potentially but not sure.

D6 is unfortunately out of the budget Scotty. Plus it's a little large and overkill for my casual photography needs. 

I think I'm leaning towards one of these two options.

Z6 II with kit 24-70 lens. $2,600. 
Pros: Compact size, great video, EVF composition, continuous shooting
Cons: Controls different, battery life, AF


D850. $3,000 (possibly also a prime lens)
Pros: MPs, AF, battery life, familiar controls
Cons: Only 70-200 ideal to use


Really torn on this one...

You only need one kidney.

I would vote for the 850 personally. Your subjects and types of photography are similar to what I like to shoot and that would be my choice out of the 3. 

techguy817 wrote: Hey everyone!

I've been shooting digital for 20+ years and currently have a D500. Really been enjoying it. Primarily do travel photography, landscapes, and nature. For lenses I have the latest Nikon 70-200 as well as some DX lenses including 12-24 and Tamron 18-400. Going to Bryce and Zion in December and just generally want to get another camera body so I have two again (used to have the D300S and D200 and like having two sets of lenses/cameras readily available).

Would greatly appreciate any suggestions. Thanks in advance!

I've been shooting Nikons since 1971. Switched around a few times, but always came back to Nikon.
That said, I have two cameras, one being is the D7500 with Tamron 200-500mm on it most of the time for wildlife, birds etc. DX gives you a longer range compared to FX, example:
FX: 200-500mm
DX: 300-750mm
I also have the DX Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens for the D7500, but don't use it much because:

I also have the D800e with the Nikkor 24-120mm f4 on it most of the times for landscapes and closeups. Here the FX gives you a much wider range for landscapes:
FX: 24-120mm
DX: 35-180mm
I also have a Nikkor 20mm f/2.8 for really wide shots.

I like having two Cameras for two main reasons.
1. Not having to switch lenses a lot.
2. Taking advantage of the different ranges/distance that FX/DX offers.

You can see what I do on my website and why I use both FX & DX
https://moskovita-photography.com/

techguy817 wrote: D850. $3,000 (possibly also a prime lens)
Pros: MPs, AF, battery life, familiar controls
Cons: Only 70-200 ideal to use

I don't get the thinking!!!

Scotty wrote: You only need one kidney.

Ouch!

jack68 wrote: For some reason they won't let me post my website???

Who is "they"?

That sounds reasonable to me… a review.

Nikon Shooter wrote: That sounds reasonable to me… a review.

Do they review your post before it's posted?

At the beginning, they did… all sites do.

Such sites are in for the advertising money offering a free
platform for discussion. It is a business and someone keeps
an eye on it… or should!

Once they made sure you are not promoting yourself for free
through their platform…

Nikon Shooter wrote: At the beginning, they did… all sites do.

Such sites are in for the advertising money offering a free
platform for discussion. It is a business and someone keeps
an eye on it… or should!

Once they made sure you are not promoting yourself for free
through their platform…

Not all sites, but some. What confused me was I posted it with my website link and it was going to be reviewed. Maybe it's because the moderator wanted to see what the link was? Anyways, I reposted without the link and it was posted immediately. 10 minutes later my original post showed up with the link and now I have a double post and can't remove it and the the ones like my last one. I click "report" requesting it to be removed and hopefully the related ones after that like this one.