Hi all - looking some advice around taking a camera on an upcoming road trip where I'll mostly be taking landscapes and whatever other interesting things I see on the way (signs etc). Main output from this will be to print out some of my favourite shots and hang them on the walls at my place.
I currently have 2 cameras, I've a Nikon D5000 which I’ve had for 13 years and i've used on previous trips. I've a Tamron 16 - 300mm lens and an Nikon 50mm I also have a Sony Alpha 5100 which I bought back in 2019 but I’ve really only used this as a webcam.
I'm thinking it could be time for an upgrade, and have a budget of $1200 if I really push it. My desire is to print out some big photos (roughly A1/A2 size), so my main driver here is to get a high MP count, though obviously sensor size affects quality also
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What's everyone’s opinions on the best upgrade path? I could upgrade my Nikon body but in doing so should i switch to mirrorless with a lens adapter and save money by using my existing F mount lenses? I was thinking about a Z50. I've found a reasonable D750 used that would be well within budget. Or potentially a D7500 new which again is just in budget.
The other route I was thinking, was going down the Sony mirrorless route, a A6400 possibly and reuse my exist emount lens (16-50mm 3.5 - 50). Or just buy more lenses for the A5100 which has a high MP count than my Nikon.
Going down the mirrorless route would make for a lighter/smaller bag too or maybe I do nothing because the difference for the money spent would be negligible?
Thanks!
Hello @nbailie and welcome to our forum! For making sharp prints, 24 megapixels with the a5100 is plenty. I would focus your attention on lenses instead of upgrading the camera. For $1200 or less, you can get some extremely sharp lenses that extend your a5100's capabilities.
I would start with a prime lens. A 35mm lens is probably the most versatile, but any prime lens from 16mm to 50mm will be a good choice. This will supplement your 16-50mm zoom lens with a sharper lens of your favorite focal length. It will also get you better low-light capabilities.
With the rest of your budget, I recommend adding a telephoto zoom or an ultra-wide zoom to extend beyond the focal lengths of your 16-50mm. Then use good camera technique and shoot in RAW if at all possible, and you'll be able to make large, sharp prints!
Despite being a Nikon lover, I would have to mostly agree here, because the D5000, while undoubtedly a decent camera, is getting pretty old, with relatively low density sensor and no compatibility with AFP focusing lenses. A later, similar model might do well with some better glass, and one possible avenue would be a newer model used, but if you already have a Sony that makes good pictures, you might do better to get into that system.
In part because I can't live well with a camera without a proper viewfinder, I might choose differently, but if you can use the Sony it's likely the best idea, especially if you have the option later of upgrading to a better Sony using the same lenses.
If the lens you have now on your Nikon is a DX lens, a D750 will be unable to use it properly in full frame mode, and that's a pretty wide-range zoom to begin with, so might not be optimally sharp. If you already had really good lenses for your Nikon, it might make sense to upgrade that a little, but for both it would be a budget stretch.
One issue you need to keep in mind for traveling is weight and size. If you are used to traveling light, the smaller the better. I travel a lot with a D7100 and a couple of lenses, and even that is at the top end of practicality for carry-on, under-seat packing. Something like a Z50 seems like a nice idea, but it's compromised some if you need to pack the adapter and the SLR lenses.
Given your goal of printing large photos (A1/A2), upgrading your camera makes sense—especially for better resolution and dynamic range. While the Nikon D750 is a solid full-frame option and great value used, going mirrorless like the Nikon Z5 or Z50 could future-proof your setup and offer lighter gear for travel. Since you already have F-mount lenses, an FTZ adapter would let you transition gradually without a full lens overhaul. If portability is a bigger priority, the Sony A6400 is a capable choice, especially if you’re willing to invest in better E-mount glass later. Overall, the Z50 strikes a nice balance between budget, quality, and lens flexibility—ideal for your road trip needs.