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Upgrade DSLR to Mirrorless

 
Camera, Lens, and Equipment Buying Advice
Last Post by PRG Lagarde 5 hours ago
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 Maharai
(@maharai)
New Member
Joined: 20 hours ago
Posts: 1
Topic starter July 15, 2025 9:35 am  

Hi Everyone,

Not really sure how it works here, so apologies if I'm not using the forum as intended.

I currently the following gear:
- D7500
- Nikon 24-70 f2.8
- Nikkon 50 f1.8
- Nikkon 10-24 DX f3.5-4.5
- Nikkon 70-300 DX f4.5-6.3

I use it mainly in holidays of to capture some moments.
I wanted to upgrade the tele as the one I have can have some limitations in capturing wild life. This is quite an investment, and I was not sure that investing on an APS-C is making sense.

Several thoughts:

1) Upgrade to full frame with F mount (D780, D850) and replace Wide Angle + buy new tele (potentiall upgrade the current tele as well for weight purposes)

2) Go newer, and mirror less. Looking at reviews and this website, and not to change too much from what I know, I was considering the following kit to have similar coverage to what I have:

- Z6 III

- Z 14-30 f4

- Z 24-120 f4

- Z 180-600 f5.6-6.3

- Z 35 f1.4

- Z 85 f1.8

3) none of the above.... 

What are you thoughts and advices?

Cheers

Maharaï


   
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 Darian
(@darian)
Active Member
Joined: 2 months ago
Posts: 3
July 16, 2025 12:10 am  

Hi Maharai

D850 and D780 are the top dynamic brothers in the world of DSLR.
I would keep 24-70 2.8 and sell the rest to get a 105mm f1.4E ED.
If you choose any of these, you'll save money.

But if you with to switch to mirrorless, then my suggestion would be Z5II, then Z6III, with 24-70 2.8S as a start.

Cheers


   
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PRG Lagarde
 PRG Lagarde
(@prg-lagarde)
Honorable Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 261
July 16, 2025 12:57 am  

First, I'd be checking my photo library to see exactly what focal lengths I'm actually using the most before planning which one to replace or cover.

For windows, there's that kind of tool : http://www.vandel.nl/exposureplot.html

For Lightroom catalog analysis softs may be available as this one : http://www.lightroomdashboard.com/app#/load

Also, I don't really like this website, but Alex Cook made an insightful article about his digging in photo stats : https://fstoppers.com/education/how-i-became-better-photographer-analyzing-my-lightroom-statistics-190728

If you already know, so maybe...

About DSLR, DX to FX replacement :

D850 + 20mm F/1.8 + used 500mm PF may probably be enough (second hand are cheap because many are selling them at this right time). Keep your 70-300 for the rest of the range of telephoto.

If you really need wider than 20mm ( check your data ;) ) options are at the risk of being big and heavy. There may be some smaller and lighter third party manual lenses, though.

About mirrorless replacement :

I would replace Z6III by Z5II, and 180-600 by 100-400 and delay on 35mm because it's a bonus in your list (it actually replaces no lens you listed) or also consider a 50mm 1.4.

Depending on how you use your 10-24, I'd also consider to replace the Z14-30 by a fixed 20mm F/1.8 as the 24-120 is already covering your nowadays 16-24 Dx = 24-36 Fx.

I hope I didn't mess it up too much ;)

This post was modified 5 hours ago 3 times by PRG Lagarde

   
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