There comes a point when your gear reaches its limits. I decided to invest in a new camera. Well … that turned into a complete switch to full-frame. Which, of course, meant I also needed new lenses …
Considerations
Here’s why: My Nikon D7000, being an APS-C camera, was especially behind current models when it came to noise performance at high ISO. After all, the D7000 is from 2009. I had to watch enviously as other photographers produced Northern Lights shots at ISO values up to 8000 – something I could only dream of. With the D7000, ISO 6400 is the hard limit. And even then, the images are basically unusable. Personally, I set my limit at ISO 1600.
Eventually, I decided on the Nikon D750. With this body, shooting at ISO 6400 is no problem at all. More on that later.
Of course, even after seven years on the market, the D7000 is still a fantastic APS-C camera. The features are more than sufficient. It’s really only in night photography where the technology hits a wall.
Whether switching makes sense is something everyone has to decide for themselves. It’s not just about the specs of a camera but also about personal ambitions. For me, photography is more than just a hobby.
Why not a new APS-C camera?
- I mainly shoot landscapes. The APS-C effect – the crop factor giving you a narrower field of view and effectively more “reach” – isn’t something you need for landscapes.
- Landscapes usually look best in soft light: sunrise, sunset, twilight. And often I also want to shoot at night – e.g., the Milky Way or Northern Lights. For that, a camera needs to handle high ISO values well. Thanks to their larger sensors, full-frame cameras have an advantage over APS-C models here.
Why not the D500?
The D500 is Nikon’s new APS-C flagship. By now, sensors are so good that this camera’s high-ISO performance comes close to the D750.
Okay, I’m comparing apples to oranges here: APS-C vs. full frame. That’s not really fair. But here’s why: the D500 is significantly more expensive than the D750.
The D500 also offers a ton of great new features: up to 10 frames per second, 153 focus points, the new Expeed 5 processor, touchscreen, 4K video, and more. Without a doubt, the D500 is a milestone in APS-C cameras, and other manufacturers should take note! A fantastic camera for wildlife and sports photography, where the crop factor helps with reach and you really benefit from 10 fps.
Unfortunately, for landscape photography, I simply don’t need that.
Why not the D800/D810?
The D810 doesn’t have a tilting display. It’s far more expensive than the D750. It’s larger and heavier. The D750 feels better in the hand. And honestly, I don’t need 36 megapixels.
Why not another brand?
There’s Canon, Sony, Pentax, Fuji, and so on.
But my Nikon lenses wouldn’t fit. I would have had to replace my entire lens kit.
Lens considerations
In landscape photography, wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lenses are essential. Ultra-wide lenses designed for APS-C (like the Nikon AF-S DX 10–24mm) don’t really work on full frame – you’ll get heavy vignetting (black edges) in the frame.
That meant I also needed a new ultra-wide lens.
At first, I was torn between the Nikon 14–24mm f/2.8 and the Nikon 16–35mm f/4. I wanted a fast ultra-wide lens. Price, of course, played a role. In the end, I went for the Nikon 14–24mm. Not least because I had only ever read great things about this lens. Yes, it’s expensive – but it offers an f/2.8 aperture and just a little more width.
Conclusion
So, the question: Do you actually take better photos with the D750 and 14–24mm f/2.8 compared to the D7000 and 10–24mm f/3.5–4.5? In terms of image quality, I can say “yes.” Of course, it depends on many factors, but when shooting at dusk or at night, you definitely gain some clear advantages.
Whether this step was worth it or not – time will tell. For now, I’m very satisfied.
