Nikon D850 Bird Photography at the Chickamauga Dam in Tennessee! I Finally Got One! 200-500mm

I bought a used Nikon D850 in 2024! The D850 is a great camera. It does not have some of the modern features that are common in today's cameras like bird eye detect autofocus but it does have a really great full frame back-side illuminated (BSI) image sensor with no optical low-pass filter and 45.7 megapixels. I bought the camera to do landscape photography and that sensor and the ability of the camera to go down to 64 ISO without going into an extended range should be great for that type of photography. Today it was bright and sunny so not the best weather for landscapes but I wanted to get out with my new used Nikon and do some photography so I went to the Chickamauga Dam and worked on bird photography for a couple of hours using the D850 and my 200-500 telephoto zoom lens that I have owned for years.
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[@ForrestWest]

Wow Phil! You can just see the quality in the images and in the focus. That D850 is like a vintage Ferrari or a Les Paul. Not the newest and doesn't have the newest features but just a pure example of top quality workmanship and artistry. I sure did love my D500 and I never got the D850 but I wanted to! Great shots and another nice video!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Forrest!

[@Telewest792]

You can not beat the d850 it’s a tank and the photos we get with them are outstanding . Enjoy getting to know that great camera .

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@jblookonimages6749]

Still is my number 1 goto camera in the bag. Never ever i have had a regret.

[@PhilThach]

I look forward to using it more soon! :)

[@thomasphillips5850]

Phil, glad to see you in the 850 club. I have often said you could not pry it out of mydead hands. That is my favorite. Love the twin vultures, great shot. The 850 never ceases to surprise me. I think I told you for birds I use the 300 f4 pf e with a tele conv. It makes a sweet kit. Thanks Phil great video.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! That 300 PF is tiny. What an awesome lens.

[@ForrestWest]

I used to love that 300mm PF with the 1.4x teleconverter on the D500. It just felt so lightweight and well-balanced and fun to use with or without the teleconverter. That's one of my all-time favorite combos and I bet it is awesome with the D850.

[@joesalerno3966]

Just used my recent purchase for the first time today. i am very impressed with it. Judging by your photos, I'm thinking you're impressed too. Love you work ,Phil.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! :)

[@JonnyPink65]

Those swallows are stunning!!! The D850 is an awesome body and it looks like you are using one fo my favorite 200-500mm lens. That is one a plan on re-buying at some point. I prefer a larger sensor like the R5 has other than my R3 but either way - I still crop in. And you do mention my all time favorite camera - the Nikon D800 - still the all time best camera to me. I sold my D850 to get the R5 and never looked back. If you do get a Z8, the at 200-500 should work amazingly well on it. The new Nikon AF is amazing. Beautiful photo's!!! 🤗💖

[@PhilThach]

Thanks, JP! :)

[@JonnyPink65]

@@PhilThach 💖

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Great job on the video Phil. Good to see you join the D850 club - definitely my fav camera. I love mine for landscape. Thanks for sharing the first trip out with it 👍

[@PhilThach]

Thanks, Adrian! I’m excited to use it more soon.

[@PamHaynes-oo3ck]

WOW fantastic

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Pam! :)

[@leonfisher]

I have a lustful nostalgia for the 850 for sure. Great photos and thanks for a Nikon day! 😁

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@MrTmiket0007]

Thanks so much for sharing another wonderful video like always Phil, beautiful photos 🐦❤️

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@sabyasachibanerjee124]

Beautiful shots. And You made a strong case for the "Brand New Old D850"!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@r1chm]

I bought my D810 for cheap when the 850 came out. Great camera. I still have it and a few lenses for it. I jumped ship to Canon primary and to Olympus for specialty shots and macro, it does much better than the FF cameras for that. But I still use my D810 sometimes, they are not worth anything to sell now days and it still makes a good image and I like the default colors when shooting jpg.

[@alanvann8254]

I just ordered one today, I always wanted one when they came out but never had the money. I have been using mirrorless since I sold my D500 it will be nice to get back to a Nikon DSLR again. Ordered the 200-500 as well so this has been a really helpful video for me, thanks.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, I hope you enjoy it!

[@alanvann8254]

@@PhilThach I will, thanks :)

[@dankuettel5063]

For the era that camera is from it still holds a great value and higher price. Been thinking of getting one also.

[@PhilThach]

I'm excited about using it for landscapes. My next shoot with it is college softball.

[@Superwoody24]

@@PhilThachUT vs Bama are in Knoxville currently 👍🏻

[@rick_805]

Great shots. Really liked the Palm Warbler on the rocks in breeding plumage. Look forward to seeing some landscape shots with the D850.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I was happy to see that Palm Warbler for sure!

[@artsilva]

A mazing results. I think your images convinced me to get the 200-500 f5.6 for my D850, a really good pairing.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! If you wanted to, you could go to the “my gear” link and use that to buy your new lens. Or you could just buy a used one and save a little money. I’m sure there are plenty out there.

[@genemcloud4114]

I’ve been researching the d850 for a few months. I currently have the d500 and wanted get into macro photography and the d850 has focus stacking which the d500 doesn’t. Thanks for your observations and encouragement to keep looking for a great deal on a d850.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! The D850 is such a great camera. Love it!

[@Ynwmellyfan-v5s]

Nice shoots with a very nice camera

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@markattardo]

Great images! I love discounted "old" cameras and other tech.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I just pretend it's 2017 and I'm using the best camera in the world. :)

[@TimChilders]

Those two vultures are great in camera! I’m always surprised when I see them along the river. Enjoy your vintage camera! :)

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Tim!

[@rakutzimbel4539]

Congrats! It's been nine months since I bought my D850, and this camera is amazing. You've already taken great photos with it! I'm still struggling with it, since my last full frame Nikon was a D700, where everything sharp looks tack sharp even when it isn't.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! :)

[@PhotoGearFun]

Thanks for sharing Phil. You made some nice images with that old boy 🙂. It's amazing how well some of the older Nikon DSLRs still hold up to this day even without all of the fancy features of a modern mirrorless. I use an A7CR for my main birding setup and I think it tops out at 7fps as well but I have gotten pretty good with my timing and a have far fewer shots to cull than if I used my R5 at its max electronic shutter speed. I really dislike culling :-). Cheers.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! Yes, My newer cameras are rarely set to their fastest speed. It's nice to have blazing fast drive modes available but you sure don't have to use them all the time. :)

[@soumakbinduwildlife]

nikon's image quality are extremely good

[@PhilThach]

I agree!

[@hstein27]

Great shots! The latest Lightroom Classic now has the AI removal. Seems to work as good as Photoshop. Have you tried it on these yet?

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@David_Quinn_Photography]

Who needs a flagship camera anyways, I'm using a 80D and am very impressed by it every day.

[@PhilThach]

Nice!

[@Edwards_photography22]

the D850 is a brilliant camera I picked up a D500 last week for a bargin and its still a brilliant camera for wildlife especially with the 200-500mm the DSLR can still get the job done

[@PhilThach]

Yep! #dslrsarenotdead

[@DrZeeple]

I probably should have jumped on a D850 or two that came up at the right price a few months ago -- soon, my friend soon... oh but wait, then I'll need a telephoto lens too. Damn. lol

[@PhilThach]

I sold a lot of my F mount gear, but I kept the entire 2.8 holy Trinity and my 200-500. The one lens I sold that I wish I didn’t was my 105 macro.

[@sdhute]

Great pics I’ve been mainly shooting street photography and getting interested in wildlife/landscape. Can you tell a huge different with those extra megapixels ? Debating a dslr apsc or fullframe

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! Extra pixels always help with bird photography.

[@roybixby6135]

still love the D850 - I prefer the button ;layout to my Z8 Z9 bodies .. 🦘

[@PhilThach]

Nice!

[@randymyers8600]

The shot of the two vultures remind me of an old cartoon where one vulture is telling the other “patience my ass, I’m going to kill something.”

[@PhilThach]

😂

[@billr6983]

I've heard it said several times that the D850 is the greatest DSLR ever made. I don't know if that's entirely accurate but it sure made some great images on this day. A very entertaining video, great work.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@ses4vols]

Great shots. I really liked the pair of vultures the best! I always wanted a D850 but went mirrorless. Do you think the Hi-res cameras are worth the extra money?

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I think for birds if you don’t have either an APS-C camera or an 800mm lens, a high resolution full frame camera is worth it. Maybe for huge landscape prints too. I think portrait, wedding and even sports photographers can get by with 24mp full frame.

[@rdphoto2]

14:32 is a great shot

[@PhilThach]

Thanks, Ron!

[@colintraveller]

Have you tried / used Canon's 5DSR in the past ?? 0