Should you buy a Nikon D810 in 2021 and beyond? Best Nikon camera under $1000?!?

Should you buy a Nikon D810 DSLR camera in 2021 and beyond? Is this the best Nikon camera for under $1000? Should you upgrade to a D810? Do you need the high resolution 36mp sensor found in this D810? Who should consider this upgrade in 2021? Why I bought the D810 to complement my Z6ii mirrorless camera!

[@aussie8114]

I have two D810 bodies. Had them for about 4 years. I can easily afford a D850 but I won’t be doing that. D810 is a great camera and a perfect resolution, the pop up flash comes in handy too. D810 is a far better camera than I am a photographer.

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

Definitely a d810 is more than enough for most of us out there! I imagine that I'll upgrade to d850 when the price eventually drops enough for me to consider it.. Mostly for focus stacking and a few other minor features... Not something I'm looking to spend a thousand extra dollars on!!! I actually don't like having a pop up flash on my bodies, but that's a compromise I'm willing to make for such an awesome camera! I am loving mine so far... I owned the d800 for a couple of years and just recently swapped it for d810... Loving it! Thanks for watching and the comment!

[@ScutuRC]

Thanks for the video, but can you please turn on the light in your room and do something with that dog?... Please :)

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

You have no idea... This is best case scenario, but I've made quite a few videos and I'm guessing you've only seen this one! ;)

[@thomas_fodor]

You should consider turning on some lights.....

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

That was done on purpose for this video... A whole host of reasons why, but mostly to filter out the most fickle viewers as an experiment... All of my other 50 videos are not like this! Thanks for the input!

[@mrdkpac]

Great content, I actually liked the low light video myself.

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

Thanks so much bud! I really care mostly about content and still photography, and these videos were more of an afterthought to me.. I started these videos when I first moved to Peru and didn't know what to do with myself! I had no microphone and no lighting at that time.. I still don't have proper lighting... I'm leaving back to the states in about 1 week and looking forward to starting over.. Definitely will consider some lights and shooting these videos again once I get settled!! I'm loving the D810 at the moment!! Great buy and at a great price these days!! Thanks so much for watching and the kind comment!

[@AlexanderRay92]

The other big thing that no one talks about with Nikon DSLRs is screw drive lenses. You *can* adapt them to Z mount mirrorless cameras, but you lose autofocus! The upshot is that, since those AF/D lenses don't completely adapt to the Z5,6,7 with autofocus, their prices have fallen off a cliff. A D810 might save you $300-500 relative to a Z5 or Z6, and in addition to that you can get pretty nice older f/2.8 zooms for under $200, which is vastly cheaper than the Z mount alternative. You can pretty much build a complete D810 system for just the cost of a Z5 and a kit lens!

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

Sure, its much cheaper to go with a set of D lenses, or since you're losing AF anyway, you might as well go with Ai/s lenses for the extra manual focus precision. I have quite a few of these lenses left and the thought of ponying up the cash for a Z set is daunting... Got a macro, a 50 1.4, an 85 1.8, and a few others still... Would cost me a ton of cash! You can also adapt these and many other lens mounts to a mirrorless body... Really looking to getting back into Olympus OM and maybe a few others!! Thanks for a good point!

[@vanjadjokic3104]

Hello I have a question which battery is best for nikon D810,i have EN EL15 but it runs very quickly,so when i have to shoot weedings or other event,which battery you recommend?

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

I have lost track of all the exact specs over the years, but all the En-el15 batteries will work.. The 15, 15a, 15b, and now the newest 15c... I don't remember specifically which had which specs but the newest one has the most storage capacity, so I suggest you try the En-el-15c battery... Of course the newest battery you can get is always a plus as well, so extra points for that... The same battery will be more useful if you have or one day get a Z series camera as it has the ability to charge inside the camera via a special USB cable... That would be my suggestion... Sounds like you have the very oldest version and as batteries fade over time, you probably aren't getting the best out of it... I've always pretty much got 1000 shots out of any battery when shooting stills and I would say you definitely should be able to do a wedding with 2-3 batteries at most... Always good to carry a couple spares in case of a failure anyway! Take care bud!

[@bngr_bngr]

Maybe use a handheld meter next time.

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

If you'd seen any of my other videos, or my photos you would know that I know how to achieve proper exposure.. I did this video this way for reasons!

[@nethbt]

I owned this camera (sold it for a D750 then eventually acquired a D610).... the 810 is a specialty camera that requires really good handheld technique that might turn off first time users. For first time full frame buyers, or planning to own it as the only camera body in your bag, I would NOT recommend this camera, IMO, D600/D610 or D750 is a lot more versatile in terms of high iso noise, minimum shutterspeed requirement and manageable file size.

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

I don't disagree about the technique thing, but i think it could really help someone to not have that extra crutch to lean on as far as IBIS or shutter speeds you may get away with on some other cameras... I actually disagree on file size as I look back over many years of shooting and I've deleted many thousands of old images only leaving a couple thousand left in my catalog... I never catch myself thinking if only my files were smaller but I have been limited with smaller file sizes on some images in the past that I wish were bigger.. I just limit print size on those images but nevertheless... Any one with decent file management skills can keep in output of this camera in check... Especially landscape shooters like myself... All three cameras you mentioned are great though in my book!!!

[@ERoossien]

I'm in doubt. Have been using full frame glass on my D7100 for a while now. And feel it's time to switch to full frame now. However I'm in doubt between getting a D810 and keeping my 70-200 Tamron G2 lens or selling it and getting the Nikon Z6ii. My goto lenses are my 85mm f1.4 50mm 1.8 and 24mm f1.4 however when I'm not shooting a portrait I usually leave my 50 and 85 and grab the 70-200 2.8. Fyi I couldn't care less about video and 4k. I have barely touched video options on all my camera's. The Z6ii eye tracking for portraits, fast focus and what you see is what you get might be very useful.

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

Erwin, I really hear you on your situation and as someone who was in the same boat for quite a while, I hope my advice can help a bit... I added a D800 for about a year or so before getting the d810... I've owned the Z6ii for about 4 months now and here's my real suggestion... Go with any of the more modern full frame F-mount bodies for a couple of years... You have the lenses and you should be able to get a d750, d800, or d810 for less than about $800 depending on your market... I did that and got a great resale value on my old d7000 making the amount I paid quite minimal... It will be a huge step up against the d7100... If you go Z-series, you may be able to find even better lenses, but you're going to have to pay many thousands to start a Z-mount collection... In a year or three you'll be able to get a first or second generation Z mount camera for much cheaper... Most of the benefits of the mirrorless body are more applicable to video anyway... I do like the Z6ii alot for some of the reasons you mentioned, but the D810 isn't much slower or less accurate in real world shooting (for the type of stuff I shoot)... The what you see is what you get thing can be a really big deal for someone just getting into photography, but as someone who grew up in the film era and then shot DSLR's for about 15 years, I think its not as big of a deal for someone who really knows their stuff... In many cases, I prefer the optical viewfinder experience versus the more cartoonish look of the EVF... Its something that I can still work with and am happy with however because of a few advantages that come along with it.. Really over rated in my book though.... Hope it helps!

[@cloudatlasminer478]

It comes down to features vs Imaging. D810 I believe is the last, best imaging camera for our era.

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

The 70-200 2.8 for the Z-mount is quite expensive and since that is your go to lens, you would probably need to include that into your purchase price... By the time you replace all your lenses, the price you'll pay to switch will be quite a bit and in my opinion the main focusing advantages are mostly in video modes or in manual focus modes for stills... I mostly got my Z camera for the advantages in video modes, but since you aren't worried about that those benefits, it makes switching seem less appealing in my book... I got my Z camera, but I'm glad I didn't get rid of my F-mount stuff to do so.... There are benefits to both systems and for still imaging, I feel like the analog digital may still take the win... Especially once you factor in price... Anyway, I hope you have found the answers you were looking for and good luck!

[@KnutSandaker]

I bought a new D800E back in 2012 when it was released. Loved it. Not the best autofocus, but beeing mainly a landscape shooter, who cares. Sold it and bought into the Fujifilm X-system some years ago, but just bought a 2nd hand D810 for a very reasonable $$ and for me, $$ well spent. To me the mirrorless systems has advantages when it comes to adapting manual focus lenses, built in IBIS an so on. The "classic" Nikon DSLR-lineup has the perfect ergonomics, grip and size. I have a variety of old and new F-mount lenses, all whitch I can use on the D810, and the sensor is still legendary, very much on par with the moder lineup, except for the lack of humminbird eyedetect autofocus.. So, for me, the sweet spot DSLR is the D810 as of today, and you really get a great, GREAT camera for very little money buiing a D800/E or D810 today.

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

That is pretty much exactly my experience except that I was using D7000 and D500 models until a few years ago and that my mirrorless is the Z6ii... Mirrorless has its place, but you hit the nail on the head when you say that an analog viewfinder has its advantages as well and the fact that you can pick one up for a song is just amazing to me... A D800 for $500? A D810 for only a few bucks more??? Crazy times we live in!! I won't be getting rid of my D810 anytime soon.. There's a few features on D850 that I'd like to take advantage of, but not until the prices come way down in another 5 years or so.. Until then a D810 has almost no weaknesses for my needs... Anyone reads this... Skip a bunch of crop model DSLRS, skip a bunch of FF DSLRS and get a D800 series camera and/or a smaller mirrorless camera! Would love to pick up a super compact 4/3 system one day to complement my setup when I have extra money... Thanks for watching and commenting!! Take care bud!!

[@cloudatlasminer478]

I’m an avid “researcher.” The only reason one would want a a d850, would be for wildlife and sports. The d750 full frame for wedding, light weight and lots of features. However, photographs, I believe the d810 is the best camera unless you’re ultra professional.

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

Definitely the D850 would be more capable as a sports and wildlife camera, but needs the vertical grip for highest frame rates, etc. D810 is a great camera for me as I do mostly landscapes with a few portraits from time to time. Having played with a d750 a few times as well, I wouldn't say its much smaller and lighter than a d810 either.. Maybe after a long day shooting a wedding or something, it would be noticable, but for most people, ehh.... There were so many ultra professional landscape photographers who used this camera, and probably plenty of them who still do, who probably see no reason to upgrade yet...

[@cloudatlasminer478]

@@BrettBodkinsPhotography thanks, I agree, no reason to upgrade! Thanks, I had just purchased the D810 before making this comment.

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

@@cloudatlasminer478 Well I got mine about a year ago or so and I'm sure you're still settling in, but I'm sure you're gonna love it... I love mine against any of the other cameras I've owned including the Z6ii that I own alongside it as well as the D500 I owned for a long time... There aren't many cameras on the market that keep up with it to this day and the fact that one can be had for so cheap these days is completely astounding... Hope you're loving it!!

[@cloudatlasminer478]

@@BrettBodkinsPhotography love love love it. More than I had imagined. Upgrading from Nikon D3400, 24 mp. Still gives good shots, but great ones, not so much. The color, light, and image quality of D810 was exactly what I was looking for and still have a lot to learn, one shutter and aperture setting at a time. Thanks again for the reply. Keep up the excellent work.

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

@@cloudatlasminer478 Definitely once one has a tool as fantastic as the D810, its really a matter of your skill with the settings and artistic interpretation of a scene!! For still photography, that camera should probably be sufficient for a lifetime!! Wish I could have jumped from my D40 (the d3400 of its time) to the D810!! Thanks bud!

[@VadimOm]

nois vid dude

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

Thanks much bro!!!

[@stevegates2]

Sort out your lighting

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

Ha ha, fair enough... I've done quite a few videos, and most of them have much better lighting than this... It was more of a one time thing, but I didn't think anyone would really care... My ugly mug ain't any fun to look at anyway! Anyway thanks bud... Maybe after I move back to the US later this year, I'll get some proper lighting! Thanks for watching!

[@VadimOm]

do z6-2 review (latest and greatest gets more views lol)

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

What? No way bro... I love this D810!! Actually I got a z6ii a month or two ago, but haven't made a proper review yet! Stay tuned! LOL!

[@chadsexinton]

Anyone else gets blurry pics on the d810?

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

From what I've heard and experienced, the larger mp cameras like the d810 and the d800 before it require a much more accurate technique on shutter speed to keep pin sharp images.. Seems like I lean a little further toward shorter shutter speeds versus the other cameras I've used previously... If the reciprocal rule says 1/40th of a second, maybe try 1/80th and see if that helps at all... I mostly shoot landscapes and on a tripod, so its not as much an issue for me, but I do shoot portraits at times as well... Hope it helps!! Good luck!

[@billyholic]

Good video amigo! Whar you like to chat on WhatsApp some day? Id really like to get the d850 someday . I'm still in lima

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

Thanks again for watching and glad you enjoyed... I can't install whatsapp on my awful phone, but why don't you connect with my facebook page and hit me up on messenger? It's easy to find me on there just type Brett Bodkins photography! Do you live in Lima? I'm hoping to travel to Lima sometime during the next couple months! Maybe we could go shoot or something!?!

[@billyholic]

@@BrettBodkinsPhotography yeah that would be awesome I'll send you a message soon amigo

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

Right on man... Talk to you soon then!

[@inspector4133]

I have a problem trusting photographic advice from someone who posts such a poor, dark video. At first I thought it was going to be illustrative, but it's just bad lighting management.

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

Ha ha... good choice... I live in a busy city center in Peru with motorcycles passing day and night.. My wife and daughter asleep in the other room and I choose to do this! Most of my videos aren't that bad on the lighting, but lol.... I kinda decided to make it a concept and if it weeds out some of the low hanging fruit, then my life can be of more substance or something like that.... I have an old school low fi DIY ethos that follows itself to self made punk rock magazines in the 80's and such so...

[@dch2896]

Total amateur. Way under exposed video. No lighting what so ever. Audio suck.

[@BrettBodkinsPhotography]

Hilarious... Where your stuff at?