A Nikon D5 for a D6? Really?

Perspective Lost

When I was younger, I was doing pretty good. (no Bill Gates, but alright) So, I decided to buy a new Corvette. Let me get down to brass tacks. That was the stupidest decision I ever made. Lifetime worst? No,…but it’s up there. The car was uncomfortable, expensive to insure, and it was the only time in my life I got tickets and was constantly pulled over. Not from speeding or anything. Just because. I might as well have put a target on my back for law enforcement. Young guy with a Vette,…I must be doing something illegal. Anyway, the point is, it would be how I would equate the new Nikon D6. (and Canon equivalent) Now for those who think, “This is a film site!!! Who cares?”. Well, I do shoot digital on those rare occasions that require it,…or it just makes sense. (I’m not uploading images to Facebook I have to scan,…too lazy) In fact, for “party/club” pics I use a 4.1 MP Nikon D2Hs,…and the files are still too big to upload to Facebook/Instagram! So, I do have digital cameras. While my D810 produces fine images, I prefer the 12 MP D3s. (I also regularly use Digital cameras as modern day “Polaroids”) Mostly because I don’t actually “need” lots of megapixels, and it feels closer to an F5. (I’ve never had any client who complained about megapixels, and 20 x 30 prints look fine with 12 MP) Actually, although I mostly use film for very large images, ICON in LA did produce a 6 foot image from a 12 MP file. Looks fine. Not as good as a darkroom print or drum scanned film image,…but not “pixelated” either. Once an image goes to TV or magazine line screen, (not to mention newspapers), it really doesn’t matter. In fact, online images are oversized by modern cameras by at least a factor of 10. (you must reduce file sizes) Anyway, my point on the D3s was simple. I made the “Corvette” mistake and upgraded to a D4. What a fiasco! How does a camera with more megapixels produce worse images than a camera with less? Less sharp, worse colors, and,….too digital looking! I’m not a techie, so if you want a “real” review, head on over to DPReview. Maybe they can explain how the electrons made a wrong turn. I went back to the D3. And so it is,…maybe,…with the Nikon D5 vs Nikon D6.

Filmies DON’T Hate Digital

Many people who shoot “digital only”, think film shooters hate digital. They don’t. And, in fact, a good percentage also shoot digital. And I’m fine with that. After all, it’s a subjective aesthetic. I like what I like, and you like what you like. I’m very libertarian when it comes to taste. It’s not my place to judge, and I’ve seen some very beautiful digital images. But why would you trade in your Nikon D5 for a Nikon D6? To have 14 FPS instead of 12 FPS? To geotag everything? (I know where I took an image) To have “built in Bluetooth”? Really? And, yes, there’s more stuff. Unfortunately, it’s smartphone stuff. If that’s your thing,…awesome. Hey, I’m not telling anyone what to do. If you want to buy a quickly devaluing piece of hardware, knock yourself out. (I have.😥) Your best photographic investment in this digital age are full frame lenses, and lightly used 12+ MP full frame cameras. (that, and the only digital camera I’ve ever seen increase in value,….the Leica M10-P Safari Edition 😲) But, again, that’s a very subjective opinion. I do know one thing; If your images suck with a 10MP camera,…they will still suck with a 50MP camera. Just in more detail. The biggest take away should be, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” And that is meant in only the most sincerely helpful way. Just so you know I’m not preaching,…just sharing my experiences. I bought the “new” D2H for about $5000 USD. You can now get them on Ebay for $200. And the Nikon D1 (2.75 MP) was $5500 when first released!

Don’t Be ‘Creepy’

Look,… I can’t tell you why a Nikon D3 image looks OK and a Nikon D4 image looks like sh*t. (same goes for Canon,…I’m not picking on Nikon) Actually, I don’t care. And if you want to spend your money getting,…..the latest camera, latest smartphone, latest iPad, etc., etc.,….and really need to control your camera through your iPhone,…I’m good. I may think it’s all a bit silly, and probably attribute it more to marketeers thinking up more crap you must have. And how to convince you of that. Me,…I’m just concerned about the image. But then,… while I may be a luddite, I didn’t buy a Sony Wii or BetaMax either. 😂 As the image above proves, film or digital…the only thing you need Photoshop for is Burning and Dodging. Maybe a little Curves. Don’t be “creepy”. 😳

And it’s unlikely you “need” a Nikon D6. (or the new Canon) My personal opinion? Buy a film camera and keep your camera until you die. But,…if you really want a Nikon professional digital camera,….just get a D3 or D5 … or even a Df ,and save more than just a few Shekels. (for Canon, try a slightly older 5D) They all easily produce magazine grade/large print images. I sincerely think we’ve come to a “digital plateau”. As an added benefit, you won’t have to convince your significant other why you must have 4 more Megapixels. (non-photographers don’t care)

~Written by a guy who won’t talk to SIRI or Alexa and still thinks of “Sony” as a TV manufacturer