D850 weight - does it weigh you down?: Nikon FX SLR (DF, D1-D5, D600-D850) Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review (2024)

I have D750, weight is750 g/ 1 lb 10.5 oz.

And D850 is 915 g/ 2 lb 0.3 oz

So, it's about 6 oz difference. It does not seem much but if you have used both, did you notice difference in how long you can carry it around for someone who have attained senior citizen status?

Current discount is so tempting.

I expect to use 70-300mm zoom lens with it, as I did with D750, and it was manageable.

27

Been carrying Nikons around since 1992. Eventually I got a decent set of lenses, and a few accessories.

And then I put it all into a huge (Tamrac 624) shoulder bag and tried to carry it!

It's the lenses that add up. A body is nothing.

1

I never gave a second thought to camera weight until several years ago I spent a day at one of the Disney parks with a D300 (I think), 70-200, and a thin neck strap. At some point during the day I started regretting having to carry it around.

Now days I tend to think more about what I bring with me when I travel or other picture taking events. Now to respond to your question, I am going to take what I feel is the best option to take the kind of pictures I want on that outing. If it is just fun picture taking while out with the family, I am not taking the D850, battery grip, and a 70-200. Because, relatively speaking, it is heavy. However, if I was going to take pictures of one of my daughters volleyball matches, the camera bag would include the D850 with grip, a couple of zooms and a prime.

A long way of saying that as I have gotten older (post retirement age). A D850 with grip and large lens is comparatively heavy. However, I wouldn't sweat the difference in weight between other choices and a D850 (without the grip) and a prime or 24 - 70 zoom.

Other ways of mitigating the weight is having a good neck or shoulder strap, having the right size camera bag, and only carrying what you really need.

8

PHXAZCRAIG wrote:

Been carrying Nikons around since 1992. Eventually I got a decent set of lenses, and a few accessories.

And then I put it all into a huge (Tamrac 624) shoulder bag and tried to carry it!

It's the lenses that add up.

Exactly, and that's true when carrying for shooting too - which makes having a good carry system that suits you important, not saving a few 100g. Balance is also important, so ultra-small and light bodies don't interest me in full-frame/35mm.

A body is nothing.

Whenever I start to think about camera weight, I step back and recognise that my own body could do with losing a few pounds! And that would be much better than griping about the gear.

1

mostlyboringphotog wrote:

I have D750, weight is750 g/ 1 lb 10.5 oz.

And D850 is 915 g/ 2 lb 0.3 oz

So, it's about 6 oz difference. It does not seem much but if you have used both, did you notice difference in how long you can carry it around for someone who have attained senior citizen status?

Current discount is so tempting.

I expect to use 70-300mm zoom lens with it, as I did with D750, and it was manageable.

I have D750 and D850. I don't find weight to be an issue with either.

2

I an 74, when I made the decision to upgrade to the D850 the weight was never a consideration, I was only concerned with the improvement in image quality. At the time of purchase I was given a Nikon 100th year anniversary leather neck strap which is similar in size to the regular supplied strap, I use a set of Nikon f1.4 prime lens including the 105 f1.4 which is a heavy lens but I do not have any issues during a full day out. My walk around lens is the 58 f1.4 quite light in weight but the results are very impressive despite many critical comments about its performance.

1

What weighs me down is the additional 4 to 5 other lenses, some of them big ones, that makes it a heafty load overall. The camera itself is such a small part of the overall weight.

Take advantage of the discount. It's an amazing camera.

mostlyboringphotog wrote:

I have D750, weight is750 g/ 1 lb 10.5 oz.

And D850 is 915 g/ 2 lb 0.3 oz

So, it's about 6 oz difference. It does not seem much but if you have used both, did you notice difference in how long you can carry it around for someone who have attained senior citizen status?

Current discount is so tempting.

I expect to use 70-300mm zoom lens with it, as I did with D750, and it was manageable.

1

And that's with a Sigma 24-70 (1020 g) mounted. Everyone has their own personal tolerance for the weight of their gear but I have to honestly say I never even notice I'm carrying it.

It helps that I lift weights every morning at my gym so carrying five pounds of camera/lens doesn't seem like much

2

I confess I'm now 74, and had heart surgery last winter. Although I've been going to cardiac rehab, I'm still not as strong as I was a couple of years ago.

Last weekend I was photographing a dog rally obedience trial and used my D850, 70-200 f/2.8 and 24-120 (I decided to carry a lighter lens than my 24-70 for when I needed wideangle shots).

I felt that weight! It used to be that the weight didn't bother me, but now, especially post-surgery, it certainly does. I used a rolling case (designed as a rolling briefcase, it cost 1/3 or less than a rolling camera bag, and for very occasional use it was fine. The wheel is a marvelous invention.).

For backup I had my D500 with 16-80 in a regular camera bag. It didn't leave my car's trunk, but I was surprised how much less it weighed than the bag with the D850, 70-200 and 24-120. The weight of the body and lenses can add up. I was shooting for something like 7 hours and was glad I was using a monopod.

1

mostlyboringphotog wrote:

I have D750, weight is750 g/ 1 lb 10.5 oz.

And D850 is 915 g/ 2 lb 0.3 oz

So, it's about 6 oz difference. It does not seem much but if you have used both, did you notice difference in how long you can carry it around for someone who have attained senior citizen status?

Current discount is so tempting.

I expect to use 70-300mm zoom lens with it, as I did with D750, and it was manageable.

165g difference. Wow. 😎 💪

3

JohnnyLuddite wrote:

A body is nothing.

Whenever I start to think about camera weight, I step back and recognise that my own body could do with losing a few pounds! And that would be much better than griping about the gear.

Back before I got sensible, I spent a day (whole trip, actually) taking photographs in Washington DC with my whole 35 pound backpack of lenses. I didn't really mind then, partly because I was only 55.

But mainly because in the past year I had started exercising and dieting and lost 45 pounds, so I was still 10 pounds lighter than I would have been.

I learned a lot about how to carry, and not carry weight. The absolute worst is a camera on a neck strap around your neck. I much prefer hanging cameras off my shoulders, and a bag that has a good waist strap to transfer the weight to the hips and off the back.

attilacs wrote:

mostlyboringphotog wrote:

I have D750, weight is750 g/ 1 lb 10.5 oz.

And D850 is 915 g/ 2 lb 0.3 oz

So, it's about 6 oz difference. It does not seem much but if you have used both, did you notice difference in how long you can carry it around for someone who have attained senior citizen status?

Current discount is so tempting.

I expect to use 70-300mm zoom lens with it, as I did with D750, and it was manageable.

165g difference. Wow. 😎 💪

It could be the straw that breaks the back

I guess everything is relative. My main work body used to be a D4 that weighed 1340 g or 2.95 lbs (including battery.)

When I switched to a D850 I was happy with the weight savings as it was only 1015 g or 2.24 lbs (including battery)

1

mostlyboringphotog wrote:

attilacs wrote:

mostlyboringphotog wrote:

I have D750, weight is750 g/ 1 lb 10.5 oz.

And D850 is 915 g/ 2 lb 0.3 oz

So, it's about 6 oz difference. It does not seem much but if you have used both, did you notice difference in how long you can carry it around for someone who have attained senior citizen status?

Current discount is so tempting.

I expect to use 70-300mm zoom lens with it, as I did with D750, and it was manageable.

165g difference. Wow. 😎 💪

It could be the straw that breaks the back

There was a thread on the DX forum where a member was concerned that the D7200 was "so heavy". When I replied about the same as I have here he said "I don't know anyone who doesn't think the D7200 is heavy" I told him he and his crew needed to get to the gym right away.

2

mostlyboringphotog wrote:

attilacs wrote:

mostlyboringphotog wrote:

I have D750, weight is750 g/ 1 lb 10.5 oz.

And D850 is 915 g/ 2 lb 0.3 oz

So, it's about 6 oz difference. It does not seem much but if you have used both, did you notice difference in how long you can carry it around for someone who have attained senior citizen status?

Current discount is so tempting.

I expect to use 70-300mm zoom lens with it, as I did with D750, and it was manageable.

165g difference. Wow. 😎 💪

It could be the straw that breaks the back

Well, I am amused. I am a biker too, and 165g more is also a disaster in cycling forums...

Now you just take a pee, and you are there...

😃

attilacs wrote:

Well, I am amused. I am a biker too, and 165g more is also a disaster in cycling forums...

Now you just take a pee, and you are there...

😃

It's always amused me, the tut-tutting about the use of carbon fibre in the D750, that it can't possibly match the all magnesium chassis - whereas in the cycling world, it's the opposite way round. And also, whether it bends or breaks, you're looking at a costly repair or write-off.

I'll confess though, when cyclo-camping, it's the rx100 for me.

mostlyboringphotog wrote:

I have D750, weight is750 g/ 1 lb 10.5 oz.

And D850 is 915 g/ 2 lb 0.3 oz

So, it's about 6 oz difference. It does not seem much but if you have used both, did you notice difference in how long you can carry it around for someone who have attained senior citizen status?

Current discount is so tempting.

I expect to use 70-300mm zoom lens with it, as I did with D750, and it was manageable.

Looking at your gear list, I'm not sure what to say. Before I saw your listed gear I was going to say you should just go mirrorless with a Z7.

Then I see that you have a Pentax medium format and a Fuji GFX and a Canon RP. So you're not stranger to weight and no stranger to mirrorless.

I'm not sure what anyone here can tell you about a 6 oz weight factor.

1

sweebrew wrote:

I never gave a second thought to camera weight until several years ago I spent a day at one of the Disney parks with a D300 (I think), 70-200, and a thin neck strap. At some point during the day I started regretting having to carry it around.

Now days I tend to think more about what I bring with me when I travel or other picture taking events. Now to respond to your question, I am going to take what I feel is the best option to take the kind of pictures I want on that outing. If it is just fun picture taking while out with the family, I am not taking the D850, battery grip, and a 70-200. Because, relatively speaking, it is heavy. However, if I was going to take pictures of one of my daughters volleyball matches, the camera bag would include the D850 with grip, a couple of zooms and a prime.

A long way of saying that as I have gotten older (post retirement age). A D850 with grip and large lens is comparatively heavy. However, I wouldn't sweat the difference in weight between other choices and a D850 (without the grip) and a prime or 24 - 70 zoom.

Other ways of mitigating the weight is having a good neck or shoulder strap, having the right size camera bag, and only carrying what you really need.

I had the same experience last January. I walked from Santa Monica to the south end of Venice Beach. I mostly shot the D850 with the Sigma 24-105. In my backpack were too many other lenses that I didn’t need, but always worried I would need. By the time I got back to the hotel I was done, tired, sore neck sore back. Sat in the room and thought this isn’t fun anymore. After I reviewed my shots I wasn’t happy with some results I got at a skate park, the sigma, couldn’t keep up with the action. I purchased the Tamron 24-70 G2 but it came with issues and was heavy in its own right. To make a long story short, I sent the Tamron back and bought the Z6 and a 50 1.8 S. Eventually I added the 24-70 F4. I love this combination as a walk around kit but also performs well for portrait work especially when I added the 85 1.8S. I still use the 850 for sports work and landscape photography. But the smaller lighter package of the Z system is just a joy to use...

After carrying around a pair of RB67's and P67II's half my life (not to mention 4x5 view cameras), everything today seems featherweight to me.

Small differences in camera body weight seems insignificant since it will be all about the weight of the lenses that will really matter when attached - along with a good tripod bracket like an RRS or equivalent if you need one.
The D850 is a joy and worth the weight.

Regards,
Mike

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