TLT Photography Purchases Nikon D850 Flagship Camera Body

TLT Photography has purchased the new Nikon Flagship camera, the Full Frame D850. Before I describe how this will take my professional photography to the next level let me provide some context.

In 2011 while out of the action due to ACL reconstructive surgery (left knee this time, right knee was 2004) from a dropping too big of a cliff skiing I hatched a plan to purchase myself my first Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR). Before this I had only cheap consumer level point and shoots. But, now that I was living in the absolutely stunning Pacific Northwest it was time to get something beefier… not yet a full frame, but a crop sensor as a “starter” camera for me. Now here’s where it get’s interesting….

While laid up with a bum knee I was writing trail guides for a site called “EveryTrail.com” (now bought by Trails.com). For each trail guide I wrote with photos and a GPS track (I always track myself and geotag photos and blog afterwards) I was awarded points for an outdoor gear site from the Midwest (similar to REI) called Moosejaw. Well.. since I didn’t have $2,000 to spend on the camera I cooked up the idea of using the hordes of points I was accumulating to purchase $400 Garmin Forerunner watches through the site and sell them on eBay after receiving them. 300 guides later and some work for TripAdvisor with guides as well I had enough eBay sales to purchase my Nikon D7000 crop-sensor DX camera with a few lenses to get started.

That D7000 has been with me everywhere in the Pacific Northewest and around the world to places like Patagonia and to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. It has survived pounding rainstorms in Costa Rica, rafting trips, and many freezing nights of astrophotography. It has been a beast and has never failed me, even as I’ve lost multiple other cameras to water damage over the years. But, alas.. after 7 years it was showing it’s age with only 16 megapixels and the smaller DX sensor.

As I start my own business and pour all my energy into chasing the dream of becoming a respected professional photographer it has finally come time for me to upgrade. With UHD 4K video saturating every piece of technology from action cameras to cell phones I have patiently waited for my trusted brand Nikon to jump on the 4K train. Finally, on their 100th anniversary they did just that with the D850 and so, so, so much more.

With their first backside illuminated full frame sensor they have jam packed 45.7 megapixels into an unbelievably weather sealed frame that can shoot 9 frames per second and also autofocus on stars… yes.. pin pricks of light in total darkness. The camera can shoot at 1/8000 of a second and can focus in near darkness with a useable iso range of up to 25,600!

Yeah… that’s a lot of mumbo-jumbo for people that aren’t photographers… but checkout these pics.. and remember. The D850 doesn’t have a built in flash.

That is Leo at ISO 6400.. I never felt comfortable pushing the D7000 past 1600 ISO because of all the noise that would result. Leo looks great!

This plane was captured at 600mm flying over our house near dusk… at 1/4000 of a second I was able to freeze the propellers!

And finally… This tire is attached to a car traveling at 80mph down Interstate 5 in Oregon. You can read the writing on the tire… YOU CAN READ THE WRITING ON THE TIRE!!!

Yes, this camera will be a game changer for me. Thankfully, the menu systems are similar but I still have a 300+ page manual to get through and a lot of new shooting techniques to learn but with this body I will finally be able to be competitive in the market with photography and with nearly 46 megapixels I will be able to make 300dpi magazine quality prints IN POSTER SIZE.

Mic drop.

Wallet Empty.

Giant Grin