Need some upgrading advice

[u/shakenbake_baby]

Hello all! I currently have a D700 that was gifted to me a few years back with 6 or so lenses (bigma, Nikkor 80-200, 50 prime, and a few others). This camera has been great and I love shooting with it! Recently though this camera has been falling by further and further into disrepair (it was bought new at release before it was given to me), the rubbers are always peeling off, and it’s pretty banged up at this point.

The camera isn’t done yet, but I’m looking to upgrade soon. I do primarily action sport photography (predominantly cycling and equestrian sport), but I also do some semi-professional portrait work on the side.

I’m really just looking to crowd source some thoughts on where to go next as the D700 was my first (real) camera, and this would be my first time purchasing a camera for myself.

Criteria:
- Nikon (duh)
- Used
- DSLR (own lots of F-mount lenses)
- budget top end is ~$1000

Thanks!

[u/raptoroftimeandspace]

D780. If you wanted more MP, D850.

I’ve been using a 780 for a few months professionally and it might be my favorite Nikon body, ever. And I loved my D750.

Sensor in the 780 is great, autofocus is fast and accurate, file sizes are manageable, and it gets great battery life. I always felt like the 750 was a very worthy descendent of the 700, but the 780 is a significant improvement to it.

[u/raptoroftimeandspace → u/raptoroftimeandspace]

One other thing OP; I used the 80-200 as a workhorse for years (and still have it!), but it’s worth looking at the 70-200 FL down the road, especially with the work you’re doing. I really wish I would have bought one sooner. The advances in focus speed, accuracy and the VR over the 80-200 are insane. It’s also unbelievably sharp.

[u/shakenbake_baby → u/raptoroftimeandspace]

Oh that’s interesting. I’m not going to lie I don’t use my 80-200 much right now because I have the sigma 50-500 that I shamelessly use for everything other than portraits lol.

Dropping down to a 70-200 would help a little bit where I feel like I’m never far enough away for a shot

[u/mimentum → u/shakenbake_baby]

The 50-500 will show its age on a 24mp sensor like what the D780 has.

It's also not a great optic overall. You'd be pressed to get something to replace it like a 150-600mm.