Decisions Decisions, Help Me Choose New Camera

I would go with the D810. Full frame is worth it. Are you shooting action or sports team portraits? For action this camera might be a little to slow. Why do you think your lenses will not work? For the no wifi that isn't a big issue. The d810 has 2 card slots. You can get an SD card from Eyefi and if you need more space get a compact flash for the other slot.

Alicia, keep in mind that if you do a lot of telephoto photography, a crop sensor will give you more reach than a full frame. If you do mostly wide angle work, a full frame will give you a wider view. I keep my Bigma on a crop sensor body and my wide angle on a full frame.

ETA: Why would WiFi be a determining factor? GPS might be useful but WiFi, maybe not so much.

Action and Portraits. My current lenses are all DX, to work with the 1.3x crop factor in the DX Model Cameras. The D7200 also has 2 card slots. I have had the full frame itch for quite some time, but if I drop the cash on it and the quality is the same as I am currently getting with my D5300, I will be sad, but if I get the 7200 and there is no increase in quality I will also be sad......I am a little put off that the D810 does not have commander mode for external flash like the "Lesser" DX models have. Doing portraits I would like this feature instead of another piece of equipment to buy, and another potential point of failure when working.

It's not the camera, it's the photographer. Just sayin

The 810 is compatible with every Nikon lens made since 1977. http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d810.htm#spex

Do you really need wi fi? In what situation?

Right Kathleen-I have a D5300 and a D3200, and for birding/Tele would most likley use one of these. If I do go to the full frame it will primarily be for portrait work, but I am struggling with the weight addition, having to go to new lenses, and the 2x price tag on the D810 and if it will provide that much of an increase in quality over the 24mp 4000x6000 sensor on the 7200. I know with the 810 I should be able to crop shots and still have a decent amount of pixels to get a decent shot from.

have you looked at the new Coolpix p900.....I love it...so much zoom for wildlife.

@Bradford-The wifi allows me to use my tablet as a remote shutter when doing portraits with no cords, and I have an instant preview of the portrait on the tablet to show clients without having to pull my card, transfer, and import before previewing.

I can only say one thing Alicia, canon sx 60 hs, I'm loving mine, and the price is under $500., a great bridge camera that takes awesome photos, and has a 1265 mm lens. If it fails like your last camera, your not out thousands. What ever you chose, I wish you the best of luck with it.

I think the 810 does have commander mode. will check. I have the 800 and know that does

@Mario I got the 5300 back up and running like a pro, I am just at the point where I need some more professional gear as I signed a contract to do all of the sports photos for two school districts. I am already heavily invested in the Nikon system, so staying with them-though my first dslr was a canon d60 that had awesome image quality for its 6.3mp sensor.

Oh wow that's great about the contract! Then Nikon is the ticket.

Alicia,

I wouldn't move up to the 810, since you're already have quite an investment in the DX lenses. I just buy another DX camera. If shooting sports stuff, not sure a full frame file is worth the investment. Anything you shoot can be made into almost any size print, so why bother with a FX camera body. AND if you did move up to a FX camera, what's your backup camera then, 1.5 sensor FX? Doesn't make sense. Get a new body and then when shooting sports, 2 cameras, one with the telephoto and one with a wide angle zoom on your shoulder and you're ready for anything,

Rich

Unless do a lot of low light photography, like weddings or really need the wide angle, I would go with the 7200. There is enough image quality there.

Again why new lens? As far as quality between the 7200 from the 5300, I believe the image quality will be the same, the body is much better on the 7200. More weather tight less plastic, as far as full frame if I had the money and it was not a question I would get the best.

I have a D800E and absolutely LOVE it. FX image quality is miles better than DX.

However, my "thing" is wide landscapes. The D800 is not the fastest fps. For sports, I would think that speed would be the most important consideration. How many fps is the D7200? Also, though you can use some DX lenses on FX cameras, you might as well be using a DX camera because it will shrink your field of view to DX size. If you don't have any FX lenses, your investment will be much more than just the camera.

Per the reviews on the 7200 it does quite well in low light and really no drop in image quality until you hit around ISO 1600. -That said I don't do many weddings, mainly because brides get on my nerves, but I do many artistic portraits, all of which have controlled lighting.

@Rich- I currently do the 2 camera setup with my 5300 and 3200 when doing anything action. 18-200 on the 3200 and bigma on the 5300, However even though these cameras have the same megapixel count as the 7200, the reviews and upgrades on the 7200 made me consider going to it over the 810.

@Loree-The 7200 is 6fps, but I get that with my 5300 already. I do lots of landscape as far as my art passion goes. I think my BigMa is compatible with the d810, and the dx factor on the reach is not that big of a deal for me doing birds, I always get in pretty close and actually keep it on about 400mm most of the time or I cut their wings off.

Honestly the upgrade is more for my art than for the money end-rarely do I sell anything larger than a 16x20 portrait, but have sold some really large landscapes.......

As far as cash I have enough to get either, but would be able to spring for the battery grip and some additional accessories for the 7200, but think it may be time to start up my FX System. I know I will keep the 5300 and 3200 as backups so it is not like I will just throw away those lenses and such. Loree, I should look at the d800......

810 can handle your current lenses from what I understand but will give you a smaller file. even figuring the DX crop it is still a big file.

I liked the idea of wifi but frankly, have never used it. Maybe someday I will.

I moved up to full frame with the Nikon D600. Personally, I love it but have noticed vignetting with every lens I have and all of my lenses are FX, not DX. My Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR is HORRIBLE on the D600 and AWESOME on my D300! So, I would say get the Nikon D7200. However, if you are making good money and selling photos then by all means get the Nikon 810. I have been shooting since 2007 and have yet to sell an image, though I have not tried till now. Had I not got a great deal on the D600 I would have got the Nikon 7100, which is also a great camera.

No matter what you get I am sure you will enjoy it.

Derek

If you are a professional you need a professional camera. I've missed so many shots with a slow motor, finicky whatever. These cameras are not like the cameras of yesterday. Enough with its not the camera its the photographer. Buy the best you can afford!! Can you make do with whatever? Of course you can but why?

I have the D7100 and for the longest time thought I wanted the D810. The extra mp would be nice but since I wanted something a little better in low light, full frame, and not as expensive as the D810 I bought the D750 in May. Love the camera. Might want to think about the D750 but then again others may have a different opinion. I like it though.

One can upgrade one's skills as well...

Skills are one thing but it takes skills AND a good camera to do some things.

Hey, I have images on here done with a cell phone that sell.

That said, skill and a great camera and lens will take you much further.

You simply cannot do this without the right equipment AND the skill set to do it.

I have thought about the D750 and the D800E. Still not totally decided, but I think I am now between the newer FX Models.......

@Jessica-Photographers are always upgrading their skill. I used to only do landscapes as my "Art" then decided I wanted to do birds and worked and worked, studied settings, and finally started taking good hummingbird shots :)

Hey Rich,,How are you,,,Ahh,, you use the "beast" as I call it..I had one for brief time but it was tooo much camera for me...I felt overwhelmed and intimidated..And thats not something I would admit too!

Jon,
I agree with what you say. In addition you had them both digitally.
I was Nikonist with film.

I always speak from a personal perspective, and I repeat that it is a school of thought. I think the two brands are industry leaders and probably both brands stand out for a feature or another. Proving that we internationally renowned photographers who use Canon or Nikon.

However, in photograph the technical features are not everything, we also consider the flavor that gives the image a fingerprint Canon or a Nikon footprint.

Here comes the school of thought of before ...

Nikon, when born, inspired by its optical system from Carl Zeiss, Canon inspires him to Leitz.

So we find the lens Nikon sharper with more vivid colors. And we find the Canon lens with a more moderate contrast with softer colors, and from my point of view the most beautiful.

... But I speak as a lover of Leica, why I prefer Canon.
But I take pictures with the Holga lens :))

I would prefer the d7200 for wild life,sports. For portraits a full frame camera it's better for the shallow depth of field and beautyfull bokeh.

Roberto,,Very well said!

In terms of my Art, I need a quick auto focus, I need low noise at higher ISO (Bird wings in the shade, ISO 800 needs to be "Crispy"), I need decent burst speed, My perfect camera basically will be able to focus and shoot a pair of sparring hummingbirds and give me a sharp photograph with low noise that I can make a billboard from :) That is my vision, that is what I need. Oh, and it must be Nikon :)

My current portrait lens will work on any Nikon camera, so portraits are covered regardless of what camera I choose, and if I can shoot sparring hummingbirds I can shoot any football player sprinting down a field-they are larger and slower than hummingbirds. (I also have my BigMa lens for sports action, so my "money" work will be covered regardless of what body I choose.

That said, I am not getting the D7200-My D5300 has the same sensor and is only missing a few features that I don't care about anyway-so Full frame. Initally I was thinking, newest must be best, but am going to research the D750, D800, and the D810, and only pay for the options I must have. If I cave in and get one based on price I will forever wonder what could have been.

Nikon is.
The adjustable monitor, although comfortable, I never liked them, are also easier to break.
A beautiful 810 and not talk about it anymore. :)

Canon 6D

With the Canon 6D it is better make coffee that sports photography :)

Great Alicia,,And have fun making a decision..its a good problem to have,,,take a look at DPreview if you want some comparison etc..or fredmiranda.com or Luminouslandscapes

Personally I'll never get another camera that doesn't have a flip out screen. That thing has spared me from having to crawl on the ground numerous times. It's also allowed me to easily frame images with camera held way over my head. I know it's not 'professional'. But, it comes in handy... A lot

I agree that it is very useful as the macro picture or prospects most unlikely. It's just that it seems mild.

lol that is one thing that I will miss about my D5300! I like it best when I am in questionable light I can flip it open and check my exposure, and when closed it is more protected than a non tilting (closing) screen.

Your D5300 keep it or commute?
For example, my old Canon 30D I kept it for safety. If the 6D must go to repair at least not rest without camera. In any case I would have commuted to 4 money.

I dont own the 750 but I love that aspect of it...If I buy anything it would be that at this point.

@Roberto-I have a D5300 and a D3200 as my backup currently. I always carry my main body and a backup for those days when nothing goes right.

I love the built in WiFi on my camera. I guess it comes down to durability, because image quality on the D5300 is already incredible at 24 MP.

Rightly! :)

Bullman Jon Bullman: What about the times around 1/200. There are some troubles reported with unsharp images around this speed, because of the shutter shock.

Jon G,

It is a Monster, but I'm committed! I'm up in St Augustine for a few days and may drag it around in this heat, tripod and all!

@Martin-Not sure which body you are talking about but the only issues I have ever had with sharpness on my D5300 were user error, either in hand shake or af settings.

@Rich-I love St. Augustine, but moreso the St. Augustine of 20+ years ago when the Sunset Grill was an outdoor establishment and you could sit by the bar and see the beach instead of the parking lots and gawdy resorts that stand there now.

Full frame makes a difference with landscapes. However, a crop sensor might suit you more for wildlife, sports and weddings for that extra reach. They do well with landscapes too but there is more detail with full frame.

Alicia Collins: This issue is mainly at d5300. Discusion about that is here for example:http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3823845#forum-post-55591675

@Mark-Would the crop settings on a full frame camera also give telephoto lenses the extra reach they get on the dx bodies? Probably a silly question, but curious and incapable of searching for the answer while working today...

@Martin-I will have to check out the link. I do have some sharpness issues, but I blame it on 98% handheld due to indecision about a tripod and head, and anxiety over how much a tripod and head would slow me down in the field.

Alicia,Yes the crop setting will give you the extra reach.I guess you missed my previous post..I was in the Palouse shooting with a 80-400..I saw someone else's view with a 500 mm lens,,so i changed the setting on my Nikon from Fx to Dx and had the same view..

"...anxiety over how much a tripod and head would slow me down in the field."

I just recently went through that thought decision, concerned about a tripod slowing me down, and went with a monopod. I can attach it to the camera, carry it collapsed, and quickly deploy it if needed. I also can still do hand-held shots with the monopod attached and collapsed.

i have the new camera issue too. I am thinking about D3300 and d5300. D3300 has similar conrtrols like my 3000, there are no issues with shutter shock and it is cheaper. But it doesn´t have mirror lock-up, bracketing and 14bit raw. Also D5300 has better AF system.

But maybe I am overthinking it. My d3000 is good enough to pass the shutterstock rewievers, so D3300 will be more than fine.