Advice on upgrading Camera.

[Janene]

Hi,

Just after some advise. Now I have been reading through threads, and first let me say I'm not a hobbiest wanting to turn Semi Pro so please put your pitchforks away! :lmao:

I currently own a Nikon D200 - and have done for quite a while now. I like to think I'm quite good at photography and have been in love with this hobby for many many years. I have done event shoots for family and friends and occasionally the friend of a friend in the past but I don't do it for money, I do it because I love to.

I've been thinking lately of upgrading my camera, I'd like to stick with Nikon, because - well basically I love Nikon and never had an issue with my D200 so why go elsewhere is my motto.

So I'm asking for opinions on what are some good Cameras for the hobby photographer in the Nikon Range.

Thanks

 

[Netskimmer]

What is your budget? What lenses do you have? What are your main interests in photography? (Macro, Landscapes, Sports, Portraits, ect) What about your camera is coming up short that makes you want to upgrade?

 

[sovietdoc]

D800. Even if you can't afford it, take a short-term loan.

 

[Janene]

Hi Netskimmer.

I've mainly done Portrait photography, I love working with children and newborns if that gives you a better idea.
I have a 50mm f 1.4D and 18-55mm (sorry at work, not 100% sure of specs, but I believe it's a f/3.5-5.5?)

I'm not wanting to go Semi Pro, so I don't need a top of the range equiptment

To be honest, my D200 doesn't fall short, I love it but I've had it forever and just feel it's time to upgrade. I don't plan on selling it, I will still use it, but I want to explore what the newer models have to offer.

My budget probably lies around the $1k mark.

Thanks for your reply

 

[Janene]

Soviet Thanks for the reply. That one is a little beyond my budget just to keep a passion of mine alive lol. I'd love to spend that kind of money but not for just a casual hobby that I enjoy doing on weekends.

Looks like an awesome camera though But I believe my husband may have a few words to say if that kind of money goes missing from the savings lol.

 

[Netskimmer]

If that is just for the body I would look at the D7000, I have one and I really like it. Body only version runs around $1,200USD new. You might find one cheaper used. The D5100 uses the same sensor but has less bells and whistles and fewer dedicated controls. I haven't used the D3100 or D5000 so I can't comment on them.

 

[Stradawhovious]

I'm a hobbiest, bought the D7000, and I have never regretted it. It does absolutely everything I need and more, opens up a whole new world for lens choices (Internal focusing motor), fantastic in low light/high ISO situations, and very user friendly in the sense that it is customizable. The "extra" features I appreciated the most when I first got it were the DOF preview, Virtual horizon, and the U1, U2 customizable Presets. There are a bunch more featuers I'm not going to go into here, but do some homework and you will find them. I'm sure you could get one (body only) in the price range you have.

This is just my opinion, Your mileage may vary.

Do a little homework before you buy anything though... there are always a lot of new bodies hitting the market.

 

[jaomul]

The obvious choice is probably the D7000 at the moment. If you are happy to spend a little more you can't go wrong with the FF D700. Its more expensive and you will probably end up spending money on lenses eventually (your 18-55 would work on it as cropped giving you 5mp images, but honestly thats usually enough anyway). Its a well built high spec camera with massive low light performance. I shoot canon but if I had a choice of a camera and a few lenses the D700 would be my pick of whats around now.

edit- sorry initially missed your 1k budget, D7000 is a good choice so

 

[LowezAkar]

First and Foremost, Good Glass!!! Get a camera that is significantly better than your current camera. Do not just aim for a newer model with the same mechanics. Are you looking to go Full Frame? If not, you can't go wrong with the D300s.

 

[DiskoJoe]

d5100 or d7000 are both good. the 7000 has a focusing motor and the 5100 does not so you would have to purchase more expensive lenses. But really you dont have much for lenses and gear so going full frame is not out of the question either. D700 is a good motor but you would need the fx lenses. You need some lens upgrade action too.

 

[Janene]

Thanks everyone for your input. I'll be taking the advice off to research the cameras you mentioned.

Appreciate the feedback

 

[lonewolfsx]

Hmmm are the 50 1.4 and the 18-55 your only lenses? Because if that's the case, I'd consider looking for a new lens as opposed to the body. Don't get me wrong, the D200 is a little dated by now, but I think replacing your 18-55 with a higher quality lens/lenses would provide more noticeably better photographs, especially if you're concentrating on children/people shots (though the 50mm f/1.4 is very good for this). I know the 16-85mm is really good and sharp, but I'd probably recommend something with a wider aperture like possibly the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8... it's not super wide like the 18mm lens can get, but it's very usable and a great people/portrait lens for your type of photography.

I guess if you're set on a body, I'd go for the D7000, its pretty awesome. Wait like 2 weeks though, Nikon is supposed to make an announcement decently soon (supposedly the 19th, thursday). No idea what, but most people are pointing towards a D3200 (3100 replacement) body, supposedly with a 24 mpx sensor, and that body will probably only run $700 new (though lacking a few features, for example your 50mm f/1.4 "D" will not autofocus on a 3xxx or 5xxx body).

Oh and whoever suggested the D5100, that's a good option as well, but you'd have to live without AF on the 50mm f/1.4... might be a deal killer. It would be for me. Same problem with this "D3200" rumored to be released soon.

 

[Derrel]

I would go with the D7000. Or, wait for the replacement camera for the D300s to hit the market. Being used to the semi-pro level D200 Nikon, I personally think you'll enjoy staying in the same class of body. To me, the D7000's viewfinder is not as good as that on the D200 or D300 cameras for using with eyeglasses on. if you do not wear glasses, then the D7000 might be perfectly fine. For "me", the quality of a camera's viewfinder image is a huge,huge factor in how much I like using it. The D5100 for example---that's like looking through a 110 Instamatic...same with the D7000...the finder is not as good as I want to have, and as a D200 user, I think you'll notice that same thing.

The D700 (seven hundred) is actually out there and available new for $2199 at quite a few smaller dealers across the USA; that could be your "last camera". Same with a D800--it ought to last for many,many years. However, if you need to stay in the original D200-type price range, my feeling is that you ought to wait for the D300s replacement model, and buy that.

 

[Netskimmer]

I wear glasses and have never had trouble with the D7000's viewfinder. I have never used a prosumer level body though so I may just not know what I'm missing.