D5100 pros and cons - mainly viewfinder and menu system of 5100

snapsnap1973 · Jan 20, 2013

Hi.

Man tough decision between D5100 and D7000! I'm wondering the drawbacks to the smaller viewfinder on the 5100 and if it's that big of a deal and also how tough going into the menus is to change WB, ISO, etc is really.

I did try out both of them at a local department store chain and I liked the viewfinder more on the 7000 (it was clearer and LARGER), but I guess if I only had the 5100 there I never would've known the difference as I'm a beginner.

Thanks

It comes down to money really for me. I've got $700 saved and I really don't want to put anything more on my credit cards.

From what I gather the D7000 will cost me about $1200 and then I need a bag, etc, etc .... so I'm looking at around $1300-1400 to start out?

with the 5100 I can go pick it up tomorrow with the kit lens for $600 and get a 55-200 for another $200 with a discount for buying the camera? So maybe $900 with bags and stuff.

d5100 - $900 total
D7000- $1400 total ....... so about $500 more ...... hmmmmmmm :er:

oldhippy · Jan 20, 2013

Love my D5100 Almost the same inerts, same sensor ect. price was my deciding factor. I'd skip the 55/200. save a few bucks and get a 70/300..its 10 times the lens that 55/200 is.. for great all around the 35/1,8..read the reviews A LOT before you buy..most favor these choices..have fun..

snapsnap1973 · Jan 20, 2013

oldhippy said:
Love my D5100 Almost the same inerts, same sensor ect. price was my deciding factor. I'd skip the 55/200. save a few bucks and get a 70/300..its 10 times the lens that 55/200 is.. for great all around the 35/1,8..read the reviews A LOT before you buy..most favor these choices..have fun..

Thanks, but with the 70-300 wouldn't I miss the 55-70 range? Why is the 70-300 better than say the 55-300? Would the 70-300 be sharper?

oldhippy · Jan 20, 2013

Nikon AF-S 70-300 mm VR lens: Digital Photography Review one of the reviews that won me over

KmH · Jan 20, 2013

snapsnap1973 said:
Hi.

Man tough decision between D5100 and D7000! I'm wondering the drawbacks to the smaller viewfinder on the 5100 and if it's that big of a deal and also how tough going into the menus is to change WB, ISO, etc is really.

I did try out both of them at a local department store chain and I liked the viewfinder more on the 7000 (it was clearer and LARGER), but I guess if I only had the 5100 there I never would've known the difference as I'm a beginner.

Thanks

It comes down to money really for me. I've got $700 saved and I really don't want to put anything more on my credit cards.

From what I gather the D7000 will cost me about $1200 and then I need a bag, etc, etc .... so I'm looking at around $1300-1400 to start out?

with the 5100 I can go pick it up tomorrow with the kit lens for $600 and get a 55-200 for another $200 with a discount for buying the camera? So maybe $900 with bags and stuff.

d5100 - $900 total
D7000- $1400 total ....... so about $500 more ...... hmmmmmmm :er:

It's not just that the viewfinder is slightly smaller, the D5100 viewfinder is a penta-mirror viewfinder while the D7000 viewfinder is a pentaprism viewfinder.

The additional external controls the D7000 has allow changing a lot of setting without having to take your eye from the viewfinder. Don't forget the D7000 has - a better metering sensor, a better auto focus module, 2 command wheels, a top LCD, Commander mode, and more.

So you get quite a bit more buying a D7000, if you can afford the D7000.

So, it really boils down to 2 issues: how you expect to use the camera, and how much money you have to spend.

Derrel · Jan 20, 2013

I would definitely try and source a USED camera. In the entry-level camera segment, the majority of bodies are NOT used that much...in fact, many are quite "minty"...a D5100 might have 3,000 frames on it...maybe 10,000...a used Nikon D3s might have...310,000 actuations on it, ya know??? KEH.com for example, deals in used equipment to a huge degree. Great company to deal with. Entry-level NIkon bodies are a good place to buy USED equipment, at huge savings to you.

KmH · Jan 20, 2013

Derrel raises a very good point.

There is a lot of used gear out there for sale, and a lot of it is lightly used.

Places like KEH and the B&H Photo Video Used gear store have buyer friendly return policies. IIRC KEH even includes a 6 month warranty.

snapsnap1973 · Jan 20, 2013

Maybe I should hold off on a DSLR and get a bridge or mirrorless camera for now? Are there cameras that are close to DSLR quality with the range, preferably without an ILC? I'd rather have an ALL-IN-ONE camera for now I think, but that is FULLY manual and that I can learn on. Suggestions?

what about these?
http://www.ephotozine.com/article/top-10-best-ultra-zoom-bridge-digital-cameras-16928

Is the Lumix FZ200 better than the D5100?

Geaux · Jan 20, 2013

Hmm, so you've gone from wanting a top of the line "consumer dslr" to an all in one big point and shoot?

What's the reasoning?

goodguy · Jan 20, 2013

I bought my D7000 in December with the 18-105mm VR lens, the camera cost me 1000$+Tax
For me it was well worth the difference from the D5100, the D7000 is a camera you can grow into.
Saying that since the 5100 and 7000 share same sensor then in many cases the pictures should be identical.
Either way both cameras are amazing.

TamiAz · Jan 20, 2013

I have a used D5100 I'm wanting to sell..It would come with the 18-55mm 3.5-5.6, 55-300mm 3.5-5.6 and two batteries. I took very good care of it. I upgraded and I don't need two cameras. Send me a pm if your interested.

snapsnap1973 · Jan 24, 2013

Hi all. Since money is a concern right now and I'm not really BIG into photography I think I'll go with the D5100 and invest in lens over time. Yes, the D7000 is NICE and I like the larger viewfinder, external controls, etc, BUT it's just out of my league at the moment and I'm not that into photography to justify $1300USD with the included 18-105mm kit. I think I'll go for the D5100 and the 18-55 for now and then maybe get the 55-200 vr.

I might take pics in reality every 3 months or less, so it's not really a passion per se, my passion is classical guitar. That being said, I do enjoy learning about photography and like taking pics when I go on driving trips around the New England area so I HOPE the D5100 will serve as a learning tool and allow me to take at least pretty good pics of mainly landscapes, etc.

Thanks