Looking to purchase new Nikon Body

[newfoundlander61]

I have been shooting with the Nikon D50 and 80-400VR handheld for a few years and am considering purchasing a 2nd body for the 80-400VR lense. I use the lense mainly for bird/nature photography and do not use a tripod. The D7000 has come across my radar as worthy for consideration. Here are some questions related to this model that I would appreciate and info on:

1. Is the issue with the oil spots been fixed in production by Nikon?

2. With the latest firmware updates is it necessary to Fine Tune any lenses to get a sharp shot?

3.How will this lense (80-400vr) perfrom on the D7000?

Here is an image taken in good light with my current setup. Thanks kindly for reading my 1st post and helping out in anyway.

Paul

 

[SCraig]

1. Is the issue with the oil spots been fixed in production by Nikon?

That was on the D600. I haven't heard of it happening on the D7000 but maybe I just missed it.

2. With the latest firmware updates is it necessary to Fine Tune any lenses to get a sharp shot?

That would depend on the lens and not necessarily the camera. I haven't had to adjust any of mine.

3.How will this lense (80-400vr) perfrom on the D7000?

Quite well, I'm sure. I use a Sigma 150-500 and have had excellent results with the combination.

Here is an image taken in good light with my current setup. Thanks kindly for reading my 1st post and helping out in anyway.

I responded to it in your post for it.

I bought my D7000 in March, 2012 and presently have right at 12,000 shutter actuations on it. I've been very pleased with it and have no urge to trade it or purchase anything else. I prefer a crop-sensor camera since most of my photography is birds and wildlife, so the D7000 does exactly what I want.

 

[goodguy]

Am not aware of oil spot problems on the D7000, my D7000 which I bought over 2 months ago works like a champ.
Buy this camera with confidence, right now they are sold for a very resonable prices.

The owl picture is wonderful!!!

 

[Mike_E]

As I understand it the oil problem is only for the D600 and not all of those. And after 2000 shots or so the problem goes away.

Having said that I would personally rather have a D300s or wait for it's replacement. The D300s (with Grip) has 8fps -nice for birds- and would in my thinking be a better balance for your lens of choice.

If money isn't a problem them I would heartily recommend the D800/E. It's not as fast (6fps with grip in crop mode) but is pretty rugged, will operate in crop mode so you retain the reach you're used to and is just a generally stellar camera.

 

[Solarflare]

1. Thats a problem of the D600. The D7000 doesnt have this issue. Also, its a gamble if your D600 will have the problem, or not. Either way that problem is reportedly gone after 3,000 acutations.

2. That obviously depends upon the lens.

3. Um, no idea about that one. Look up reviews on the internet ?

If money isn't a problem them I would heartily recommend the D800/E. It's not as fast (6fps with grip in crop mode) but is pretty rugged, will operate in crop mode so you retain the reach you're used to and is just a generally stellar camera.

Um.

Its also extremely expensive in comparison to the D7000 for no really big advantage, plus you might get the left focusing problem.

 

[Onbird]

I have been shooting with the Nikon D50 and 80-400VR handheld for a few years and am considering purchasing a 2nd body for the 80-400VR lense. I use the lense mainly for bird/nature photography and do not use a tripod. The D7000 has come across my radar as worthy for consideration. Here are some questions related to this model that I would appreciate and info on:

1. Is the issue with the oil spots been fixed in production by Nikon?

2. With the latest firmware updates is it necessary to Fine Tune any lenses to get a sharp shot?

3.How will this lense (80-400vr) perfrom on the D7000?

Here is an image taken in good light with my current setup. Thanks kindly for reading my 1st post and helping out in anyway.

Paul

<img src="http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=35876"/>

We are big into Birding and Photography. I bought my wife the D7000 a while back and among the lens we have, the 80-400 is also part of her arsenal. This lens is very sharp but slower AF when taking photos of BIF and of course low light will be a factor. She steals my 2.8for that!

I have many friends in my club who also have this camera and are very pleased with the performance. For 95 percent of your shooting the fps are very adequate.

Item 2 kills me! Its is the latest buzz... if it ain't broke don't fix it! If your photos are sharp/clear, forget about it and certainly don't get hung up on it.

Sent from my iPad using PhotoForum

 

[KmH]

The D7000 has been in production for over 2 years now. You don't need to worry about oils spots

+1 on #2 being the latest buzz. Virtually all digital images have to be sharpened post process because of the AA (Anti-Aliasing/low pass) filter that has to be in front of the image sensor.

 

[Mike_E]

1. Thats a problem of the D600. The D7000 doesnt have this issue. Also, its a gamble if your D600 will have the problem, or not. Either way that problem is reportedly gone after 3,000 acutations.

2. That obviously depends upon the lens.

3. Um, no idea about that one. Look up reviews on the internet ?

If money isn't a problem them I would heartily recommend the D800/E. It's not as fast (6fps with grip in crop mode) but is pretty rugged, will operate in crop mode so you retain the reach you're used to and is just a generally stellar camera.

Um.

Its also extremely expensive in comparison to the D7000 for no really big advantage, plus you might get the left focusing problem.

Eh, I haven't seen a left shift problem and highly suspect that's another bwoop (blown way out of proportion) internet gripe but if so it's simply a matter of sending it in for warranty repair.

The thing is while out shooting birds you might want to take a landscape shot or three and the D800 is the equal of my RB67s. I haven't shot any 4x5 lately to compare but everything considered I'd take my D800 over my 4x5 unless I needed the shifts.

Yes it is expensive. Yes it is a great camera. No, you don't have to buy all new Nikon lenses if what you already have is quality glass. Yes, it's likely to focus faster with the screw drive lenses (more powerful motor and better AF). And yes, I am happy with mine.

 

[greybeard]

1) I've had no oil spots to deal with.
2) I fine tune all my lenses, no big deal.
3) The 80-400 VR will perform like a 120-600 on FF. Should be killer.

 

[jl1975]

I can't answer your questions as I am also looking at the D7000 to replace my D3000, but I just wanted to say hi from another Kingstonian. And great shot of the owl. It almost looks like it was posing for you. Well done.

 

[brian_f2.8]

Can't go wrong with a D7000.

I love the owl shot btw, I have only seen an owl once in my life(32 years old). One day, Ill spend some time and do some nature stuff.

 

[newfoundlander61]

"Item 2 kills me! Its is the latest buzz... if it ain't broke don't fix it! If your photos are sharp/clear, forget about it and certainly don't get hung up on it."

Good point on this, I think sometimes I pay too much attention to internet posts and reviews. Your comment is a good one and wakes me up a little.

 

[newfoundlander61]

Awesome feed back, very helpful. To make things easy I will buy a D7000 , they are selling the body for $829.99 locally. One last thing for this post, there is a kit lense 18-105 VR that comes with the kit version for an extra $250. Is the lense worth that, may be useful for landscapes compared to my 80-400VR? Thanks again.
[h=1][/h]Paul

 

[goodguy]

Awesome feed back, very helpful. To make things easy I will buy a D7000 , they are selling the body for $829.99 locally. One last thing for this post, there is a kit lense 18-105 VR that comes with the kit version for an extra $250. Is the lense worth that, may be useful for landscapes compared to my 80-400VR? Thanks again.
Paul

With my D7000 I have currently 2 lenses the 18-105mm and 50mm 1.8G and the 18-105 gets most of the action.
While not an expert I find this lens to be a great everyday lens for most of my needs.

 

[ratssass]

...I'm not sure how much good an 18-105 would do for birding,but for the price,I've always thought it was a pretty decent walk around lens.I still use mine quite a bit....