SpikeyJohnson
No longer a newbie, moving up!
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2014
- Messages
- 365
- Reaction score
- 125
- Location
- United States
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
Hey everyone,
I'm new to this forum and have been running through a question through my head. I have specifically registered to ask this question. I currently have a D3200 which I bought not too long ago. It came with the 18-55mm and the 55-200mm lenses. Since buying the camera I have bought a 50mm 1.8g as well. Most of the time I shoot, I find the 50mm lens on my camera. I would consider myself an advanced amateur or prosumer and I have taken quite a few classes from highschool and college for photography, as well as currently being enrolled in classes. I'm even looking at becoming a professional photographer in the future. I like shooting "commercial" photos and landscape photos. In the latter I am finding my D3200 limiting and looking at the former type I see upgrading being helpful due to owning a SB-700 flash as well.
Since buying my D3200 I have found my self at several "bottlenecks". Most of these haven't been to do with lenses as much as functionality of my camera. These reason's include
High speed sync (daylight portrait work with flash),
Auto Exposure Bracketing (Effects almost everything I do because I normally bracket photos anyways),
LCD display (I have used D80's and D90's and love the top display) It is much easier to use than to start up my main display (I have it to stay off unless I ask for the shot info or to view a photo I took),
Focus Motor (My family has a few lenses other than my own that don't have the motor's built in),
User Presets (U1 or U2 modes, it can be tedious to change settings between settings when I could set up presets),
Modifiable Function Buttons (not too may dedicated or modifiable buttons on the D3200)
No commander mode for flash (I would like to set up my SB-700 off camera and have the camera control it for product shoots, macro shots, portraits, etc.)
I think the list could go on. I have run into quite a few things which irk me a little but can be done manually, like a few of the listed items. I have also ran into limitations that can't be fixed by using manual mode extensively, such as high speed sync and the lack of internal focus motor. A main point is that I don't like to rely too much on borrowing gear and most of the time gear borrowing is not possible. I have been happy with my lenses up to this point and don't see as much of a reason to upgrade lenses yet. Many people would say to upgrade lenses first but I honestly can't figure out what is more helpful.
In your honest opinions what would you think would be the best option:
1: Upgrade my DSLR Body from the D3200 to the D7100 ( I have looked at the D7000 as well but might prefer the AA filter, resolution, and the 5 brackets in AEB)
2: Upgrade my lenses
I will most likely have a little over 1200 or 1300 dollars to work with (tax returns) which would allow me to get the d7100 or a few lenses. I'm pretty partial to the D7100 option because I think I would prefer to get it and have the extra usability of the camera and then save up for the great lenses or the "trinity" over time (I'm not much of a stop in the middle person when it comes to quality/functions of items and usually buy the best parts for my car and computers and have leaned towards the same for my camera needs). The second option doesn't seem as much of an option if I truly want to become a pro or market myself to shoot portraits for people. The d3200 I feel really limits me whereas I feel my lenses haven't done so yet even though they are some of the cheapest lenses.
I can also save up and buy "mid-range" lenses ($700 or less) later whereas I may not be able to jump to a D7100 in the near future.
Any advice, opinions, suggestions are greatly appreciated seeing as I'm stuck.
Thanks a bunch in advance and I look forward to contributing to the forum in the future
Edit: I should also mention I have the full Adobe Create Cloud which furthers my want to learn blending of bracketed images into HDR.
I'm new to this forum and have been running through a question through my head. I have specifically registered to ask this question. I currently have a D3200 which I bought not too long ago. It came with the 18-55mm and the 55-200mm lenses. Since buying the camera I have bought a 50mm 1.8g as well. Most of the time I shoot, I find the 50mm lens on my camera. I would consider myself an advanced amateur or prosumer and I have taken quite a few classes from highschool and college for photography, as well as currently being enrolled in classes. I'm even looking at becoming a professional photographer in the future. I like shooting "commercial" photos and landscape photos. In the latter I am finding my D3200 limiting and looking at the former type I see upgrading being helpful due to owning a SB-700 flash as well.
Since buying my D3200 I have found my self at several "bottlenecks". Most of these haven't been to do with lenses as much as functionality of my camera. These reason's include
High speed sync (daylight portrait work with flash),
Auto Exposure Bracketing (Effects almost everything I do because I normally bracket photos anyways),
LCD display (I have used D80's and D90's and love the top display) It is much easier to use than to start up my main display (I have it to stay off unless I ask for the shot info or to view a photo I took),
Focus Motor (My family has a few lenses other than my own that don't have the motor's built in),
User Presets (U1 or U2 modes, it can be tedious to change settings between settings when I could set up presets),
Modifiable Function Buttons (not too may dedicated or modifiable buttons on the D3200)
No commander mode for flash (I would like to set up my SB-700 off camera and have the camera control it for product shoots, macro shots, portraits, etc.)
I think the list could go on. I have run into quite a few things which irk me a little but can be done manually, like a few of the listed items. I have also ran into limitations that can't be fixed by using manual mode extensively, such as high speed sync and the lack of internal focus motor. A main point is that I don't like to rely too much on borrowing gear and most of the time gear borrowing is not possible. I have been happy with my lenses up to this point and don't see as much of a reason to upgrade lenses yet. Many people would say to upgrade lenses first but I honestly can't figure out what is more helpful.
In your honest opinions what would you think would be the best option:
1: Upgrade my DSLR Body from the D3200 to the D7100 ( I have looked at the D7000 as well but might prefer the AA filter, resolution, and the 5 brackets in AEB)
2: Upgrade my lenses
I will most likely have a little over 1200 or 1300 dollars to work with (tax returns) which would allow me to get the d7100 or a few lenses. I'm pretty partial to the D7100 option because I think I would prefer to get it and have the extra usability of the camera and then save up for the great lenses or the "trinity" over time (I'm not much of a stop in the middle person when it comes to quality/functions of items and usually buy the best parts for my car and computers and have leaned towards the same for my camera needs). The second option doesn't seem as much of an option if I truly want to become a pro or market myself to shoot portraits for people. The d3200 I feel really limits me whereas I feel my lenses haven't done so yet even though they are some of the cheapest lenses.
I can also save up and buy "mid-range" lenses ($700 or less) later whereas I may not be able to jump to a D7100 in the near future.
Any advice, opinions, suggestions are greatly appreciated seeing as I'm stuck.
Thanks a bunch in advance and I look forward to contributing to the forum in the future
Edit: I should also mention I have the full Adobe Create Cloud which furthers my want to learn blending of bracketed images into HDR.
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