Upgrading?

Vinnydude

Senior Member
I'm thinking about upgrading from my trusty d5100, the only thing is I'm kind of at a loss as to where to go.

I would love to go full frame and splash out on a d610 but that would basically render my current lenses obsolite as I'd have to be shooting in crop mode :/ So yeah, with lenses on top, that would be extremely expensive :(

The only other alternative I can see is the d7200?

Any suggestions?
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I'm thinking about upgrading from my trusty d5100, the only thing is I'm kind of at a loss as to where to go.

I would love to go full frame and splash out on a d610 but that would basically render my current lenses obsolite as I'd have to be shooting in crop mode :/ So yeah, with lenses on top, that would be extremely expensive :(

The only other alternative I can see is the d7200?

Any suggestions?
D7100's must be plummeting in price with the D7200 being the new "golden child" and refurbs must be about a freaking steal. I made the move from DX to FX recently but I'll never let go of my D7100. Unless you need a seriously deep buffer, I'd say the '7100 is probably hitting the Price vs. Performance "sweet spot" right now. Of course the D7200 *does* have some nice upgrades so it that's within budget then yeah, that's the way to go. But even so, I wouldn't rule out the D7100.
....
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
What lenses do you have? Instead of getting a new camera body with the same lenses, maybe it's time to upgrade glass instead for better IQ?

Maybe not, just depends on what kind of photography you like best. I can rationalize buying just about anything. :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
What lenses do you have? Instead of getting a new camera body with the same lenses, maybe it's time to upgrade glass instead for better IQ?

Maybe not, just depends on what kind of photography you like best. I can rationalize buying just about anything. :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Repeated for truth!!!
 

Vinnydude

Senior Member
Currently shooting with a Sigma f2.8 17-50mm and a sigma 10mm fisheye f2.8

I was looking at the sigma ART series lenses, either the f1.8 18-35mm, or the 50mm f1.4.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Currently shooting with a Sigma f2.8 17-50mm and a sigma 10mm fisheye f2.8

I was looking at the sigma ART series lenses, either the f1.8 18-35mm, or the 50mm f1.4.
I have both the 35 and 50mm Sigma ART 1.4 lenses. They're big, they're heavy and they're nothing short of fantastic. I prefer the 35mm on a DX format body but that's a personal choice sort of thing.
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Vinnydude

Senior Member
The one thing I notice with my d5100 is I'm shooting in RAW and my images are all coming out a little washed out so I'm having to pump my contrast a fair bit. Anyone else find that?
 

J-see

Senior Member
The one thing I notice with my d5100 is I'm shooting in RAW and my images are all coming out a little washed out so I'm having to pump my contrast a fair bit. Anyone else find that?

When shooting RAW that's normal. You need to process a RAW before it shines.
 

Vinnydude

Senior Member
I just feel that sometimes I'm having to process a little too much if you know what I mean. I thought that maybe I was lacking in colour depth, hence wanting to upgrade! :p
 

Bill16

Senior Member
I'm the last one to argue not to upgrade, ask anyone who knows me! Lol
But shooting raw will give you a similar look no matter what Nikon you have as far as I've noticed, and I've owned a D3100,D5100,D90,D300,D700,D800e, and a Nikon1 V1! But if you feel the desire to upgrade, and are sticking to DX models, I agree that the D7100 or D7200 will be a very nice upgrade for ya! :)

I just feel that sometimes I'm having to process a little too much if you know what I mean. I thought that maybe I was lacking in colour depth, hence wanting to upgrade! :p
 
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J-see

Senior Member
I just feel that sometimes I'm having to process a little too much if you know what I mean. I thought that maybe I was lacking in colour depth, hence wanting to upgrade! :p

The D7200/7100 has more dynamic range at the same ISO and about a bit more color sensitivity which translates as it being able to distinguish double the amount of colors. That would be some improvement.
 

aroy

Senior Member
The one thing I notice with my d5100 is I'm shooting in RAW and my images are all coming out a little washed out so I'm having to pump my contrast a fair bit. Anyone else find that?
Try the "Vivid" picture control. It is available in View NX and Capture NX-D. For most of my daylight shots i set the default to "Vivid" and Sharpness=7. Does wonders to the image.
 

Bill16

Senior Member
Before postprocessing the raw file, the photo will still look washed out lacking color though right?
My photos even using my D800e requires post processing to bring out the color to the desired levels! The one thing that I've tried that improved the amount of color was a CPL filter on my lens when taking the shot! :)

The D7200/7100 has more dynamic range at the same ISO and about a bit more color sensitivity which translates as it being able to distinguish double the amount of colors. That would be some improvement.
 

J-see

Senior Member
Before postprocessing the raw file, the photo will still look washed out lacking color though right?
My photos even using my D800e requires post processing to bring out the color to the desired levels! The one thing that I've tried that improved the amount of color was a CPL filter on my lens when taking the shot! :)

It depends on your (editor) settings. The jpeg included in the RAW file is processed according your cam settings and when loading the RAW in an editor, the image you see is based upon that. It has to start somewhere.

I shoot "Flat" everything zeroed which makes a pretty bland shot when I load the RAW and see it in the editor. But I also use that cam profile in the editor itself.
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
Oh I see what you mean! To view it at all the raw photo is ran through the editor,which has presets and those presets leaves you seeing it however the preset's are set for!
Mine is pretty bland though not all are at zero I don't think. Then if the OP wants it to be closer to the finished product, then setting the presets a bit higher might be what would give him the change he's looking for! But a good upgrade never hurts anything but the wallet! Lol :)

I don't regret any of the upgrades I've done, but I did keep lenses in mind and bought a few of those too! Lol ;)

It depends on your (editor) settings. The jpeg included in the RAW file is processed according your cam settings and when loading the RAW in an editor, the image you see is based upon that. It has to start somewhere.

I shoot "Flat" everything zeroed which makes a pretty bland shot when I load the RAW and see it in the editor. But I also use that cam profile in the editor itself.
 

J-see

Senior Member
If he loads it in Capture, it should look exactly the way he shot it. To preserve that look, the easiest method is convert it to TiFF before using it in another editor. Capture includes an ICC profile.

I always convert to TiFF at least twice since I pre-sharpen before scaling and do the final sharpening after scaling.
 
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Fortkentdad

Senior Member
I was in the same spot a year ago with a D5100 which I love and still have - although now more often in my wife's hands than mine.

I was in a camera store holding a D7100 in one hand and a D610 in the other. My kind wife at my side. She said "Don't settle for less than what you really want". I took the plunge and have not looked back.

Yes my DX lenses are seldom on my D610 (the 35mm has been used in auto-crop and works just fine).
I happened to have two old AF-D lenses from my film days - they did not AF on the D5100 and since I had AF-S DX lenses in similar focal lengths I never used them on my D5100 - they were dusted off and saw some new life on my D610.

I discovered that the D610 works fine with old vintage glass. And you can get those lenses pretty cheap. I've picked up a handful over the past year. Fav would be my Nikkor AFD 105 2.8 macro ($175). The antique push-pull 70-210 works fine (if I knew then what I know now would have looked for the F.4 non-variable aperture). I also picked up a nice 20-40 Tamron SP lens I like.

IF you are prepared to go the manual route there is a lot of great - cheap - old glass out there to be had, bypassed by those of us too lazy to manually focus.

You can get a 70-300 AF - G lens for about $100-$150 new ( I have not but it is out there, sorely tempted but decided to spend a little more for a Tamron 70-300 with VC).

I have the AF-D 50 1.8 - paid $100 - great lens. Absolute must.

Get the kit lens and these last two and you have a very nice collection to start.
 

Vinnydude

Senior Member
A quick word of advice about SLRhut. They ship from the US. Very misleading. There was no duty to pay and it came with the right power supply and turned up quickly. But yeah, I was a bit annoyed about it coming from overseas from a UK site.

ANYWAY! Bloody hell the 7100 is a massive step up from the d5100!!!

I'm still keeping my d5100 as a 2nd camera though. Love my d5100, but also now my d7100 :D

Thanks for all the help everyone :)
 
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