We have a D7000 that we love. That camera is staying. But the D70 is showing its age...
The D70 is a workhorse, but we run into its limits - for example, we both took some pictures at a hockey game, and the D7000's pictures flat-out beat the D70's, in part I think because the D70 just doesn't have the higher ISO that's helpful, especially with cheap glass. (The 100-300 zoom for the D70 in particular was a cheap lens - it's one of these and I'm suspicious of that ONE review... yes, it can do a reasonable job, but come on - it was cheap when it was new.)
So the wife and I were batting around upgrade ideas. I'd like to replace that Quantaray zoom as part of the deal. (I suggested getting that 80-200 mm Nikon zoom and moving the 55-200 to the D70's bag, but that just got a smile and no answer... )
The D70 kit lens is the 18-70, which seems like a decent lens, albeit a bit dated without features like VR. The D7000 has the 18-105 and 55-200. (I know these lenses can be moved around, but this how I remember them and think of them.) We also have a Tokina 11-16 that we love and a 50 mm 1.8 that I love but rarely get to use. I'd like to get a 35 mm 1.8 at some point, possibly selling the 50mm to to do it.
I want to stay with a body with the built-in focusing motor. I think that excludes the D3000 and D5000 series cameras. It basically leaves the D7000/D7100/D90, and the D600/D610, and above, right?
One option was going with the D7100. I'm definitely interested in the lack of the AA filter. It also has the advantage of using the same batteries as the D7000. Only downside to this is that the D7100, being newer, is still fairly expensive - we could pick up a used or refurb D7000 for a lot less.
Another would be going to an FX body, but then we'd need FX lenses to go with it, and the DX lenses likely wouldn't produce good results with them (right?). In other words, will an FX body with a DX lens do as well as a DX/DX setup? The thought being that future lenses would be FX, but I wouldn't want to replace everything right now.
A third option would be to buy a better zoom lens and stay with the D70. But after using the large LCD of the D7000, it's hard for me to even look at the LCD on the D70. I have trouble determining whether my shot focused correctly on the D7000, so the D70 is a nightmare in that respect for me. So I think the D70 replacement is the way to go, I'm just not sure with what.
(We were at the Air & Space Museum in DC a couple weekends ago, and she had the 18-105 or 100-300 lens on the D70, while I had the Tokina 11-16. I'd often ask her to take pictures of some of the farther-away artifacts since I'd just get a room-wide shot if I did it. That was much easier than changing lenses back and forth, or dealing with two cameras! )
So, what would you do? We're not in a time crunch here. To give a money ballpark, let's say we want to stay around $1000, but can spend up to $1500 if the deal is right.
The D70 is a workhorse, but we run into its limits - for example, we both took some pictures at a hockey game, and the D7000's pictures flat-out beat the D70's, in part I think because the D70 just doesn't have the higher ISO that's helpful, especially with cheap glass. (The 100-300 zoom for the D70 in particular was a cheap lens - it's one of these and I'm suspicious of that ONE review... yes, it can do a reasonable job, but come on - it was cheap when it was new.)
So the wife and I were batting around upgrade ideas. I'd like to replace that Quantaray zoom as part of the deal. (I suggested getting that 80-200 mm Nikon zoom and moving the 55-200 to the D70's bag, but that just got a smile and no answer... )
The D70 kit lens is the 18-70, which seems like a decent lens, albeit a bit dated without features like VR. The D7000 has the 18-105 and 55-200. (I know these lenses can be moved around, but this how I remember them and think of them.) We also have a Tokina 11-16 that we love and a 50 mm 1.8 that I love but rarely get to use. I'd like to get a 35 mm 1.8 at some point, possibly selling the 50mm to to do it.
I want to stay with a body with the built-in focusing motor. I think that excludes the D3000 and D5000 series cameras. It basically leaves the D7000/D7100/D90, and the D600/D610, and above, right?
One option was going with the D7100. I'm definitely interested in the lack of the AA filter. It also has the advantage of using the same batteries as the D7000. Only downside to this is that the D7100, being newer, is still fairly expensive - we could pick up a used or refurb D7000 for a lot less.
Another would be going to an FX body, but then we'd need FX lenses to go with it, and the DX lenses likely wouldn't produce good results with them (right?). In other words, will an FX body with a DX lens do as well as a DX/DX setup? The thought being that future lenses would be FX, but I wouldn't want to replace everything right now.
A third option would be to buy a better zoom lens and stay with the D70. But after using the large LCD of the D7000, it's hard for me to even look at the LCD on the D70. I have trouble determining whether my shot focused correctly on the D7000, so the D70 is a nightmare in that respect for me. So I think the D70 replacement is the way to go, I'm just not sure with what.
(We were at the Air & Space Museum in DC a couple weekends ago, and she had the 18-105 or 100-300 lens on the D70, while I had the Tokina 11-16. I'd often ask her to take pictures of some of the farther-away artifacts since I'd just get a room-wide shot if I did it. That was much easier than changing lenses back and forth, or dealing with two cameras! )
So, what would you do? We're not in a time crunch here. To give a money ballpark, let's say we want to stay around $1000, but can spend up to $1500 if the deal is right.