Wanting a Nikon D7100/ can a pro shoot with a D7100?

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Fast Eddie

New member
Been looking at the Nikon D7100 as a option to use in my soon to be portrait business. Can a pro use a cropped sensor D7100 and be successful? Many of my local photo group friends say I have to have a full frame DSLR. They said many potential customers will shy away once they find out I'm using a camera that is not full frame. Is this true? Can the D7100 fit the bill for my future photography career endeavor? Any and all input would be deeply appreciated.

Ed
 
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Philnz

Senior Member
Fast Eddie said:
Been looking at the Nikon D7100 as a option to use in my soon to be portrait business. Can a pro use a cropped sensor D7100 and be successful? Many of my local photo group friends say I have to have a full frame DSLR. They said many potential customers will shy away once they find out I'm using a camera that is not full frame. Is this true? Can the D7100 fit the bill for my future photography career endeavor? Any and all input would be deeply appreciated.

Ed
Click to expand...
How would your potential customers know you were not using a full frame camera? At the end of the day it is the artist behind the camera that makes the image. Good luck with your soon to be portrait business.
 
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mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Welcome to the forum,you may get yes and no answers to that question but if it was me i would look to full frame as i think you will end up there eventually as your business grows.as Phil said your customers will not know.
 
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Englischdude

Senior Member
hi,

i have quoted this before with such a question and will again, goto youtube and search for "digitalrev pro photographer cheap camera". here Kai challenges pro photographers to go into a photoshoot with a cheap camera. In the hands of a pro even a cheap camera can produce outstanding results. I think the D7100 with good glass should be a great camera for portrait photography. check out the D7100 pics thread here and see if the results posted there reflect the results you would like to achieve.

To a certain extent the age old saying "its not what you got its what you do with it" fits well here.
 
BackdoorArts

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Welcome to Nikonites.

I've seen plenty of wedding photographers bouncing around with nothing but cropped sensor cameras, and while many of them were far from what I'd call "professional", suffice it to say that it goes to show you that knowing how to use what's in your hands is far more important than having a specific something in your hands - 9 times out of 10.

If I were to require a portrait photographer chances are the first thing I ask them is not going to be, "What kind of camera do you use?", but rather, "Can I see your portfolio?". If I'm impressed enough to hire them after that, I may ask them, as a photographer, "Just curious, what do you shoot with?". If they were to tell me, "Nikon D60", I might look at them funny before saying, "Damn, that's pretty impressive stuff from an old cropped sensor!!", and then book a sitting. It's about your work, not your camera. The only people that might shy away are people who think they know about photography, which is 75% of the people you meet in ever photography club. They're nice people, well intentioned, but like all gear heads, it's about what you're carrying, not what comes out of it. I see the same thing in guitar forums. "That guy's badass!! That's a PRS Artist Series with a 10+ top from Paul's Private Reserve stash!! He met Paul at a bar, got a personal factory tour and got to pick the top himself!!!" Unfortunately, he plays worse than I do, and that's saying something. LOL (guitar players will understand this)

So, to a specific answer, you sure as heck can make a living as a portrait photographer with a D7100 if you have the other skills and tools to go with it. If you think it's a factor, take a little black gaffer tape and cover both the "Nikon" and the model number on all your cameras. Now only the insanely curious will ask, and if they walk out on you after you tell them at least you can keep their booking deposit, and save yourself the trouble of dealing with their complaints afterwards since they're also probably the type to pick nits on everything.
 
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john*thomas

Senior Member
I've seen good photographers take great pics with their camera phones. I agree that in the end you will likely end up with a full frame camera but if you have to start off with less and you are good at what you do, you'll do fine.
 
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ShaggyRS6

Senior Member
I heard A pro photographer once said that someone remarked on a picture he had taken and asked what camera he used. Apparently. The photog got a little angry and said would you ask a Michelin chef what pots and pans he uses?

Food for thought!

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
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ShootRaw

Senior Member
Everyone has summed it up nicely..Clients do not care what gear you use..The D7100 is a great camera..I eventually went with the D610 due to the better sensor for low-light and enjoy the FOV better on Full Frame..Once you get real serious you will want those perks for shooting..Good luck
 
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Chito

Senior Member
If someone is unable to come up with great photos or should I say professional photos using a d7100 then the problem is not in the camera. ;) A friend of mine who's considered one of the best foodtographers in his country, still uses a d200 for some of his photos. The d7100 is way way better than the d200 but my friend produces photos from that thing better than most could do with a much newer and advanced camera.
 
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Moab Man

Senior Member
Having shot studio portraits with the D7100 and a D600 I would say yes. The difference will be in the amount of lighting you need. On my D600 I can push the ISO up with no noise to compensate for lesser lighting conditions. With the D7100 I need to push the lighting up to keep the ISO lower. Understand, the D7100 for a crop sensor is outstanding in lower light, but can't match full frame for higher ISO lack of noise.
 
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ronin67

Senior Member
No. Maybe one day. This is what I'm shooting for. I recently did a photo shoot for a Thrash metal band here in Japan (photos will be used on the CD insert of there debut CD). The photos came out very good using a Sony DSLT (low end cropped sensor A58). This camera was borrowed. Hoping to get better results with a Nikon D7100 the next time I shoot for another band. I'm hoping word of mouth will get out and I will be able to shoot more bands for money in the future.
 
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Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
I doubt that 75% of the people even know the difference in a full frame and a crop frame camera. Just turn your nose up a little and say "I shoot Nikon" and then continue on with what you were doing.
 
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Geoffc

Senior Member
For portrait work where you typically control the light, I would say the main thing is it's easier to get a shallow depth of field with FX. That said you can achieve it and get great images. With the 7100 you can take stunning images and most times I can't tell which are D800 or D7100 as I flick through Lightroom.

I'd buy good glass rather than full frame.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
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zutty

Senior Member
As a professional touring musician for 30 years, there are countless times when I had to use a cheap back line drum kit and not once did I ever feel like I couldn't do as good a job with it as a $5,000 DW kit. All I had to do was tune em up, and put my skills to use...Same thing for photography. It's how you use the tools!
 
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Pretzel

Senior Member
I can say that I know at least one VERY successful photographer that uses only crop sensors... "successful" meaning she can easily ask for thousands for a wedding shoot, hundreds for "mini-sessions", etc. In fact, I've known of times where she has been booked a full two months in advance.

AND, I can add, she shoots with the "other" brand, but both of her cameras are "lesser" when compared to the D7100. Doesn't bother her, doesn't bother her customers. The only things they are interested in are her portfolio and her personality.

I also know a pretty successful semi-pro who gets requests for shoots all the time... with her D3200.

90% of the game is knowing how to shoot with what you've got. Most customers aren't going to know the difference.
 
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