D7200 Beginer

jonritter

Senior Member
I upgraded from a D5100 (18-140 Glass). What are some good tips for a new user to the D7200? I am really impressed with all the upgraded features, but am a little overwhelmed figuring it all out. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
Jon
 

Needa

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Jon, Was there any specific area you wanted tips in? If you haven't done so go here and down load the manual. Nikon | Download center | D7200

So much easier to search than in printed format.

My tip is shoot, shoot shoot..

Be sure to post some picture.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
I never tried a D5x00 series so am not sure how limiting those are compared with the D7x00 series. The D7200 has 2 card slots so be sure to use both either as backup or RAW+jpeg. Always use the second slot for some type of backup though rather than overflow. And keep extra cards on hand.

The U1 and U2 modes are for you to set specific settings that can be dialed in quickly. For example, if you usually shoot with the shutter actuation button doing both the focusing as well as activating the shutter, you have the option to set the body for BBF (back button focus). That means a button on the back of the body will focus the images while the shutter button serves only to take the pic. You can set it to work that way all the time, or program the body to store those settings in either U1 or U2. My bodies are set for the shutter actuation button to both focus and take the pics, but U1 and U2 are programmed for BBF (one in Aperture Priority and the other Manual Mode).

Be sure to read the manual. The buttons and wheels allow quick setting changes instead of having to go through the menus. And that's one huge advantage over the D3x00 and D5x00 series.

Other than that, I really don't know what options weren't available to you with your D5100. Good luck and enjoy.
 

jonritter

Senior Member
Jon, Was there any specific area you wanted tips in? If you haven't done so go here and down load the manual. Nikon | Download center | D7200

So much easier to search than in printed format.

My tip is shoot, shoot shoot..

Be sure to post some picture.

Thanks for all the replies, I downloaded the manual. The area I seem to be struggling the most is indoor lighting, unless I attach my flash. I played around outside today and got some shots of a bee I'm happy with. Here is one example.https://home.mycloud.com/action/share/8fcb7785-26ac-466c-8cbb-da3b7fec86d8
 
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Fortkentdad

Senior Member
I started with the D5100 and now have a D7100 and it is an upgrade for sure. Many of the functions that were only available via the menu system on the D5100 are available by buttons on the D7100. I do still like the D5100 with its tilt-swivel screen and much smaller size, but the D7XXX series is superior in many ways. Enjoy the upgrade. I find tutorials on Youtube are often helpful - I have none specifically to recommend but see what you can find. And just play with it. Unlike days of old when you had to buy film and pay to develop it before you could see the results, digital is instant and no costs for mistakes. You'll get the hang of it.
 

mrcoomes59

Senior Member
I went from a D5100 to a D7200. The thing I believe I like the most is the ability to fine tune the AF with each lens. For example, I just bought a sigma 70-200 2.8 and out of the box it was pretty sharp. After fine tuning i, now it is crazy sharp.


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Needa

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Thanks for all the replies, I downloaded the manual. The area I seem to be struggling the most is indoor lighting, unless I attach my flash. I played around outside today and got some shots of a bee I'm happy with. Here is one example.https://home.mycloud.com/action/share/8fcb7785-26ac-466c-8cbb-da3b7fec86d8

When shooting indoors there is usually less light, so existing light may need to supplemented or a lens with a wider aperture (smaller number) may be enough. Don't consider the use of flash as any thing other than another tool to get the shot. There are many videos and web sites dedicated to taking better flash pictures.
 

Pocono_ACE

Senior Member
I'm new to Nikonites, currently shooting with a D90. I recently posted asking about using my old non-CPU lens on a D7500 -- all the literature I've seen says that it will meter only in "M" mode. That's a drag. A helpful member suggested that I consider the D7200 instead. That camera seems to fit the bill, as it will perform autoexposure in "A" mode with my ancient and beloved AF 80-200 f2.8. I also like the idea of spending around $300 less now that the D7200 is not the latest generation. Here's my question regarding the D7200: from what I've been able to find, the camera can be fired with an infrared remote -- like the one that came with my D90. It doesn't appear that the remote comes with the 7200, however. Can anyone confirm for me that the D7200 will function with the infrared remote, and if so, should I hold onto my old one from the D90 if I sell my old camera? (I sure don't want to spend $600+ on a WR-R1.)

Thanks.
 

Needa

Senior Member
Challenge Team
According to the manual page 156 the shutter can be fired with a ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control. They run about 18 dollars at Adorama or B&H.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
...like the one that came with my D90. It doesn't appear that the remote comes with the 7200, however.

I purchased two D90's new. Neither came with a remote. In fact, none of my bodies ever came with one. So don't worry about not including it if you sell your D90. Yes, it should work fine providing the battery inside the remote still works.
 

jonritter

Senior Member
I went from a D5100 to a D7200. The thing I believe I like the most is the ability to fine tune the AF with each lens. For example, I just bought a sigma 70-200 2.8 and out of the box it was pretty sharp. After fine tuning i, now it is crazy sharp.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I am interested in this, but have read mixed reviews to do it or not. My main lense is 18-140, I don't have any set things I shoot, just random stuff, mostly off a tripod, would I benefit from fine tuning?
 

mrcoomes59

Senior Member
I am interested in this, but have read mixed reviews to do it or not. My main lense is 18-140, I don't have any set things I shoot, just random stuff, mostly off a tripod, would I benefit from fine tuning?

Absolutely, no matter if you are shooting people or animals you will want to focus on the eyes. If you have fine tuned the lens the eye will be sharp instead of the area just in front or behind the eye.


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pforsell

Senior Member
Absolutely, no matter if you are shooting people or animals you will want to focus on the eyes.

Unless you absolutely want to focus on the snoot :D


snoot.jpg
 
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pforsell

Senior Member
I am interested in this, but have read mixed reviews to do it or not. My main lense is 18-140, I don't have any set things I shoot, just random stuff, mostly off a tripod, would I benefit from fine tuning?

It depends. The way Nikon has implemented the focus tuning is not perfect. I have tried the feature in the past but my results were never good. The problem is, lenses typically require different focus tuning parameters depending on the focusing distance, but we can only enter one value. If you have a 50mm f/1.4 prime lens, that needs +5 at 1 meter, -7 at 5 meters and +3 at 30 meters and beyond, which number will you enter?

And the thing only gets worse if you have a zoom lens. You would need 3-5 different zoom settings and 3-5 focusing distances for each zoom setting, yielding 25 fine tune values. Which one will you pick?

I have 5 cameras that allow focus tuning (D300, D3S, D3X, D4S and D5) but I have not done it. Maybe I am lucky or just blind, but none of my lenses require FT. On the other hand I only have Nikkor lenses which all perform beyond my expectations *knock on wood*.

One thing to remember, the FT should be done in bright daylight, if you shoot in daylight. Tungsten or fluorescent lighting cause focusing error (not large, but perceptible). Or vice versa, if you only shoot in tungsten, then tune in tungsten.
 

Needa

Senior Member
Challenge Team
I am interested in this, but have read mixed reviews to do it or not. My main lense is 18-140, I don't have any set things I shoot, just random stuff, mostly off a tripod, would I benefit from fine tuning?

The fine tuning only effects where the focus is. If you use enough depth of field you may see no change. But if you have a shallow depth of field you will see improvement if your lens is front or back focusing. I think the exercise of doing it helps understand the focus system. Even if you shoot a zoom you may be able to find out what your most used distance is for that lens, some software lets you sort by images focal length and or lens. Fine tuning helped on my 70-300.
 

Dawg Pics

Senior Member
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