D7200 or go Full Frame

jkinzel

Senior Member
I have been a member for several years and have spent a lot of time reading and admiring the great photos taken by members. This is a great place to learn and collectively all of you are great teachers. Thank you.

About 2008 I purchased a D90 with a 18-105mm kit lens and it has served me well over the past ten years. During that time I have added a few items: DX AF-S 55-300mm f/1:45-5.6G ED, DX AF-S Micro 85mm f/1:3.5G ED, FX AF 85mm f/1:1.8D Portrait lens, DX Sigma EX 10-20mm 1:3.5 DC HSM and a Nikon Speedlight SB-700. The lens I use the least is the 55-300mm the rest get a fair amount of use.

It's time to move up a few notches. Because I like low light photography, sunrises/sets and pets, etc., I thought the D7200 would be my best choice in a DX format. Then I started looking at the D610 and D750, but I have a hard time justifying the additional cost and I am rather top heavy with DX lenses so I keep coming back to the 7200.

Before the end of the year I plan to purchase the D7200 kitwith the 18-140mm lens and selling the 18-105mm, but I'm open to a different lens suggestion and to going full frame. Nothing is cast in stone at this point. Only because I haven't talked to the wife about it. :nightmare:
 
The answer depends on what you are using the photos for. Unless you are planning to go pro then the D7200 might be your best bet, The cost of going full frame is high. All the glass you have now would need to be replaced. DX on a full frame is worse than the same glass on a DX camera. If you are willing to spend the bucks on a full frame then you might want to look at the D500. IT is DX but really has the look an IQ of many of the Full Frame cameras.
 

nickt

Senior Member
I love my d7200, I got it when they first came out. After awhile I got itchy. I thought about full frame. I dismissed that fairly quickly. I like wildlife and macro and I couldn't come up with any reason to need full frame. I did think long and hard about a d500. In the end I bought a 2nd d7200. A refurb. I forget what I paid, but I got it on a good price dip. Now I have two d7200's with no regrets. One stays on my 150-600 full time.
I had a 18-105. Eventually I upgraded to a 18-140. I enjoyed that for good while. It was nice to have that little extra reach and it made a good everyday lens. Similar image quality to the 18-105. Then I got itchy again. I picked up a Sigma 17-50, 2.8. I haven't touched the 18-140 since. I love the Sigma and I have learned to do without the extra reach. Its sharper and faster and it was a clear upgrade. So my 2 cents is go for the d7200 and consider a sharper/faster lens than the 18-140. Walking around with the 17-50, I don't find myself wishing for 140mm of zoom. In the range that 140mm would be useful, I can almost always get a little closer at 50mm and make up for the difference that 140 would have given me.
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
I'll second the motion to go with the D7200. To take advantage of an FX camera, you will have to make a very large investment in new lenses. I would skip the 18-140 lens as the step up from 105 to 140mm is not worth while. Better to invest in a 150-600mm Sigma or Tokina lens and really have some telephoto power.
 

hark

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I own the D750, D610, D7200, and D7100. There isn't much of any difference in noise when shooting at high ISO's and comparing noise from the D7200 to the D750 or D610. There is definite improvement over the high ISO noise from my D7100.

The D750 might have an edge in focusing speed when shooting in low light--the AF in low light is fastest with it. My D610 has had a little trouble auto focusing quickly in similar situations although it does achieve focus. The D7200 is pretty good in that respect but not quite as agile as the D750. I was amazed with the noise improvement and overall quality of images from high ISO's of my D7200 over my D7100.

I no longer hesitate to take my D7200 to shoot during Worship. Routinely my ISO is between 3200 and 8000. I try not to go above ISO 5000 during Worship if possible, but higher ISO's are also quite good and almost on par with the D750. Have gone as ISO 10k during Worship. Since I stand in the back of the Sanctuary, using my 70-200mm f/2.8 has more reach with the D7200 than my D750.

Here's the only drawback I can foresee...Nikon is getting away from dual slots in DX and removed some of the features in the D7500 that were available in the D7200. Down the road when you need another body, you might be pushed more into wanting an FX body. Only you can justify whether you make that switch now or stay with a DX body. No one knows for sure whether Nikon will keep the reduced features in DX or if they will bring some of them back. But if you ever switch to FX, the cost of replacing the glass will be higher than DX glass. One thing you can do is to look at FX glass from now on if you ever need to replace any lenses. Gradually switch over if you ever plan on upgrading to an FX body.

In May, the D7200 body only (new) was on sale for $796.95. Quite often there are sales around the holidays. Good luck with whatever you choose. :)
 

jkinzel

Senior Member
Thanks everyone, I'll will be getting the 7200 in the next few months.

Cindy, always enjoy reading your post. I'm 70 this year and do not need to start a new collection of (FX) lenses. I do enjoy using my FX AF 85mm f/1:1.8D.

Nick, the Sigma 17-50 looks like a great lens and would be a perfect fit where I take a lot of train photos.

Brent, 150-600 is a lot of lens, I'll try out my 55-300 for a while. I don't use a long lens that much, but this new camera might change that.

Now I'll just sit back and wait for the sales.
 

nickt

Senior Member
I looked it up, I payed $710 for my refurb d7200 back in March. I got a good rebate on the Sigma 17-50 too but I see right now it has a price cut to $369. That is a great price. I don't know if its a sale or a permanent cut.
 
Thanks everyone, I'll will be getting the 7200 in the next few months.

Cindy, always enjoy reading your post. I'm 70 this year and do not need to start a new collection of (FX) lenses. I do enjoy using my FX AF 85mm f/1:1.8D.

Nick, the Sigma 17-50 looks like a great lens and would be a perfect fit where I take a lot of train photos.

Brent, 150-600 is a lot of lens, I'll try out my 55-300 for a while. I don't use a long lens that much, but this new camera might change that.

Now I'll just sit back and wait for the sales.

Check for refurbished from Cameta camera. I think I spelled that correctly. I am on my phone. It have gotten refurbished lenses and cameras from them and never been disappointed


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

hark

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Thanks everyone, I'll will be getting the 7200 in the next few months.

Cindy, always enjoy reading your post. I'm 70 this year and do not need to start a new collection of (FX) lenses. I do enjoy using my FX AF 85mm f/1:1.8D....

Glad to be of help. I wasn't even in the market for another DX body in May, but since Nikon is discontinuing the dual slots, I decided to get one. And I've pleasantly surprised with the D7200. Up until now, I haven't been too fond of DX bodies. But the improvement with the sensor as well as the colors made me finally love a DX body. I started out with two D90's and eventually upgraded to the D7100. But the D7200 is fantastic IMHO. I love my FX bodies, but I don't hesitate to take my D7200 with me, too. Now all you have to do is to sit back and wait for them to go on sale. ;)
 

jkinzel

Senior Member
While waiting for the sales to begin, I have been fine tuning my wish list and lens choices. The one lens I keep going back too is the Nikkor AF-S DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR, but even the refurbished price ($906 at B&H) is a little more than my wife would like me to spend.

This morning there was a email from Nikon regarding a 11% off sale. Long story short, I picked up the above refurbished lens for $599.00 plus WA state tax. Even the wife agreed, that's a good price.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Another vote for the D7200, i have had a few cameras over the years ::what:: including the D500 and D750, looking to add another Nikon, cant justify the D500 so its looking like another D7200.
 

hark

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Nikon has the D7200 on sale for $799, body only. I pulled the trigger.

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/dslr-cameras/d7200.html

I think that's what I paid back in May. It's a phenomenal body. I was never a DX fan although I started with the D90 and eventually upgraded to the D7100. When Nikon stopped the dual card slots in the D7500, I decided to get the D7200 just to have something newer. And wow, I am now a DX lover. ;)

It's only on sale for a day or two at that price according to B&H.
 

jkinzel

Senior Member
Happy Thanksgiving Cindy. I made my purchase with B&H, they usually throw in a few extra goodies.

I'm going from a D90 to the D7200 so I imagine the difference will be light years.
 

Michael J.

Senior Member
Happy Thanksgiving Cindy. I made my purchase with B&H, they usually throw in a few extra goodies.

I'm going from a D90 to the D7200 so I imagine the difference will be light years.

I was thinking between D750 or D7200. I ended up with a D7200 and a Sigma 17-50mm 2.8

So far (1 week) I am so happy with my D7200. I shoot up to 6400 ISO (just look at my photos) and no problem at all.
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
I was thinking between D750 or D7200. I ended up with a D7200 and a Sigma 17-50mm 2.8

So far (1 week) I am so happy with my D7200. I shoot up to 6400 ISO (just look at my photos) and no problem at all.
Glad to see you back with Nikon Michael. I got the D7200 too and am more than pleased with it. I'm even thinking about selling my D810 to come back to DX. It's that good.
 

jkinzel

Senior Member
While waiting for the sales to begin, I have been fine tuning my wish list and lens choices. The one lens I keep going back too is the Nikkor AF-S DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR, but even the refurbished price ($906 at B&H) is a little more than my wife would like me to spend.

This morning there was a email from Nikon regarding a 11% off sale. Long story short, I picked up the above refurbished lens for $599.00 plus WA state tax. Even the wife agreed, that's a good price.

You get what you pay for:

Today I finally took the time to try my new lens on my D90. It works well "Except" for the fact that the sub command dial will not change the aperture. I put my 18-105mm back on the camera and the sub command dial works fine. Tried the 16-80mm again, nothing. Before I ship it back any thoughts or suggestions?
 
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