Open to Suggestions

[Dave_W]

LOL. The 7100 would walk all over an 800 for resolution with the same glass as you can't typically use all the FX sensor for this type of shot.

I'm not getting into another lengthy debate on this subject but having both bodies sitting on my table I feel qualified to make this statement.

As Ron Burgundy would say "We're just going to have to agree to disagree on that".

 

[vol]

Is your budget for the body and a lens or just the body? Glass is going to be just as important as the body. I would look at the Nikon 300mm F4 with the nikon 1.4 teleconverter or a 2nd hand Sigma 100-300 F4 with the sigma 1.4 teleconverter. I've seen great bird shots with both of these and they are quite manageable hand held. I walk around with my D7000 and that Sigma combo for hours.

That's a very good question. I have to say that I was hoping that I could get something decent for around AUD1250.00, lens incl., but perhaps that's too ambitious.

My special interest is in capturing BIF shots which my present (non-Nikon) camera can't track focus.
Including a high end 35mm equiv. 100-400mm, and a high end 35mm equiv. 24-120mm lens, plus accessories, the kit originally cost around AUD5,500. It's 5 years old so will try to sell it on Ebay and if I can get a fair price then I may be eligible for a D800 and some nice glass. Christmas may be just the right time.

 

[vol]

A lot of folks around here use the D7000/D7100. I thought it would be to heavy for me, but it's not. I shoot handheld with the Nikkor 55-300mm.

Thanks for that, Marilynne but I was hoping to keep any new kit as light as possible for travel.

 

[dramtastic]

That's a very good question. I have to say that I was hoping that I could get something decent for around AUD1250.00, lens incl., but perhaps that's too ambitious.

My special interest is in capturing BIF shots which my present (non-Nikon) camera can't track focus.
Including a high end 35mm equiv. 100-400mm, and a high end 35mm equiv. 24-120mm lens, plus accessories, the kit originally cost around AUD5,500. It's 5 years old so will try to sell it on Ebay and if I can get a fair price then I may be eligible for a D800 and some nice glass. Christmas may be just the right time.

Personally from scouring Ebay etc and way too many websites, I can't see you picking up enough quality for that budget. Ok will depend on what you could get for your old camera, but a D7000 will run about AUD$700(ebay) a D7100 about AUD$1200, the Nikon 300mm F4 with the 1.4 converter about AUD$1900 or the 2nd hand Sigma 100-300mm F4 EX IF HSM APO $700-800(Ebay) and the Sigma 1.4 converter for AUD$250. Maybe the D7000 and a 2nd hand Sigma 120-400mm might be in your range, but for BIF I prefer having a fixed aperture lens like the one's mentioned and I did a lot of research before I decided. FYI my major photographic interest is general wildlife and BIF and I put my set up together accordingly within my budget. I will say that a D7000 with either the the Nikon or Sigma I have mentioned will weigh over 2kgs. That might be too heavy for you, but that is a fairly light for a good BIF rig. I've never heard of a really good BIF set up that is light. There is a lot of serious birders carrying round 6-10kgs with a tripod thrown in.