first camera for a newbie

[RobV]

I don't know if this has been covered, but if you do have a store to go to and compare cameras, pay special attention to the view through the viewfinder. I was shocked at the difference between my D5200 and the D610! Both larger and brighter. There may be just as big of a difference between the 5300 and the 7100.

The D610 was significantly heavier, as well. Internal focus motors, full frame and perhaps the pentaprism all account for that, of course.
I love the 610, and will have another someday. And the only reason I would get rid of the D5300 would be to get a D7200 in the future.

I do like the fold-out LED screen, though, especially when it is on the tripod pointed up at the moon.

 

[Danno_RIP]

You will always be able to find a reason to say no. It is easy and it takes no courage, and you will always be right. There is always a reason NOT to take a risk. As long as you talk about it you never have to find out if you are even able to take a photo that anyone would want to look at. The camera is not the solution, it is the tool that allows you to try and take a good photo.

My last suggestion... Go out on this forum and look at the pictures folks take in the style you want to take, like the landscape thread. Go to the 365 challenge and the 52 challenge under general photography. Look at the photos and what they were shot with. You can hoover your mouse over the lower left corner of the photo and learn what was used to take it. Do the same on Flickr.

Take that comparison that Don shared and do a decision matrix on the two bodies and use the photos to select the lenses you like. I know you think that this purchase is the hard part... but that is so far from the truth. The hard part is figuring out how to use the camera.... light... composition... a steady hand and a good eye. That's where the investment is made.

 

[deafguy87]

Officially decided to get D7100... probably a shock to most people here

Probably getting the 18-140mm kit since most people here recommend that over the body itself

I will explain my reasons later cause I'm at work and don't want to get busted lol ... but can reply with quick responses during the day

Want to thank everybody for the help ... I know I'm a pain in the a** lol ... that just me

Like the toad and scorpion story ... it just my nature haha

Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Officially decided to get D7100... probably a shock to most people here

Probably getting the 18-140mm kit since most people here recommend that over the body itself

I will explain my reasons later cause I'm at work and don't want to get busted lol ... but can reply with quick responses during the day

Want to thank everybody for the help ... I know I'm a pain in the a** lol ... that just me

Like the toad and scorpion story ... it just my nature haha

Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk

i think you will be very happy with that combination. Lots of settings to deal with and we can help.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

Officially decided to get D7100...

Excellent choice; you won't be disappointed.

 

[Bikerbrent_RIP]

Great choice. The built-in AF motor will allow you to purchase some great older glass that would NOT autofocus on a D5300. Another advantage to purchasing some of this older glass is that it will still work if you decide to move to FX in the future.

 

[Danno_RIP]

Great choice @deafguy87... You will not be disappointed. That is a very nice camera with a lot of flexibility. Congratulations!!

 

[Lawrence]

Great choice - you won't be sorry

 

[deafguy87]

Thanks guys... I got a dilemma in a way

Since it a new week for stores putting new deals or sales... the source just put their D7100 body for $100 off which is the cheapest price anywhere and last week there was no sale.

Should I get the body instead and get a better quality len or two? last week the difference between the body and the 18-140mm kit is approx $350... now with the $100 off ... I have like $450 that I could spend on a len or two instead comparing to buying the D7100 with 18-140mm

what do you guys think?

 

[RobV]

Nikon 35 or 50mm 1.8
Aftermarket wide angle zoom.

 

[mauckcg]

Check out some used Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina wide zoom lenses, then can start at 10 mm and end about 35ish. That covers the wide end pretty well.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Thanks guys... I got a dilemma in a way

Since it a new week for stores putting new deals or sales... the source just put their D7100 body for $100 off which is the cheapest price anywhere and last week there was no sale.

Should I get the body instead and get a better quality len or two? last week the difference between the body and the 18-140mm kit is approx $350... now with the $100 off ... I have like $450 that I could spend on a len or two instead comparing to buying the D7100 with 18-140mm

what do you guys think?

The D7100 with the 18-140 is a great start. Get it and WAIT to see what you think you might want later. You buy now and then you see that you don't need the extra ??mm Lens as much as you need the ???mm lens. Shoot and play and then in time you will know what you want without having to ask us.

 

[deafguy87]

Will check out those len suggestions

Is 18-140mm a sellable len if I don't need it in the future? Knowing I can get the body for cheap because it on sale and use the rest of the money for a len or two

To breakeven have to sell the 18-140mm $350-400 canadian... is that possible?

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[Lawrence]

Yes - body only
and then the best glass you can afford to fit your needs

 

[Lawrence]

Will check out those len suggestions

Is 18-140mm a sellable len if I don't need it in the future? Knowing I can get the body for cheap because it on sale and use the rest of the money for a len or two

Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk

Thinking of selling before you've bought?

What Don says is true.
the 18-140 provides a wide range that will help you determine your preferred option and you will probably never sell it as it is always good to have a walk around lens

Kinda contradits my post above but if you aren't certain what you want ...

 

[deafguy87]

Thinking of selling before you've bought?

What Don says is true.
the 18-140 provides a wide range that will help you determine your preferred option and you will probably never sell it as it is always good to have a walk around lens

Kinda contradits my post above but if you aren't certain what you want ...

I noticed people don't have their 18-140mm... why I thought eventually they don't use it and sell it for something better or they just bought the body and get the 35mm 1.8G instead or wished they just bought the body and get a len instead



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[RobV]

When I bought my D5300 (refurbished) it was on an extreme budget (unemployed), so I was happy to settle for the 18-55 kit lens that came with it. I have sometimes wished for the 18-140, but it doesn't sound like it is the "sharpest knife in the drawer" either.

That is why I made my recommendation of a body with a prime standard and a wide angle zoom.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

I noticed people don't have their 18-140mm... why I thought eventually they don't use it and sell it for something better or they just bought the body and get the 35mm 1.8G instead or wished they just bought the body and get a len instead

The 18-140mm is a good, all-around lens; if master of none, it's definitely a jack of all trades and hence an excellent starting point. If you want to get something "better", better at WHAT? If you're going to be shooting macro, we can suggest excellent macro lenses. If you're going to be shooting birds in flight (BIF's) we can suggest lenses for that. Or do you mean better for Portraits... Landscapes... Astro... Street?

For what it's worth, I still have my 18-140mm for my D7100. I still have it because it's an excellent all-purpose sort of lens.

 

[deafguy87]

I can't really do landscape much because where I live there aren't a lot of like mountainous, waterfalls, big open greenery.. probably do like walking trails through the forest, seasonal weather of the fall and winter

I found this guy on flickr ... he got D7100 and use 35mm 1.8... look good

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tornasol11/20524030005/in/album-72157634865896588/

I like close up/macro/bokeh... mother nature/animals, food (because I'm a pastry chef) and interesting things to have a close up on

I like your "welcome to the machine part II" photo @horoscopefish

street photography ... I don't mean taking pictures of people on the street, not my type ... more like pictures of an alley, or graffiti arts, or something appealing of the street and taking pictures in a clever way with depth (some will have close ups) and/or unique perspective and angle of the photos... and if people in my camera view then they are in it lol... i guess you can say street landscape in a way

I don't want to do astro, birds, and portrait

am I still a jack of all trades? too broad?

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

I can't really do landscape much because where I live there aren't a lot of like mountainous, waterfalls, big open greenery.. probably do like walking trails through the forest, seasonal weather of the fall and winter

I found this guy on flickr ... he got D7100 and use 35mm 1.8... look good

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tornasol11/20524030005/in/album-72157634865896588/

I like close up/macro/bokeh... mother nature/animals, food (because I'm a pastry chef) and interesting things to have a close up on

I like your "welcome to the machine part II" photo @horoscopefish

street photography ... I don't mean taking pictures of people on the street, not my type ... more like pictures of an alley, or graffiti arts, or something appealing of the street and taking pictures in a clever way with depth (some will have close ups) and/or unique perspective and angle of the photos... and if people in my camera view then they are in it lol... i guess you can say street landscape in a way

I don't want to do astro, birds, and portrait

am I still a jack of all trades? too broad?

You are on Lake Ontario and Niagara Falls is maybe an hour away. You have unlimited beautiful landscapes and water shots to shoot