So you're thinking of switching to FF?

Lurch

Senior Member
If you're an amateur hobbyist like myself and where 'life' generally rules over your camera play time - then read on:

(I posted this on another forum (you can probably guess which one by the context) but I think it really applies to anyone who has a APS/C camera and is thinking FF 'because they can')

I'm not the most active member here. A lot of that has to do with me selling my K5 earlier this year and getting a D800.

Allow me to preface this with saying that the D800 is a terrific camera and well, well beyond my pathetic skill levels.

But.... I wish I hadn't.

Probably because the D800 is so far beyond my abilities and as a hobbyist I just dont have the time to put into bringing my skills up to even close. I love my photography, but thats life I guess.
But the nutshell version is that I just haven't bonded with the Nikon as I had with my K5. Where the K5 urged me to pick it up and play with it, use it, and basically not leave it alone. I just dont get that from the Nikon.
So what I'm saying is that if you're champing at the bit to go FF; my *personal* experience tells me - dont. Sure, if you've got the time and patience to invest into a whole new system and replace all your kit, then awesome. But I've just found it to be soooo much more than a) I need, and b) I can use.
So (for as long as I've been a member here) Pentaxians have been going on (and on, and on, and on) about a FF camera, I would hazard a guess that for a fair chunk of people "it's just not necessary" <- to be read with James May in your head.

If I was to do it again and with a good dose of hind sight - I wouldn't have done it. I would have hung onto my gorgeous K5 and would now be looking at the K3 for Xmas.
In fact I will give the D800 the summer, and if I still feel the same - it will go and a K5/ii or a K3 will come and I'll rebuilding my beloved Pentax lens collection again (starting with my fave, the Sigma 20-40mm 2.8)
 

singlerosa_RIP

Senior Member
I went FX this year and I think it's awesome. But, my switch didn't require me to buy all new lenses or ditch my DX body. I had mostly FX glass on my D7000 and now use it as a backup to my D600 or as a second body when I don't want to change lenses in the field.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
I have some understanding for what your saying but,i will never know half what my D7000 will do mainly because i have no interest,my only interest is what it does in the areas of photography that interest me,the computer ime using at the moment has workings that are a mystery to me but it does what i want it to do.
Some photographers want to know every little scrap of info about there camera,that's ok if it makes them happy some hardly know how to put a lens on and still grab fantastic images.
In the end though if the camera isnt right for you what ever the reason then you need to change to one that is,enjoying the gear is a major aspect of our hobby.
 

Rick M

Senior Member
Some good thoughts here and a great example of why people really need to think out what format suits their needs. I'm glad I went to full frame but it didn't improve my results. I think the most important thing is to master what you have, a better photographer will do better than better equipment. As long as DX meets your needs there's no reason to change.
 

nickt

Senior Member
If I read this right, you switched brands AND went to full frame in one move. I don't think your experience is the same as say a happy d7000 user wanting to move up to a d800. You might possibly be feeling the same lack of love even if you had switched to a d7100. (I'd feel the same if I switched to Pentax). Its a different system and you would be starting from scratch and have all new lenses to buy anyway. I don't see this as something to affect a Nikon user's choice of going full frame. Does Pentax have a full frame? If they do not have a full frame option, then your experience certainly does apply to other Pentax users thinking of jumping.
 

chiefams

Senior Member
Hey guys im a newcomer who has been reading through the forums a lot. It seemsto me there is such a wide range of people from casual hobbyists to professionals who live off of their business. As someone who hasn't bought their camera yet, this post is encouraging. By no fault of anyone here, when someone like myself reads some of the posts on here about full frame, it makes it seem like dx is inferior. Which will then influence a decision of someone trying to just get into photography and then they will have WAY too much camera.

I'm encouraged by all those users of dx cameras that put out some great photos. When I buy it will be dx because I need to learn basics well.
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mikew_RIP

Senior Member
The full frame aspect is of little interest to me,my main interest is bird photography and most of my images are cropped from a cropped sensor so very little point in moving on/up to FF.
I made the mistake of moving on to medium format from 35mm for my birding, ended up with the same size image in the middle of a larger slide :D, yes flowers and insects where better but that was only about 10% of my photography.There are definite benefits available from FF but you need to ask yourself will they apply to you.
 

gqtuazon

Gear Head
@ Lurch: I can certainly relate on how you are not in sync coming from Pentax to Nikon since they are two different system and control features. I feel something similar whenever I want to play with display model cameras such as Sony or Canon. I feel loss and just don't bother with them since I am unwilling to learn further. The issue is not about going to full frame but your unwillingness or lack of motivation to learn the features, functions and the potential benefit that you can achieve with the D800.

The way I understood your comment is that you no longer have the interest to explore learning that camera, but it basically tells me, to put it lightly, you got lazier.

Why? I don't understand how other people can capture great images with that camera and even use it professionally. The tool is there but I think your motivation isn't. Of course, that is just my opinion based on what you just posted.

I hope you can find the right camera that is in your comfort zone.

*Edit*

Please disregard. I just basically repeated what you already said.

OTOH, my experience coming from a D80 to D700 was completely the opposite when I switched to full frame. I also started as a newbie and just recently I started "charging" which is why I switched my experience level to Semi-pro. That's the only difference. I could never be satisfied by just having a DX or APS-C camera. I speak highly of it and it works well on what I do. My motivation and passion with my Nikons and photography in general is still going strong and has been very rewarding. I am sure everyone here can excel with this expensive hobby/profession as long as we put our heart to it.

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BackdoorArts

Senior Member
A lot has been said, so the only thing I need to throw in is that "Full Frame" does not equal "complicated". The D800 is certainly a lot of camera. But if the serious hobbiest believes the D7000/7100 is not beyond them then they might consider the D600/610, because outside of the sensor they are functionally nearly identical. A couple buttons are moved around and there are differences in buffer sizes, but otherwise there's not a whole lot of difference.
 

fiVe

Senior Member
Of course, everyone's reasons and motivations are different. Mrs. fiVe and I are looking to move our photography skills to the next level (hobbyists for now, but maybe something more later), and felt moving to full-frame was the way to do this. Our Canon crop-body is a few years old, and we knew we would have to "re-learn" a new camera whether Canon or Nikon. The D610 was the brightest ping on our radar and had the most appeal to us. We are excited about what we can learn and do with our new Nikon.

R/Jv
 

Geoffc

Senior Member
Jake has it spot on, the problem is not the D800 or full frame. I went from a DX d300s to the D800. For photos (stills) I had almost nothing to learn function wise. I actually chose the D800 because it was so similar to the D300s.

A d7100 isn't really much simpler than the D800 and it's DX.

My main motivation for going FX was better high ISO performance and greater dynamic range. Things like the D7100 DX are not that far behind now, certainly for my purposes but it wasn't around when I made the move. All that said I do like my D800.
 

Whiskeyman

Senior Member
I'd wager that hardly anyone on this forum, or any other for that matter, utilize every feature and capability of their cameras.

Be patient with yourself and your equipment, and you'll spend a lifetime learning about photography. The day will come when you are able to devote more time, and money, to photography. Don't sell yourself short.

WM
 

donaldjledet

Senior Member
Another thing I know a few pros who shoot with dx cameras. And if you look at the photos you couldn't
notice the difference in photos . Of course in certain areas of photography you will.
So really it just depends on what you shoot the most of.Events, Landscape, sports ,wildlife fashion. and so on.
 

john*thomas

Senior Member
I also believe that the biggest hurdle as noted was going from one brand to another. It likely wouldn't have been as big of a hurdle going from say a D5100 to D800. That said I'm glad to see this topic. I'm enjoying using my D5100 even though as others have also noted, I'll probably never get around to doing everything it will do. There are a couple areas I would like to improve on and have been reading up on those areas.

One big one is low light photos. I like taking night shots and from what I've read I could upgrade and improve on the D5100. I figured that if I was going to consider a D7100 I should at least consider a FF. So far I couldn't justify the price difference and this thread does a lot to enforce that thought for me and what I use a camera for.
 

Deezey

Senior Member
Interesting read.

The only thing I can contribute is you will only get out of photography what you put into it.

I can understand learning a new system can be pretty intimidating. And dropping that kinda cash to just test the waters only adds to it. But trust me...a little time on Youtube will start you on a journey to photo bliss. But you have to put the time in.

Learn to crawl. Then you walk. And after that you can run. Hang in there. It really does get easier.

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hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
An FX camera may have some bells and whistles that its DX counterpart lacks, but no matter whether it's a DX or FX camera, owners should become familiar with a few basics:

  • How to operate Aperture Priority
  • How to operate Shutter Priority
  • How to operate Manual Mode
  • How to use a flash
DSLR's tend to have some types of Program Modes, and that may be something you can use now on the D800 if it is an option. The Program Modes can be used as stepping stones to work up to learning Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual Mode.

You bought an incredible camera which can do amazing things, but it doesn't mean you have to use every feature. If you want to take absolutely gorgeous, professional looking photos that have the ability to be enlarged and still look awesome, that's what you bought.

I hope you will consider taking some classes or watch some online videos which will allow you to learn the basics of a DSLR. You are fortunate to be able to own a top-rated Nikon camera that many members here would LOVE to own. Yes, there is a learning curve involved when moving up to a DSLR--you just happened to pick a top of the line DSLR! ;) It's like needing a car and going out and buying a Porsche! Why not learn how to enjoy using it?!! :)

zoom zoom................:encouragement:
 

Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
I learned on Pentax 35mm film bodies an had no issues switching to Nikon dslr's. I am thankful I learned from the beginning to shoot manually, i don't use camera settings other than shutter, f stop & ISO. Any camera would do but my preference because of build quality is Nikon. The camera is but the tool.

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