- Ready To Upgrade -

T

Torok.Designs

Senior Member
Hello everyone,

My name is Dom and I need some advice on which camera body to upgrade to from my D5200. My budget is about $3k and I want to get a camera body that I'll be completely content with until it dies.

I like the look of the new Df but I am interested in learning videography so I think I'll have to stay away from the Df sadly.

I mainly shoot automotive photography. But I also like to shoot animals, landscape, and street. I would like to learn how to do portrait.

From what I'm reading I guess the D800 or D800e would be best?

Any suggestions?

Is there a specific time of year that Nikon releases new cameras? Should I wait until those release?

Thank you,
​Dom
 
RockyNH_RIP

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
Like Mike, no knowledge on the 800's but also want to say Welcome To Nikonites! Someone will be along
soon to give you some help! :)

Pat in NH
 
Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
I would suggest you get the D610 and spend more money on lenses. If you are not afraid of sensor cleaning, the D600 would get you an extra lens with the budget you have.

You would get more resolution with a D800, but without a tripod or an excellent camera shooting technique, all that resolution would go to waste.
 
G

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Marcel said:
I would suggest you get the D610 and spend more money on lenses. If you are not afraid of sensor cleaning, the D600 would get you an extra lens with the budget you have.

You would get more resolution with a D800, but without a tripod or an excellent camera shooting technique, all that resolution would go to waste.
Click to expand...

What Marcel said . I couldn't agree more.


Sent from my iPhone.
 
Bob Blaylock

Bob Blaylock

Senior Member
Torok.Designs said:
My budget is about $3k and I want to get a camera body that I'll be completely content with until it dies.
Click to expand...

If you had bought an original Nikon D1 back in 1999, how content would you be with it today, only able to shoot 2.7-megapixel images when even the crappiest of modern point&shoot cameras and even cellphone cameras have better resolution than that, with 16- or 24 megapixels being about par for most modern DSLRs?

I was just thinking about this, a few days ago.

If I was still shooting film, I'd be totally happy to keep using my F2 until either it dies, or I do. It's more than forty years old, but the most modern counterpart to it, the F6, can't take any better pictures than my F2 can take.

With digital cameras, the key technology is the sensor and the electronics to support it. This technology has been advancing rapidly, and can be expected to continue doing so. Any DSLR made today will take significantly better pictures than any DSLR made just a few years ago; and a few years from now, any DSLR being made then will take significantly better pictures than any DSLR being made today.

Can you imagine what the digital cameras of forty years from now will be like? I certainly cannot. If they are still making film then, and cameras that use it, then whatever they are making then will still use the same film and the same optics that my F2 uses, and won't take any better pictures than my F2. But surely, digital cameras then will be way ahead of anything we have now, or can imagine now.

I doubt if it will ever make sense to think of owning a fine digital camera in such a long-term view as one would think of owning a fine film-based camera—at least not until you get into the tens-of-thousands-of-dollars-range for something like a Hasselblad with an interchangeable back, that will allow you to upgrade the sensor and electronics as technology improves them.

NikonGenerations_20131125.jpg
 
T

Torok.Designs

Senior Member
mikew said:
Welcome to the forum,i have no knowledge of the D800 so will leave it at a welcome.:D
Click to expand...

Thank you :)

RockyNH said:
Like Mike, no knowledge on the 800's but also want to say Welcome To Nikonites! Someone will be along
soon to give you some help! :)

Pat in NH
Click to expand...

Thank you :)

Marilynne said:
Welcome!
Click to expand...

Thanks!

Marcel said:
I would suggest you get the D610 and spend more money on lenses. If you are not afraid of sensor cleaning, the D600 would get you an extra lens with the budget you have.

You would get more resolution with a D800, but without a tripod or an excellent camera shooting technique, all that resolution would go to waste.
Click to expand...

gqtuazon said:
What Marcel said . I couldn't agree more.


Sent from my iPhone.
Click to expand...

Hmmm I do like that the D610 shoots at 6 fps. Any reasons why I should go with the 610 over the 800 besides cost? Don't get me wrong, cost is going to be hard on me, but I'm willing to save for the camera that is better and worth it. Not $6k though haha.

Bob Blaylock said:
If you had bought an original Nikon D1 back in 1999, how content would you be with it today, only able to shoot 2.7-megapixel images when even the crappiest of modern point&shoot cameras and even cellphone cameras have better resolution than that, with 16- or 24 megapixels being about par for most modern DSLRs?

I was just thinking about this, a few days ago.

If I was still shooting film, I'd be totally happy to keep using my F2 until either it dies, or I do. It's more than forty years old, but the most modern counterpart to it, the F6, can't take any better pictures than my F2 can take.

With digital cameras, the key technology is the sensor and the electronics to support it. This technology has been advancing rapidly, and can be expected to continue doing so. Any DSLR made today will take significantly better pictures than any DSLR made just a few years ago; and a few years from now, any DSLR being made then will take significantly better pictures than any DSLR being made today.

Can you imagine what the digital cameras of forty years from now will be like? I certainly cannot. If they are still making film then, and cameras that use it, then whatever they are making then will still use the same film and the same optics that my F2 uses, and won't take any better pictures than my F2. But surely, digital cameras then will be way ahead of anything we have now, or can imagine now.

I doubt if it will ever make sense to think of owning a fine digital camera in such a long-term view as one would think of owning a fine film-based camera—at least not until you get into the tens-of-thousands-of-dollars-range for something like a Hasselblad with an interchangeable back, that will allow you to upgrade the sensor and electronics as technology improves them.

View attachment 60485
Click to expand...

Good point, I hope you know what I meant though. I don't want to settle for a cheaper camera now and then regret not getting a better one that is might happen to be more expensive.



​Thank you everyone! Keep the input coming please!
 
Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
Torok.Designs said:
Any reasons why I should go with the 610 over the 800 besides cost? !
Click to expand...

Yes, you would have to want to print poster size in order to see difference between the 36MPs of the D800 from the 24MPs of the D610. And, a better lens on a 610 could probably produce a better picture than a D800 with a less stellar lens.

Then, camera technology changes yearly while a great lens will always be a great lens.

​But hey, it's going to be your money.
 
T

Torok.Designs

Senior Member
Marcel said:
Yes, you would have to want to print poster size in order to see difference between the 36MPs of the D800 from the 24MPs of the D610. And, a better lens on a 610 could probably produce a better picture than a D800 with a less stellar lens.

Then, camera technology changes yearly while a great lens will always be a great lens.

​But hey, it's going to be your money.
Click to expand...

I think I'm sold on the D610. I'm glad you guys brought it up because I wasn't really looking at it. After looking around on the internet it seems like the best option for me.
 
E

emm2600

Senior Member
Torok.Designs said:
Hmmm I do like that the D610 shoots at 6 fps. Any reasons why I should go with the 610 over the 800 besides cost? Don't get me wrong, cost is going to be hard on me, but I'm willing to save for the camera that is better and worth it. Not $6k though haha.
Click to expand...

As Marcel has pointed out, lenses are a massive part of the equation. Looking for 'the best' combination, you need to include good quality lenses as well and they aren't cheap. For example the FX f/2.8 trio of 14-24mm, 24-70mm and 70-200mm combined total over $6k (new, nikon list price).

If you already have a few good FX primes and a couple of quality zooms the argument for picking the D800/E would be quite stronger. If i had to make the choice myself with a ~$3k budget and was committed to a full frame swap, i'd probably go with the D600/D610 and put the rest towards lenses as Marcel suggests.
 
T

Torok.Designs

Senior Member
I was referring to 3k budget for a camera body. I can get lenses as I go along and use my old D5200 or the even older D40 I have until I have lenses for the new camera. Then sell the older camera's to help replace the funds that were used for the new camera.
 
J

jrleo33

Senior Member
Nikon’s D600/610s are consumer grade cameras, where the D800 is a professional grade. As a D600 owner, I could not be more pleased with the professional grade images this camera returns. Thom Hogan’s review of the D600, and his description of the differences between the 600 and 800 are worth reading; Nikon D600 Review | byThom | Thom Hogan
 
T

Torok.Designs

Senior Member
jrleo33 said:
Nikon’s D600/610s are consumer grade cameras, where the D800 is a professional grade. As a D600 owner, I could not be more pleased with the professional grade images this camera returns. Thom Hogan’s review of the D600, and his description of the differences between the 600 and 800 are worth reading; Nikon D600 Review | byThom | Thom Hogan
Click to expand...

Thank you for that article! Here is exactly how I feel. Do you think he is correct? I find myself to be the latter. I'm looking to see how good I can get.

"I think you make the choice on where you want to be eventually. Just more of a casual shooter? D600. Looking to see how good you can get? D800. So which are you? Be honest with yourself, it may save you (or cost you) some money."
 
Top