What camera to buy d5300 or d7000

Hi everyone , I'm thinking about upgrading my camera body this year and been reading review and posts ... and the more I read the more unsure I am . Looking to upgrade from my d3100 to a different d5300 or a d7000 . the only problem I find with my d3100 is the noise at high iso level 800 and above . So though the best people to ask for advice would be nikon experts
I prefere the feel of the d7000 but was told the d5300 as a lot better iso range .
any advice will be very welcome
many thanks in advance
A Barata

D5300, unless you can work a D7100 into the budget. With that option, you still get the better sensor with the improved ISO range, the preferred "feel" of the D7000, more lenses to choose from (AF or AF-S), etc., etc., etc.

In other words, D7100!! Factory refurbs are a good option (and price) and lots of bundles out there with decent prices as well.

If you can't push for that extra bit... the 5300 is the way to go with your primary focus being on ISO performance.

Augusto Barata said:

Hi everyone , I'm thinking about upgrading my camera body this year and been reading review and posts ... and the more I read the more unsure I am . Looking to upgrade from my d3100 to a different d5300 or a d7000 . the only problem I find with my d3100 is the noise at high iso level 800 and above . So though the best people to ask for advice would be nikon experts
I prefere the feel of the d7000 but was told the d5300 as a lot better iso range .
any advice will be very welcome
many thanks in advance
A Barata

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Tough choice but I'd probably lean toward the D5300. Probably. I'd sure miss the dual command-wheels and dual card-slots, though... Is the D7100 out of the question??!

What I like about the D5300:
The Expeed 4 Processor
The better resolution
The higher maximum ISO
The flip-out screen

What I like about the D7000:
The built-in focus-motor
The dual card-slots
The dual command-wheels
The weather sealing

....

Horoscope Fish said:

Tough choice but I'd probably lean toward the D5300. Probably. I'd sure miss the dual command-wheels and dual card-slots, though... Is the D7100 out of the question??!

What I like about the D5300:
The Expeed 4 Processor
The better resolution
The higher maximum ISO
The flip-out screen

What I like about the D7000:
The built-in focus-motor
The dual card-slots
The dual command-wheels
The weather sealing

....

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Great response here.

Sorry forgot to mention my budget is for a used body £350 & £400 . Don't think I can find a decent d7100 on my budget.
I said iso because that's what I fault on my current camera.

This must be pretty close to £400.00

Nikon D7100 DSLR Camera Body, Black - Refurbished by Nikon U.S.A 1513 B

$699 it's £ 452ish but with postage to uk it will be over £ 500. Photography for me is a hobby and spending more than £400 is hard to justify ( and my wife would kill me )

Augusto Barata said:

$699 it's £ 452ish but with postage to uk it will be over £ 500. Photography for me is a hobby and spending more than £400 is hard to justify ( and my wife would kill me )

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But if she killed you, she'd never be able to sell your camera kit for what you paid for it ... so you're worth more alive. At least that's the defense I put forward when questioned.

RocketCowboy said:

But if she killed you, she'd never be able to sell your camera kit for what you paid for it ... so you're worth more alive. At least that's the defense I put forward when questioned.

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Well I have till May to make my mind up
at the moment I'm more inclined for the d7000 , feels better on my hand ,Controls, Af Motor, Just hope the 6400 ISO is going to be better than the 3200 on the d3100. I'm just afraid it won't be a big improvement picture quality from my d3100 . I'm keeping the d3100 as my second body.

Augusto Barata said:

$699 it's £ 452ish but with postage to uk it will be over £ 500. Photography for me is a hobby and spending more than £400 is hard to justify ( and my wife would kill me )

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Hey didn't mean to start a homicide case but think about this ...
not sure about your circle of contacts but there is always someone going over or coming over. Maybe you can ask someone to bring it over for you.

That way you can tell your wife that you saved £50 odd by being smart. In one step you get a great camera, avoid becoming a corpse and become a hero instead.

You can thank me later.

I just got a D5300 so Im glad it does perform well. I will be mainly doing portraits with it and some nature. Hopefully in the future I can go for the D7100.

realuvsdolphins said:

I just got a D5300 so Im glad it does perform well. I will be mainly doing portraits with it and some nature. Hopefully in the future I can go for the D7100.

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This is why I can't make my mind up , I want to buy a body that I will keep , I don't want in a couple of years need to upgrade the body again or think I should have bought the other one. I want than start getting better glass to go with my body. I may have to wait a bit longer and save some more money and get the d7100 . Problem is that I am very impatient and hate to wait
I'll keep an eye on ebay for a good used d7100
thanks for everyone's comments and advice.

6400 on the D7000 is pushing it a bit. I'm happy if I can get away with 3200 (and clean up in post). I suggest you wait a bit, save some more $$$ and get a D7100.

Augusto Barata said:

... at the moment I'm more inclined for the d7000, feels better on my hand ,Controls, Af Motor. Just hope the 6400 ISO is going to be better than the 3200 on the d3100. I'm just afraid it won't be a big improvement picture quality from my d3100 . I'm keeping the d3100 as my second body.

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Assuming the same lenses used on both the D3100 and the D7000 there isn't going to be a particularly noticeable difference in overall picture quality. The D7000 has better resolution and color depth so technically speaking it's the better of the two but on a practical level you're just not going to see shots out of the D7000 and say, "Wow!". That's just not going to happen. What you're really paying for with an upgrade to the D7000 are some of the prosumer-level features like the AF-motor and the dual card-slots & command-wheels. I don't mean to downplay the significance of these upgrades, they're very, very nice and worth paying for. My point is, you're not going to see a huge jump in image quality with the D7000 over your D3100. What you might want to consider is putting a really nice piece of glass on your D3100 instead of upgrading your body.

Let me ask you this... How "into" this whole photography thing are you? Are you pursuing this as a passion or are you a casual shooter taking shots on vacation and special occasions? Do you shoot RAW or JPG? How much post-processing do you do? I'm asking because only you know the answer to these questions and they are the ones I would be asking myself before dumping a lot of money into this. If you're a more casual shooter I'm wondering if you might not be better off investing in a *really good* prime lens (if you don't already have one) for your current body. You could pop a 50mm f/1.8G or 35mm f/1.8G on that '3100 for about $200 USD and you might be surprised at how just how good the IQ can be out that camera.

Lastly, you have to consider your technique... Getting good shots, and I mean really good shots, has everything to do with your understanding of your camera, the principles of photography and how well you apply them; it has little or nothing to do with the gear you're using. You might want to consider investing in some education, be it a class or a book or a subscription to Lynda.com to better your understanding of photography.

Just some food for thought from a Stateside Insomniac. Good luck to you with whatever you decide...



....
Postscript: Having said all that... Have you considered the D3300?

I always shoot in raw , that was the fist thing I was advised on when I first bought my camera, I've read 3 books so far about photography , always reading photography magazines and look online for tips and of always watching tutorials on YouTube. Photography is a hobby for me and will shoot as much as I can that's why I like forums so you have ideas so I can improve my photography. I use photoshop cs6 and can spend hours just playing with some pictures helps me clear my head if it makes sense?
I already have a 50mm f1.8 prime lens , my favourite lens .

Augusto Barata said:

I always shoot in raw , that was the fist thing I was advised on when I first bought my camera, I've read 3 books so far about photography , always reading photography magazines and look online for tips and of always watching tutorials on YouTube. Photography is a hobby for me and will shoot as much as I can that's why I like forums so you have ideas so I can improve my photography. I use photoshop cs6 and can spend hours just playing with some pictures helps me clear my head if it makes sense?
I already have a 50mm f1.8 prime lens , my favourite lens .

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Then I think you will be very happy with a D7000. I don't think you'll find you're getting better pictures out of it from a technical standpoint, but I think you'll find the feature-set that comes with owning a more advanced body will help you get better shots more easily and therefore better shots more frequently.

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D3100 vs D7000 Nikon D3100 vs D7000 - Our Analysis

D5300 vs D7000 Nikon D5300 vs D7000 - Our Analysis

Between these two the D5300 wins


I have the D7000 and I really like it. The links about will give the the pros and cons of each. Sometimes these lists break it down better you you. Had I not looked at them I would have told you the D7000. But after looking I would not be so sure. The one thing that convinced me was the weather sealing of the D7000 but I like to be outdoors shooting a lot and was so afraid of getting caught out in the rain.

Don Kuykendall said:

D3100 vs D7000 Nikon D3100 vs D7000 - Our Analysis

D5300 vs D7000 Nikon D5300 vs D7000 - Our Analysis

Between these two the D5300 wins


I have the D7000 and I really like it. The links about will give the the pros and cons of each. Sometimes these lists break it down better you you. Had I not looked at them I would have told you the D7000. But after looking I would not be so sure. The one thing that convinced me was the weather sealing of the D7000 but I like to be outdoors shooting a lot and was so afraid of getting caught out in the rain.

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I've already read the review, I've read a few reviews and posts about this subject and that's what is making more unsure of what I want . Review will tell me the d5300 is better than the d7000 and most post I read from experience photographer will advise on the d7000 , well most say skip the d7000 and get the d7100 ! I went to a shop and had a feel on the two cameras and the d5300 just feels like my d3100 , the d7000 I do like the feel in my hand , all the controls , but then I look at the spec one part of me tells me to get the d5300 , seeing that there's nothing wrong with my d3100 I might just wait a bit longer and get the d7100.