upgrading from a d3100

OrangeDream

New member
Hello I am upgrading from a d3100 because I am trying to start a photography/videography company and the 3100 isn't cutting it anymore. I have been tasked with doing a live demonstration next month on the 15th and it could make my business. I have made videos with the 3100, but I am looking at getting a d5600 at the moment because of better video and the external mic jack. I really like nikons and I want to stay with Nikon, I don't have the capital to spend more than $750, I have been looking at them online, but I am seeing a lot of different price ranges. I have a few weeks to buy the camera but I would like atleast a full week before I have to put it to use professionally. Should I buy used or new? I have also been looking at body only options, but I can't seem to find any that aren't on backorder. I currently own a prime 35mm lense and have the kit lens from the 3100, will I need the kit lens on the newer camera or is it the same as the one I currently have? Also what are your experiences with buying from online retailers? Should I buy from BestBuy and get a 3 yr accident warranty on it. My current 3100 has a shutter count of 7591, but I have shot atleast 2-300-10 minute movies on it and I have never dropped it or gotten scratches on it.
 

Marilynne

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Welcome!

Maybe you can rent the D5600 and try it out before you buy. I don't use the video option on any of my Nikons.
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
Welcome aboard. Enjoy the ride.
We look forward to seeing more posts and samples of your work.

Yes. I would make the same recommendation as Marilynne as I also don't do any serious video and my cameras.
 

nickt

Senior Member
I'd consider a refurb d7200 or even the sometimes disliked d7500. The d7500 has a tilt screen. B&H has either of those refurbed for $700 right now. The reason I suggest a d7x00 is for the user interface. More quick access buttons and less menu diving like on the d3x00 and d5x00 series. At some point, a serious shooter ends up wanting these controls for quick on-the-fly changes rather than jumping into the menus to make changes. The top lcd is nice too so you can quickly see important settings at a glance.
 

OrangeDream

New member
you have piqued my interest with this idea, As it stands Best buy and target list the 5600 new with the kit lense AF-P, the one I have is a AF-S, which is just louder and not made of plastic 699.00 with around 100 extra for 2+ year warranty that include drops and spills. So I could just spike my camera like a football and get a brand new one ? Or I could go with Band H and get a possible grey market refurb? However the refurbs are cheaper on amazon by about 100 bucks, is refurb the way to go?
 

nickt

Senior Member
I would not buy a refurb on amazon. A refurb on amazon might be used and 'renewed' which could mean they just wiped it down. It could also be gray. It will be a Nikon usa factory refurb from B&H or Adorama. I bought my d7100 and 2 d7200's as refurbs. I got mine from Adorama but b&h is good too. When Adorama has refurbs, they usually have the best price. Nikon refurbs are pretty much perfect. Likely just returns during the 30 day return period that most sellers give. Its always possible they might have been broken but you gotta hope that Nikon knows how to fix them. And they still would be early returns. As far as I know Nikon does not swap out cameras for warranty work, so there are no high mileage cameras in the refurb stream.
 

BeegRhob

Senior Member
Hello I am upgrading from a d3100 because I am trying to start a photography/videography company and the 3100 isn't cutting it anymore. I have been tasked with doing a live demonstration next month on the 15th and it could make my business. I have made videos with the 3100, but I am looking at getting a d5600 at the moment because of better video and the external mic jack. I really like nikons and I want to stay with Nikon, I don't have the capital to spend more than $750, I have been looking at them online, but I am seeing a lot of different price ranges. I have a few weeks to buy the camera but I would like atleast a full week before I have to put it to use professionally. Should I buy used or new? I have also been looking at body only options, but I can't seem to find any that aren't on backorder. I currently own a prime 35mm lense and have the kit lens from the 3100, will I need the kit lens on the newer camera or is it the same as the one I currently have? Also what are your experiences with buying from online retailers? Should I buy from BestBuy and get a 3 yr accident warranty on it. My current 3100 has a shutter count of 7591, but I have shot atleast 2-300-10 minute movies on it and I have never dropped it or gotten scratches on it.

I started with a D3000, which is similar to the D3100. I own a D5300 and love it! It is about the same as a D5600 and cheaper. I have been reading articles and comparisons for different cameras to figure out which ones I wanted, and looked within what I wanted to spend. They both have the fully articulating screens, to get shots from the ground without laying on the ground, if needed. One thing I really was looking for was auto exposure bracketing, for HDR photography. Not sure if the D5600 has it, by the way. I recently bought a D610, a "full frame" camera. The lenses are all interchangable, but they work differently. Using the 610, there is an outline where the pic will be taken, not from the whole picture that you see. Not sure of the correct words to use for what I just said. The lens worked just fine, but I had to be aware more of what I was looking at.So the 3000, 5000, and 7000 "series" all use non full frame lenses, so nothing to worry about there with your lenses, if that is what you end up getting.
I have bought most of my recent cameras from ebay and facebook marketplace, successfully. The 610 was through fb marketplace but was a camera shop/studio. As far as warranties, my personal preference is to never buy them, but have never needed the accidental coverage. Read reviews on the company that BB uses at the very least. What I have read about warranties, the "experts" mostly advise against the added expense.

Rob
 

nickt

Senior Member
How high of a shutter count would you accept? And should I get the accident warranty?
They won't tell you the shutter count, but you could return it. My d7100 and first d7200 had about 5 on the shutter count. The 2nd d7200 surprisingly had about 2000 clicks. I got that at a real good price from Adorama so I was happy. So I guess I would be ok with 3000 or less. The accident is up to you. I bought it once. Got it cheap and it was a 4 year plan. Generally I don't get insurance or extra warranty on any gadgets but that is up to you.
 

OrangeDream

New member
just bought the 7500 on b and h refurbished from nikon with the 3 yr clumsy person warranty, it was 80 bucks extra, it will be here before friday, the 5600 body only is backordered everywhere and wasn't able to find anything other than the 18-55 af-p kit lens which is around the same price. Hopefully I get a decent camera
 

nickt

Senior Member
Should be a great camera. Some of us were disappointed that things like the 2nd card slot were removed but it is a current model and will last you a good while. make sure you take the time to learn everything. Those external controls are most useful when your fingers know what to do without thinking too hard. I don't know your experience, but make sure you are 100% comfortable with the exposure triangle, that is, the relationship of shutter, aperture, and iso. If you need links, ask. I have a couple I like for explaining the triangle. Most complaints of horrible camera manuals are usually because the user does not have the photography basics. down.
 

Danno

Senior Member
Congratulations @OrangeDream. I echo what @nickt says. Getting a third party handbook is good to have as well. You will love the improved flexibility over the 3100, but it really helps to get to know the camera through the manual and a good handbook. Handbooks give you best settings for the camera and talk about "how too" stepps for each function.
 

Chris@sabor

Senior Member
My advice save, beg or borrow enough for a Z series if you are going to do video. Nikon Dslr's just don't make good video cameras for most situations, IMO. I've read and heard great things about the Z's video capabilities...
 

OrangeDream

New member
i would go with the z series if i could afford it, I actually went a little over budget with this camera. I think the video will be better than what I had on the 3100, the video i am doing is mostly stuff like this: https://youtu.be/sforQi6K3yA and I think from the video reviews I have watched this camera will do this type of stuff fine.
 

OrangeDream

New member
I am a little worried I placed the order monday and it said it would be here on thursday, I looked online and it says its still processing my order, does it usually take two full days to process an order?
 

nickt

Senior Member
B&H usually ships same day or next day. Ups tracking usually comes up late at night. They might be busy getting ready to close for their holidays. Check the banner on their site. I don't think they will hose you but a day late is possible. I live in NY and I've sat wondering and around 11-12 at night it enters the ups system and I get it the next day. They usually ship out of jersey so that might be a one day trip to NC, not sure.
 

nickt

Senior Member
By the way, if you like to keep a close track on shipments, I have free accounts with ups, fedex, and usps. I get emails or text updates pretty much as soon as companies print a shipping label with my address. Its often before the company gives me a shipping notice.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
I am a little worried I placed the order monday and it said it would be here on thursday, I looked online and it says its still processing my order, does it usually take two full days to process an order?

B&H observes Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur so your order might take a little longer to process than normal. That said, the D7500 uses the same sensor as the D500. And I will be quite frank and say the D500 definitely has the best DX sensor I've used so far (D90, D7100, and D7200). So the D7500 should be worth the wait but is a royal pain when you REALLY want something! :)
 

Gobae

Senior Member
I am a little worried I placed the order monday and it said it would be here on thursday, I looked online and it says its still processing my order, does it usually take two full days to process an order?

Since COVID, B&H has taken between 2-3 days (not including holidays/weekends) to process orders. All 5 of my orders since May have taken that long before shipping. And one of missed the "arrival" date given at checkout. Which, given what's going on, I wasn't entirely surprised that the automated arrival guesstimate at check wasn't 100% correct.
 
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OrangeDream

New member
When I bought the camera the website said it would be here by the 24th, when I called them yesterday they apologized and gave me an overnight delivery, the guy said it would be on my doorstep at 1030am but I would need to be there to sign for it. The fedex guy left my package at my front door at 130pm and left, no signature needed. I got camera it looks good, took a few hours to charge the battery and I found out the shutter count was 550, so it looks like Ill be keeping the camera, thanks everyone for everything. Anyone have any luck with those hand straps?
 
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