Well, the first 5 days are in the books. Aside from a lot of drool and "cool" factor, it's been a much different experience! I'll try to document some of my rediscovered rookie floundering here, and discuss a couple of the major differences. Remember, when reading this viewpoint, I was a VERY active shooter with my D3100, and I was VERY familiar with it. I could change settings with practically no thought/pause at all (except the durn exposure compensation, but that's another story), and figured that the only real difference would come in learning the extra features and a couple of extra dials... oops!
1) The D7100 is a primal beast! It was MADE for capturing quality images in the hands of a seasoned professional! Having said that, upgrade when you can, but... if you have a planned shoot shortly after the purchase/upgrade (wedding, portraits, etc.), going from anything less than a D7000 (or something else with professional controls) LEAVE IT AT HOME! I remember wishing that I'd be able to upgrade before 2nd shooting a wedding in June, and thinking "as long as I have at least a day to learn it, I'll be fine." Let's just say, I'm glad I got it over a month in advance. It's not so complicated as to render a photographer completely incapable of getting a shot, but it will not be intuitive. Under pressure, you WILL be frustrated. In fact, even after reading through a few pertinent sections of the manual and looking over a few quick tips/vids on the internet, I was still lost on the first couple of photo attempts. It. Is. Different. Be prepared!
2) The D7100 is a primal beast! (wait, didn't he just say that?) This isn't your entry level DSLR, but rather a magnesium alloy weather sealed frame. It's much larger (I'd guess around 25%) than the D3100 I was shooting, and weighs in about the same (about 25% heavier by estimation here as well). For me, it just fits my hand so much better, so that was pure joy the moment I had it in my hands. Just holding the body, though, and even with just the nifty fifty on it for a quick shoot, I didn't notice much difference other than fit, BUT... I was only holding it for a few quick shots. In the bag with all the other gear, it's noticeable. In the hand for extended periods of time, or with a heavier lens (my 70-300 vr for instance), the weight difference quickly becomes apparent. I've gotta go dig out my eagle claw grip trainers again! LOL At first, it was harder for me to get a steady handheld shot without the "shutter drop" (lens nose dive upon shutter release), but I've gotten used to it pretty quickly.
3) The viewfinder on the D7100 is... (you thought I was going to say "primal beast" again, didn't you? Wrong!) refined elegance. First, it's 40% larger, and for this guy in his mid 40's, that's a HUGE difference! Add in the brightness and clarity of the pentaprism (as opposed to pentamirror) viewfinder, and... you don't just hear the beep and see the focus achieved "dot" anymore. For me, well, I *felt* the focus lock. That's how I describe it. Where as before, I thought I could tell when things were in focus, but struggled with manually focusing from time to time, with this viewfinder... I can TELL. Manual focus is now a breeze when compared to my previous experience, and when the auto-focus locks in: BOOM, it's easy to see. For you younger folks, or those with incredible eyesight, this may not be a big deal, but I can honestly say that just the viewfinder difference alone has helped me, as a photographer, immensely!
4) The controls, once you get familiar with them: WOW! Just in manual mode alone, separate wheels/dials for shutter and aperture is a dream come true. Again, I was very familiar with my D3100, and I could swap to aperture control (button+dial) without a second thought in most cases, but the improvement and ease of a 2 dial setup is incredible. Then, with just a button press and dial, I'm setting ISO too! BONUS: Setting ISO in 1/3 stop increments instead of being forced to run a stop at a time!
5) Lens mount, incredible. I'm sure it's the weather sealing, but when you attach a lens to the D7100, it feels much more secure. I wasn't ever worried about my D3100, but there's just a more "solid" feel when attaching a lens to this new baby. Period. Plus, just knowing that it's sealed as opposed to NOT sealed... peace of mind.
6) The rear LCD is beautiful! And I say that without even having pulled off the protective film yet. In all of that in/out of the case and heavy use for a year and a half, I did absolutely zero damage to the D3100 LCD, but not taking off that film until I get the Vello glass cover for it. The difference in detail between the two LCD's is night and day.
7) Auto-focus - in 2 parts. First... 51 focus points vs. 11, 15 of those being cross-type vs. 1. Composition control! 'nuff said. Having said that, it also seems to focus faster in general. With the nifty fifty mounted, it wasn't so apparent, but slapping on the 70-300 VR, it was VERY noticeable! The D3100 didn't take long to focus with the 70-300, but would sometimes struggle/hunt when there was a bright glare and/or around twilight with my larger telephoto. It would lock in in most cases, but after an extreme sweep from one end of the focal range to the other. NOT so with the D7100. I have yet to shoot a pic at 300mm that the focus didn't snap in almost immediately!
8) The top LCD is a primal beast! (yup, I came back to that) Instant info in a simple "glance at" format. POOF! It's right there! Just being able to see how many more pics can be taken with the current memory is cool. The rest is butter. or gravy. or icing on the cake. Hell, it's just goodness, no matter what food comparison you use!
9) The shutter is... well, c'mon, there's no way I can professionally compare the shutters in any way that can't be done more technically or professionally (and has already been done) on the 'net, but I CAN comment on my perception. It just sounds more solid. The D3100 never really concerned me, and still works well, but... let's say you have an old Volkswagen Beetle, perfectly tuned - you can hear it purr and appreciate the skill behind the sound. Later in the day, though, you come across that old Camaro, with the 350 small block, true dual crossovers and a set of Flowmasters that gives it that rumbling chuckle. Put 'em both side by side, and just from sound alone, you can tell which is which, and which one means a bit more "business" than the other. THAT is the sound difference in the shutter. Plus, a max speed of 1/8000... nice.
10) And my last comment today: 24 friggin' megapixels! In the sizes I normally print, it doesn't make a lot of difference, but on a 27" iMac screen, the difference makes for PP giggles! Plus, as the wife goes through a phase of re-decoration, I know that 20x30's aren't going to be a problem. I seem to be able to pull a bit more out of the shadows, too, although I'm sure that's more to do with the dynamic range than just pure pixels.
...and that's it for now. Still SO MUCH MORE to test, like in-camera HDR, photo bracketing, night shots, off-camera flash, high speed flash sync, selective color, wireless shutter control, AF instead of AF-S lenses, 1.3x crop mode, video with stereo sound, multi-exposure mode, aww heck... I'll just admit it. There's still an untouched world to discover!
Author's note: (always wanted to type that) The D3100 is no slouch, and I have learned SO MUCH about photography with my 1st DSLR. It takes BEAUTIFUL pictures, has more than satisfied quite a few folks during family portrait sessions, was used during a very successful 2nd shooter gig during a wedding and more. Plus, the D3200 and D3300 have come out since then, which improve upon the "entry level" Nikon. Factor in the D5x00 series, and there are quite a few cameras that will allow you to "dive in" for less than the D7100 price point. Each of them is a GREAT camera. Period. At a minimum, 80% of great photography is the person, not the equipment, so if you are disappointed in starting with something "lesser", or feel trapped with an "inferior" body... don't. Jump in, learn the basics of ISO, shutter speed and aperture, and start taking GREAT pictures, and look at all the other photographers here that eclipse my skills with so called "lesser" cameras. If ya get the chance to jump in with, or upgrade to, the D7100... well, feel free! It's a lovely PRIMAL beast! Plus, rumor has it that the D7200 is coming out soon, and perhaps the D9300 (D300s upgrade?), so the NAS will continue forever... either way, heed the wise words of Crosby, Stills and Nash - "Love the one you're with!"
1) The D7100 is a primal beast! It was MADE for capturing quality images in the hands of a seasoned professional! Having said that, upgrade when you can, but... if you have a planned shoot shortly after the purchase/upgrade (wedding, portraits, etc.), going from anything less than a D7000 (or something else with professional controls) LEAVE IT AT HOME! I remember wishing that I'd be able to upgrade before 2nd shooting a wedding in June, and thinking "as long as I have at least a day to learn it, I'll be fine." Let's just say, I'm glad I got it over a month in advance. It's not so complicated as to render a photographer completely incapable of getting a shot, but it will not be intuitive. Under pressure, you WILL be frustrated. In fact, even after reading through a few pertinent sections of the manual and looking over a few quick tips/vids on the internet, I was still lost on the first couple of photo attempts. It. Is. Different. Be prepared!
2) The D7100 is a primal beast! (wait, didn't he just say that?) This isn't your entry level DSLR, but rather a magnesium alloy weather sealed frame. It's much larger (I'd guess around 25%) than the D3100 I was shooting, and weighs in about the same (about 25% heavier by estimation here as well). For me, it just fits my hand so much better, so that was pure joy the moment I had it in my hands. Just holding the body, though, and even with just the nifty fifty on it for a quick shoot, I didn't notice much difference other than fit, BUT... I was only holding it for a few quick shots. In the bag with all the other gear, it's noticeable. In the hand for extended periods of time, or with a heavier lens (my 70-300 vr for instance), the weight difference quickly becomes apparent. I've gotta go dig out my eagle claw grip trainers again! LOL At first, it was harder for me to get a steady handheld shot without the "shutter drop" (lens nose dive upon shutter release), but I've gotten used to it pretty quickly.
3) The viewfinder on the D7100 is... (you thought I was going to say "primal beast" again, didn't you? Wrong!) refined elegance. First, it's 40% larger, and for this guy in his mid 40's, that's a HUGE difference! Add in the brightness and clarity of the pentaprism (as opposed to pentamirror) viewfinder, and... you don't just hear the beep and see the focus achieved "dot" anymore. For me, well, I *felt* the focus lock. That's how I describe it. Where as before, I thought I could tell when things were in focus, but struggled with manually focusing from time to time, with this viewfinder... I can TELL. Manual focus is now a breeze when compared to my previous experience, and when the auto-focus locks in: BOOM, it's easy to see. For you younger folks, or those with incredible eyesight, this may not be a big deal, but I can honestly say that just the viewfinder difference alone has helped me, as a photographer, immensely!
4) The controls, once you get familiar with them: WOW! Just in manual mode alone, separate wheels/dials for shutter and aperture is a dream come true. Again, I was very familiar with my D3100, and I could swap to aperture control (button+dial) without a second thought in most cases, but the improvement and ease of a 2 dial setup is incredible. Then, with just a button press and dial, I'm setting ISO too! BONUS: Setting ISO in 1/3 stop increments instead of being forced to run a stop at a time!
5) Lens mount, incredible. I'm sure it's the weather sealing, but when you attach a lens to the D7100, it feels much more secure. I wasn't ever worried about my D3100, but there's just a more "solid" feel when attaching a lens to this new baby. Period. Plus, just knowing that it's sealed as opposed to NOT sealed... peace of mind.
6) The rear LCD is beautiful! And I say that without even having pulled off the protective film yet. In all of that in/out of the case and heavy use for a year and a half, I did absolutely zero damage to the D3100 LCD, but not taking off that film until I get the Vello glass cover for it. The difference in detail between the two LCD's is night and day.
7) Auto-focus - in 2 parts. First... 51 focus points vs. 11, 15 of those being cross-type vs. 1. Composition control! 'nuff said. Having said that, it also seems to focus faster in general. With the nifty fifty mounted, it wasn't so apparent, but slapping on the 70-300 VR, it was VERY noticeable! The D3100 didn't take long to focus with the 70-300, but would sometimes struggle/hunt when there was a bright glare and/or around twilight with my larger telephoto. It would lock in in most cases, but after an extreme sweep from one end of the focal range to the other. NOT so with the D7100. I have yet to shoot a pic at 300mm that the focus didn't snap in almost immediately!
8) The top LCD is a primal beast! (yup, I came back to that) Instant info in a simple "glance at" format. POOF! It's right there! Just being able to see how many more pics can be taken with the current memory is cool. The rest is butter. or gravy. or icing on the cake. Hell, it's just goodness, no matter what food comparison you use!
9) The shutter is... well, c'mon, there's no way I can professionally compare the shutters in any way that can't be done more technically or professionally (and has already been done) on the 'net, but I CAN comment on my perception. It just sounds more solid. The D3100 never really concerned me, and still works well, but... let's say you have an old Volkswagen Beetle, perfectly tuned - you can hear it purr and appreciate the skill behind the sound. Later in the day, though, you come across that old Camaro, with the 350 small block, true dual crossovers and a set of Flowmasters that gives it that rumbling chuckle. Put 'em both side by side, and just from sound alone, you can tell which is which, and which one means a bit more "business" than the other. THAT is the sound difference in the shutter. Plus, a max speed of 1/8000... nice.
10) And my last comment today: 24 friggin' megapixels! In the sizes I normally print, it doesn't make a lot of difference, but on a 27" iMac screen, the difference makes for PP giggles! Plus, as the wife goes through a phase of re-decoration, I know that 20x30's aren't going to be a problem. I seem to be able to pull a bit more out of the shadows, too, although I'm sure that's more to do with the dynamic range than just pure pixels.
...and that's it for now. Still SO MUCH MORE to test, like in-camera HDR, photo bracketing, night shots, off-camera flash, high speed flash sync, selective color, wireless shutter control, AF instead of AF-S lenses, 1.3x crop mode, video with stereo sound, multi-exposure mode, aww heck... I'll just admit it. There's still an untouched world to discover!
Author's note: (always wanted to type that) The D3100 is no slouch, and I have learned SO MUCH about photography with my 1st DSLR. It takes BEAUTIFUL pictures, has more than satisfied quite a few folks during family portrait sessions, was used during a very successful 2nd shooter gig during a wedding and more. Plus, the D3200 and D3300 have come out since then, which improve upon the "entry level" Nikon. Factor in the D5x00 series, and there are quite a few cameras that will allow you to "dive in" for less than the D7100 price point. Each of them is a GREAT camera. Period. At a minimum, 80% of great photography is the person, not the equipment, so if you are disappointed in starting with something "lesser", or feel trapped with an "inferior" body... don't. Jump in, learn the basics of ISO, shutter speed and aperture, and start taking GREAT pictures, and look at all the other photographers here that eclipse my skills with so called "lesser" cameras. If ya get the chance to jump in with, or upgrade to, the D7100... well, feel free! It's a lovely PRIMAL beast! Plus, rumor has it that the D7200 is coming out soon, and perhaps the D9300 (D300s upgrade?), so the NAS will continue forever... either way, heed the wise words of Crosby, Stills and Nash - "Love the one you're with!"
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