Camera upgrade?

[Chri5]

Hi Guys. I am thinking about upgrading from my Nikon D7100 to maybe a D800/D810. Some of you will have seen some of my images and might be able to give some sound advice. I am concerned that there might be a big learning curve from the Jump from D7100 to D800

[Manfred M]

Chris - I went from a D90 to a D800 virtually seamlessly. The look and feel of the controls and menus meant a very, very short learning curve.

The question I would throw back to you is asking you what you hope to gain by going from your current crop frame camera (and its DX sensor) to a full-frame camera with its FX sensor. I personally feel that unless you print a significant amount of large format images, you will NOT see a significant improvement in image quality. In fact much of the improved image quality would be from higher quality lenses that you would have to invest in.

[Chri5]

Food for thought Manfred Thanks. Personally I hope to jump from semi pro to pro in the not to distant future and I plan on traveling on and off looking for the spectacular landscapes and I just feel if I am going to go to all that trouble then a D7100 would be a let down to the locations

[Stagecoach]

Chris,

I purchased a D800 a year ago as a second camera to my ageing/corroded/fungus under the LCD model D300 that still continues to serve me well after 8 years of use. At no time did I consider the D800 purchase an upgrade, but another option that would have its advantages and disadvantages to what I already owned.

Whilst I am not conversant with the D7100 performance I suspect its technology is about a similar age to the D300 and main differences would be bells, whistles and ergonomics.

Here's what I have found as significant advantages that the D800 has;

a) Greater dynamic range
b) Greater high ISO performance

These are significant to me because of the subject matter I shoot, very simply I get better final results with less PP work. I can pull more from the shadows without adding noise.

At the time I purchased the D800 there was not another DX model Nikon with similar ergonomics as the D300 that I wanted but if in the same position today I would be looking very seriously to see if there was a DX model that would give equivalent performance as a) and b) above because for me Full Frame is no advantage as I do not print large.

[NorthernFocus]

Hi, Chris. I had a D7100 and now a 7200. Similarly I had a D800E and now a D810. IMO the "learning curve" is insignificant. Photography is photography. True there are some nuance differences but not what I'd call significant. All of the same basics apply regardless of format.

As to potential benefits of going full frame, a lot depends on what you shoot. If you shoot mainly landscape, and assuming you would compose your images the same with either camera, then you will see a significant improvement due to the increased pixel count (i.e. 24 to 36MP), better dynamic range, and as Manfred said lower noise in shadows. However, if you get a D800 as opposed to 800E or 810, you MAY notice a drop off in sharpness due to the low pass filter in the 800. Also the frame rate is lower in the 800/800E. That may not matter to you.

Though the pixel COUNT is higher in the 800 series, the pixel DENSITY(aka pitch) is lower. So the 7100 actually requires better resolving glass to get the best possible IQ. If you are currently shooting FX lenses and are satisfied with them, then they will work fine on the 800 series bodies. If you are shooting DX lenses you better be ready do drop significant funds on new FX lenses. I never had that issue because, for the most part, I always used FX lenses on my DX bodies anyway.

I've owned a lot of Nikon bodies and IMO the D810 is the best camera they make. But we all have different needs.

[NorthernFocus]

...Whilst I am not conversant with the D7100 performance I suspect its technology is about a similar age to the D300 and main differences would be bells, whistles and ergonomics...

Not so, Grahame. Having had both and with the images to compare, I can tell you that the D7100 produces astonishingly better IQ than the D300. Double the pixel count AND better ISO performance and DR. They came a long way in two generations of camera body. The D300 build/ergonomics are better and it has a pro-sized buffer. I missed it sorely in that regard. But I could never happily shoot one again due to how much better IQ is in the modern bodies. With the D810 shooing in DX mode, I finally feel like I have a true all around upgrade to the D300.

[Black Pearl]

Chris - what lenses do you own?

[Chri5]

Chris - what lenses do you own?

Currently I only have the Sigma 10-20mm. I used to have the kit lens 18-55 a sigma 55-200 and a Nikon 35mm prim but I sold the other lenses as I was not using them.

[Black Pearl]

Then the questions really should revolve around what your budget might be because you don't have any lenses that are fully compatible with a FX body so the investment is going to be significant to say the least.

If your budget is large and flexible then yes invest in a D810 and a bag of pro glass to go with it.
If you're running a tighter budget get the glass first - then - look at changing your body should you feel you still need to.

[IzzieK]

I have the D810 and very happy with it...using third party zooms is not that bad of an investment. Among my FF collection is a $149 zoom lens and it works well for me.

[William W]

Then the questions really should revolve around what your budget might be because you don't have any lenses that are fully compatible with a FX body so the investment is going to be significant to say the least.

Beat me to it.

WW

[ionian]

Some solid advice here already. Let me just add that if you are considering doing this in a professional context, then you will need back-up gear - imagine not getting the shot you have been commissioned to take because you drop your camera. Then you're out a fee, a camera repair bill and an unhappy client. Keep the D7100, at least until you can afford to replace it with something better.

[KimC]

Hi Chris. Look at the Nikon D750. It can use either a DX or FX lens and has some nice features (awesome for low light). The files are not as large as the D810 and the camera is a bit lighter, which helps when you have a heavy lens on. I just picked one up, as I am considering getting rid of my D810 -- for me, the down side to the 810 is that it easily picks up tiny bugs (the wings catch the light especially) when I am shooting animals outside, which is a PP nightmare to get rid of.

[motordrive]

I shoot with a D700 and my son shoots with a D810. We both shot the red moon eclipse this year. We did not realize the other was shooting the same thing and we live in a different part of the area. After the shoot I cropped my image. What I got was a moon that was starting to display pixalation. My son sent me his shot (cropped) and there was no sign of pixalation. The resolution difference between a 12mp and 36mp image is incredible to say the least. I'm fine shooting with my D700 because I do not make huge prints. If I did I would consider something like the D810. I have just completed setting up my Smugmug site. Some of the image's are from my film days shot with either a F100 or N90s and the digital images with either a D70 or my current D700. My Smugmug site is jwbimages.smugmug.com
JWB

[george013]

I shoot with a D700 and my son shoots with a D810. We both shot the red moon eclipse this year. We did not realize the other was shooting the same thing and we live in a different part of the area. After the shoot I cropped my image. What I got was a moon that was starting to display pixalation. My son sent me his shot (cropped) and there was no sign of pixalation. The resolution difference between a 12mp and 36mp image is incredible to say the least. I'm fine shooting with my D700 because I do not make huge prints. If I did I would consider something like the D810. I have just completed setting up my Smugmug site. Some of the image's are from my film days shot with either a F100 or N90s and the digital images with either a D70 or my current D700. My Smugmug site is jwbimages.smugmug.com
JWB

The need for cropping depends on the used lens too. And your son needs a faster shutter time. There's always something.

George

[billtils]

Chris, having recently upgraded to one from a D7100, I heartily endorse what Kim says about taking a look at the D750. It also frees up some cash to invest in glass. I discarded the 8x0 options early on as all they offered was extra pixels that are not needed (for most of us in most situations). I have cropped images shot at around ISO 1000 to between 2 and 3MP without seeing any noise/pixellation problems in projected displays.

[billtils]

Chris, I am not surprised at the outcomes from comparing the D810 with a D700, but it's not really very relevant. The D700 has a 12.1 MP sensor which is not in the same league as the more modern sensors in the 810 and 750. Here's what one reviewer thinks of the 810 -v- 750: http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/compari...10-vs-d750.htm. Ken has a somewhat idiosyncratic style but generally tells it like he sees it. A more conventional comparison can be found here.

[george013]

Chris, I am not surprised at the outcomes from comparing the D810 with a D700, but it's not really very relevant. The D700 has a 12.1 MP sensor which is not in the same league as the more modern sensors in the 810 and 750. Here's what one reviewer thinks of the 810 -v- 750: http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/compari...10-vs-d750.htm. Ken has a somewhat idiosyncratic style but generally tells it like he sees it. A more conventional comparison can be found here.

I mentioned this one before. The D4 has 16MB and costs nearly 40% more as the 810 and double the D750.
The argument of being able to crop out of a megapixel sensor has 2 disadvantages: you need a faster shutter speed and have to calculate with a smaller COC.

George

And better lenses with smaller sensels.

[pnodrog]

Currently I only have the Sigma 10-20mm. I used to have the kit lens 18-55 a sigma 55-200 and a Nikon 35mm prim but I sold the other lenses as I was not using them.

If 10-20mm is your preferred lens you obviously like wide angle shots. In this respect moving to a FX(FF) body with a matching lens will help. However the Sigma is a DC lens and will restrict you to the DX format so will need replacing.