Heading Home

[FrankMi]

Toward the end of October and after managing a project 1,000 miles from home for three months, it felt good to be heading home again.



With a little bit of spending cash in my pocket, I finally feel justified in upgrading my Nikon D3100 to a D7100.

It's not that I've become all that proficient with the D3100. Oh no. I'm nowhere near efficiently utilizing all of the capabilities of the D3100. In fact, I may never get that far. Reason and logic are not being considered. It's just that now that I can afford it and I WANT one, I'm going to treat myself!

[Shadowman]

Nice shot, enjoy the upgrade.

[IzzieK]

Well...congratulations! Now isn't it nice to feel so good and think of upgrading? But why another cropped version of a camera? Why not a full frame like the D610 for example...a good refurbished one will not cost the earth, will it? Just curious...

[FrankMi]

Nice shot, enjoy the upgrade.

Thank you John! I am certainly looking forward to playing with the new kit!

[FrankMi]

Well...congratulations! Now isn't it nice to feel so good and think of upgrading? But why another cropped version of a camera? Why not a full frame like the D610 for example...a good refurbished one will not cost the earth, will it? Just curious...

Hi Izzie, everyone's situation is different and although the D7100 and D610 are similar, some of the things I had to consider were:

Lenses - I have a small stable of DX lenses that could work on the D610 in crop mode but then why get the D610 if I'm not taking advantage of the physically larger sensor? The alternative would be to sell the DX lenses and repurchase FX lenses but that is a very costly alternative.

Low Light - The D610 is better at low light shooting and although I do shoot low-light, nowhere near enough to justify the higher cost.

Professional Use - I shoot for fun and don't sell any of my images. In fact, you can access all of my images on my SmugMug account at full resolution and download to your heart's content. I really don't need a professional camera. In fact, I probably don't 'need' the D3100's IQ either as I don't print images.

I just wanted to play with the D7100's bells and whistles, like being able to use my cell phone to wirelessly drive the D7100 to take 100 accurately focus stacked images! For me, it's all about the FUN, eh?

Cost - I was able to get the D7100 factory refurbished for about $850. The D610 is almost twice that.

My wife doesn't understand why my cameras costs more than her vacuum cleaners and they're nowhere near as large! (My cameras don't 'suck' either, but please don't tell her I said that!)

[bnnrcn]

Very nice shot Frank. Enjoy your new camera

[Otavio]

Hi, Frank. Nice shot. Regarding the D7100, you've made a wise decision, in my humble opinion. It is, certainly, a top level body for DX lenses. Enjoy it!

[purplehaze]

It's not that I've become all that proficient with the D3100. Oh no. I'm nowhere near efficiently utilizing all of the capabilities of the D3100. In fact, I may never get that far. Reason and logic are not being considered. It's just that now that I can afford it and I WANT one, I'm going to treat myself!

I recognize that rationale! Congratulations, Frank, and welcome to the club!

[Rita]

Enjoy your new camera Frank. I am also looking at getting a new camera, hopefully a 5d3.

[FrankMi]

Thank you for the kind comments Binnur and Otávio!

I was pleasantly surprised when, as we began our descent into Charlotte, NC, that they lit up the winglets and I was able to get this shot.

[IzzieK]

Well...it is a very nice unique shot...well worth the upgrade you are thinking of and the reasons behind it. As for your comment about the camera and your attitude towards the way you shot and why, I respect your decision, but you know how the big boy above all of us can be so funny sometimes...the more you say no, that is exactly what is going to happen (e.g., maybe you are going to be famous...no matter how much you resist it... .. a word of caution: never say "Never!")

[FrankMi]

I recognize that rationale! Congratulations, Frank, and welcome to the club!

Thank you Janis! I have been watching which cameras are being used by the folks here at CiC and noticed that there are quite a few happy D7100 users in the club!

Enjoy your new camera Frank. I am also looking at getting a new camera, hopefully a 5d3.

I certainly hope to Rita. Enjoy looking forward to your new 5D3. Anticipation is part of the fun of getting a new toy to play with!

Well...it is a very nice unique shot...well worth the upgrade you are thinking of and the reasons behind it. As for your comment about the camera and your attitude towards the way you shot and why, I respect your decision, but you know how the big boy above all of us can be so funny sometimes...the more you say no, that is exactly what is going to happen (e.g., maybe you are going to be famous...no matter how much you resist it... .. a word of caution: never say "Never!")

Thank you for the comment Izzie! When they turned the winglet lights on I thought that it looked quite pleasant against the night sky. The only real problem was to get an angle that would minimize the reflections in the window.

Famous? You've gotta be kidding. But then, I wouldn't mind being famous as long as it didn't interfere with dinner!

[Donald]

Reason and logic are not being considered. It's just that now that I can afford it and I WANT one, I'm going to treat myself!

Same line of thinking has guided my decision to buy a Canon 7DMkII (which hasn't arrived yet).

And I, too, like that image.

[FrankMi]

Same line of thinking has guided my decision to buy a Canon 7DMkII (which hasn't arrived yet).

And I, too, like that image.

Thank you Donald! I'm sure you will get a lot of pleasure from your new 7DMkII!