Greetings everyone. First post. Would like some advice.

[pshieronymus]

Thank you very much William W. I really appreciate the time and the attention you have given to my inquiry here. There is much to digest from your reply and I will likely kick up a few questions as a result, especially regarding the flash lighting that will be most sensible for my portrait and group portrait shots. I know my lens is 18mm-70mm f/3.5-4.5, per the Lightroom metadata description, but will verify the IF DX portion of the description when I get home to my camera. For the photos I have taken, I have been happy with the lenses results. Again I can't thank you enough for this wealth of valuable information.

[pshieronymus]

William W,

My lens does not match your description exactly. Is this the lens that you were referring to?(See image below).




Thanks!

[Acorn]

Welcome, Paul. I guess NH translates to New Hampshire and so it’s perhaps somewhat out of the way to talk of what’s available on the secondhand market in the UK. But looking at a company such as UK-based MPB, they have “like new” Nikon D7100’s from just over £500.

I have a D7000 and it’s still serving me well after over five years use. It may only have a 16mp sensor but I’ve printed excellent noiseless pictures up to A3. The D7200 has, of course, a much greater pixel count. But as far as cropped frame cameras are concerned it’s advantageous to carefully compose your pictures in-camera and so avoid excessive cropping.

Let’s face it, some of our well-meaning contributors could have you spending a mint of money; secondhand is a good route. Best wishes.

[billtils]

... as far as cropped frame cameras are concerned it’s advantageous to carefully compose your pictures in-camera and so avoid excessive cropping.

Let’s face it, some of our well-meaning contributors could have you spending a mint of money; secondhand is a good route. Best wishes.

Totally agree with this advice Paul. I bought a factory refurb D7100 body several years back, to replace D3200. It is a superb camera and served me very well until I gave in and allowed myself to be seduced into a D750 full frame, not a factory refurb, but with a very low shutter count. There were many reasons for changing, but increased flexibility in cropping was certainly one of them.

[Saorsa]

I'd completely agree with that advice Paul H.

I would also agree but would advise a D7200 vs. D7100 based on the internal buffer size for the sports and nature photography.

As to lenses, there is a budget 70-300mm that is pretty good but starts to fade at the long end. The 70-200mm F4.0 is superior and with the TC-14 it becomes a 98-280mm. Using the DX 1.5 crop factor of the D7200 you end up with a 35mm equivalent of a 150-420mm f5.6.

[William W]

. . .My lens does not match your description exactly. Is this the lens that you were referring to?

Yes that is the lens to which I was referring.

The nomenclature is not exactly the same on the lens's barrel as I wrote it: but yes, I confirm it is that lens.

The "IF" refers Internal Focusing. This allows the lens to attain focus quickly by moving elements inside the lens barrel and not extending the lens.

The "IF" nomenclature might be signified somewhere else on the lens, (maybe at the front) or perhaps not on the lens at all and only on the data sheet and advertising material.

WW

[inkista]

... Favorite lens for studio portrait work?

I like an 85/1.8, but I shoot long and frame tight. I'd say pick the 35/1.8, 50/1.8, or 85/1.8 based on how you prefer to frame and your personal preferences in working distance; looking at EXIF information from portraits you've taken with the kit lens might help you decide on the right focal length. These portrait primes are all reasonably priced, and not as expensive as a 70-200/2.8 would be, if they have a lot less framing versatility. But they're all fast enough (big max. aperture) for available light portraiture and good performers.

Recommendations on an entry lighting kit?

Depends.

If you plan on always using the light off-camera, then a Godox TT600 and X1T-N (or if you can wait 'til next year to get the gear, look at the XPro/R2 Pro for Nikon). If you plan on using the light primarily on-camera for run'n'gun bounce while event/kit shooting, then an SB-700 (Or possibly a used SB-800 if you can afford them) or a Godox TT685 (if you can't) instead of the TT600. The TT685 has a built-in radio transceiver like the TT600, so can also be used with the X1T-N transmitter for off-camera work, but having TTL will be useful for run'n'gun. Both can do HSS over radio. The TT685N can also be used as a CLS master/slave. If you get an SB speedlight, you'll have to add an X1R-N receiver on it to use it from a Godox transmitter.

This gear recommendation may change any month. Gear features and turnover are rapid when it comes to cheap Chinese flash gear. Godox is eating mind share right now because they support five different systems (Canon, Nikon, Sony, MFT, Fuji X), and have larger-than-speedlight expansion options, and it all works in the same triggering system.

I also highly recommend reading Neil van Niekerk's Tangents blog and learning to use the BFT and doing on-camera bouncing with TTL and a single flash before doing off-camera Strobist stuff. If you're going to go Strobist, then you probably should also add a light stand, umbrella adapter, and umbrella or softbox to the gear.

[pshieronymus]

Again thanks to the group for the input and advice. I very much appreciate it. I got a D7200 Refurb, Godox Speed Flash and Transmitter, and a 50mm prime 1.8. I had a few lights laying around that I "softened" to use as static(as needed). I have begun experimenting with staging some portraits. Really liking the camera so far. One dead pixel on the LCD, which is unfortunate, but a ~415 shutter count, so its a bit hard to complain. It is more distracting than anything. Would anyone be willing to review a few images and provide constructive and/or comical feedback on them? Thanks All.

[billtils]

Good choice Paul, and post away right here!

[William W]

... Would anyone be willing to review a few images and provide constructive and/or comical feedback on them? Thanks All.

If you post images in the appropriate "photo commentary" forum I think many members will provide constructive feedback.

WW

[pshieronymus]

First set of portraits have been shot(oldest daughter). Relatively happy with them "out of camera". Of course my wife went and purchased a seat of Lightroom for me for my birthday yesterday(maybe a hint). Oh boy..lots of control here. I am going to experiment a little, watch a few videos, and then will post some OOC, and some Post samples up in the appropriate photo commentary section. Thanks again for all the help. Two speedlights, one against the wall behind the subject set to low power, and one above and angled to the subject(rembrandt) and behind an umbrella, seems to have created a nice look. The godox set works really nice, thanks for the suggestion.

[xpatUSA]

Hello community!

My name is Paul Hieronymus and this is my first post in this forum. I have already read through hundreds of posts and this seems like a great community for photographers! Happy to meet you all.

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And my feeling is that the 6MP sensor is just a bit too small for my purposes in the end.

That would depend on what your purposes are, I reckon.

If, for example, you intend to print poster-size or even wall-size images, then you are right. Or if you intend to view on a monitor but intend to zoom in many times "to view the detail" then, again, you are right.

If, on the only hand you only intend to view "fit to screen" on a humble 1920x1080px monitor, then 6MP is more than adequate.

Personally, I'm still using a 3.4MP camera - the images from which look perfectly OK on my 1920x1200px screen.

[pshieronymus]

I put up an album of my first round of portraits using my daughter Hilde as the subject. Album link below. The thread subject is "First go at portrait shots(school pic style)." If able, please pop over and provide any comments and criticism you can. Thank a bunch.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KaP2Kg8Eo8xW5otq1

[Donald]

I put up an album of my first round of portraits using my daughter Hilde as the subject. Album link below. The thread subject is "First go at portrait shots(school pic style)." If able, please pop over and provide any comments and criticism you can. Thank a bunch.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KaP2Kg8Eo8xW5otq1

Some people might do this, Paul, but can I suggest you be likely to get more feedback if you took one photo and posted inside a post here. Members here was to give detailed feedback. They can't really do that on an album images. Much better to choose one and for you to decide what it is you asking people. That way you will get more advice and comment that will be more helpful.

[pshieronymus]

Thanks @Donald. I will repost over in the "People C&C" forum, with just a single image. Appreciate it.