Upgrading thoughts: New to the board, but I have lurked for a while. I've had a Nikon D50 for 8 years and I'm about to retire. Seriously thinking of upgrading. I have these lens: Nikon...

HallowedHill Loc: Chattanooga, TN

New to the board, but I have lurked for a while.

I've had a Nikon D50 for 8 years and I'm about to retire. Seriously thinking of upgrading. I have these lens: Nikon 55-300 AF-S f/.4.5-5.6G ED VR DX: Nikon 55-200 f/4.0-5.6 ED Dx and Nikon 18-55 f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S. I shoot wildlife (mostly birds), landscapes, and family vacations, grand kids sports etc. I'm thinking it would be fun to do to large format printing, even up to 24 x 30. I've looked at the Nikon D7100 and the 810 looks interesting. Knowing myself well image quality will be important. All comments are appreciated, including those on comparable Canons which I've not explored yet.

Thanks in advance.

amehta Loc: Boston

HallowedHill wrote:

New to the board, but I have lurked for a while. b... (show quote)

For image quality, I don't think you can beat the D800 series, in a 35mm or smaller format. You will have to replace all your lenses if you do this, since yours are DX, designed for the smaller sensor.

The D7100 is also an excellent camera. If you do not want to spend more than $5k for the D810 and some lenses, you can start with the D7100 body and add one or two lenses to improve on what you have.

In the general area you are considering, the Canon 5D Mark III would be the easy choice, basically the same overall cost as the D810.

If you want to go with a smaller size, but still get the image quality of the full frame cameras, some mirrorless options like the Sony A7 series are very interesting. Before purchasing a mirrorless camera, I would make sure the electronic viewfinder is not uncomfortable. In general, we can get used to a lot, but if the EVF gives you a headache, it may never get better.

Picshooter

The 810 is the best DSLR available right now until Canon comes out with their answer. The problem is you would need to upgrade most of your DX lenses to FX lenses. With an 810 that would mean pro lenses like a 14-24, 24-70 and 70-200 2.8s all costing about $2,000 each.
If this is going to be a retirement hobby and you have the money to afford it go for the D810 and buy some new lenses. You could be a pro and make money with that setup in a post retirement career. LOL
If you are watching your money the D7100 is an outstanding choice plus you can use your existing lenses.

Big Stopper Loc: London

HallowedHill wrote:

New to the board, but I have lurked for a while. b... (show quote)

Welcome to UHH.

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

Welcome aboard. Lots of good advice has already been given. I'll eventually go from my D5200 to whatever replaces the D7100 is my guess at this point. I honestly think that the quality I can get with the proper technique and planning is pretty darn good with the D5200 and better lenses will continue to help me improve until I'm ready for the next level. After all, as a computer guy and photo hobbyist, I've seen tech get better in leaps and bounds and get much less expensive. It wasn't that long ago that a "pro" level camera was 6mp with specs that couldn't come close to an entry level DSLR today. Whatever you get, have fun!

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

Welcome to the hog! First off, if you wish to stay with the DX camera, then I would opt for the D7100. I would also sell your 55-200, since you are already covered with the 55-300 lens. There is nothing wrong with your 18-55. Maybe look at a zoom lens in a Sigma or Tamron if you want a longer reach.
If you go to a full frame, FX camera, then I would sell all your lenses you have now and start over. Best bet: keep your lenses and go for the D7100. It's a great camera!
Good luck!

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

HallowedHill wrote:

New to the board, but I have lurked for a while. b... (show quote)

Welcome to the Hog. If you can wait, want to stay with Nikon, and do not have a unlimited budget, I would wait for Nikon's successor to the D7100, although that camera is great. If you want full frame, the D610 is a great camera, and not expensive as the D810' but you will need to add FX lenses and that can get costly. Whatever you decide, good luck with your new camera.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Welcome to UHH. The D7100 is a very good DX format camera. If your budget can afford it, jump into FX. There ought to be some good deals coming up on the D800/E with the D810 being announced. Printing is fun and I find very satisfying. Look at the Epson 3880. I love mine. Good luck and enjoy retirement.

HallowedHill wrote:

New to the board, but I have lurked for a while. b... (show quote)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

HallowedHill wrote:

New to the board, but I have lurked for a while. b... (show quote)

Welcome to our forum!

Budget plays a major role in upgrading equipment. Ideally, you would get the new D810 with Nikon's trinity of lenses: 14-24mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm. If you are willing to spend around $7,500, that's the way to go.

Since your lenses are DX, you could sell them on ebay and buy FX.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

What ever you get try them out. For me weight is a big factor (even though I loved Nikon) so I switched to mirrorless.

Caysnowman Loc: MN & SC

Picshooter wrote:

The 810 is the best DSLR available right ......snip.......
If you are watching your money the D7100 is an outstanding choice plus you can use your existing lenses.

I wonder if those lenses would do justice to the D7100? Great to get started with but I think a new lens or two would be needed to catch all the D7100 can offer.

Bill

boydimages Loc: California

The mention of weight here is something to be considered. I shoot with the D600, normally with the 24-79 2.8 lens while my wife has a D7000 with an 18-200. The difference in weight is amazing. After carrying my camera all day then picking up her D7000 I feel like I have a toy in my hands. As mentioned, upgrading lenses will be costly.
You should be able to get great images with the D7100 if you do all the things like using a tripod, etc, etc. The full frame will give you a little more cropping room. If I were to do this over I would purchased the D7100 and save myself $$$ upgrading lenses.
Do more research and make a Pros and Con list for each camera, D7100 and full frame. On the full frame Con side I would now put weight and cost both body and lenses.
Also, you can shoot an FX lens on a DX body. You will loose the outer portion of the lens capabilities but you will see this in the viewfinder. A friend upgraded his glass first then purchased the FX body. This was done over a period of time as money allowed.

sueyeisert wrote:

What ever you get try them out. For me weight is a big factor (even though I loved Nikon) so I switched to mirrorless.

amehta Loc: Boston

Caysnowman wrote:

I wonder if those lenses would do justice to the D7100? Great to get started with but I think a new lens or two would be needed to catch all the D7100 can offer.

Bill

I agree, some new lenses would be needed to match the results which the D7100 is capable of. Those can be obtained over time, while the new lenses with a full frame camera would be needed immediately.

LPigott Loc: Monterey Peninsula, CA

"DSLRs
As of 2012, the Canon 5D Mark III is the world's best DSLR. As you can read at D800 vs. 5D Mark III, Canon addressed and improved a zillion little things, while Nikon with the D800 is just spewing out the same camera as 2007, just with more pixels we don't need." - Ken Rockwell

Canon is number one in sales. Nikon users are more outspoken.

Picshooter

LPigott wrote:

"DSLRs
As of 2012, the Canon 5D Mark III is the world's best DSLR. As you can read at D800 vs. 5D Mark III, Canon addressed and improved a zillion little things, while Nikon with the D800 is just spewing out the same camera as 2007, just with more pixels we don't need." - Ken Rockwell

Canon is number one in sales. Nikon users are more outspoken.

"The D810 is the world's highest technical performance DSLR ever for outdoor, nature, landscape and many other kinds of precision photography. The Nikon D810 is the world's best for these things because it has such extremely high image quality that it exceeds not just every other full-frame DSLR ever made, it also replaces medium-format digital cameras that cost as much as a new Mercedes. If you're serious about image quality, especially for large prints, gallery showings and shooting for major publications like Arizona Highways (America's premier journal of the finest contemporary Southwestern photography), the new Nikon D810 replaces everything that has come before it. No 35mm-based DSLR can duplicate its technical image quality.- Ken Rockwell" 6-24-2014