pjspix

I currently have a D3400. It is my first venture into digital. I did not want to spend thousands to find out what I wanted in digital. This was the right step for me as I am finding out what I do and do not like in digital. I knew I wanted to stay with Nikon as I have a lot of film camera lenses that I do use with this camera. Those lenses will only work manually on this camera, but I often find myself going manual even with digital AF lenses to get the shot I want. I have not been happy with the speed of the lenses that seem to be acceptable in the digital world. I had a 1.4 50mm on my F2 and a 1.2 on my Canon EF. I loved both of those cameras and I just shot a roll of black and white through the old F2 last week. I did just get a AF 50mm 1.4 for the D3400 but have not been out with it yet. That may take care of my speed, low light and depth of field issues. I know this camera will teach me what I want in my next camera and I'm hoping to get some great insight from people here with a lot more digital experience than myself. I like many of the options in digital. I can do many things with the camera that I had to do in the darkroom prior to digital and I have not had a darkroom for many years now. I'm not crazy about the auto focusing. Ideally I want the old split screen manual focusing screen for when I don't want auto focusing. I also want more focal points that 'lock in" when I use auto focusing. Too often I focus on a subject and as I snap the picture it refocuses to something completely different. I would also like more frames per second to catch flapping wings and stuff like that. I am happy with the shutter speeds and ISO range of this camera. I have been experimenting with low light night shots and I have not gotten the results I am looking for, but that may be me and not the limits of the camera. I have been shooting everything in JPG and I am planning to experiment in RAW format. Does Nikon offer something that takes care of these issues without going straight to the top? I still have a bunch to learn. I primarily take nature pictures. I use both long telephoto lenses and close up macro lenses.

BebuLamar

I think currently the D5 would work fine.

jbmauser Loc: Roanoke, VA

I love shooting with older AIs lenses as well as autofocus film era lenses. I have a D90 which has the autofocus motor in the camera and I upgraded to the D7100 which is now replaced by the D7200. These both have the focus motor and the D7100 will meter the older lenses and the focus indicator lights in the viewfinder help with manual lenses as I have not installed a replacement split Fresnel screen which can be done to aid in manual focus. Best of luck. JB

pjspix

I did not know that having a Split/Fresnel screen installed was an option. I will look into that and see if it is an option for this camera. If not, that will be a factor in the camera I choose. Thank You.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

You should pick up a download copy of Secrets To The Nikon Autofocus System by Steve Perry (a member here). He is a professional wildlife photographer and discusses in the book all the newer Nikon cameras and their capabilities, plus a lot more. I think the book would give you a really good understanding of the capabilities of each of the camera groups i.e. Consumer, Prosumer and Pro.

alolewis

I would look at the D7200, it is still a half frame camera but much cheaper than the D5 recommended above ($1000 vs $6000). Has higher shoot rate, more autofocus points, etc than the D3400. I just upgraded my D3300 to the D7200 and glad I did.

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

I would recommend you get a camera that feels good in your hand, has more capabilities than you plan on using and is "comfortable" for your wallet. That could be a D5500 and a couple of lenses or a full-frame 3K$ Nikon with a collection of Fast Glass (my personal never-to-be dream).
The focus issue you mentioned is "operator headspace error". There are various focus modes based on the scene. If you learn when and why to use each mode you'll be much more happy with your photographs. I use spot focus mode a lot as I grew up with a Nikon "F" and got used to the focus spot in the middle.

RickL Loc: Vail, Az

I started with a D7000 and then purchased a gray market D810. This camera would more than fit your requirements. You can also get film fx lenses with this at huge savings for lenses

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I'd probably look at the Df first. It has the retro look and feel of the old film cameras, is full frame, and will feel familiar — if that is what you want.

Beyond that, if you want speed, the D500 is Nikon's sports and wildlife camera. If you want plenty of megapixels for printing huge landscapes, there's the D810.

If you carefully examine every manufacturer's camera line-up, you'll see they each cater to four or five key niches. Each brand does that differently. So it is helpful to sit down with a legal pad and list all the attributes of your photography that you consider important. Then list what you do, and don't want in a camera. Then look for a system that does as much of what you want as is possible.

You'll get a lot of highly opinionated advice here. Some of it is gold, and some of it is fertilizer. But ultimately, you have to buy what works for you. Unless you have a huge wad of cash, the key to doing that correctly is to get fiercely analytical for a while.

Oh, and if you're going to spend a lot, go to LensRentals.com or BorrowLenses.com and rent what you might want to buy for a week. Try it out on your kind of photography.

ecurb1105

Suggest you look at the D7200, if you don't want full frame. If you want full frame, look at the D750.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

Wow. You have done well, my son. LOL. A few comments:

Get David Busch's book on the D3400. (I actually prefer Darrell Young's books, but he hasn't done the D3400.)Everything that is in the manual but with practical applications and specific recommendations, especially for all the menu items. Also, read Ken Rockwell's review and his recommendations. http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3400.htm and http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3400/users-guide/index.htm . They are free to read--though a donation is appropriate. Rockwell has been my favorite review/instructor for years and never has steered me wrong.

Split-screen focusing is gone. Only lamented by us old folk. The new focusing mechanisms are actually better, but it takes a while to get used to green squares and green dots. Set up correctly, your camera will not lose focus. In fact, it will hold a focus on the subject you designate even as the subject moves across your field of view. You will now hear/read about 'contrast-detection" focusing and "phase-shift" focusing rather than split screen. I too am a forty+ year veteran of Nikon and Canon and split screen was a great thing--but the new way is better. (I've recently moved to Sony and it is even more esoteric.)

You are doing well to learn on the D3400. It has everything the more expensive cameras have but hidden in ways to be appealing to the newbie.

Welcome to the Hog. A good place to learn.

BebuLamar

I have the Df and I love it. I manual focus a lot with it. I do wish it has a better screen but no I don't want a split image. The OP wants a split image then he needs to find one that offers interchangeable focusing screen.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

What you want is a camera with an EVF...that way you can zoom in and confirm the focus (like using a split screen), or use focus peaking. That all said...you're out of luck with nikon and for the most part canon, since they don't really make decent mirrorless cameras, which is the only way you're going to get those features. Look at a Sony A6500 or A7Rii, Fuji XT-2, Olympus EM5ii or EM10ii or EM1ii, or Panasonic Gx8 or Gx85. What I absolutely love about mine is being able to use the touch screen to focus and capture the image (if I want

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Since I had this feature on a Canon Rebel, I expect you have it too. It overcomes having the camera refocus. First, set the focusing mode to one shot. This should cause it to focus when the button is 1/2 pressed, then hold. Also, I set the camera for one focusing dot rather than all.

pjspix

Well I checked with a tech at Nikon and for 2017 they don't offer any digital camera with a split screen focusing system. I have a neighbor with a d7200 and it sounds like it has a lot of what I want without having to spend $3000. I'm going to try it and if I like it I will be looking for a d7200 or7500