D5100 vs D7100 w/Tamron 18-400 lens: Currently have a Nikon D5100 with a Tamron 18-400 lens. Would upgrading to a D7100 or above improve quality of pictures or do I need to go to full...

Robert Rill Loc: Pennsylvania

Currently have a Nikon D5100 with a Tamron 18-400 lens. Would upgrading to a D7100 or above improve quality of pictures or do I need to go to full frame? Thanks. The photographers on your site produce outstanding pictures.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

What's wrong with your pictures?

I would also surmise that many of the pics here are sharpened and likely have at least some post processing.

JohnR Loc: The Gates of Hell

D5100 is only 16MP whereas D7100 is 24MP. This will enable greater enlargement before pixellation sets in. The quality of the pictures will not change. Going full frame will need new lenses which may or may not give you better quality pictures depending on the quality of the new lens

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Robert Rill wrote:

Currently have a Nikon D5100 with a Tamron 18-400 lens. Would upgrading to a D7100 or above improve quality of pictures or do I need to go to full frame? Thanks. The photographers on your site produce outstanding pictures.

I don’t think upgrading from D5100 to D7100 or full frame would improve image quality to a great degree if any at all. I think the best thing to do would be to go out and shoot as often as possible and as much as possible. When you return from a shoot, put you pictures on the computer and study each one and determine what you like and dislike on each picture and work to repeat what you like and eliminate what you don’t like.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

I have a D7100 and the Tamron 18-400 and love them. I have never used your camera so I don't know just how much difference the camera will make.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Adding more pixel resolution, alone, won't make very much of a difference. But, coupled with new processors (the camera's internal computer) and sharper lenses will make a difference in your results without changing the size of your sensor. The D7xxx like doesn't have the articulating rear screen, keep that in mind if you consider the newer D7200 (24MP) or D7500 (20MP) options vs simply jumping to the 24MP D5600. The Tamron 18-400 is a fine general purpose lens, but a prime lens and / or a smaller Nikon zoom range may give up some versatility while delivering sharper images.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Some comparisons -

https://cameradecision.com/compare/Nikon-D5100-vs-Nikon-D7100
https://versus.com/en/nikon-d5100-vs-nikon-d7100
https://www.apotelyt.com/compare-camera/nikon-d5100-vs-nikon-d7100
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/51798220
https://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Compare/Side-by-side/Nikon-D7100-versus-Nikon-D5100___865_698

uhaas2009

Better camera don’t mean better picture. I changed from the 7000 to the 810 and I’m glad about it. My mindset is like that my camera knows more than I do. Seeing light and composition is what I pay attention now......
On the 7000 there are some lenses what would focus incorrect and to have 36mb vs 16 mb it’s incredible. No AA filter on the 810 and correct focusing..... I love using the 810....

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Robert Rill wrote:

Currently have a Nikon D5100 with a Tamron 18-400 lens. Would upgrading to a D7100 or above improve quality of pictures or do I need to go to full frame? Thanks. The photographers on your site produce outstanding pictures.

IMO, the 18-400, being a lower resolving lens, the limiting factor for you is mostly the lens. Going from 16 to 24MP may only reveal the limits of the lens and not realize what you are looking for - just my educated opinion.
.

ELNikkor

The D5100 has a 16mp sensor and an anti-aliasing filter, the D7100 has 24mp and no anti-aliasing filter. Whatever difference there is in sharpness having no anti-aliasing filter makes, would be evident in the D7100 images, not to mention the increase in pixels.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

imagemeister wrote:

IMO, the 18-400, being a lower resolving lens, the limiting factor for you is mostly the lens. Going from 16 to 24MP may only reveal the limits of the lens and not realize what you are looking for - just my educated opinion.
.

I also meant to say, judicious post processing may be of more value for you ! ...

Al Beatty Loc: Boise, Idaho

My wife and I are using the 18-400 on a D7100 for our wildlife and one-the-water camera. We love the combination. Take care & ...

wetreed

imagemeister wrote:

IMO, the 18-400, being a lower resolving lens, the limiting factor for you is mostly the lens. Going from 16 to 24MP may only reveal the limits of the lens and not realize what you are looking for - just my educated opinion.
.

I’ve gotten pretty good results from the 18-400. I found if you can stop down a little it helps a lot. I must admit that I have been pleasantly surprised by the good results I shoot with a Nikon D500.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

imagemeister wrote:

IMO, the 18-400, being a lower resolving lens, the limiting factor for you is mostly the lens. Going from 16 to 24MP may only reveal the limits of the lens and not realize what you are looking for - just my educated opinion.
.

I completely agree. I have a Tamron 18-400 that I occasionally use on my Canon 7D Mark 2. As far as super zooms go It is a decent enough lens, but compared to any of my shorter zoom lenses and prime lenses it's just not in the same category.

However, I always recommend this lens to those for whom the focal range is the most important feature with the caveat that they have to accept reduced image quality.

Each of us has to judge our tolerance for lens defects and limitations. Some people are much less sensitive than others to vignetting, lack of sharpness across the frame or at different focal lengths, chromatic aberration, and lens distortion. These things can be adjusted in post-processing with varying success, but, at the end of the day, better lenses will give you better results.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Instead of the D7100 look at the D7200. It has a larger buffer.

Don