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Question about lenses and IF I were to upgrade the body
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Feb 15, 2023 18:49:17   #
rbenotti Loc: Massachusetts
 
Great forum thus far. Going to ask what I know is a general question.

Currently I have a D5500 with a 55-200mm Nikon lens & 18-55mm Nikon lens (both autofocus w/ VR), a 70-300mm Manual Focus Nikon Lens & a 35-70mm manual focus Macro Lens. The camera takes cool pictures and I know I have a bit to learn about manual controls to get better.

That said I’m looking for opinions on lenses (prefer autofocus where the camera body doesn’t have it) for indoor & outdoor sports, as well as landscape photos, animals, flowers. I know there is a plethora of options, both in $$$ and size. I like to take photos for fun. And I know on lens doesn’t do all well. This I am learning.

If I were to upgrade the body, what are people’s thoughts on that? I know there are options for full frame, but those are generally bigger in size. Is it worth it to split the difference and go with a 7500? At a minimum my 70-300mm lens would autofocus. I’d refer to keep the same lenses.

Appreciate the feedback and suggestions.

Reply
Feb 15, 2023 19:06:29   #
whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.
 
rbenotti wrote:
Great forum thus far. Going to ask what I know is a general question.

Currently I have a D5500 with a 55-200mm Nikon lens & 18-55mm Nikon lens (both autofocus w/ VR), a 70-300mm Manual Focus Nikon Lens & a 35-70mm manual focus Macro Lens. The camera takes cool pictures and I know I have a bit to learn about manual controls to get better.

That said I’m looking for opinions on lenses (prefer autofocus where the camera body doesn’t have it) for indoor & outdoor sports, as well as landscape photos, animals, flowers. I know there is a plethora of options, both in $$$ and size. I like to take photos for fun. And I know on lens doesn’t do all well. This I am learning.

If I were to upgrade the body, what are people’s thoughts on that? I know there are options for full frame, but those are generally bigger in size. Is it worth it to split the difference and go with a 7500? At a minimum my 70-300mm lens would autofocus. I’d refer to keep the same lenses.

Appreciate the feedback and suggestions.
Great forum thus far. Going to ask what I know is ... (show quote)


Personally I have both the d5500 & the d7500. I have a couple of other Nikons but like the results best with 2 mentioned. If it is any help I use a Nikkor 18-300 on the d7500 and a Nikon 18-140 on the d5500 ( for its lighter weight when that is advantageous, such as street photography). Both good cameras; the d7500 gives you more to work with & has a larger sensor ( the same size sensor as the d500 which is considered by many as the king of Nikon dx cameras). I am pleased with the results of both combinations mentioned above.

Reply
Feb 15, 2023 19:14:41   #
Cany143 Loc: SE Utah
 
At your stage of the game, a D7200 might potentially be the 'best' upgrade you could make. Are there others? As you've mentioned, of course there are.

'Bigger' --be that in sensor size or in in-camera features-- might be advisable if and/or when you've progressed beyond taking photos for "fun", but that may come with time (and a thousand other considerations), but.....

....only time --and your interest level-- will tell.

Reply
 
 
Feb 15, 2023 19:57:42   #
PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place
 
I have the D7100 and the D7200. I really like the D7200 and would recommend it. The single card slot in the D7500 was a deal killer for me.

Don

Reply
Feb 15, 2023 20:19:26   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
rbenotti wrote:
Great forum thus far. Going to ask what I know is a general question.

Currently I have a D5500 with a 55-200mm Nikon lens & 18-55mm Nikon lens (both autofocus w/ VR), a 70-300mm Manual Focus Nikon Lens & a 35-70mm manual focus Macro Lens. The camera takes cool pictures and I know I have a bit to learn about manual controls to get better.

That said I’m looking for opinions on lenses (prefer autofocus where the camera body doesn’t have it) for indoor & outdoor sports, as well as landscape photos, animals, flowers. I know there is a plethora of options, both in $$$ and size. I like to take photos for fun. And I know on lens doesn’t do all well. This I am learning.

If I were to upgrade the body, what are people’s thoughts on that? I know there are options for full frame, but those are generally bigger in size. Is it worth it to split the difference and go with a 7500? At a minimum my 70-300mm lens would autofocus. I’d refer to keep the same lenses.

Appreciate the feedback and suggestions.
Great forum thus far. Going to ask what I know is ... (show quote)


You have a modern and current 24MP DSLR in your D5500. You don't need another camera, something you'll rarely hear from the mostly pro-buy, pro-body UHH community.

You say your 70-300 is manual focus? Is that because of the age of the lens? Is it a 'D' lens that needs a camera with a focus motor, something missing from the D5500? You have lots of 70-300 options that auto-focus on your D5500. Just decide which and how much you want to spend. Look at used versions so maybe you can buy more for less. You can look at the newest AF-P lenses that retain AF on your D5500, once you install the latest firmware update, if needed. Nikon even makes a DX version of the 70-300 for a bit smaller size and weight.

Looking for MF 35-70 also seems like a 'D' lens. Maybe a D7xxx series camera is the better option to put these lenses back into AF action, although you'd retire a perfectly good camera to enable these two lenses. I'd look at the price of a used D7200 vs a used 70-300 and make an informed decision.

Reply
Feb 15, 2023 20:34:34   #
BebuLamar
 
CHG_CANON wrote:
You have a modern and current 24MP DSLR in your D5500. You don't need another camera, something you'll rarely hear from the mostly pro-buy, pro-body UHH community.

You say your 70-300 is manual focus? Is that because of the age of the lens? Is it a 'D' lens that needs a camera with a focus motor, something missing from the D5500? You have lots of 70-300 options that auto-focus on your D5500. Just decide which and how much you want to spend. Look at used versions so maybe you can buy more for less. You can look at the newest AF-P lenses that retain AF on your D5500, once you install the latest firmware update, if needed. Nikon even makes a DX version of the 70-300 for a bit smaller size and weight.

Looking for MF 35-70 also seems like a 'D' lens. Maybe a D7xxx series camera is the better option to put these lenses back into AF action, although you'd retire a perfectly good camera to enable these two lenses. I'd look at the price of a used D7200 vs a used 70-300 and make an informed decision.
You have a modern and current 24MP DSLR in your D5... (show quote)


I think it has to do with the focus motor. I don't think Nikon ever made the 70-300mm manual focus lens.

Reply
Feb 15, 2023 20:36:22   #
rbenotti Loc: Massachusetts
 
CHG_CANON wrote:
You have a modern and current 24MP DSLR in your D5500. You don't need another camera, something you'll rarely hear from the mostly pro-buy, pro-body UHH community.

You say your 70-300 is manual focus? Is that because of the age of the lens? Is it a 'D' lens that needs a camera with a focus motor, something missing from the D5500? You have lots of 70-300 options that auto-focus on your D5500. Just decide which and how much you want to spend. Look at used versions so maybe you can buy more for less. You can look at the newest AF-P lenses that retain AF on your D5500, once you install the latest firmware update, if needed. Nikon even makes a DX version of the 70-300 for a bit smaller size and weight.

Looking for MF 35-70 also seems like a 'D' lens. Maybe a D7xxx series camera is the better option to put these lenses back into AF action, although you'd retire a perfectly good camera to enable these two lenses. I'd look at the price of a used D7200 vs a used 70-300 and make an informed decision.
You have a modern and current 24MP DSLR in your D5... (show quote)


Thanks for the input. I agree it’s been a great camera and can do a lot. It’s been great learning how to get better shots with it.

It’s a Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 G. My daughter has the other lens at them moment with a D3000. All I know is both are manual focus. I’ve taken some good shots that are “just out of focus”

If I went the camera route, I wouldn’t retire this one anyway.

Reply
 
 
Feb 15, 2023 20:38:31   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
Is the lens broken or the AF/MF button set to MF? Typically, a G lens will autofocus on any of the D3xxx and D5xxx line of cameras, but it does need to be AF-S rather than a very small set of G lenses that are AF only.

Reply
Feb 15, 2023 20:39:30   #
BebuLamar
 
The lens is an AF lens but it doesn't AF with your D5500 nor your daughter D3000. If you upgrade to the D7500 or D500 then it will AF.

Reply
Feb 15, 2023 20:44:33   #
rbenotti Loc: Massachusetts
 
BebuLamar wrote:
The lens is an AF lens but it doesn't AF with your D5500 nor your daughter D3000. If you upgrade to the D7500 or D500 then it will AF.


I should have been more specific above. Yeah - manual due to no focus motor built into those cameras. We tend to use the 2 lenses that focus within the lenses themselves.

Reply
Feb 15, 2023 22:56:42   #
OldSchool-WI Loc: Brandon, Wisconsin 53919
 
CHG_CANON wrote:
You have a modern and current 24MP DSLR in your D5500. You don't need another camera, something you'll rarely hear from the mostly pro-buy, pro-body UHH community.

You say your 70-300 is manual focus? Is that because of the age of the lens? Is it a 'D' lens that needs a camera with a focus motor, something missing from the D5500? You have lots of 70-300 options that auto-focus on your D5500. Just decide which and how much you want to spend. Look at used versions so maybe you can buy more for less. You can look at the newest AF-P lenses that retain AF on your D5500, once you install the latest firmware update, if needed. Nikon even makes a DX version of the 70-300 for a bit smaller size and weight.

Looking for MF 35-70 also seems like a 'D' lens. Maybe a D7xxx series camera is the better option to put these lenses back into AF action, although you'd retire a perfectly good camera to enable these two lenses. I'd look at the price of a used D7200 vs a used 70-300 and make an informed decision.
You have a modern and current 24MP DSLR in your D5... (show quote)


___________________________(reply)

Good reply Canon. And not insulting like the previous "contributor" who suggests the D5500 camera was "good enough" for "fun" photography---but if you really want to . . . .----buy the so and so. . . .------------------

Reply
 
 
Feb 16, 2023 07:00:44   #
NormanTheGr8 Loc: Racine, Wisconsin
 
If that is a crop sensor, you might really enjoy the Tamron 18_400

Reply
Feb 16, 2023 07:41:59   #
Architect1776 Loc: In my mind
 
rbenotti wrote:
Great forum thus far. Going to ask what I know is a general question.

Currently I have a D5500 with a 55-200mm Nikon lens & 18-55mm Nikon lens (both autofocus w/ VR), a 70-300mm Manual Focus Nikon Lens & a 35-70mm manual focus Macro Lens. The camera takes cool pictures and I know I have a bit to learn about manual controls to get better.

That said I’m looking for opinions on lenses (prefer autofocus where the camera body doesn’t have it) for indoor & outdoor sports, as well as landscape photos, animals, flowers. I know there is a plethora of options, both in $$$ and size. I like to take photos for fun. And I know on lens doesn’t do all well. This I am learning.

If I were to upgrade the body, what are people’s thoughts on that? I know there are options for full frame, but those are generally bigger in size. Is it worth it to split the difference and go with a 7500? At a minimum my 70-300mm lens would autofocus. I’d refer to keep the same lenses.

Appreciate the feedback and suggestions.
Great forum thus far. Going to ask what I know is ... (show quote)


If you want smaller and lighter look at the Z50.
Is much more up-to-date than DSLRs and has better AF including eye AF other excellent upgrades.
Your AF lenses will work with the FTZII adapter.
I was skeptical on mirrorless for a long time for several reasons but in the last couple of years those failings all have been resolved.
The Z50 looks like it is a good step up unless you insist on FF but your AF lenses are not for FF.

Reply
Feb 16, 2023 08:17:18   #
RKL349 Loc: Connecticut
 
whatdat wrote:
Personally I have both the d5500 & the d7500. I have a couple of other Nikons but like the results best with 2 mentioned. If it is any help I use a Nikkor 18-300 on the d7500 and a Nikon 18-140 on the d5500 ( for its lighter weight when that is advantageous, such as street photography). Both good cameras; the d7500 gives you more to work with & has a larger sensor ( the same size sensor as the d500 which is considered by many as the king of Nikon dx cameras). I am pleased with the results of both combinations mentioned above.
Personally I have both the d5500 & the d7500. ... (show quote)


I think the D5500 and D7500 are both APS-C sensor cameras , so for Nikon they should be the same size. Perhaps you were thinking D750, which is full frame.

Reply
Feb 16, 2023 10:17:01   #
gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast
 
Strive to become a better photographer with your current gear. Upgrading gear without first upgrading skills is a fools errand.

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