ksmmike

Hello,

I've used Nikon cameras since the early 80's. I began with a Pentax K1000 (like many) and after that was stolen, moved into the Nikon world. The reason I stay with Nikon is mostly because of my lenses. That being said, the Nikon D750 was by far my favorite of all my Nikons (film or digital) until I bought the D850. I'm not going to try and convince you to buy the D850, for what you're doing, the D750 will be plenty of camera.

Make sure you get one that doesn't have the shutter issue (you can check the serial numbers) or get one that's newer or an older on which has been repaired. Mine had the shutter issue but didnt occur until after I had used it for several years. Nikon recently fixed it for free.

For family images the D750 is a perfect camera. It has great low light capabilities and 24 megapixels is plenty for 99% of applications. The main reason I upgraded was for the slightly better dynamic range for landscapes and I had a bad case of GAS ever since the D850 came out. I finally gave into the disease last month for the holidays. However, I still ended up using the D750 for family stuff on Xmas.

If you want to move into the full frame area, the D750 is a great camera. I've used it from sports to portrait to landscapes to street with much success. For you budget, I wouldn't hesitate.

As far as Ebay. I have bought and sold many lenses and a few cameras with only one issue and it was minor. The key there is to buy from a reputable dealer or person and ask all your questions in advance of buying. In fact I bought my D750 used from a camera shop off Ebay. It was a floor model and still had the full warranty. I bought it for a deep discount and it didnt have a scratch or nick on it.

Mike

ELNikkor

My D750 continues to amaze me at its ability to shoot low light jpegs that look great. I just did a lap-to-head sitting portrait of my mother-in-law with the setting on auto-ISO, f11 and 1/100 sec. using window light. It was so sharp and grainless, top to bottom, every fiber of her clothes and each hair very clear, even with enlarging, I was sure the ISO must have been around 200. When I checked the properties, I was flabbergasted to find the camera had chosen ISO 4,500! I honestly do not think I need to make any adjustments at all, even though my other card has a RAW file. The SOOC jpeg is that good. If cost is a factor, a lightly used D750 can be had for around $800, but new is not that much more. Yes, the Z6 is much newer, but double the price, but not double the quality of the final image.

Flash Falasca Loc: Beverly Hills, Florida

When you say lenses that will fit full frame, do you mean they will fit or they are full frame lenses ??

SueScott Loc: Hammondsville, Ohio

I recently upgraded to a Z6 and am loving it, especially its low light performance. Your Nikon F lenses can be used with the FTZ adapter as well as some of Tamron's lenses. It's a very capable camera.

saxman71 Loc: Wenatchee

My very first thought is that's a wonderful photo of three precious children enjoying the Christmas season. I like the "low light" look of the image a great deal. There are many ways to brighten up this photo in post without the purchase of a new camera but I wouldn't do it. It's a seriously good photo just the way it is. If you feel the image is just too soft you could try some selective sharpening of various features to see if that helps. But I love the shot and wouldn't change it.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

I have a D7200 and I think this camera gives rather good low light performance. I would not hesitate to use this camera up ISO 3200 and even 6400 is OK. One big contributor to noise is underexposure. It is far better to expose correctly. Also take the time to learn about ISO invariant cameras. Yours may be one.

Your camera should give excellent results. Experiment so that you will know its performance characteristics.

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

Sounds like experimenting with settings will be as useful as a new camera. Maybe augmenting your lighting. I will let portrait photographers help you with that.

I want respond to the issue of ebay. Most of my equipment has been purchased on ebay, and my experiences have highly positive. Yes, sellers rating is important. Personally, i only buy from 100% sellers, so I can’t really say what lower rating would be acceptable to you. I also look at the photos to assess the care taken with the item, and try to read between the lines of the description. Ebay protects buyers, and i have never had a problem with the few times i have had to return items. Most importantly, be aware of what you are willing to pay, and BE PATIENT. When you do see an item and price that meet your criteria, buy it immediately. For auctions, don’t get sucked up in bidding fever.

Specific to your interest, i recently threw in what i considered to be an unreasonably low bid on a D810 in the last minute of an auction just for kicks, certain that i would be outbid in the last 30 seconds of the auction, but I was not outbid, and scored a nicely maintained US body, with box and paperwork. Christmas present to myself.

If your needs change, you can always resell your excess gear (most of my early lenses have found new homes as i have upgraded).

Good luck and good shooting.

Oly Guy

Try the D 7200-used about 600.00 at keh-or the D 3500.00 FOR A SMALLER model with the same 24MGP
software =with the 35mm lens or get both for under 900.00- and have a smaller one for carrying_

Bojon1

I'm no photography guru. quite the opposite... But I love the composition and above all it is oh so interesting in how you captured their interest... On the wall it goes!

hgrinolds

Here is what I see. You have a relatively closed down f stop as the scene is in focus. However, the chair and tree are at the focal plane. You shutter speed is perhaps high but there seems to be little blur. That leaves the iso assuming you need the depth of field shown. I have no problems at an iso of 2000 using a d610 with a fx 28-300mm lens. Thus, take a close look at both your focus settings and, most importantly, your exposure metering. Try one that does not have you cranking up the LR gains on the dark areas. Give the kids little lights to hang around their necks:).

Haydon

You really should look into some type of strobe/flash system. Natural light produces beautiful results but artificial light will trump it especially when you learn to shape it.

jcboy3

The D750 has nearly the same user interface as the D7100; just a few more features/controls. The D810 is one of their PRO series, so there are some differences in user interface and accessories. For what you shoot, the D750 would be fine. You don't mention what lenses you have, but an upgrade to an f/2.8 zoom might help. Faster prime lenses (if you have them) can help but can result in too shallow depth of field. The 24-70 f/2.8 is excellent, but expensive. The Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 can be purchased used for very cheap, gives a little extra reach (and you won't need wider than 28 for shooting kids).

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

Considering your Nikon lenses you may well move on to one of the full frame Nikons as they are great cameras with much better low light performance than your d7100.

I know this from experience since I used a d7100 for years. Here's what I did and I did get much better low light performance as well ad slightly better IQ. I traded in all my Nikon gear and purchased a Sony a7iii and Sony FE24-105mm lens. I may have been a bit more than you want to pay but I feel it was worth it because it helped my up my photography skills in the process and my pictures are better. (This is not out of line since you already have a Sony.)

Anyway good luck and happy shooting with however you go.

vg Loc: Kansas City area

I have the d750 and it’s great. Had it since it came out years ago. I shoot at iso 1600 for sports and school indoor concerts. No noise .

I do not trust eBay for used camera’s. You won’t know if it fell in the lake.
Go to Nikon or b&h for a refurbished Nikon d750.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

With respect may I suggest you submit some of your photos to UHH so people can examine them to see what it is you might be doing wrong, that is if anything. The camera you have is an excellent camera and I can't come up with one reason why your photos show grain unless you are using an abnormally high ISO that would be useful in low light conditions. For normal daylight photography or inside with the ISO set to maybe 800 I can't see how there would be a lot of grain. If it is happening with both the Sony AND the Nikon cameras you have then I believe it is something you are doing rather than the cameras, both of which are excellent performers.

Dennis