Nikon D7100 VS D5300 (Page 2): Amazing pictures. Thank you so much ....

Bob-Virginia Loc: Virginia

Amazing pictures. Thank you so much ....

Bob-Virginia Loc: Virginia

Boy, this is very informative and you have a very good point about perhaps not actually needing both of those 2 lenses. I can always purchase another lens later anyway !! From what you are saying I guess this is why my old 35mm film when shot the right way with my 35 year old Nikon camera is still producing great results that everyone seems to love. I would however like not to have to continue with the hassle and expense of the photo labs anymore. My CVS now has a machine where you can put a memory card in and get instant prints. I have never tried that but it might be a good option if I get good enough with the digital camera. Thanks so much

amehta wrote:

If you get either the D7100 or the D5300, you may find you no longer need your 35mm film. The film is about 2x the area of the D7100/D5300 sensor, but it is about 30x the area of the DSC-H200 sensor. And a lot more effort has been put into improving the image quality of the digital sensor than of film in the past decade, so the D7100/D5300 sensor will be very competitive with, if not better than, the film.

Now, the qualitative differences between them:

1. The D7100 has two dials to change settings, the D5300 has one. If you are shooting in manual mode, for example, this means one controls aperture while the other sets the shutter speed. With the D5300 you use one dial, and press the exposure compensation button to change the aperture. I find two dials much more convenient.

2. There are also more controls which can be set by pressing a button and turning a dial on the D7100, so you never have to take your eye off the viewfinder.

3. The D7100 has a autofocus motor built in while the D5300 does not. The D5300 will only autofocus with AF-S lenses, while the D7100 will autofocus with any AF lens. There are some excellent AF lenses which have not been updated to AF-S lenses (200mm f/4 macro, 105mm or 135mm DC lenses are two).

4. The D7100 has two SD card slots, the D5300 has one. If you are shooting a once-in-a-lifetime event, you can have two copies of the pictures to insure against one card getting corrupted. You may not want to do this all the time, but it is a nice option.

5. The D7100 built-in flash can be the commander to control Nikon Speedlights remotely, which gives a lot of options especially for portrait photography.

6. The D5300 has an articulating screen.

7. The D5300 has built-in GPS and WiFi.

Overall, I think the D7100 is a better camera for many photographers.

For a little less than the Costco price, you can get the D7100 + 18-140mm lens. If you look at your better pictures with the H200, how often are you going past 200mm (35mm equivalent)? And how often are you in the 70-200mm range (35mm equivalent)? If you are not going past 200mm, but are often past 70mm, then the 18-140mm lens gives a good range in a single lens, rather than needing two lenses.

If you get either the D7100 or the D5300, you may ... (show quote)

Bob-Virginia Loc: Virginia

Excellent pictures. Thanks for the advice...

Greenguy33 wrote:

I had the same issue, D7100 or D5300. I am so glad... (show quote)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Bob-Virginia wrote:

My only DSLR camera right now is a Sony Cyber-shot... (show quote)

I like the physical controls of the D7100 vs the Menu controls of other models. It's faster making changes. The D7100 has a focusing motor, but it lacks the tilting LCD, if that matters to you. The D7100 has pretty good weather sealing. I always aim one step up, rather than one step down.

Bob-Virginia Loc: Virginia

Thanks, I think that I would also work better with physical controls also. Since I am not used to a tilting LCD it probably won't make a difference at this point. The weather sealing might be a good feature since most of what I do is outside and sometimes in rugged terrain. Thanks so much !!!

jerryc41 wrote:

I like the physical controls of the D7100 vs the Menu controls of other models. It's faster making changes. The D7100 has a focusing motor, but it lacks the tilting LCD, if that matters to you. The D7100 has pretty good weather sealing. I always aim one step up, rather than one step down.

Photo.Jerry

I would buy the D 5300. Why? The life cycle of digital cameras is short and in just two years there will be a newer model with better performance. The days are gone when you could buy a camera and use it for decades and "grow into it."

I used to sell cameras and my advice to customers was to buy the least expensive body that would do the job and spend your money on quality lenses. You'll find yourself keeping the lenses when you trade up bodies.

Look at both cameras and the features they offer. If the D 7100 has something you need and would use that the 5300 doesn't have, go for it. If not, save your money, your pictures will be as good with either.

Phil G

What kind of lens were you using on the hummingbird photos?? They are all great!

Photosmoke wrote:

Hey Bob I have the D7100 & love it. I couldn't be happier with it . If you wan to see what kind of pictures it takes click on my link below

Tony R. Loc: Ohio

Hi Bob
I purchased the D7100 about 2months ago and I am extremely happy with it. I also the D5100. It took me a couple of weeks to get familiar with the camera but once I did I started turning out some quality pics. Look at B&H photo online. They have the D7100 body only for $1096 (body only) and very high quality service.
Tony R.

bparr1 Loc: Carthage, TN

Bob-Virginia wrote:

My only DSLR camera right now is a Sony Cyber-shot... (show quote)

I agree with the other posters on the attributes of the D7100. From what you stated, I think you answered your own question as to how the 7100 feels in your hand. That's the best thing about handling the two side by side. Go for the 7100 and enjoy it. Yes, there will be a learning curve as there is with anything new. Best of luck.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Bob-Virginia wrote:

Thanks for the link. Very informative ! Sounds lik... (show quote)

The main purpose of your camera well defined, and neither the purpose nor the camera are transient. There were a couple very strong hints that higher cost is acceptable to acquire real value when higher quality matches your purposes.

Cruising around on 4-wheelers to get a specific type of photograph is something I also do a lot of. The differences in camera quality and functionality is a topic I have to revisit repeatedly.

First, it appears to me that you would benefit more from a Full Frame body than a cropped body. For wildlife and birds in open areas the extra reach of a cropped body can be useful; but absent that, in a wooded area with limited visibility and shooting relatively "tame" subjects that you can get close to, it seems a FF body would be a better fit.

There are two problems though, price and ruggedness. The price of low end Nikon FF cameras start higher than the top end of the DX models. I'm not at all sure about relative ruggedness, but suspect a D7100 may be more so than an entry level D610.

You clearly intend on a long term purchase, and because of that I would give serious consideration to one of the full frame bodies. Right now, with the introduction of the D810 model, it should be very easy to find a new or little used D800 or D800E at very attractive prices.

Likewise, thinking about something like a Pelican hard case to carry equipment is a good idea too. That doesn't work well if your work requires the camera be quickly available while traveling. But that didn't sound to be how you work. If you need a camera to be instantly accessible while moving on the 4-wheeler you might also put ruggedness even higher on the priority list, and maybe even consider a D4.

BTW, a high end DSLR that replaces any film camera is economically sound over a period of time. If you shoot just 3 rolls a week that is going to cost roughly $2800 a year! That will pay for a top of the line DSLR each time a new one is introduced! That's less than 6000 exposures a year, and with a D4S you'd probably shoot 2 or 3 times as many.

Photo.Jerry

Apaflo said: "You clearly intend on a long term purchase..." With all due respect, in the digital market long term is an illusion. In five years your purchase will seem hopelessly out of date as the anti-vibration technology improves, the low light abilities increase, speed of the processing increases, in camera processing like HDR and focus stacking are added and automated, etc., etc. In short, buy what you know how to use, learn its limitations and when obsolescence comes, as it will much sooner than you expect, buy the newer model of what meets your needs. The technical capabilities of all the newer cameras is such that even the base models deliver great images.

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

Bob-Virginia wrote:

My only DSLR camera right now is a Sony Cyber-shot... (show quote)

Assuming the cost difference is not an issue for you, I would recommend the D7100. It is a well made camera and pretty easy to use and gas gotten some great reviews. I have a D7000 and love mine.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Photo.Jerry wrote:

Apaflo said: "You clearly intend on a long te... (show quote)

Obsolescence is in the eye of the beholder. I have a Nikon D70s camera that works just fine thank you. The camera is fine for a second camera and my wife uses it while I use my D7100. Both cameras work fine. If he/she is worried about obsolescence, they will never buy a camera, computer, car, radio, or any other item. Typically, in computers and cameras, if you purchase a mid-level you will forestall the item becoming outdated longer. For instance, with processors, Intel processors will escalate in price by a few dollars at each level until you reach a mid to upper mid level then the price difference jumps from maybe $20 per level to $120 to the next level. You buy the highest level before the jump and that processor will have most of the best features and will take longer to be replaced. The same is true with cameras. The D7100 is the "top" level of the DX level, the next jump is the D600/D610 which is basically the same camera with a full frame sensor and $800 more.

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

dcampbell52 wrote:

Obsolescence is in the eye of the beholder. I hav... (show quote)

Rumor has it that there will be a D9300 to replace the D300.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Greenguy33 wrote:

Rumor has it that there will be a D9300 to replace the D300.

Rumor is that the Sun will burn out next year too. Right now we don't have any specifications on a D9300 or anything. If you constantly put off purchasing because something else MIGHT be out in a few months you will never have anything for fear of missing the next great thing. Buy what you want or need now and deal with the other later.. Maybe, by then you will want or need a full frame and use the current as a backup.