Hey Tiny Tim!
I know EXACTLY what you are talking about! I love my D7100 and have had it a year, and just last week I started having the same problem...too many focus points and too much searching. I got out my manual (yuck!) and still couldn't figure it out. Then I realized that my original setting had accidentally been changed! On the left bottom front of your camera is a little black button with "AF" and "M" above it. Make sure it's set on "AF", then push the button and while it's pushed use the front dial (by off/on switch) and you'll see it goes from "Auto" to "S". Set it on "S" and you're back to the single focus point. Hope it works for you...it did for me!

I've had great experience with cameralensrentals.com. I actually live nearby and pick up/return my lenses without the shipping, but I know they ship all over the country and make it easy to return. I've had nothing but wonderful luck with them and rent lenses when I have a big trip or event. Nice local people.

I upgraded from my D80 (which I also love, still have, and still use!) to the D7100. I say "upgraded" because for me, the best thing about the D7100 is that it is much superior at higher ISOs and much better for natural light photography inside. So for me, that was worth the upgrade.

All of my lenses work just fine with the D7100 and I was able to take it out of the box and immediately take photos. Some things are different, of course, but the basic functions are very familiar and similar to the D80.

Go ahead...do it! You won't regret it! And I never even considered full frame, just not worth the extra cost for my needs.

Yes
Lightroom

Hi Frank! I read a wonderful idea last year and it worked like a charm on our beach vacation in North Carolina. I bought a small cooler (easy to carry), put a hand towel in the bottom to cushion it a bit, and kept my big camera in there. I only took it out for the shots I wanted then put right back in the cooler and kept the lid closed. Not only did it keep the sand and water out (just in case a wave came in closer than anticipated and got the bottom wet), it also is a good decoy to keep it from getting stolen. Just a cooler...no one would be interested in taking that! I've saved the cooler just for this and plan to use it again this summer.

Cute link...
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ailbhemalone/10-things-photographers-are-tired-of-hearing

I love mine for indoor sports, especially in poorly-lit high school gyms. Very sharp and with a little cropping you can get great sports shots. I've used mine a lot for volleyball and basketball.

I love my Nikor 85/1.8 as well! Besides portraits, I love using it in our small high school gym for sports photos, especially volleyball and basketball. It's not too big and bulky, takes great sharp photos in bad gym lighting, and since my d7100 has such huge file sizes, I can crop them down and still have very good resolution. Great for your cheerleaders in action!!!

I have a d7100 plus that very same lens. I've found that the "sweet spot" is a little less than 300mm, so zoom it way out and then bring it in just a little. That may help too.

I appreciated reading all of the suggestions...this is something we ALL struggle with, I think. It's hard to get all of those settings right when you're trying to photograph a bird without spooking it. Usually you don't have a whole lot of time!

wlgoode...we live in the country between Anderson, New Castle, and Muncie...east central Indiana. I LOVE Bloomington...spent 4 years there as I'm an Indiana University grad.

Thank you, Appletonwest! We're here now and I plan to visit 1000 Islands this morning...looks very cool! I also may check out High Cliff later today, we'll see how things go. Thanks so much for your helpful suggestions!

This is my first post to the forum...although I've been a long-time reader. Going with my husband on a quick trip to Appleton, WI for a few days...looking for suggestions of places to take photos while he's in his business meetings. I'm interested in nature and wildlife, not buildings and city stuff. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! I'd rather be photographing than sitting in a hotel room! :wink:

Unless you can afford to buy a snazzy long lens, I'd also recommend renting one. I use cameralensrentals.com and have had good luck with them. I rented the Nikon 80-400 for our recent safari to Maasai Mara and it was great...not too bulky and heavy to travel with. For nearly all of the animals, that is plenty of range.

Also, instead of messing with a tripod or monopod, you'll be in a safari vehicle and beanbags work great. Instead of bringing a bean bag, I just bought a cheap bag of rice there (easy to find in any African country!) and used it (you may have to pour out some of the rice to make it more flexible, then reseal with duct tape)...it's not lovely but it's a perfect cheap alternative.

I've done safaris in Tanzania exactly where you're going...AWESOME!!!! It's a photographer's dream and you will love it! ENJOY!!! Wish I were going with you! Love Ngorongoro best of all!