kellerbl Loc: Binghamton, NY

I like my Nikon D80, but it is beginning to refuse to take shots without being rebooted or at least turned of and back on, so I'm looking proactively for a replacement. I like the feel of the d80 camera body in my hands - I have somewhat large hands and fingers - and I would like the replacement to have a similar feel. Sensitivity to low light would be good. I'm leaning towards the D7100 or its follow-on if it shows up soon. It isn't available in any local stores for me to try out, which is unfortunate. I have only one DX lens that seems to have worked well for me - 18-135mm. I'm thinking of getting a kit with the D7100 and the DX 18-300mm lens. I would also like to get a macro lens for closeups. I also have the SB-800 flash unit.

jlrivera Loc: Round Lake, Illinois

Welcome to UHH. My sug. is to get the Nikon D7100 with the 18-300mm and for macro: Nikon 105mm macro.

amehta Loc: Boston

The D7100 is a very popular Nikon DSLR, and a natural update to your D80. I expect that, if you get it, you might be able to start shooting immediately without needing to look at the manual. Of course, as you get used to it, you'll want to see what new features and technology it has. To see them compared, look at the snapsort D7100 vs D80 comparison.

tramsey Loc: Texas

When it came out the 7100 was a top of the line camera. to many members on the forum it still is. You can't go wrong with the choices that you have made. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Hey, welcome to the UHH. :-D :-D Almost forgot

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

When you get serious about exploring macro, drop by the UHH True Macro-Photography Forum at http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-102-1.html . We will gladly answer questions about macro lenses, macro equipment, and macro techniques.

To place Macro Forum on your UHH home page, you can subscribe here: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/section_list.jsp .

SteveR Loc: Michigan

My first DSLR was the D7000 and it's a great camera. The D7100 has even more resolution. I don't think that you could go wrong. It has a magnesium body, is sealed for dust and water, has pro controls, can shoot at ISO 1200 with no noise, has a good buffer among other things. If you'd really like a hefty camera, go to the D800.

vtoyscape

The D7100 is a very good upgrade choice. It is similar sized but the focusing is better but more complex.If you want a deal, also look for the D80's immediate successor, the D90 that is still in Nikon current production line but at a good price.I have shot shows at ISO 3200 with hardly any noticeable noise. Hope this gives you an additional option

kellerbl Loc: Binghamton, NY

Wow, thanks for all the nice suggestions. I appreciate you all taking the time to help me out. I did consider the D90, but I would prefer to get a camera that is a little newer. If my D80 would stop refusing to take a shot, I would be willing to wait longer for a replacement. I do like that the D90 takes the same battery as my D80. I have been happy with two batteries and have never run out of power.

vtoyscape

D7100, more modern should be a good choice but you may have to invest in an additional en-el15 battery for it. The movie application and operation is definitely superior to the D90 as well as higher ISO sensitivity with less noise. With lenses, buy the best glass you can afford.Good luck and welcome.

amehta Loc: Boston

The approximate "lineage" is D80 ==> D90 ==> D7000 ==> D7100. There are refurbished D7000s available for $600-700, while the D7100 is about $1150. It seems that you've been happily using a camera for 8 years, so the D7000 or D7100 should serve you well for another 5-10 years. If anything, the technological improvements have been slowing, not accelerating.

I would call the cameras in this lineage updates. The upgrades, meanwhile, would be the D200 ==> D300 ==> D300s lineage. When the D80 came out, the D200 and D2-series were the two higher Nikon models. The D200/D300 have better build and overall faster performance, but that may not be significant for you.

If you can decide the camera level you want (D80 vs D200), how old a model you're okay with (current = D7100, 3-4 years old = D7000/D300s), and how much you want to spend ($600-1200), you can feel confident about making the right decision for you.

amehta Loc: Boston

The D7100 with the 18-300mm lens does not seem to be saving you anything, since the kits are around $2150 (Amazon or Best Buy), the D7100 is $1150, and the 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6 is $1000 both at B&H or Adorama. Nikon has just released the newer 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 for $900, and there are a few other options also. You can get the D7100, use it with your 18-135mm lens, and update your lens as a different decision.

Gitzo Loc: Indiana

I've found from long experience that suggesting a new camera to some you don't know well is very likely to be an impossible task; Nikon models vary greatly, but Nikon user vary a whole lot more "greatly"!

The D 7100 is indeed an excellent choice, (and an excellent body ), but it may or may not be the best choice for everyone. The reason I say that;

I'm a firm believer in getting the absolute "most camera" for the "fewest bucks"; in order to accomplish that objective, (unless of course you're very wealthy or maybe recent hit the lottery", the one thing Im recommend you DON'T do, is to buy a camera model thet "just came out"!
(Any pros reading this are already lining up their rocks to throw! ) Fact; almost everything that's "high tech" depreciates rapidly; and ALL new digital cameras depreciate more rapidly than just about anything else.

They're probably the best example of the law of "supply & demand" than anything I can think of; sure, every "new" camera has a few "bells and whistles" that the preceding model lacked; but you pay dearly for those things, and unless you're a working pro, you really may not even need them, and quite possibly, you may never even use them.

You'll notice something about almost ALL amateur photographers; what every camera model they own and use, it's the absolute BEST camera "out there"! I think a much better way to look at it, is to think about "best pictures", instead of "best cameras". Let's face it......they may not admit it, but almost all amateurs are more "hardware" freaks, than they are "picture freaks"......there's just "something about it", being out taking pictures with your brand new "latest & greatest" camera; actually, there is something better; (having the BEST PICTURES in your Flickr account, (or where ever you keep them ).

For the average, "non-rich" amateur, I think it's a big mistake to "drool" over full-frame bodies; sure that bigger sensor has more area, get's "sharper" images, etc etc, etc. It also needs more expensive lenses, and if you spring for a new D-800 (with 36 MP sensor, those "tack sharp" images also create file sizes as big as Ohio, so you better have one hell of a computer to work with them, and some pretty pricey memory cards!

Here's a great idea; wait for Nikon to bring out their new D 7200 (or what ever they call it ); as soon as it's out. the D 7100 will go DOWN in price; BUY one then! Almost no one starts taking better pictures after just buying a better camera; (the greatest pictures are always taken by the greatest photographers. )

Here's even a more important idea; what ever body you end up with, until you know everything about it, and how to use the thing to it's max, you're gonna be well into the next decade if you have to depend on the manual that come with the new camera; get on Amazon of Half com and buy one of David Busch's manuals for that body; that will accelerate your progress with the new camera faster than anything else. I can't explain in a post why this is so, but trust me, it IS "so"! (I paid $40 for one of Thom Hogans GREAT manuals, thought it was great, lost the damned thing, then paid about $25 or $30 for David Busch'e manual; (if I ever find Hogans manual, i'll probably throw Thom Hogan's manual away now! ) Busch not only explains 10 times as much "stuff", but her explains things more clearly than anyone else I've ever seen.

amehta Loc: Boston

For a macro lens, one of the best options is a used Nikon AF 105mm f/2.8D, which will autofocus on both the D80 and the D7100. It should be around $400-500, about half the price of a new Nikon AF-S 105mm f/2.8G VR ($900), but optically as good (some say better) and built as well or better. The new lens has a few advantages: it has a built in AF motor, VR, and the "M/A-M" autofocus switch which means you can have it set to autofocus but manually focus without moving the switch.

jsmangis Loc: Peoria, IL

Thank you for all of this information. I also have a D80, and am very happy with it. It was my first DSLR, and I bought it because I already had Nikon film cameras and lenses (N70 w/35-105, N8008 w/35-105, 100-300AI) and I ended up buying an AF-S 18-70 ED, and an AF 70-300D lenses instead of the plastic kit lenses. I like the way my D80 works with my old MF lenses also. Will the D7100 and it's replacement still work with my old Ai-s lenses?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Good choices, especially with the flash. Adding a battery grip will help with those big hands.