Saleavitt10 Loc: Maine

I am thinking about upgrading from the D7100 to the D7200. I won the D7100 in a raffle about 18 months ago. I primarily use it for wildlife photography with an emphasis on birds and BIF's. The D7100 is a great camera but for BIF's I am intrigued by the bigger buffer claims of faster AF of the D7200.

Have any of you upgraded and do you feel it was worth it?

Yes, I've read the reviews but I would like opinions from those who have actually upgraded.

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Not a significant upgrade, unless you MUST have a better buffer and a few more (OK, maybe more than a “few” more) megapixels. Those, and the fact that the WiFi is built-in, rather than needing a plug-in adapter, is about it. Roughly the same camera, otherwise. Unless you need these additional features, I’d stick with the D7100.

Oh, sorry, no, I haven’t actually upgraded. So, never mind :)

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

As stated, there isn't much difference between the D7100 and the D7200. The buffer is slightly larger so if you are shooting burst in the D7200 (according to Nikon, when shooting at full resolution NEF, the D7100 shoots 6 fps and the D7200 shoots 7fps). The D7200 uses an Expeed 4 processor and the D7100 uses an expeed 3 processor and supposedly both use the same sensor (Note, I have seen claims of a different brand of sensor but friends at Nikon claim it is the same sensor just an Expeed 4 vs Epeed 3 processor) . I also know that many of the reviews are claiming huge increase in buffer size but Nikon has both rated at 6fps at the largest size raw so I would say test before you are commited. The D7200 has a better ability to focus in low light supposedly focuses at -3ev vs -2ev in the D7100. With the current pricing on the D7200 vs the D7100 or in your case already owning a D7100, I wonder if the improvements are worth the expense. If you are going to that expense, I would probably look at going to the D610 or the D750 since you are spending the money.

Gitchigumi Loc: Wake Forest, NC

:thumbup: :mrgreen: :thumbup:

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Buffer size is more than just the frames per second rate. At largest NEF size, the D7100 will slow down after 1 second (6 shots), while the D7200 can shoot a 3 second burst (18 shots) before slowing. For a bird shooter that's a huge difference.

And admittedly I have not had a D7200. When I looked at upgrading from D7100 I went to full frame instead with a D750. That's a huge step ahead of the D610, which for many purposes rates no better than the D7200. But it's also a bunch more $$.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

I realize that but my point was that if I was going to upgrade from the D7100, it would't be to the D7200. To me, you aren't gaining enough to offet the cost of the upgrade. If I were trading the D7100 in, it would be to (what I would consider a serious upgrade) the next complete level and not the follow on next version of the same camera. I am not saying that the D7200 is bad, just saying that, given that you can buy a new D7100 for $900 buy used E+ rated from KEH for $700 means that if you trade or sell the camera body, you can at best expect $300 to $500 for the camera to go towards your new body. That means that you would be paying an additional $500-$700 for an upgrade to a D7200. I would be inclined to either keep the body as a 2nd camera or trade it towards a D610 or D750 where the dealer might be inclined to give you a little more for your old camera in exchange for the new one.. Keeping in mind that, if the lenses you already have are DX lenses, you will need to purchase an FX lens or 2 to get the full value of the FX camera upgrade.. Although it will use the DX lenses in crop mode.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

:thumbup: :thumbup:

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

I think we're mostly in agreement, Dave. As I mentioned I chose not to move from 7100 to 7200, weighing the cost against feature gain. If I was upgrading from D3XX or D5XX, I'd be all over the D7200. :D

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Exactly.. I wasn't pushing FX as much as the D7xxx is the top of the DX so to upgrade you would be forced to go FX. if it was a D70s to D7200 yes certainly, or maybe a D7000 to D7200 I might consider it long and hard but would lean towards doing it.. D7100 to D7200 probably not unless there was some mitigating reason like my D7100 had been dropped or had some other non-warrantied defect.

Saleavitt10 Loc: Maine

Thanks for all the comments. I've been up in the North Maine Woods for a few days and there isn't cell service! Lots to consider. I have thought of going full frame fir a while. Almost pulled the trigger last fall but couldn't decide whether to go all in on the 750 or the economy 610 model! Since the 7100 didn't cost me anything except a $5 raffle ticket what ever I can sell it for will be profit to put towards something else. Since I do mostly wildlife I was thinking crop factor was the way to go. I'll keep mulling it over!