ChiefEW

I currently have a Canon PowerShot A710. It takes good pictures, but lately I have been having trouble with it. My wife held the Nikon 5300 and the 7200 and like the bigger camera (7200) better. We take pictures of the family, friends and other things. I crop and fix them a little in Photoshop elements and send them to friends, etc. I am a retired Graphic Designer and used Photoshop a lot. I have not upgraded my Elements software and I not sure if I will. We are going on the Panama Canal cruise in October and wanted to get a better camera.
Thanks for the advice.
ChiefEW.

klaus Loc: Guatemala City, Guatemala

If you want to take full advantage of the capabilities of any DSLR (like the D5200/D7200) you need to seriously consider shooting RAW.

To process RAW (NEF format) files you will need a good RAW converter. You most likely have to update your older Elements to the latest version (ver14 I believe) to open the RAW files (via Adobe Camera RAW) of these newer cameras. Unfortunately the Elements version of Adobe Camera RAW cannot be upgraded separately.

Another option would be to download the free Nikon Capture NX-D software, process the NEF files there then convert to TIFF for further processing in your current version of Elements.

The drawback is that Capture NX-D is somewhat clumsy (you get what you pay for!) and not very well liked by many photographers. If you can overlook the quirks it is a fairly good RAW converter though and lets you manipulate many of the additional functions (Nikon camera and lens profiles for example) contained in the NEF files.

ChiefEW

In my profession, before I retired, I worked with TIFF files and did everything in RGMK for printing. Not sure what the Raw format is. Also I have a question about memory cards. What card(s) would you recommend for the cruise. Not sure about the video capabilities of the 7100. Is that something I might want to use while on the cruise?
Thanks.
ChiefEW

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I would suggest at least a 32gb card, and one that is as fast as you can find. I have a Sandisk class A SD card that is rated at 95 mb/s. If you tend to take a lot of video or even a lot of stills, you might consider taking a couple of them. I got mine at Best Buy for $39.95.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

These are very popular and the D7100 is not capable of writing any faster as far as I know.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/824140-REG/SanDisk_SDSDXPA_032G_A75_Extreme_Pro_32_GB.html

The D7100,using Jpeg Fine +Raw,can get over 400 exposures on these cards.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

That's the one I got. And I stand corrected on the price.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Prices change! Last year they were $20 just before my trip.

PVR8 Loc: Raleigh, NC

Agreed! You are totally on point.

Gpa-15 Loc: Tinton Falls, NJ

--------------
HI ChiefEW... IMHO, the more revealing question of the 'KNOWLEDGE//EXPERIENCE' available in the UHH-Forum might be:
"For the price of a new D7200, which 'actual' or 'announced'
Camera would 'YOU' choose; in order to 'have' or 'better' the capabilities of a D7200; ...used primarily for the purpose of consistently and accurately CAPTURING fast-moving events//subjects in LESS than bright sunshine?

klaus Loc: Guatemala City, Guatemala

Most advanced cameras (like DSLR's) give you the option to record pictures in either the JPEG or a manufacturer and camera-dependent RAW format.

Pictures in JPEG format are automatically processed in-camera which gives you a "finished" product directly from the camera.

The advantage of shooting in RAW is that you get the full unprocessed information coming from the camera sensor which can then be extensively manipulated in software AFTER the picture has been taken.

For example white-balance can be changed and the picture can be sharpened (up to a point) without any loss of quality. After initial processing in a RAW conversion program the RAW file can be converted to the lossless TIFF format which can then be further processed in a multitude of photo editing programs like Photoshop or Corel Paintshop Pro.

A JPEG file can be manipulated as well but because the JPEG file format re-compresses the file every time it is modified the picture quality quickly deteriorates every time the file is saved again.

I just wanted to give you a glimpse of what shooting in RAW can do. There is plenty information on-line (Google is your friend) and on this message board.

Allen Essek

There is no better camera, than the Nikon D7200!

D7200 is a completely capable camera to shoot anything that you would shoot! The next step up would be a Full Frame Nikon camera! Costing thousands of dollars.

D7200 has THE highest rated Image Sensor, of ANY, Crop Sensor Camera, that is made! You can't go wrong, with the D7200!

It's a perfect camera in every way! You will absolutely love it!

Get it, with it's fantastic, 18-140 G ED VR, Image Stabilized lens,
that is Very Sharp Wide Open, At All Apertures, And Zoom Lengths! and, get a, 50mm, f/1.8D, ($130.00 new, less refurbished,) For low Light, (Very inexpensive, and SO, ULTRA SHARP, or, the 40mm f/2.8 Micro Nikkor, Macro, Even Much Sharper Yet at only $235.00! refurbished, a Beautiful lens to carry! ALSO: (The 55-300 is a VERY nice lens, to pick up refurbished, for only $199.00 !!! it is sharp, for such a lens! & image stabilized, also, and lightweight and compact!) Great Stuff!!!!

Buy from B&H Photo, in NYC, NY...Best sales prices, terms, and all of their stock is shipped out of their giant warehouse, virtually untouched by grubby human hands...(remember---) that Nikon DOES NOT--Seal any of their boxes---so it is vital, that you purchase from a dealer, who you can REALLY trust!!!---That they are actually selling you, VIRGIN Stock----!
AND NOT, something that has been returned, by some previous customer, and returned during the 30 day return period, and then, placed back into their Sales inventory---!!!!!

AMAZON.com is very Famous, for doing this, all of the time! So are some, photo stores...
Adorama, and B&H Photo, do not do this....their returns, go straight back to the manufacturer's, always!

BUT---ADORAMA, Charges Sales Tax!!! While B&H, does not!!!!

Allen Essek

The Nikon D7XXX series of cameras are not intended to be used by "Casual Photographers." These are very advanced cameras that are designed for "Advanced Photographers." Nikon manufacture's and markets two lines of cameras, the D3300, and the D5500, which are both specifically aimed at the "Casual Photographic Market," specifically! These camera's, are much better suited, for use, by a novice Photographer than the D7xxx series cameras. (While a Casual Photographer COULD use a D7xxx series camera if he chose to, he would be faced with many and much more involved features that would imact upon the use of the camera, and he would need to spend much more time and effort in reading the camera's user's guide and in learning these many extra features of the much more advanced camera so that he didn't confuse himself as he used it; it would be a much more difficult road than had he simply purchased one of Nikon's "Consumer Camera's.")

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Who cares??

The OP was asking about the D7100 and the D7200, Have you followed the whole thread?

You could start a new thread on cameras for the casual photographer or maybe a new thread on the characteristics of a casual photographer.........just a thought.

Allen Essek

(No, wrong, Dave. The OP was asking, if the D7200 was worth the extra money, compared to the D7100, "FOR THE CASUAL PHOTOGRAPHER."

So, this thread, IS, concerning, THE "CASUAL PHOTOGRAPHER."

Further, I wasn't responding to the OP's Post, in either of my two post's, rather to ChiefEW, then to MWSilvers post's.

Are YOU following the Whole thread?

Everything is OK.

And, you Dave, happen to be one of my favorite poster's.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

"Further, I wasn't responding to the OP's Post in either of my r"

You have not followed the whole painful thread. :lol: