TJBNovember Loc: Long Island, New York

Currently have a Nikon D5100 and more then a few accessories and lenses for the same. Considering picking up a newer and higher end Nikon body. Been considering either a D7200 or a D610 as both are well within my budget. Looking for all you Nikon guys and gals thoughts on the subject.

stevebein

What is your goal with photography. Consider if your present body is meeting it. If you can vocalize a reason to change, then do it. If you are looking for satisfaction with more bells and whistles, then that is also a reason. If your photography meets your present and possible future needs, then why change. Will there be a higher resolution, larger print capability, faster frames per second or fastser AF for action shoots, or what? If the current body does it all already, then you should be fine where you are. If it is an ego thing to have the latest and newest, then you are part of the targeted consumer base. Newer and Higher end does not equate to a reason or better results unless a) you can afford it, b) it meets your needs better. Remember the film days. the lenses were the thing, you could shoot with low end bodies and get top end results with certain needs, but some things, like faster AF for action or faster frames per second etc could be vocalized. Some of the best images were and still are made with view cameras.
Your choice.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

A lot to consider. Are the lenses you have DX or FX? If mostly DX, then consider the d7200 or d500, as needing to buy lenses for the d610 full frame body will be expensive. If you are shooting mainly portrait, stills, and landscape, the d7200 will be a fine camera. If you are shooting action such as sports and birds in flight, then you may want to save a little more money and look at the d500.

TJBNovember Loc: Long Island, New York

While newer and better are some of the reasoning, current cameras do have a few bells and whistles I believe I would find useful. Wifi and smart device connectivity for example. Also could use a backup camera in my work, accident investigation and some video recording (classroom setting), reasoning that with a newer updated camera, the D5100 would fill that niche.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

You say you have an extensive kit for your D5100, so unless you have a lot of cash lying around for FX lenses and gear, I'd recommend staying with a DX camera body, such as the D7200 or D500, depending, as it's already been mentioned, on your needs, sport/action/birds, vs. landscape, portraits, etc. It would be very expensive to move into FX territory, and you wouldn't be able to effectively use your DX lenses on an FX camera. On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with going FX, and the D750 is a great way to get into a full frame camera. And once you acquire some lenses for it, you can also use them on your DX body, allowing you to keep the D5100 as your backup camera.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

TJB I have the D7200 and the D610... both are excellent tools albeit I use the D610 far more often now...
Keep in mind I'm shooting active sports (Soccer) and appreciate the superb isolation via DOF that full frame affords...

While these two bodies have the same frame rate and buffer size the D610 walks away from the crop sensor where illumination issues enter the equation. Also the D7200 suffers from extreme Moire patterns when shooting hummingbirds... Their plumage is tainted with rainbow wavy lines... The traditional fix is to run PS dust and scratches filter thus negating the lack of a low pass filter a.k.a anti-aliasing filter.

That said, since I assume you are stuck with crop lens you'll have to pony up $$ for good full frame glass... However while both bodies will be worth only pennies on the dollar in less than a ten years the full frame glass will hold value/worth and may even appreciate...

For me the D610 gets the nod... Those who fault it's focus tracking are blowing smoke and/or regurgitating vendor hype... this has never been a problem for me with fast action sports... See example below...

However I use back button focus exclusively so recomposing is a no brainer... But if you don't know how to deploy back button focus then maybe the D7200 would allow a tad more freedom with rearranging compositional elements. In the end your glass is typically far more important than your body... Unless you are heavy into sports... then even the D610 will not be competitive at the professional level... A frame rate of 11 and a buffer in the hundreds is what a professional sports shooters currently cherish... because of this I still use my D3 with it's frame rate of 9 and I have the large buffer add-on... works for me... btw, I shoot the D3 in the rain with a AF 200-400mm F/4 VR IF which is something you'll not be able to pull off long with either the D7200 or D610 in as they certainly are not weather sealed... If the game is played in the rain a weather sealed kit isn't optional.

Hope this helps or is at least food for thought...
All the best on your journey TJB

Boys U18 HS League Soccer with a 200-500mm F/5.6 on the D610
500mm F/5.6 @ 1/1600 ISO 220

(Download)

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

You say expanding your kit. Is the current camera inadequate for features? If it is then the Nikon experts will guide you. If not that, inadequate a better expansion is add lenses as they will give you a lot of different creative possibilities that a camera cannot possibly provide.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

For me it was the D500 for crop or the D810 for full frame. You will not be disappointed with either one. They HAD big sales on these camera's over Christmas, maybe Nikon will repeat about March.