Fotojunky Loc: WISCONSIN, USA.

Hello I'm a newbie here and this subject has probably been talked about a million times, but here is my question, with a brief (I hope), explaination. I am an amatuer trying to break into the pro/semi pro area. But I've been using a Nikon d3300 and want something with more. The d3300 is awesome in most cases so far. After countless articles and surveys, and comparisons, I'm in the same spot......confused. I'm a nikon man, (I just love the feel ok?), and I see the options are limitless depending on your budget. I see that the D500 is a crop sensor, but it also seems to out shoot the D750 and D810 in some areas. Would I be better off with a DX or a FX? It seems a lot of companies hiring require a FF/FX camera setup, but I'm not sure if it would be necessary if I free lance. Of course my budget is limited, just like everyone else's, But for what I want to do and where I want to go I can make things happen if I have to, within reason. And speaking of reasons, please don't give me a generic answer, but give me some good reasons why you feel the way you do about your answer. (?) I thank you in advance for all your support.

FJP

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

If you have the finances to get whichever, got for the full frame. The advantages are innumerable.
--Bob

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Need a lot more info on what and how you shoot. Personally I use both FX and DX, as do many others here.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Number 1, your budget. You need to be the one who decides how much to spend or this is just a moot subject. FX will cost more than DX
#2 - you haven't told us what type of photography you do. If you do sports or wildlife, then the D500 or D5 would be in order because of the fast burst rates. If not, then either FX or DX will work fine for all other photography. Last night I attended my photo club meeting and the 10 minute speaker has been doing photography for 1 1/2 years, she is an amateur with enthusiasm and shoots with a point and shoot. She put up a slide show that would impress any photographer no matter what kind of pro or semi pro camera they use. They were wonderful. She admits that there are certain things she can't do with her camera like shooting stars, or macro etc., but she sticks with what she and her camera ARE capable of doing. She even entered several photos in several shows and has had at least one of her photos accepted in every exhibit and even won BEST photo in one of them. Very impressive. So I know now that FX or DX it doesn't really matter. I also have a Vietnamese friend that shoots Vietnamese engagement and wedding parties etc. He had been using a FX (Canon 7D) for the first 4-5 years of his career and has done very well for himself. I've shot some fashion shoots with him when he was using that camera and I had a 1D Mark IV and 5D mark III. My photos were not as good as his and his style was way more creative than mine.

The point is, don't rely on your equipment as much as you skills. Develop your skills and no matter what camera you have you will be a success.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Like OddJobber I have both.
I use my DX D7200 mostly with my 200-500mm lens and mostly for wildlife.
I use my FX Df for just about everything else.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Do you have DX lenses? If so, you will have to budget for FX lenses if you decide to go that way.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

I never shot with a DX/APC-S sized sensor, I do shoot film and in digital I shoot FF. But I'm sure, if I would shoot everything again that I have so far, only this time with smaller sensored equipment, the differences would be hard to tell. There are a lot of pros out there that shoot in DX format, it really does not has to be FF or MF. If you do have a contract with someone (who to work for), all they care about is that you deliver, they give a damn about what equipment you use!

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

At the top of the UHH opening home page there is Search. From there you can find all 1,000,001 times FX vs DX Nikon has been discussed. Though you may have to ignore all the 1,001 rude Canon fan comments.

OK, my take.

For Advanced/Hobbyist Nikon DX: D7200 or D500
For Advanced/Hobbyist Nikon FX: D810 or D750, and for the Nostalgicly inclined, Df
For Pro Nikon FX: D5

Prices vary from about $1k to $6.5k
Actually on Nikon USA's web page the models are marketed somewhat differently, I even find that confusing. If you are open to Refurbished or Used models the possibility expand.

To really answer you questions it more depends on use, what type of photography would you like to do (professionally) and you real budget for any of these excellent cameras. What lenses do you have already? Any vintage film or older digital ones? Does the Ugly Hedgehog have a Photo Business Section? Good luck.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

When in doubt,get both!

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

If you are serious about becoming a Pro-why would you consider DX?

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Seriously???

http://www.jaydickman.net

SteveR Loc: Michigan

His backpack looks very similar to that of Benno Ibold who carries two Canon dx cameras, a Sigma 50-500mm lens, a flash, and a couple other smaller lenses. Benno's a world traveler and has his backpack down to the kilogram. I've posted photos of it a couple of times on UHH.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Those that write about camera's and kit do not seem to be partisan about FF or Crop. There are those that have swapped between the two and even gone compact and mirror less. It seems the cost is the most significant factor.....If you have paid a lot of money you 'feel' you get a better image. Some people can get a better image than others full stop.

If, as an amateur, you want to become a professional then you know where in the market you want to be. Wedding/Wildlife/Landscape etc ? So go explore NEW professional images....The new cameras rewrite what the old standards were almost every 5 years.

If you can justify your equipment choice by photographic evidence Then you will probably get the work no matter the camera.

dandi Loc: near Seattle, WA

I have both FX (D700) and DX (D7000 and D5100). I don’t do sport or action photography except chasing my grandkids with the camera. My needs could be very well satisfied with D5100 which BTW takes great photos, but I like cameras and several months ago got myself used in good condition D700. Now it’s my favorite by far. I think D700 delivers a better IQ photos.
Mostly of course it’s high ISO, that’s where I see the difference. Images are cleaner, everything looks “more right”.
I also use D7000 and like it but mostly when I want to go lighter.
Probably I didn’t do a good job giving you good reasons for FF, just my personal preference.
Yes, FF is more expensive, but you don’t have to buy the latest, these older cameras are still performing fine.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

I have seen somebody attempt to do a portrait sized wedding photo with a camera not up to the job. It just didn't work. For that you need something like a 5x7.