Need smaller camera than the Nikon D7100: After using a Nikon D7100 for the past three years I have decided that it is too heavy and too complex for me. I'm considering a refurbished...

Texas1833 Loc: Houston, Texas

After using a Nikon D7100 for the past three years I have decided that it is too heavy and too complex for me. I'm considering a refurbished Nikon D5500, but have seen a lot of recommendations for the D5300. Is the older model better? What about the D5600.....is it worth the difference in price? I am a definite amateur, but love taking pictures of my 14 grandchildren, their sports, wildlife and scenery and mainly use the Tamron 16-300 mm F/3.5-6.3 VC lens. Any help would be appreciated.

Jaackil Loc: Massachusetts

Texas1833 wrote:

After using a Nikon D7100 for the past three years I have decided that it is too heavy and too complex for me. I'm considering a refurbished Nikon D5500, but have seen a lot of recommendations for the D5300. Is the older model better? What about the D5600.....is it worth the difference in price? I am a definite amateur, but love taking pictures of my 14 grandchildren, their sports, wildlife and scenery and mainly use the Tamron 16-300 mm F/3.5-6.3 VC lens. Any help would be appreciated.

Not sure what you mean by too complex. The D 5500 is a pretty sophisticated camera itself. The D5500 should do everything your D7100 will do. The main difference for you will be how the controls and buttons are laid out. The 7100 is laid out so that you have to go to the menu less to change settings. But other than that it is a smaller lighter body which you are looking for. It is an excellent camera and improvement on the 5300 which was also a great camera. The one feature it has that d5xxx users love is the articulating screen.
I will add this, I do not know how big and heavy the Tamron 16-300 lens is. But I started in a D3100 and went to the D7100 and found I liked it better with my larger lenses. This may just be personal preference but with larger heavier lenses the D7100 felt better balanced than the d3100. Good Luck.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Texas1833 wrote:

After using a Nikon D7100 for the past three years I have decided that it is too heavy and too complex for me. I'm considering a refurbished Nikon D5500, but have seen a lot of recommendations for the D5300. Is the older model better? What about the D5600.....is it worth the difference in price? I am a definite amateur, but love taking pictures of my 14 grandchildren, their sports, wildlife and scenery and mainly use the Tamron 16-300 mm F/3.5-6.3 VC lens. Any help would be appreciated.

If you decide to change formats, the 4/3rds format of Panasonic and Olympus would shrink things down in size, weight, and cost. I can understand why you want to stay with the APS-C format. But that already is the smaller format than full frame. The only way to truly go smaller is 4/3rds.

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

wdross wrote:

If you decide to change formats, the 4/3rds format of Panasonic and Olympus would shrink things down in size, weight, and cost. I can understand why you want to stay with the APS-C format. But that already is the smaller format than full frame. The only way to truly go smaller is 4/3rds.

Olympus OMD EM1 Mark II has a remarkable specification and the Mark1's can be had for a good price.

h2odog Loc: Brooklyn NY

If you like shooting with a DSLR and you want something easy to use that is very inexpensive, take a look at the Canon Sl2. It has 24MP, dual pixel auto focus, the latest Digital 7 Processor and great Canon color, skin tones, etc. There are a number of fast fast lenses that are very affordable such as the 24 and 40 2.8 and the 50 1.8. If you don't mind buying used or refurbished, you get an 18-135 stm for about $200. A really nice, very lightweight and small camera that is a pleasure to use.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

I can't speak for digital cameras, but as I remember from my film days, Olympus was known for producing small, lightweight, but high quality film cameras. If you're willing to switch brands, you might look at Olympus DLSR's.

Gspeed Loc: Rhinebeck, NY

Perhaps you just need a lighter lens? Have you considered a few prime lenses? I love my 50mm. Totally changes the feel of my camera. Obviously not good for everything. But more versatile than you would imagine.
~ Eileen

uote=Texas1833]After using a Nikon D7100 for the past three years I have decided that it is too heavy and too complex for me. I'm considering a refurbished Nikon D5500, but have seen a lot of recommendations for the D5300. Is the older model better? What about the D5600.....is it worth the difference in price? I am a definite amateur, but love taking pictures of my 14 grandchildren, their sports, wildlife and scenery and mainly use the Tamron 16-300 mm F/3.5-6.3 VC lens. Any help would be appreciated.[/quote]

Eteric

I believe you would truly enjoy one of the offerings from Fuji-film.. The X-t20 is my new camera of choice, I switched from a Nikon D810 and gave no regrets

Eteric

Sorry that's have no regrets..auto spell stinks

deanfl Loc: Georgia

Texas1833 wrote:

After using a Nikon D7100 for the past three years I have decided that it is too heavy and too complex for me. I'm considering a refurbished Nikon D5500, but have seen a lot of recommendations for the D5300. Is the older model better? What about the D5600.....is it worth the difference in price? I am a definite amateur, but love taking pictures of my 14 grandchildren, their sports, wildlife and scenery and mainly use the Tamron 16-300 mm F/3.5-6.3 VC lens. Any help would be appreciated.

I use both the D7100 and D5500. I prefer the D5500 when I want to go lighter. I love the articulating touch screen. Check out the web site for Camera Decision. It lets you do one on one comparisons. The D5500 does very well.

Tony Northrup lists the D5500 as a Better Landscape camera.

reindeer Loc: London U.K.

I have D5600 with a Nikon 18-140 lens. I switched from a D750 ff ( with a Nikon 24-120 f/4 lens and a d 7100 for the same reason because I am 84. I find no difference in IQ. Only, more convenient to carry. Never missed the other two cameras.

Fotomacher Loc: Toronto

Texas1833 wrote:

After using a Nikon D7100 for the past three years I have decided that it is too heavy and too complex for me. I'm considering a refurbished Nikon D5500, but have seen a lot of recommendations for the D5300. Is the older model better? What about the D5600.....is it worth the difference in price? I am a definite amateur, but love taking pictures of my 14 grandchildren, their sports, wildlife and scenery and mainly use the Tamron 16-300 mm F/3.5-6.3 VC lens. Any help would be appreciated.

My D810 is far less “complex” than your D7100 as a result of the number of direct access controls which means that using nested menus to change settings is minimized. I have an Olympus E-M5 as well and get frustrated by the rather simple settings that have to be accessed through menus. Smaller bodies provide less “real estate” for controls.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Most camera bodies weigh about the same, within a few ounces. All DSLR's are complex but can be set on Auto for simplicity.

Oly Guy

Try shooting Prime Lenses-most of the weight is in the lenses-I switched fromFF zoom ones and saved over a pound - also easier to support-went back to 1 SLR a d7200. Have 2 Mirrorless cameras also. Still favor the SLR. I also use a sling strap-Blackburn with the heavier lenses-am 75 and age notices weight I guess!

augieg27 Loc: Central California

Take a look at the Nikon D3300 it's very light with a capable 24MP sensor, I match it with my Nikon 50mm 1.8 and get great pictures. I shoot RAW.