duck72 Loc: Laurel Ridge, PA

Took this handheld .jpg with a "kit lens" Nikon D7200. Am wondering whether I should get a D750 now - or a D850? - and should I have shot it in RAW, then edited?-if so, what software and should I use the histogram? Or should I get a mirrorless? or medium-format? Curious Hogger wants to know.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Full Frame cameras mean an investment in Full Frame lenses, which is a major financial commitment. The D850 is $3300, a Nikkor 24-70 is $2,200 and a Nikkor 70-200 is $2,500. If you've got the cash, by all means get the flagship DSLR. The Z7 with adapter, will set you back more than the D850 body cost. The D750 is $1,400, save on the body and get the lenses. You can save on building your Holy Trinity of lenses by going with Tamron G2s for the 24-70 and 70-200.

Regardless of what you do, please, do your talent a favor and start shooting in RAW. The D7200 has 2 memory slots; if you are not sure about RAW, configure the secondary card to store JPEG files.

Now, if you are contemplating a D850 purchase, you can certainly afford the Adobe Creative Cloud apps, at $9.99/month, the gold standard is Lightroom and Photoshop.

CO

You D7200 is an excellent late model camera capable of stellar images. What is the problem with the images you're getting from it? If you're not getting stellar images then it's something you're doing or the camera is not set up properly. Don't just throw money at a new camera with the expectations that you will then get better images. Check your camera and lens for back or front focusing issues. Is this a .jpeg image straight out of the camera? The reason I ask is because Nikon sets the default sharpening for the picture controls very low. Go through all of the picture controls - Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, and others, and increase the sharpening to about level 6.

Your choices for a new camera are all over the map. You have to slow down first and figure out what the problems are with your current photos. You might just invest in different lenses instead of purchasing a new camera.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I don't see anything wrong with the pic of the butterfly. Focus seems on and the background bokeh is nice. It's hard to beat a D7200, but you can improve the sharpness of your images with a lens other than the kit lens. You don't mention which kit lens you used, by the way. I believe the Nikkor 16-80 is a very sharp lens.

chase4 Loc: Punta Corona, California

Great photo, so what about your current gear don't you like? The D7200 is a good camera but remember , it's the photographer, not the equipment. chase

User ID

`

Congratulations, Duck72.

Hook lined and sinker .....


.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

I wonder if you were to buy the dreaded "kit lens" as a lens for your own camera would it still have the same level of disdain?

The Villages Loc: The Villages, Florida

What is it that you are trying to say?

So, you took one good picture and you're ready to become a super professional?

Largobob

Well, duck72, I have to assume your question is meant to be 'tongue in cheek.'

You've hit pretty much every unanswerable scenario that others have similarly asked on this forum all year!

You win the prize!

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

[quote=CO] Go through all of the picture controls - Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, and others, and increase the sharpening to about level 6.
*************************************************************
I attended a lecture by a Nikon Techician, who advocated leaving Sharpness settings in the camera alone (1 or 0) And add sharpness in the editing (PS) as the last adjustment before printing. Perhaps things have changed over the years, or do you know better than Nikon's own 'Tecccy' chap?

delottphoto

I am a working professional photographer and I have two D7200 Nikons and do all my work with these cameras. The D7200 is terrific!

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Anything wrong with your image? If I could point my finger at it it would be to tell you that it needs some contrast, easily done using Curves in Photoshop or any other editor. Do not even dream that a full frame camera is going to do better. It could if you use a professional lens with good technique which implies an extra expense in camera and lens.
I shoot with a Nikon D7000 and it fits my needs. Your D7200 is a better camera than the D7000 with a better buffer and better AF. RAW as you surely know is raw data from the sensor. It requires special software and expertise to develop those files. I do not believe a RAW file would have done better in this case.
The histogram is an aid to the exposure. When exposing keep in mind that with digital photography it is easy to blow the highlights and that is the reason why the exposure should always be based on an important highlight. The histogram should show a good distributions of pixels without reaching the far right border in which case the highlights will be blown. If you have issues with exposing digital images I do recommend that you review exposure and learn how to expose properly. I do not use matrix often and I rely more on center weighted and spot metering because in my case I have a better control of the exposure when I use those modalities.
Keep your D7200, it is a very good camera.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The D7200 is a great camera, and so is the D750. If you are not satisfied with images from the D7200, what you get from the D750 won't be any better. If you want a full frame camera, go for it, but don't expect a revolution in your results.

WessoJPEG Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio

Nice photo, save your money. Raw won’t help you.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Duck, I do not know of your photographic skills, so I'll stay on the surface with this. First, just download the Nikon View NX2, setup the 7200 for RAW, shoot some frames of favorite things, and try out some editing (or you could do some in the camera, or you can also do some editing to the jpeg) and read some about how to use the histogram info to improve your photos - there is a reason that info can help you, but you have to understand what the histogram is telling you about the exposure. I would concentrate on the taking of/capturing of what your eye see's, and do some manipulation in NX2 to see where you can go with that, and develop the finished pic the way you saw the scene in your head, or the way you imagined it.

Before even thinking about "other equipment", learn and experience what your current camera can do, and the images it can produce...… you haven't even scratched the surface. I'd suggest either the Darrell Young or David Busch, Steve Perry books or downloads to help you learn what that 7200 is capable of doing. my$.02