evan_moor

Hello,

I am beginning to search for a "new" camera. I currently have a Nikon D40 and it is alright because I am still basically a beginner, but I feel I could do better with a higher quality cam. Another reason I am looking is that I want to upgrade my video camera. It is an HD camera, but very old as well.

The reason for needing suggestions is that I would like to know if I should combine photography AND video. I will not be doing any heavy video shooting, but I will be mainly shooting kid's football, basketball, etc.

Currently considering the Nikon D5300 and 5600 models. (refurb or buyer-to-buyer purchase) I would like to stay with Nikon since I have a fairly decent lens I would like to use.

If anyone has or has had these models please let me know if they would be suitable for light photog and video.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Look at the 7000-series Nikons instead for the DX models better suited to your sports activities in still images (D7200 or D7500). All the models have much the same video capabilities. These have been on the market for a while with plenty of refurb or lightly used specimens available.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Look at Panasonic. Bill at Burkphoto is on here all the time. He does both video and stills for his business. I think it will provide you with the best of both worlds. And Bill is not that impressed by the efforts of larger format manufactures for video from his responses.

Lucasdv123

I have a Vixia hfg20 canon camcorder
The main reason is cause my canon rebal t3i will only record video for a short period of time and if you are in the middle of shooting something worth shooting,you will be sol.besided,a regular still pic camara can never give you the quality on video that a video camera will.

evan_moor

I will check into those models. I tried to stay away because of the price, but if I can get one at the right price that would be a better bet. Thx.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Thanks.

Yeah, I’m quite happy with my now four-year-old Panasonic Lumix GH4. It’s a better video camera than stills camera. But it’s fine for what I do. Used bodies cost about $550 to $650 in great condition.

The GH5 and GH5s are newer, better versions of the same theme. The GHx cameras all feature great audio controls, which really set them apart from dSLRs. The GH5 can record non-stop for many hours, if fed via AC power adapter and hot-swappable SDXC cards in its two slots. It won’t overheat, and there are NO tariff restriction time limits.

The Lumix G95 is a midrange Panasonic camera that has good video and audio features. Olympus and Panasonic share a field of over 100 lenses.

But Micro 4/3 isn’t the best for everyone. Sports, wildlife, extreme low-light, and landscape photographers should look at DSLRs or a Sony A9.

Nikon and Canon users interested in mirrorless might want to wait for their next-generation bodies. The initial full frame releases are good, but round 2 should be far better. Sony, Panasonic, Olympus, and Fujifilm have been making high end mirrorless much longer.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

What suits one person won't suit another, as I found out with a CANON D500 and a CANON 60D. Take note of what correspondents say but go and hold them in the hand first, before purchasing.

duffy021049 Loc: Colorado

Since you have a Nikon D40 stay with Nikon, so you don't have to buy lens also. If you have AF lenses where you need a focus motor in the camera either a D7200 or D500, if you have the AFS lenses D7500 ,7200, D500 or 5600, but if you want 4k video D7500 or D500. Go to the Nikon page and see what you want and check the Deals page. 5600 starts at $500 and 7500 at $900
https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-store/deals.page

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

Great advice.

evan_moor

Thanks everyone for the information. I am torn between buying refurb or from individual. I know photogs take care of their equipment, but equipment breaks down also. I do not want to buy something and have to buy another body in a couple of years.

I don't need 4K (right now), and the D5600 is looking really tempting.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

You should be OK with the D5600. Your D40 has 6 MP. which is a lower resolution camera but those 6 Mp. are very capable of reasonably large enlargements. You mentioned in your thread that with a more modern camera you could do better. I hope you are talking about resolution because if you are not happy with your images now a new camera will not improve on that. Perhaps you need to improve your skills to make better images.

Some places, like Cameta offer a one year warranty on refurbs and reputable second hand dealers like Roberts Camera will give you a 6 months warranty on a second hand body. I have used both and both have an excellent customer service.

cpl3 Loc: Spokane, WA

I picked up a Factory Refurbished Nikon 7200 through Adorama for under $650 and a shutter count of 12. They are now even less expensive through Adorama and B&H. I was upgrading from a D300 and also have an excellent collection of DX glass. I had weighed the 7500 vs the 7200 but for my photographic style - mostly landscape, etc... the 7200 was a better fit for my needs.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

A D7200 body is a great upgrade for you. If you don’t need telephoto for video, the new cellphones do a great job but of course you could use your D7200 for that too but it takes a bit of effort to enable that.

uhaas2009

7200,7500 because you have some me benefits what doesn’t have the 5xxx.

jmarshall1956

B&H has the D7500 refurb for $599 - seems a great deal. I bought mine when they were $799 - it came in a Nikon refurb box with a 0 Shutter Count.