camera change time again BUT which Nikon bagain should i choose ? (Page 2): Jerry has a good point. You might even be able to get a better refurbished model (like the D3200 or D5200)...

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

jerryc41 wrote:

I should get a rubber stamp for this comment, since I make it so often. Look into getting a refurbished camera. You'll get like-new for less money. Nikon sells them directly, and reputable dealers sell them.

Jerry has a good point. You might even be able to get a better refurbished model (like the D3200 or D5200) for what you would have paid for the new models you're considering.

siamesecatmanuk Loc: Leicestershire UK

I followed this idea up here in the UK, in fact I was shocked Nikon UK are charging MORE direct from them than national chain stores here in the Uk, i have managed to find one and only one shop in all the Uk which has the D5100 around £50 cheaper than any where else, it looks like I may buy there, there were other ONLINE stores even cheaper but as they were in other countries I was unable to verify if genuine or not, a bargains isn't one IF I get scammed out out of a lesser amount for NO goods at all ! Graham

steve_icbinb Loc: nr. Rochester, UK

siamesecatmanuk wrote:

I followed this idea up here in the UK, in fact I ... (show quote)

Hi Graham,
may i suggest you consider buying from Amazon UK? (no, i do not work for them :) )
simply that, if there are any issues regarding quality or whatever, they're very good at taking stuff back!

today, the price of the D5100 - direct from Amazon, not a 'seller' - is £402. i see also it is available as body only @ £362 - so if you already have Nikon lenses (?) do you need kit lens? just a thought :)

whatever you get, enjoy!

ps. lovely cat, had 5 of them over the years, miss 'em soooo much :cry:

MtnMan Loc: ID

siamesecatmanuk wrote:

Nikon have brought out two new models of SLR and their D3100 and D5100 are BOTH well discounted here in the UK
Which would you buy and why ?

Graham
PS the D3100 is £290 and the D5100 is £399

The D5100 is far superior and worth the difference.

It has better sensor...both dynamic range and MP. It has the articulated screen which I found fabulous. It has infrared inputs front and rear which I dearly miss on even my much higher level Nikon (D800) and which the D3100 does not have.

Compare on snapsort.com

MtnMan Loc: ID

Bill Houghton wrote:

I don't think the D3100 does HDR - I made that mistake after buying the D3200. You have to manually make your adjustments. I had to then go out buy a Canon SX50 to get the HDR Feature. I was going to order D5100 but found out none of my existing lens would work in AF. Since the D5100 had the AF in the Lens.

Look at the HDR then decide.

I found the two shot HDR of the D5100 nearly useless. I found the active D lighting to work better in the cases I tried. I wouldn't use it as the reason to decide...but do agree that the D5100 is a much better buy.

BTW there may be even more fabulous deals available on refurbished D5100s. I bought my last three Nikon cameras refurbished and am delighted. All came in new condition and work flawlessly. You want to assure it is a Nikon refurb. Nikon refurbs come with only a 90-day warranty in the U.S. but if you buy from Adorama or Cameta you can get their one-year coverage for free (or nearly so) on a new camera.

$359 from Cameta in U.S.

http://www.cameta.com/index.cfm?fa=display.search&page=1&keywords=refurbished%20d5100

I looked into refurbs on the D5200 and they were only $50 less than a new one...too early in the life cycle.

RTFM

£293 @ Procamerashop.co.uk

siamesecatmanuk Loc: Leicestershire UK

Hi

Many thanks for this address Graham

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

jerryc41 wrote:

I should get a rubber stamp for this comment, ...

Old Army joke. How do you know that a lieutenant has been using your computer? White-out on the screen. :D

Pentony Loc: Earth Traveller

Have the d90. Then purchased the d3100, unknowingly two months before the d3200 came out, bummer.

Now I'm planning on purchasing the d5200. Hopefully my last DX camera before going to medium formats.

So in answer to your question, as someone previously suggested, choose the d5100 over the d3100. Better yet, get the d5200.

Tedl

Hi Graham,

I just went through the same problem, and must say only you can really make the decision. But my first choice was the D5100 it was reasonable priced and I loved the moveable LCD window. While I was trying to decide I found a new model that just came out it's the D5200. It's more camera for about the same price, it is a 24 mp, has the large sensor, wi-fi compatible and there is a new app out for the iPhone that will allow the iPhone to romote control the camera. I bought the D5200 but I am suggesting you check it out before deciding.

Ted, in Florida

siamesecatmanuk Loc: Leicestershire UK

ok Ted will do. but there are such good deals going on for the D5100 now below £350 with kit lens !!! Graham

wlgoode Loc: Globe, AZ

Bill Houghton wrote:

I don't think the D3100 does HDR - I made that mistake after buying the D3200. You have to manually make your adjustments. I had to then go out buy a Canon SX50 to get the HDR Feature. I was going to order D5100 but found out none of my existing lens would work in AF. Since the D5100 had the AF in the Lens.

Look at the HDR then decide.

You can do HDR on any camera that allows multiple exposure.

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

wlgoode wrote:

You can do HDR on any camera that allows multiple exposure.

The D3200 doesn't do multiple exposure (bracketing) so I wanted to buy the D5100. But instead opted for the Canon SX50. How can I say to make it planer. I had bought the D3200 then found out about HDR.

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

wlgoode wrote:

You can do HDR on any camera that allows multiple exposure.

You can do HDR with any camera that has either ev adjust or manual controls, actually. Just use a tripod and manually bracket the exposures. Changing shutter speed only is best, but even with a p&s camera (with very long dof) adjusting the ev works well - I've done it to try out different HDR programs. It comes down to three levels of convenience, whether manually bracketing or auto-bracketing then using post HDR software, or using in-camera HDR.

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

duane13 wrote:

You can do HDR with any camera that has either ev adjust or manual controls, actually. Just use a tripod and manually bracket the exposures. Changing shutter speed only is best, but even with a p&s camera (with very long dof) adjusting the ev works well - I've done it to try out different HDR programs. It comes down to three levels of convenience, whether manually bracketing or auto-bracketing then using post HDR software, or using in-camera HDR.

Yes I agree, and if you don't have one you you can take one shoot at 8 in the morning and wait till 10 and the last at Noon. Or you can pick up a camera that does the bracket and it's all done in less time and not worrying about movement. Which is the route I wanted to take. LOL... I can hand hold the SX and take my three shoots and move on to next. I have it programmed for two types of HDR - Exposure or Focal. When I read up on the D5100 it did HDR Bracketing and did the mapping in the Camera. Something I wasn't to sure about.